CENTRAL Victorian groups calling for action on climate change gathered for rallies in Bendigo, Castlemaine and Kyneton earlier today.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Led by groups such as Bendigo Sustainability Group and Mount Alexander Sustainability Group, the local rallies were timed to coincide with others across the world today ahead of the UN Climate Summit in New York this week.
In Bendigo, a Save the RET rally was held at Rosalind Park while other groups rallied in Castlemaine and Kyneton.
Bendigo Sustainability Group's Chris Weir said about 300 people attended the Bendigo rally, which kicked off at noon with MC Ian McBurney introducing speeches from James White, Nicola Wells and president Keith Reynard.
Mr Reynard said the day aimed to connect people around the world on a common issue as well as showing them of what they could do on a local level to help reduce their carbon footprint.
"We want people to investigate and understand the ways they can take action to restrict or limit their individual footprints and collectively that will lead to far greater savings and less impact on the environment," he said.
"So this is part of a globally co-ordinated event that’s occurring around the world today."
He said proposed changes to the Renewable Energy Target were chief among the group's concerns.
"It’s critically important that it's retained... and in fact with the withdrawal of other legislation, RET needs to be increased," he said.
He said the reversal of a trend towards legislating to reduce carbon emissions was a "huge concern".
"(It is) a major concern for all Australians and a big concern for people in Bendigo, because we’re in a fairly dry climate," he said.
"With the RET, that legislation has helped Bendigo become a leader in solar, in solar installations and uptake in solar.
"With the withdrawal of that legislation as proposed by the Warburton review, or the significant reduction of it, that would effectively put a halt on any more renewable energy solar systems being built."
Mount Alexander Sustainability Group chair Mick Lewin said about 400 people turned out to the rally held at Victory Park in Castlemaine today.
He said people initially met outside the Market Building before moving to Victory Park where Sue Ingleton MC'd a program at which Australian Conservation Foundation's Josh Meadows, Member for Bendigo West Marie Edwards, state shadow minister for Minerals and Energy Lily D’Ambrosio, Greens Candidate for Bendigo West John Brownstein and former Mount Alexander Shire councillor Jess Howard all spoke.