Climate Change

Randwick's Response to Climate Change

Randwick City Council is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and demonstrating that a change in energy demand and renewable energy is feasible and cost-effective.

Randwick City Council has developed and undertaken the following strategic approaches as part of its long-term vision and response to climate change.

1. Randwick’s Renewable Energy Master Plan (2015)

In 2015, a Renewable Energy Master Plan was developed for Randwick City Council to recognise the most economically viable renewable energy technologies for the Randwick LGA.

Randwick's Renewable Energy Master Plan

2. Eastern Suburbs Low Carbon Future Plan (2016)

In 2016, a Low Carbon Future Plan  was prepared as part of the Regional Environment Program - a collaboration with Randwck, Waverley and Woollahra Councils - to identify opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney and determine where a collective approach by our Councils can be most effective.

Low Carbon Future Plan

3. Establishment of net-zero carbon emissions and 100% renewable energy targets (2018)

The following resolution was adopted by Council in early 2018, establishing targets for greenhouse gas emissions, energy, water and tree canopy coverage.

  1. Council notes that, as a recognised leader in environmental sustainability, it has committed in its 2018 Randwick City Plan to an in-principle objective of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
  2. Council notes that through Outcome 10 of the 2018 Randwick City Plan, Council continues to establish strategies and pathways for the implementation of water conservation and stormwater harvesting projects; energy conservation, efficiency and renewable programs; major community education initiatives; and bushland restoration and conservation efforts aimed at increasing tree canopy.
  3. a report be brought to Council detailing the measures and associated costs of meeting the targets listed below, in order to continue our leadership in sustainability and plan the roadmap to achieve our energy, greenhouse and water conservation goals;

    i.    Greenhouse gas emissions from Council’s operations – net zero greenhouse gas emissions by, including but not limited to the following measures:

    1. Council’s total energy consumption – 100% replacement by renewable sources (generated on site or off-site for Council’s purposes) by 2030.
    2. Council’s vehicle fleet – net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

    ii.    total water consumed by the Council’s operations– at least 50% replacement by non-mains/non-potable water sources by 2030.

    iii. 50% increase in total tree canopy coverage by 2030 from current 2018 baseline

4. Carbon Neutral Accreditation (2018)

In 2019, 2020 and again in 2021, Randwick City Council achieved carbon neutral accreditation under the Federal Government’s Climate Active program (previously known as the National Carbon Offset Standard) to take responsibility for the unavoidable emissions generated by the organisation's operations.

Randwick Council is only the second metropolitan Council in Sydney to achieve this accreditation. You can read more about Council's certification on the Climate Active website or in our public disclosure statements below.

5. Declaration of a Climate Emergency (2019)

In 2019, Randwick City Council became the 15th Council in Australia to declare a state of climate emergency. The Resolution states that Randwick City Council:

  1. publicly acknowledges that we are in a state of climate emergency that requires urgent action by all levels of government; that human induced climate change represents one of the greatest threats to humanity, civilisation, and other species; and that it is still possible to prevent the most catastrophic outcomes if societies take emergency action, including local councils; and
  2. bring back a report to Council to examine how council plans, policies and works programs can address the climate emergency, and ensure this is embedded into future council strategic plans.

For more information about Climate Emergency Declarations, visit ClimateEmergencyDeclaration.org

6. 100% Renewable Energy Roadmap (2020)

In 2020, Council's Renewable Energy Roadmap will be completed to establish how best we can meet our net-zero carbon and renewable energy targets. This roadmap prioritises and costs the pathways that Council can take in the coming decade to achieve its 2030 targets.

Renewable Energy Roadmap

Randwick' Renewable Energy Projects

Renewable Energy Power Purchase Agreement

From 1 July 2019, Randwick is purchasing 20% of its electricity from the Moree Solar Farm. This agreement was negotiated via SSROC (South Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils). Council is able to increase this level of renewable energy every few years.

This renewable energy power purchase agreement (PPA) reduces Council's emissions by approximately 2,000 tonnes of CO2-e every year.

Rooftop Solar

Randwick Council has installed rooftop solar on 15 of its sites, with a total installed solar capacity of 210 kW.

If you’re interested in how solar is installed, check out this time-lapse footage filmed during our 4-week solar installation at Lionel Bowen Library.

Solar panels have been installed in the following Council sites:

SitesCapacity
Barrett House2 kW 
Lionel Bowen Library30 kW
Council's Community Nursery8 kW
Works Depot48 kW
Des Renford Leisure Centre30 kW
Kensington Community Centre10 kW
Maroubra Senior Citizens Centre3 kW
Moverly Children's Centre2 kW
Prince Henry Centre30 kW
Randwick Administration Building10 kW
Randwick Community Centre5 kW
Randwick Literary Institute2 kW
Malabar Library10 kW
Coogee Senior Citizens10 kW
Coogee Oval Kiosk8 kW
Heffron Centre200 kW
Total410 kW

We Encourage Residents to Go Solar

Sydney's climate is ideally suited to harnessing energy from the sun. Each kilowatt (kW) installed in Sydney will generate on average 4 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean electricity per day, or approximately one third of the average household’s electricity consumption in Randwick.

Did you know that in most cases Development Applications are not required to install solar panels? Further information on household solar can be found on the Clean Energy Council website.

Wind Power

Council has installed a 2.4 kW small-scale wind turbine at the Randwick Community Centre to compliment its other renewable energy demonstration projects.

The wind turbine generates up to 3,200 kilowatt-hours/year with an estimate greenhouse emissions savings of 3.5 tonnes of CO2/year.

Randwick Wind Turbine

Last Updated: 8 December 2023
Back to top