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Climate Change

Council is committed to embracing new technologies and products that lead to cost savings, greater efficiencies and more sustainable outcomes for our community. Some of the recent projects we’ve undertaken are bringing action on energy efficiency, reducing our carbon footprint and providing an opportunity to recycle and repurpose waste materials. You can read about these projects below.

The following details our current activities and commitments:

  • Climate Capability Program: Council’s NRM Facilitator is a representative to the Climate Capability Program coordinated by the State government. This program aims to enhance our knowledge and capacity to address climate-related adaptation and mitigation efforts in the local government sector in collaboration with state government, NRM organizations, and relevant sectors.
  • Southern Councils Climate Collaboration: Council has been a partner in this regional project since 2011 when initiated by the STCA and which has led to other climate related associations and actions. Most recently we participated in Climate Risk and Adaptation Planning Regional Outcomes (July 2024) and a revised Climate Change Adaptation Plan 2024 (to supersede the 2012 document) and which is being considered by Council for adoption as at November 2024.
  • Baseline Information and GHG Emissions: We are committed to understanding our climate footprint by collecting baseline data. Each year, we calculate the Council’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and strive to reduce our footprint.
  • Electrifying Council Fleet: A report on electrifying our fleet, including both light and heavy vehicles, with 10 year transition plan outlines the opportunities and challenges associated with fully electrifying our vehicles.
  • Coastal and Estuarine Risk Mitigation Program (CERMP): A three-year Disaster Reduction Fund project focused on addressing the impacts of future climate changes on our stormwater infrastructure in our fragile foreshore and establishing a baseline for future urban design.
  • Electricity Efficiency Improvements: From 2019/2020 to 2021/2022, we have reduced our energy consumption by 16.6% through upgrades, particularly in street lighting and we continue to improve our efficiency.
  • Waste Management and GHG Reduction: Landfilling accounts for 85% of the Council’s GHG emissions. Starting from the year 2024/2025, we aim to significantly reduce these emissions by introducing green waste collection then transitioning to full FOGO (Food Organics and Garden Organics).
  • Renewable Energy Generation: The Council generates at least 58,392 kWh of electricity annually through solar panels installed on various Council buildings.
  • Flood Risk Reduction and Riparian Improvement: We are committed to enhancing the riparian environment and reducing flood risks in our rivulets. The Council has applied for grant funding in partnership with various stakeholders to support these efforts particularly for the Sorell Rivulet.
  • Bushfire Impact Mitigation: We are working with expert organizations to understand the differential impacts of bushfires in our municipality and to develop adaptation plans to mitigate these risks.  We have partnered with Geoneon for a grant application to develop a fire hazard rating similar to work undertaken for the City of Hobart.
  • NRM Collaboration: Council staff continue to collaborate with NRM organizations to understand and implement future climate emergency mitigation and adaptation measures.
  • Natural Hazard Risk Register: To better prepare for climate emergencies, GHD were commissioned to prepare a Natural Hazard Risk Register. This tool helps us understand the impacts on critical sectors and infrastructure, providing recommendations for necessary actions.
  • NRM Strategy Development: The Council is currently developing a Natural Resource Management (NRM) Strategy, where climate change is a key cross-cutting issue across all thematic areas. This strategy will provide comprehensive recommendations for both mitigation and adaptation measures to address climate emergencies.
  • Coastal Erosion and Inundation Hazards:  Planning and building applications within areas mapped by the Tasmanian Government are subject to risk mitigation regulation.

Council further demonstrated its commitment to addressing climate change by joining the Climate Council Cities Power Partnership (CCCPP) and pledging to implement five key actions. These pledges represent a strategic enhancement of the Council’s policy framework, enabling a more robust response to climate change.

The pledges adopted by Council at its May 2023 meeting:

  1. Installing renewable energy sources, such as solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, on council buildings to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and to encourage the community to adopt similar practices.
  2. Establishing minimum renewable energy standards for new developments to promote environmentally responsible construction projects incorporating sustainable energy solutions.
  3. Implementing energy-efficient lighting throughout the municipality, thereby reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions.
  4. Reducing waste emissions through innovative practices that convert organic waste into renewable energy, thus promoting a circular economy and environmental sustainability.
  5. Supporting local community energy groups by fostering collaborations, sharing resources, and raising awareness about renewable energy and climate change solutions.

These commitments will require future budget allocations but represent the Council’s proactive stance in combating climate change, with the ultimate goal of fostering a sustainable and environmentally responsible community.

Council collaborated with five other Tasmanian Councils, LGAT and TasNetworks on a bulk replacement program to change the current residential street lights to more efficient LED lights.

This upgrade will create significant cost and energy savings for each Council and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Approximately 530 lights were replaced across the Municipality, with the majority in Sorell and Midway Point. The old lights were dismantled and recycled.

LED lights have a lifespan of approximately 20 years with very little maintenance required.

So far cost savings indicate an approx. $6,000 per month saving or $72,000 per annum.

In an effort to reduce waste and improve sustainability, Council trialled a new recycled asphalt product called Reconophalt in the resurfacing of the Sorell Park and Ride. Reconophalt is an innovative asphalt product that contains high recycled content from materials such as soft plastics, glass, toner cartridges and reclaimed road asphalt and is produced by the Downer Group. The product is 10-15% more expensive per sqm than standard asphalt material.

Soft plastics from approximately 252,000 plastic bags and packaging, 93,000 glass bottle equivalents, 5,700 used printer and toner cartridges and 32 tonnes of recycled asphalt were used in the resurfacing of the Park and Ride facility in Station Lane, Sorell.

Downer’s testing of Reconophalt material showed it lasted longer and was less prone to deformation than traditional forms of asphalt, which means it can better handle heavy vehicle traffic. The Park and Ride facility was an ideal place for us to trial the product.

This climate change adaptation plan was developed under the Southern Councils Climate Collaboration Project (2021-24) and is a review of work undertaken under the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Project (RCCAP 2010-14).

This climate change adaptation plan aims to improve the capability of Sorell Council to manage the risks associated with climate change. Climate change adaptation is defined as action taken to prepare for actual or expected changes in the climate in order to minimise harm and to cope with consequences. Climate change is affecting Council’s service delivery and the infrastructure that the community depends upon by exacerbating the threats that existing extreme weather events pose.

The adaptation plan suggests a mechanism to implement regional adaptation actions where issues in common are identified across councils through both a regional adaptation strategy and ongoing involvement with the Regional Climate Change Initiative which is a forum for progressing actions collaboratively.

Sorell Climate Change Adaptation Plan

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