Everything Moonee Valley Council is doing to fight climate change and create a greener future
What you need to know
Together with our community we are working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, divert waste from landfill, protect and recycle our valuable drinking water supplies, enhance our urban environment and ecology, and keep our city green and cool. Below you can discover what Council has already achieved.
- Reduced greenhouse emissions from Council operations by 44 per cent since 2010 through a combination of energy efficiency initiatives and solar PV installation.
- Installed 2,777 solar panels on 31 of our buildings.
- On track to achieve zero net emissions from Council operations in 2020 and achieve certification for carbon neutrality through the Federal Government’s Climate Active Carbon Neutral Standard.
- Aim to procure 100 per cent renewable electricity for Council's operations from 1 July 2021 as part of the Local Government Power Partnership Agreement project. This would reduce Council’s emissions by nearly 75%.
- One the first metropolitan councils to offer a residential kerbside food and organics recycling collection service to reduce emissions created by food breaking down in landfill.
- Replaced 6,000 street lights with more energy efficient alternatives reducing emissions by 2,100 tonnes per year.
- Offering building Environmental Upgrade Agreements with commercial building owners to make sustainable upgrades to their operations.
- Enhanced our green open space and improved stormwater management through projects such as the Afton Street Wetlands Conservation Park, Woodlands Park, Airport West Green Spine and Moonee Ponds Creek revitalisation. More projects here.
- Implemented WSUD Developer Voluntary Contribution scheme to allow planning applicants to offset up to 20 per cent of their on site stormwater management requirements by financially contributing to large scale WSUD projects in Moonee Valley.
- Introduced two fully electric vehicles to Council’s fleet and currently updating Council's Fleet Policy to transition to low and zero emissions vehicles.
- Currently investigating EV charging infrastructure in Moonee Valley.
- Protecting and enhancing our native grasslands.
- Supporting residents to plant native vegetation with the Wildlife-friendly Planting Guide. and Nature Strip Planting Policy.
- Plant 20,000 indigenous plants annually to encourage pollinators, increase species diversity and support native wildlife.
- Working with the community to enhance urban ecology – two new frog bogs, plantings and an outdoor classroom pilot.
- Delivered the Greening the West Project and finalising the Greening the West Strategic Plan 2020-2025.
- Working with neighbouring councils to improve habitat connectivity.
- Working with stakeholders to improve the biodiversity of Moonee Ponds Creek through the Chain of Ponds Collaboration.
- Planting 2,700 trees each year to increase our tree canopy.
- Manage a ‘significant tree register’ to protect trees of local significance.
- Targeting 30% tree canopy cover by 2040.
- Adopted a Nature Strip Planting Policy to encourage residents to plant their natures strips and green our urban spaces.
- Financially support the community to upgrade facilities and deliver sustainability projects such as solar on sporting clubs, water-saving for community gardens and sustainable education through Council's grants program.
- Aim for best practice in ESD for private developments, from the design stage through to construction and operation, by applying the Environmentally Sustainable Development local policy in the Moonee Valley Planning Scheme.
- Deliver the Schools Environment Network to support schools to embed sustainability into buildings, practices and curriculum.
- Have supported school waste reduction and energy saving through Council funded Wipe Out Waste and Flick the Switch school programs.
- Declared a climate emergency in 2019.
- Joined the Cities Power Partnership program that brings together Australian cities and towns making the switch to clean energy.
- Part of the newly formed Climate Emergency Australia network.
- Member of the Western Alliance for Greenhouse Action advocating for regional action on climate change.
- Run the Green Living and My Smart Garden education events to support the community to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
- Delivered the Sustainability Champions program to build the capacity of the community to initiate community-led actions to reduce carbon emissions and achieve other sustainability outcomes.
- Sign up to our monthly Green Living newsletter HERE or visit or Climate Action or Sustainable Living pages for more information.