newy.com.au – Newcastle councillors have endorsed a five-year Climate Action Plan that commits City of Newcastle to pursuing net zero operational emissions by 2030 through 77 actions across renewable energy, batteries and low-emission equipment.

The Newcastle Climate Action Plan 2026-2030 was backed after community consultation and sets a pathway for climate action to be considered across all City of Newcastle operations. The roadmap includes maintaining a 100 per cent renewable electricity supply, expanding the city’s battery network and transitioning its fleet, plant and equipment to electric or low-emission alternatives.

City of Newcastle Executive Manager Environment and Sustainability Marnie Kikken said achieving meaningful emissions reductions would require rapid, transformative change.

“To achieve net zero emissions in our operations, we’ll need to invest an additional $42 million over the next five years,” Ms Kikken said.

“We’ll be seeking at least 50% of this through state and federal grants, commercial partnerships and other funding mechanisms.

“City of Newcastle has already secured $5 million from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency to deliver a battery deployment program, including a 10MWh battery at the Summerhill solar farm, and another 3.8MWh in 11 batteries across our facilities.”

Ms Kikken said full implementation of the plan was estimated to deliver an annual return of between $3.5 million and $4 million from 2030 through revenue from the Community Energy Precinct, solar and battery storage savings, fuel savings and gas-to-electric savings.

“The plan not only outlines City of Newcastle’s pathway to net zero emissions by 2030, but also supports a Newcastle wide transition to net zero by 2040, in alignment with the goals of the Paris Agreement,” she said.

“The Climate Action Plan adopts a holistic approach to addressing climate change with a focus on creating flourishing lives for all Novocastrians. Climate action is not only about reducing emissions and managing risks, but also about supporting a healthy, resilient, inclusive and liveable city.”

The plan was developed using economic modelling, scientific research, cost-benefit analysis and public consultation. City of Newcastle said amendments were made following feedback received during exhibition.

“Our community needs to see the Climate Action Plan as credible and deliverable so we’ve made amendments to the plan based on their feedback,” Ms Kikken said.

A total of 239 submissions were received, with almost 80 per cent of respondents agreeing climate action was a high priority. The feedback also showed 83 per cent supported nature-based solutions such as urban greening, tree planting and ecosystem restoration, while more than 70 per cent agreed with the plan’s science-based targets.

City of Newcastle is also undertaking a feasibility study for a proposed Community Energy Precinct at the Astra Street landfill site at Sandgate, a project the council said was supported through the consultation process.

The 60-hectare site operated as a landfill from 1974 to 1995 before City of Newcastle began extensive environmental remediation to protect surrounding wetlands, increase biodiversity and support long-term native plant growth. The proposed Astra Street precinct was identified as a tangible project combining renewable energy, electric vehicle infrastructure and the repurposing of underused land.