Councillors vote in favour of declaration for climate action

City of Bunbury staff will consider including a declaration for more action on climate change in its sustainability strategy and policy, being developed at the moment.

Bunbury city councillor Murray Cook this week received unanimous support for a motion on notice, which will see chief executive Mal Osborne take the WA Local Government Association Climate Change Declaration into consideration for the policy.

The decision came after passionate deputations from Bunbury residents and climate change activists John Collingridge and Bella Burgemeister on Tuesday night.

Cr Cook said the declaration was “the final leg in a trilogy” of declarations, which included the council’s work on accessibility, inclusion and reconciliation.

“The sustainability report will sit beautifully under the declaration on climate change,” Cr Cook said.

He also told the council it would complement other initiatives in the city such as the organic bin system, higher sea walls, tree planting and the environmental benefits of the planned artificial surfing reef at Back Beach.

“Many councils in Western Australia are already walking this path which has at its core acknowledgement that climate change is real and requires real action by all three tiers in government,” Cr Cook said.