Sam Tate reckons Bellingen Shire Council has slashed its emissions due to commonsense changes including installing solar, buying EVs, participating in a bulk buy of renewable energy and upgrading lights.
Tate, from council’s Sustainable Environment and Waste team, said “the biggest gains you can make are by targeting the large emitters”.
The targets: The council established long-term goals relating to energy use and emissions in 2019.
The first, to reduce its emissions by 45 percent by 2030 (from a 2009/10 baseline), was achieved last year.
Council’s latest data has the current reduction at 69 percent.
The next target is to achieve net zero emissions by 2040, which Tate says council is “well on its way” to meeting.
What they did: Council installed solar energy systems on 20 of its buildings, including waste management centres, water treatment plants, works depots, libraries and pools. It also swapped a diesel mower for an electric and installed a battery at the Bellingen Memorial Hall.
Energy shift: Tate said the most significant change has been a complete transition to renewable energy.
In late 2024, Bellingen Shire joined 12 regional councils in a Power Purchase Agreement, meaning 100 percent of the electricity used at its sites now comes from renewable sources.
Mayor Steve Allan said the move led to significant emission reductions and improved “cost certainty in a time of market volatility”.
Small council, big wins: Councillor Dominic King said Bellingen Shire had punched above its weight as a small regional council without the same spending power as a metropolitan LGA.
“Small councils have to do it in different ways, and here that's looking at reducing emissions right across the scope,” King said.
“As a result, [Council’s] power bills have been slashed.”
Reaction to change: King, the Shire’s former mayor, said major bushfires in 2019/20 provided a “big wake up call” that urgent action on climate change was required.
Council says it will continue to test new technology and install solar systems where possible.