One of Victoria’s leading environmental agencies is set for a radical shake-up by the Baillieu government, dropping some of its renewable energy and climate programs and focusing on recycling and power efficiency.
In a priorities document - dated December 2011 and marked as a consultation draft - obtained by The Age, Sustainability Victoria says over the next three years it will make waste management and resource efficiency its key priorities to 2015.
It is also understood some greenhouse and renewable energy projects managed by Sustainability Victoria are likely to be phased out, with staff members hoping to find new homes for the schemes.
Sustainability Victoria delivers smaller community and industry-based environmental measures. After it took office the Baillieu government ordered a review of the body led by former WorkSafe executive Stan Krpan, who was also appointed as Sustainability’s chief executive.
A spokeswoman for Environment Minister Ryan Smith said the document was a draft consultation report prepared by Sustainability Victoria.
”The government is currently considering outcomes of the review into Sustainability Victoria and an announcement regarding the outcome of the review into Sustainability Victoria will be made in the near future,” she said.
The draft states that the funding the organisation receives from a levy on waste disposal will now be invested over the next three years into programs aimed at minimising waste, expanding markets for recycled products, increased recovery of materials and reducing litter.
Under the former government, a recent waste levy increase was to fund a $106 million program over four years to help communities cut greenhouse gas emissions to be run by Sustainability Victoria, but that is now expected to be axed.
Other programs run by Sustainability Victoria are also in doubt or being wound up.
Funding for the ”Carbon Down” program jointly run by Sustainability Victoria and the Victorian Employers’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry to help small businesses reduce their carbon footprint ended last June and has not been renewed. VECCI is now privately running another previously jointly run project named ”Grow Me The Money.”
Sustainability Victoria is also trying to sell software named FirstRate5, which is used to rate the thermal performance of residential buildings. It is also expected to dump a community fund-raising program called ”The Greenhouse Games”.
Opposition environment spokeswoman Lisa Neville said: ”The Baillieu government is clearly walking away from taking any real action to address climate change with defunding of local action programs and no focus on renewable energy.”
The Australian Industry Group’s Tim Piper said: ”We are supportive of the new approach being taken by the government.”
