Environmental Sustainability Report shows real progress

Published on 31 January 2023

Mildura Rural City Council has cut its public lighting electricity and water usage and further slashed the amount of waste going to landfill according to the organisation’s latest Environmental Sustainability Report.

The annual report card on Council’s ongoing push to operate more sustainably, and the resulting energy savings, showed that during 2021-22 Council:

• slashed emissions by the equivalent of 6,250 tonnes of carbon dioxide
• cut public lighting electricity consumption by more than 95 megawatts (6.4%)
• reduced water consumption by 131 megalitres (9%)
• diverted and recycled more than 2,893 tonnes of green waste at the Mildura Landfill
• engaged more than 1,175 residents in environmental and waste education
•  planted 1,237 trees in urban areas
• Replaced three fleet vehicles with fully electric vehicles and installed four electrical vehicle charger points, powered by 100% renewable energy, which is expected to save more than 3,000 litres of fuel per year.

Councillor for Environmental Sustainability Jason Modica said greenhouse emissions, energy, fleet, water, biodiversity, waste and community engagement were key sustainability areas for the organisation, each of which has its own plans and strategies.

Cr Modica said the combined outcomes of the emissions-reducing measures outlined in the report represented a significant reduction to Council’s environmental footprint.

“The progress outlined in our latest Environmental Sustainability Report builds on the strong momentum our organisation has developed in recent years in terms of slashing our energy usage and reducing our carbon emissions,” he said.

“It certainly proves the benefits of the work we’ve been undertaking in recent years, and the direction we’ve taken in terms of our aspirational push for zero emissions.”

The progress outlined in the 2021-22 Environmental Sustainability Report is further evidence of the gains Council has made since becoming the 30^th local government in Victoria, and the 94^th in Australia, to declare a climate emergency.

To access the report visit mildura.vic.gov.au/Environment

ENDS