Coalition to Reconsider Competition Policy Funds for Water

Sources in Canberra have suggested that the Government is reconsidering its plan to use the National Competition Policy funding for the Australian Water Fund in the light of the states' hostile response and are looking at alternative ways of providing the required $2 billion.

Under the Coalition's proposal, the Water Smart Australia program will allocate $1.6 billion to projects demonstrating new technologies and practices in water usage with a focus on improving river flows, irrigation structures, desalination technology, and recycling and reuse of water.

The remaining $400 million of the Australian Water Fund will be directed towards science, information and incentives to encourage efficient water use.

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The Coalition’s re-election will also see the implementation of the Coalition's `Sustainable Future for Tasmania' electoral policy, designed to simultaneously defuse the growing sentiment against logging of Tasmania's old growth forests and assuage the Tasmanian timber industry, will increase the current forest reserve system by over 170,000 hectares and provide a $50 million package of initiatives targeted at timber industry revitalization, skills and training and conservation.

The initiatives include:

• $20 million over four years to revitalise the industry, assist mills to improve sawlog recovery rates (including upgrading mills to process different grades of saw logs) and to assist forestry businesses to adjust to any reduction in supplies;
  
• $10 million to assist the softwood industry establish a plant for the environmentally friendly preservation of pine and phase out copper chrome arsonate treating within two years;
  
• $3.6 million towards the voluntary purchasing or covenanting to add to the CAR reserve approximately 2,400 ha of forest at Mole Creek, adjacent to the Mole Creek National Park;
  
• $2 million for researching alternatives to clear felling to increase forest yield and provide sustainable forest jobs;
  
• $ 4 million to fast track research into alternative methods to protect new plantings and to end the use of 1080 poison baits on public and private land; and
  
• $4 million to facilitate the introduction of new technologies, new markets, new product lines and re-tooling options to assist country sawmills.
  

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The Future of Greenhouse Policy

With Russia's decision to sign the Kyoto Protocol effectively assuring that it will come into effect, the Coalition has reaffirmed its alignment with the US as a non-signatory of the Protocol.

In it's A Sustainable Australia policy, the Coalition undertook to set the agenda for `Beyond Kyoto' and what it claims will be "a more effective global response to climate change."

Its proposals for future action on `Beyond Kyoto' include:

• take to the next major international conference on climate change in December 2004 initiatives to achieve long-term and effective global responses to climate change;
  
• support environmentally friendly, economically efficient and socially responsible arrangements that help set pragmatic directions for the effective long-term implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change;
  
• work with APEC to convene a meeting as a precursor to a Beyond Kyoto Ministerial Conference in Australia in 2005,which will consider a framework to deliver an effective long-term response to climate change;
  
• establish an Asia Pacific Climate Change Exchange bring together developing country partners to encourage technology partnerships and joint ventures to develop and implement solutions to climate change; and
  
• support the establishment of a global carbon accounting initiative based on Australia's successful National Carbon Accounting System.
  

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New Environmental Research Program

Environmental research in Australia will receive $100 million over four years to be provided through a new Commonwealth Environment Research Facilities (CERF) program.

This program will include $40 million for a Marine and Tropical Sciences Research Facility focusing on reefs and rainforests to be located at a new Tropical Sciences Precinct at James Cook University.

The remaining $60 million will be allocated nationally on a competitive tender basis to support environmental research that does not qualify for assistance under other Government programs.

This program will place emphasis on `public good', collaborative and multi-disciplined research of the sort that now is less likely to be funded the new guidelines for the Cooperative Research Centres program.

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Roadmap for Water Industry

Australian water supply stakeholders should prepare for the predicted doubling of the $500 billion world water industry in the next decade, a draft paper claims.

The draft paper is part of a project by environment industry alliance, the Barton Group, to explore water issues such as delivery, security, trading, supply and treatment at a crucial time in the water supply industry.

The collaborative project, called the Australian Water Industry Roadmap Project, will address technological, institutional, supply and social challenges in the water industry market.

The discussion paper will be the focus of upcoming Australia-wide discussions with stakeholders and industry representatives to formulate the Roadmap.

The paper states that the estimated gross annual turnover of the water industry in Australia and New Zealand during 2003- 2004 is $7 billion, compared with the estimated $500 billion world market worth.

It warns Australian stakeholders to prepare to capitalise on the expected doubling of the global water industry in the next 10 years.

It also states that Australia is a world leader in water industry asset management, with Australian water utilities responsible for the management of $80 billion in water infrastructure assets and $7 billion in irrigation assets.

For further details, go to http://www.cre8ive.com.au/barton/

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Postgraduate Certificate in River Restoration and Management - Charles Sturt University

This one-year part-time distance education course aims to improve the knowledge and skills of government employees and environmental consultants involved in river management.

Subjects:

• River hydrology and geomorphology
• River and floodplain ecology
• Water policy and management
• River restoration and protection.

Study by distance education at CSU:

• Work at your own pace through topics outlined in a hard-copy mail package
• Discuss ideas with lecturers and other students via the on-line subject forum
• Improve your practical skills and network with other students at the residential schools
• Submit your assignments electronically, by fax or mail
• Access library resources on-line or by 1800 access to distance education librarians
• Sit your exams at CSU exam centres located throughout Australia

We are now taking enrolments for study in 2005. Places are limited and applications must be received by 30th November.

For more information contact the Course Coordinator, Dr Robyn Watts on 02 6933 2329 or rwatts@csu.edu.au or go to http://www.csu.edu.au/courses/pg/sci/pgc_rrm/ or http://www.csu.edu.au/faculty/sciagr/sst/biology/mi/index.html

Charles Sturt University also offers a range of other postgraduate courses in environmental management, restoration ecology, GIS and remote sensing and ornithology.

Information on these courses is available at http://www.csu.edu.au/faculty/sciagr/sst/
and http://www.csu.edu.au/faculty/sciagr/eis/html/courses.htm

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Environmental Postgraduate Coursework Opportunities - University of Tasmania

• Natural Environmental Management
• Environmental Planning

Study by DISTANCE EDUCATION or on-campus in HOBART

Scholarships available

• Graduate Certificate (six months fill time, up to 1½ years part time)
• Graduate Diploma (1 year full time, up to 3 years part-time)
• Masters (1½ years full time, up to 4 years part time)

Put in an application for admission at any time between now and February.

For application forms, details of course structures, units, fees and scholarships see: http://www.geog.utas.edu.au/nem/
http://www.geog.utas.edu.au/planning/

or contact
Dr Michael Lockwood
(03) 6226 2834
Michael.Lockwood@utas.edu.au

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Professional Indemnity and Certification in Environmental Practice Forum

A special one-day forum, convened by the EIANZ and Hallmark Conferences, in Melbourne to find practical solutions to the professional indemnity crisis affecting environmental practitioners

Date: Thursday, October 21, 2004

Venue: Melbourne - Rydges Riverwalk Hotel, Richmond (Melway Ref 44 J10)

Programme: For a copy of the latest conference programme and information, please click here - (requires Acrobat Reader).

Australian environmental consultants have faced massive increases in the cost of professional indemnity insurance since 2001. Policy exclusions have widened, insurers have refused to cover specific categories of practice, and there have been large increases in excess amounts. All this has been accompanied by very rapid rises in premium costs to the extent that a number of environmental professionals have closed their businesses.

An outstanding panel of experts will gather at this one day forum in Melbourne to examine in detail the problems confronting the professional, and outline how the profession can effectively respond to what has become a crippling impost.

Initiatives such as the Professional Standards legislation, and the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ) Certification scheme will be outlined. A number of industry associations, including the Association of Consulting Engineers Australia,s will explain how they have responded to the problem.

Resolution of this issue is of vital concern to environmental practitioners. There will be ample opportunity for delegates to question the experts in the insurance field. The EIANZ is planning to use the occasion to establish an Insurance Special Interest body to begin the process of representing environmental practitioners in a dialogue with the insurance sector with a view to resolving these problems.

The Chair of the EIANZ Certification Board, Nigel Murphy, will speak on how the Certified Environmental Professional (CEnvP) Scheme will help drive environmental practice to new levels and play an important role in setting new standards that will reduce risk for the profession and for the in insurance industry.

The President of the EIANZ, Simon Molesworth, AM, QC, commented: "Your attendance at this Forum is of vital importance to you as an environmental practitioner and to all of us as a young developing profession."

We look forward to your attendance at the forum which will be followed by the EIANZ Annual General Meeting and a dinner.

For further details, please contact Olivia Trussell at (03) 9530 8900 or email: registration@halledit.com.au

or go to our website http://www.halledit.com.au/conferences/env.htm

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Practical Workshops on Aquatic Macrophytes

It’s time to refresh your memory, update your knowledge and enhance your experience and skills!

Sydney Olympic Park Authority is in its fourth year of successfully running hands-on workshops in wetlands ecology, restoration and management. The workshops are different from the traditional conference format; they involve practical learning!

The 25-26 November 2004: Identification, Assessment and Management of Aquatic Macrophytes in Urban Wetlands workshop is essential for those who need to know more about step-by-step identification of aquatic macrophytes. Participants will gain a hands-on learning experience in assessment, planning, construction, maintenance and management of freshwater wetlands.

Emphasis is placed on practical experiences in successful repair and restoration of wetlands in Sydney Olympic Park and elsewhere. A variety of experts will be delivering these high quality tutorials. This workshop is particularly timely as the freshwater wetlands along the coastal fringes of NSW are being considered for declaration as endangered ecological communities.

Who should attend?
Wetlands and catchment technicians, managers, planners, consultants, ecologists, volunteers, coast and river carers, engineers, students, scientists, rangers and conservationists.

For further information and bookings please contact our Bookings Coordinator on:
Ph: +61 2 9714 7888
Fax to +61 2 9714 7822
e-mail: wetworkshop@sopa.nsw.gov.au

To find out more about Sydney Olympic Park visit: www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au

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ResLab Venture Capital and Project Finance Seminar for the Renewable Energy Industry

Tuesday 30th November 2004 at Murdoch University.

This one day workshop is designed as an introduction to the what, who, how and when of funding options available for renewable energy projects and technologies.

The workshop will be presented by Richard Beresford of Clearer Sky Pty Ltd, who has been involved in financing of many start-up technology and project companies, both as an investor and as investee.

The workshop is ideal for people who are interested in seeking external funding to commercialise technological developments as well as developers of renewable energy projects and includes case studies of companies who have been successful in obtaining finance for their companies and projects, and views from the investor side.

The morning session of the workshop (9-12am) will cover funding sources, what investors look for and how to deal with the investor.

The afternoon (1-4pm) will offer case studies from:

• Richard / Thomas Rudas, Organic Resource Technologies
• Matthew Rosser, Blair Fox Generation
• Rob Grant, Pacific Hydro
• Adam MacDonald, Renewable Power Ventures

followed by a panel discussion and Q&A session with the above speakers plus Trevor Lee, Director of Australian Ethical.

This one day seminar costs $132 (incl. GST) which includes lunch and refreshments. Registrations can be made by contacting Susan.Taylor@rise.murdoch.edu.au or telephone (08) 9360 6375.

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Ecopolitics XV International Conference
Environmental Governance: Transforming Regions and Localities

Friday 12 – Sunday 14 November 2004

Graduate School of the Environment
Macquarie University, Sydney

Presentations and workshops at this Ecopolitics Conference will discuss environmental politics and policymaking. The conference will also facilitate networking among government sector representatives (at all levels), business and industry representatives, researchers and educators, elected politicians, NGOs and the general public.

Speakers at the Conference will include:

• Ian Lowe, Griffith University
• Kate Hughes, Director, Econeco Pty Ltd
• Fiona Waterhouse, Director Sustainable from Scratch
• Harry Blutstein, Former Director of VIC EPA
• Phil Strickland, Department of Environment and Heritage
• Danny Kennedy, Greenpeace Australia Pacific
• Lee Rhiannon, The Greens, Parliament of NSW
• Geoffrey Lawrence, University of Queensland
• Daniella Tilbury, Macquarie University

Other presentations and workshops will explore:

• Role and involvement of NGOs, Indigenous peoples and business/industry
• Stakeholder intervention capacity
• Long-term planning/futures thinking
• Social learning/education for sustainable development
• Role of environmental assessment
• Intergovernmental arrangements
• Policy learning/environmental policy instruments
• Ethical questions
• New approaches to environmental governance

Registration is $160 (by 22 October).

For further information, visit the website: http://www.gse.mq.edu.au/ecopolitics

Contact:
Kristen Hebert
ecopolxv@els.mq.edu.au
Ph: 02 9850 6970

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Sustainable Waste Management Conference & Expo

While the waste management industry is focused on its processes at the treatment end, we all need to turn our attention to the core of the problem – waste generation.

Trends in waste generation rates across the developed world show little inroads into the production/consumption treadmill, which is fuelled by consumerism. This event proposes to explore and debate this issue.

If we can’t be more innovative in this area how can we expect developing countries with potentially much larger waste generation problems, to deal with the issue when consumerism takes hold?

Highlights Include:

• The session “How Do We Achieve Zero Waste”, involves an interesting panel, each with a different perspective.
• Education case studies will outline how some communities have moved towards sustainable waste management.
• Keynote Speaker: Kit Strange (Editor, Warmer Bulletin). Kit will present a wealth of international experience and lateral thinking to the event.
• Keynote Speaker: Susan Thorneloe (Senior Environmental Engineer, US EPA). Another international perspective from Susan with her experience in education for larger communities and knowledge of current technologies.

Full conference program: www.sustainablewm.com.au

Telephone: 1300 651 026

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2004 World Conference on Natural Resource Modelling

The 2004 World Conference on Natural Resource Modelling will be held at RMIT University, Melbourne, on 12-15 December 2004.

The conference fee ($160 for RMA members and $220 for non-RMA Members if registered before 15 November) includes a program of internationally renowned Keynote Speakers and the usual program of general sessions, a special outing to Victoria's Healesville Sanctuary, all lunches, and a Conference Dinner.

The conference will provide a forum for the presentation of recent progress in the use of mathematical modelling techniques to help in the understanding and managing of complex natural resource systems.

The systems comprise a wide variety of resources: renewable and exhaustible resources, terrestrial and marine resources, energy, minerals and materials, land and soils, water resources, problems of pollution and residuals, managed biological populations, integrated pest management, agriculture and fisheries, rangelands and forest, wildlife and wilderness, preservation of endangered species and of genetic diversity, and still others.

A special workshop on Density Dependent Mechanisms in Natural Resources will follow the conference on Thursday 16 December.

For more information, visit the conference website at http://www.ma.rmit.edu.au/2004RMAconference
or contact Megan Austin at rma2004@rmit.edu.au or 03 9925 2283.

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North Australian Remote Sensing and GIS Conference 2005

“Applications in Tropical Spatial Science”

Darwin 4th - 7th July 2005

NARGIS 05 will provide a forum which will bring together people from a range of disciplines that come under the umbrella of the spatial sciences in Northern Australia. The theme of the conference aims to review what has gone before, discuss current research and applications, and to come up with a set of future directions for the spatial sciences in Northern Australia.

Proposed symposia include applications of spatial science in:

• Land and asset management
• Fire management
• Indigenous land management
• Rangeland monitoring
• Landscape ecology
• Mining and earth science
• Wetlands and marine
• Emergency services
• Education
• Future technology
• Hydrology
• Agriculture

There will also be forums for trade demonstrations, poster sessions and technical workshops.

The emphasis will be on providing a workshop type environment where active discussion on future directions will be actively encouraged and documented.

More information about the conference can be obtained from the conference website
http://www.nargis05.cdu.edu.au or by e-mailing the conference secretariat – The Best Conference and Events Company - info@thebestevents.com.au

Abstracts can now be submitted online at http://www.nargis05.cdu.edu.au/abstract.html

Deadline for abstract submission is 19th November 2004.

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Smart Approved Watermark Scheme - Third 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 thirdround of applications closes on November 12, 2004.

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

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Desert Research – Opportunities for Postgraduate Student Research

• NRM management in indigenous communities (Uni SA)
• Bush produce enterprises for indigenous communities (Uni SA)
• Viability of remote Indigenous communities (Any partner University)
• New grazing systems (Curtin, CMAE Kalgoorlie)
• Rangeland restoration ecology (Curtin, CMAE Kalgoorlie)
• Sparse ad-hoc networks (Uni Wollongong)
• Infrastructure lifecycles (Southern Cross University)
• Socio-economic analysis of community livelihoods (Curtin)

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