NSW Transport Unveils Newcastle's First Zero Emissions Bus

 BY BELLA MIDDLETON

                                                                                    Picture credit: Australian Manufacturing 

Transport for NSW has launched Newcastle's first zero emission bus at Hamilton Bus Depot. 

The bus is a part of the state government's plan to transition away from diesel-powered vehicles and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. 

NSW Transport North Region Director Anna Zycki, alongside Keolis Downer Hunter General Manager Emmanuel Genlot, unveiled the area's first ZEB before it officially entered passenger service from Customs House on Bond Street. 

"There's a lot of public transport buses in the Hunter area, and the New South Wales government is committed to permanently transitioning away from diesel buses to zero emission technology. This extends that outside of the Sydney region, and into the Hunter," Director Zycki said.

She also said the shift is set to benefit passengers across the region. 

"It's an exciting thing for the Hunter to have. For customers, it's a quieter ride, a smoother ride, and the community will have less noise and better air quality over time." 

Hunter farmers call for clearer commitment on net zero targets

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Farmers across the Hunter and Australia are calling on the next Federal Government to offer certainty the country will meet its net zero targets.

It comes as the Coalition faces internal dissent on the issue, with Queensland Senator Matt Canavan insisting the party isn't committed to the 2050 goal.

It's understood, the Nationals senator has been reprimanded by his colleagues.

But Farmers for Climate Action remains concerned, it's a sign of the path to come.

Alistair Tulloch, a fifth-generation grape grower at Tulloch Wines in the Hunter Valley, says the confusion is disappointing.

"On the ground, the effect of climate climate on agriculture is just profound," Mr Tulloch said.

"Our ability to consistently grow the food, or in my case, the grapes that end up as wine on the table, or vegetables in the supermarket, or meat in the butchery.

"These are all things that are becoming more unpredictable."

It's believed a strong climate policy and switch to renewables could create around 30,000 jobs in regional Australia.

Mr Tulloch says a lack of action won't just mean losing current jobs, but losing a way of life.

"We've been here growing grapes for almost 200 years in the Hunter Valley, and we plan to be here for another 200 years," Mr Tulloch said.

"We want to see that reflected in the sustainability of our industry - if there's a threat to that sustainability, then we want to see it addressed."

Port Stephens Council Commits to Carbon Neutrality by 2025

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Port Stephens Council have made a commitment to become carbon neutral by 2025.

A notice of motion put forward by Mayor Ryan Palmer was endorsed at a council meeting on Tuesday evening.

A new roadmap involving measures to reduce emissions and energy consumption is also expected to be developed in the near future. 

Mayor Palmer says the city isn't immune to climate change.

"If there wasn't climate change, we wouldn't be getting all our calls and emails about roads that have potholes, because we've had more rain, we've got more rain coming, we've got more storms happening in the area," Mayor Palmer said.

"We can play our part here at Port Stephens Council, we do our bit to hopefully stabilize the effects of what is happening across the globe."

A number of initiatives have already been launched to help cut the Council's carbon footprint, including solar panels at libraries, community centres, and public facilities, as well as water-saving irrigation and LED lighting at Ferodale Netball Courts.

Mayor Palmer said the Council still had a a long way to go to hit net zero.

"We need to make sure that we do the right thing, not only for our generation but future generations," Mayor Palmer said.

"But it will come at a cost, so we need to get the staff to go away and to calculate where we are producing carbon, what effect that is having, and how we can actually achieve carbon neutrality."

Solar panels on Port Stephens Council’s Administration Building in Raymond Terrace.

Newcastle Joins Global Race to Reach Zero Emissions

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Newcastle is now the latest city to sign up to the global Cities Race to Zero campaign, pushing local governments to fight for zero emission targets.

Joining 750 cities around the world, it's hoped the international campaign will put pressure on state and federal governments and give local councils a seat at the table.

It comes as the NSW Government also announced a commitment to halving emissions by 2030.

Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes described the move as a logical next step for the city.

"Local government does have a very significant role to play, as we've always recognised at the City of Newcastle," Cr Nelmes told Council on Tuesday.

"Not just in advocacy, but real action on climate change, like the real action we have taken here, shifting to 100 percent renewables."

Cr Nelmes said the "united front" of local governments in Australia and internationally is already delivering change.

"We have been able to push, particularly Federal decision makers, down the path that they probably should have gone down many years ago around adopting those net zero targets," Cr Nelmes said.