MOST respondents to a Peninsula Speaks online survey believe that man-made climate change is real and that it will affect life on the Mornington Peninsula.
“Although Mornington Peninsula Shire is to be congratulated on its recently announced roof top solar initiative on shire owned and operated buildings, 64 per cent of people believe that the shire should be placing more emphasis on climate change,” organiser Peter Avery said.
“While support for renewable wind initiatives appears to be marginal at 58 per cent, renewable wave technology is supported by 71 per cent and an overwhelming 93 per cent would support solar initiatives.”
The shire lists one of its “values” as having a “whole of government response to climate change mitigation and adaption”. It has been estimated that fitting solar panels to 34 shire-owned buildings will save $33,000 in power bills and see CO2-e gas emissions cut by 268 tonnes.
The first round of survey results released by Peninsula Speaks earlier this month showed that a majority of respondents felt that beaches, “country feel”, absence of high rise development, public open spaces and nature reserves topped the list when it comes to what makes the peninsula a “special” place to live.
Peninsula Speaks, a self-described community advocacy organisation, hopes the feedback from its “Looking Forward – Mornington Peninsula 2030” survey taken in the latter part of 2016 will be used by planners. Headed by Mr Avery and Christine Haydon, the organisation says results of its ongoing “independent online research … on a broad range of topics” will be made available to federal and state governments and the shire to help shape the peninsula’s future “allowing for population growth, managed development and climate change”.
Data from the survey is being compiled by Frankston-based Market Metrics, a firm specialising in fieldwork, logistics and data analysis.
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 31 January 2017
