Collaborative plan to guide response to climate emergency

Residents are invited to collaborate on a new plan that will guide the Macedon Ranges community on managing the impacts of climate change.

Building on the momentum of the earlier Cool Changes program and a unified call for more urgent
action, Cool-ER Changes aims to take a broader lens on the future of our environment in creating a
shared, shire-wide Climate Emergency Response Plan for both Council and the community.

The plan will initially be informed by a number of themed workshops between March and June,
delving into discussions on topics including healthy ecosystems, renewable energy, waste
management and responses to natural disasters.

Mayor Annette Death encouraged all Macedon Ranges residents to get involved with Cool-ER
Changes, given the broad impacts of climate change regardless of individual circumstances.
“Through the Cool Changes program, Council worked with residents across the Macedon Ranges to help address climate action at a localised level – this was important, but only one part of the story,” she said.

“Cool-ER Changes will result in a more universal action plan. From renewables to rural land
management practices, future-proofing community sport to the liveability of our homes, there will be something tangible for everyone to take action on.”

The community is invited to the official launch of Cool-ER Changes at Kyneton Town Hall on Thursday 2 March from 7pm – 8:30pm, to celebrate the tangible climate action already underway in the shire and outline the vision for further action into the future.

This launch will also see the debut screening of Bridging the Divide: a short film voicing the thoughts of young and old residents in the shire on climate change.

Cool-ER Changes aligns with a Council commitment within its Council Plan 2021-2031 to “lessen the severity of climate change through actions that enable Council and community to reduce greenhouse gas emissions”.

It also complements Council’s recently endorsed Counting Down to Zero plan, to target zero net emissions across Council-managed facilities and operations by 2030.

For more information and to register your attendance for the Cool-ER Changes launch, visit
mrsc.vic.gov.au/Cool-ER-Changes

Warmly,

Justin Walsh (He/Him)
Sustainability Officer, Strategic Planning & Environment Department Macedon Ranges Shire Council 
PO Box 151 Kyneton Victoria 3444
T: 5422 0376 M: 0419 906 898

E: juwalsh@mrsc.vic.gov.au Web: www.mrsc.vic.gov.au

Working Together | Honesty | Accountability | Innovation | Respect

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Macedon Ranges Shire Council acknowledges the Dja Dja Wurrung, Taungurung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this land and waterways. Council recognises their living cultures and ongoing connection to Country and pays respect to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Council also acknowledges local Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander residents of Macedon Ranges for their ongoing contribution to the diverse culture of our community.

Flood Recovery Resources

Victorian Landcare Gateway

New Flood Recovery Resources webpages developed on the Victorian Landcare Gateway provide links to a wide range of practical land management flood recovery information on: livestock, fencing, waterways, soils, weeds, riparian vegetation, erosion, wildlife, horticulture, grants and financial assistance, and how to volunteer to help with the flood recovery such volunteering to help rebuild fences with BlazeAid.

These Flood Recovery Resources webpages were compiled by Victorian Landcare Program staff at the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) in late 2022, to assist with landholders and groups flood recovery after the floods in Victoria in late 2022. The webpages were updated again in mid-January 2023. 

As additional flood recovery land management-related information becomes available it will be linked to these webpages. 

The information in the links in the webpages comes from a range of sources including Agriculture Victoria, DEECA, VicEmergency, Department of Health (Vic), Catchment Management Authorities, Disaster Recovery Australia, and BlazeAid. 

Machinery of Government changes to DEECA (formerly DELWP)

Effective 1 January 2023

Along with a new name, there are some exciting changes happening within the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA); most importantly for Landcare, Agriculture returns to the Environment portfolio!

With climate change and energy transformation at its heart, DEECA will integrate the Resources and Agriculture portfolios and together with Energy, Water and the Environment will drive a greater focus on emissions reduction opportunities and adaptation and consolidate oversight of Victoria’s resource-based sectors. This will better position Victoria to meet the government’s newly committed 2030 and 2035 and net zero by 2045 emissions reduction targets.

The Department will also auspice the establishment of the State Electricity Commission Victoria (SECV) and all energy programs and grants administered by DJPR will move to DEECA.

The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action will continue to be led by Secretary John Bradley, and support the following Ministers:

· Minister for Climate Action Lily D’Ambrosio (Coordinating Minister)

· Minister for Energy and Resources Lily D’Ambrosio

· Minister for the State Electricity Commission Lily D’Ambrosio

· Minister for Environment Ingrid Stitt

· Minister for Water Harriet Shing

· Minister for Agriculture Gayle Tierney