RIVERLANDS CONSERVATION SOCIETY
WARRINGAL CONSERVATION SOCIETY
YARRA VALLEY CLIMATE ACTION GROUP
Environmental Questionnaire to Banyule Council Election Candidates
Dear Candidate,
In recent years climate change has been officially recognised by mainstream scientists as being caused by greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the consumption of fossil fuels since the industrial revolution. These scientists, the largest body of which are represented by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), have expressed that we need to urgently and radically reduce the content of ‘greenhouse gases’ in the atmosphere to avoid the melting of the poles, disastrous seal level rise and permanent loss of river systems and arable land. They claim that urgent and radical action is necessary to avoid irreversible ‘runaway’ climate change.
Care for the environment is considered by many in the community as a key concern, however the emerging crises of Climate Change has blurred the boundaries between the global, the national and the local.
Riverlands Conservation Society, Warringal Conservation Society & Yarra Valley Climate Action Group are local environment groups in Banyule that share a deepening concern over the looming effects of Climate Change on our communities, and beyond. We are non-political organisations sharing a concern over issues of what we regard as a looming environmental crisis, and have developed a questionnaire (below) to establish the related views of candidates in the forthcoming Banyule City Council elections.
The document is in 2 parts:
-Introductory information ( not assessed)
-Questionnaire dealing with local environmental and community issues.
The questions can all be answered very succinctly. The responses to the questionnaire will be assessed by the above organisations from a perspective of environmental and social sustainability.
Each question is of equal value & the subordinate parts of questions are each of equal value. Any question or sub-question not answered will score 0. After the assessment of responses has been undertaken, candidates will be given a ranking per category, per Ward, and an overall ranking.
The local newspapers have expressed interest in the Questionnaire, and the responses from candidates. Accordingly, in the interests of transparency and open communication, copies of all responses will be provided to the local media.
We would be pleased to receive your responses within 14 days.
Please return Questionnaire via Post: (PO Box 64 Rosanna 3084) or Email: (greend11@bigpond.com)
Introductory Information
1. Your name:
2. Your ward:
3. Your occupation:
4. Years as a resident of Banyule
5. Groups/organisations of which you are a member.
6. Why do you wish to be a councillor?
7. How have you contributed to your local community?
8. Briefly describe what you value about Banyule? Are there any issues of environmental or social sustainability in Banyule that you want to fix? If so, what are they? How do you propose that they be addressed?
Environmental Questionnaire
Climate change
1. On a scale of 1 – 10, how important do you think it is for councillors to have a comprehensive understanding of Climate Change? (1 being not important and 10 being essential)
2. On a scale of 1 - 10 - How seriously would you rate Climate Change (1 being “sceptical” and 10 being “a serious threat to life on the planet”)?
3. How relevant do you think City Councils are in the fight to stop Climate Change?
4. BCC has set CO2 reduction targets for Council operations and facilities to 30% on 1996/97 levels by 2010, and a 20% reduction on 1996/97 levels by 2010 for the Banyule community. What actions would you support to further facilitate Banyule Council's (“BCC”) greenhouse gas reduction targets?
5. Would you support increases in BCC’s environmental budget allocation to address the impacts of climate change? If so, what percentage increase do you believe is reasonable? If not, why not?
Water
6. With increasing stresses on Banyule’s water resources, list some water conservation strategies that you would advocate to address water shortages in Banyule.
Transport Issues
7. Do you support the expansion of Public Transport Infrastructure in Banyule? If so, please outline which aspects of public transport should be expanded or improved. If not, why not?
8. Do you believe that BCC should provide public transport services to its residents (especially those that do not have or are unable to use a car)? If so, what public transport options do you consider BCC can and should provide. If not, why not?
9. Do you support or oppose the proposed routes for the “missing link” through Banyule or Nillimbik? Please explain why you hold to that position? Would you be prepared to allocate BCC resources to lobby the State Government to prioritise sustainable transport over road expansion? If so, what do you propose to do? If not, why not?
Natural Environment
10. What is your position on the protection and enhancement of indigenous flora and fauna? Why do you hold to that position?
11. What is your position on commercial and advertising signs in Banyule’s parks and Reserves? Why do you hold to that position?
12. What is your position on Dog off lead activities in Reserves with high conservation significance? Why do you hold to that position?
13. What is your position on the expansion of public open space and reserves in Banyule? Why do you hold to that position?
14. What is your position on the annexing public open space in Banyule for residential or community facilities? Why do you hold to that position?
Residential & Commercial Projects and Developments
15. Should BCC set an example to the community by ensuring best practice environmentally sustainable criteria for Council buildings, facilities, and operational practises? If so, what would you propose to do to make this happen? If not, why not?
16. Should BCC actively encourage the construction and/or retrofitting of environmentally sustainable housing and developments? If so, what measures would you advocate in achieving this outcome? If not, why not?
We thank you for participating in this Questionnaire.