Archive for March, 2008
New Sustainable Sydney 2030 plan
The new City of Sydney Sustainable Sydney 2030 plan responds to the challenges of global warming, rising oil prices, declining housing affordability and growth by suggesting five “Big Moves” to make Sydney more sustainable, vibrant and successful. Alongside the five Big Moves are ten strategic directions and many hundreds of small steps that are aimed at transforming Sydney into a green, global, connected city. The five Big Moves are:
- A revitalised City Centre at the heart of Global Sydney
- An integrated Inner Sydney transport network
- A liveable green network
- Activity Hubs as a focus for the City’s village communities and transport
- Transformative development and sustainable renewal
South East Queensland Water Strategy released
The Queensland Water Commission’s draft South East Queensland Water Strategy – released on 26 March 2008 – is designed to meet the region’s water supply needs for the next 50 years. South East Queensland includes the major urban areas of Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. The Strategy outlines a long-term plan aimed at guaranteeing future water supply, including:
- Target 230 – the Commission’s permanent residential water-usage target
- Businesses striving for best practice water use
- New climate resilient water supplies like purified recycled water and desalination schemes
- Drought response plans so medium level restrictions occur no more than once every 25 years on average
- Power stations and major industrial customers using recycled water where available
- Additional water supplies for rural production
Round 11 of Threatened Species Network Community Grants Program now open
More than 380 on-ground conservation projects have been funded through the Threatened Species Network Community Grants Program, enabling community groups right across Australia to help save threatened species and ecological communities.
Round 11 of the TSN Community Grants Program is now open.
Bigfoot ecological footprint calculator
The Powerhouse Museum has upgraded its Bigfoot ecological footprint calculator using the latest current Australian data. Developed in 2001, Bigfoot was the first online ecological footprint calculator for individuals in Australia. It estimates the size of your ecological footprint from your answers to 15 questions. Bigfoot uses Australian data and terminology.
Sydney Event: Randwick Ecoliving Fair & Harmony Day Festival Sunday 6 April
WetlandCare Australia National Art Competition Winners 2008
To celebrate World Wetlands Day this year WetlandCare Australia held an Australia-wide art competition, which received more than 300 entries from all over the country. The Sydney Metropolitan Catchment Management Authority was a proud sponsor of the major ‘Open Art’ category. For more details on competition winners and to view the online exhibition click here or, if you do not have flash installed, click here.
1st National Local Government Environment Conference
9 – 11 July, 2008
Shangri-La Hotel, Cairns, Queensland
The environment is at the forefront of community and government interest, particularly in light of the climate change agenda. In addition, issues such as planning reforms, sustainability, natural resource management and waste are all squarely on the national agenda.
What does this mean for Australian local government and what is the current status of State and Federal Government policy in these critical areas? By drawing on key presenters from all levels of government and the private sector, case studies and the latest thinking from national experts, the 1st National Local Government Environment Conference will provide a unique insight into the opportunities and challenges for Australian local governments in managing the environment into the future.
CSIRO Urban Systems research program
CSIRO’s Urban Systems research program brings together multi-disciplinary teams to develop new technologies and approaches to promote more sustainable urban planning and design outcomes.
Positions vacant in Sydney
- Tidy Towns Coordinator – Keep Australia Beautiful NSW, email Peter McLean, Chief Executive Officer
- Project Leader – Climate Recovery, Blacktown City Council
- Environmental Project Coordinator – The Watershed, Marrickville Council
New Caring for our Country program details announced
Caring for our Country is the Australian Government’s new natural resource management program. Information on the program is now available here. Most detail is contained in the Questions and answers section.