[Pil-pc-oceania] Pil-pc-oceania Digest, Vol 13, Issue 39 More Transitions

[Janet Millington]

End of year report card

A Transition Update from 
The Sunshine Coast Energy Action Centre (SEAC)
Queensland Australia
www.seac.net.au

You'd think with a name like the 'Sunshine Coast' we'd be taking full
advantage of all that sunshine and weaning ourselves off fossil fuels
wouldn't you? Unfortunately that hasn't been the case. until now.

In response to this anomaly, one of SEAC's recent initiatives has been to
set up a solar energy bulk buying program. After just a couple of
presentations we already have 20 people signed up and we're well on our way.

Next step is for us to really shine as the 'Sunshine' Coast in the 'Sunshine
State', [Queensland] (sorry about all the dreadful puns) and work toward
ensuring we have the highest percentage of domestic homes solar energy
systems in Australia.

The Sunshine Coast Solar Energy Challenge will be just one of our many
projects planned for next year along with a series of lectures and
presentations on 'live local - live better' focussing on relocalisation
activities.

Our trial Energy Descent Action Planning course 'It's Time for an Oil
Change' was very well received and we are set to run our second course at
Caloundra - a seaside town with high density population - in 2008.

This new course was written specifically as a way to generate a community
driven Energy Descent Action Plan and deliver information, education and
implement action strategies and outcomes.

As for the EDAP, it's currently being written and we are looking forward to
delivering it to local, state and federal government politicians very soon. 

We are ensuring this Australian-first EDAP is well structured so it will be
well received by decision makers, so it's worth the extra time and effort to
get it right. Hopefully it will clear a path for other Australian groups and
councils to follow suit.

Our community information sessions are becoming increasingly popular and
will definitely continue into 2008. Word is spreading! Having a community
education centre dedicated to informing the community about positive
solutions to climate change and peak oil has been a bonus for the Sunshine
Coast and instrumental in our move to becoming a Transition Town.

In 2008 SEAC will also (pledge to?); **
Expand our Outreach Program even further into the community 
Attend key expos and conferences in the region to raise awareness
Launch communication campaigns based on relocalisation and energy descent
Set up a specific EDAP website that will track our work and ensure we stay
on track
Develop new intensive energy descent preparedness courses for the community
Develop community information packs on how to start local action groups
Work with local key environmental groups 
Identify key groups in the community and build further partnerships to
ensure inclusivity including Indigenous Australians
Offer workshops, support and networking for local action groups to get
started and stay motivated
Offer Train the Trainer courses for other permaculturists to deliver energy
descent action planning courses in their local areas
Explore funding options for the Centre to expand our work
Work toward establishing an Oil Depletion Protocol in Queensland
Work more closely with the local university to develop partnership ideas
Ensure we stay relevant to the cause and continue to address community
concerns and needs
We may be opening SEAC at a second location on the Coast. but that's a bit
hush hush at the moment!

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and see you next year!

Sonya Wallace & Janet Millington
SEAC Co-coordinators
www.seac.net.au

**Although this list seems pretty full and finite at the moment, the speed
with which everything happened in 2007, anything could happen in 2008!