By Callum Ludwig
A re-elected Labor Government is set to back Yarra Valley ECOSS to continue promoting sustainable and environmentally-friendly living in the Upper Yarra and Yarra Ranges.
Labor candidate for Eildon Jane Judd visited ECOSS to announce a $50,000 grant to the organisation to help ECOSS deliver projects and programs like its Environmental Hub, UpCycle and their weekly markets.
Ms Judd said Yarra Valley ECOSS is a wonderful place.
“It is somewhere that the local community can learn about sustainability and help them reduce their impact on the environment – that’s why we’re backing them to continue their great work,” she said.
“Only Labor is tackling climate change with our ambitious targets, investing in our precious environment and helping the hard-working staff and volunteers at Yarra Valley ECOSS to thrive.”
Victorian Labor’s goals for environmental policy include largely replacing coal with renewable energy sources while bringing back the State Electricity Commission to establish environmentally-friendly and cheap energy for Victorians, while also aiming for an emissions reduction target of 75-80 per cent by 2035. Labor’s net zero emissions target has also been brought forward five years to 2045.
Yarra Valley ECOSS President Ric Butler said the announcement was an unexpected surprise, as ECOSS has no particular political affiliation.
“We are very happy to see investment into sustainability and education in this way, there’s nothing more important than protecting our environment and educating the next generation,” he said.
“We’ll need to sit down and have some strategic planning around this funding, as normally our only consistent funding comes from Yarra Ranges Council with the rest from grants and our own revenue. It will probably be used to build our next little bit of infrastructure from which we can then get some rental income to support our staff positions.”
Liberal candidate for Eildon Cindy McLeish was contacted for comment.
