Natural environment at the heart of new budget

Initiatives that protect the natural environment and reduce emissions are at the heart of the City’s vision statement to be a sustainable City with a local focus, and have been put at the heart of the 2023/24 annual budget.

As we seek to create an energy-wise City and achieve the emissions reduction targets in our Sustainable Energy Action Plan (Corporate) 2020-2030, the City will invest $600,000 in solar photovoltaic (PV) panels this year. These installations will take place at the City’s Operations Centre and Osborne Community Hub.

Additionally, $30,000 has been allocated to establish more public EV charging locations and conduct an investigation into public demand and future infrastructure requirements. This budget will be supplemented by a $30,468 grant from the State Government's Charge Up Workplace grant. Together, these funds will support the installation of four dual chargers at the public carpark off Civic Place, servicing eight bays, and one dual charger behind the Bob Daniel Community Centre in Inglewood, servicing two bays.

$123,900 has been allocated to the City’s Energy Smart City Support project which will provide sustainable energy planning and educational information to the community, as well as a solar energy study and gas-free study for Stirling Leisure Centres – Leisurepark Balga.

To foster a biodiverse and green city, the City has allocated $1.4 million to the City Greening Initiative. This investment demonstrates our commitment to planting one million trees and shrubs by 2025 across the City's parks, reserves, natural areas, and streetscapes. An additional $216,420 will fund the City's Urban Forest Plan, which seeks to enhance tree retention, planting, and canopy on both public and private land.

The City's Waterwise City project, with a budget of $109,250, aims to implement sustainable corporate water management practices and community incentives. This project will be complemented by a $600,000 Gnangara Waterwise Councils grant from the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation.

Mayor Mark Irwin said both the City’s investments and the funding from the State Government were tangible actions to achieve net zero by 2050.

“The City has embraced a bold vision of becoming a sustainable City with a local focus, promoting growth while preserving our natural environment,” he said.

“We are committed to delivering 100 per cent renewable electricity by 2030 which is represented by our escalated expenditure on solar PV panels and recent power purchase agreement, and we are committed to our 2025 target of one million trees and shrubs planted.

“The City is grateful for the investment and trust the State Government has placed in us, as we work together to accomplish our shared objectives through their external funding.”