Archived News for Green Sector Professionals
The Victorian Government has released its first ‘Living Melbourne, Living Victoria’ roadmap for urban water usage and reform.
The report, published by the Ministerial Advisory Council, recommends eight key proposals, including;
- An agreed vision for the contribution of water to urban livability, through protection from flooding, improving the health of urban waterways and supporting green landscapes.
- Greater customer choice and innovation in water products on offer, the water charges they pay and their level of service.
- Improved integration of urban and water planning through planning and building regulations that facilitate integrated water cycle management.
- Optimised use of all available water sources, including fit-for-purpose alternative water supplies.
- Better environmental and public health outcomes supported by clear regulations to ensure both customers and the environment are protected.
- A common approach to the economic evaluation of water projects to ensure broader benefits, such as downstream water quality and reduced risk of flooding, are recognised.
- Approaches to pricing that recognise the value of the water resource and reward customers for conserving water.
- Strengthened institutional and governance arrangements to hold service providers to account for their performance.
The report summarizes ‘key findings’ of Council and outlines ‘strategic reform priorities’ for the water sector in the state, outlining the following reform goals
Research into beach erosion forecasting tool underway
Researchers have begun a project to create the first global tool to forecast how changes in wave patterns and rising sea levels will affect beach erosion.
Council beats own emissions targets
Mount Alexander Shire council has announced that it has beaten its own emissions reductions councils by 8%.
NSW faces class action over tariff cuts
The New South Wales Government is facing a class action suit supported by hundreds of disaffected solar unit installers and homeowners following the Government’s decision to significantly reduce its solar unit tariff program.
Greens push for carbon neutral economy before 2050
The Federal Greens are pushing for the goal of establishing a carbon neutral economy before 2050, saying “The Climate [Change] Commission's (CCC) first report sets out the clear scientific case that Australia must move swiftly to build a zero carbon economy well before 2050”.
Climate Change Commission says climate change a certainty
The peak Australian Government climate change agency, the Climate Change Commission (CCC), has written its most candid assessment of the world’s climate issues to date, saying that ‘there is no doubt that the climate is changing. The evidence is overwhelmingly clear’.
Electric roads could be solution for the electric car
Researchers from the University of Utah are currently working on technology that stands to revolutionize the future of the electric car; the promise of roads that recharge the car that uses it.
Queensland promises $12.1 million saving in greentape slashing
The Queensland State Government has proposed substantial savings after it promised to ‘take a razor to green tape in Queensland’.
Local government urged to show climate change leadership
Local government is being challenged to take bold action on climate change and to show strong community leadership at a recent national roundtable held at the University of Technology.
Climate policy to become "poison chalice" unless carbon tax introduced
Climate Change Minister Greg Combet has warned climate policy will become "the poisoned chalice" of politics for the next 10 years if the Federal government fails to introduce its carbon tax.
Victorian windfarm gets green light
The planned Chepstowe wind farm in Central Victoria has received government approval following discussions between Victorian Planning Minister Matthew Guy and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT)
Alternative fuels legislation introduced
Legislation has been introduced into Parliament to implement the longstanding alternative fuels taxation policy.
$5 million in funding for Western Australian NRM projects
$4.9 million to help local communities protect and improve their renewable natural resources has been announced by the Western Australian Government
Australian researchers discover key to hydrogen energy
An international team, of scientists, led by a team at Monash University has found the key to the hydrogen economy could come from a very simple mineral, commonly seen as a black stain on rocks.
Geothermal research centre launched in Queensland
The Queensland Geothermal Energy Centre of Excellence (QGECE) has been officially opened at the University of Queensland, with funding of $15 million from the Queensland Government allocated in 2007.
CSIRO reviews Carbon Farming Initiative
The CSIRO has published a review of the Federal Government’s proposed Carbon Farming Initiative in the organization’s ECOS magazine.
Inquiry into impact of coal seam gas mining on the Murray Darling Basin
The Senate Rural Affairs and Transport References Committee has called for submissions to its inquiry into the impact of mining of coal seam gas on the management of the Murray Darling Basin.
Federal Government launches sustainable population strategy
The Federal Government has announced the Sustainable Australia - Sustainable Communities strategy which aims to outline ‘key directions’ to population changes that ‘support the economic, environmental and social wellbeing’ of Australia.
International Energy Centre to open
The universities of Queensland, Newcastle, Monash and Western Australia have committed to a joint venture in the foundation of the International Energy Centre (IEC) to be opened by 2012.
Budget axes green programs
The Federal Budget has axed a number of failing green initatives in the country’s 2011-12 Budget.