Energy Efficiency Energy Bill passed

The Energy Effieciency Energy Bill has been passed through the Senate, paving the way for the establishment of an Energy Efficiency Opportunities program under which corporations that are large energy users are required to assess the potential to improve their energy efficiency and report publicly on the assessment.

The aim of the Energy Efficiency Opportunities program is to stimulate the business sector to take a more rigorous approach to energy management. It aims to ensure company executives place a high priority on addressing energy costs and energy management practices.

The Bill includes the following elements – registration of company details with the Department; submission of a plan to undertake assessments; undertaking an energy efficiency opportunities assessment; reporting publicly on the outcomes of the assessment; and compliance and enforcement arrangements.

The final reading of the bill as available at here

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South-East Australia Climate program launched

A $7 million research project has been launched to investigate the impact of climate change in south-east Australia.

The project will focus on the Murray-Darling Basin in particular and assess how climate change will affect the region's water supply. It also aims to develop reliable methods of forecasting climate 3-13 months ahead for South Eastern Australia, which is critical for decision making in water resource management and agriculture.

The project is being funded by the Murray-Darling Basin Commission, the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment, the Australian Greenhouse Office within the Department of the Environment and Heritage and Australia’s Managing Climate Variability program.

It will be carried out by CSIRO and the Bureau of Meteorology which are the other partners in the initiative.

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Report calls for better NRM knowledge system

A new study of the effectiveness of natural resource management in Australia has found that while there are areas of innovation and excellence, overall Australians are "not putting it all together as well as we might", and there is need for an overhaul of Australia's NRM knowledge system.

The report, by Andrew Campbell, Executive Director of Land & Water Australia, calls for increased investment in new knowledge and in making better use of what we know already to: help people, businesses, industries and governments make better decisions at all levels of management and policy; energise the innovation process so that we can develop more sustainable land use and management systems and technologies; and help communities and the nation as a whole to learn as we go along, so that we make best use of existing knowledge and past experience.

Dr Campbell called for the establishment of a high-level agency to set priorities and review progress; the development of an overall NRM knowledge strategy, preferably consistent with a new national framework for agricultural and NRM research, development and extension; and incentives for agencies to meet national reporting requirements in order to build a common reporting framework.

The report, The Australian Natural Resource Management Knowledge System, can be downloaded at www.lwa.gov.au

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First Property Vegetation Plans approved in NSW

The first two Property Vegetation Plans (PVP) have been approved, ushering in the new system of native vegetation management.

Under the Native Vegetation Act 2003 clearing of remnant native vegetation can no longer take place unless it maintains or improves the overall environment, as demonstrated in a PVP.

The first PVP to receive the green light was in the state’s north-west, where landholder Steve Hall received approval from the Namoi Catchment Management Authority (CMA) to clear cypress pine re-growth in order to prevent serious soil erosion. A second landholder in the Southern Rivers CMA area has been given the go-ahead to clear a parcel of land for the purpose of running a powerline through the property.

PVPs are voluntary, negotiated 15-year agreements between landholders and their local CMAs, who conduct on-site inspections of the proposed clearing areas. A computer program, the PVP Developer, is then combined with the landholder and CMAs’ local knowledge and expertise to determine whether clearing can go ahead.

The new system allows farmers to carry out offset works where clearing may be permitted in one area, provided native vegetation is planted or improved in another area. However, if a clearing application does not meet the scientific test of improving or maintaining the environment, it will no longer be permitted.

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Inquiry panel for Nowingi waste facility

The Victorian Minister for Planning, Rob Hulls, has appointed a four-person Independent Inquiry Panel to consider the Environment Effects Statement for the proposed long-term containment facility at Nowingi.

Under its terms of reference, the Panel will:

• inquire into the potential environmental effects of the proposal and the alternatives examined in the EES - including the physical, biological, social and economic aspects generally, and in relation to those matters protected by each provision of Part 3 of the EPBC Act that is a controlling provision for the action (i.e. relevant impacts).
• consider the exhibited documents and all submissions received, as well as other relevant matters within the Victorian jurisdiction.
• advise whether potential environmental effects and risks associated with the proposal are capable of being effectively managed in the context of relevant legislation and policy.
• recommend whether the proposal should be approved either as generally described in the exhibited documents, or with modifications, including in relation to environmental management measures and monitoring programs.
The Panel is chaired by policy and management expert Professor Bill Russell, Adjunct Professor at the University of Melbourne, La Trobe University and Southern Cross University. Other members are: Jack Chiodo, Victorian EPA; Graeme David, rural land and water resources planning consultant; and Dr Julia Lamborn, Swinburne Institute of Technology.

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Project Sustainability Management Workshops

Project Sustainability is still a vague concept to many but increasingly becoming important criteria in project implementation. So, how do we deliver projects that are intrinsically sustainable?

ACEA (Association of Consulting Engineers Australia) in association with FIDIC (International Federation of Consulting Engineers) will be running a two day workshop on Project Sustainability in:

• Melbourne (20 & 21 April) – limited to 25 places!
• Perth (27 & 28 April) – limited to 25 places!
• Brisbane (1 & 2 May) – limited to 25 places!
• Sydney (4 & 5 May) – limited to 25 places!

The workshop provides the necessary knowledge for professionals from government ministries and departments, private sector employers, consulting engineers, contractors, quantity surveyors, architects, project managers and all involved with the next generation of projects.

It will provide practical solutions and ideas for implementing profitable sustainability services in both firms and projects and will cover how industry and government clients are interpreting and using sustainability through to executing projects with a profitable sustainability focus.

Ensure your team is prepared for working with the important concepts of sustainable development, which will become the main driver in the selection of projects in the 21st Century.

Full details are available at here

Contact Mina Hayashi, ACEA Marketing Manager on 02 9922 4711 or mina@acea.com.au

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7th International Conference on Urban Drainage Modelling and the 4th International Conference on Water Sensitive Urban Design

Early Bird Registration Deadline: Friday, 10 February 2006

Accommodation Deadline: Friday, 17 February 2006

Registration is available on-line via the Conference website: www.icms.com.au/UDMandWSUD

In 2006 the 7th International Conference on Urban Drainage Modelling and the 4th International Conference on Water Sensitive Urban Design will join together in Melbourne, Australia. This joint conference will bring together a broad range of industry specialists including engineers, modellers, environmental scientists, social scientists, planners, urban designers, landscape architects, architects, managers, practitioners, policy-makers, consultants and researchers to discuss the challenges and opportunities of integrated urban water management and modelling.

For the first time, these two important themes are being brought together, to enhance discussions of integrated approaches to urban drainage, urban water management and urban design. The WSUD conference will explore the latest advances in the rapidly-developing area of water sensitive urban design (also known as Low Impact Design). The fourth in this international conference series will continue to analyse applications and performance of novel technologies and approaches, as well as their integration into the urban landscape and built form.

The UDM conference has a long-standing international reputation as the pre-eminent conference on modelling and analysis techniques for urban drainage. In Melbourne, the 7th UDM conference will continue this theme, examining issues of modelling urban flooding, pollutant generation, transport and sewer processes, ecological impacts, socio-economics, along with discussion of data requirements and uncertainty, and advances in decision-support-systems and real-time control systems.

We would be delighted if you could join us for the April 2006 conference in Melbourne, one of the world's most liveable cities. For further information about the Conference please visit the website www.icms.com.au/UDMandWSUD

Please contact the Conference Secretariat

c/- ICMS Pty Ltd

84 Queensbridge Street

Southbank VIC 3006

Tel: +61 3 9682 0244 Fax: +61 3 9682 0288

E-mail: UDMandWSUD@icms.com.au

www.icms.com.au/UDMandWSUD

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3rd National Buying Green Conference and Exhibition

Perth Convention Exhibition Centre

25 & 26 May 2006

Hosted by the WA Local Government Association Buying Green – It’s So Easy will focus on the exchange of real knowledge, practical applications and successful case studies of green purchasing and ongoing sustainability for people working in all levels of government and the business community. An associated exhibition will showcase the latest in recycled-content, greenhouse friendly and environmentally friendly products and services.

The keynote address will be presented by the Chair of the International Green Purchasing Network – Professor Ryoichi Yamamoto (University of Tokyo) and other presentations on:

• The successful implementation of Buying Green in government and business organisations across Australia
• Easy, practical ways of becoming a Buying Green organisation, and on going from policy to action
• Buy Recycled: The Corporate Experience
• Whole of Life Cycle thinking made easy; and
• Tools to help you buy green by representatives of eco-labelling organisations across Australia; among many others.

Attendance is a must for everyone in government or business organisations interested in integrating environmental sustainability considerations into their purchasing practices.

Registration information on Buying Green 2006 can be accessed on the Association’s website www.walga.asn.au/events or for further assistance contact Kristy Faulkner on 08 9213 2097 or kfaulkner@walga.asn.au

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Research for Coastal Management Symposium

The Coastal CRC, in partnership with the Victorian EPA (http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/)and the National Estuaries Network (http://www.coastal.crc.org.au/nen/index.html), invite you to a “Research for Coastal Management Symposium”. It will bring together some of Australia’s foremost coastal researchers to present new coastal research and its implications for management.

The symposium will be held in Melbourne on the 26th May 2006 to complement the Coast to Coast conference (http://www.iceaustralia.com/coasttocoast2006/) and provide an opportunity for research focussed discussions.

We invite you to attend this symposium and welcome submissions for presentations. Key themes for which papers are requested:

• Monitoring and Assessment
• Governance and Partnerships
• Estuary Processes and Understanding
• Wetlands Understanding and Connectivity
• Integration and Synthesis of Coastal Research
• Coastal Processes and Impacts
• Institutional Change and Planning

Online registration is available here

Registration is $110 before the 12th of May, 2006.

Abstracts are due by the 10th March 2006. While we would like to accept all submissions, speaking places are limited. Abstracts should be submitted by email to Rachel Mackenzie at Rachel.Mackenzie@nrm.qld.gov.au.

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Environmental Restoration Conference: Past, Present and Future

18-19 May 2006

Ballina, NSW

The Environmental Restoration Conference, hosted by Environmental Training and Employment Inc (EnviTE NSW)www.envite.org.au, will bring together a range of professionals and individuals to share their knowledge, learn from others expertise and to explore the current issues and practical techniques in environmental restoration and future directions.

The conference will feature inspiring keynote speakers, interactive panel discussions, informative and practical skills based workshops, field trips and trade and industry exhibitions.

Who Should Attend

• Local Government Environmental Officers
• Bush Regenerators
• Government Departments, Department of Infrastructure Planning & Natural Resources (National Parks and Wildlife Service), Department of Primary Industries
• Catchment Management Authority (CMA)
• Landcare & Dunecare coordinators, Community Support Officers (CSO’s)
• Natural Resource Management organisations and consultants
• Environmental Science academics and students
• Natural area restoration volunteers

Venue: The Riverside Function Complex in the Ballina RSL Club (www.ballinarsl.com.au), River Street, Ballina NSW.

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION - NOW OPEN!

https://www.scupayments.com/conf/enviro/

For more information or to investigate sponsorship and trade exhibition opportunities visit: http://www.envite.org.au

or

Contact Karen Hanna, Norsearch Conference Services – 02 6620 3932 or karen.hanna@scu.edu.au

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CRC PhD Scholarship from ENTOX

ENTOX (NATIONAL RESEARCH CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY), FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES & CRC-CARE (COOPERATIVE RESEARCH CENTRE FOR CONTAMINATION ASSESSMENT AND REMEDIATION OF THE ENVIRONMENT)

The role: An exciting research postgraduate study to develop a unicellular cell tool for the toxicity assessment of single and mixture of metals and metalloids. This project will provide opportunities for the candidate to collaborate with researchers from a variety of disciplines in the field of in-vitro cell cytotoxicity assays, cell biology, advanced analytical chemistry and health risk assessment.

The person: Honours IIA or above (or relevant research experience) in Biological and Chemical Sciences; experience in in-vitro assay and Knowledge of cell biology, biochemistry and risk assessment; practical experience in advance analytical instrument is desirable.

Remuneration: The current stipend rate is $28,500 p.a. plus professional development allowance of $5,000 p.a. The tax-free stipend is available for a period of three years (contingent on satisfactory study progress).

Contact: Obtain further information and application details online or contact Associate Professor Jack Ng, EnTox, telephone (07) 3274-9020, or email j.ng@uq.edu.au, or visit www.entox.uq.edu.au.

Applications close: 17th of March

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Now open for applications: Australian Government Envirofund, Round 8 Grants

Grants for as little as a few hundred dollars or up to $50,000 are available from the Australian Government Envirofund – the community component of the Natural Heritage Trust – for community groups and individuals to undertake small on-ground projects tackling important local natural resource management problems.

Eligible activities

Examples of activities that are eligible for Round 8 include:

• Planting native vegetation.
• Fencing to protect and preserve habitat or manage access to

coastal areas.

• Managing stock access to watercourses to protect streamside

habitat and improve water quality.

• Weeding on public land.
• Controlling feral animals to protect threatened native plants and

animals.

• Developing skills and knowledge related to on-ground work.
• Raising awareness of local natural resource management issues.
• Monitoring water quality, species, habitats, or other natural

resources.

• Passing on or applying Indigenous caring for country techniques and

traditional knowledge focused on natural resource management.

For more information on all the eligible activities and for application forms visit www.nht.gov.au/envirofund or telephone 1800 065 823.

Applications close 5.00pm Friday 28 April 2006.

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Special offer from New Scientist

This week in New Scientist: Is space-time actually a superfluid?, trials for drug that leaves HIV defenceless, tests to show if dark energy interacts with dark matter,and much much more...

Eaxch week New Scientist distils the key developments in science and technology and analyses their impact on the economy, society, the environment, politics and individuals.

EnviroInfo readers can save up to 30% off the standard subscription price + for a limited time receive a FREE Copy of the full length last word book 'Does anything eat wasps?'

Subscribe on-line here or call 1300 360 126 and quote the code NS06WB10.

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Looking to to advertise an environmental or water related position?

EnviroJobs

EnviroJobs is weekly email and online service which lists employment positions available in the environment management, natural resource, environmental engineering, environmental health and environmental science fields. This service has been initiated by Hallmark Editions (publishers of Environment Business newsletter and Land and Water News) to help practitioners in these disciplines to locate middle and senior level positions. The weekly email is free to receive, with a small charge to advertise. Hallmark Editions has worked for many years with a number of respected professional bodies in the environment and natural resource sector including the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand ( EIANZ), and the Society for Sustainability and Environmental Engineering ( previously The Environmental Engineering Society), a learned society of Engineers Australia. We produce publications for these bodies and work with them in other ways to promote their goals. The EnviroJobs email employment service is distributed every Friday, with a deadline of 10am Friday morning.

- weekly electronic advertising medium for environmental/NRM positions vacant, scholarships, calls for submissions, calls for tenders, etc.
- email document that is sent to over 15,000 subscribers
-  website that has been averaging over 1000 visits per day for February 2006
- ad length 200 words, $1 plus GST extra per word for ads over 200 words  cost for one edition in email document is $180 plus GST per ad, two editions for $300 plus GST, three editions for $400 plus GST, four editions for $480 plus GST

For further information see website here

WaterJobs

WaterJobs is a weekly email service which lists employment positions available in the water management, natural resource, water engineering, water health and environmental science fields. The WaterJobs email employment service is distributed every Friday, with a 10 am deadline for material. WaterJobs is actually an 'add on' bonus for advertising in EnviroJobs. You must advertise in EnviroJobs in order to advertise in WaterJobs. All water related positions that are advertised in EnviroJobs can also be advertised in WaterJobs at half the rate. That is, the cost to advertise a 200 word advertisement in both EnviroJobs and WaterJobs for one email edition is $270 plus GST, two editions for $450 plus GST, three editions for $600 plus GST, four editions for $720 plus GST.

- weekly electronic advertising medium water related positions vacant, scholarships, calls for submissions, calls for tenders, etc. 
-  email document that is sent to over 4,000 subscribers
- website that has been averaging over 400 visits per day for February 2006

For further information see website here

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