Welcome to Issue #29 – May 2025
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The May 3 Federal election is nearly here. Your vote is powerful, and we hope that you will spend it on candidates that will champion strong, science based environment and climate action. You can see where the Macnamara candidates stand here in the video recording from our recent Candidates Climate Forum. You may also want to review the PECAN Climate Scorecard for Macnamara (see below) before voting.
It was very sobering to read that about 5.5% of properties in Melbourne will be unaffordable or impossible to insure in 2025 (that is right, this year, not in 2050!) – and parts of Port Phillip feature prominently in the list of high risk areas. Similarly, the Climate Council Heat Map says that 36% of all properties in the Federal Macanamara electorate (that largely overlaps with the City of Port Phillip) are at high or moderate risk for all kinds of climate hazards.
Globally, 80-89% of people want stronger climate action but we are hearing very little about it in this election. I believe that the slow moving nature of the crisis gives a false feeling that we have time, and that most people do not truly understand the level of the danger we face. Also, most people who are very worried about climate change do not realize that theirs is the strong majority view.
We very much liked the Four Corners Series 2025 episode on Can Climate Scientists Save the World? It is a very good analysis of carbon capture by competent climate scientists. And as pointed out by a subscriber, 3-RRR’s Uncommon Sense: Environment and Conservation Policy with Professor Euan Ritchie and Dr Yung En Chee is an excellent interview that is very relevant for the upcoming election.
We were very interested to read that we have passed the electrify everything tipping point according to a new report. In Australia, the lifecycle cost of ownership for cars, home heating systems, hot water heaters and cooking appliances are all now much lower (thousands of dollars per year) for all electric equipment compared to the fossil fuel equivalents. Other new research suggests that rooftop solar systems are the most important and economical way that humanity has found to mitigate climate change globally – we still need to install much, much more of it in coming years.
On this vein, we are pleased to see Labor promising to make home batteries cheaper, but we would be more impressed if they would accelerate the national roll-out of vehicle to grid technologies, which we believe would have an even greater environmental impact. By contrast, the Liberal party coalition plans to scrap vehicle efficiency standards and tax exemptions for new leased EVs, and to charge EV owners for using roads, slowing down our transition to electric transport.
I do not know about you, but I get very angry when I see headlines about the Australian extinction crisis, and it does not even seem to be an election issue. And culling koalas in national parks by shooting them from helicopters is not the action of a government that cares about nature and the environment.
Finally, we were pleased to read that the Middle Arm industrial Hub proposed for the NT is having funding problems because nobody is putting their hand up to pay for it. Let’s hope that this white elephant never gets built.
the Liberal party coalition plans to scrap vehicle efficiency standards and tax exemptions for new leased EVs
the Liberal party coalition plans to scrap vehicle efficiency standards and tax exemptions for new leased EVs
the Liberal party coalition plans to scrap vehicle efficiency standards and tax exemptions for new leased EVs.
the Liberal party coalition plans to scrap vehicle efficiency standards and tax exemptions for new leased EVs
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Truth goes through three phases. First, it’s ridiculed. Second, it’s violently opposed. And third, it becomes self-evident.
Arthur Schopenhauer
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We are living and working on the unceded lands of the Yalukit Willam people. We pay our respects to the traditional owners of the land and their ongoing connection to land, waters, sky and culture.
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Voting is very important in this election and PECAN has been putting in a lot of effort to ensure that climate issues are very prominent locally.
Also, among other activities, during April PECAN members were involved:
- Jointly hosting a very successful federal election Candidates Forum on Climate and Energy with GECAN In case you missed this excellent event, a video of it is here.
- submitting a brief written statement in support of the City of Port Phillip’s submission for an IAP2 Core Values Award for its Urban Forest Strategy development
- providing feedback to Council about new and improved parks in St Kilda, St Kilda East, Balaclava and Port Melbourne
- Joined the Environmental Leaders Action Network at their bi-monthly meet-up
- contributed to two Beyond Coal and Gas Macnamara submissions
- participating in the City of Port Phillip Climate Ready Communities program
Just contact PECAN by replying to this email, if you would like to get more involved in its work.
If you have strong local environmental knowledge or expertise, we would like to publish your musings in the PECAN Eco Blog. Review our Author Guidelines and consider submitting an article like this one about the coastal hazards in Port Phillip that are being brought on by climate change.
Given the large number of people who visit our Port Phillip community, and the increased population density we are expected to host, we agree that it is only fair and reasonable for Victorian and Federal governments to contribute to improving local amenities. Therefore we applaud publication of Council’s $23.5 million wish-list of community projects worth funding. However, a major concern is that few of the proposed projects have an environmental or climate focus, and some obvious projects are missing.
During May, Council has environment related public consultations on:
- The Plan for Port Phillip (including the budget)
- Sport and Active Recreation Strategy
- Enhancing Argyle Street, St Kilda
- Greening Balaclava and St Kilda East
As always, we strongly encourage our subscribers to Have Your Say
Congratulations to the 17 recent graduates of the City of Port Phillip Environmental Leaders course – it is excellent training for environmentalists. We hope that some will attend the City of Port Phillip is running a grant writing workshop on 12 May, and then apply for a community grant from them for an environmental project.
We were disappointed to learn that the redevelopment of the St Kilda Marina has failed after several years of effort and at least $1.6 million of Council money being spent. We understand that a major problem has been the cost for remediating the soil on site and issues with the initial land formation works done many years ago. Perhaps it is time for a total rethink.
If you have strong local environmental and climate knowledge or expertise, we would like to publish your musings in the PECAN Eco Blog. Review our Author Guidelines and consider submitting an article like this one about the coastal hazards in Port Phillip that are being brought on by climate change.
If you have strong local environmental and climate knowledge or expertise, we would like to publish your musings in the PECAN Eco Blog. Review our Author Guidelines and consider submitting an article like this one about the coastal hazards in Port Phillip that are being brought on by climate change.
If you have strong local environmental and climate knowledge or expertise, we would like to publish your musings in the PECAN Eco Blog. Review our Author Guidelines and consider submitting an article like this one about the coastal hazards in Port Phillip that are being brought on by climate change.
If you have strong local environmental and climate knowledge or expertise, we would like to publish your musings in the PECAN Eco Blog. Review our Author Guidelines and consider submitting an article like this one about the coastal hazards in Port Phillip that are being brought on by climate change.
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If you are looking for a fun day, our friends at Port Phillip Pickers plan to harvest olives from trees on public land in Port Melbourne on Sunday 18 May. Pickers and charities then share in the oil produced. They are also holding an Olive Brining Workshop on 10 May at the EcoCentre.
4 May is also Sustainable House Day with many houses around Melbourne and the regions open for tours. Unfortunately, none are within the City of Port Phillip, but there are lots of interesting houses to view.
If you want to try out an ebike but need to move small kids around, the Elwood Toy Library has a solution for you – rent an e-cargo bike that incorporates child seating for a few weeks.
Don’t forget to save the date and include time on 22 June to visit the Electrify Southside Expo at the St Kilda Town Hall. Or Council’s Solar Savers program may interest you, including a top 10 ways to electrify your life.
If you are looking to show your displeasure at foreign salmon farmers destroying Macquarie Harbour, you might like to try much more sustainable and environmentally friendly seafood, as outlined here.
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During May, our friends at the Port Phillip EcoCentre have these events happening:
- Climate Cafe where you can talk through your climate concerns with other like minded people
- Community planting and wetlands microplastics clean-up
- Repair cafe and bike kitchen
Also, contact Anna if you would like to get involved in organizing monthly environmental film nights at the EcoCentre.
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You can also consider joining the Beach Patrol/Love Our Street networks to help clean our public spaces. They have had a great first quarter this year, with more than 1,900 volunteers having devoted over 2,100 hours at monthly community clean ups. They have several branches in Port Phillip.
There are a few petitions and open letters that you might want to sign:
- the ACF (Australian Climate Foundation) pledge for a nuclear free Australia and inform your local Candidate of your feelings on this important concern. We want Australia’s future to be renewable, not radioactive!
- The Environment Victoria open letter asking any incoming government to take back control of our energy from big, private energy companies and cut our bills for good by even further ramping up our use of clean energy.
- the Parents for Climate pledge to Vote Like a Parent to signal the importance of climate issues in this election.
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The electric ferries are coming
The world’s biggest all electric ferry is now being built in Tasmania, for delivery to Argentina. It was originally designed to be fossil fueled, and interestingly, the batteries plus the electric motors are lighter than the original (full) fuel tanks and fossil fueled motors. It will carry up to 2,100 passengers and 225 cars along a 55km route three times a day, recharging between trips. The biggest technical difficulty is getting electric power to the ports to charge the ship batteries. To learn more watch this video or read this article.
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Paris School Streets: Safe for Children, Safe for Everyone
In Paris they have already closed the streets outside of 100 schools so that cars cannot use them, and they have plans to close another 200 in the next few years. These new pedestrianized areas are very popular and are becoming oases for greenery, children’s play and general community walking. Learn more here. This seems to be a “no brainer” so why aren’t we doing it in Port Phillip, and Melbourne more broadly?
If you are generally interested in the future of urban spaces, The Economist magazine has a good Economist Impact series of articles about it.
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Chain grocery stores are making us unhealthy
An extensive study covering 97 countries has found that the number of grocery stores is increasing, grocery store chains are becoming more common and the food they sell is often relatively expensive and unhealthy, leading to rising obesity and health issues in host communities.
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What’s next after heat pumps? elasto-calorific heating/cooling
Heat pumps are currently the most efficient way to heat or cool spaces, and they work by alternately compressing and expanding a refrigerant fluid to move heat. Unfortunately, these refrigerants are highly polluting and they are very potent greenhouse gases.
Researchers and companies are just starting to create heat pump equivalent devices that are based on the the solid-state elasto-calorific effect which promise even lower energy consumption for the same heating/cooling and they eliminate refrigerant fluids. Read this report or watch this video to learn how it works. It is all very nerdy, but very interesting!
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Stronger and lighter: Wooden towers to be used for bigger wind turbines
These laminated veneer lumber wind turbine towers are significantly better than their steel equivalents – assembled from smaller pieces that are easier to transport, lighter for the same strength, less maintenance and easier to recycle. Learn more
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New ride only neighbourhood in Utrecht
Work has already started on this new neighborhood, called Merwede, which is scheduled to be the largest car-free district in the Netherlands, with 6,000 homes. Despite the relatively limited size of the neighborhood, over half of the open space, roofs, and inner gardens will be sustainable. There will be space for many different types of plants and animals, water collection, and facilities to prevent heat stress. Learn more. Why don’t we see this kind of innovation in Melbourne for Fishermans Bend or our new “activity centres”? And why is it that all these urban innovations come out of the Netherlands – what secret sauce do they have?
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And a bit of fun…
In the 1970s NT crocodiles mostly ate fish and were heavily hunted. Now they have more protections and can feast on feral pigs. This is dramatically changing the populations and the make-up of their poo and scientists are still analysing how this is changing the local biosphere. Learn more. This probably says something about what we find funny!
This video gives a good explanation of the many problems that feral pigs cause in Australia.
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