Building a resilient future for the Sunshine Coast

17 November 2009    Building a resilient future for the Sunshine Coast

Evidence suggests that our climate is changing, with predictions indicating we can expect more severe storms, higher temperatures and rising sea levels.

Combine this with mounting financial pressure from increasing oil prices, and you begin to see the enormous impact climate change and peak oil will have on our community, our environment and our lifestyle.

That is why we need to act now.

The Draft Sunshine Coast Climate Change Strategy aims to guide the transition to a low carbon, low oil, resilient future for the Sunshine Coast.  

The strategy supports an early response at a local level to the changing world and now it is time to have your say as part of council’s extensive Our Place Our Future community engagement program.

Environmental Portfolio Councillor Keryn Jones said that an early response will help to reduce the impacts of climate change and peak oil on our community.

“As part of south-east Queensland, the Sunshine Coast has been identified as a climate change ‘hotspot’ by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change,” Cr Jones said.

“However, combating climate change and peak oil will bring many challenges but we do know that by responding early we can help improve community resilience and provide opportunities for innovation and the development of cleaner technologies.”

Cr Jones said that it will take the joint efforts of everyone to build a low carbon, low oil, resilient future for the Sunshine Coast.

“Australia is the driest inhabited continent in the world and we will be significantly impacted by climate change,” Cr Jones said.

“How we respond to climate change will influence how others respond, and this will determine the extent of the change that we need to manage.

“If we’re going to address the risks at a local level, we’ll need to change our behaviour and reduce our reliance on emission intensive and oil based products.

“This draft strategy aims to tackle climate change and peak oil through four key themes—leadership, mitigation, adaptation and energy transition.

“I encourage people to get involved by providing feedback on the actions that will help council and the region reach its goal.”

The draft strategy was shaped by feedback from earlier consultation programs making this the last time it goes to the community before going to council for adoption. If adopted, it will become the platform for council’s future operations and discussions with other levels of government.  

The community can have its say on the Draft Climate Change Strategy by filling out a feedback form or by sending council a detailed submission.

For more information or to have your say:

o    Visit council’s website www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au
o    Take part in an online discussion via Facebook
o    Visit a local library or council customer service centre
o    Talk to a staff member at a local roadshow display near you.

Submissions close at 4pm on Monday 7 December 2009.

The remaining roadshow dates are:
17 November, 3pm–7pm, Noosa Junction, The J, 60 Noosa Drv, Noosa Heads
19 November, 3pm–7pm, Millwell Road Community Centre, 11a Millwell Rd East,, Maroochydore
21 November, Yandina Markets, Old Bruce Highway, Yandina
24 November, 9am–1pm, Palmwoods Memorial Hall, Main St, Palmwoods
26 November, 9am–1pm, Mapleton Community Hall, 31 Obi Obi Rd, Mapleton
28 November, 9am–1pm, Innovation Centre, Sunshine Coast University, 90 Sippy Downs Drv, Sippy Downs
29 November, Cotton Tree Markets, King St, Cotton Tree