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Related articles: | Summary of key points | Media release |
The Community Alliance has consulted with individuals and groups who desire a better grassroots approach to sustainability; we have drawn on the advice and experience of many environmental experts and formulated policies that reflect the capacity and desires of local communities. The ACT is not unique in facing the sustainability challenges that lie ahead, but the ACT is uniquely placed to be able to deal with these challenges. We are an educated and committed population aware of the need to live within our environmental means. For real and lasting change we must start at the community level as neither technological nor legislative changes will be successful on their own. Throwing vast amounts of money at a sustainability issue like climate change is irresponsible unless the community is committed to achieving the desired outcome. Contact: James Sizer; Roger Nicoll PLANNING: THE CONTEXT Any plans for sustainability must first recognise the role Canberra as the nation’s capital, and return to its design as a planned and beautiful city. Because people are so important to the future of a city, the Community Alliance’s priority is to build an economically and environmentally sustainable ACT that is designed to build social cohesion. The Community Alliance proposes to revisit the ‘vision’ for the ACT, and develop one that is generally accepted by the broad community. This entails genuine consultation, and working with communities so they can see their views being incorporated. - Do we want to be a ‘bush capital’, a ‘garden city’, an ‘international city’, or something else?
- Do we need a population of half a million people, or is a smaller population more sustainable with the resources we have?
Once this vision is agreed, the Community Alliance Party will engage the planning community to develop a planning strategy that fulfils this vision. All proposed future development will then be assessed in relation to that. The rationale is that if people are involved in a decision, it is more likely to be a good and accountable decision, and one that people will act on. The aim is to bring communities back into setting sustainable planning directions for our districts and neighbourhoods. In this context, the Community Alliance proposes to: - develop an energy plan
- investigate water supply and water demand management options
- develop coherent plans for the ongoing development of Civic and the town centres so that they are well-planned, well-maintained and as attractive as possible
- integrate transport, employment and social cohesion goals into all future development
- support the neighbourhood basis for planning across the entire ACT.
Once this vision is agreed, the Community Alliance Party will engage the planning community to develop a planning strategy that fulfils this vision. All proposed future development will then be assessed in relation to that. The rationale is that if people are involved in a decision, it is more likely to be a good and accountable decision, and one that people will act on. The aim is to bring communities back into setting sustainable planning directions for our districts and neighbourhoods. In this context, the Community Alliance proposes to: This approach is a decentralised model that is currently out of favour. But it is in line with the essential plans for the ACT and, we believe, is an approach that builds stronger and more sustainable communities as a foundation for a better Canberra – which is what the Community Alliance is all about. CLIMATE CHANGE Climate change presents a global challenge, but the ACT is uniquely placed to be able to deal with it on a local front because of our education and commitment to dealing with these issues. The Community Alliance strongly advocates that for Australia to meet the targets set at a national level then much of the work towards this cultural change needs to take place at a personal level, and the ACT Government has a responsibility to foster this locally. By involving residents in practical strategies that help them to contribute to the overall reduction in resource use and wastage, leading to reduced greenhouse gas production, the ACT Government will be making real steps towards the existing targets set. The ACT is already committed to some very good targets but a clear path to achieving these needs to be understood by all who live here. ENERGY Recent price rises in energy prices in the ACT and the debacle of the current government’s proposal for a gas-fired power station in Tuggeranong, then maybe one at Williamsdale or maybe Belconnen, has focused many residents on the environmental impact of energy production for the ACT. A gas-fired power station, although more environmentally friendly than coal, is still going to have a negative effect upon the ACT meeting our climate change targets. In order to meet our existing climate change targets the ACT must reduce its energy consumption and greenhouse gas production. The Community Alliance requires that all future retail energy generation in the ACT comes from clean and renewable sources and will encourage businesses involved in environmentally friendly energy provision to come to the ACT. The Community Alliance recognises that sustainable energy production is the way of the future and would like to see the Australian companies who have developed much of these technologies based in the ACT as it is these sorts of businesses that will support the ACT’s economy. The community Alliance recognises the community angst generated the current government’s handling of the Tuggeranong Power Station fiasco. The Community Alliance will genuinely consult with communities and other stakeholders to develop an energy policy for the ACT that is based in the context of a long-term strategic plan. The Community Alliance will facilitate the establishment of solar cooperatives whereby groups of people in a community buy into a solar array that is built onto local government buildings, feeds into the grid and returns benefit to members and the local community. This would amount to backing the project of the Canberra Environment, Sustainability and Resource Centre. WASTE The Community Alliance Party is committed to reducing the amount of waste generated by the ACT government, business, and residents. The Alliance will work with communities, organisations and governments to develop a practical strategy for further reducing waste in the workplace, school, environment, and home. The Community Alliance will investigate the feasibility of introducing an organic waste recycling service. Residents with gardens will be encouraged to compost organic waste onsite, however the Community Alliance recognises the difficulties faced by residents of unit title properties and those in rental properties where a composting facility is not available. To meet the needs of those who are not able to practically compost organic waste on site the Community Alliance proposes a third kerbside bin for the collection of compostable waste. This will reduce the mass of waste going into landfill in the ACT. The composted waste will then be utilised as mulch in community parklands. The Community Alliance will develop a program to assist ACT business to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill from that sector. Similar strategies to those proposed for residences will be provided to businesses. The reduction of waste is another issue that will only be addressed if it is embraced by the community and individuals. Each and everyone of us needs to be aware of just how much waste we contribute to. The Community Alliance sees junk mail as a contributor to waste in the ACT. We recognise that the public are greatly disappointed with the hypocrisy of other parties who espouse environmental policies then cram our letterboxes with junkmail. We have committed to greatly reduced amounts of election materials. WATER The Community Alliance recognises the impact on ACT residents of a reduced water supply and the necessity to take care of our precious water supply. The Community Alliance will halt the proposed water purification plant at the Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre and the proposed desalination plant until there has been a satisfactory demonstration of the need, economic viability and safety for people and the environment. The existing strategies such as increasing the holding capacity of Cotter Dam and pumping water from Angle Crossing to Googong Dam will meet the water needs of the ACT. The Community Alliance recognises the efforts that many individual households and businesses are making to conserve water in the ACT. However, within some communities (unit title developments and some businesses) the water meter is communal so the water savers are subsidising those who are less responsible. The Alliance will ensure that new developments install individual water meters for every household and business.
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The Community Alliance Party is a dynamic alliance of ACT residents, community groups, and business people. We are seeking to establish balanced government and to make our Capital a better and more affordable place to live. We will achieve this through:
