30 November 2008

FUNDING: Call for proposals, Caring for our Country business plan 2009-10

The Australian Government is now calling for investment proposals for projects that will achieve the targets outlined in the newly released Caring for our Country business plan 2009-10.

Details of how you can submit a proposal will be available on the Caring for our Country website soon.

WATER: Rebates and grants - National Rainwater and Greywater Initiative

As part of the $12.9 billion Water for the Future plan, the Australian Government is delivering the $250 million National Rainwater and Greywater Initiative to help people use water wisely in their everyday lives. The Government is providing:

  • Rebates of up to $500 for households to install rainwater tanks or greywater systems; and
  • Grants to surf lifesaving clubs of up to $10,000 to install water saving and water efficient devices.

WATER: For consultation - Draft water efficiency standards for clothes washers & dishwashers, water efficiency labelling of combined washer/dryers

Organisations and individuals are asked to give their views on the draft Regulation Impact Statement: Minimum water efficiency standards for clothes washers and dishwashers and water efficiency labelling of combined washer/dryers.

The national Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) Scheme currently mandates registration and water efficiency labelling of clothes washing machines, dishwashers, toilets, urinals, taps and showers, with flow controllers optional. However, with the exception of toilets, there is no minimum standard for these products, which means that inefficient, high water-using products may still be sold to the public.

The draft report assesses the regulatory impacts, including the costs and benefits of setting minimum water efficiency standards for clothes washers and dishwashers to improve the water efficiency of these products. It also assesses the case for introducing a WELS label and minimum standard for the dryer component of combination washer dryers that use water in dryer-mode and stand-alone dryers that use water. On the basis of this assessment the draft report recommends that Australian Governments agree to proceed with these proposals.

The public consultation period closes on 23 January 2009.

WATER: Call for proposals - Administering Organisation(s), Centres of Excellence in Desalination and Water Recycling

The Australian Government's 10-year $12.9 billion Water for the Future strategy to secure the long-term water supply for all Australians includes funding of $1 billion for the National Urban Water and Desalination Plan. This plan supports a new funding program and a number of specific projects. Among these projects is the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in Desalination based in Perth and a Centre of Excellence in Water Recycling based in Brisbane, each funded at $20 million over five years. Proposals are invited for the Administering Organisation for either or both Centres of Excellence. The closing date for submitting proposals is 6 February 2009.

CLIMATE: Climate Witness - your stories of the impacts of climate change and the actions we can take

Are you seeing climate change? What’s changed in your area? How is it effecting you, your family or your community? What are you doing to be part of the solution? WWF Climate Witness is a global conversation about the impacts of climate change and the actions we can take today. Browse the climate stories global map or tell your story.

CLIMATE: Latest issue of CO2 News (26 November 2008)

The 26 November 2008 issue of CO2 News includes:

  • News - Westpac unveils climate change strategy; and
  • Publications - Generating your own green energy supply — is it a viable solution? How feasible is going completely off grid for your household energy consumption? Find out in New Scientist.

CLIMATE, BIODIVERSITY: New report - National Strategy and Action Plan for the Role of Australia's Botanic Gardens in Adapting to Climate Change

Australia’s eight capital city botanic gardens have released a National Strategy and Action Plan to adapt to climate change. Actions include prioritising and coordinating seed bank collection, priorities for living collections and a coordinated national education campaign for the 13.4 million visitors a year.

Read the media release or download the National Strategy and Action Plan.

HEALTH, BIODIVERSITY: New booklet - Pills, plants and animals, A guide to complementary medicines trade and conservation

Many of the world’s animals and plants are threatened because of human activity such as hunting, poaching and the uncontrolled trade in wildlife and wildlife parts. Some of the species, including the tiger and rhinoceros, are now in great danger of extinction. One factor driving the trade is the demand for animal and plant derivatives for use as health supplements in complementary medicines (also known as ‘traditional’ or ‘alternative’ medicines). These medicines include vitamin, mineral, plant or herbal, naturopathic and/or homeopathic preparations and nutritional supplements.

The reality is, if threatened species continue to be used in complementary medicines, these species may become extinct. Ending the illegal trade in protected wildlife and wildlife parts will help prevent their further decline. The good news is that the properties of these wildlife products can often be replicated by medically acceptable alternatives.

The booklet Pills, plants and animals, A guide to complementary medicines trade and conservation informs users, practitioners and importers of complementary medicines about Australia’s wildlife trade laws and alternatives to using complementary medicines containing threatened species.

FOOD: 2009 True Food Guide launched

Greenpeace has launched the 2009 True Food Guide, which provides information on shopping for GE-free food. You can download the Guide as a PDF or order a pocket-sized copy.

MARKET-BASED INSTRUMENTS: Presentations and videos from Designer Carrots National Market Based Instruments Forum now available

The National Market-Based Instruments (MBI) Forum was held in Brisbane in late September. Now available are many of the PowerPoint presentations, as well as video interviews exploring the MBI experiences of a wide range of people.

By using policy tools called market-based instruments (MBIs), governments, regional NRM groups and others natural resource managers are applying the economic principles of supply and demand to the management of the natural resources such as water, biodiversity, habitat, water quality and forests. MBIs rely on market signals to positively influence behaviour.

A ‘market’ is any place where sellers of a good or service can meet buyers of that good or service. Markets are historically associated with the buying and selling of tangible products or intangible items such as stocks and shares. However, harnessing the competitive pressure of commercial markets is increasingly being used as a policy tool to reduce the costs of securing environmental outcomes and to create greater flexibility for delivering natural resource management (NRM) outcomes.

NEWS: Receive daily updates of environmental news items appearing in the major non-subscription electronic news media (eg newspaper articles)

Making Environmental News is an email portal that delivers access to environmental news items appearing in the major non-subscription electronic news media to your email every weekday. It is a summary of what has made the news in the preceding 24 hours, linking you to the news item if more information is required. The service is free and is designed for busy people who need to know what is being reported in the news. There is no filtering or editorial, and each email update takes about three minutes to scan. Making Environmental News is an initiative of the Banksia Environmental Foundation.

23 November 2008

FUNDING: Caring for our Country Open Grants announced

The Rudd Government has announced more than $28.5 million in funding to support 137 local and community groups with environmental and sustainable farming projects under Caring for our Country Open Grants.

The package includes more than $5.5 million for sustainable farming practices; $8.9 million for Landcare projects; more than $7.3 million for biodiversity and natural icons, more than $5.7 million for coasts and critical aquatic habitats and more than $1.1 million for other projects.

Read the primary media release or view the list of funded projects.

WATER: New NWC Report - Requirements for the installation of rainwater and greywater systems in Australia

Waterlines report No 10 - November 2008 is a 'how to guide' that will help Australian households boost their re-use of stormwater and greywater. The report was developed for the Commission by the Master Plumber and Mechanical Services Association of Australia, with assistance from key stakeholders and regulatory authorities.

The publication gives householders the essential information they need when considering installing a greywater system. The report covers rebates, approval processes, planning tools and installation issues. This Waterlines report will make a significant contribution to the implementation of the National Water Initiative by assisting with the safe re-use and recycling of these alternative water sources in urban environments.

Two related specialist handbooks, which will provide plumbers and householders with expert technical advice on how to install and maintain rainwater tanks and greywater systems, have also been released.

WATER: "Anna Bligh ready to dump proposal for recycled sewage"

The Australian
20 November 2008

QUEENSLAND Premier Anna Bligh yesterday left the door open to scrapping her recycled sewage plan, as it emerged that the 2.6 million residents of the state's southeast may not be told if their drinking water has been contaminated.

The shift by Ms Bligh follows a series of reports by The Australian, which highlighted concerns by experts about whether viruses and other contaminants would be blocked by the planned seven-stage screening process.

With pressure mounting on the Government as continuing rain raised dam levels further yesterday, Ms Bligh said she would listen to advice from the Queensland Water Commission about whether the scheme should proceed as planned early next year...

Read the full article here.

COASTCARE: Countdown to Coastcare Week 1 - 7 December 2008

Coastcare Week is just around the corner and this year's theme is "Life on the Edge". See the latest Coastcare Week Newsletter and the Coastcare Australia website.

EDUCATION: Lessons from Teachers - new sustainability education resources

New sustainability education resources "Lessons from Teachers" are now available on the Teach Sustainability website.

"Lessons from Teachers" case studies document the experiences of secondary teachers who have developed units of work about sustainability. These case studies include a unit of work and a narrative, where teachers share their reflections on delivering these lessons. They discuss how sustainability issues can be integrated into their subject area, the way they approach teaching the unit and the highlights and challenges they have encountered.

Teach Sustainability is a not-for-profit educational website designed specifically for Australian teachers. The site connects educators across Australia and fosters the sharing of teaching programs, resources and experiences.

EDUCATION: Teach Sustainability Award

The Sustainable Living Challenge in partnership with the United Nations Environment Program and University of New South Wales’ is seeking nominations for the National Teach Sustainability Award. The aim of this award program is to recognise leading practice sustainability educators in schools and to encourage educators to contribute teach sustainability resource sharing hub to provide a world class resource for the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development.

CLIMATE, PLANNING: New report - National Sea Change Taskforce Planning for Climate Change Research Report

The Planning for Climate Change research report notes that coastal areas are exposed to particular risks associated with climate change and these risks represent a range of social and economic consequences for coastal communities which are exacerbated by existing socio-economic disadvantage and an aging population profile.

The research team found that while climate change is increasingly recognised by Commonwealth and State governments in Australia as a critical issue for coastal communities, few local planning schemes include specific provisions for climate change adaptation or mitigation, apart from controls relating to sea level rise in Western Australia and South Australia. The report makes a number of recommendations to enhance practice in planning for climate change across sea change communities in coastal Australia.

BIODIVERSITY, PLANNING: "Sydney housing plan 'threatens endangered trees'"

ABC News
19 November 2008

Environmentalists say plans to house almost 500,000 people in two western Sydney growth zones will compromise the last remnants of endangered Cumberland Plain Woodlands...

Read the full article here.

BUILT ENVIRONMENT: "Green buildings 'should be fast-tracked'"

The Age
18 November 2008

Councils should fast-track "green" building applications and take a more moderate approach to the rest, a local government forum has heard.

Romily Madew, chief executive of the Green Building Council, said local government had a key role to play in encouraging more environmentally-friendly buildings...

Read the full article here.

BUILT ENVIRONMENT: "NSW developers keen to build green "

LiveNews
16 November 2008

Developers are rushing to build environmentally friendly homes, the NSW government says.

At a press conference on Sunday about the state's Building Sustainability Index (BASIX) scheme, NSW Planning Minister Kristina Keneally said developers were lining-up to meet demand for more environmentally sustainable homes.

Introduced in 2005, BASIX is a free online tool to help Australian builders ensure their homes use less water and omit fewer greenhouse gas emissions...

Read the full article here.

WASTE MGMT: "South Australian Parliament bans plastic shopping bags"

AdelaideNow.com.au
13 November 2008

CONVENTIONAL plastic shopping bags will be banned in South Australia from January 1.

Legislation to ban the free bags, the first of its kind in Australia, passed through the upper house today with the Labor party and all minor parties voting for it...

Read the full article here.

WASTE MGMT: "State plan to contain mountains of waste"

The West Australian
17 November 2008

The State Government says it will decide next year on the merits of a container deposit scheme designed to reduce waste, as new figures reveal a dramatic rise in the amount of garbage buried in Perth.

Perth buried at least 3.95 million tonnes of garbage in 2007-08, a huge increase on the 2.8 million tonne average over the past nine financial years...

Read the full article here.

17 November 2008

ENVIRONMENT, BIODIVERSITY: Independent review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

On 31 October 2008 the Australian Government Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts commissioned an independent review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), the Australian Government's central piece of environmental legislation. Section 522A of the EPBC Act requires it to be reviewed every 10 years from its commencement.

This is the first review of the EPBC Act since its commencement on 16 July 2000. The review will assess the operation of the EPBC Act and the extent to which its objects have been achieved.

Community participation in the review is encouraged. There will be opportunities for public input over the course of the review. The first stage of this public input process has commenced and written submissions are now invited. The closing date for submissions is 19 December 2008. For further information visit the review website.

WASTE MGMT: Waste 2009 Conference - Call for abstracts by 28 November

The Waste 2009 Conference will be held in Coffs Harbour NSW from 31 March to 2 April 2009 and will again feature inspirational addresses from international and national leaders, as well as covering all the latest practical developments under the theme of 'innovative ideas creating practical solutions'. As well as keynotes, case studies and panel discussions, conference features include the ever-popular trade expo and social networking events on three evenings.

The latest topics will be covered including carbon and waste, climate change mitigation, e-waste and hazardous wastes, contracts and tenders, organics and food waste, uses for residuals, and waste to energy. Waste education will also be covered with a dedicated stream throughout day two exploring latest strategies, tools and techniques, and providing case studies of success.

The call for papers is now open. If you have new research, an innovative case study or a breakthrough technology, the Waste 2009 Conference is the place to share it with your peers! Short abstracts are required by 28 November. Visit the Call for abstracts page for full details.

CLIMATE: Latest issue of CO2 News (12 November 2008)

The 12 November 2008 issue of CO2 News includes articles on:

  1. Treasury modelling of costs and opportunities of reducing climate change released
  2. Comments sought for draft National Framework for Climate Change Science
  3. Research networks to investigate effects of climate change
  4. New research suggests methane levels on the rise
  5. Acting head of Queensland Office of Clean Energy appointed
  6. WA Government wants delayed start to emissions trading scheme
  7. Conferences & events
  8. Publications

CLIMATE: CSIRO paper 'A Comparison of the Limits to Growth with Thirty Years of Reality'

Based on then ground-breaking modelling, the forecasts of global ecological and economic collapse by mid-century contained in the controversial 1972 book; The Limits to Growth, are still ‘on-track’ according to new CSIRO research.

Read the media release or download the research paper.

CLIMATE: "Super storms 'will wash away coast'"

The Australian
10 November 2008

AUSTRALIA'S east coast faces unprecedented erosion within the next decade, heading into a storm period made worse by climate change, research predicts.

The seven-year study suggests sandy coasts, such as those in southeast Queensland, northern New South Wales and parts of Sydney are most at risk of major erosion as storms and high tides hit...

Read the full article here.

ENV EDUCATION, CLIMATE: Sydney event, Sustainability in the pub - Imagine a world without carbon pollution!

Please RSVP by 1 December 2008 to seeneducators@gmail.com
Click on the image below to view larger size

WATER: New NWC Report - Desalination and Australia's long-term water security

The CEO of the National Water Commission (NWC), Ken Matthews, has released a report showing that desalination technologies will play an increasingly important role in securing Australia's water supplies.

Mr Matthews said, 'The Commission believes that all water supply options should be on the table. The public needs to be clear about the potential of desalination, especially in providing more secure water supplies. At the same time, the costs and risks need also to be made clear.' The new report addresses this. For further information visit the NWC website.

WATER: "Inquiry urged to consider desal alternatives"

ABC News
11 November 2008

Opponents of the Wonthaggi desalination plant in south-east Victoria say a parliamentary inquiry examining Melbourne's water supply should recommend the project be delayed.

Watershed Victoria made submissions to the inquiry in Melbourne yesterday, along with Plug the Pipe and the Clean Ocean Foundation.

The three groups told the inquiry the desalination plant and the North South Pipeline will have major economic, environmental and social impacts...

Read the full article here.

WATER: "Nationals water science is kooky voodoo, Anna Bligh says"

The Australian
12 November 2008

QUEENSLAND Premier Anna Bligh has dismissed arguments against drinking recycled water as "kooky, wacky, voodoo science" and pledged not to disband her Government's plan to provide recycled waste water to 2.6million people in the state's southeast.

Ms Bligh attacked critics of the plan in parliament as National Health and Medical Research Council water quality advisory committee head Don Bursill cautioned that recycled water posed additional risks to supplies.

Professor Bursill said the risk would be acceptably low if Queensland followed national recycled water guidelines, as the state had indicated it would, but it was preferable to rely on conventional sources...

Read the full article here.

WATER: "States differ on recycling targets"

The Australian
13 November 2008

QUEENSLAND will easily meet the federal Government's target of having 30 per cent of its water supply recycled by 2015, but NSW has yet to take on the challenge, and the controversy, according to a commonwealth-commissioned report.

With Queensland Premier Anna Bligh facing renewed community concern over plans to add recycled sewage to drinking water in the urban southeast, the report puts the state's efforts into context, showing the varied state policy responses to the 30 per cent target...

Read the full article here.

WEED MGMT: "Invasive weed 'innocently' sold to SEQ gardeners"

Brisbane Times
12 November 2008

Queensland nurseries have been duped by a wholesaler into selling a South American weed to home gardeners.

The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPIF) has issued a warning against the supply or sale of Mexican feather grass, with nurseries and landscapers facing fines of up to $60,000.

According to the DPIF, the plants were mislabelled by a Victorian supplier, which sold them to a Queensland production nursery, which then sold them to retail outlets across Brisbane and South-East Queensland...

Read the full article here.

FOOD SUSTAINABILITY: "Still a long way to go in travel debate"

The Sydney Morning Herald
12 November 2008

Locavores, those who aim to eat locally grown food, may be doing more harm than good to the environment, writes Simon Webster.

Despite the popularity of books such as The 100-Mile Diet and an increasing awareness among consumers of how far their food has travelled from paddock to plate, studies have found that transport makes up only a small part of food's environmental impact.

British consumers would be better off buying dairy products from New Zealand than from their own country, a report from Lincoln University, New Zealand, concluded last year.

British dairy produces 35 per cent more greenhouse gas emissions than New Zealand dairy, even including transport from New Zealand to Britain, the report found. This is because New Zealand agriculture uses fewer fertilisers and its dairy cows graze outside on grass, whereas British cows are housed in barns where they eat bought-in, concentrated feed...

Read the full article here.

AIR QUALITY, TRANSPORT: "Residents' heath fears over Eastern Distributor exhaust"

The Daily Telegraph
12 November 2008

THOUSANDS of inner city residents are at risk from Eastern Distributor exhaust fumes, claim the NSW Greens, Sydney Councillors and residents, who are demanding the RTA comply with a Sydney Council condition requiring the filtration of an exhaust stack in Surry Hills.

Council imposed filtration of the stack as a condition of consent for a mixed-use commercial and residential development the RTA received approval for in 2007...

Read the full article here.

PLANNING, TRANSPORT: "Outer-city blues makes planners holler"

The Sydney Morning Herald
14 November 2008

BUILDING McMansion-style suburbs on the outskirts of Sydney costs the economy and the environment twice as much as inner-city housing, according to research released this week.

As the State Government prepares to make it easier for developers to build homes on Sydney's fringe, work done by Curtin University and a planning and infrastructure consultancy, Parsons Brinckerhoff, found hundreds of millions of dollars could be saved if governments chose inner-city housing over suburban sprawl.

Fringe development contributed to the recent financial crash in car-dependent cities around the world, said Curtin University's Professor Peter Newman. "The old economy of car dependence is over; with rising oil prices and climate change, people cannot afford to live in outer suburbs and drive to work," he said...

Read the full article here.

11 November 2008

PLANNING: New report - Planning Report Card 2008

Australia is managing growth in urban centres reasonably well, and moves to streamline planning assessment processes and increase public participation in planning are having a positive impact, according to the latest results of a national survey of planning professionals conducted by the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA). Asking participants to rank each area from A to E, the Planning Report Card 2008 provides constructive feedback and ideas on how to create better cities, neighbourhoods and streets.

Download the Planning Report Card 2008 results brochure or view the media release.

PLANNING: "National heritage listing for Adelaide Park Lands"

Media Release
The Hon Peter Garrett AM MP, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts
The Hon Kate Ellis MP, Member for Adelaide and Minister for Sport and Youth
7 November 2008

The influential urban design of Adelaide - Australia’s first planned city - was today granted Australia’s highest heritage honour with its inclusion on the National Heritage List. The listing recognises the 1837 Adelaide Park Lands and City Layout as a technical masterwork which went on to influence the planning of other towns in Australia and overseas...

Read the full media release here.

SOCIETY: New CDATA Online tool from Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)

CDATA Online is a new online tool which combines information on Australian society from the 2006 Census, with web graphing and mapping capability. CDATA Online allows you to create your own tables of Census data on a range of different topics such as - age, education, housing, income, transport, religion, ethnicity, occupation and more. This free online product allows you to create tables, maps and graphs of Census characteristics for all ABS geographic areas.

The product is designed to provide clients with a high degree of freedom in selecting and combining the geographical areas most suited to their needs. You can access data for areas as small as a Collection District (approximately 225 households) or as large as an entire state or territory or all of Australia. CDATA Online allows you the freedom to select and combine areas that interest you by creating your own customised geographic areas.

CLIMATE: New report - Energy Efficiency Policy Paper, The Climate Institute

In the Energy Efficiency Policy Paper, The Climate Institute proposes an energy efficiency strategy which would create 40,000 jobs and save almost two dollars a day on household energy bills.

CLIMATE: New report - Assessment of Impacts of Climate Change on Australia's Physical Infrastructure

The Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) has conducted an assessment of the impacts of climate change on Australia’s physical infrastructure.

The study noted that most sectors of Australia’s physical infrastructure were reasonably well-placed to respond to climate change impacts. The most vulnerable were the energy and water sectors. The study identified that major potential impacts on physical infrastructure often arise from combinations of projected climatic events – including drought, bush fires and temperature extremes on energy generation and distribution systems; and extreme rainfall, sea level rise and storm surge on low-lying coastal development. It suggests drainage, storm water and sewerage infrastructure will need critical examination where significant rainfall intensity is projected.

Key recommendations from the study include that the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) should convene a National Climate Change Adaptation Taskforce (NCCAT) to develop National Climate Change Adaptation Guidelines; that risk assessment studies should be undertaken for existing critical infrastructure vulnerable to the effects of climate change; and that comprehensive strategic planning controls should be applied to future critical infrastructure installations vulnerable to climate change.

Download the Assessment of Impacts of Climate Change on Australia's Physical Infrastructure report or view the media release.

CLIMATE: New report - Turning it around: climate solutions for Victoria

Environment Victoria released a groundbreaking report today showing how Victoria's emissions could be more than halved by 2020. The report Turning it around: climate solutions for Victoria was commissioned by Environment Victoria and completed by The Nous Group.

CLIMATE, SUSTAINABILITY: Wollumbin Institute

Dealing with the challenge of climate change calls us to our fullest humanity. It will require all the honesty, ingenuity, intelligence, and courage we can muster. And it can't be left to the "experts" and the "leaders". This is a task for us all, acting together.

Wollumbin Institute is a non-profit organisation that brings other organisations together in partnerships, alliances and networks to create ground breaking sustainability demonstration projects. The Wollumbin Institute's role is to catalyse collaborative partnerships and demonstration projects, then harvest the learning to enhance further regional and community initiatives.

BIODIVERSITY: A new Biodiversity Strategy for New South Wales - Discussion Paper

The NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) and the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) invite public submissions on A new Biodiversity Strategy for New South Wales - Discussion Paper. The release of this Discussion Paper is the first step towards developing a new Biodiversity Strategy for New South Wales. The closing date for submissions is 13 February 2009.

WATER: "Water from Shoalhaven to Sydney to end"

The Sydney Morning Herald
7 November 2008

THE pumping of water from the Shoalhaven River to top up dam supplies for the Sydney metropolitan area will be arrested for at least three years, and suggests that the city's water crisis has eased further.

Today the NSW Minister for Water, Phillip Costa, will announce a suspension of water transfers from the Shoalhaven to metropolitan dams.

Since 2003 more than 810 billion litres of water has been transferred from the river to drought-proof the city...

Read the full article here.

WATER: "Extent of waste for drinking revealed"

The Australian
7 November 2008

MORE than 30 million litres a day of industrial and hospital waste will be recycled as drinking water for the residents of southeast Queensland.

The extent of the quantity of so-called "trade" waste that is dumped in the region's sewerage system emerged in figures provided to The Australian yesterday by the Brisbane City Council.

Recycled water will account for between 10 per cent and 25per cent of the drinking water supply for the region from early next year...

Read the full article here.

FOOD: "Urban farming tames jungle"

The Daily Telegraph
7 November 2008

Tomohiro Kitazawa makes an unlikely farmer. He works neither under the sun nor in the fields, instead reporting for duty in the bustling heart of Tokyo.

As Japan's capital city struggles with problems from food safety to global warming to unemployment, a growing number of people in the famously crowded metropolis are becoming city farmers, planting crops atop tall buildings or deep underground...

Read the full article here.

06 November 2008

BRANDING & ACKNOWLEDGEMENT POLICIES: Can you help a catchment group with advice on a Branding and Acknowledgement Policy?

The Parramatta River Catchment Group (PRCG) is a newly formed regional group of councils, agencies and community representatives whose aim is to lead efforts in re-creating western Sydney's Parramatta River catchment as a living and functioning ecosystem. This will be achieved through ongoing regional coordination and a wide variety of regional partnership projects between PRCG members.

The Group is currently in the process of developing a logo and 'corporate identity' and will be asking all current and future project managers to incorporate these elements into any media/promotion they undertake. As Coordinator for the Group, I am therefore putting together a Branding and Acknowledgement Policy and was wondering if anyone else out there in NRM land has done something similar and would be willing to share their wisdom?

Please contact me directly at leanne.hanvey@cma.nsw.gov.au.

Kind regards

Leanne Hanvey, Coordinator (part time), Parramatta River Catchment Group
(Please note I work Thursdays & Fridays)

SUSTAINABILITY: Latest Urban Sustainability Support Alliance newsletter now available

The latest issue of USSA News, the newsletter of the Urban Sustainability Support Alliance project, is now available. Highlights of this issue include:

  • Are you planning for a sustainable future?
  • Barriers and drivers to sustainability
  • What’s the fuss about foot printing?

CLIMATE: Walk Against Warming Saturday 15 November 2008 (Canberra Saturday 6 December 2008)

Join thousands of families, workplaces and communities in a walk for renewable energy and a safe climate future for our children. With vital decisions being made this year, we will Walk Against Warming to ensure the Australian Government supports strong, urgent action and justice for developing nations affected by global warming. See the Walk Against Warming website for further information.

RECYCLING: National Recycling Week 10 - 16 November 2008

This year National Recycling Week (NRW) runs from 10 - 16 November 2008. On the National Recycling Week website you'll find fascinating factsheets on recycling a range of products (Recycling Information), fun and educational games for kids (Kids and Teachers), suggestions for greening up your work place (Business and Workplace), a step by step guide for hosting your own swap party (Get Involved) and lots more. The information and resources can be used to help Recycle Right all year round.

In November 1996, Planet Ark founded National Recycling Week as a community education and media campaign. The aim was to bring a national focus to recycling and the broader themes of minimising waste and managing material resources.

RECYCLING: "Recycling audit omits waste"

The Sydney Morning Herald
5 November 2008

HALF a million tonnes of waste packaging, including all cardboard milk cartons, have been excluded from a national audit, making Australia's recycling performance appear better than it is, new research shows.

A recycling black hole uncovered by the Total Environment Centre suggests the recycling targets of the National Packaging Covenant Council will not be met...

Read the full article here.

BUILT ENVIRONMENT: Latest issue of EnviroInfo (6 November 2008)

Articles in the 6 November issue of EnviroInfo relevant to urban and peri-urban areas include:

  • Membership of new built environment guidance and innovation body announced
  • Green Building Fund launched

WATER: "John Brumby's cup full, dams dry"

Herald Sun
31 October 2008

THE more the Brumby Government tells us Melbourne won't run out of water, the more you should panic.

Here we go again, with (No) Water Minister Tim Holding burbling that this time he's fixed the draining of our dams, now just a third full and falling...

Read the full article here.

WATER: "Queensland Premier Anna Bligh tells water plan critics she will drink recycled sewage"

The Australian
31 October 2008

QUEENSLAND Premier Anna Bligh has declared "absolutely" that she would drink recycled sewage in Queensland's tap water, after doubts were raised about the safety of the state's $2.5 billion water recycling project.

Ms Bligh's defence of the recycling project followed confirmation that the cost of water to the 2.6million residents of southeast Queensland was set to triple...

Read the full article here.