Our work
Current 2025/2026 projects
EV fleet transition plan
This electric vehicle fleet transition project will focus on on delivering specific EV Fleet Transition Plans for participating councils. These plans will outline the phased approach and a detailed business case for transitioning from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to electric vehicles (EV)s for each council’s light fleet, over a 10-year period.
This will include an assessment of each council’s current fleet and usage needs, the suitable models of EVs available on the market, the estimated transition costs, and the associated EV charging infrastructure and charging-from-home considerations.
ESD Policy
An Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) Policy will be developed with councils, detailing the environmental outcomes to be applied to council buildings and infracture. ESD Guidelines outlining options and materials in more detail will also be developed, which are intended to be more dynamic and can be updated more regularly.
Processes and procedures, and consideration of how ESD is practically included within council operations, will also be a core part of this work.
2026/2027 projects
Communicating climate change
Internal training and workshops for staff and councillors from member councils will be delivered, to ensure better climate knowledge and outcomes from across the organisations. This will particularly focus on and complement other GACA projects.
GACA will also develop communications collateral with consistent messaging that can support council staff to communicate climate change to the public.
Additional workshops and communications material focused on the community may also be developed as opportunities arise.
Previous projects
Risk mapping
This project assessed climate risk at a fine scale at four pilot sites across Gippsland, to build an accurate understanding of key climate risks and their variance geographically.
Climate risks were be mapped using a spatial tool, with assets such as roads and buildings identified, and the likely hazards and impacts to assets assessed. Councils can use the information about risks to assets to develop adaptation responses.
GACA received funding from Emergency Management Victoria to assist in delivery of the project.
Emissions monitoring
This project facilitated a comparison of emissions monitoring across member councils, with the aim of making sure methodologies and tools used are consistent.
A group procurement process was undertaken to choose an emissions monitoring software provider to assist councils in emissions monitoring. This resulted in significant cost savings for councils.
Electrification of buildings
This project audited gas connections across council buildings, and assessed options to replace gas equipment with electric appliances.
Staff were involved in the process to learn more about how to size and match replacement equipment.
Victorian Greenhouse Alliances collaboration
Statewide projects
GACA actively contributes to the Victorian Greenhouse Alliances, including participation in statewide collaborative projects. GACA is part of several working groups, representing issues from the Gippsland region and ensuring member councils are kept in the loop.
Regional Greenhouse Alliances Neighbourhood Battery Initiative + Powering Resilience in the Regions
In 2024/2025 GACA supported four member councils to participate in the Regional Greenhouse Alliances Battery Initiative. Led by the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance and also working with the Goulburn Murray Climate Alliance, this project worked with 21 regional council to develop a business case for neighbourhood batteries, in preparation for future grant funding. The battery sites were chosen to enhance community resilience, and provide backup power in case of emergencies.
Following on from this in 2025 and into 2026, GACA is continuing to support two member councils to participate in the Powering Resilience in the regions project. This is receiving funding from the 100 Neighbourhood Batteries Project to install batteries at sites across regional Victoria.
Victorian Climate Resilient Councils
The Victorian Climate Resilient Councils aims to support councils across the state to build capacity to respond to climate risks, including clear guidance and a tool-kit of resources. It is led by the Western Alliance for Greenhouse Action (WAGA), and supported GACA and the other Alliances through the Steering Committee. The two year development phase in 2023-2024 is almost complete, and will be followed by implementation and roll out of the program.
Victorian Greenhouse Alliances Conference
The annual Victorian Greenhouse Alliances Conference, a collaboration between the eight Greenhouse Alliances, is the highest profile local government climate change conference in Australia, bringing together Victorian local government councillors, executive leaders and officers, working on and interested in climate change projects and advocacy.
Business Renewables Buying Group
The Business Renewables Buying Group is a collaboration of the Victorian Greenhouse Alliances and councils from across Victoria, which is supporting high energy consuming business to switch to renewable energy. Two buying groups of businesses will be facilitated, with a large reduction in emissions expected. An external facilitator will support in the procurement of a group Power Purchase Agreement, and scale up their buying power for business going renewable.
Advocacy
GACA is well placed to undertake advocacy to support the climate objectives and priorities of member councils and the Gippsland region.
One of the main avenues for advocacy is through involvement in collaborative advocacy with the Victorian Greenhouse Alliances, who successfully and regularly work together on joint advocacy campaigns.
Recent advocacy in 2025 includes submissions to:
- Electricity Distribution Price Review, which sets pricing for councils over the next five year’s and is a major cost saving opportunity
- Victorian Inquiry into Electricity Supply for Electric Vehicles
- Reviewing the Public Lighting Code of Practice
- Infrastructure Victoria
- Victorian Energy Upgrades Strategic Review
- Climate Change Strategy
- Building electrification
Advocacy in previous years includes submissions to:
- Plan for Victoria
- VicGrid’s Draft Victorian Transmission Plan Guidelines
- VicGrid’s Community Benefits Plan
- Minimum Standards for Renters
- Fuel Efficiency Standards
- Australia’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and 2035 emission reductions target
- Parliamentary Inquiry into the 2022 Flood Event in Victoria
- The National Health and Climate Strategy
- Transport and Infrastructure Net Zero Consultation Roadmap
- Inquiry into the implications of severe weather events on the national regional, rural, and remote road network
- Review of the Safeguard Mechanism
Other targeted advocacy included:
- GACA presentation to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Climate Resilience
- Engagement with the National Net Zero Authority, discussing key issues and needs of affected Gippsland communities and councils in the transition to a zero emissions economy