In an Australian first, the City of Sydney will roll-out new energy-efficient LED street and park lighting, halving electricity use and carbon pollution compared to conventional lights. A consortium of General Electric and UGL were selected after a tender and will replace about 6,450 street and park lights with the new LED lights over the next three years.
The 2012 Government Sustainability Conference will again provide local, state and federal government professionals and representatives of other public sector agencies with comprehensive analysis and advice about how to ingrain environmentally sustainable policies and practices within their organisations and the communities they serve. The conference is being held in Melbourne on 18-19 September 2012. Proposals for presentations are invited – see the call for speakers.
Bushland and Urban Biodiversity Management in a Changing Climate is the final report of the investigation that looked into the current understanding of the impacts of climate change on local governments ability to manage their biodiversity and bushland assets. The report has been prepared by the Eastern Alliance for Greenhouse Action (EAGA) which was established in 2008 to provide a regional framework for local stakeholders to work together on climate change and greenhouse gas projects in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria.
The NSW Government’s Coastal Management Program’s primary objective is to provide support to local councils to manage the risks from coastal hazards such as coastal erosion. A secondary objective of the program is to restore degraded coastal habitats. The primary objective of the Government’s Estuary Management Program is to provide support to councils to improve the health of NSW estuaries and understand the potential risks from climate change. Applications for grants under the NSW 2012-13 Coastal and Estuary Management Programs are now open. Applications close at 5pm 28 February 2012.
Over the last two decades, governments and the private sector have installed increasing amounts of green infrastructure such as Gross Pollutant Traps, wetlands and raingardens, to meet environmental objectives. Yet billions of dollars worth of more investment is needed if we are to fully transition to water sensitive cities. The How Green was my Valley? Pursuing Green Infrastructure and Natural Asset Management seminar will examine how we need to start acknowledging green infrastructure within our asset management systems and to plan for its construction and maintenance. This not only includes new green infrastucture but existing natural assets such as creeks, wetlands and bushland reserves.
The Local Government and Public Sector Building Maintenance and Management Conference 2011 will cover a wide range of topics including in the theme “Water and Energy Efficient Buildings: Towards More Sustainable Buildings”. To achieve more sustainable buildings it is now crucially important to consider the water and energy efficiency of buildings not just in their initial construction, but also in their operation and maintenance. Topics in this theme include:
The Innovation in Urban Water Management and Treatment national conference will analyse leading-edge engineering practices, technologies and strategies that support local governments and water authorities to implement Integrated Water Management systems in Australia’s cities, suburbs and rural town centres. Innovation in stormwater management, potable water and wastewater treatment will be examined in the context of the need for councils and authorities to build and maintain infrastructure that is part of a sustainable and integrated water management cycle. Leading strategies for achieving Integrated Water Management in local communities will also be detailed at the conference.
HOPE Australia has launched a nation-wide Environmental Information Display (EID) campaign to provide information on environmental issues directly to individuals and local communities. HOPE is appealing to local councils and community groups who want to make a difference to assist by nominating possible locations for the displays. EID’s are an effective way of distributing newsletters, brochures and other literature from a variety of community organizations and government agencies. Topics covered are relevant to the everyday lifestyles of Australian householders, and include waste reduction, energy conservation, water consumption, climate change and its impacts on biodiversity, etc.