DEWHA News - Issue 298
Ministers seek sustainable solutions
At the 16th meeting of the Environment Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC) in Melbourne, Australian environment ministers and their counterparts from New Zealand and Papua New Guinea focused on key environmental challenges relating to climate change, water and waste management. EPHC has always had a strong focus on waste management issues, and the meeting marked progress on end-of-life tyres and plastic bags. With regard to plastic bags, Ministers agreed to:
• Note the analysis presented in the Decision Regulatory Impact Statement on plastic bags, particularly the financial costs of regulatory options presented to Council.
• Note that, after considering all the options, Council has not endorsed uniform regulatory action at this time to ban or place a charge on plastic bags.
• Convene urgently a high level government-industry working group to identify additional measures by which retailers can increase the voluntary uptake of ‘green’ reusable bags and reduce the use of plastic bags, and report back to Council in November 2008.
• Intensify work on research and innovation initiatives relating to alternative products to plastic bags, including biodegradable plastic bags, and their potential use to reduce adverse impacts.
http://www.ephc.gov.au/pdf/EPHC/Comm_17_04_08.pdf
Rudd government delivers millions for water recycling in Adelaide’s south
Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, visited Christies Beach Treatment Plant to announce formal funding of $34.5 million for the Waterproofing the South project. The Christies Beach facility is being upgraded to produce high quality recycled water for industry and for watering gardens and playing fields. The project would also see expanded piping infrastructure provide more recycled water for local wineries. Senator Wong said developing new sources of water is a priority for the Rudd Government. “Climate change means we need new sources of water that don’t rely entirely on rainfall,” Senator Wong said. “The Rudd Government is investing $34.5 million in this recycling project so that businesses and households in the Onkaparinga area have access to water for watering gardens and crops, without drawing on precious supplies of drinking water.”
http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/wong/2008/pubs/mr20080417.pdf
Ballarat to benefit from $90 million Superpipe boost
Federal Minister for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, delivered Australian Government funding of $90 million for the Goldfields Superpipe to secure the future of Ballarat’s water supply. Senator Wong was in Ballarat with Victorian Water Minister Tim Holding as workers connected the final section of the Superpipe to White Swan Reservoir. Senator Wong said the Rudd Government’s $90 million contribution to the Goldfields Superpipe would reduce the pressure on working families as water prices increase. “Our commitment to this project means Ballarat households will be around $180 better off each year,” Senator Wong said. The Central Highlands Water Plan 2008-2013 released last year showed a failure to deliver the full $90 million from the Australian Government for the Superpipe would increase average household water bills by around $180 a year.
http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/wong/2008/pubs/mr20080416.pdf
Australia and New Zealand affirm close relationship on whale conservation
New Zealand and Australia will continue to work together to lead the global debate on the conservation of whales. “By working together, we believe Australia and New Zealand can maximise their efforts for international whale conservation” Federal Environment Minister Peter Garrett and New Zealand Conservation Minister Steve Chadwick said. The two Ministers met in Melbourne where they were attending meetings of all Australian ministers of conservation and environment. Their discussions focussed particularly on concerns over the continuation of so-called ‘scientific’ whaling in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary, and proposals to improve the functioning of the International Whaling Commission.
http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/garrett/2008/pubs/mr20080417.pdf
Minister celebrates Bureau’s centenary
Minister for the Environment, Peter Garrett, celebrated 100 years of outstanding science and service from the Bureau of Meteorology, in a speech delivered in Melbourne. Mr Garrett said this year’s World Meteorological Day theme “Observing our planet for a better future” provided an excellent opportunity for the community to consider the important role the Bureau will play into the future in the addressing climate change. “The Bureau is one of those rare national institutions which we all have a day-to-day relationship with. It affects our life in many ways like whether to take an umbrella to work. But it also plays a pivotal role in monitoring, recording, analysing, researching and predicting our climate – a task made more difficult as we deal with the ongoing impacts of climate change,” Mr Garrett said.
http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/garrett/2008/pubs/mr20080416.pdf
Return of Japanese whaling fleet to port
The Australian Government is disappointed that 551 minke whales were killed during the 2007/08 summer, but both pleased and relieved that Japan did not proceed with the hunt of humpback or fin whales. It remains Australia’s firm view that there is no scientific justification for Japan’s whale hunt in the Southern Ocean. The Government’s objective continues to be the cessation of whaling by Japan in the Southern Ocean. The Government will continue to work to bring an end to whaling in the Southern Ocean, including through bilateral discussions with Japan and at the annual meeting of the International Whaling Commission in June this year. As part of the Government’s initiatives against whaling, the Oceanic Viking monitored the whaling fleet for several weeks in January and February.
http://www.environment.gov.au/minister/garrett/2008/pubs/mr20080415.pdf
Popularity: 24% [?]
