Coffs Harbour City Council

Actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Coffs Harbour City Council is the only Council in Australia to have installed energy efficient street lighting across the whole of its local government area, cutting CO2 emissions by around 650 tonnes per year.
Energy Smart Homes program in partnership with the Department of Energy Utilities and Services and Country Energy. This program includes free home energy audits as well as a competition promoting the usage of the Energy Smart Home Rating framework.
Council is also actively promoting the use of green power in the community.

Preparation of an Integrated Transport Plan is currently being undertaken. We are assessing various transport needs within the community which will form the basis of the subsequent plan.

Installation of high efficiency fluorescent lights and control gear in Council buildings as well as power factor correction in Council facilities.
Energy efficient design in new Council buildings and facilities is also being employed.
Level 3 energy audits have been conducted on three of Council's heavy energy using facilities.
From 2007, renewable energy is to be sourced for all Council's future electricity needs, through the purchase of GreenPower which will help cut the organisation's greenhouse gas emissions by 80 per cent.
Alternative vehicle fleet options are being reviewed including the trial of a hybrid car, the use of diesel and ethanol blend fuels and smaller-engined cars for the car fleet. A corporate car pooling service for employees is already in place.
Variable speed drives have also been installed in water and sewer pump stations as well as solar heating at the Municipal Pool. Installation of solar panels in selective positions to generate energy for the facilities and to feed the grid is also being actively considered.

The new Coffs Coast Resource Recovery Facility and new regional Materials Recovery Facility, and associated collection services will be commissioned over the next 12 months. Elements include construction of an alternative waste technology plant to process source separated organics, mixed waste and recyclables into marketable products. About 87 per cent of the waste stream will be recovered as beneficial products with only about 13 per cent destined for landfill.
Landfill gas recovery and cogeneration is also being provided to produce green power and heat, which may be used waste processing operations.

Contact: Malcolm Robertson
Web Address: www.coffsharbour.nsw.gov.au

Updated: November 2007

State: New South Wales
Date joined:
2001
Current Milestone:
CCP Plus