Whitehorse Council puts gas on the chopping block with $240,000 commitment

In 2023/24, the council emitted 19,182 tonnes of carbon dioxide, including from natural gas, electricity, and fleet fuel use.

Author

Matthew Sims
October 17, 2025

Whitehorse Council is committing $240,000 to support six local projects aimed at moving the community away from gas.

⁉️ What happened: At Monday’s council meeting, councillors voted to fund three projects and begin design work on three more. The council is also developing an Emissions Reduction Plan to guide future actions.

🎯 Moving the target: The move follows a February decision to stop buying carbon offset credits.

🌳 Rapid refresh: Carbon offset credits are earned by projects that reduce or avoid greenhouse gas emissions — for example, by planting trees.

  • These credits can be sold to organisations, allowing them to “offset” their own emissions.

“Exceptional”: Here’s how Monash Council became carbon neutral

After five years of cutting emissions, the council will use $45,000 in offsets to close the final gap.

🦶How we got here: In May, councillors voted to change the Climate Response Strategy, replacing the goal of being “carbon neutral” with a goal to “aspire towards a net-zero emission organisation”.

  • In contrast, Monash Council recently achieved carbon neutral status, with councillors voting to spend $45,000 on carbon offset credits, which will get it over the line.

Whitehorse Council considers redirecting $1M from offsets to local sustainability

Whitehorse Council is considering a shift of $1 million of ratepayer’s money over the next five years from buying carbon offsets to funding local sustainability projects.

🌱 Locally grown green efforts: Whitehorse Council’s local projects include:

  • Replacing gas heating and hot water at Blackburn North Neighbourhood House, saving 2.81 tonnes of emissions annually

  • Upgrading gas heating and cooking at the Burgess Family Centre, saving 2.45 tonnes

  • Replacing gas heating and exploring sustainable greenhouse heating at the Parks Nursery and Horticultural Centre, saving 2.64 tonnes.

Councillor Daniel Griffiths said he was “happy to see this invested locally and addressing our own greenhouse gas emissions”.

💨 How much has Whitehorse emitted? In 2022/23, Whitehorse Council produced 17,550 tonnes of emissions, offset through external projects.

  • In 2023/24, emissions rose to 19,182 tonnes, mostly from natural gas, electricity, and fleet fuel use.

  • Last year, the council switched to 100% renewable electricity through the Victorian Energy Collaboration.