Council's greenhouse and water performance
Learn about Council’s progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mains water use.
Council's greenhouse gas emissions
Frankston City Council is committed to reducing energy usage, greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to more sustainable energy resources. Council adopted a new science-based emissions target as part of its adopted Climate Change Strategy 2023-2030. Reporting for 2023-2024 emissions will use the new target.
2022-23 results
In 2022-23, Council’s net greenhouse gas emissions were 8,363 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e). This is a 650 tonne (or 7.2%) decrease on the previous year which was 9,012 (tCO2e). The decrease is mainly due to:
- Decarbonisation of the Victorian electricity grid due to increased renewable energy being generated and entering the grid. For example, electricity generated via solar and wind power has much less carbon emissions per unit of electricity generated when compared to burning brown coal.
- A 10-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Bald Hills Wind Farm for five major Council facilities resulting in these sites being powered by 100% renewable energy through GreenPower® reducing emissions by 2,157 tonnes in 2022-23.
- A 4-year GreenPower® purchase for street lighting that Council pays the electricity for, reducing emissions by 2,892 tonnes in 2022-23.
- Despite the continued gradual return to normal activity levels following the COVID-19 pandemic, the overall reduction in emissions demonstrates the positive impact of energy efficiency improvements and solar on Council assets.
The largest contributor to Council’s emissions in 2022-23 was building electricity and gas use from Council facilities (49%), followed by emissions from major contractor fuel, corporate waste, staff air travel, landfill gas flaring and reticulated water supply (33%), emissions from Council’s fleet (17%) and lastly emissions from public lighting – including street lighting (1.4%).
What we're doing
- Council declared a climate emergency in November 2019. In response to this declaration, Council developed a Climate Change Strategy 2023-2030(PDF, 6MB) which was adopted in April 2023 and addresses both greenhouse mitigation and climate adaptation. Learn more here.
- Installation of almost 1.4 megawatts of solar capacity across 70 Council sites, including 4 solar battery storage systems (as of 2022-23).
- Adopted and implementing Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) Standards for Council Buildings Policy since February 2020.
- Committed to re-joining the Southeast Councils Climate Change Alliance (SECCCA) in 2020.
- Entered into a 10-year Power Purchase Agreement with the Bald Hills Wind Farm providing 100% renewable electricity for five of Council’s major facilities from 1 July 2020.
- Committed to 4 years of GreenPower® for street lighting (where Council pays the electricity bills) from 1 January 2021.
- Upgraded 7,500 streetlights to more energy efficient LEDs.
- Completed lighting efficiency upgrades across Council sites including Frankston Arts Centre and Library, Youth Central, Cube 37, Carrum Downs Library, Lyrebird Community Centre, Frankston South Recreation Centre, and Council's Operations Centre.
- Using materials with recycled content in road construction works.
Set a tree planting target of 20,000 trees annually as part of Council’s adopted Urban Forest Action Plan (2020-2040).
More information
Council’s mains water use
Council is committed to reducing its reliance on mains water (drinking water) and using alternative and more sustainable water sources such as recycled, rainwater and stormwater, where drinking quality water is not required. Council has a target to use 150 megalitres of mains water or less in Council’s operations by 2026. The target was adjusted in 2019 to allow for the addition of the Peninsula Aquatic Recreation Centre (PARC) in Council’s reporting.
2022-23 results
In 2022-23 Council’s mains water use was 165 megalitres (ML). One megalitre is a million litres. This is a decrease of 15ML (8.4%) in mains water usage compared to the previous year which was 180ML.
The decrease in mains water usage was mainly due to increased building inspections and cleaning audits to avoid over-usage as a result of faults, more accurate usage data replacing previous estimates, and rectifications of a number of leaks identified during 2021/22 and 2022/23.
In 2022-23 Council also sourced 47% of its total water usage from recycled water, reducing pressure on precious drinking water supplies. This recycled water was used to irrigate a number of the City’s sporting reserves.
What we're doing
- Upgrades to Council’s existing irrigation systems to improve efficiency and performance.
- Adopted and implementing the Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) Standards for Council Buildings Policy since February 2020.
- Continued use of recycled water from the Eastern Treatment Plant at Bangholme for irrigation of open space.
- Installation of rainwater tanks for water to flush toilets in new Council facilities.
- Completion of feasibility studies to assess the potential for using recycled water for irrigation at additional reserves throughout the City.
- Advocacy to the state and federal government for funding to support both the Frankston and Monterey Recycled Water Schemes.
More information
For more information on what we're doing and how you can help, visit our Climate and energy or Water and beaches page.
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