Advocacy is a core pillar of CVGA’s work and one of the primary benefits of CVGA membership. CVGA advocates with and on behalf of our member councils for policies and initiatives that support our shared vision for a climate positive region that is prepared for the impacts of climate change.
Through our advocacy work we aim to promote local government insights, perspectives, and recommendations to contribute to informed, evidence-based decision-making and positive change for our region. CVGA also works collaboratively with the wider network of Victorian Greenhouse Alliances, the Municipal Association of Victoria, the Council Alliance for Sustainable Built Environments, and other partners to coordinate advocacy efforts that amplify the voices of Victorian councils and their communities.
See a list of our recent public submission below.
Through our advocacy work we aim to promote local government insights, perspectives, and recommendations to contribute to informed, evidence-based decision-making and positive change for our region. CVGA also works collaboratively with the wider network of Victorian Greenhouse Alliances, the Municipal Association of Victoria, the Council Alliance for Sustainable Built Environments, and other partners to coordinate advocacy efforts that amplify the voices of Victorian councils and their communities.
See a list of our recent public submission below.
Planning and Climate Change in Victoria Report
Earlier this year CVGA and the Victorian Greenhouse Alliances celebrated a major advocacy win with the Victorian Government passing amendments to the Planning and Environment Act 1987 to create a legislative mandate for planning authorities to consider climate change in decisions at all levels of the planning system.
This reform came on the back of an extensive and successful local government advocacy campaign ‘Planning for a Safe Climate’ led by the Victorian Greenhouse Alliances and Council Alliance for a Sustainable Build Environment, and our award-winning report prepared by the Hansen Partnership on ‘Climate Change and Planning in Victoria’.
Planners across Victoria have been asking for climate change to be referenced in the Act for many years, to create a mandate that enables them to ask for Environmentally Sustainable Development (ESD). This was a key ask by the local government sector as part of the ‘Planning for a Safe Climate’ Campaign. This critical reform will feed through to improved climate resilience outcomes in communities through planning decisions that factor in current and future climate risks, and by creating a clear mandate for council planners to be able to ask for ESD.
See report here.
This reform came on the back of an extensive and successful local government advocacy campaign ‘Planning for a Safe Climate’ led by the Victorian Greenhouse Alliances and Council Alliance for a Sustainable Build Environment, and our award-winning report prepared by the Hansen Partnership on ‘Climate Change and Planning in Victoria’.
Planners across Victoria have been asking for climate change to be referenced in the Act for many years, to create a mandate that enables them to ask for Environmentally Sustainable Development (ESD). This was a key ask by the local government sector as part of the ‘Planning for a Safe Climate’ Campaign. This critical reform will feed through to improved climate resilience outcomes in communities through planning decisions that factor in current and future climate risks, and by creating a clear mandate for council planners to be able to ask for ESD.
See report here.
Submissions
Planning, Built Environment & ESD
Focus: embedding climate considerations in planning systems, improving building standards, enabling ESD.
Key submissions include:
Focus: embedding climate considerations in planning systems, improving building standards, enabling ESD.
Key submissions include:
Energy Transition, Electrification & Gas Substitution
Focus: electrification, renewable energy zones, energy market reform, gas phase‑out, household energy upgrades.
Key submissions include:
Focus: electrification, renewable energy zones, energy market reform, gas phase‑out, household energy upgrades.
Key submissions include:
- VEU Regulatory Program Targets and Greenhouse Reduction Rates 2026 and 2027 (2025)
- Future Gas Strategy Consultation (2023)
- Residential Electrification Inquiry (2023)
- Stronger energy performance standards for new homes (2022)
- Low Emissions Technology Roadmap (2020)
- Victorian Zero Emission Vehicles Expert Advisory Panel (2020)
- A Climate Positive Stimulus for Victorian Local Government (2020)
Transport, EVs & Infrastructure
Focus: EV charging networks, fuel efficiency standards, transport decarbonisation, regional infrastructure.
Key submissions include:
Focus: EV charging networks, fuel efficiency standards, transport decarbonisation, regional infrastructure.
Key submissions include:
- Inquiry into the Transition to Electric Vehicles (2024)
- Transport and Infrastructure Net Zero Consultation Roadmap (2024)
- Senate Inquiry into Australia’s preparedness to host Commonwealth, Olympic and Paralympic Games (2023)
- Fuel Efficiency Standard (FES) Consultation (2023)
- Implications of severe weather events on regional road networks (2023)
- National Electric Vehicle Strategy (2022)
- Submission to Victorian Zero Emission Vehicles Expert Advisory Pane (2020)
- Infrastructure priorities for the regions (2019)
- Electric Vehicles Parliamentary Inquiry (2017) XXXXX
Climate Resilience, Adaptation & Risk
Focus: adaptation funding, resilience planning, flood inquiries, community resilience.
Key submissions include:
Focus: adaptation funding, resilience planning, flood inquiries, community resilience.
Key submissions include:
Local Government Sustainability & Funding Reform
Focus: financial sustainability, cost‑shifting, multilevel governance, enabling councils to deliver climate action.
Key submissions include:
Focus: financial sustainability, cost‑shifting, multilevel governance, enabling councils to deliver climate action.
Key submissions include:
Energy Markets, Transmission & Regulatory Reform
Focus: transmission planning, VNI West, AEMO planning, safeguard mechanism, electricity distribution.
Key submissions include:
Focus: transmission planning, VNI West, AEMO planning, safeguard mechanism, electricity distribution.
Key submissions include:
- Draft Victorian Transmission Plan Guidelines (2024)
- REZ Community Benefits Plan Submission (2024)
- VNI West Consultation Report – Options Assessment (2023)
- Safeguard Mechanism Rule Amendments Submission (2023)
- Response to VNI West Project Assessment Draft Report (2022)
- Draft Integrated System Plan (2020)
- Western Victoria RIT-T (2018)
- Australian Energy Regulator Demand Management Incentive Scheme (2017)
- Finkel Review into Australia's National Electricity Market (2017)
- Joint letter on updating the National Electricity Objective (2017)
Social Equity, Housing & Minimum Standards
Focus: rental standards, vulnerable households, energy upgrades, equity in the transition.
Key submissions include:
Focus: rental standards, vulnerable households, energy upgrades, equity in the transition.
Key submissions include:
- Minimum standards for rental properties (2024)
- Household Energy Upgrades Fund advocacy (2024)
- Raising minimum standards for new homes (2020)
National Climate Policy & Emissions Targets
Focus: national targets, Paris alignment, emissions reduction pathways.
Key submissions include:
Focus: national targets, Paris alignment, emissions reduction pathways.
Key submissions include: