East Gippsland Shire Council Embraces Sustainability
The East Gippsland Shire Council is pleased to announce its first-ever Environmental Upgrade Agreement (EUA) with Patties Foods, the Lucknow manufacturing site Charter-Hall owner, and Sustainable Australia Fund, an external financier.
The two-year trial agreement, worth over $200,000, aims to support the implementation of energy-efficient measures, starting with the installation of LED lighting in Patties' production facilities.
Mayor Cr Mark Reeves expressed pride in supporting these changes that will reduce emissions, save money, and improve building performance. Under the financing model, the costs of the upgrade will be repaid over time, similar to council rates. The LED lighting upgrade is expected to not only decrease energy consumption and costs but also enhance the quality of lighting in production facilities, creating a safer and more productive working environment for employees.
Patties Foods Group CEO Paul Hitchcock expressed enthusiasm about being at the forefront of the shift towards more environmentally sustainable manufacturing sites. He acknowledged the responsibility of the Australian-made food company to help mitigate the effects of climate change and expressed gratitude for the council's support in this endeavour.
The utilisation of this new form of finance is made possible by the Sustainable Australia Fund, which believes that capital can be a force for good and improve economic and environmental outcomes for customers.
Chief Executive and Managing Director Scott Bocskay expressed pride in working with iconic Australian brands like Patties Foods and Charter-Hall to reduce their environmental impact and operational costs.
Mayor Cr Reeves highlighted that this agreement aligns with two key strategies in Council's new 10-year Environmental Sustainability Strategy 2022–32, which aim to support industries to be more sustainable and encourage organisations across the shire to manage and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
He congratulated Patties Foods and Charter-Hall for their initiative and expressed excitement about leading the way in supporting local businesses to transition to more sustainable practices with support from Better Building Finance.
Julian Menegazzo, Charter Hall Fund Manager of DIF4, expressed support as the owner of the site for Patties Foods' investment in energy efficiencies that reduce carbon emissions at Lucknow. He acknowledged Patties Foods' long-term commitment as a key tenant customer and praised the sustainability initiative for improving their operations within the facility.
He emphasised the importance of tenant customers' contributions to the decarbonisation pathway and expressed eagerness to engage with businesses across the portfolio for smarter and cleaner outcomes.
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Source: East Gippsland
