At its October meeting, council voted to endorse a memorandum of understanding with Goulburn Murray Climate Alliance, committing to an annual four-year membership that focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions in regional and rural areas.
Council will join 11 other local governments, the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, Northeast Catchment Management Authority and Alpine Resorts Australia.
The MoU extends council’s participation in the GMCA for a four-year term, from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2029, with an annual membership fee of $17,234.
Cr Cook moved the motion to endorse the MoU and said the GMCA had been doing “fantastic work” over the past two decades to provide support to councils in lowering emissions and financial costs.
She also cautioned voting against the endorsement, noting Greater Shepparton City Council had pulled out of the alliance, and that she thought doing so had caused reputational damage to the council.
“I think you know the good this alliance brings — it will be a shame to give it up as Shepparton has done,” she said.
Cr Cook and Cr Jessica Mitchell said the $17,000 fee was worth it, given the resources it could provide to council.
Despite eventually voting against the motion, Cr Luke Sharrock agreed the membership was worth it for “investing in the community”.
Council’s report outlines participation in the GMCA allowed council to save $1.22 million between 2016 and 2025 through the Watts Working Better project, which upgraded street lighting shire-wide.
Cr Mitchell said endorsing the MoU would strengthen regional partnerships, help build council’s capacity to deliver climate initiatives and create more resilient and sustainable communities.
“Through (the MoU) council can continue its collaborative approach to tackling climate change, unlock valuable financial and environmental opportunities and further progress council’s strategic goals,” she said.
Mayor Daniel Mackrell, speaking to Cr Cook’s earlier point, noted that even though it left the alliance, Greater Shepparton City Council had its own climate projects, with its own staff working towards goals.
When put to the vote, the motion to endorse the MoU passed 5-2 with Crs Cook, Mitchell, Mackrell, Tony Marwood and Adrian Weston voting for and Crs Sharrock and John Zobec voting against.
Crs Paul Jarman and Rob Amos were absent for the meeting.
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