Environmental groups put pressure on Yarra to go greener

By Simon Kidd

Two new environment groups have challenged Yarra Council, the Victorian municipality with the most Greens councillors, to “put its money where its mouth where its mouth is” on its own greenhouse gas emissions.
Co-founder of the Fitzroy-based green group Beyond Zero Emissions, Matt Wright, said despite the presence of three Greens, Yarra had only made token efforts towards reducing its carbon emissions.
Neighbouring Melbourne City Council, by contrast, had adopted a target of becoming “carbon neutral” within two decades.
“Here (in Yarra) we have got almost a Greens dominated council, only they don't have a green zero emission policy...If they want to be seen to be green they need to put their money where their mouth is,” Mr Wright said.
Meanwhile, another new local grassroots group, Yarra Climate Action Now, has urged Yarra to set aside more funding in its forthcoming budget for emissions reduction.
A 2004 policy sets Yarra a target of a 25 per cent reduction in carbon emissions by 2010. The council's main changes have been to use 15 per cent Green Power in its streetlights and 10 per cent in its buildings.
Mayor Jenny Farrar, one of three Greens councillors, defended her council's environmental credentials. She said Yarra had a range of environment policies that took a “holistic approach” to reducing emissions in the community.
“That criticism (that Yarra has not done enough) is unfair,” she said.
The council will look to new targets when it reviews its emissions policy next year.
Socialist councillor Steve Jolly joined green groups in putting pressure on Cr Farrar over emissions, formally asking council staff to calculate the cost adopting a zero emissions target as percusor to a community debate.
“We've got a Green mayor this year, and ....(voters) are expecting them to bring home the bacon,” he said.