​Alternatively, download the document via the following direct link - 

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​David Blore, BSFG Vice President
for BSFG Committee

At last Wednesday's Planning and Development Committee meeting, Benalla councillors wee finally considering a peition, originally received by council in April this year, from 600 local residents to declare a climate emergency, and to develop plans and actions that would enable Benalla to become a net-zero emissions community by 2030.

At the meeting, councillors were addressed by two of the Benalla P-12 College student captains, Jessica Patterson and Lachie Sands.  Benalla GP Dr Gerard Brownstein, and Benalla Sustainable Future Group (BSFG) president Peter Holmes.

Councillors asked many questions of the presenters, and all indicated their acknowledgement that climate change was indeed a threat to our community's future health, social and economic wellbeing.

However, at the conclusion of the discussion, a motion was moved and passed by all councillors that the petition be noted, that the council recognizes that climate change is one of the most significant issues that will impact the social, cultural and economic and environmental health and wellbeing of our community and will act accordingly with all policies and programs of the council, and that council further considers its position on climae change during the upcoming review of the Benalla Rural City Climate Change Adaptation and Action Plan 2013-2025.

BSFG, and no doubt the wider community know that we are very disappointed with this response from our elected leaders.

Despite overwhelming worldwide evidence of the catastrophic climate-related events in recent years, and the most recent IPCC report noting that "this is the last decade the world has in which to drastically reduce greenhouse emissions in order to contain global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius", council's motion contains no indication of urgency whatsoever, and no demonstrable target to work towards in relation to reducing greenhouse emissions.

In fact, the motion, in referring to the review of Council's Climate Change Adaptation Policy, 2013-2025, as its principal document of reference for climate change, basically indicates that council will make plans about what to do "after the hourse has bolted", rather than developing plans to stop the horse bolting.

We need a Climate Change MItigation Plan to be developed, a point that was made consistently by speakers on Wednesday night.

BSFG will continue to advocate vigorously for action on mitigating climate change.

Therefore, on behalf of the Benalla community, we declare that the world faces a climate emergency, and must drastically reduce its greenhouse emissions by 2030, and Benalla must play its part in striving for these emission reductions.

BSFG calls for expressions of interest from representatives of the many key stakeholder groups across the community which will be affected by climate change, to join a community consultation "Climate Change Mitigation" group to develop ideas and plans to lead Benalla towards a net-zero emissions future, preferably by 2030.

To register interest in participating, email BSFG at bsfginc@gmail.com and provide your name, contact details and areas of interest.

Peter Holmes, Benalla

A reminder that the Benalla Student Climate Rally takes place tomorrow, Friday 21st May at the Benalla Ceramic Mural from 4-5pm.

It would be great for many of us to be there and show strong support for the students, and bring a placard with the theme of "Fund Our Future - Not Gas". 

This just became even more relevant in the light of Wednesday’s announcement of $600 million going to build a gas power station at Kurri Kurri. It is critical that we send a strong message that this is just not acceptable, especially when the energy sector itself is questioning why????

Hope to see you there,

Judy Schwarzman
Secretary, BSFG.

Media Release:  Article Published in the Benalla Ensign, Wednesday 30 September, 2020

Sent: Friday, 25 September 2020 8:53 PM
To: 'editor@benallaensign.com.au'
Subject: School Strike for Climate

Students lead Australian action on climate
 
On Friday 25th September, over 630 separate actions were organised around Australia in support of Students Strike for climate change. In Benalla, a planned gathering with adherence to strict Covid protocols, was denied permission at the eleventh hour, but small groups of supporters still gathered to take photos of the messages they wanted to send to politicians, displaying their rejection of the so-called gas led economic recovery proposed by the Federal Government.
 
These plans, which include the development of five large unconventional gas fields (fracking) have been opposed by environmental groups, scientists,  and health professionals, as detrimental to the future health and safety of the Earth. It is well documented that fracking destroys the groundwater systems in the country around the gas drilling sites, both through the large volumes of water required to operate the drills, and the pollution of the water from the chemicals used. There is also documented evidence of serious health issues occurring in communities close to the gas fields.
 
From an economic point of view, claims from the government that gas will keep power prices down, are blatantly untrue. Wind farms and large solar farms are now producing electricity at a wholesale cost of $40 per MWh, compared to base load gas power generation costing $90 per MWh. Even renewables plus storage (large batteries) costs approximately $60 per MWh. These figures were determined by a recent CSIRO study into the electricity generation industry.
 
The students are also opposing the government’s plans to use public money to fund the gas industry, on the grounds that it is an option which will only exacerbate the climate crisis by contributing even more greenhouse gas emissions (carbon dioxide and methane), and reduce the possibility of preventing global warming from exceeding 2 degrees. This will make the future living conditions they face incredibly difficult, climatically, food production wise, and from a health perspective.
 
Is this the future we really want for our children and grandchildren?
 
 
Peter Holmes, President – Benalla Sustainable Future Group

This coming Friday has been earmarked as a day of Australia-wide protest at the Federal Government's proposals to fund the expansion of the gas industry in Australia, firstly by trying to open up major gas fracking operations in the Beetaloo Basin of the NT and the Pilliga region of central western NSW, and secondly, proposing to build a gas-fired electricity generator in the Hunter Valley of NSW.

Any increase in our use of fossil fuels is counter-productive to the fight against climate change, as it only leads to additional greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide and methane) being released into the atmosphere.
The theme for this week's student action is "Fund our Future - not Gas". There will be a press release in this week's Benalla Ensign about the action.

BSFG is holding a brief event at midday at the Ceramic Mural next to Lake Benalla, to support that theme. We will be adhering to strict Covid protocols - you must wear masks, and be in groups of no more than 10, and socially distance within each group.

Please bring a placard/poster voicing your message to politicians around the above theme. Photos will be taken and published in the Ensign and on the BSFG website, and sent to local politicians to deliver the messages.

If the weather is wet, we will gather under the Benalla Library in the carparking area.

Please email or text Peter Holmes re your intention to attend.
​
Email:  chrispeth@bigpond.com
Text:   0438625638
 
Peter Maddock
Secretary