Straddie

In 2011, the former Qld Labor  Government announced a timetable to phase out sand mining on Stradbroke Island with a view to boosting the national park area on the Island to 80% by 2027. 

The former Government believed North Straddie has enormous potential to grow a thriving, eco-tourism industry. It legislated to ensure a phasing out of mining by 2027. A joint management process for land use was proposed with the Traditional Owners - the Quandamooka people.

The current LNP has extended North Stradbroke Island sand mining until 2035, passing the North Stradbroke Island Protection and Sustainability Amendment Bill 2013 through the Queensland Parliament.

The Bill will also amend the Vegetation Management Framework Amendment Act 2013 (VMFAA) to remove the requirement for an applicant for vegetation clearing to provide a significant beneficial impact (SBI) to demonstrate how the applicant will minimise and mitigate the effects of the proposed clearing.

Sustainable Procurement, Qld Election, DERM, Gas

Sustainable Procurement

There are a couple of imminent developments which will have significant impacts on the process of implementing sustainable procurement:

The Australian Green Infrastructure Council (AGIC) is market testing a sustainability rating tool in preparation for a national launch in Parliament House Canberra in February 2012.

AGIC has a whole category on sustainable procurement recognising its importance. Aurecon Pty Ltd and Net Balance Pty Ltd were the authors of this category and it was based on the British Standard BS8903:2010 which is recognised as probably the leading edge worldwide.

The Australian Water Association (AWA) has developed a Water Sector Sustainability Framework to assist AWA's Corporate Members embed sustainability principles and practices within their business activities, and encourage organisations to assess their progress. The AWA Framework consists of a Sustainability Charter for the water sector, providing a set of Sustainability Principles by which participants can guide their business activities.

The AWA Framework also provides a Business Case for participation and a Toolkit which will in time be developed into an online 'Sustainability Knowledge Point'. AWA is now ready for Corporate Members to sign-up to their AWA Water Sector Sustainability Framework and Charter.

Qld State Election

The Election date has not been announced but Qld is definitely in election mode.

ASBG’s will be writing to major & minor political parties to clarify their policies on issues that impact Environmental Management & Sustainability in the lead up to the Qld State Election.

Earlier today the Qld Premier met with Commissioner Cate Holmes.

The Commissioner advised she would be holding further hearings and therefore would require an extension to the Inquiry's reporting date. The Premier advised she would be prepared to grant an extension.

She also advised the Commissioner the granting of such an extension could have implications for the timing of elections and this would require me to seek urgent legal advice on a number of options.

The Premier awaiting this advice and will she make a further public statement once she has received and considered it.

DERM

The State Opposition have been critical of the Qld Labor Government’s environment credentials indicating that the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM)’s poor management was responsible for its ineffectiveness in administering and enforcing legislation.

A LNP Government would repeal the Waste Reduction & Recycling Act & would probably disassemble DERM. Shadow Minister for the Environment Andrew Powell said there’s no proper rigour & reporting in the management of waste in Qld. He cites Auditor-General reports accusing DERM of focusing on outputs then outcomes when it came to mitigating risks to the environment.

Regional Queensland was subjected to inconsistent monitoring and compliance from the department, and there was appalling and limited oversight to assist regions plan effectively.

Stradbroke Island

Last year the Qld Premier announced a timetable to phase out sand mining on Stradbroke Island with a view to boosting the national park area on the Island to 80% by 2027. The Government believes North Straddie has enormous potential to grow a thriving, eco-tourism industry. It has legislated to ensure a phasing out of mining by 2027. A joint management process for land use is proposed with the Traditional Owners - the Quandamooka people.

Sand mining has occurred on Stradbroke Island for more than 50 years & could continue sustainable for at least another 200 years. However, the Qld Government is determined to make Straddie a political football & form the basis of it Environmental credentials. The LNP opposition believe that the extended national park now incorporates un-rehabilitated areas (including a tailings dam) which responsibility the Government will have to restore.

Gas Powered Pork Barrels

The availability & potential of gas reserves in Qld had outstripped existing & potential demand in the greater east coast Australian Gas market.

Qld Coal Seam Gas (CSG) producers want to access international gas markets via Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). The first CSG-based LNG project was announced in May 2007 & since then a further nine have followed, of which 4 have achieved ‘significant project’ status & 3 have all the necessary approvals for the projects to proceed.

The Government wants to use the profits of the next resources boom, before they have calculated or demonstrated an understanding of costs of the Environmental impacts.

The Qld State Government is trying to link the modernisation of the education to the resources sector. The Qld Premier announced last year, that the Government will establish an Education Trust with the royalties from LNG. The Trust will be funded directly through 50% of LNG royalties. The Government is counting (& spending) chickens before they hatch relying on Treasury projections that indicate this will mean more than $1.8b will enter the Trust over the next 10 years.

The Government is also spending multi-billion dollars with TRUenergy, to provide 2 new gas fired power stations for Qld. The stations in Ipswich & Gladstone will be powered with CSG. In all of the propaganda from the Government & the Gas Industry, they quote the figure that gas will emit up to 50% less CO2 than coal-fired stations. There is no data to verify this claim & it is being brought into question by the proponents of renewable energy industry.

TRUenergy has already commenced the application process for development of both gas-fired power stations, which will occur over the next 12 months, with construction to begin as early as 2013.

Mining hypocrisy

There is no dispute that North Stradbroke Island is a place of outstanding natural beauty enjoyed by generations of Queenslanders, interstate and overseas visitors.

However, there seems to be some hypocrisy in a Government that shuts down sand mining in an area adjacent a large Metropolitan city but allows Clive Palmer to apply for a coal mine lease in the Brimblebox nature Reserve.

The Qld Government is proudly spruiking that the future of Straddie has now been protected for generations to come.

The Qld Government has announced that the end of mining will be fast-tracked, with the largest mine closing in 2019 and all mining ceasing in 2025. To develop a strong sustainable economy for the island, the government is working with a range of stakeholders, including the Quandamooka People, the Straddie Chamber of Commerce, education leaders and tourism industry experts.

For the other side of the story, it is worth checking out Sibelco Australia's website. One could be excused for cynicism.

By the end of this year, 50 per cent of the island will be national park. By 2021, this will increase to 75 per cent and by 2026, 80 per cent of the island will be protected.

The first stage of Naree Budjong Djara National Park covers one-fifth of the island, or over 5000 hectares. Naree Budjong Djara means My Mother Earth to the island’s Traditional Owners—the Quandamooka People.

The national park will be jointly managed by the Quandamooka People and the Department of Environment and Resource Management.

Get involved

The Qld Government says that North Stradbroke Island is in transition towards a strong sustainable economy. Community input is essential in shaping this transition. If you have feedback, suggestions—including how the community should be informed as the strategy develops—or would like to receive updates on the key issues facing the island, have your say:

• phone 1800 194 064 (free call)
• email straddiestrategy@derm.qld.gov.au
• in person at the North Stradbroke Island Information Centre, 7 Stradbroke Place, Dunwich.

Sustainable Business Weekly QLD Edition [Biodiversity, Stradbroke, Water, Power, Gas]

The Society of Sustainability & Environmental Engineering (SSEE) Have a QnA forum scheduled for 24 May 2011 with a presentation on Electric Vehicles (EV’s), followed by a Panel discussion on roads, rail, rates, rides etc…

A subsequent QnA forum will consider the vulnerability and sustainability of our industrial food system.

ASBG are still negotiating the next round of Environmental Management Practitioner’s Workshops, Safety Management Workshops (including changes to Dangerous Goods labelling).

When the details become available, ASBG will help unpack & explain the implications of a Carbon Price for businesses.





Biodiversity Strategy

The Queensland Government is seeking feedback on Building Nature’s Resilience: A Draft Biodiversity Strategy for Queensland its plan for conserving biodiversity over the next 10 years.

The plan places nature's resilience at the centre of the state’s conservation efforts and attempts to recognise the critical role of all Queenslanders in delivering real change to biodiversity.

The strategy has been developed in draft to provide an opportunity for all interested parties to have their say about the future of Queensland’s natural environment.
While key stakeholders were engaged throughout its development, the opportunity now exists to further adapt the draft strategy to meet the needs of the community.
The main strategy document is accompanied by Protected Areas for the Future: Cornerstones for Terrestrial Biodiversity Conservation which provides a deeper look into how an expanded protected area system will be developed.

Feedback can be provided on the Get Involved website or by email to biodiversity@derm.qld.gov.au.

Comments can also be posted to: Feedback on Queensland’s draft biodiversity strategy, Biodiversity Integration Unit, Department of Environment and Resource Management, GPO Box 2454, Brisbane QLD 4001.
For further enquiries phone 13 74 68 (13QGOV).

Due to the recent natural disasters the consultation period has now been extended until 8 April 2011.

Stradbroke Island

ASBG member Sibelco Australia (formerly known as Unimin) has taken out full page ads in the Courier-Mail depicting Premier Anna Bligh and Honourable Kate Jones (minister for Environment & Resource Management) sitting on a sand dune that used to be a sand mine.

For better or for worse, the Queensland State Government has brought forward the timetable for the cessation of sand mining on Stradbroke Island. Whilst it might seem like a good idea to declare another National Park on Stradbroke Island, it should be noted that many of our National Parks are poorly managed & are home to feral fauna & noxious flora.

While there are many examples of mining companies who have not been good stewards of the land, there are also many examples of environmental management & rehabilitation by responsible mining companies. Sibelco encourage your feedback and invite you to use the 'Questions and Comments' link.

Can Do’s Water policy

The LNP’s Candidate for the Seat of Ashgrove in the (yet to be announced) Queensland State Election is now writing the State Opposition’s policies for them.
If elected in Ashgrove, Campbell Newman is committing the LNP to amalgamate the five bulk water (bodies) that were set up, save all the money in the administrative costs.

Can-Do Campbell wants to write off the non-performing assets, & believes Queenslanders should repay the debt for these water assets over a 40-year period, not a 20-year period




Poles & Wires push up Power Prices

A recent update paper from the Australian Government's climate change advisor, Professor Ross Garnaut, has confirmed that renewable energy is not the major culprit in electricity price rises and acknowledges its increasingly important role in distributed generation.

The notion that renewable energy sources such as solar power substantially drive up electricity prices is a bandwagon that some corners of the media have been happy to jump on and stay on, even while much has been published to bust that myth.

Professor Ross Garnaut has weighed in on the argument in his latest Climate Change Review Update, published last week.

The paper states recent electricity price increases have mainly been driven by increases in the costs of transmission and distribution; an issue that Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson, warned of in March last year.




Coal Seam Gas

This week there was an escalation of tension between farmers and British Gas at Tara, west of Brisbane.

Environmental Campaigner – Drew Hutton was arrested by police for blockading British Gas workers, attempting to construct a pipeline.