On the bus and carbon offset

Newhaven College is one step closer to its goal to be carbon neutral by 2030.

Much of the College’s building infrastructure and planning has been designed to ensure it operates in a sustainable way, including the extensive use of solar panels.

Now the school’s bus fleet is becoming part of the carbon solution.

South Coast Bus runs 12 different routes for Newhaven College students, across Bass Coast and South Gippsland, including Nyora, Leongatha and Tarwin Lower.

With so many bus routes, the school was conscious of the impact on the environment and decided to act.

The College is working with Greenfleet in conjunction with South Coast Buses to offset carbon emissions as part of their commitment to lessening its carbon footprint.

Greenfleet is a leading not-for-profit environmental organisation protecting the climate by restoring forests.

They plant native biodiverse forests to capture carbon emissions and help fight the impacts of climate change.

Newhaven College’s support alone will enable Greenfleet to plant enough native trees to absorb 355.00 tonnes of CO2-e.

Newhaven College Principal, Tony Corr is thrilled to be a part of a community with such a focus on environmental action.

“The offset planting the school will be providing through Greenfleet will take place in Glendalough in South Gippsland,” Mr Corr said.

“In Glendalough there is a cleared 240-hectare property which our planting will help return to native ecosystems.

“The property will provide a significant vegetation link for the critically important Strzelecki Koalas as well as habitat for native birds such as the Yellow-faced Honeyeater and Grey Fantail.“

The CEO of Greenfleet, Wayne Wescott praised Newhaven College’s commitment.

“Greenfleet is focused on delivering climate action and by offsetting their bus emissions with us, Newhaven College is enabling the restoration of native forests that will remove this carbon from the atmosphere through the rest of this century,” Mr Wescott said.

“Thanks to the support of organisations like Newhaven College, Greenfleet can continue to grow our impact and protect our climate.”

Since 1997, Greenfleet has planted over 10.5 million trees across 550 forests in Australia and New Zealand.

As they grow, these forests absorb carbon, improve soil and water quality and restore habitat for native wildlife, including many endangered species.

For more on Greenfleet’s work go to greenfleet.com.au