The City of Mitcham's Community Renewables Program has been announced as the winner of the 23rd Annual LG Professionals SA Excellence in Environmental Leadership and Sustainability award.
The award recognises dedication to environmental leadership and sustainability through the implementation of projects, initiatives or management practices that demonstrate significant real or potential benefit to the environment and can be shown to be applicable and transferrable to other councils.
The City of Mitcham Community Renewables Program has developed an innovative roadmap for local government to play a role in the global shift to a new energy system by mobilising residents, businesses, sporting clubs and associations to accelerate their uptake of renewable energy technologies.
The program has been recognised for the leadership role the City of Mitcham has taken to drive uptake of renewable energy in the community. Since 2022, the Council has run three community bulk buys reaching over 4,000 residents and resulting in over 900 households signing up for solar panels, batteries and joining a virtual power plant. The carbon emission reductions from the solar panel systems are 1,700tCO2e which is the equivalent of taking 405 petrol-powered vehicles off the road for one year. Collectively households have saved over $2 million off their energy bills, easing cost of living pressures.
City of Mitcham is delivering a range of other innovative renewable energy programs including procuring a 100% renewable energy retail plan for Council's electricity energy consumption and partnering with SA Power Networks to run a trial for EV chargers on Stobie poles.
South Australian councils the City of Charles Sturt, City of Campbelltown and City of Unley are set to replicate parts of the program for their own communities.
City of Mitcham Mayor Dr Heather Holmes-Ross said in future the City of Mitcham hoped to drive greater equity in the renewable energy economy through a cheaper and greener community retail plan for renters and those typically unable to install solar on their rooftops.
Dr Holmes-Ross said the award was testament to the dedication and innovation of the City of Mitcham's Community Renewables Program.
"This recognition underscores our commitment to driving positive environmental change and fostering sustainability within our community," she said. "We are proud to lead the charge in accelerating the uptake of renewable energy technologies, and this award serves as validation of our efforts to create a greener, more sustainable future for all."