city futures committee meeting - city of darwin · 2017. 11. 17. · city futures committee meeting...

Business Papers City Futures

Committee Meeting Tuesday, 21 November 2017

5.30pm

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Notice of Meeting To the Lord Mayor and Aldermen

You are invited to attend a City Futures Committee Meeting to be held in Council Chambers, Level 1, Civic Centre, Harry Chan Avenue, Darwin, on Tuesday, 21 November 2017, commencing at 5.30pm.

B P DOWD CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

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CITY OF DARWIN

CITY FUTURES COMMITTEE MEETING

TUESDAY, 21 NOVEMBER 2017

MEMBERS: Member S Cullen (Chair); The Right Worshipful, The Lord Mayor, K Vatskalis; Member G Lambrinidis; Member S J Niblock.

OFFICERS: Chief Executive Officer, Mr B Dowd; General Manager City Futures, Mr G Rosse; Manager Economic Development, Tourism & International Relations, Mr L Carroll; Manager City Planning, Ms C Robson; Manager Climate Change & Environment, Ms S Gamble Executive Assistant, Ms N Tyrie.

Enquiries and/or Apologies: E-mail: [email protected] - PH: 89300 651

OR Phone Chambers, for Late Apologies - PH: 89300 455

Committee’s Responsibilities

THAT effective as of 26 September 2017 Council, pursuant to Section 32(2)(b) of the Local Government Act, hereby delegates to the City Futures Committee the power to make recommendations to Council and decisions relating to City Futures matters within the approved budget:

• City Resilience• Climate Change & Environment• International relations (formerly Sister Cities)• Investment attraction/Economic Development/Tourism• Planning - Strategic, Statutory, Social:

oDevelopment Applications referred from the Development AssessmentServices (NTG)

o Town Planning Strategy, Policies and Procedureso Strategic Planning matters such as Planning Scheme Amendments,

NT Planning Act amendments, discussion papers and proposedguidelines

oDevelopment and Planning Matters referred to Council fromDevelopers, Community Groups and Individuals

o Signage Applications, Policies and ProceduresoOutdoor Dining Applications, Policy and procedures

• On-street & Off-street Parking• Smart City/Digital Delivery

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OPEN SECTION FUTURES 11/4

Tuesday, 21 November 2017 FUTURES11/4

Reports, recommendations and supporting documentation can be accessed via the City of Darwin Council Website at www.darwin.nt.gov.au, at Council Public Libraries or contact the Committee Administrator on (08) 8930 0670.

* * * INDEX * * * PAGE

1. MEETING DECLARED OPEN ......................................................................6

2. APOLOGIES AND LEAVE OF ABSENCE ...................................................6

3. ELECTRONIC MEETING ATTENDANCE ....................................................6

4. DECLARATION OF INTEREST OF MEMBERS AND STAFF .....................6

5. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING/S

5.1 City Futures Committee 24/10/17 .............................6

6. DEPUTATIONS AND BRIEFINGS

7. CONFIDENTIAL ITEMS

8. WITHDRAWAL OF ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION .............................................7

9.1 OFFICERS REPORTS (ACTION REQUIRED)

9.1.1 Gardens for Wildlife ........................................................................................9 9.1.2 City of Darwin Energy Strategy .....................................................................32 9.1.3 Review of City of Darwin Policies No. 003 - Car Parking – General and No.

002 – Car Parking Contribution Plan (Non CBD) ........................................150 9.1.4 Review of the Outdoor Advertising Signs Code .........................................190

9.2 OFFICERS REPORTS (RECEIVE & NOTE)

9.2.1 City Futures Projects ..................................................................................196 9.2.2 Quarter 1 - City Futures Quarterly Performance Report 2017/18 ..............202

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OPEN SECTION FUTURES 11/5



10. INFORMATION ITEMS AND CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED ..............223

11. QUESTIONS BY MEMBERS .....................................................................223

12. GENERAL BUSINESS ...............................................................................223

13. CLOSURE OF MEETING ...........................................................................223

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OPEN SECTION FUTURES11/6 City Futures Committee Meeting – Tuesday, 21 November 2017



1. MEETING DECLARED OPEN

2. APOLOGIES AND LEAVE OF ABSENCECommon No. 2695036

2.1 Apologies

2.2 Leave of Absence Granted

Nil

3. ELECTRONIC MEETING ATTENDANCECommon No. 2221528

4. DECLARATION OF INTEREST OF MEMBERS AND STAFFCommon No. 2752228

4.1 Declaration of Interest by Members

4.2 Declaration of Interest by Staff

5. CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING/SCommon No. 1955119

5.1 Confirmation of the Previous City Futures Committee Meeting Minutes

THAT the tabled minutes of the previous City Futures Committee Meeting held on Tuesday. 24 October 2017, be received and confirmed as a true and correct record of the proceedings of that meeting.

5.2 Business Arising

6. DEPUTATIONS AND BRIEFINGS

Nil

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7. CONFIDENTIAL ITEMS

Nil

8. WITHDRAWAL OF ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION

THAT the Committee resolve under delegated authority that all Information Items and Officers Reports to the City Futures Committee Meeting held on Tuesday, 21 November 2017 be received and considered individually.

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9.1 OFFICERS REPORTS (ACTION REQUIRED)

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ENCL: YES CITY FUTURES COMMITTEE/OPEN AGENDA ITEM: 9.1.1

GARDENS FOR WILDLIFE

REPORT No.: 16TC0068 SG:nt COMMON No.: 3683580 DATE: 21/11/2017

Presenter: Manager Climate Change & Environment, Shenagh Gamble

Approved: General Manager City Futures, Gerard Rosse

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to brief Council on the recently implemented collation of community biodiversity activities into a Gardens for Wildlife program.

LINK TO STRATEGIC PLAN

The issues addressed in this Report are in accordance with the ‘Evolving Darwin Towards 2020 Strategic Plan’:-

Goal 3 Environmentally Sustainable City Outcome 3.3 Conserve and protect the Darwin environment Key Strategies 3.3.1 Advocate for the conservation of natural systems 3.3.2 Increase biodiversity richness and abundance across Darwin 3.3.3 Increase community understanding of environmental issues

KEY ISSUES

• Gardens for Wildlife is a voluntary program for Darwin residents who areinterested in using and enhancing their property as wildlife habitat.

• Gardens for Wildlife will enhance biodiversity and increase native habitat in theDarwin urban landscape.

• The purpose of Gardens for Wildlife is to engage the urban community in thinkingabout our natural environment. The program is a key community basedenvironmental education tool for Council.

• The program will provide an avenue for Council to engage with localorganisations, Landcare groups and schools.

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PAGE: 2 REPORT NUMBER: 16TC0068BR SG:nt SUBJECT: GARDENS FOR WILDLIFE

RECOMMENDATIONS

THAT the Committee resolve under delegated authority:-

A. THAT Report Number 16TC0068BR SG:nt entitled Gardens for Wildlife, be received and noted.

B. THAT underspent funds from the 2016/17 Climate Change and Environment Grants program be made available as a small grants program to schools participating in Phase 1 of the Gardens for Wildlife Program in 2017/18

C. THAT budget requirements for ongoing Gardens for Wildlife program delivery provided in Attachment A to Report Number 16TC0068BR SG:nt entitled Gardens for Wildlife, be referred to the 2018/19 Budget Process

BACKGROUND

Land for Wildlife and Gardens for Wildlife are voluntary conservation programs run by a variety of different organisations across Australia.

In the Top End, Land for Wildlife is run by Greening Australia, with core operations funded by the Northern Territory Government, through Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory. Over 200 registered properties participate in Land for Wildlife in the Top End, covering over 8,000 hectares.

Gardens for Wildlife provides urban and peri urban residents access to a program similar to Land for Wildlife, which traditionally focuses on rural or large blocks. Expanding the top end Land for Wildlife program to City of Darwin residents will create opportunity for community engagement and ownership of the local environment.

The purpose of this program is to help the community gain a better understanding of the unique Darwin environment in turn, engaging the community engagement and to foster stewardship of the environment.

DISCUSSION

Gardens for Wildlife is a voluntary and non-legally binding program for urban and peri-urban land holders who are interested in using their property as wildlife habitat. This program is crucial in developing corridors and patches of viable wildlife habitat in developed areas.

Projects, events and activities run by Council’s Climate Change and Environment team form the basis for a Gardens for Wildlife program. This strategic approach to land management for biodiversity will streamline resources and other community efforts into a targeted and comprehensive program for the community.

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Objectives of Gardens for Wildlife

The objectives of the program are to:

1. Increase community understanding of Darwin’s unique environment andwildlife;

2. Increase and support biodiversity and habitat areas across Darwin;3. Create greater community engagement around the Darwin natural

environment;4. Build positive relationships and partnerships with stakeholders;5. Be an avenue for promotion of good work and local positive stories for City of

Darwin; and6. Contribute to and be part of a broader Green Spaces or Urban Biodiversity

Strategy, providing a strategic direction for green spaces across themunicipality.

Project Outline

Gardens for Wildlife will include resources and activities to promote biodiversity in Darwin gardens. The program will consolidate information and resources from various community wildlife organisations as well as strengthen other Council programs such as domestic animal control.

Resources will include “how to” guides and broader publications such as the City of Darwin “Creating Habitat” booklet.

Members will receive welcome packs including:

• factsheets and other information;• a sign for their letterbox or gate denoting participation in the program;• opportunities to network, share ideas, tips and successes; and• invitations to attend free workshops, field days and other local community

group environmental activities.

Partners may include:

• Living Water Smart / Power Water Corporation• Territory Natural Resource Management• Parks and Wildlife Commission• Greening Australia

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Other collaborators (providing resources, information, promotion, engagement) may include but would not be limited to:

• Wildcare / ArkAid• Darwin Wildlife Sanctuary• Community gardens• Landcare groups• Environment Centre NT• Other Environmental groups• Local nurseries / gardening businesses etc.

Gardens for Wildlife will be rolled out in a staged approach and refined as it expands. The scope is provided in Attachment A

Three Year Project Plan

Year 1 – 2017/18:

The focus of the first year is to engage with schools and community organisations. Gardens for Wildlife will target schools and established community groups as an opportunity to assess the needs of the community as well as refine resources and activities. Background work is undertaken to develop the program for participation by the general community. This is being carried out within current Climate Change and Environment operational budget.

Due to an under subscription of the 2017/2018 Climate Change and Environment community grants round Climate Change and Environment have $10,000 remaining in grant budget allocation. This will be utilised to provide schools with an opportunity to apply for small grants to assist in developing their School Garden for Wildlife. This may provide an added incentive for schools to sign up to the program.

Year 2 – 2018/19:

Increase Community Exposure - Introduce the program to the general public. In the second year we will roll out the program to the residents of Darwin, utilising existing interested community members and events, including the Royal Darwin Show as initial promotion avenues. As residents sign up as Gardens for Wildlife members they will receive an introduction pack including a Gardens for Wildlife sign for display on their fence, brochures and promotional products from City of Darwin and other stakeholders. Workshops are developed and run free for Gardens for Wildlife members utilising existing national events and other ongoing Council priorities to help guide the timing of workshops.

Year 3 – 2019/2020:

Roll out of all aspects of the program are completed and residential and school programs run together. Self-sustaining program that encourages new participants and community input into desired workshops. Resources is continually developed, updated and reprinted as required.

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CONSULTATION PROCESS

In preparing this report, the following City of Darwin officers were consulted:

• Team leader Central and Urban Precinct• Manager Regulatory Services

In preparing this report, the following External Parties were consulted:

• Territory Natural Resource Management• Gardens for Wildlife Alice Springs• Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Tasmania

POLICY IMPLICATIONS

The Gardens for Wildlife program aligns with all relevant Council policies including the City of Darwin Strategic Plan Evolving Darwin Towards 2020 and Climate Change Action Plan 2011-2020, more detail is provided in Attachment A

BUDGET AND RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS

The initial program is developed within the existing Climate Change and Environment operational budget.

Future program budget is decided on success of first year rollout. The benefit of committing specific budget in future years will allow for a more comprehensive program to be developed.

Underspend from the 2017/18 Climate Change and Environment grants program will be rebranded for schools participating in the Gardens for Wildlife program to apply for a small grant.

RISK/LEGAL/LEGISLATIVE IMPLICATIONS

Nil

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

This program will provide positive benefits to the Darwin environment.

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COUNCIL OFFICER CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATION

We the Author and Approving Officers declare that we do not have a Conflict of Interest in relation to this matter.

SHENAGH GAMBLE GERARD ROSSE MANAGER CLIMATE CHANGE & ENVIRONMENT

GENERAL MANAGER CITY FUTURES

For enquiries, please contact Shenagh Gamble on 8930 0530 or email: [email protected].

Attachment A: Gardens for Wildlife Project Scope

Attachment B: Gardens for Wildlife School Flyer registration form

Attachment C: Gardens for Wildlife School Grants guidelines

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mailto:[email protected]

ATTACHMENT A

Project Scope

Project Name: Gardens for Wildlife

Project Manager: Climate Change & Environment (CC&E)

1. Project Purpose Statement

The Gardens for Wildlife program will provide the Darwin community with the information and resources to better understand and appreciate the unique natural environment that makes Darwin special.

Gardens for Wildlife will be a part of a broader Green Spaces and Urban Biodiversity Strategy, providing a strategic direction for green spaces across the municipality.

2. Background

Community interest in the local Darwin environment has always been high. This is demonstrated through the popularity of documents Council has produced including the Creating Habitat for Darwin Gardens, vegetation booklet and the Backyard Birds of Darwin flyer.

Requests from the community and in particular school groups for council to provide input and advice on how they can improve their local environment and support local biodiversity have significantly increased in the last 3 years. CC&E have delivered several school presentations that have been very well received by teachers, students and parents. The aim of the Gardens for Wildlife project will be to expand on these ideas and incorporate a range of local issues into how individuals, schools and community groups can assist with biodiversity outcomes in their own neighbourhood.

The ongoing competing pressures on land in our city means green space is becoming of greater value in helping maintain our tropical, liveable city and lifestyle. This program will enable landholders to enhance their own gardens not only benefiting local wildlife but also the broader community through improved aesthetics and reduced pressures on public open space.

Similar programs have been rolled out in other local government areas across Australia with great success, including Alice Springs, as well as many Councils in Victoria and Tasmania.

Darwin’s Gardens for Wildlife program will expand on the rural based program Land for Wildlife run by Greening Australia. The Land for Wildlife program is currently open to larger and rural properties, expanding this program to Darwin residents with urban and peri urban lots will create greater community engagement and ownership of the local environment especially in the urban setting.

3. Objectives

The objectives of the program are to:

1. Increase the communities understanding of Darwin’s unique environment and wildlife;

2. Increase and support biodiversity and habitat areas across Darwin;

3. Create greater community engagement around the Darwin natural environment;

4. Build positive relationships and partnerships with stakeholders;

5. Be an avenue for promotion of good work and local positive stories for City of Darwin; and

6. Contribute to and be part of a broader Green Spaces or Urban Biodiversity Strategy, providing a strategic direction

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for green spaces across the municipality.

Strategic alignment The objectives of this program will align to many of Councils actions within the Climate Change Action Plan and the Evolving Darwin Strategic Plan including;

Goal Outcome Strategy

Goal 1: Collaborative, Inclusive and connected community

1.1 Community inclusion supported

1.1.1 Develop and support programs, services and facilities, and provide information that promotes community spirit, engagement, cohesion and safety

1.2 Desirable places andopen spaces for people 1.2.1 Enhance places and open spaces

1.4 Improved relations with all levels of government and significant stakeholders

1.4.3 Actively engage with non-government organisations and significant stakeholders

Goal 2: Vibrant, flexible and tropical lifestyle

2.2 A sense of place and community 2.2.3 Improve landscaping, streetscape, infrastructure and natural systems.

2.1 Improved access and connectivity 2.1.5 Enhance access and use of neighbourhood spaces and hubs

Goal 3: Environmentally Sustainable City

3.2 Darwin community’s carbon footprint reduced

3.2.1 Increased community understanding of climate change and environment issues and mitigation and adaption actions

3.3 Conserve and Protect the Darwin environment

3.3.1 Advocate for Conservation of natural systems 3.3.2 Increase Biodiversity richness and abundance 3.3.3 Increase community understanding of environmental issues

Goal 4: Darwin is recognised as a welcoming and culturally rich and diverse city.

4.1 Recognised key activities and events

4.1.1 Promote and support activities that celebrate our Indigenous culture, local history and cultural diversity

Goal 5: Effective and Responsible Governance

5.3 Good Governance 5.3.4 Encourage community participation by engaging, communicating and working in partnership with the community. 5.4 Effective leadership and advocacy 5.4.1 Exhibit leadership on community issues

4. Key Stakeholders:

This project will utilise existing resources and local providers of information to create a holistic program that benefits the community.

Initial stakeholders will include;

Partners Funding and resource partners hope to include;

• Living Water Smart / Power Water• Territory Natural Resource Management• Parks and Wildlife Commission• Greening Australia

Collaborators Resources, information, promotion, engagement;

• Wildcare• ArkAid• Community gardens• Landcare groups

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• Schools• Environment Centre NT• Other Environmental groups• Local nurseries / gardening businesses etc.

Internal Other sections that may provide assistance on topics or promotion;

• Parks And Reserves• Community Engagement• Communications• Animal Management

5. Organisational Requirements

Council will need to commit to delivering a holistic program that aligns to the community needs and engages with local stakeholders; this will require staff resources and a dedicated budget.

Budget Considerations • Information packs• Resource development and Printing• Online Presence• Advertising / Promotion• Workshops - variable depending on activity and number of participants

Staff Resourcing • Development of materials• Staff time to send out quarterly email. Collect and collate interesting local stories etc.• Time to promote, develop and attend workshops• Time to maintain webpage and continue community engagement• Coordinate with local stakeholders and suppliers

Roll out Budget

Year Target Audience Description Resources and items for funding

Budget estimates

Year 1 School and Community

groups

Targeting these established groups as an initial phase provides an opportunity to assess community expectations as well as refine resources and activities.

Resource Development and Printing

$5,000

Create initial resources

Design and produce G4W Plaques, stickers, fridge magnets, bags/pockets for member packs $15,000

Develop branding Branding - staff uniform, promotional items

$2,500

Develop 4 hands on Activities or Workshops

Assistance with resources required ie plants, gardening tools, nest boxes, fencing

$5,500

Year 1 Funded through the existing Climate Change and Environment operational budget. Year 1 TOTAL 23,000

Year 2 Darwin residents

and continued school Deliver workshops on a regular basis Workshop Materials, speaker fees $2,500

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engagement

Develop online presence

Develop webpage, Facebook group and e-newsletter template $2,500

Update Vegetation booklet Redesign and print Creating Habitat for Darwin Gardens booklet $5,000

Promote to the general public paid and targeted advertising Promotional Brochures, Advertising $2,500

Continue development of topics and associated resources

Continued resource development, updating and Printing $5,000

Maintain school commitment by providing learning outcomes aligned to curriculum.

Develop direct curriculum alignment for schools

$2,500

Year 2 TOTAL $20,000

Year 3 Darwin Residents

Undertake community workshops Workshop materials, speaker fees $2,500

Promotion and quarterly newsletter development

Advertising, distribution and engagement opportunities $2,000

Continue development of topics and associated resources

Resource development, updating and printing $7,500

Year 3 TOTAL $12,000

6. Approach

The project will be managed by the CC& E team with support from Parks and Reserves and the Communications teams as required. The program lead will be the Senior Climate Change & Environmental Officer, with support from the CC&E Trainee.

7. Project Outline

Gardens for Wildlife program will be a voluntary program for urban and peri-urban land holders, who are interested in utilising their property as wildlife habitat. This program will play a key role in continued enhancement of vegetation corridors and viable wildlife habitat in developed areas.

Gardens for Wildlife will encompass a range of resources and activities including topics related to promoting biodiversity in Darwin gardens (private landholders and lessees). Resources will include how to guides and current resources such as the Creating Habitat for Darwin Gardens booklet.

Collaboration with other organisations will occur to ensure consistent messaging and information is provided to the community.

Residents or community groups who sign up will receive;

• A welcome pack including factsheets and other information such as useful numbers e.g. snake call outs andwildlife rescue;

• Gardens for Wildlife sign for their letterbox or gate to promote ownership, commitment and sense of communitypride;

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• Regular communication and information through quarterly newsletters, a dedicated website, Facebook page andtwitter handle;

• Opportunities to network, share ideas, tips and successes creating a connected community; and• An invitation to attend free workshops, field days and other local community group environmental activities.

8. Timeframe & Milestones

Gardens for Wildlife will be rolled out in a staged progression to ensure staff can commit sufficient time and resources to each component of the program and trial new initiatives and refine as appropriate.

Three Year Project Rollout plan

Year 1 – 2017/18: The focus of the first year will be to engage with schools and community organisations. Gardens for Wildlife will target schools and established community groups. This will provide an opportunity to assess the needs of the community as well as refine resources and activities. In addition background work will be undertaken to develop the program for participation by the general community. This is envisaged to be carried out within current CC&E operational budget with possible assistance from external funding sources such as partner organisations and grant opportunities.

Targets: four brochures produced, two schools engaged, two workshops developed and rolled out

Year 2 – 2018/19: Increase Community Exposure - Introduce the program to the general public. In the second year we will roll out the program to the residents of Darwin, utilising existing Gardens for Wildlife participants and events including the Royal Darwin Show as initial promotion avenues. As residents sign up as G4W members they will receive introduction packs including a Gardens for Wildlife sign for display on their fence, brochures and or promo products from City of Darwin and other stakeholders. Useful numbers – e.g. snake call outs and wildlife rescue, outline of upcoming workshops and dates.

Targets: four additional brochures produced, two additional workshops developed, four workshops run over the year, curriculum alignment commenced, promotional opportunities engaged.

Year 3 – 2019/2020 Roll out of all aspects of the program are completed and residential and school programs run together. Becomes a self-sustaining program that encourages new participants and community input into desired workshops. Focus on ensuring curriculum relevant content on this year. Resources will be continually developed, updated and reprinted as required.

Targets: 4 additional brochures produced, additional workshops developed, 4 workshops run over the year, curriculum alignment continues, comprehensive community engagement.

9. Inclusions & Deliverables

The program will be designed to provide a base set of information and brochures to each participant. These topics may include;

• Darwin Why Its Special (overview of biodiversity, habitat types, unique features of Darwin) – What plants andanimals are native to Darwin;

• Creating a Garden to attract wildlife – For birds, insects, mammals, reptiles;• Landscaping essentials - mapping out your garden and Importance of layers;• Living with wildlife - Feeding Wildlife, caring for injured wildlife;• Pets and Wildlife;• What is habitat, nesting boxes, hollows and logs, bird baths;• Attracting the right wildlife reducing pests;• Water in your garden – water wise plantings, water for animals, reducing impact from toads;• Growing Local – Native plants, bush tucker and bush medicine;• Avoiding weeds and problem plants;• Planting and Maintenance – including reducing fertilisers and pesticides; and

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• Native plant propagation / multiply with what you have.

The CC&E team plan to deliver a range of hands on workshops and activities to enhance community engagement and provide a holistic program the community can become involved with. Participants will be provided the opportunity to attend a quarterly workshop on topics such as;

• Water wise gardens (run in collaboration with Living Water Smart)• Caring for Wildlife (run by Ark Aid or Wildcare)• Build a nest box ( in collaboration with the Men’s Shed)• Wildlife monitoring and photography (Parks and Wildlife and Paul Arnold)• Site tours and field days (CoD Parks and reserves, Landcare revegetation sites)

Community interest in these and other workshops will be assessed and will allow for new topics or repeat topics if they prove popular.

10. Critical Success Factors

Successful community engagement, relevant resources, comprehensive information, appropriate speakers.

11. Constraints

The constraints of this program will include resource and budget availability and the ability of staff to spend enough time on the project over other competing priorities.

12. Exclusions

This program will be pitched at Darwin residents only limiting topics to ‘urban’ and Darwin municipality issues.

13. Related Projects

Internal; Urban Biodiversity / Green Space strategy, Council revegetation works, Animal management.

External; Land for Wildlife, Living water Smart

14. Risks

There are few risks involved with this community program, a possible risk is relying on external providers to be timely and accurate in the information or funding they provide.

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ATTACHMENT B

What is Gardens for Wildlife?

Gardens for Wildlife is a voluntary program for Darwin schools who are interested utilising their property as wildlife habitat. This program will play a key role in the continued enhancement of vegetation corridors and viable wildlife habitat in Darwin suburbs.

Gardens for Wildlife (G4W) provides a range of resources and activities that can be delivered in schools with a range of topics around promoting biodiversity in Darwin gardens. Resources include how to guides and resources such as the Creating Habitat for Darwin Gardens booklet.

Schools who sign up will receive;

• A welcome pack including factsheets and other information such as usefulnumbers e.g. snake call outs and wildlife rescue;

• A G4W sign for their gate to promote they are part of the program;• Regular communication and information through quarterly newsletters, a

dedicated website, Facebook page and twitter handle;• Access to teaching resources and teaching sessions with in class experts

(based on availability, and topic selection); and• An invitation to attend free workshops, field days and other local community

group environmental activities.

To Qualify

G4W membership is free, voluntary and non-binding, but requires an onsite assessment against specific biodiversity criteria.

To qualify for G4W membership the property must be under your management control and must have some capacity for native vegetation and/or habitat to be developed within the boundary.

Schools must nominate a lead staff member for the G4W program who will champion the program and be responsible for coordinating any activities.

As a G4W school you must be motivated and committed to supporting nature conservation on your school grounds by managing it in a way that clearly enhances the local environment, as well as educating your students on the importance of biodiversity and natural habitats.

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What are the benefits of joining Gardens for Wildlife?

• Assessment of your school by one of Councils Environment Officers;• Access to free native flora and fauna management advice;• Assistance with getting maps of your property;• Advice on revegetation, weed control, pest animal control and ecological

processes;• Gardens for Wildlife sign for your front gate;• Quarterly newsletters on upcoming G4W activities you can join in on;• Opportunities to attend free workshops, field days and meet other like-minded

schools;• Free access to all G4W learning resources and in class sessions;• Incentives to create, improve and protect wildlife habitat (free trees, nest box etc.);• Access to G4W grants up to a maximum of $2,500 per year (subject to application

guidelines, criteria and assessment);• Integration of nature conservation with your learning outcomes; and• Serve as inspiration to the school and broader local community.

What next?

Ready to sign up or do you have a few more questions? Please visit Gardens for Wildlife or contact our Gardens for Wildlife officer on 8930 0618 or [email protected].

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Gardens for Wildlife Sign up Form

1. Name of School

_____________________________________________

2. Participating School levels?

◯ Primary

◯ Middle

◯ Senior

Other: _______________

3. Is your school...

◯ Government

◯ Non-Government

Other:___________________

4. Number of Students in the School

_____________

5. Physical School Address

__________________________________________________________

Suburb: _________________ Postcode: __________

6. Phone Number

________________________

7. Email

________________________

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8. Is the school registered by the Department of Education in the NT *

◯ Yes ◯ No

*Note: Applicant schools must be a registered NT school.

9. Does your school consent to an onsite school assessment to be undertaken?*

◯ Yes ◯ No

*This information will only be used for identifying areas of improvement and how the school may benefit frombeing part of the Gardens for Wildlife program. To be eligible for funding an assessment must be undertaken.

10. What are your main areas of interest for joining the program;

◯ Information on local plants, wildlife, threatened species, and ecosystems in your school and local area

◯ Revegetation and habitat restoration advice

◯ Resources and assistance finding experts for class interactions

◯ Incentives to help create, improve and protect habitat (including the ability to apply for grants)

◯ Integrating conservation with learning outcomes for students

◯ Free workshops, field days and in-class sessions from experts

◯ Opportunities to collaborate with and meet other like-minded schools and teachers

◯ Other: ______________________________________________________

11. School Contact Person Details

All applicant schools must nominate a teacher or staff member to be lead contact for this project. They will be the first point of contact and responsible for ensuring any obligations as part of this registration are met.

Lead Contact Name (First and Surname)

_____________________________________________

Contacts Position (Head of Science or Year 4 Teacher)

_____________________________________________

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Phone Number

___________________________

Mobile Phone Number

___________________________

Direct Email

__________________________

Agreement:

I___________________________________ certify that I have been authorised by the nominated school above to make this application.

◯ I certify that, to the best of my knowledge, the statements and information provided in this application are true and correct.

◯ I have read, and understood the Gardens for Wildlife Grants Program Guidelines.

____________________________ Signature

___________________________ Name

___________________________ Position

_______________________ Date

The information requested by this form is collected by City of Darwin for the purpose of assessing Gardens for Wildlife Program participation only. Your personal information is managed in accordance with the City of Darwin's privacy policy which is available at www.darwin.nt.gov.au

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http://www.darwin.nt.gov.au/

Gardens for Wildlife School Grants

Program by City of Darwin

2017/2018 GUIDELINES

ATTACHMENT C 2626

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GARDENS FOR WILDLIFE SCHOOL GRANTS PROGRAM GUIDELINES 2

GARDENS FOR WILDLIFE SCHOOL GRANTS PROGRAM GUIDELINES

Overview

City of Darwin has established a ‘ Gardens for Wildlife School Grants Program' ( G 4 W ) that is aimed at supporting and assisting schools with the development of activities that will increase biodiversity and native habitat in urban Darwin.

Funding is project, and activity based. Applications must be completed on the prescribed online application form, which outlines the details of the proposed project or activity, its cost, timeframe and expected outcomes.

Through the school grants program City of Darwin aims to support a range of areas and learning outcomes around such topics as:

- Revegetation - Habitat creation - Environmental management outcomes (i.e. fencing, weeding, animal control) - Development of localised Environmental education and information

All successful applications will be approved by the City of Darwin’s City Futures Committee and will fulfill broader Gardens for Wildlife program objectives;

1. Increase community understanding and ownership of Darwin’s unique environment andwildlife.

2. Increase and support biodiversity and habitat areas across Darwin3. Create greater community engagement around the Darwin natural environment4. Contribute to and be part of a broader Urban Biodiversity Strategy, providing a strategic

direction for green spaces across the municipality.

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SCHOOL GRANTS PROGRAM GUIDELINES

1. Statement of Purpose

Through the Gardens for Wildlife School Grants Program, City of Darwin aims tosupport school based projects that contribute to community and environmentaloutcomes as defined within the G4W program. Grants will be considered andallocated on the basis of identified environmental benefit, Council priorities andthe anticipated outcomes as outlined in the project’s application.

2. Grant Program Objectives

The program provides financial assistance to:• Enhance local biodiversity• Encourage participation in environmental activities• Increase environmental understanding

3. The Grant

• Grants will generally vary in amounts up to $2,500 to ensure support to thegreatest number of schools and initiatives.

• City of Darwin’s contribution must be acknowledged. Use of the Gardens forWildlife logo in promotional material associated with an event, on printedmaterial is ideal.

4. Application Process

Applications should be submitted on the prescribed application web form wherepossible.

5. Eligibility

• Schools must be registered as a G4W School• Schools must be registered by the Department of Education NT• Proposed projects or events must generally occur within the financial year in

which it is funded.• Must occur within the municipality of Darwin.• The application must be received by the published closing date.• The application must be submitted on the prescribed application form.

6. Ineligible Applications

The following proposals will not be considered:• Requests for support for any individual pursuits.• Applications for recurrent funds.• Requests for the ongoing/core functions of a school such as funding for permanent

staff members, insurance and utilities.• Requests for commercial events

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• Requests solely for administration costs• Applications where an applicant has not fully acquitted any previous City of

Darwin grant.

7. Funding requirements

Successful applicants will be required to submit a tax invoice to Council and enter aformal agreement with City of Darwin that details the commitment of both parties.

8. Acquittal

Successful applicants will be required to submit a project and financial acquittalwithin three (3) months of the project’s completion or by 30 May of that financialyear.Acquittals must include justification of money spent including copies of relevantreceipts, photos of the event/project/program and clear identification ofacknowledgement of City of Darwin Gardens 4 Wildlife program support.

Grants must only be used for the purpose stated in the letter of approval. Thepurpose, amount or time for expenditure of a grant may not be changed withoutprior written approval.

9. Assessment procedure

Applicants must submit a formal application form detailing needs, proposedoutcomes, who the project involves, a budget, and how the City of Darwin will beacknowledged.

The Grants assessment procedure is as follows:

• City of Darwin Officers will undertake an initial eligibility appraisal, ensuring that allinformation is provided and that the application meets the program’s establishedobjectives.

• A panel of City of Darwin Officers will assess each application on merit andrecommend funding of projects up to the allotted funding amount.

• City of Darwin’s City Futures Committee will assess recommended applications andwill approve which projects are to be funded.

• Grant applicants may be required to submit additional information if requested.• Once City of Darwin has finalised its assessment and approved projects for funding,

its decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into.

10. Criteria for Assessing Gardens for Wildlife Grant Applications

Applications will be assessed using the following criteria:

• Biodiversity Benefit• Student or Community benefit and involvement.• Monitoring, maintenance and school’s capacity for administering the project.

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• Acknowledgment of Gardens for Wildlife program support.• The capacity/need of the project to attract funds from other sources.

11. Accountability

Within three (3) months of the project’s completion or by 30 May of that financialyear, funded applicants will be required to submit the 'Project Evaluation andFinancial Acquittal Form' which will be provided to all successful applicants.

12. Acknowledgment of Assistance

Successful applicants will be required to acknowledge the support of City of Darwinthrough the use of the Gardens for Wildlife logo on all printed materials, in mediaadvertisements, press releases and on signage at events.

For some events, appropriate acknowledgment may involve invitations being issued tothe Lord Mayor or relevant City of Darwin Aldermen.

13. Submission of Applications

Submission of applications should be made by the online application form found athttps://darwin.smartygrants.com.au/G4Wschoolgrants2017

To request further information Council’s Gardens for Wildlife off icer may be contacted in any of the follow ways;

Phone: (08) 8930 0618 Fax: (08) 8930 0644 Email: [email protected] Internet: www.darwin.nt.gov.au In person: Customer Service, Civic Centre

Harry Chan Avenue DARWIN NT 0800

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https://darwin.smartygrants.com.au/G4Wschoolgrants2017mailto:[email protected]://www.darcity.nt.gov.au/


Attachment A: Explanation of Criteria

Biodiversity Benefit City of Darwin’s Gardens for Wildlife School Grants funds projects that deliver environmental benefit for native flora and fauna. Projects may include but are not limited to:

• tree planting / native garden creation• habitat protection such as fencing or plant guards,• weed removal,• biodiversity assessments,• protection of fauna via animal management, or providing refugia such as nest boxes,• purchase of plants, mulch, or basic equipment,• Hire of or contracting out of jobs such as tilling soil or removal of unsuitable vegetation• development of localized biodiversity lesson plans

Student or Community benefit and involvement.

Your School must be signed up to the Gardens for Wildlife program. You must also be able to demonstrate how your project benefits the school or broader community. This may include how you will engage the students to participate or how you invite the community to become involved or tell the community about your project. An estimate on how many people will be engaged in the project or how this project might work in other areas can be useful. You should indicate if volunteers are involved because volunteer hours are a huge investment in grants projects and are considered a valuable contribution.

Monitoring and maintenance

Ongoing success of your project is important to us. Please describe in your application how you will maintain the project outcomes once the funding has finished. Include where appropriate if your maintenance staff can absorb any ongoing upkeep or other requirements of your additional vegetation or infrastructure.

Acknowledgement

Grants will only be provided to schools who are signed up to to the Gardens for Wildlife program. As part of this it is a requirement that City of Darwin and the Gardens for Wildlife program should be acknowledged where appropriate this may include use of the Gardens for Wildlife logo on all printed materials, in media advertisements, press releases and on signage at events.

Feel free to contact the Gardens for Wildlife officer on 8930 0618 or [email protected] to discuss your project prior to submitting.

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ENCL: YES CITY FUTURES COMMITTEE/OPEN AGENDA ITEM: 9.1.2

CITY OF DARWIN ENERGY STRATEGY

REPORT No.: 17CF0034 SG:nt COMMON No.: 3258746 DATE: 21/11/2017

Presenter: Manager Climate Change & Environment, Shenagh Gamble

Approved: General Manager City Futures, Gerard Rosse

PURPOSE

The purpose of this report is to present the City of Darwin Energy Strategy and seek guidance on setting an emissions reduction target.

LINK TO STRATEGIC PLAN

The issues addressed in this Report are in accordance with the following Goals/Strategies as outlined in the ‘Evolving Darwin Towards 2020 Strategic Plan’:-

Goal 3 Environmentally Sustainable City Outcome 3.1 Council’s carbon footprint reduced Key Strategies 3.1.2 Reduce Council’s energy consumption

KEY ISSUES

• City of Darwin is a major user of electricity, spending over $2 million annually onelectricity.

• A range of energy saving measures such as rooftop solar, LED lighting andmotion sensors have been installed in recent years across the City of Darwin.

• Renewable energy alone is saving City of Darwin around $95,000 annually fromexisting projects.

• In 2016 Marsden Jacob Associates were engaged to develop an Energy Strategyfor the City of Darwin.

• The strategy provides costed options to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas(GHG) emissions.

• An emissions reduction target is important as it clearly signals the intent ofCouncil to reduce emissions, which in turn informs decisions about capitalexpenditure

• Unless otherwise stated, the emissions referred to in this report are emissionsfrom energy, and do not include emissions from landfill.

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PAGE: 2 REPORT NUMBER: 17CF0034 SG:nt SUBJECT: CITY OF DARWIN ENERGY STRATEGY

RECOMMENDATIONS

THAT the Committee resolve under delegated authority:-

A. THAT Report Number 17CF0034 SG:nt entitled City of Darwin Energy Strategy, be received and noted.

B. THAT a further report providing an implementation plan for Net Present Value positive projects to achieve 100% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, showing incremental targets, financial modelling and community engagement strategies be presented to Council by March 2018.

BACKGROUND

At the October 2015 Environment & Infrastructure Committee meeting it was resolved:

DECISION NO. 21\3848

THAT a report be prepared outlining the objectives, outcomes and costs associated with the development of an Energy Strategy for consideration in the 2016/17 budget deliberation.

Marsden Jacobs Associates were engaged in 2016 to develop an energy strategy for City of Darwin. A copy of the Energy Strategy is contained in Attachment A to this report.

The purpose of the strategy was to establish emission reduction targets for the period 2017-18 to 2029-30, prepare for the opening up of a competitive electricity market in the Northern Territory, and develop fully costed options to reduce energy costs and reduce emissions.

DISCUSSION

City of Darwin is a major user of electricity, spending over $2 million annually on electricity. Greenhouse gas emissions for the 2016/17 financial year (excluding emissions from landfill) were 3,601 tonnes carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e). Energy saving measures implemented in recent years saved an estimated $67,000 and 123 tCO2e emissions in the 2016/17 financial year.

Cost savings from energy saving measures are demonstrated in Figure 1 below. This graph uses a base year of 2011/2012 as this was the commencement of the City of Darwin Climate Change Action Plan. Note that 2012/13 shows a minor increase in cost (rather than a reduction). This should be taken as an anomaly and does not detract from the significant trend towards cost savings.

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Figure 1 Costs avoided as a result of energy efficiency measures, as at July 2017

Energy saving measures that have been implemented to date includes installation of sensor lights across council buildings, switchover of lights to LED (light emitting diode) technology and the installation of rooftop solar at four key sites. As a result, 10% of CoD electricity now comes from onsite renewable energy, as shown in Figure 2 that follows. This graph shows the total electricity use for CoD, with rooftop solar (10%) broken down by asset.

Figure 2 Annual electricity consumption by source, as at July 2017

2011-2012

2012-2013

2013-2014

2014-2015

2015-2016

2016-2017

Actual charges $929,893 $831,157 $1,198,065 $1,198,776 $1,234,921 $1,212,619BAU charges $929,893 $829,942 $1,205,489 $1,326,680 $1,391,450 $1,370,297Cost Avoided $- -$1,215 $7,424 $127,904 $156,529 $157,678

-$200,000

$-

$200,000

$400,000

$600,000

$800,000

$1,000,000

$1,200,000

$1,400,000

$1,600,000

Cost

of E

lect

ricity

Grid Electricity 90%

Casuarina Library 3%

Operations Centre

3%

Casuarina Pool 2%

Nightcliff Pool 2% Rooftop Solar

10%

Annual Electricity Consumption and Renewable Energy Generation by Source

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The purpose of the Energy Strategy (the strategy) is to provide options for a longer term investment approach to energy saving measures. The strategy also provides advice on setting an emissions reduction target. Setting an emissions reduction target is important as it clearly signals the intent of Council to reduce emissions, which in turn informs decisions about capital expenditure. An emission reduction target also signals to industry the type of investment Council will consider in years to come.

The strategy analyses the cost of energy saving measures and provides forecasts of CoD’s energy use and emissions over the forecast period.

Costed options to reduce energy use and GHG emissions Costed options provided in the strategy create a range of energy saving and emission reduction scenarios. The scenarios are summarised in Table 1 below.

Table 1 Description of scenarios from the City of Darwin Energy Strategy

Scenario Description Estimated Overall Cost

Base Case business as usual Within operational budget

Scenario 1 implementing all measures $9,810,100

Zero emissions implementing measures to ensure that the City of Darwin has zero (net) emissions by 2030.

$10,210,100

NPV Positive Projects Only

implementing measures that are economically viable.

$5,203,100

50 per cent Renewables

achieving a 50 per cent renewable energy target by 2030.

as above*

*this option was not costed in the strategy as all of the scenarios (except for BaseCase) easily achieve 50 per cent renewables

Interestingly, the level of emissions for all of the reduction scenarios is similar by 2030, shown below in Figure 3. This is because in most instances it is economical for CoD to implement initiatives that reduce energy costs and emissions to these levels.

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Figure 3 Emission (tonnes) trajectories by Scenario (Source: City of Darwin Energy Strategy)

Implementation of Projects Some projects recommended in the strategy are already underway. The upgrade of public lighting and installation of rooftop solar on the Civic Centre are approved and currently underway. These projects both have strong financial cases and will result in significant savings in energy use and emissions reductions. The strategy’s key options to reduce emissions from energy consumption are summarised in Table 2 below. Table 2 Key energy saving measures from the City of Darwin Energy Strategy

Project Project description

tCO2e annual savings

Capital Cost Estimate ($)

CoD comment

Civic Centre rooftop solar

Behind the meter solar PV installation

121 489,000 Scheduled and funded within 2017/2018 financial year

Public lighting upgrade

Upgrade streetlight, traffic lights and other public lighting to energy efficient models

1,143 48,410 p.a. CoD is already upgrading public lighting for efficiency. This is an ongoing process which may be fast tracked.

Alternative transport options

Transition CoD vehicle fleet to hybrid and electric

Dependant on number and type of vehicles

Currently higher than petrol or diesel – cost completive by 2022

Decision on purchase of hybrid or electric vehicles is made case by case.

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Long term power purchase agreement (PPA)

Enter into contract with solar project developer to purchase power

NA This project would have low upfront costs

This is a funding mechanism. Recent investigations indicate that this option is not immediately available, however may become attractive in coming years

Shoal Bay ground mounted solar (1 MW plant, site has potential for 5 MW)

Solar PV farm at Shoal Bay Waste Facility feeding power into grid.

458 2,000,000 While some administrative challenges exist, early discussions with Territory Generation indicate that a large scale solar facility would be welcomed. Should this options proceed investigations should not be limited to the Shoal Bay site in case a more feasible option is identified

Shoal Bay waste to energy

Conventional thermal waste treatment plant

NA 10,500,000 Investigations to date suggest that an increase in waste disposal will be required to make such a facility economically viable, however this will be explored with the new landfill operations contract from 2020 (with planning starting in 2018).

Air conditioning (HVAC) upgrade

Replace HVAC systems with more energy efficient system

347 5,563,250 Replace existing systems with more efficient systems at the end of their useful life.

Carbon offsets

Purchase or produce carbon offsets to offset a selected portion of CoD energy emissions.

TBD NA External offsets are readily available and could easily be purchased to offset the final percentages of emissions should CoD not achieve direct reductions. Further, internal offsetting (for example, capitalising on tree planting initiatives) may be utilised.

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The emissions reductions of these projects are further explained in Figure 4 below. Each box on the graph represents a project to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The width of each box represents the emissions reduction potential that project can deliver compared to business-as-usual. And the height of each box represents the average net cost of abating (reducing) one tonne of CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) through that activity.

The graph is ordered left to right from the lowest cost to the highest cost opportunities. Those opportunities that appear below the horizontal axis offer the potential for financial savings even after the upfront costs of capturing them have been factored in. Opportunities that appear above the horizontal axis are expected to come at a net cost.

As can be seen in this graph, emissions reduction of 2,100 t CO2e is achievable by implementing street lighting upgrades, Civic Centre rooftop solar, and Shoal Bay solar. Given that emissions for the 2016/17 financial year were 3,601 tCO2e this would represent an emissions reduction of 42%.

Long term solar farm power purchase agreement (PPA) could bring emissions reduction to 86%.

This would leave a residual 501 tCO2e to be reduced or abated. The most recent price of carbon from the fifth Emissions Reduction Fund auction, held in April 2017, was $11.82 per tonne. For Council to abate the final 501 tCO2e would cost $5,921.82.

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Figure 4 City of Darwin Emissions Abatement Cost Curve ($000 per annum)

The strategy references a renewable energy target for the Northern Territory Government as part of their “Roadmap to Renewables” (expected to be released in November 2017). It is anticipated that the Roadmap to Renewables will include a 50% renewable energy target for all of the NT by 2030. If this occurs, emissions reductions for CoD will become significantly greater.

Irrespective of Northern Territory Government action, City of Darwin has the capacity to significantly reduce GHG emissions by 2030 through the implementation of potential emission reduction projects described in the strategy and carbon offset initiatives.

It is recommended that a target up to 100% GHG emissions reduction by 2030 be explored and further report detailing the pathway to achieve such a target be presented to Council by March 2018. Modelling of a target of 100% at this time will allow officers to consider incremental targets, financial modelling and community engagement strategies to inform Council in its decision making on the item.

It is important to note that a target of 100% would be restricted to emissions from energy. Council has already set and achieved a 15% reduction in GHG emissions (based on 2008/09 levels). Projects that are already in progress (street lighting upgrades etc) will deliver 30% reductions in GHG emissions.

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CONSULTATION PROCESS

This report was considered by the Executive Leadership Team on Monday 13 November and now referred to City Futures Committee for consideration.

In preparing this report, the following City of Darwin officers were consulted:

• Acting Manager Climate Change and Environment• Manager Regulatory Services• Manager Infrastructure Maintenance• Acting Manager Finance• Manager Technical Services• Capital Works Coordinator• Manager Capital Works

In preparing this report, the following External Parties were consulted:

• Marsden Jacob Associates• Power and Water• Territory Generation• Rimfire Energy

POLICY IMPLICATIONS

City of Darwin Policy No. 059 “Climate Change” states:

City of Darwin is committed to delivering mitigation and adaptation measures to minimise the impact of climate change for the organisation, for the community and for environment sustainability. Council will allocate sufficient resources to implement these mitigation and adaptation measures

City of Darwin will foster greater community understanding of the impacts of climate change and will provide leadership on greenhouse gas emissions reduction and strategies to adapt to our changing climate.

BUDGET AND RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS

Costed options to reduce energy use and GHG emissions are provided in Section 5 of the strategy. Finalised costings and financial implications will be presented to Council in the proposed report to be presented by March 2018. Officers note that number of potential options will be explored.

As a result of subsidies (Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, SRES, and Feed in Tariffs, FiT) and modest retail electricity prices in the Territory, the payback on investment in small-scale PV systems is currently 5.6 years and is forecast to reduce to just over 5 years in the mid-2020’s.

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In order to reduce the capital burden (e.g. equity and/or debt) of the implementation of the proposed Energy Strategy for the City of Darwin, a capital fund may be established whereby any annual energy cost savings delivered by the implementation of various initiatives could be allocated to a specific Energy Strategy Capital Fund. This funding could then be used to fund additional capital expenditure in future years.

To do this would require establishing a base case for energy expenditure (which could be based on Base Case energy consumption) and comparing with the energy expenditure under the particular target chosen by the City of Darwin.

RISK/LEGAL/LEGISLATIVE IMPLICATIONS

The strategy identifies a number of dependencies and challenges to implementation. These include: • Externally funded subsidies to renewable energy• Northern Territory Government policy change (Roadmap to Renewables)• Changes in technology• Uncertainty in the energy market

While these may change the timelines or returns on investment, these should not be considered significant risks or barriers to implementation. Any of the above listed dependencies or challenges could also change to facilitate or enhance measures described in the strategy.

Setting, but not meeting, a target is a perceived risk. Already an emissions reduction fund exists in Australia. The most current cost of carbon abatement is $11.82 per tCO2e. Should the target not be met through direct reductions, carbon offsets could be considered.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

Reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions is inherently beneficial to the environment.

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COUNCIL OFFICER CONFLICT OF INTEREST DECLARATION

We the Author and Approving Officers declare that we do not have a Conflict of Interest in relation to this matter.

SHENAGH GAMBLE GERARD ROSSE MANAGER CLIMATE CHANGE & ENVIRONMENT

GENERAL MANAGER CITY FUTURES

For enquiries, please contact Shenagh Gamble on 89300530 or email: [email protected].

Attachments: Attachment A: City of Darwin Energy Strategy

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FINAL REPORT APRIL 2017

Energy Strategy for the City of Darwin

Prepared for the City of Darwin

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ntyrieAttachment A

Marsden Jacob Associates Financial & Economic Consultants

ABN 66 663 324 657 ACN 072 233 204

Internet: http://www.marsdenjacob.com.au E-mail: [email protected]

Melbourne office: Postal address: Level 4, 683 Burke Road, Camberwell Victoria 3124 AUSTRALIA Telephone: 03 9882 1600 Facsimile: 03 9882 1300

Perth office: Level 1, 220 St Georges Terrace, Perth Western Australia, 6000 AUSTRALIA Telephone: 08 9324 1785 Facsimile: 08 9322 7936

Sydney office: 119 Willoughby Road, Crows Nest New South Wales, 2065 AUSTRALIA Rod Carr 0418 765 393 Ken Harper 0412 318 324

Brisbane office: Rick Stankiewicz 0412 314 818

Author: Grant Draper [email protected] Lizzie O’Brien [email protected] Chris Blanksby [email protected]

This report has been prepared in accordance with the scope of services described in the contract or agreement between Marsden Jacob Associates Pty Ltd ACN 072 233 204 and the Client. Any findings, conclusions or recommendations only apply to the aforementioned circumstances and no greater reliance should be assumed or drawn by the Client. Furthermore, the report has been prepared solely for use by the Client and Marsden Jacob Associates accepts no responsibility for its use by other parties.

Copyright © Marsden Jacob Associates Pty Ltd 2017

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mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]

MARSDEN JACOB ASSOCIATES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

Executive summary ................................................................................................................ i

Glossary .............................................................................................................................. vi

Abbreviations ......................................................................................................................................... vi

Units of measure .................................................................................................................................... vii

1. Introduction .................................................................................................................. 8

1.1 Background ................................................................................................................................. 8

1.2 Methodology ............................................................................................................................... 8

1.3 Data sources and limitations ........................................................................................................ 9

1.4 Dollars and Escalations ................................................................................................................ 9

2. Current energy use ...................................................................................................... 11

2.1 Overview and trends ................................................................................................................... 11

2.2 Buildings and facilities ................................................................................................................ 11

2.3 On-site solar PVs ....................................................................................................................... 18

2.4 On-site backup generation ........................................................................................................ 19

2.5 Public lighting............................................................................................................................ 19

2.6 Vehicle fleet .............................................................................................................................. 23

3. Energy Investment Framework in the NT ...................................................................... 25

3.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 25

3.2 International Factors ................................................................................................................. 25

3.3 National policy settings and Instruments ................................................................................... 28

3.4 NT policy developments ............................................................................................................. 37

3.5 NT electricity market developments .......................................................................................... 38

3.6 Technology Changes ................................................................................................................. 41

3.7 Summary and Conclusions ..........................................................................................................47

4. Options for the Development of Emission Reduction Targets ......................................... 48

4.1 Background ............................................................................................................................... 48

4.2 Energy Consumption and Emission Reduction Forecasts ............................................................ 48

4.3 Establishing Future Electricity Use and Emission Reduction Targets........................................... 50

4.4 Preferred Approach to establishing the target ........................................................................... 50

5. Costed Options to Reduce Energy Use and GHG Emissions ............................................ 52

5.1 Methodology ............................................................................................................................. 52

5.2 Costed Options .......................................................................................................................... 54

5.3 Shoal Bay Ground Mounted Solar Installation ............................................................................ 55

5.4 Rooftop Solar at the Civic Centre ............................................................................................... 58

5.5 Long term PPA with a large-scale solar project .......................................................................... 60

5.6 Shoal Bay Waste to Energy ........................................................................................................ 60

5.7 Civic Centre HVAC ..................................................................................................................... 63

5.8 Public Lighting .......................................................................................................................... 66

5.9 Electricity retail contracting ....................................................................................................... 68

5.10 Metering upgrades at selected sites ............................................................................................ 72

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5.11 Alternative Transport Options .................................................................................................... 75

5.12 Carbon Offsets ...........................................................................................................................79

6. Future Energy Use and Emission Reductions ................................................................. 81

6.1 Background ............................................................................................................................... 81

6.2 Outcomes of implementing all measures – Scenario 1 ................................................................ 81

6.3 Scenario 1 Capital Budget .......................................................................................................... 84

6.4 Alternative Scenarios ................................................................................................................. 84

6.5 Potential Challenges to Achieving Targets ................................................................................. 85

7. Implementation Plan ................................................................................................... 87

7.1 Implementation Issues ................................................................................................................87

7.2 Implementation Plan ................................................................................................................. 89

Appendix A: Classifications and account details by site ......................................................... 91

Appendix B: Annual electricity use by site - CONFIDENTIAL .................................................. 97

LIST OF TABLES Page

Table 1: Electricity usage at buildings & facilities (kWh) ........................................................................................ 12 Table 2: Solar PV installed at City of Darwin site ................................................................................................... 19 Table 3: Back up generation.................................................................................................................................. 19 Table 4: LED traffic lights owned by City of Darwin ............................................................................................... 23 Table 5: City of Darwin Vehicle Fleet, fuel type and estimated fuel usage 2016 ...................................................... 23 Table 6: Energy Content and Emission Intensity of Vehicle Fuels .......................................................................... 24 Table 7: Summary of Shoal Bay Solar Project ........................................................................................................ 57 Table 8: Summary of City of Darwin Civic Centre Project ...................................................................................... 59 Table 9: Summary of Shoal Bay Waste to Energy project ...................................................................................... 62 Table 10: Net Benefits of Improving HVAC Systems .............................................................................................. 63 Table 11: Project Net Benefits - HVAC System Replacement (Audit Report) .......................................................... 64 Table 12: Project Net Benefits - HVAC System Replacement (End of Useful Life) .................................................. 65 Table 13: Estimated electricity and CO2 emissions by street light for 2015-16 ....................................................... 66 Table 14: Current unmetered street light charges and estimated cost to City of Darwin ........................................ 66 Table 15: Efficient Public lighting Project, Net Benefits (2017 dollars) .................................................................... 68 Table 16: Summary of electricity retailers in NT .................................................................................................... 70 Table 17: Commercial tariffs (


Table 32: Implementation Plan ............................................................................................................................. 89 Table 33: Site classifications, account number and meter identifier by site ............................................................ 91 Table 34: Historical annual electricity use by site (kWh) ........................................................................................ 97

LIST OF FIGURES Page

Figure 1: Methodology for Developing the Energy Strategy .................................................................................... 9 Figure 2: Historical electricity consumption at City of Darwin sites (by category)................................................... 11 Figure 3: Electricity usage at municipal centres and administration buildings ........................................................ 12 Figure 4: Electricity use at parks and reserves (2015-16) ........................................................................................ 13 Figure 5: Electricity use at sports ovals .................................................................................................................. 14 Figure 6: Electricity usage at swimming pools ....................................................................................................... 15 Figure 7: Electricity use at community service centres ........................................................................................... 16 Figure 8: Electricity use at Council owned car parks .............................................................................................. 17 Figure 9: Electricity usage at Shoal Bay Recycling & Waste Management Facility .................................................. 17 Figure 10: Electricity usage at miscellaneous sites ................................................................................................. 18 Figure 11: Electricity usage from metered street lights .......................................................................................... 18 Figure 12: Streetlights by type .............................................................................................................................. 21 Figure 13: Historical population growth rates for City of Darwin, Norther Territory and Australia .......................... 21 Figure 14: Quarter on quarter change in the number of residential dwellings, Northern Territory .......................... 22 Figure 15: Oil Price Scenarios (USD/barrel 2016 dollars) ........................................................................................ 26 Figure 16: Renewable Energy Capacity in Australia (MW) ...................................................................................... 30 Figure 17: LGC prices (nominal) ............................................................................................................................ 31 Figure 18: Spot LGC prices (2016) ......................................................................................................................... 31 Figure 19: Rooftop PV Costs (Installed) and Economic Payback Period .................................................................. 33 Figure 20: Projected Rooftop PV Installation (kW Installed) .................................................................................. 34 Figure 21: Reduction in Maximum Demand due to 1 MW Rooftop PV .................................................................... 35 Figure 22: Future Energy Demand in the DK System (GWh delivered) ................................................................... 41 Figure 23: Levelised Cost of Large-Scale Generation Technologies ....................................................................... 42 Figure 24: Potential Benefits of Energy Storage .................................................................................................... 44 Figure 25: Levelised costs of battery technologies ................................................................................................ 45 Figure 26: Projections of Electric Vehicle Fleet Uptake .......................................................................................... 46 Figure 27: City of Darwin Electricity Demand – Base Case (MWh) .......................................................................... 49 Figure 28: City of Darwin Emissions (tonnes CO2

e) ................................................................................................ 50

Figure 29: Marginal Abatement Curve - $ tonne CO2e reduction (by project) ......................................................... 54 Figure 30: Abatement Cost Curve for City of Darwin - $000’s per annum (by project) ............................................ 55 Figure 31: Shoal Bay site. ...................................................................................................................................... 56 Figure 32: Civic centre building. ............................................................................................................................ 58 Figure 33: Civic centre load and solar PV generation profile. .................................................................................. 59 Figure 34: Conventional waste to energy plant ..................................................................................................... 61 Figure 35: Energy Consumption by Segment - Alternative Scenario 1 (MWh) ........................................................ 82 Figure 36: Emissions by Segment - Alternative Scenario 1 (tonnes) ....................................................................... 82 Figure 37: Energy Consumption (by Scenario) and Renewable Generation (MWh) ................................................. 83 Figure 38: Net Emissions (tonnes) ......................................................................................................................... 83 Figure 39: Energy Use (MWh) trajectories ............................................................................................................. 85 Figure 40: Emission (tonnes) trajectories .............................................................................................................. 85

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City of Darwin Energy Strategy

ES.i


Executive summary

Purpose

The City of Darwin is a major user of electricity (spends $2 million annually on electricity) and

is keen to develop strategies to reduce its overall energy bill and reduce its Greenhouse Gas

(GHG) footprint. The City of Darwin wants to develop an energy strategy to establish emission

reduction targets for the period 2017-18 to 2029-30, prepare for the opening up of a competitive

electricity market in the Territory, and develop fully costed options to reduce energy costs and

reduce emissions.

This report, prepared by both Marsden Jacob Associates (Marsden Jacob) and Entura,

summarises the levelised cost analysis of various initiatives that could reduce energy costs

and/or reduce emissions, and provides forecasts of the City of Darwin’s energy use and

emissions over the forecast period with and without those initiatives implemented. It is also

provides a recommendation on the overall target for energy use and emission reductions by

2030.

Investment Framework

Our review of the investment framework for investment in renewable technologies and energy

efficiency projects provided the following conclusions:

International politics will influence Australia’s and consequently, the Territory’s, adoption

of energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions targets. The NT Government (Labor)

has committed to a renewable energy target of 50 per cent by 2030. Such a target will have

a major impact on the generation mix in the Darwin Katherine Interconnected System

(DKIS), which will impact the City of Darwin’s emissions even if no direct action is taken

by the City of Darwin to reduce emissions (i.e. the base case is altered).

International oil prices play a significant role in determining the domestic gas price and

subsequently the electricity generation price in the Territory (i.e. high proportion of

generation is gas fired). MJA is forecasting rising oil prices and hence rising gas prices

which will drive up wholesale and retail electricity prices and improve the economics of

investments in renewable and energy efficiency projects.

The current electricity market reforms in the Territory are noted as presenting both

opportunities and challenges for future electricity supply negotiations. A complexity in the

assessment of renewable energy projects for the City of Darwin is to understand the extent

to which Territory reform will move retail tariffs towards a competitive and non-subsided

landscape – an outcome which is also noted as impacting the relative at

city futures committee meeting - city of darwin · 2017. 11. 17. · city futures committee meeting...

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