Context Narrative

Context Narrative 11. Introduction 2

1.1 Document List 31.2 Place 41.3 Regional context 51.4 The intersection of climate change adaptation 71.5 Social Justice 9

1.3.1 Central Victorian Primary Care Partnership 103. Historical > Future Context 10

2.1 Dja Dja Wurrung 112.2 Council 12

2.2.1 Council Forum 2019 122.2.2 Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality by 2025 for Council operations 14

2.3. Community 172.3.1 Youth and advocacy 172.3.2 Cultural and creative industries 172.3.3 Community initiatives and programs 18

Transport 18Food and Agriculture 18Waste 19Renewable energy 20Buildings 21Events / celebration / rituals 22Micro funding initiatives 24Carbon sequestration 24

4. Significant commercial developments 254.1 Baringhup Solar Farm 254.2 Ravenswood Solar Farm 25

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1. IntroductionUncle Rick Nelson and Auntie Julie McHale have gifted the name Warrarrack for local climate transition work - which is the Silver Wattle, to bring people closer to Country, through this process. Renew acknowledges that the traditional custodians of this land, the Dja Dja Wurrung and Taungurung peoples, proudly survive. We acknowledge their continued practise of custom and their close cultural, spiritual, physical, social, historical and economic relationship with the land and waters that make up their country, which includes Mount Alexander Shire. Renew recognises the Victorian Government’s Recognition and Settlement with both the Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation and the Taungurung Land and Waters Council.

The purpose of this document is to narrate the context of the local (and in some cases regional) historical and current actions that are relevant to the MAS Z-NET process. It has been carried out through a desktop analysis of documents submitted by the Steering Group and broader community including relevant sustainability groups. The intent is to authentically represent the lived experience in the community and broad range of activities that have been attempted and/or implemented over time in regards to climate action. An extract of this document will form the front end of the Community Transition Plan. This document will be accompanied by additional documents around the role of the creative sector in the transition as well as a vision for economic resilience into the future. Local experts are authoring these components. As this is a background document, rather than a formal piece of the Community Transition Plan, there are no direct references, but rather a Document List is provided for sources.

The Mount Alexander Shire community is highly engaged in climate change action. Sustainability Victoria’s research into the community’s perceptions on climate change found that 80% of those in our region agree that urgent action on climate change is required right now. Organisations such as Mount Alexander Sustainability Group, The Hub, MASH and Renewable Newstead have been on the leading edge of climate change action for many years.

Section two summarises the Historical Context of climate action in the MAS. It is important to look to the past to ensure we don’t reinvent the wheel, but also to see if some older ideas or pilots could have another life in this current time. Pioneering communities such as MAS are often ahead of their time and initiatives that are worthy, can sometimes be stymied by a lack of government support or policy settings.

An example of innovation is the work undertaken in 2006-2007 under the ‘Challenge to Change’ initiative in Maldon. Examples of actions included:

- volunteers changing 8,522 light globes in 447 households, saving almost 10,000 tons carbon emissions

- Easter Fair COM initiated 100% GreenPower for Tarrangower tower- Maldon Community Bank becomes the first Carbon Neutral Community Branch and purchases

24 tonnes of carbon offsets for the Maldon, Newstead and Dunnolly branches.- All MAS Council staff, all 16 Primary and Secondary schools, the Anglican, Catholic and Uniting

Churches and 14 small Maldon businesses, were involved in a Challenge to Change Week. This week of activity demonstrated how easily emissions can be reduced by behaviour change alone.

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Referenced in a presentation from that time (2007), the community was asked where to from here, and their response was:

- Stakeholders: households, schools, businesses, churches, council- Actions: energy efficiency, GreenPower, green loans, insulation, solar hot water, solar PV,

Ride2Work, electric cars, streetlights, trees as offsetsAll of these actions are still relevant in today’s context and may be finally, more achievable.

Another significant program of the same era was the ‘Castlemaine 500’ run by the CVGA in 2006-2008 which aimed to reduce energy usage by 15-30% across 500 homes. 351 homes signed up to the initiative and it had a strong focus on creating tools, building local capacity and leaving a legacy. The methodology included undertaking free energy assessments and creating home energy plans, alongside workshops and leadership training. Significant learnings were retained from the project from an in depth evaluation and still have relevance in today’s context.

New future based visions are also emerging, including the concept of a local currency called the Warrarrack.

Section three summarises the currently known Future Context and outlines projects that may be able to be coalesced into the next phase of MAS Z-NET. In addition, it covers emergent, recent community ideas from the community forum held in December 2019 which will be coalesced into the OurSay platform for project harvesting - these will eventually inform the Implementation Plan within the Community Transition Plan.

1.1 Document List The following documents were provided to Renew by the Steering Group and community members to undertake this Context Narrative. They are not referenced throughout and are instead listed here:

● Small town big switch: Newstead’s journey to renewable energy, 2020● MASG history 2006-2020● Dja Dja Wurrung Country Plan 2014-2034● Mount Alexander Shire Council Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality 2020● Mount Alexander Shire Council Climate Change Action Plan 2016-2020● HUB history 2014 - 2020● Mount Alexander in 2040: The Warrarrack Economy, 2020● The Story so Far, Action on Climate Change, 2020● Opportunities, Implications and Strategies for Achieving Zero Net Emissions: Mount Alexander

Shire Case Study, 2007● MAP 2020: Creating Our Future● MASC Environment Strategy 2015-2025● Culture, Climate, Castlemaine, 2020● Mount Alexander Shire Creative State 2020+ submission, 2019● Carbon sequestration through regional revegetation, 2020● REMPLAN Community Summary, 2019● ABS Census, 2019● Environmental Report Card for Mount Alexander, ANU, 2019● Mount Alexander Shire (MAS): Broad pathways and costs to zero net emission targets● A Climate of Fairness, 2019, VCOSS

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● Challenge to Change powerpoint 2007● Housing Needs and Opportunities in Mount Alexander Shire, The Swinburne Institute for Social

Research, 2012● PCP4CR Project Brief, 2020● MASH summary 2017-2020● Loddon Mallee Region Renewable Energy Roadmap, CVGA, 2019● How we ran a behaviour change program and the lessons we learned: Telling the performance

story of Castlemaine 500, Clear Horizon, 2008● Central Victoria Solar Cities Group Final Report 2012-2013● MASC Climate Change Forum business and organisations summary 2020● MASC Climate Change Forum residents summary 2020● MASC Action on Climate Change Summary 2019● MASC Cool it Report, 2020● Regional Adaptation Snapshot Loddon Mallee, DELWP, 2018● Cool community spaces: adapting to climate change, Central Victorian Primary Care

Partnership, 2020● MASG CRAG Training Program, 2010

1.2 PlaceMount Alexander (map) in central Victoria is located close to Bendigo and just one hour from Melbourne Airport, the shire offers accessible and affordable town or country living. Home to 19,754 people, Mount Alexander's median age group is 40-49 years. MAS is home to the highest number of creators and makers per capita in the state of Victoria.

People living in and around the towns enjoy beautiful scenery and great communities along with easy access to community services, quality education, health and retail services. With a strong sense of community, Mount Alexander Shire benefits from above average levels of volunteering, community engagement and participation in more than 100 annual festivals and events.

The primary community organisations or initiatives/programs involved in climate work are:● Renewable Newstead ● Central Vic Climate Action (CVCA)● Climate Strikers● Nalderun ● Mount Alexander Eco-Housing Initiative● Mount Alexander Sustainability Group (MASG) ● The Hub Foundation ● Plastic Bag Free Castlemaine ● Growing Abundance ● Castlemaine Commons ● Localising Leanganook ● The People’s Solar ● Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance (CVGA)● More Australian Solar Homes (MASH)● Castlemaine Landcare ● Extinction Rebellion Castlemaine ● Mount Alexander Climate Emergency Team (MACET)

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● Maldon Climate Action Network ● Central Victorian Primary Care Partnership (CVPCP)● Mount Alexander Local Produce Network (MALP)● Connecting Country ● Cycle Safe

Neighbourhood support network movements have been emerging through Covid-19 all over the world, and this is also occurring in MAS, some are more organised and based on existing groups, others are more emergent. There is now also discussion locally about transforming these into adaptive networks to deal with climate emergencies such as bushfires and floods.The groups through this time have been located in:

● West End Resilience● Fryerstown● Campbells Creek● Inner North Resilience Group● Harcourt● Chewton Mutual Aid● Chewton Bushlands Residents group● Maldon● Norwood Hill/South Side Resilience

1.3 Regional contextOne regional organisation - CVGA was borne out of Mount Alexander 20 years ago. The Loddon Mallee Region Renewable Roadmap was released by CVGA in 2019 shows the potential for further renewable developments in the Shire. The Roadmap also highlights the role of community groups.

“There are vibrant community energy and sustainability groups throughout the region, formed and run by people with a passion for promoting renewable energy or energy self-sufficiency. Some have along history of delivering innovative projects encouraging renewables. They often emphasise community benefits, social justice and equity. These groups are working to test and pilot new ways ofgenerating, supplying and sharing energy, and exploring new models of ownership and control. To date, most community energy projects have focussed on behind-the-meter energy generation in residential, commercial, public or community sector applications. Because they’re voluntary, community-based organisations, they often face challenges that limit the speed and scale at which they can develop projects.”

The high level key points for MAS under the Roadmap were:

● 31.7% of roofs have solar (or 3,154 installations)● 11.8 MW of rooftop solar● No wind farms● 11.8 MW of renewable energy installed● 16.8 MJ per sqm solar resource● 6.6 to 9.0 metres per second wind resource

The Roadmap had seven recommendation:

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1. Enhance grid infrastructure and realise the regions solar potential2. Maximise community benefit sharing and maintain social license3. Coordinate and optimise Distributed Energy Resources4. Maximise the potential for bioenergy5. Support community energy6. Understand the opportunities for emerging technologies7. Be proactive about future jobs and training needs

The following graphic provides a rbreakdown of the energy use in the broader region.

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Another regional program under CVGA is ‘Cool it’. The CVGA is working with council to identify priority areas for street tree planting to reduce heat vulnerability to climate change. The CVGA has also engaged the Castlemaine Institute to develop a climate resilient street tree database to inform future plantings in the shire and improve their capacity to cope with future climate conditions.

Additional regional activities of interest are: - MASC is part of a regional collaboration of 47 councils seeking to procure a long term power

purchase agreement for 100% renewable electricity for its operations from 2021.- MAS is part of a network of 12 councils in the region participating in CVGAs Charging the

Regions project, rolling out electric vehicle charging infrastructure - Neighbouring shires are also developing climate emergency and transition plans such as

Hepburn ZNET, Malmsbury, Cool Changes (Woodend), Tarnagulla Climate Resilience Action Plan.

1.4 The intersection of climate change adaptationIn regards to climate change adaptation, the state government developed and released the Regional Adaptation Snapshot in 2018, showcasing that across the Lodden Mallee there were around 90 adaptation projects in action. Adaptation is a key focus area for the proposed community-wide zero-net emissions masterplan. The regional DELWP office is now working on the ADAPT Loddon Mallee project to 2050. They have funded some projects this year and were meant to hold a regional congress on adaptation in 2020.

Socially just adaptation considers those that are most vulnerable to climate change and what actions can be taken to reduce this risk. Many of the actions to address adaptation will also reduce emissions

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and thereby contribute to mitigation goals. An example is retrofitting homes for better comfort and energy efficiency, which also works to protect the vulnerable in times of extreme weather, improving resilience through both health and economic pathways.

The key areas of impact for the Loddon Mallee region are outlined in the following graphic.

The following graphic taken from the ANU 2019 Environmental Report Card for the Mount Alexander Shire outlines the current environmental context that the community is operating in.

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1.5 Social JusticeIn regards to concepts around ‘climate equity’ and a ‘just transition’, VCOSS proposed six focus areas for Victorian transitions:

1. Ensuring everyone is part of the transition to clean energy, including those locked out of rooftop solar schemes.

2. Making all Victorian homes ‘healthy homes’ with effective insulation and appliances.3. Equipping communities to be resilient ahead of disasters and extreme weather.4. Reducing the health sector’s climate footprint, and helping it better support communities as

the environment changes.

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5. Supporting people to embrace low-emissions vehicles, and prioritising high-quality public transport.

6. Building a resilient community sector to help people cope with ravages of climate change.

1.3.1 Central Victorian Primary Care PartnershipCentral Victorian Primary Care Partnership (CVPCP) was chosen to implement the Primary Care Partnership For Community Resilience (PCP4CR) Project in the Mount Alexander Shire in 2020.PCPs have intimate knowledge of their local communities, having employed a variety of place basedinitiatives to enhance health and wellbeing. These attributes mean the PCP platform is a particularlyvaluable platform to further embed climate change resilience in communities.

The aim of the PCP4CR project is to foster shared understanding and appreciation for the complex nature of climate change and its impacts on community wellbeing. The PCP4CR will employ visual mapping techniques used in the Group Model Building (GMB) and Community Based Systems Dynamics (CBSD). These outputs will be valuable data sets for the Community Transition Plan - in particular the adaptation framework.

A 2018 consultation process by CVCP developed the concept of creating public Cool Community Spaces in local rural towns for vulnerable populations. In smaller rural communities there is a lack ofpublic places to seek relief from the heat as there are no shopping centres, movie theaters or beaches to escape to during heat waves. The library in Castlemaine is currently promoted as a cool space but is limited in its operating times and does not cater for pets, further locations are proposed to be developed in the coming year in partnership with Council.

3. Historical > Future ContextThe climate transition journey has a long history in MAS. Going back to 2007, a report on how MAS could reach zero-net emissions was developed for CVGA. This report identifies that the range of actions needed by Council to pursue zero net emissions embraces;

- Raising community awareness and targeting of incentives- Advocacy and the development of expertise and skills- Identification of and development of partnerships

It recommended development of a program that can be implemented in stages- The identification of all potential stakeholders and the implementation of detailed ‘mapping’

of the network of stakeholders as potential partners including the potential synergies that exist or could be developed with other Councils, and state and Federal governments.

- The development of a detailed strategy, which builds on the considerable momentum that already exists and the wide level of support and behavioural change that has already occurred. Such a strategy would establish baseline data, detail actions and initiatives, provide a funding basis reflecting identified savings and costs and benefits and the range of grants and subsidies that could support

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In addition to these long held ideas and ideals, new future based visions are also emerging, including the concept of a local currency called the Warrarrack. This currency’s purpose could be for local employment, energy efficiency, planting trees, restoring degraded lands, making our streets beautiful and vibrant community spaces, building public housing using local materials on unused or underutilised land.

2.1 Dja Dja WurrungIn 2020, at a Naldurun events meeting, after discussion with local elders about how this climate transition is a direct pathway for humans to honour Country, for this purpose, the gift of the name Warrarrack was provided. Meaning the silver wattle, it is a main part of ceremony and represents the produce of the land. Hardness of the wood - tools, honours the ethical produce of the land - welcomes people to country, gum and glue - that connects and holds things together - the responsibility to country and variations to wattle. Golden Wattle - seed, different wattles represent different things (like human beings). Such a functional plant. (add to context narrative + graphic)

The development of the Dja Dja Wurrung’s first Country Plan coincided with the historic settlement of the native title claim with the Victorian Government under the Recognition and Settlement Agreement, signed on 28 March 2013.

“Dja Dja Wurrung Country is host to some of the most profoundly altered landscapes in Victoria. A long history of agricultural development, urban settlement and mining has left fragmented ecosystems and led to the loss of many species of plants and animals. Changed fire regimes have affected the cycling of nutrients and the composition of species, and led to increased fuel loads that pose dangers to people and ecosystems.”

The 8 goals of the Plan are framed around the following themes: ● Jaara (our people) ● Cultural Practices and Customs ● Cultural Heritage Bush Tucker (edible and medicinal plants and animals) ● Rivers and Waterways ● Land ● Self-determination ● Enterprises

key natural resource management strategies: ● Water management ● Fire management ● Joint management ● Land remediation ● Natural resource management service delivery ● Resource rents ● Traditional ecological knowledge

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2.2 CouncilThe first greenhouse gas action plan for Mount Alexander Shire Council was adopted in 2000 and began a process that has resulted in diverse emissions reduction projects being implemented over the past two decades. In recent years, Council’s corporate emissions have been steadily falling, thanks in large part to significant and ongoing energy efficiency upgrades in buildings, street lighting infrastructure, as well as investment in rooftop solar.

Council has an ambitious target of carbon neutrality for council operations by 2025, which is justone of many actions set out in the Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) for 2016-2020.

The CCAP had the following overarching objectives:● A long-term goal of 2025-2040: ‘Council is carbon neutral and resilient to the impacts of

climate change.’● An intermediate outcome of 2015-2025: ‘Council has integrated consideration of climate

change into all operations and actively influences and advocates about adaptation and mitigation more broadly.’

In addition, the key actions articulated in the CCAP were:

● reduce methane pollution from landfill● install renewable energy● optimise and electrify the vehicle fleet● commitment to significant energy efficiency measures● implementing adaptation measures● support and advocacy for community-based and regional projects

Actions that have not yet been delivered or are still relevant have been incorporated into the Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality 2020.

There is also the MASC Environment Strategy 2015-2025 which calls for the following priorities:1. Enable the community to take action2. Collaborate with external organisations3. Council leads by example4. Sustainability and Environment Team is a corporate resource5. Reduce resource consumption across Council6. Improve resource recovery facilities and services7. Protect natural environment assets8. Integrate our response to climate change

2.2.1 Council Forum 2019A 2019 community petition urging Mount Alexander Shire Council to declare a Climate Emergency carried more than 1,640 electronic signatures and was supported by an online pledge of personal action from more than 750 signatories.

In response to this, Mount Alexander Shire Council held a public Climate Change Forum in December 2019, in the form of an open Councillor Briefing, to inform its future action on climate change. The

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forum was designed to help Councillors better understand what a climate change emergency would mean for the Shire and other ways to tackle climate change as an organisation and community. It involved an invitation to interested parties to present to Councillors or make a submission to inform a whole of community approach to tackling climate change. A total of 49 verbal presentations and 91 written submissions were presented to Council in response to this invitation. Based on the collective community input, Council passed a Notice of Motion to declare a climate emergency, at the Ordinary Meeting of Council of 17 December 2019.

In regards to business and organisations, there were 25 submissions ranging from Committee of Managements, health and youth organsiations, Landcare, bank and business umbrella networks.

Within these there are multiple requests for a target of 2030 for community-wide zero-net emission.

Some of the key issues described were: - Climate change is a human rights issue and we need to plan for an inclusive and equitable

climate transition - Climate change is irrefutable and is and will impact on business- The importance of reaching zero-net emissions targets- Housing stock - The disproportionate impact climate change has on those who are already disadvantage- Importance of climate change to early years education sector and community- Increasing intense events of longer duration and multiple events such as fire, heatwave and

storm increase demand for VISSES services - Economic security - Water usage- Managing climate risk- Reduced insect population - The growing sense that we are too late to save our natural ecosystems- Community uptake on living in an ecologically conscious way is slow- Children are stressed by climate change

Some of the emergent actions that were recommended were to:- Develop a community plan for shire response- Climate related financial disclosures- increase cultural burns- Build on the environmental leadership we already have in business and community and

include pledges for business- Develop community safe zones and community support networks for extreme weather events - Support Landcare carbon capture work - Support Tiny Homes- Ensure that all investments are free from fossil fuel transactions- Investing in community assets available in extreme weather events to the public - Establishment of a Mount Alexander Citizens’ Assembly to make decisions on climate and

ecological justice - Put indigenous people and culture at the forefront of community consultation and

collaboration

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- Support or undertake drawdown programs (revegetation, soil improvement, agriculture innovations)

- Develop home-grown arts and culture and develop strong inter-regional cultural sharing- Advocate for the use of deliberative democracy

In regards to the residential submissions, there were 42 received. With the majority in strong favour of declaring a climate emergency. There was also strong support for a whole of community plan for achieving zero-net emissions and a target of 2030.

Some of the key issues described were:- Welfare of elderly residents- Need to green our towns- Temperature rise- Shire may become unlivable - fear in the community- Water resource - rivers and dams- Demand on emergency services- The future impact on children- A whole of community approach is needed- Night light impacting local ecologies- Divisions in the community about climate change

Some of the emergent actions that were recommended were to:- Switch to 100% renewable energy including for heat and transport- A more proactive role of Council to ensure community cohesion- Heat plans, safe cool spaces and hydration stations- Domestic equivalent of the rates discount for farms - Public transport for key activities like to and from farmers markets- Composting toilets- Community energy- Establish a Climate Fund for local projects- Ecological education- Sustainable housing encouraged through planning- Carbon drawdown through biochar- Local currency- Council procurement to be green- Smaller farm parcel allowances- Better bike paths

2.2.2 Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality by 2025 for Council operationsThe Council recently completed its Roadmap to Carbon Neutrality by 2025 and is working on the regional adaptation plan for the Loddon Mallee DELWP region. How the community-wide Z-NET plan aligns with these strategies is outlined in the table below.

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The Council is taking responsibility for its own operations emission reductions through nine priority areas as outlined in the graphic below.

There is the opportunity to work with Council to fully engage an extensive cross section of the community in the development and ownership of Z-NET. Overlapping opportunities for the Community Transition Plan out of this Roadmap and broader Council activities include:

- Waste: As both state and Council waste and circular economy strategies develop, Council will continue to work closely together to unlock vital funding and support to assist local organisations to identify and implement innovative waste reduction and recycling initiatives. The Z-NET Community Transition Plan which is addressing community wide waste reduction

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opportunities using a circular economy lens will help us work together to achieve a shared net-zero emissions goal.

- Buildings: The opportunity for partnering with the business sector to finance a range of environmental upgrade investments to buildings is currently available through Council’s Environmental Upgrade Finance mechanism. This mechanism provides low cost finance to raise the environmental standard of the shire’s commercial building stock. Given recent changes to the Local Government Act 2020 (Vic), Council has the opportunity to expand this offering to households,

- Offsetting/insetting: Beyond offsetting Scope 1 and 2 emissions, there is more that the Council could be doing to encourage investment in drawdown and sequestration in the shire. The MAS Z-NET Community Transition Planning project has already identified a key priority for this community to become a regional ‘drawdown hub’. Council’s efforts in supporting local offsetting through farming and land care could become one of the key actions Council takes forward to contribute to the community’s Z-NET goals. In addition, there is a market of local government buyers of offsets who are looking to buy them locally. In-setting efforts could contribute to a broader vision to build this local industry in order to attract this income stream.

- Environmental upgrade agreements: In partnership with Better Buildings Finance, Council is enabling building owners, tenants and investors to better access long term finance for environmental upgrades, including LED lighting and solar energy, to existing commercial and non-residential buildings on attractive terms.

- Land management rate program: Council supports and encourages responsible land management that improves the condition of the natural environment on privately owned land across Mount Alexander Shire. Successful applicants receive a 20% reduction off their property rate.

- Electric vehicle feasibility: Mount Alexander Shire Council is one of 43 Victorian regional Councils partnering on a feasibility study, Charging the Regions, that will enable Councils to understand the opportunities for a joint investment program for a dense and coordinated network of electric vehicle charging across the state. Under this program, there is a tender to install public EV chargers with Council for the Mount Alexander Shire.

- An Integrated Water Management (IWM) Plan has been prepared by Spiire in 2020 to identify and investigate opportunities to implement IWM measures within Castlemaine. The IWM Plan has been developed with the vision to optimize water use efficiency within the township and to improve the stream health of the waterways (Barkers Creek, Forest Creek, and Campbells Creek) by reducing pollutant discharge. A range of IWM measures have been investigated including:

- Stormwater harvesting;- Rainwater tanks;- Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD);- Retrofitting stormwater outfalls; and- Education and policy programs.

Many opportunities could be harnessed to align with future engagement and strategy and plan developments over the development and implementation period of Z-NET such as the four year community plan design which will occur in 2021. In addition, under Section 26(3) of the Public Health and Wellbeing Act requires Councils to have regard to the State public health and wellbeing plan in

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developing their municipal public health and wellbeing plan. Four priorities are highlighted for particular focus over the four years of the plan; the focus areas are:

- Tackling climate change and its impact on health- Increasing healthy eating- Increasing active living- Reducing tobacco-related harm.

2.3. Community

2.3.1 Youth and advocacy Local School Strikers have had a strong presence within the Australian School Strike 4 Climate Action group and have participated in most of the large striking events, in Castlemaine, Bendigo, Melbourne and also the Galilee Basin (to protest Adani). Local schools focus a lot on litter and recycling and most schools have solar panels.

They are supported by the CVCAG and MACET. The CVCAG has had a strong focus on Stop Adani and 350.org movements to stimulate disinvestment in fossil fuels. Mount Alexander Climate Change Emergency Team (MACET) presented a petition in October 2019, asking Council to address the climate crisis by:

- Declaring a climate emergency - Committing to a target of 100 per cent renewable energy for Council operations by 2025- Committing to a target of net zero carbon emissions for the community by 2030.

2.3.2 Cultural and creative industriesThe creative sector understands that creativity is at the heart of problem-solving and as per the Creative State 2020+ submission which was created with inputs from over 70 local artists and arts organisations. The creative sector is ready to help the community as a whole shape, adapt and respond to the new identities and environments the climate is forcing upon us.

In addition, the creative sector can guide the cultural change needed to plan for an inclusive and equitable climate transition. The community uptake on living in an ecologically conscious way is slow and a whole of community approach needed. There are existing divisions in the community about climate change and a more proactive role of Council and community is needed to ensure community cohesion around a transition. This is declared in the Culture, Climate, Castlemaine vision piece in states that one possible project could be “The Castlemaine Carnival” held each year on September 1st“National Wattle Day”. This community celebration would act as an event to mark the coming of spring, similar to many traditional festivals throughout Europe and the Britain Isles. Working with the local primary schools, youth groups, U3A, landcare groups, etc. Creating a community event that focuses on local First Nation stories, exploring our shared history, indigenous culture and customs. Encouraging local families to work together through the winter months. Expressing their creative ideas , building narratives and making costumes that make participants appear larger than life. These designs could involve solar powered floats, hybrid hot rods, illuminated large scale puppets, and animated centrepieces with PA sound systems onboard. Street theatre, live music, and dance that bring the story of the carnival to and keep the participants and spectators moving and smiling.

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2.3.3 Community initiatives and programs

TransportMASG 2006-2010:

- Bicycle Map of Town was produced for the Castlemaine State Festival for use by visitors

The HUB 2014-2020:- Cycle Safe – ongoing activities in partnership with Cycle Safe to encourage cycling and

advocate for cycle safe policies and infrastructure within the shire

Food and AgricultureMASG 2006-2010:

- The MASG Demonstration Garden was developed – later becoming the Hub Plot- U3A Solar Cooker Project

MASG 2019-2023:- Regenerative Agriculture: program funded by the North Central Catchment Management

Authority (NCCMA) This is a four year program to educate and mentor local farmers who want to adopt regenerative agriculture practices

The HUB 2014-2020:- Growing Abundance: Growing Abundance started in 2011 on the back of strong local interest in

Climate Change and Transition Towns – Harvest Program harvested over 23 tonne fruit, 600 volunteers, trained 260 people to maintain fruit trees (pruning, grafting, pest control, first aid), Had 2300 backyard trees on register. Local Produce Guide 300 copies Sold, Low Food Miles Campaign - with 6 local produce retailers, signs and story boards in the fruit shops The Open Food Network was negotiated to be the repository as an online platform currently has 94 registered growers for the MAS group page https://openfoodnetwork.org.au/groups

- Carpark Garden: 16 garden beds, including 12 wicking beds, Installation of water tank, worm farm and three purpose built compost bins

- Established ‘The Local’ café social enterprise for 12 months- Ran canteen at Castlemaine Secondary College with mostly local produce and low waste ethos

– also did orders for 3 local primary school- Ran Community Lunch and developed partnerships with local growers, retailers and trained

women from Tarrengower prison- The Hub Plot is a gathering place for meetings, workshops, sharing of skills and celebrations

as a unique demonstration food growing garden- Grow What When in Castlemaine, a local planting guide, and, A manual on How to Make a

Wicking Bed

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2012 - current:- In 2012 the Growing our Local Food Economy was hosted by the Mount Alexander Shire Council,

it brought together food growers, eaters, advocates and retailers to discuss the idea of a local food ‘hub’ and challenges faced by producers.

Other significant local initiatives are the Harcourt Organic Farming Co-operative and Ian Lillingtons long running Permaculture Design Certificate courses – Castlemaine Permaculture – through Castlemaine Community House. There were also around 10 Permablitz held historically.

WasteMASG 2006-2020:

- Wash Against Waste Trailer designed and created in Castlemaine- MASG has been the parent organisation for the Repair Café and Boomerang Bags. - MASG also has a party hire service that is linked to the Wash Against Waste Trailer

(waw.org.au).Many events like school fetes, Applefest, Newstead Live etc have used the trailer. It has been running for over ten years preventing hundreds of kilograms of disposable plates cups and cutlery from being used and thrown away.

- MASG initiated many recycling streams that have since become independent eg. Battery recycling, fluorescent light recycling, These were set up by MASG at council office, various schools, hardware store etc. Printer cartridges, mobile phones and other e-waste was also collected by MASG until it became accessible at the landfill.

- MASG collaborated with the HUB and Castlemaine Community House to get some streams of Terracycle recycling happening at Community House.

The HUB 2014-2020:- Plastic Bag Free Castlemaine is a project of the Hub Foundation. The project was initiated early

in 2017 in response to tackling single use plastic bag consumption as the ‘low hanging fruit’.- Workshops: Waste Wise shopping – 30 participants; Composting – online 95 people registered;

Wax wraps - 50 people attended; Plastic Free Periods- Established partnership with local prison to produce Boomerang Bags – over 600 so far

produced- Partnership with Castlemaine Farmers Market: Reviewed waste policies -ongoing consultancy,

Boomerang Cups established, Boomerang Cups introduced to most local cafes – partnership with The Salvos, Working with Tarrengower prison to review plans to reduce waste

In addition to these, there are emergent projects such as community composting systems to prevent green waste going to landfill.

Renewable energyMASG 2006-2010:

- Solar PV Bulk Buy two rounds delivering 52 and 192 installations- Green Power Marketing: A program to increase the uptake of GreenPower by linking the

purchase of domestic and small business GreenPower to the installation of Solar PV on 5 nominated community buildings

- The Low CO2 Project was a pilot to explore the potential for establishing a small scale carbon market within the Small to Medium Enterprise (SME) sector

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- Community Wind emergent project and Maine’s Power

MASG 2011-2014:- The Maine’s Power project worked with large energy users in the Mount Alexander Shire to

contribute towards a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions it also aimed to work towards zero net emissions by 2020 while increasing the security of energy supply in the Shire

- MACWind: Continuing the ground work as referenced in 2006-2011, a major focus of MASG was to establish a community owned and operated wind farm in the Shire. Inspired by Hepburn Wind, this was a project that attracted enthusiastic support and funding. A shortlist was chosen, and a community engagement process was undertaken in two promising sites, located some 14km from the Baringhup township. The group was unable to achieve a sufficient level of community support to proceed. The sites may have proved viable in better times but became at best marginal given the unhelpful regulatory environment and the low wholesale electricity prices. Stronger and more viable sites have been identified that could be revisited as the regulatory and financial environment change.

- The Goldfields SolarHub (GSH) project This was a joint initiative of the Bendigo Sustainability Group and the Mount Alexander Sustainability Group. Its purpose was to promote the installation of solar energy within the Bendigo and Mount Alexander regions. The GSH program was rolled out over three rounds between March 2011 and September 2012. There were 637 installations resulting in a total of 1.7 MW of solar power installed in the Bendigo and Mount Alexander areas and surrounds, at an average system size of 2.65 kW.

- The Peoples Solar, a partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding with Energy for the People, was formed to develop a program of donor and investor funder solar PV installs on commercial and community facilities. This saw installation on the Castlemaine Child Care Centre, Taradale Primary School and Chewton Primary School.

MASG 2014-2020:- Bioenergy: after considering several sites and structures of organisation, MASG has been

working closely with Don KR to build a biodigester. The design has been built around a closed-loop zero waste circular economy model. It’s less about specific technologies and more about designing and integrating a system of resource flows, based on sound design principles, that can become a model for other projects regardless of technology.

The HUB 2014-2020:- Initiated MASH and then handed over the CVGA in 2018, a key feature of this work is funding

community buildings and low income houses from the ‘profits’

MASH 2014-2018 (The Hub) 2018-2020 (CVGA)- 2014 – 690kW- 2015 -907kW- 2016 – 577kW- 2017 - 903kW - 2018-2019 1168kW- 2020 -1347kW- Total of 5.5MW of solar from inception

Solar Savers (2017)

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- Solar PV for low income households, led by the greenhouse alliances with MASC and Bank Australia

Central Victorian Solar Cities 2010-2013- CVGA set up a private company, Sustainable Regional Australia (SRA) to act as the lead

proponent of the federal government’s $42 million Central Victoria Solar City (CVSC), part of the Australian Government’s Solar Cities program. The Solar Cities program was designed to offer incentives to local residents, businesses and various market sectors to participate in a trial range of energy efficiency and local energy generation products and services.

- The Central Victorian Solar Cities program facilitated a ‘whole of community’ approach to energy saving and renewable energy generation. Newstead’s early success in engaging 80% of households in completing a home energy assessment inspired other towns to become involved

- Partnerships were established with ‘lighthouse’ schools - Castlemaine Secondary, to showcase opportunities for primary and secondary school students around the benefits of renewable energy. Teachers from across the region also participated in professional development convened by CVSC

Renewable Newstead 2008 - 2014:- The concept of Renewable Newstead was seeded in 2008. - The group completed a feasibility study in 2011 and set an intent to investigate how to switch a

small town to 100 per cent, locally generated, renewable energy in a commercially viable and socially acceptable way. It had to be fair to all, small-scale and enable all locals to participate regardless of income or rooftop constraints

Renewable Newstead 2015-2020- Funding was secured in 2015 and a business model ready to be implemented - was delivered

to the Department of Energy, Water, Land and Planning, in June 2018- The preferred model is for a 2MW solar farm with battery storage as an optional extra near

Newstead, the planning permit was submitted in 2020 for up to 10MW solar farm

BuildingsMASG 2006-2010:

- Energy efficiency programs were undertaken and these included running Trades Workshops and developing the Comfy Homes register

- The Carbon Reduction Action Group (CRAG) program supported a personal carbon emission reduction scheme to help minimize energy use among MASG members who pledged to live low carbon lives

- Demonstration House was built at a modest price and rated as highly energy efficient

MASG 2011-2014- Sustainable House Tours Initially in partnership with the Alternative Technology Association

(ATA) but in the following years, as an independent MASG project

MASG 2015-2020:- Sustainable Build: A house was built and sold as an example of ‘best practice’ in building.

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- Scorecard: Home energy assessments have been offered to the community to help people understand what level of efficiency their homes are at and how to improve them

The HUB 2014-2020:- The Paddock: Aims to have 27 homes, currently has 7 – with another 4 being built this year.

CVGA 2013- Your business, your future program (http://www.cvga.org.au/your-business--your-future.html)

Events / celebration / rituals MASG 2006-2010:

- Carbon Neutral Festival and a showing of the Inconvenient Truth, the circuit breaking Al Gore movie. A significant amount of seed funding was raised from generous local donors to enable MASG to get programs off the ground

- Two successful Trade Fairs were organised, where trades and suppliers offering energy efficiency products were on show

- Maldon Folk Festival as carbon neutral- Festival of the Wheel - Energy Expo - Growing the Harvest - Carbon Neutral Events: Included The National Poetry Festival held in Castlemaine, Didgeridoo

Festival and Peace Festival, and the Castlemaine Community House Ball- Sustainable Garden Open Days - Awakening the Dreamer: Pachamama Alliance – over 40 people taken through a process to take

an honest look at the challenging state of the world, reflect and discover opportunities to create a new future where you have a key role to play.

MASG 2015-2020:- Sustainability Drinks: A series of relaxed events run at friendly venues like the Taproom with

informative speakers and topics of interest. A way to engage and help build public awareness about different areas of sustainability

- SHED: Sustainable House Education Day became an annual event with tours of four different builds across the shire and a forum at the end of the day on a particular topic of relevance.

- Fashion Parade: A fun community event that hoped to raise awareness about the damage that fast fashion has on the planet.

- Saltgrass: A weekly radio show and podcast about local sustainability activity. Funded by the Community Broadcasting Foundation and aired on MAINfm and 3MDR. Podcast to saltgrass.podbean.com

The HUB 2014-2020:

- Ride to Work – hosted over 5 yearly local events including community and schools to encourage use of cycling for transport

- The Murals: Live Lightly for a safe climate– artwork by local illustrator and writer Trace Balla – presents a future vision for what a ‘low-carbon’ lifestyle can look like – viewed by an estimated 100 plus people per day. Aimed at connecting us to imagination, creativity and possibility, as well of course to the infectious joy that is present in Trace’s characters

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- Food for Thought film series: over 50 films screened with approximate audience of over 1000- Trained approximately 500 people over multiple sessions in topics such as : jams and

preserves, cider making, bread making, miso and fermenting, edible weeds

2007 - 2012 Transition Town - beginning in around 2007 after the launch of the Transition Towns Movement (UK) Transition Towns movement was attractive to many in ‘sustainability’ as it provided a way to bring all parts of the movement together: renewables; spirituality; social ecology; permaculture; food growing. Some of the events were:

- Hats off Transition: a series of hot dinners that brought together people from many different organisations and perspectives to discuss transition (20 people at each).

- Multiple community meetings – small group planning (5-6) and bigger 20-50 group gatherings. Sharing vision and skills.

- The Work that Reconnects – Joanna Macey – Despair and Empowerment workshops (2 hosted with 15-20 people).

- Food for Thought – series of films – people invited to discussion after the films (Growing Abundance continued this work) Inaugural film was The Yes Men.

- Transition Course through Castlemaine Community House brought together around 15 participants, all had to design a project. Strong focus on reflecting on the embodied experience of taking action towards vision.

- 2 day training included: visioning – what is the future we want to create; what is our current context; how do we get from here to there; what skills and tools do we need to get us there; bringing in deep/social ecology.

Stone Soup:- Bringing women on the land and townies together to share stories and a ‘stone soup’ everyone

put something in.

Localising Leanganook 2015-2020- Localising Leanganook emerged as a community initiative following the Local Lives Global

Matters conference held in Castlemaine in 2015. With a central Victorian focus, in particular Mt Alexander and Hepburn Shires, Localising Leanganook advocates and supports: sustaining viable local economies; acting on social and ecological justice; reclaiming democracy; and revitalising spirit.

- Prior to covid restrictions, community conversations were held every six weeks. Conversation topics have included: eco collaborative housing and de-growth; reclaiming the commons; Renewable Newstead; permaculture and retrofitting suburbia; how can we do democracy better?; earth laws; food sovereignty; zero-net energy villages and rural regions across Europe, Scandinavia and the UK; political economy of housing and real estate; climate, system change and young voices; cooperatives as an alternative economic structure plus a follow up workshop; reclaiming democracy- Voices for Indi share their story; Stop Adani film and blockade Q and A; and regenerative economies.

- A follow up Local Lives Global Matters Convergence was scheduled for 2020. The Convergence planned to bring Central Victorian communities together to meet some of the challenges ahead, with a focus on insight and action. The Convergence has been postponed due to covid. Via it’s e-news, Localising Leanganook also acts as clearing house and information exchange for the many central Victorian localising initiatives. The e-news is published every 4 to 6 weeks and has an ever-growing subscriber base living in the region- currently at 662.

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Castlemaine Commons 2020Throughout the Covid-19 lockdowns, the Castlemaine Commons was an initiative run on YouTube that finished its first series with a range of recommendations including:

- A resilience project that brings together a number of partners (Council, agencies and community organisations) that builds on the neighbourhood resilience groups building our communities resilience (in all its forms) for climate and other shocks to come.- A group of Allies of Aboriginal and First Nations people - working on racism and decolonisation - perhaps establishing reading groups and reflective workshops for organisations and institutions to undertake.

- MASDG - make all buildings accessible. - A Castlemaine currency and local knowledge building for alternative economics - Participatory democracy- The idea of establishing a ‘school’ preparing us all for our future. - Working with Council to fully engage an extensive cross section of our community in the

development and ownership of Z-NET- Maintain the effort of State and National campaigning, pressure and movement building -

join, and support the movement - Students strikers, Central Vic Climate Action, XR.

Micro funding initiativesMASG provided micro grants to get action off the ground – small strategic incubator funds based on passion, skills and connections. The Hub has also been a local micro-funder.

Carbon sequestration CVGA 2001-2004

- In 2001 soon after its inception, the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance (then the North Central Greenhouse Gas Abatement Consortium) began working with the NCCMA and DNRE on an application for funding for under the Commonwealth Greenhouse Gas Abatement Program (GGAP). The purpose of GGAP was to fund cost effective programs that were likely to result in large emissions reductions. The focus of the CVGA application was on regional revegetation to sequester carbon.

- In 2002, the NCCMA ran a workshop entitled North Central Victoria’s response to climate change - broadscale revegetation. The aim was to pioneer a catchment response to climate change through the establishment of vegetation sinks across North Central Victoria.

- In 2003, the NCCMA and DNRE published a Carbon Sinks Action Plan. The purpose of the plan was to initiate a regional response to climate change by sequestering carbon through vegetation and changing land-use.

- In December 2003, the CVGA was awarded $90k by the state government to promote private investment in carbon sinks. This work involved:

- Attracting investors into the region- Encouraging landholders to develop sequestration plantings- Developing investor/landholder contracts- Designing sequestration plantings for local governments- Developing a computerised mapping program identifying optimal sequestration sites

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- Securing Australian Greenhouse Office certification

4. Significant commercial developments

4.1 Baringhup Solar Farm Baringhup Solar Farm received planning permit approval in December 2019. It is a RES Australia development, located around 2kms west of Baringhup. Valued at $190m, the project capacity is 75MW with a battery storage system up to 150MWh capacity.

4.2 Ravenswood Solar FarmFRV Services Australia (FRV) is proposing to build a 63 MW AC solar farm near Ravenswood South. This project is currently awaiting planning permit approval.

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