Biodiversity

• Development and adoption of the Greater Bendigo Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2023-2033
• Establishment of a successful community biodiversity engagement program
• Establishment of a biodiversity monitoring program and collection of baseline data
• Commencement of environmental management plans for several City managed natural reserves
• Delivery of the Nature Stewards Program
• Delivery of the Wilderhoods program in Maiden Gully
• Annual planting of over 2,000 street trees

Zero carbon and the Greater Bendigo Climate Collaboration flagship project

• 100% renewable electricity contract in place for all City facilities
• 19 passenger electric vehicles and 7 electric heavy vehicles / plant in the City’s fleet, up from 4 and 0 in 2021/2022
• 760kW solar on 35 City buildings
• 28 buildings are all electric
• Carbon offset credits secured through Grow Towards Zero - 8,257 tube stock planted resulting in approximately 6,219 tCO2e carbon credits by 2050
• Development of a Fleet Transition Plan
• Engagement of 39 businesses in the Beat the Power Bills energy efficiency program
• Delivery of the Home Energy Empowerment Program with over 350 participants
• Completion of the Low Income Homes Feasibility Study
• Completion of a solar farm feasibility study
• Continuation of the Greater Bendigo Climate Collaboration

Circular economy

• Reduction in waste collected per capita
• Reduction in recoverable resources going to landfill
• Collection frequency change to general waste and recycling bins and expansion of organic collection services

Active and public transport

• Low Line shared trail underway
• Mundy Street separated bike lane underway
• Public transport advocacy commenced
• Zero Emissions Transport Discussion Paper completed

Sustainable food systems

• Farm Advisory Service established
• Rural Regeneration Grant provided close to $100,000 in grants for sustainable land management projects over 3 years
• Continued involvement in the Healthy Landscapes project led by Macedon Ranges Shire Council and supported by other project partners

Water and the Reimagining Bendigo Creek flagship project

• Establishment of a Stormwater Treatment Offset Policy that clarifies and updates the organisation’s cash in lieu system for small scale developments
• Commencement of an Integrated Water Management Plan
• Audit and assessment of the effectiveness of water treatment assets. This includes wetlands, bioretention systems and floating wetlands
• Progression of restoration projects along Bendigo Creek and its tributaries. This has been in partnership with DJAARA and North Central CMA. It includes the Yaram Yaram Bayikina project (Bendigo Creek Reawakening) and other restoration initiatives in the upper catchment

Be the Change flagship project

• Delivery of over 30 environment and sustainability events for staff
• Establishment of the internal Be the Change Network

Healing Country flagship project

• Engagement of Traditional Owner organisations to deliver land management projects and services. This creates increased opportunities for First Nations community members to be on country
• Establishment of a Djaara led approach to restoration projects along Bendigo Creek and its tributaries

See related document section below for more detail.

• New climate resilience theme. This outlines how the City and its partners will prepare for and respond to future flood, fire and drought events. This is in response to the increasing impact of recent flood and fire emergencies
• Proposed revised zero net emissions target date of 2040 for the City’s corporate emissions (revised from 2030). This is in response to financial pressures, limited technology options and the rising cost of electrification