Regional Climate Alliance Program
The Regional Climate Alliance Program aims to support Local Governments in Western Australia to take action on climate change, energy and sustainability through regional partnerships. The Program is an initiative under the State Government’s Western Australian Climate Policy, and the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) partnered with WALGA to administer the Pilot Program.
In 2021, all regional Local Governments were invited to submit proposals to join forces with neighbouring Local Governments to address the impacts of climate change and to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Two Regional Climate Alliances were selected to participate in the Regional Climate Alliance Program:
Goldfields Voluntary Regional Organisation of Councils (GVROC)
| South Coast Alliance (SCA)
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The Pilot Program has now been delivered, and provided a total of $500,000 in funding from 2021-23. Funding enabled each Alliance to employ a Regional Climate Alliance Coordinator, and to deliver climate adaptation and mitigation projects that provided economic, environmental and social benefits within their regions. The Pilot Program demonstrated the power of Local Governments collaborating to share resources and make lasting change for their communities.
Evaluation of the Pilot Program is currently being completed, with WALGA advocating for continued funding to expand the Program.
Zero Emissions Transport - WALGA Support
The transition to zero emissions transport forms an important part of Local Government Corporate and Community Carbon Reduction Plans, with transport accounting for approximately 18% of Australia's total greenhouse gas emissions. There are also significant health benefits associated with reducing noxious air pollution. The electrification of transport in WA is underway, with the State Government investing $20 million to install 90 new electric vehicle fast charging stations from Kununurra to Esperance and east to Kalgoorlie by early 2024. Many Local Governments are in the process of transitioning their corporate vehicle fleets to electric vehicles (EVs), and assisting communities in the transition by providing public charging infrastructure and engaging on local needs.
WALGA has established a database of Local Government contacts that receive communications on guidance materials, funding opportunities and WALGA initiatives to support the transition to EVs and stay abreast of developments in green hydrogen technology. Key priorities being addressed for the sector include:
- Aggregated pricing opportunities on energy supply, electric vehicles and charge station infrastructure
- Guidance on developing a 3-5 year EV transition strategy
- Guidance on facilitating a regional approach to map and deliver charge station networks
- Governance and procurement considerations for EV charging infrastructure
- Application of renewable hydrogen fuel for waste collection vehicles
- Funding opportunities to assist with the transition
WALGA also participates on the State Electric Vehicle Working Group.
Useful links
- Fact Sheet: Electric Vehicle Charging Stations - Governance and Procurement Considerations (WALGA)
- State of Electric Vehicles March 2022 (Electric Vehicle Council)
Climate Resilient Councils Project
In June 2019, WALGA, with support from the State Government and Local Government Insurance Scheme (LGIS) was successful in gaining funding through the Commonwealth's Natural Disaster Resilience Program to deliver the Climate Resilient Councils project. The project aims to assist WA Local Governments to prepare for the impacts of climate change by strengthening their frameworks for climate resilience planning.
Stage One of the project undertook a desktop governance assessment to determine the extent to which climate change and disaster management are embedded in the strategic decision-making and governance documents of all WA Local Governments. Overall, ten quantitative governance indicators were assessed. WA Local Governments generally performed well in the consideration of climate change in strategic planning and land use planning, while key gaps were found in emergency management and climate risk management. View the Western Australian Climate Change Adaptation Governance Assessment Summary Report.
Stage Two of the project was implemented from June 2020 to February 2023, and focused on building capacity in Local Government in areas where a clear need was identified through Stage One. This was achieved through the provision of expert sessions, training and guidance materials.
Climate Change and Coastal Areas
Coastal areas including the natural and built environment assets and their associated environmental, social, cultural and economic values are vulnerable to coastal hazards such as erosion and inundation and Local Governments, being are one of the key coastal decion makers, are required to address any risks posed by coastal hazards through appropriate coastal planning and management.
Funding Opportunities for Local Government Projects
A resource listing different climate change-related funding offered by Federal and State Governments that is available to Local Governments can be viewed here.
