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Help Give Our Streets The Green LightLocal communities are calling on the State and Commonwealth governments to help councils fund a bulk changeover to energy-efficient street lighting. By Bass Coast - 17th September 2010 - Back to News . The community petition has more than 3,000 signatures and is now in its final weeks.
Bass Coast Shire Council is reminding residents that there is still time to support the campaign by signing the online petition at www.greenlightourstreets.org.au.
"We’ve had a good response to the Give Our Streets the Green Light campaign from our community and we’re pleased to have contributed to the petition numbers," said Council’s Infrastructure Director, Steve Piasente.
The Commonwealth government has pledged to provide funding support as part of a low carbon community’s policy.
"The Premier has also recently responded to the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV) reaffirming the State’s commitment to progressing the bulk changeover to energy-efficient street lights ‘effectively, at low cost and in the shortest possible timeframe’," explained Mr Piasente.
"While this is promising, councils are collectively hoping to achieve more than 5,000 petition signatures by the end of September to demonstrate the widespread community support and preference for energy-efficient street lighting in the lead up to the state election.
"In early October we will present the petition to the Premier and Opposition Leader ahead of the Premier’s Local Government Climate Change Summit; and also to Federal party leaders.
"Street lights are an important community service, however every night old and inefficient technology is used to light our streets.
"Readily available energy-efficient technology would dramatically reduce energy use and carbon emissions by nearly 70 per cent, as well as enhance community safety and save around 50 per cent in energy costs," continued Mr Piasente.
Council is committed to reducing its carbon emissions as part of its Local Green House Action Plan.
"Street lighting makes up a huge portion of our annual emissions," said Mr Piasente.
"We insist all new estates are fitted with energy efficient lighting, but we need help retrofitting all our old street lighting.
"I urge everyone to get onboard and sign the online petition to give our streets the green light – it only takes a minute."
How you can support the Give Our Streets the Green Light campaign:
- Sign our online petition at www.greenlightourstreets.org.au and forward it onto to your networks
- Join the facebook group Give Our Streets the Green Light or Twitter @GOSTGL
- Promote the campaign to family and friends – download the online resources (posters, letters)
- Contact your local Federal and State Member of Parliament to express your support for the campaign
END
For more information contact:
Rachael Millar
communications officer
t (03) 5671 2703 | f (03) 5671 2222 | m 0400 804 187
e r.millar@basscoast.vic.gov.au
Source: www.gippsland.com Published by: news@gippsland.com

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