The key objective of the ClimateConnect program is to assist local communities, households and individuals to work together to find climate change solutions.

Six recipients of ClimateConnect grants have been announced by Minister Assisting the Premier on Climate Change, Lisa Singh:

• NRM North
• Tasmanian Centre for Global Learning
• Southern Cross Care
• Mersey Natural Resource Management (NRM) Group
• Geeveston Community Centre
• Sustainable Living Tasmania

NRM North

NRM North has received a ClimateConnect grant to help Tasmanian farmers reduce its emissions.

The funding will allow NRM North to implement a project to develop and undertake emission and energy reduction strategies for Tasmanian agriculture. The agriculture sector is the highest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions in Tasmania, making this a very important project for the State.

The project will be conducted in partnership with Hydro Tasmania Consulting, Agricultural Resource Management (ARM), the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association, and the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment.

The Tasmanian Centre for Global Learning

The Tasmanian Centre for Global Learning has received ClimateConnect Grant to provide help schools in the Greater Hobart area:

• apply for Australian Government funding (up to $50,000) under the National Solar Schools Program
• implement the funded activities.

Under the National Solar Schools Program, any school can apply for funding to undertake energy efficiency, greenhouse reduction and renewable energy projects at the school.

However, applying for, and then implementing, fundable projects requires time and expertise that many schools cannot spare.

This project will help remove these barriers and ensure that as many Tasmanian schools as possible are able to leverage this national funding to reduce their emissions and conserve energy (and costs).

The Tasmanian Centre for Global Learning expects to help up to 35 schools access up to $1.75 million in funding through the project.

The project will also help introduce education on climate change and sustainability to more Tasmanian schools.

The project will be undertaken in partnership with Greater Hobart Councils, the Department of Education, the Tasmanian Catholic Education, Sustainable Living Tasmania and MacKillop Catholic College.

Southern Cross Care

Southern Cross Care (Tas) has been awarded a ClimateConnect grant to undertake a project entitled the “Simple and Sustainable Energy Conservation in Residential Aged Care”.

Southern Cross Care is one of the State’s largest employers, with 850-plus staff, and has operated in Tasmania for over 40 years.

It offers residential, independent-living and community care services across Tasmania – in Hobart, Taroona, Launceston, Westbury, George Town and Somerset.

This project, as pilot initiative, will be undertaken at Southern Cross Care’s New Town facility, which is its largest high care residential aged care facility.

Elements include:

• Installing therapeutic low-flow showerheads throughout the facility.
• Installing PIR occupancy sensors (sensor lighting) in 80 identified resident bathrooms where the residents tend to leave lights on all day and night due to their safety concerns.
• Establishing a central energy monitoring system to allow instantaneous access to energy usage by staff and to measure energy conservation outcomes for the project.
• A behaviour change campaign to encourage the facility’s residents, visitors and staff to help tackle climate change and conserve energy both at the site and in their own homes.

Southern Cross Care aims to use the project outcomes to build a solid business case for broader energy conservation activities at its other aged care facilities around the State.

Mersey Natural Resource Management (NRM) Group

Mersey Natural Resource Management (NRM) Group has been awarded a ClimateConnect grant to undertake a project entitled the “Problems to Resources – Tree-riffic the Carbon Friendly Way”.

Mersey NRM’s successful grant project is designed to help prevent the release of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the burning or landfilling of weed and problem trees.

The types of trees targeted by the project are those that need to be removed for environmental purposes (weed/feral trees) and safety reasons (such as trees in road reserves or under power lines, or those that are brought down by storms) or development.

Mersey NRM uses portable milling equipment and solar kilns to process recovered timber near its source and part of the ClimateConnect funding will contribute to expanding these portable milling services.

The funding will also be used to help develop a branding/marketing strategy for the recovered timbers, along the lines of recycled timber branding, to help build a broader market for the product.

The project is considered very innovative and provides an opportunity to demonstrate resource recovery as well as a locally-relevant contribution to climate change mitigation.

If successful, the project has significant potential to create regional jobs and Mersey NRM has also applied for funding through the Australian Government’s Jobs Fund to support the project.

The project will be undertaken in partnership with local government, including the Latrobe and Devonport City councils, which provide funding support for the original pilot project.

Geeveston Community Centre Climb It! Challenge

The cleverly named 'Climb it Challenge' is a shining example of a truly innovative, locally-focused program to help the Geeveston Community become one of the most sustainable climate-friendly communities in Tasmania.

The project will seek householders' commitments to take action on one or more of the Climb it! Challenge 'streams' - water, waste, power, fuel or food.

All households that sign on to the program will be provided with an energy efficiency pre-assessment and assisted to develop plans to reduce their energy use.

In addition the project will undertake a series of weekend workshops for local residents, under each of the 'streams'. The project will also undertake a number of other activities under the Climb it! Challenge banner, including:

• Developing a blog for community networking sharing ideas
• Supporting a plastic bag free Geeveston to focus community involvement
• Partnering with the Souther Design Centre to promote a state-wide recycled art competition
• Holding a Geeveston Sustainablilty Festival
• Creating a Tasmanian Town Climate Change Transition Kit based on the project's experience and outcomes to assist other communities to take similar action in their own areas.

The project will be undertaken in partnership with the Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources(Road Safety); Southern Design Centre; Huon Valley Council; Sustainable Living Tasmania; Cool Pool Tasmania inc; and Bendigo Bank.

Sustainable Living Tasmania - Energy for Change

Sustainable Living Tasmania (SLT) Group has been awarded a ClimateConnect Grant to undertake a project entitled the "Local Energy for Change".

SLT is a community based, not for profit organisation that works with the Tasmanian Community to improve sustainability of residential properties, communities and businesses; and maintain and enhance the local natural environment.

SLT's successful grant project will help households introduce domestic actions to reduce energy use and household costs.

The project will undertake a program of workshops, household energy audits and energy saving action plans (to around 200 households), information about low-interest loans and rebates and information about energy saving installations such as solar hot water, insulation and solar panels.

In addition, the project will provide additional rebates to help households take action to install low flow showerheads, CFLs, window treatments such as curtains and pelmets and window draught-proofing, and seek best prices for bulk purchases of energy efficient technologies.

The project focuses strongly on encouraging on-ground action to reduce energy in the target community.

The project will target Greater Hobart residents in the municipalities of Brighton and Kingborough and project partners include the Brighton and Kingborough Councils.

Related documents

• Tasmanian Framework for Action on Climate Change - paper saver
• Tasmanian Framework for Action on Climate Change - full colour, presentation