National Water Initiative

The National Water Initiative (NWI), agreed to at last month's meeting of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG), has been widely approved by farming groups as providing investment security and a system for sharing the cost of returning water to the environment, but criticised by environmental groups as failing to provide security of environmental flows for mainland river systems.

The agreement, which was endorsed by all states except Western Australia and Tasmania, will trigger the spending of the $500 million that was allocated at last year’s COAG meeting for the Murray-Darling river system. However, the Australian Conservation Foundation said that the deal failed to deliver additional funds needed to implement the initiative.

The Western Australian Premier, Dr Geoff Gallop, attacked the agreement as offering nothing for his state, which is suffering from `massive water problems', and as being focused totally on the Murray-Darling Basin and failing as a national agreement.

Victoria and New South Wales both moved shortly before the meeting to set the scene for their participation in the NWI, with Victoria releasing a detailed and comprehensive 50-year plan for water management, and the NSW government pushing through its legislation introducing water sharing plans and perpetual water access entitlements.

Under the agreement, a National Water Commission (NWC) will be established which will be responsible for the accreditation of State and Territory implementation plans, provide advice to COAG on national water issues and will undertake next year an assessment of States’ and Territories’ National Competition Policy water-related reform commitments.

State and territory governments will be responsible for water planning, determining whether a plan is to be prepared for a given region, and issues such as what area it should cover, the level of detail required, and its duration or frequency of review. Water plans will establish the consumptive pool of the available water resource and the environmental allocation. The agreement commits states and territories to `substantial progress' towards adjusting all overallocated and/or overused systems by 2010

Under the NWI, water provided for environmental and other public benefit outcomes such as good quality drinking water and recreational water use will be given statutory recognition and at least the same degree of security as water for consumptive use. The COAG communique noted that "achieving environmental outcomes will no longer be seen as an optional extra in water management".

"Under the NWI, agreement governments agree to specify the environmental outcomes to be achieved in surface and groundwater systems, and require explicit provision of water and associated management arrangements to meet those outcomes in an accountable manner."
Water Access Entitlements

A key objective of the NWI is "a nationally-compatible, market, regulatory and planning based system of managing surface and groundwater resources for rural and urban use."

This will be based on perpetual and nationally compatible water access entitlements which are separate from land entitlements and account for the consumptive pool of a particular water resource as determined by the approved water plan for that resource. Water access entitlements will be fully tradable, can be given, bequeathed or leased, subdivided, amalgamated, or mortgaged. They will be be recorded in publicly-accessible water registers which state who owns the entitlement, and the nature of any encumbrances on it.

The NWI agreement is available online at http://www.coag.gov.au/meetings/250604/iga_national_water_initiative.rtf

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Federal Court Scuttles Nuclear Waste Plans

The Full Bench of the Federal Court has rejected the Government's plans to compulsorily acquire a South Australian sheep station for use as a national nuclear waste dump, finding the plan was in breach of Commonwealth law.

The South Australian Government launched the Federal Court appeal last year when the Federal Government revealed its intentions, following a move to designate the land as a public park. The Commonwealth then claimed the urgency of the matter allowed it to over-ride section 42 of the Lands Acquisition Act.

Tensions between the two government's escalated with the SA Government threatening this month to charge Commonwealth’s contract workers charged with trespass if they entered the proposed site near Woomera to begin sinking wells for groundwater testing.

The judges concluded "that the Commonwealth minister’s desire to avoid the operation of section 42 of the Lands Acquisition Act was not a factor which the Lands Acquisition Act intended could constitute an urgent necessity for an acquisition.

“If the Commonwealth minister takes the view that section 42 gives rise to opportunities for legitimate Commonwealth initiatives to be frustrated, he should invite the Commonwealth Parliament to amend or repeal section 42.”

The judgement stated: "All three members of the full court have taken the view that it was not open to the Minister, in the circumstances of this case, to be satisfied that there was an urgent necessity for the acquisition or that it would be contrary to the public interest for the acquisition to be delayed.

"Had the full court not concluded that the acquisition failed for the reasons outlined above, it would in any event have concluded that the acquisition failed because of denials of procedural fairness to the appellants.

“The orders of the full court have the effect of setting aside the compulsory acquisition of the proposed site for the national repository and the access corridor to that site.”

The Science Minister, Peter McGauran, acknowledged the Federal Court ruling, but said he would be assessing the ground to appeal to the High Court. The decision by the Federal Court has, however, led to Prime Minister John Howard indicating that it may reconsider its decision on the placement of the dump.

"We'll be looking at the implications of the decision of the Full Federal Court. It's not an easy issue, I accept that we have to find a solution to the waste disposal issue."

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Australians Highest Greenhouse Emitters

Australia has the highest greenhouse emissions per capita of all industrialised countries, according to a new report for the Australia Institute.

The report, conducted by Hal Turton, researcher at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysts (IIASA) in Austria, shows that Australia emits 27 per cent more in greenhouse gases than those of US citizens and more than double the average for industrialised countries.

At 27.2 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (t CO2-e) per person far exceed those of US citizens (21.4 tonnes) and more than double the average for industrialised countries.

The claim that Australia’s emissions, in absolute terms, are comparatively low due to the nation’s small population has also been proven to be incorrect, with Australia’s total emissions exceeding those of major European economies such as France and Italy (each with around three times Australia’s population), and are only 20 per cent lower than those of the UK.

Turton said that the Australian per capita emissions, when measured on a comprehensive basis, were 27.2 tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2001. In comparison, the next biggest polluters were Canada with 22 tonnes per capita, the USA with 21.4 tonnes and Ireland at 18.07 tonnes.

The full report is available at http://www.tai.org.au/Publications_Files/DP_Files/dp66.pdf

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Salinity Management and Research “Fragmented and Unbalanced”

The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Science and Innovation Committee has recommended that a comprehensive audit of Australian Government investment in salinity research be undertaken, concluding in its recent report that coordination of salinity R&D and management is fragmented and unbalanced.

The Committee believes the audit would assist in mapping the salinity science base and management tools currently available; identify critical research gaps; and assist in bringing greater coherence to the range of science investments for salinity and, potentially, improve their effectiveness .

‘Evidence suggested there is an imbalance in the Australian Government’s salinity science investments towards mapping, at the expense of developing new land and water use systems, including engineering systems and new industries for saline resources.,’ the report concluded.

The report notes that a strong case is made for salinity R&D to be nationally coordinated, due to the structural changes ushered in with the NAP, notably the devolution of NRM responsibilities to regions and the fragmentation of efforts at the national level; the perhaps unavoidable complexity of salinity research efforts across a large number of agencies and programs, which need to be effectively coordinated—now more than ever; to link research providers and their products with Catchment Management Organisations, land managers and others undertaking on-ground works; to identify the R&D issues of national significance, ensure they are adequately addressed and avoid duplication; to maintain the momentum developed through the NDSP in R&D and extension; and to better coordinate research programs with state and territory salinity strategies, so as to avoid overlap between governments at different levels.

The Committee recommended that the NAP-related research activities of national agencies should be better coordinated with state and regional activities.

The Report can be found at www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/scin/salinity/report.htm

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Environmental Concern Steadily Decreasing

The percentage of Australian adults concerned about environmental issues has steadily decreased over the past decade, with only 8 per cent of them having registered their concern in a public way in 2001.

In 2001, 62% of adults (8.9 million people) stated that they were concerned about environmental problems. This was almost 10 percentage points lower than in 1998 (71%) and continued a downward trend, from 75% in 1992.

Some analysts have suggested that public concern for the environment decreases when governments appear to address environmental issues, or when other issues are more prominent, and it may be that the concern for the environment may have decreased as a result of the Federal Government’s Natural Heritage Trust.

Between 1992 and 2001, the proportions of people who stated they were concerned about environmental problems decreased in all states and territories, most notably in the Northern Territory (down from 80% to 62%). Concern about environmental issues varied across Australia in 2001, from 71% of people in the Australian Capital Territory to 59% of people in New South Wales stating that they were concerned.

Higher rates of concern did not necessarily mean that more people formally registered concern. People in the Australian Capital Territory were among the least likely to have registered concern (7%) despite their relatively high rate of concern.

The report, Australian Social Trends, can be found at www.abs.gov.au

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UNSW Environmental Auditing Short Course

16 – 20 August 2004

The UNSW School of Safety Science and the Environment Management Program Unit have designed a short course to help professionals develop their skills in environmental auditing. Candidates will receive a QSA endorsed certificate on successful completion of the course, and will be eligible to apply for inclusion on the QSA Register of Certified Auditors, subject to work experience and qualification criteria.

The Environmental Auditing Short Course is a must for environmental managers of both small and large businesses, service organisations and interested professionals. Experts from academia, government and industry will examine in detail the environmental auditing process and its applications.

The Short Course will be held at the University of New South Wales, Kensington Campus, 16 – 20 August 2004.

The cost is $1,815 per person (GST inclusive).

For further information contact:

Dr Daniela Leonte
Phone: (02) 9385 4744
E-mail: D.Leonte@unsw.edu.au

or

Paul Osmond
Phone: (02) 9385 4915/ Mob: 0414 385 610
E-mail: P.Osmond@unsw.edu.au

University of New South Wales
Sydney 2052
Fax: (02) 9385 6190
Website: http://www.safesci.unsw.edu.au/ea

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Sustainability:  Principles into Practices

The techniques and approaches have been refined through our partnership work with a diverse range of organisations such as:

• Local Government (Melbourne, North Sydney )
• State Agencies (Dept of Environment & Conservation, Dept of State & Regional Development)
• Business and Commerce (Vodafone, CPA Society of Accountants, Institute of Chartered Accountants)
• Tertiary Education (Macquarie University, Sydney University, TAFE)

The workshop builds on developing the organisation-specific business case. It gives you insights and tools to make a practical difference to your organisation - save money, make money, help the planet and its occupants!

'Sustainability - Principles into Practice' gives you the ‘What’, ‘Why’ and ‘How’ of sustainability:

• Identify the business drivers and dimensions
• Introduce you to four practical sustainability tools
• Develop a comprehensive organisational framework
• Action your sustainability strategy

We invite you to consider the brochure and registration form:
www.ecosteps.com.au/attachments/attachments_view.php?id=134

Early bird extended until 16 July for EnviroInfo readers! 

Enquiries: caroleyoung@ecosteps.com.au or 02 4757 2753

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Salinity Solutions: Working with Science and Society

Bendigo, Victoria

2 - 5 August 2004

The Salinity Solutions conference begins on the 2nd of August at the Capital Theatre in Bendigo. The conference theme highlights the important partnership between science and the community in providing appropriate solutions to address dryland salinity across Australia.

The conference is being hosted by the Victorian Departments of Primary Industries and Sustainability and Environment and the CRC for Plant-based Management of Dryland Salinity.

Already there are over 220 delegates registered and the conference promises to be a major national event in salinity management for 2004.

Invited Keynote speakers include:
Mike Ewing, Ted Lefroy, David Pannell, Anna Ridley, Neil Barr, John Bartle, Tim Colmer, Ian Fillery, Bruce Munday, Ian MacBean, Ian McClelland, Dean Revell, Alfons Weersink and John Passioura.

Costs and inclusions
Fees cost $575.00 for full registrations which including conference dinner (and presentation of the W E Wood award) and welcome reception. The day registration is charged at $225.00. The full registration fee also includes a selection of half day scientific tours.

The conference program not only consists of a range of respected specialists covering the conference theme, but also includes over 84 papers being presented in concurrent or poster sessions.

We invite you to participate in this exciting experience designed to inform, invigorate and challenge us as we make our contributions to the understanding and management of Salinity.

Further details, including registration forms, are available from www.cdesign.com.au/salinity2004

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Smart Approved WaterMark Scheme – Second Round of Applications

The Smart Approved WaterMark is the nationally endorsed water conservation labelling scheme that recognises products, services and organisations which are assisting all Australians to help save our most precious resource - water!

The Smart Approved WaterMark Scheme is managed by Australia's peak water agencies: the Water Services Association of Australia (WSAA); the Nursery and Garden Industry of Australia (NGIA); the Irrigation Association of Australia (IAA); and the Australian Water Association (AWA).

The key objectives of the Smart Approved WaterMark scheme are to assist in the reduction of per capita water consumption – especially in the areas of outdoor water-use via the labelling of appropriate water using/saving products and water related services and organisations.

Products that may be included under the scheme include: trigger hoses; tap timers; rainfall sensors; mulch and weep hoses.

Services that may be included under the scheme include: retrofit services; water efficient design services; education and training programs; and information advisory services. Organisations that may be included under the scheme include: schools; local government; new urban developers; and retail outlets.

The Smart Approved WaterMark scheme is not-for-profit, voluntary and applications are assessed by an independent expert panel. The second round of applications closes on Friday 13 August 2004.

For further information on the scheme go to www.smartapprovedwatermark.info

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Project funding available under the National Feral Animal Control Program (NFACP)

NFACP is a Natural Heritage Trust Program administered by the Bureau of Rural Sciences (part of the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry).

The Program aims to develop better pest animal management approaches and promote their adoption. The focus of the Program is reducing the agricultural impacts of pest animals (the Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage should be contacted if you want to find out more about reducing environmental impacts of pest animals).

Funding under the Program is available for the following activities:

• Large-scale field projects, involving a wide range of stakeholders, which have research and demonstration objectives.
• Smaller-scale field studies of control techniques and/or pest animals (e.g. assessment of density:damage relationships).
• Extension activities including material development which promote best practice pest management.
• Development of more target-specific, cost-effective and humane techniques and strategies.

Funding is not available for routine pest animal control.

Please contact the NFACP Project Manager, Quentin Hart (ph: 02-6272 3801; quentin.hart@brs.gov.au), to discuss your project idea.

If  your project is appropriate, you will be invited to submit an expression of interest (due by Friday, 23 July 2004) which will be subject to a competitive assessment process. If successful, you will be invited to submit a full application. It is likely that funds will be available in December 2004. Project proponents will be required to contribute significant in-kind and direct costs to meet project objectives.

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Environmental & Triple Bottom Line Reporting Service Launched

NeoRep - developers of the world's first sustainability reporting software (StakeholderEngage) in 2001 - have become the first Australian company to offer a dedicated, wholly integrated environmental and triple bottom line (TBL) reporting service.

The service includes online data management and publishing; hardcopy report production; training and systems development; websites; and community engagement.

NeoRep's Managing Director, John Upton, said that environmental and TBL reporting was proving popular as organisations looked to manage reputation risks and sought solutions to environmental survey fatigue.

"Companies and government bodies are being bombarded with requests for information on their environmental and social performance," Mr Upton said.

"A high-quality reporting system captures the most-sought information, allowing companies to skip intensive environmental surveys and environmental award submissions by directing assessment groups instead to their websites and hardcopy reports."

Mr Upton said that NeoRep's service delivered affordable, self-sustaining reporting solutions for minimal fuss.

Information on NeoRep
www.neorep.com or neorep@neorep.com

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Cambridge University Press Offers EnviroInfo Readers Over 20% Off New Titles

To take advantage of this special offer, email Adam Ford at; aford@cambridge.edu.au mention EnviroInfo, and state which titles you are interested in ordering. Orders can be taken via credit card or cheque, but DO NOT send credit card details via email as this is not secure, we will contact you.

An Introduction to the Environmental Physics of Soil, Water and Watersheds,
by Calvin Rose (Griffith University).
This useful primer for research and management staff in environmental organisations features extensive Australian case material, with exercises and online solutions. Was $99, special price $75.
For more information, see;
http://www.cambridge.org/aus/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=0521536790

A Primer of Conservation Genetics,
by Richard Frankham, David Briscoe (both at Macquarie University) and Jonathan Ballou
Assumes only a rudimentary understanding of genetics, uses numerous Australian examples, and suitable for practising conservation biologists and wildlife managers. Was $59.95, special price $45.
For more information, see;
http://www.cambridge.org/aus/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=0521538270

Measuring the Natural Environment
An extensive revision of this acclaimed text. Looks at measurement techniques of all natural phenomena for environmental monitoring, describing the operation of the instruments used and the quality and accuracy of data. Was $120, special price $89.95
For more information, see;
http://www.cambridge.org/aus/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=0521529522

Water for Life: Water Management and Environmental Policy
Global survey featuring Australian case studies. Was $75, special price $59.95
For more information, see;
http://www.cambridge.org/aus/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=05215369800

Desert Meteorology
The first book of its kind, uses Australian examples, assumes only basic knowledge of meteorology. Was $275, special price $175
For more information, see;
http://www.cambridge.org/aus/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=0521817986

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