Two weeks ago we sent a questionnaire on climate-related policy areas to all candidates for Coffs Harbour City Council - thank you to all who responded. You can find our summary of the candidate groups in our previous blog post here. If you would prefer to vote for individual candidates below the line, or just want more detail on exactly how candidates answered each question, this post is for you! Group A candidates below. Group B and beyond in the next post.
GROUP A Candidates who responded include Denise Knight, Tegan Swan, Christina Monneron and Jill Nash. Denise Knight's response should be considered to apply for the remaining Group A candidates.
Denise Knight's response:
1. CHCC's Climate Change Policy?
Strongly support / Support
2. RENEWABLE ENERGY
2a. CHCC's current RET?
Support current targets
2b. Spending on renewable energy and energy efficiency measures?
Agree
3. EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS
3a. CHCC's emissions reduction targets?
Support current targets
3b. Priority of a detailed Renewable Energy and Emissions Reduction Plan?
Not sure
3c. A community-wide zero emissions plan?
neutral
4. TRANSPORT:
4a. A public transport plan?
Agree
4b. Additional bike paths?
Agree
4c. Solar-powered electrical vehicle charging stations?
Agree
5. WASTE: a zero waste plan?
Moderate priority
6. BIODIVERSITY / LAND USE: Landscape corridors?
Neutral
7. COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT:
7A. Sea level rise benchmarks?
(b) The current benchmarks for sea level rise are adequate;
7B. Progressing Coastal Zone Management Plan?
High priority
8. DIVESTMENT: Council’s money to divest from fossil fuels?
Neutral
Tegan Swan's response: "We need to move towards more sustainable practices. We can’t continue on the current trajectory and stick our heads in the sand. Becoming more climate (and planet) friendly is very important and we need to plan for and take consistent steps towards making this a reality."
1. CHCC's Climate Change Policy?
Strongly support
2. RENEWABLE ENERGY
2a. CHCC's current RET?
Support current targets
2b. Spending on renewable energy and energy efficiency measures?
Agree
3. EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS
3a. CHCC's emissions reduction targets?
Support current targets
3b. Priority of a detailed Renewable Energy and Emissions Reduction Plan?
Top priority
3c. A community-wide zero emissions plan?
neutral
4. TRANSPORT:
4a. A public transport plan?
Agree
4b. Additional bike paths?
Neutral
4c. Solar-powered electrical vehicle charging stations?
Neutral
5. WASTE: a zero waste plan?
High priority
6. BIODIVERSITY / LAND USE: Landscape corridors?
Support
7. COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT:
7A. Sea level rise benchmarks?
(a) Council should progress with the current benchmarks, and consider the possibility of higher rises, following the latest science (such as the 2016 study by James Hansen);
7B. Progressing Coastal Zone Management Plan?
High priority
8. DIVESTMENT: Council’s money to divest from fossil fuels?
Agree
Christina Monneron's response:
1. CHCC's Climate Change Policy?
Support
2. RENEWABLE ENERGY
2a. CHCC's current RET?
Support current targets
2b. Spending on renewable energy and energy efficiency measures?
Agree
3. EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS
3a. CHCC's emissions reduction targets?
Support current targets
3b. Priority of a detailed Renewable Energy and Emissions Reduction Plan?
Top priority
3c. A community-wide zero emissions plan?
Support
4. TRANSPORT:
4a. A public transport plan?
Strongly agree
4b. Additional bike paths?
Neutral
4c. Solar-powered electrical vehicle charging stations?
Agree
5. WASTE: a zero waste plan?
High priority
6. BIODIVERSITY / LAND USE: Landscape corridors?
Support
7. COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT:
7A. Sea level rise benchmarks?
(a) Council should progress with the current benchmarks, and consider the possibility of higher rises, following the latest science (such as the 2016 study by James Hansen);
7B. Progressing Coastal Zone Management Plan?
High priority
8. DIVESTMENT: Council’s money to divest from fossil fuels?
Agree
Jill Nash: "I support moves towards a more environmentally-friendly Coffs Harbour. Personally (I am only a candidate, not yet a Councillor!) but I believe all residents should be given incentives to “go green”. We should discourage the reliance on cars and actively promote use of public transport, benefits of walking, living sustainably."
1. CHCC's Climate Change Policy?
Support
2. RENEWABLE ENERGY
2a. CHCC's current RET?
Support current targets
2b. Spending on renewable energy and energy efficiency measures?
No answer
3. EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS
3a. CHCC's emissions reduction targets?
Support current targets
3b. Priority of a detailed Renewable Energy and Emissions Reduction Plan?
Top priority
3c. A community-wide zero emissions plan?
Support
4. TRANSPORT:
4a. A public transport plan?
Strongly agree
4b. Additional bike paths?
Neutral - Need to assess current usage before creating more
4c. Solar-powered electrical vehicle charging stations?
No answer
5. WASTE: a zero waste plan?
High priority
6. BIODIVERSITY / LAND USE: Landscape corridors?
No answer
7. COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT:
7A. Sea level rise benchmarks?
(a) Council should progress with the current benchmarks, and consider the possibility of higher rises, following the latest science (such as the 2016 study by James Hansen);
7B. Progressing Coastal Zone Management Plan?
No answer
8. DIVESTMENT: Council’s money to divest from fossil fuels?
No answer
That's all for Group A candidates. Group B and beyond coming up in next post.
GROUP A Candidates who responded include Denise Knight, Tegan Swan, Christina Monneron and Jill Nash. Denise Knight's response should be considered to apply for the remaining Group A candidates.
Denise Knight's response:
1. CHCC's Climate Change Policy?
Strongly support / Support
2. RENEWABLE ENERGY
2a. CHCC's current RET?
Support current targets
2b. Spending on renewable energy and energy efficiency measures?
Agree
3. EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS
3a. CHCC's emissions reduction targets?
Support current targets
3b. Priority of a detailed Renewable Energy and Emissions Reduction Plan?
Not sure
3c. A community-wide zero emissions plan?
neutral
4. TRANSPORT:
4a. A public transport plan?
Agree
4b. Additional bike paths?
Agree
4c. Solar-powered electrical vehicle charging stations?
Agree
5. WASTE: a zero waste plan?
Moderate priority
6. BIODIVERSITY / LAND USE: Landscape corridors?
Neutral
7. COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT:
7A. Sea level rise benchmarks?
(b) The current benchmarks for sea level rise are adequate;
7B. Progressing Coastal Zone Management Plan?
High priority
8. DIVESTMENT: Council’s money to divest from fossil fuels?
Neutral
Tegan Swan's response: "We need to move towards more sustainable practices. We can’t continue on the current trajectory and stick our heads in the sand. Becoming more climate (and planet) friendly is very important and we need to plan for and take consistent steps towards making this a reality."
1. CHCC's Climate Change Policy?
Strongly support
2. RENEWABLE ENERGY
2a. CHCC's current RET?
Support current targets
2b. Spending on renewable energy and energy efficiency measures?
Agree
3. EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS
3a. CHCC's emissions reduction targets?
Support current targets
3b. Priority of a detailed Renewable Energy and Emissions Reduction Plan?
Top priority
3c. A community-wide zero emissions plan?
neutral
4. TRANSPORT:
4a. A public transport plan?
Agree
4b. Additional bike paths?
Neutral
4c. Solar-powered electrical vehicle charging stations?
Neutral
5. WASTE: a zero waste plan?
High priority
6. BIODIVERSITY / LAND USE: Landscape corridors?
Support
7. COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT:
7A. Sea level rise benchmarks?
(a) Council should progress with the current benchmarks, and consider the possibility of higher rises, following the latest science (such as the 2016 study by James Hansen);
7B. Progressing Coastal Zone Management Plan?
High priority
8. DIVESTMENT: Council’s money to divest from fossil fuels?
Agree
Christina Monneron's response:
1. CHCC's Climate Change Policy?
Support
2. RENEWABLE ENERGY
2a. CHCC's current RET?
Support current targets
2b. Spending on renewable energy and energy efficiency measures?
Agree
3. EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS
3a. CHCC's emissions reduction targets?
Support current targets
3b. Priority of a detailed Renewable Energy and Emissions Reduction Plan?
Top priority
3c. A community-wide zero emissions plan?
Support
4. TRANSPORT:
4a. A public transport plan?
Strongly agree
4b. Additional bike paths?
Neutral
4c. Solar-powered electrical vehicle charging stations?
Agree
5. WASTE: a zero waste plan?
High priority
6. BIODIVERSITY / LAND USE: Landscape corridors?
Support
7. COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT:
7A. Sea level rise benchmarks?
(a) Council should progress with the current benchmarks, and consider the possibility of higher rises, following the latest science (such as the 2016 study by James Hansen);
7B. Progressing Coastal Zone Management Plan?
High priority
8. DIVESTMENT: Council’s money to divest from fossil fuels?
Agree
Jill Nash: "I support moves towards a more environmentally-friendly Coffs Harbour. Personally (I am only a candidate, not yet a Councillor!) but I believe all residents should be given incentives to “go green”. We should discourage the reliance on cars and actively promote use of public transport, benefits of walking, living sustainably."
1. CHCC's Climate Change Policy?
Support
2. RENEWABLE ENERGY
2a. CHCC's current RET?
Support current targets
2b. Spending on renewable energy and energy efficiency measures?
No answer
3. EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS
3a. CHCC's emissions reduction targets?
Support current targets
3b. Priority of a detailed Renewable Energy and Emissions Reduction Plan?
Top priority
3c. A community-wide zero emissions plan?
Support
4. TRANSPORT:
4a. A public transport plan?
Strongly agree
4b. Additional bike paths?
Neutral - Need to assess current usage before creating more
4c. Solar-powered electrical vehicle charging stations?
No answer
5. WASTE: a zero waste plan?
High priority
6. BIODIVERSITY / LAND USE: Landscape corridors?
No answer
7. COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT:
7A. Sea level rise benchmarks?
(a) Council should progress with the current benchmarks, and consider the possibility of higher rises, following the latest science (such as the 2016 study by James Hansen);
7B. Progressing Coastal Zone Management Plan?
No answer
8. DIVESTMENT: Council’s money to divest from fossil fuels?
No answer
That's all for Group A candidates. Group B and beyond coming up in next post.