Grampians New Energy Taskforce
The Grampians New Energy Taskforce (GNET) has been formed to represent, lead and advocate for the development of a net zero carbon economy in the Grampians region. GNET is working with communities, the renewables industry and the government to maximise the long-term benefits of this investment to the Grampians region and its people.
Wimmera Broadacre Farming Net Zero Emissions Project
The Wimmera Broadacre Farming Net Zero Emissions Project aims to increase farm productivity, profitability and protection of natural resources. The project aims to increase the sustainability of broadacre farms in the region by demonstrating the value proposition of low emissions farming practices through on-farm application at the Longerenong College farm and two other operating farms. It will demonstrate the use of carbon-emissions calculators to quantify the value of on-farm carbon abatement strategies and carbon accounting models to quantify emissions for specific practices and activities at the individual farm level.
Federation University Australia is leading the project in partnership with WSMD, Longerenong College and local Landcare groups with funding from the Commonwealth Smart Farms Small Grants.
Roadmap to Net Zero Emissions Grampians Agriculture Project (R2ZGAP)
The Grampians region has set an ambitious target of achieving zero emissions by 2050. As the backbone of the Grampians region’s economy, agriculture is the largest source of carbon emissions, but with significant potential to increase carbon drawdown and reduce emissions. We need to better understand the gap between the existing tools and on-farm implementation, and to develop a better approach in consultation with farm managers. Early and effective action in agriculture to reduce emissions is especially important because early movers will be better placed to capitalise on market opportunities arising from the transition to net zero emissions and changing government policy.
The Roadmap to Net Zero Emissions Grampians Agriculture Project (R2ZGAP) will work with farm managers to improve the adoption of carbon calculators to improve environmental and financial decisions and access to secondary carbon markets. This will enable the agriculture industry to be more responsive to zero emissions requirements and changing government policy and result in better management of soils and native vegetation.
Drought
The Victorian Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub or Drought Hub aims to help farmers, agricultural businesses and communities become more resilient to the impacts of future droughts. The University of Melbourne is leading the hub; Birchip Cropping Group will lead the North West regional node.
In 2019, WSMD responded to the draft Australian Government Future Drought Funding Plan 2020 to 2024. The program aims to help farmers and communities become more prepared for, and resilient to, the impacts of drought.
– 2019 WDA response to the Drought Resilience Funding Plan 2020 to 2024 (760kb PDF)
Strengthening Victoria’s Electricity Grid
This project will unlock Western Victoria’s potential to become the renewable energy powerhouse of Victoria as the state moves from coal-generated electricity to sustainable green power in coming years.
Currently, much of the sustainable and clean wind and solar energy being produced out of western Victoria cannot get to the electricity grid because there isn’t enough capacity in the existing network.
There are wind turbines in Western Victoria generating clean power that goes nowhere. Investment in new wind and solar farms is being put on hold – stifling economic opportunity for the region and the state’s ability to provide reliable and affordable energy. This project will fix that.
It will also create jobs during and after construction, and deliver flow-on economic benefits to the region.
