PLANS are under way for a new Warrnambool urban development east of Aberline Road to be a "low to zero carbon precinct", a parliamentary inquiry has been told.
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Warrnambool City Mayor Tony Herbert told an inquiry into tackling climate change sitting in Warrnambool on Thursday that the Victorian Planning Authority had "embraced" the city's potential to plan a low-emissions development.
"The VPA has been integral in support and co-ordination with landowners to advance the precinct in this way," Cr Herbert said.
Preliminary planning documents show the council envisages micro-grid technology, a gas-free community, and all residential developments to include solar PV and battery storage.
The draft documents have flagged up to 4000 new homes for the 360-hectare north-east corridor.
Cr Herbert also said the council was on track to reduce its carbon emissions by 30 per cent from 2012 levels by 2020, but needed to offset 700 tonnes of C02 next year.
"Stage two of our street lighting upgrade is envisioned to give us the extra eight per cent to meet those targets," he said.
Meanwhile, Moyne Shire environment and regulatory services manager Robert Gibson likened applying for state government funding for a rock wall to protect East Beach from erosion at Port Fairy to a "lottery".
"The opportunity is there to have a 20-year program ... we can work with that because we know we just have to do some maintenance to hold the fort until the proper solution comes along in due course," Mr Gibson told the inquiry.
"You're not left wondering how are we going to deal with this, when's our number going to come up to get the money, if it ever does?"
Inquiry chair Darren Cheeseman asked Mr Gibson what he believed reasonable public investment was to protect private property in Port Fairy and if it was a "futile exercise".
Mr Gibson said the council had proven the town was "defendable" until 2100.
"What defending now does ... is it provides the time for communities, individuals and families to adjust to what the paradigm might be in 20 or 80 years time," he said.
"If you were to just say today the policy is retreat, it's just not going to fly, it's not going to fly politically, economically, it's a difficult one to sell.
"Whereas investing in something like the rock wall on East Beach, which has an 80 to 100 year lifespan... You are buying the time for further adjustment at all levels."
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