Introducing Yarra Community Solar
The Yarra Community Solar (YCS) project is an initiative to establish community owned commercial scale solar PV in the community.
Home ▶ Local Action Group
Local Action Group
Are you passionate about your local neighbourhood?
.
The YCAN Local Action group concerns itself with environmental and sustainability issues within the City of Yarra. We advocate for constructive practical action to reduce carbon emissions and work towards 100% renewable energy neighbourhoods.
The YCAN Local Action Group keeps a close eye on the actions of Yarra City Council and staff officers responsible for implementing actions to achieve Yarra’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2020. We aim to strengthen Council’s commitments to environmentally sustainable plans for buildings, precincts, transport and so on.
At the beginning of 2009 we submitted a list of seven important issues which the City of Yarra should focus on. We continued to pressure Council on these issues. We made submissions on issues such as better facilities for cyclists, strong environmental and sustainability design features in buildings, better waste management and the formation of a community consultation group on environmental issues in the municipality. By the end of 2009 five of the actions had been addressed—the Yarra Recycling Depot was in operation, the Yarra Environment Community Consultative Committee was up and running, with a YCAN member on board.
.
We’ve learned a lot about the process of local government. At this level of government we can make ourselves heard. We can advocate for strong sustainable practices and efficient energy usage. We can make a difference.
- Do you live in the City of Yarra? - Check out this map to confirm
- The local action group meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 6pm at Kindness House (before the monthly YCAN organising meeting), we welcome new members. Contact us for more details.
Contact us to help make your local area more sustainable.
Current Local Action Group initiatives
Find out more about recent Local Action Group initiatives on the pages below.
The latest from the Local Action Group
Triumph Under Threat!
The City of Yarra’s world leading position is in danger of being lost. In spite of all the good work done so far, the clear need for the role, and the desire for the role by the community, the Council hasn’t included funding for the Urban Agriculture Facilitator in the 2012/13 budget. The Council introduced [...]
A triumph for community gardening
One of the most exciting things in Community Gardening happened last weekend. You might have missed it, because it was without fanfare, and very localised: Maud and Neil put up a planter box on a streetside close to where they live. You don’t feel excited? You should do, because this was the first streetside planter [...]
Painting is not building
Yarra Council has some interesting ideas. One of which is that painting a road equals building a bike lane. Like some magic talisman, the painted lines will protect you.
There seems to be a fundamental disconnect between what an average person on a bike would call a bike lane and what the Yarra Council thinks a bike lane is.
Are cyclists the real heroes?
The City of Yarra is one of the most popular places for cycling in Australia. However, the Yarra City Council’s delay in implementing its Bicycle Strategy is limiting cycling’s growth and putting lives at risk.
When is GreenEnergy not Green Energy?
So it’s taken me awhile to get on this blog thingy which makes this study about a year old but still as relevant as when it was first published: http://www.greenpeace.org.au/climate/retailers.php Many big power companies have been extolling us with their green credentials but now we have an independent study into which ones are willing to [...]
Peak Food and Urban Agriculture
It’s been an interesting week for urban agriculture enthusiasts. On Thursday 21st July, Carolyn Steel presented the Melbourne State of Design Festival Keynote Address. She gave a potted history of how cities were shaped around food production, and how the city authorities needed to keep a grip on food supply if they wanted to retain [...]
Urban Agriculture: Feel good about climate change
It’s hard not to feel dispirited sometimes: wanting to do something for the climate but being faced by huge odds. It’s not surprising that political activism isn’t for everyone. But there are things that we can do, acts which make us feel good about ourselves, which help us feel part of the community in which [...]
Outdoor Heater Rant
On Tuesday night Yarra Council, spooked by an article in the Herald Sun, voted not to levy a $105 annual fee for publicans, café and restaurant owners who want to use outdoor heaters for their patrons. Unsurprisingly, the traders objected saying they couldn’t afford to pay the fee. The whole point of the exercise was [...]
Winter Warmer Workshop
Sunday 19 June 2011, 2–4 pm. Let leading sustainability architect Ande Bunbury show you DIY tips to improve energy efficiency and comfort in your home. Free entry but places are limited. Please call or SMS 0404 113 269 to book.
