Growing a climate-ready economy

4.1

Attract investment and jobs by using our clean energy advantage and making climate change projections easily available and accessible for investors

Ongoing

Coordinator-General

DPAC (TCCO)

The Office of the Coordinator-General continues to promote the renewable energy sector in Tasmania across a wide variety of sectors.

The State’s renewable energy advantage is frequently highlighted to potential investors through marketing collateral, presentations and tailored responses.

The Coordinator-General is working across a number of renewable energy projects, including wind and solar projects, providing support to project proponents as required.

Ongoing

4.2

Work with farmers to reduce fertiliser-related emissions and costs by continuing to deliver the Fert$mart program in partnership with DairyTas

Complete

DPAC (TCCO)

To date, 200 Fert$mart plans covering 60,000 hectares have been developed for Tasmanian dairy farms. This represents nearly 50 per cent of the State's dairy farms.

The Tasmanian Government has provided financial assistance of $27,500 to local farmers to install the infrastructure necessary to implement the effluent management component of their Fert$mart plans. This funding provided the momentum for practical on-farm infrastructure works totalling $431,000, and an additional 230 hectares of land being irrigated with effluent and an additional seven megalitres of effluent storage.

Complete

4.3

Undertake a business resource efficiency program to assist small and medium-sized businesses to reduce their emissions and operating costs through resource efficiency initiatives, and building industry capacity

Expected completion FY 2019-20

DPAC (TCCO)

State Growth

Eleven businesses across a range of sectors have signed up to the Business Resource Efficiency Program and waste audits for each participating business have been completed. Waste minimisation projects were identified for each business as a result of the waste audits. Businesses are now working together through facilitated workshops to implement their waste minimisation projects.

In progress

4.4

Work with the agricultural sector to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions by updating the online energy self-audit tool and developing guidance materials

Expected completion FY 2017-18

DPIPWE

DPAC (TCCO)

An interactive tool has been developed to assist farms with energy management and energy self audits. Features of the tool include identifying energy use, setting benchmarks and targets, and implementing energy and cost saving measures. The online calculator tool that complements this manual is also available to aid in conducting energy self-audits of farms.

Complete

4.5

Support the resilience of small- and medium-sized businesses to extreme events by extending the Disaster Planning and Recovery for Tasmanian Businesses project, which involves workshops and tailored resources

Complete

DPAC (TCCO)

State Growth

This action was completed in 2017-18, with a series of workshops across regional Tasmania, supporting 48 Tasmanian businesses to undertake business continuity planning to prepare for and respond to extreme climatic events.

Complete

4.6

Provide information on climate change risks and opportunities through Enterprise Suitability Mapping to support future decision making for the agricultural sector

Ongoing

DPIPWE

DPAC (TCCO)

DPIPWE is updating the existing Enterprise Suitability Mapping project to incorporate climate change projections.

All Enterprise Suitability layers have been re-modelled with updated soil and climate information and refined crop rules developed with each industry. These are currently being loaded to LISTmap. These layers are supported by new Vulnerable Soil layers (Erosion, Salinity, Sodicity and Poor Drainage) that are now also available on LISTmap. A range of component soil and climate layers have been made available on LISTmap as a result of stakeholder requests. The Climate Change layers are currently being developed.

Nearing completion

4.7

Develop a new waste management action plan for Tasmania which includes a focus on emissions reduction

Expected completion FY 2018-19

DPIPWE

The Tasmanian Government has released its draft Waste Action Plan for public consultation. Two key proposed initiatives included in the Plan are: a beverage container refund scheme; and a statewide levy on waste being dumped in landfill. This levy is proposed to replace the many council levies that already exist with funds to be focused on future waste and recycling infrastructure and programs. The Plan will have a strong focus on reducing emissions from the organic waste stream in Tasmania.

Nearing completion

4.8

Deliver the five proposed Tranche II irrigation development schemes, and investigate the feasibility of Tranche III schemes, to provide water surety for the agricultural sector in a changing climate

Ongoing

Tasmanian Irrigation

DPIPWE

The transformation in Tasmanian regional, large-scale irrigation development has made highly reliable water supplies available for growth in agriculture.

The delivery of the Tranche II irrigation schemes is continuing on-schedule, with four schemes completed and operational and the fifth scheme due for completion in February 2020.

A feasibility assessment of projects for a possible third tranche of irrigation scheme development has been completed.

Ongoing

4.9

Invest in skills to prepare our industry sectors, regional communities and workforce for a changing climate

Ongoing

State Growth

The Tasmanian Government, through Skills Tasmania, continues to work with industry, community and regional partners to understand their current and future training needs.

Skills Tasmania provides subsidised training in agriculture, aquaculture and primary industries, with environmental sustainability and climate change being an important context for the delivery of nationally recognised training for these sectors.

Ongoing