Recycling, Transport, Wetlands, Wildlife, Coal in Court

Why Materials Efficiency Matters!

Rod Welford, Chief Executive of the Australian Council of Recycling Inc (ACOR), will be giving a lunch time presentation:

· describing the reformed role of ACOR to provide policy leadership around resource efficiency;

· exploring some of the policy requirements for improving economy-wide efficiency in the use of resources;

· outlining how the more efficient use of materials can drive efficiencies in energy and water concurrently;

· Considering the implications for climate change and the as yet unrecognised importance of resource recovery and recycling to achieving Australia’s carbon abatement goals.

Thursday 12 May 2011, 12:30 - 13:30 in the Wet Tropics Room at the Department of Environment & Resource Management (DERM) Level 3, 400 George Street. BYO Lunch

The next session on 25 May 2011: Learning from the past: the history and future of human sustainability, Richard Cassels, Director, Climate Leadership

Sustainable Transport

On the 24 May 2011, the Society of Sustainability & Environmental Engineering (SSEE) will be hosting a Technical Meeting at Engineering House, featuring Dr Andrew Simpson one of Australia’s foremost independent experts in renewable electric vehicle (EV) technology, policy and strategy.

Following Andrew’s presentation there will be a panel discussion on the wider issues of sustainability and Transport including representatives and advocates of mass transport, active transport & new technologies versus the incumbent modes/technologies.

Note for your diary:

Annie Leonard: the star of the Story of Stuff will be in Brisbane as a Keynote Speaker for the SSEE 2011 International Conference in October this year. Go to the Conference Website to register your interest. The conference runs from the 24 to 26 October 2011 at Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC).

ASBG June Seminars

ASBG QLD is very excited about a couple of seminars to be hosted at Norton Rose Australia in June 2011.

Details of the Environmental Management Seminar on Thursday 15 June 08:00-12:30 are in last week's blog.

In 2008, Workplace Relations Ministers from around Australia agreed to nationally harmonise work health and safety (WHS) laws. Safe Work Australia is currently developing national model WHS laws, which the Commonwealth and each State and Territory will implement by the end of 2011.

The national aced agenda for the harmonisation of work health and safety laws and practices is progressing and will be a focus for Workplace Health and Safety Queensland over the next twelve months.

Employers & managers should become familiar with the new legislation and the impact it will have on their businesses.

On Wednesday 22 June from 08:00 to 12:30, ASBG is running a Safety Management Seminar which will include the proposed new regulations and new codes of practice.

World Environment Day

ASBG’s rural correspondent Lord Julian will be celebrating all things for a sustainable lifestyle, in Boonah for World Environment Day featuring free creative workshops, market stalls, demonstrations, talks, local organic produce, recycled artwork and jewellery, native wildlife, eco cleaning products, live entertainment, and recycling bays.

Wetland Management online tool

The Queensland Government has launched new online tools on its wetlands management resource website, WetlandInfo. The new online tools include wetland place names, an ability to link wetland mapping using Google maps functions and an advanced search function that allows users to search for wetlands. An up-to-date toolbox of planning legislation allows planners, decision making agencies and individuals to get a customised list of laws and regulations that could affect a project that impacts on wetlands.

Protecting endangered animals and eradicating pests

Australian ecologists at the University of Queensland, have developed a set of simple rules that will not only help protect endangered native species and eradicate introduced pests in Australia and overseas, but also manage biosecurity and disease outbreaks.

The research which was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences this week, describes a decision tool that will help wildlife conservation managers to prioritise their management strategies and focus on the most efficient conservation or control strategy.

Qld Coal Miner in Court

Mining giant Xstrata has been taken to the Land Court by the community based activist organisation – Friends of the Earth.

Xstrata has been asked to defend the greenhouse impacts of its proposed Wandoan coal mine.

An initial hearing this week has set out the scope of the trial. A variety of experts will give evidence concerning the impacts of Wandoan Coal mine on Qld's environment & the global climate. The trial is set for 22 August 2011.