| By Anthony Radford
Funding cuts to hit climate group
THE state government is poised to cut funding to central Victoria’s peak climate change group, a move that has outraged the region’s community leaders.
As of July next year, the government will no longer provide operational or staff funding for the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance as it moves to reduces greenhouse emissions to zero nett in the region.
Instead, the government has suggested the alliance seek project-based funding, reduce staff levels, look elsewhere for funds or increase membership fees.
CVGA members include 14 councils, the Bendigo Bank, Bendigo Health, La Trobe University, the University of Ballarat and other similar businesses.
The CVGA has instigated and developed projects such as Solar Cities, Reaching for Renewables, Climate Friendly Schools and the Household Energy Behaviour projects.
CVGA chairman and Buloke Shire councillor Leo Tellefson has written a letter to the organisation’s members urging support, citing the importance of the issue to the region.
“The CVGA’s board has met to address the future of the
organisation,” he said.
“It strongly believes that the CVGA has an important part to play in the region’s move to reducing its reliance on fossil fuel energy.
“The CVGA’s aim of leading a thriving community to zero net emissions is becoming even more urgent.
“Australia’s climate change modellers are becoming increasingly concerned that the ongoing drought which is undermining our region’s economy and community is not just a part of Australia’s variable climate but also climate change.”
Cr Tellefson said the government‘s recommended funding measures post July 2008 took the group away from its main goal.
“(The CVGA) does not believe that it can ask more of its members in terms of membership fees. Cost shifting down to councils and the community occurs far too often,” he said.
“Most grant funding is very competitive, requires significant work to get, and can also distract the organisation from its core goals.
“To do this very
important work of bringing
resources into the region
requires resourcing that is not provided by grants.
“It does not believe that it can significantly reduce the staff hours for which it pays.”
City of Greater Bendigo mayor and avid climate change campaigner David Jones said the government’s decision was disappointing.
“It is disappointing that the Department of Sustainabilty and Environment does not see the value of continued support to CVGA given the increased recognition of the reality of climate change at all levels,” he said.
“CVGA has a very important role to play and we would hope that DSE could find a way to continue the administrative funding for at least another two years to give the CVGA board time to establish alternative supplementary funding sources.”
The Mount Alexander Shire council is being recognised around the world for the work it is doing with the CVGA and locally to reduce its emissions.
Mayor Jim Norris did not mince his words on the CVGA funding issue.
“We are kicking goals against the worst threat that has faced humanity, yet they are cutting funding,” he said.
“I would find it ironic that the government was withdrawing funding for a successful organisation that has demonstrated central Victorian
municipalities can lead the way in dealing with climate change,” he said.
“To withdraw funding that would jeopardise that work in light of what we know about the threat of climate change just doesn’t make sense.”
A DSE spokesperson acknowledged the funding
arrangements were changing.
“Assistance is available for alliances in developing a plan to transition to the new funding model,” she said.
“There are a number of State and Commonwealth government grant programs that provide support for local climate change mitigation and abatement activities.
”The Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance has already been successful in their application for a number of such grants and we will continue to encourage them to move towards project-based funding arrangements.
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