QCAN Partners
Working with the Council, the Wadawarrung people and local organisations.
QCAN acts as a bridge between local residents and key partners taking significant climate action. This includes The Borough of Queenscliffe Council, Wadawarrung elders and the community, and local socially-minded organisations.
“Let’s become a carbon neutral community. Let’s lead Australia and be creative in our response to the climate emergency".
— Borough of Queenscliffe resident
Working with The Borough of Queenscliffe
In our capacity as a local representative body on local climate emergency response, QCAN works closely with the Borough of Queenscliff to enact the key pillars of the Borough’s Climate Emergency Response Plan (CERP).
The CERP is a community-led initiative developed in partnership with the community and the Council. QCAN has been an active, informal partner in developing the CERP.
The Borough of Queenscliffe is committed to this community-led approach as implementing the many actions in the CERP requires ongoing community engagement and collaboration. We hold regular meetings with the Council to ensure action is focused on the right outcomes, with regard to implementing the CERP.
This unique partnership aims to ensure that the community’s Climate Emergency Response Plan has every chance of success.
Partnering with sustainability-focused organisations
We recognise that no one group can tackle the impacts of climate change, so we actively seek local partners that align with our CERP goals. We regularly host or participate in public events with groups like SOEL and Swan Bay Environment Association, and support organisations like the Queenscliff Music Festival to deliver their sustainability goals.
The Queenscliff Music Festival Inc (QMF) is committed to being an environmentally sustainable organisation and as such, QMF supports the CERP. We work closely with event organisers to identify and enable opportunities to offset carbon emissions generated from its events. So far, this has included a $10,000 donation to Queenscliff Primary School to help them install a 29kw solar array on the school’s rooftops.
It is our ongoing commitment to promote and participate in relevant, local and impactful sustainability events that are run by partners.
For example, our committee members participate in micro-plastics assessments and community engagement stands at sustainability festivals with SOEL; we promote events like “pocket park planting” days with SBEA; and we encourage our audience to take part in clean energy transition programs run by Sustainability Victoria and Geelong Sustainability.
Walking together with the Wadawurrung on climate action
A unique feature of our Climate Emergency Response Plan is our partnership with Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation.
The CERP includes a distinct Wadawurrung Pillar with actions that the Traditional Owners supported or requested. We think this approach to responding to the climate emergency may be the first of its kind in Australia.
This beautiful film was produced by Ross Bird Photography and features Corrina Eccles (Wadawurrung Woman), Fleur Hewitt and Ross Ebbels (Borough of Queenscliffe Councillors) and Kate Smallwood (QCAN volunteer). Our thanks to Ross for donating his time to produce the film and the Borough of Queenscliffe for their support. The film was shot on Wadawurrung Country in the Borough of Queenscliffe.
Our short film “Koling Wada-gnal - Walking Together on Climate Action” showcases local Wadawurrung cultural heritage, the Wadawurrung Country Plan (Paleert Tjaara Dja) and the importance of walking together with Traditional Owners to protect Country and cultural heritage from the threats of climate change.
Inspire @queenscliffeclimateaction
