The North East has missed out on hosting a public hearing during the Victorian government's inquiry into tackling climate change.
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Hearings started this week in Ballarat and Bendigo and will continue over the next few months in Traralgon, Bairnsdale, Mornington, Geelong, Warrnambool and Melbourne.
Organisations from the North East have made submissions to the inquiry with similar requests for the state government: more money.
Wodonga Council chief executive Mark Dixon said the government could best assist communities by providing funding for innovation and on the ground actions.
He asked for "financial means to ensure there are refuge/infrastructure facilities available to support those that aren't able to afford the rising energy costs caused by the impacts of climate change" such as extreme weather events.
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Wodonga Albury Toward Climate Health convener Lizette Salmon told the inquiry people should be encouraged to lead less materialistic lifestyles, which are associated with much higher emissions.
She said the government should "establish ambitious policies to encourage communities to transition to low carbon lifestyles including strong renewable energy and carbon reduction targets, improved public transport".
Another idea was to make "planned obsolescence" a crime - outlawing the practice of building items with the goal that they break down and have to be replaced regularly.
Wangaratta Sustainability Network member Rowan O'Hagan's submission to the inquiry said the North East had many different organisations driven by "the urgency to take action on climate change".
"For the Victorian government to best support regional communities in their efforts to tackle climate change and to drive mitigation and adaptation activities, the provision of funds, personnel and expertise that is accessible to community groups, local government and business is vital," she said.
"The ability of regional communities to contribute to planning and decision making through robust and consultative governance practices is also essential."