Burnside Carbon Offset Scheme successfully seeded

The City of Burnside has taken another step towards becoming carbon neutral, seeding thousands of native trees near Kapunda for the launch of the Burnside Carbon Offset Scheme (B-COS).

A three-way collaboration between the City of Burnside, not-for-profit organisation Trees For Life and local business Mantina Quarries, the trees will absorb hundreds of tonnes of carbon, offsetting the Council’s carbon emissions.

Carbon offsets are a responsible way to mitigate the negative environmental impacts of greenhouse gas emissions. When organisations release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere through activities like driving or air-conditioning, they contribute to global warming. Carbon offsets offer a way to counterbalance or ‘offset’ these emissions by investing in projects that remove an equivalent volume of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.

Suitable space for this scale of planting was not available in Burnside, but with support from Light Regional Council, land for the project was able to be sourced in the Kapunda area. Local resident and Mantina Quarries Director, Rino Obbiettivo, was happy to offer property near Kapunda at no cost to ratepayers. The project is converting over six hectares of open pasture to woodland.

Trees For Life Direct Seeding Manager David Hein said the project could result in upwards of 10,000 new plants, all native vegetation that grows well in the area.

‘There are sixteen different species in the mix. Over the years they sort themselves out into natural-looking vegetation, providing habitat for birds and wildlife,’ David said.

City of Burnside Coordinator of Environmental Sustainability Dr Philip Roetman said the B-COS planting will offset emissions from Council’s George Bolton Swimming Centre and Regal Theatre.

‘The project is not funded through Council rates. Rather, people using the Swimming Centre and Theatre pay a small, 10 cent contribution per visit. These individual contributions are minor, but collectively they enable Council to minimise the environmental impact of these facilities,’ Philip said.

General Manager for Mantina Group, William Short said Mantina Group was excited to provide land for new trees. He described the project as a win-win for all involved.

‘We can provide land to plant thousands of trees. It helps the community offset emissions and the trees will be habitat for wildlife. We also benefit as the trees and wildlife will improve the overall visual amenity of the area and provide valuable buffers along property boundaries,’ William said.

Along with the thousands of new trees planted for this project, the City of Burnside continues to show leadership in environmental sustainability. Last year, Council installed solar power systems at numerous sites, including the Council Depot, Dulwich Community Centre and the George Bolton Swimming Centre. Over time, these systems will reduce the running costs of the facilities and further reduce Council’s carbon footprint.