Green Action News MOBILISING PEOPLE TO SAFEGUARD OUR ENVIRONMENT
I S S UE 21 • AUTUM N 2 0 1 4
State election 2014 PLUS Our Rivers, Our Lifeblood
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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Hazelwood burning
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Our Rivers, Our Lifeblood
Green Action News Issue 21, Autumn 2014 Design 2Fish Productions Print Almar Press Contributing writers Alex Merory, Tom Hartney, Mark Wakeham, Juliet Le Feuvre, Nick Aberle, Lena Herrera Piekarski, Anne Martinelli, Kelly O’Shanassy Editor Alex Merory (03) 9341 8125 editor@environmentvictoria.org.au Membership enquiries (03) 9341 8100 admin@environmentvictoria.org.au Media enquiries (03) 9341 8127
The secret life of our rivers
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Special Feature: Election 2014
The clean energy revolution
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Our election policy ask: a clean energy plan for Victoria
mark.wakeham@environmentvictoria.org.au
Green Action News is an Environment Victoria publication. For more information, visit www.environmentvictoria.org.au
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Our election policy ask: an action plan to restore Victoria’s river corridors
Sue Noy is Forever Green
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Editorial > Mark Wakeham, Acting Chief Executive Officer
2014 was always going to be a big year with a state election in November and a new federal government taking environment policy back to the trenches. BUT AS WE SWELTERED THROUGH January heatwaves I’m not sure we realised just how quickly the year was going to crank up. Six weeks later, Victoria is on the brink of massive change. Car manufacturers are leaving, ALCOA’s Point Henry aluminium smelter is closing in September, and fires at the Hazelwood mine have threatened the health and safety of 13,000 residents of Morwell in one of the state’s worst pollution events ever. The need to get serious about shifting our state to a sustainable footing has never been quite so stark. Luckily we’ve been preparing for this, beginning our state election campaign to Reclaim Victoria’s Environment over two years ago. We’ve transformed the way we work to ensure that we’re building enduring power and networks
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of activists in the areas that politicians take the most notice of. As ever, we've focused on what's going to make the biggest difference for our environment. You can read all about our election policy priorities on pages 7-13. But it’s not just Victoria that’s undergoing change. We’ve got some big changes happening at Environment Victoria too, with Kelly O’Shanassy, our smart and fearless leader for the past six years, moving on to lead ACF. A huge thank-you to Kelly for her inspiration, leadership and wisdom in steering the organisation to the strong position we're in now. It’s a tribute to her, but also to Environment Victoria’s leadership in the environment movement, that she is now heading up the Australian Conservation Foundation. I’m excited and honoured to be taking
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the reins as Acting CEO over the coming months. But Environment Victoria has never been just about the CEO; it’s been about the collective impact of our staff, volunteers, members and supporters. Our supporter base, now 56,000 strong, has never been more powerful or invaluable. That’s where you come in. We have some extremely exciting campaigns to deliver this election year. We’re working to reach hundreds of thousands of Victorians and make the environment and climate change pivotal to the election. To do this we’ll be recruiting, training and coordinating hundreds more volunteers. If ever there was a year to be getting involved, it’s this year. See you on the campaign trail!
S A F E C L I M AT E
HAZELWOOD BURNING > Dr Nicholas Aberle, Safe Climate Campaign Manager
You may have seen it across newspapers and on your screens: the coal mine that feeds the Hazelwood Power Station in the Latrobe Valley was burning out of control for an entire month.
Hazelwood open-cut coal mine burning. PHOTO: TOM MORRISON
THANK YOU! THE FIRE CAME AT THE END OF A long, hot and dry summer (much like those we are predicted to get more often as climate change bites). How the fire got so out of control is in dispute, and is now the subject of a judicial inquiry. There have been suggestions that fixed water pipes that should act as the first line of fire-fighting defence against embers had been removed and that the highly combustible exposed coal seams were not then properly rehabilitated (typically by covering with clay or soil to prevent ignition). However it started, and whoever was at fault for allowing the mine to be so vulnerable, the Hazelwood mine fire unfolded into a complete disaster. The neighbouring town of Morwell was enshrouded for weeks on end in a plume of coal ash, toxic particulate matter, carbon monoxide and other pollutants. Monitoring by the EPA indicated an air quality more than ten times worse than the cut off for “very poor”. Potentially carcinogenic particulate matter PM2.5 reached 20 times higher than the recommended safe level. Eventually the town was partially evacuated, but for many, the government’s response was too little too late. Instructions to residents were unclear and sometimes contradictory. To add insult to injury,
many of Morwell’s businesses have been dealt serious financial blows as a result of the smoke. That the fire happened means somebody was asleep at the wheel: corners were cut by mine management, or the regulations were either inadequate or not enforced properly. Environment Victoria is in the process of obtaining copies of the work plan, the fire management plan, and the rehabilitation plan for the Hazelwood mine, to assess whether any of these were breached. If a breach occurred, we will investigate our legal options for holding either the company or the regulators accountable. Further, the judicial inquiry will reveal much of interest in how well the coal industry is regulated, and whether the government is really looking after the best interests of the community. One thing we do know is that now is not the time for the Napthine Government to be thinking about allowing more coal mines to be dug – precisely what would happen if they go ahead with the coal allocation they are currently considering. In 2012, after years of campaigning by Environment Victoria and others, the Federal Labor Government promised and then failed to deliver the retirement of 2000 megawatts of coal. This promise
It’s crucial that we act to end our reliance on dirty, dangerous coal and move to clean, safe, renewable energy and energy efficiency. We don’t need to keep burning coal in Victoria and we certainly don’t need new coal mines. Thank you to everyone who has donated and taken action to replace old coal and stop new coal. With you by our side, we will create a brighter for Victoria.
would likely have meant the phased closure and rehabilitation of Hazelwood power station and mine, and a new future for the people of the Latrobe Valley. The Latrobe Valley will transition away from coal. Energy economics and global finance are shifting irreversibly to cheap renewables. The Valley’s transition can be planned now and be relatively smooth. Otherwise we can just let it happen on someone else’s timeframe, which will inevitably be much more disruptive to the community. After being taken for granted for so long, the people of the Latrobe Valley deserve better than more coal promises and hollow reassurances that everything is fine. The Hazelwood fire has shown us that it clearly is not.
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H E A LT H Y R I V E R S
Our Rivers, Our Lifeblood > Juliet Le Feuvre, Healthy Rivers Campaigner
THANK YOU! Rescuing our rivers, our most precious resource, will not be possible without your help. Thank you so much to everyone who has donated to this vital campaign. Together we will remove livestock from our riverbanks and restore our lifeblood, our rivers to health.
Victoria’s rivers are the lifeblood of our landscapes. They connect, support and nurture communities of all kinds — animals, plants and people. They give us water to drink and to grow our crops, they clean up pollution, store flood water and bring fertility to the soil. They enhance our lives and give us places to love and enjoy. IN THE NEW OUR RIVERS OUR Lifeblood web-atlas we take a tour around Victoria’s 29 river basins, looking at each river in turn from the Snowy in the east to the Glenelg in the west, the Murray in the north to the Bunyip in the south. We look at the key values, identify the biggest threats and assess the health of the rivers. We tell stories about the animals, the people, the history, what’s been lost and gained. We also take a look at what needs to be done to protect and improve river health. The issues vary from catchment to catchment but key themes occur again and again across the state - fairer sharing of water, restoring landscape connectivity, protecting water quality and preserving water quantity. An issue that comes up in every single river catchment is the damage caused by livestock grazing on river banks and polluting the water. Grazing has been identified by scientists and catchment management authorities as the number one manageable impact on river health and riparian degradation is listed as a threatening process under the Flora and
Our Rivers, Our Lifeblood was launched at the Sustainable Living Festival at Birrarung Marr by the Yarra River on 16 February with a little help from some very friendly cows!
Fauna Guarantee Act. The phase-out of grazing on public land on river banks has been recommended by VEAC1 and the Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability.2 River banks are special places as they’re the meeting point between land and water. They provide habitat and food for land and water creatures like platypus, frogs and turtles. They filter out pollutants to keep water clean and trees along the river bank provide shade to keep the water cool for fish and waterbugs. The trees drop branches into the river that provide homes for native fish like the Murray cod. Cattle, sheep, goats, horses and other livestock cause significant damage to this precious ecosystem. They eat and trample vegetation, muddy the water by paddling in it and pollute it by defecating in it, erode the riverbank and damage the habitat of threatened species. We estimate that a staggering 4,500 tonnes of cow poo is entering Victoria’s rivers and creeks every day. The pathogens in the dung pose a risk to human health and increase the cost of drinking water treatment. Our solution is simple – move livestock out of our rivers. Check out the detail on page 13.
Take a tour: www.environmentvictoria.org.au/lifeblood 1. VEAC River Red Gum Forests Investigation. 2. State of the Environment report 2008
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H E A LT H Y R I V E R S
The secret life of our rivers Each of Victoria’s magnificent rivers has a story to tell. Read some of them here. > Juliet Le Feuvre, Healthy Rivers Campaigner
THE GENOA RIVER in Far East Gippsland flows through a magnificent red sandstone gorge containing ancient fossil footprints which are believed to be among the oldest fossil records of a land dwelling vertebrate (about 395 million years old).
LAKE BOLAC, located in the Hopkins Catchment, was created about 20,000 years ago when lava flows blocked the flow of Fiery Creek. It’s well known for its eels and the Lake Bolac Eel Festival is held annually to enrich the life of the community and promote the restoration of Lake Bolac and surrounding stream systems. Its musical line up draws the crowds and it’s also a celebration of local Indigenous culture in which eel harvesting has played a vital part for thousands of years.
At the mouth of the MITCHELL RIVER silt deposited over millions of years now extends 8 km into Lake King as silt jetties. It’s the biggest delta system of its kind in the world after the Mississippi River! However, since the lakes were permanently connected to the sea by dredging at Lakes Entrance, the silt jetties are being eroded away due to increasing salinity, which is slowly killing the lake side vegetation, and increased wind and wave action. In the long term they are likely to be lost altogether.
In the early 1900s, in a significant feat of engineering, gold miners diverted the flow of the THOMSON RIVER through a tunnel at Horseshoe Bend. While the tunnel made things much easier for the goldminers it’s proved a major obstacle for fish migrating up the river and has essentially blocked off the upper river to species like the EPBC listed Australian grayling. The West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority is leading a project to create a fishway and restore flows to the original river bed round the Bend – from the fishes’ point of view the project can’t come soon enough.
LITTLE RIVER GORGE, located within the Snowy catchment is Victoria’s deepest gorge at 600m with several spectacular waterfalls. It’s one of only three sites in Victoria where the critically endangered brush-tailed rock wallaby is found. There are about 30 of them, most of them named and tagged by the brush-tailed rock wallaby recovery team. They came close to being wiped out when bushfires threatened the Little River area.
OUR RIVERS OUR LIFEBLOOD has involved a huge amount of work and would have been impossible without the help of an army of volunteers. They’ve looked up obscure species, researched stream conditions, grappled with Google Earth and fiddled with footnotes, and spent countless hours uploading maps and data. Then there are the many keen photographers who shared their river images.
Thank you all so muchith–ouwte you! couldn’t have done it w
Find out more at www.environmentvictoria.org.au/lifeblood
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AROUND THE WORLD
The clean energy revolution > Tom Hartney, Communications Officer
There’s been little for environmentalists to celebrate lately in Australia, with the new federal government being touted as ‘the most anti-environment in the nation’s history’ and supposedly ‘conservative’ state governments in Victoria, Western Australia, NSW and Queensland rushing to open up national parks for development, radically expand coal mining and lock in native forest logging.
DENMARK
KENNETH (FLICKR)
In March 2012 Denmark agreed to a renewable energy target of 100 percent by 2050! And they’re well on their way. In 2012 the country received more than 30 percent of its energy from wind, while on at least two separate occasions last year Denmark produced all of the country’s energy needs with wind!
TOKELAU
CONNECTED (FLICKR)
Renewable energy’s not just for Europeans. Sunny Pacific Island Tokelau is getting in on the act, ditching diesel for solar to power its three atolls. They can now meet 150 percent of their electricity demand from the sun.
SPAIN
But a quick look further afield gives some cause for hope. Already, 46 countries source at least 60 percent of their electricity from clean, renewable sources.1 While it’s frustrating that Australia, with our abundant free clean energy resources, isn’t at the vanguard of the clean energy revolution, we all stand to gain from the innovation and growing momentum we’re seeing around the world.
GREENS MPS (FLICKR)
Just to pour super-heated molten salt on the myth that solar can’t work at night, one Spanish solar power plant in Seville uses super-heated molten salt to store and deliver clean electricity around the clock.
PERU
JULIA MANZEROVA (FLICKR)
A fantastic government programme to supply Peru’s 2 million poorest households with free solar panels will give many Peruvians access to electricity for the first time.
SCOTLAND
MAKE BELTZNER (FLICKR)
Scotland set the ambitious goal to source 100 percent of its electricity needs from renewable sources by 2020. And so far they’re on track, with 40.3 percent of energy consumption in 2012 met by the sector - up from 36.3 percent the previous year and 24.1 percent in 2010.
PHILIPPINES
350.0RG (FLICKR)
As we saw in November with the devastation of Typhoon Haiyan, the Philippines is on the front line when it comes to feeling the effects of climate change. But they’re also on the front line of efforts to fight climate change too with an extremely ambitious target to shift from around 20 percent currently to 100 percent renewable in just 10 years.
1. http://www.1010global.org/itshappening 6
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S P E C I A L F E AT U R E : E L E C T I O N 2014
Election 2014 > Mark Wakeham, Acting CEO
With your support we have a real opportunity to make environment and climate policy a defining issue of the 2014 state election campaign.
ON 29 NOVEMBER VICTORIANS WILL return to the polls to cast judgement on the Baillieu/Napthine Government. And with just one lower house seat separating the two major parties and the most recent polls showing a 53:47 lead to the ALP, the 2014 state election is anyone’s to win. It’s also an opportunity to draw a line under a period of attacks on the environment from the Baillieu/Napthine Government. We’ve been hearing that the Coalition’s poor environmental record is starting to hurt them in the eastern and south-eastern suburbs, according to Coalition internal polling. Thanks to our incredible supporters and the thousands of face-to-face conversations the superforce of ‘Reclaim Victoria’s Environment’ campaigning volunteers have been having in these places, we’re having an impact. The challenge for us now is to intensify our efforts and turn this environmental concern into strong environmental policy agendas from all parties competing in the election. We have a real opportunity to make environment and climate policy a defining issue of the election campaign. The Coalition has an awful lot of work to do in the months ahead to develop a
credible environment agenda. A good start would be delivering on the promise it made ahead of the last election to improve the energy efficiency of all Victorian homes to a 5-star standard. They’re also under growing pressure to save the Leadbeaters Possum by creating the Great Forest National Park, to rule out a damaging new coal export industry and to protect our rivers from the damage caused by cows trampling riverbanks and polluting the water. The ALP meanwhile is yet to release its policy platform, though it has made some important commitments to revoke Ted Baillieu’s anti wind-farm laws and develop a renewable energy investment and jobs plan. The Greens have aspirations of holding the balance of power in both the lower and upper houses of Parliament, where they would hold tremendous influence
over the environmental program of the next government should they choose to wield that power. The Victorian election is also extremely important nationally. Tasmania has just taken a step to the right with the newly elected government wanting to tear up the forest conservation agreement, while since being elected nationally the Abbott Government is emulating the attacks we’ve seen on the environment in Victoria and Queensland in particular. We need to make the Victorian election the beginning of a new cycle where incoming governments realise that strong climate and environment policies are critical to their success and longevity. Victoria has always been a leader for progressive thought and action, and our nation needs us more than ever now. Environment Victoria has been in election mode since 2011. We’ve published a detailed policy agenda, done communications research and polling, run a massive campaign to inform Victorians about the attacks on our environment, and we’re building deep, grassroots power in the places that will determine the result of the election. So hang on to your hats – it’ll be a wild ride but we look forward to working with you to make this year’s state election count for our environment.
THANK YOU! Thank you so much to the wonderful people who are standing with us to get our environment back where it belongs on the agenda of all political parties. You are changing the game – creating a powerful movement of people to protect our environment toward the 2014 election and beyond.
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S P E C I A L F E AT U R E : E L E C T I O N 2014
Election 2014 > Mark Wakeham, Acting CEO, > Alex Merory, Communications Manager
Sometimes an election outcome comes down to a small number of people in a handful of places. Those are the people that politicians really listen to, and those are the people we need to convince to speak up for our environment before the November state election.
THE GOAL
OUR TARGET COMMUNITIES
TO PUT THE ENVIRONMENT BACK ON THE POLITICAL AGENDA IN VICTORIA.
PRIORITY 1. PRIORITY 2. PRIORITY 3. PRIORITY 4.
We’re asking each major party to take an environment and climate agenda to the 2014 state election, covering three key areas: • Safeguarding our climate (pg 11) • Creating sustainable homes, cities and communities (pg 12) • Protecting nature (pg 13)
Undecided voters in target areas Environment Victoria supporters in target areas Environment Victoria supporters in non-target areas Undecided voters in non-target areas
Bendigo West
And we're asking them to ensure that no more backward steps are taken for our environment.
Bendigo East
(For more information on our detailed policy agenda see http://environmentvictoria.org.au/2014policyagenda)
THE STRATEGY BUILDING POWER
Ballarat West
We’re building enduring power in the Victorian environment movement - establishing grassroots muscle in areas that are always important politically so we can deliver and win campaigns up to and beyond the 2014 election. Our aim is not to tell people who to vote for, but to ensure the environment and climate change is uppermost in people’s minds when they vote. Through our local Superforce of campaigning volunteers, we’ve already talked to thousands living in these areas about the solutions for a healthy environment and a prosperous Victoria. But this year we’re really ramping up the action and we’ll be asking them to sign our pledge to ‘vote for your environment.’
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Ballarat East
Geelong Bellarine
A sustainable future for our environment and our economy While we build power in the areas that matter most, we also need to build the case for how protecting our precious environment is going to affect the issues politicians care about the most - jobs and the economy.
Ivanhoe
Prahran
MAKING THE DIFFERENCE IN AREAS THAT MATTER ENVIRONMENT VICTORIA’S TARGETS FOR OUR ELECTION WORK:
Forest Hill
Modrialloc
Carrum
Face to face conversations with undecided voters:
20,000 Meaningful discussions:
4,000
Vote Environment pledges from undecided voters:
2,000
Frankston
That’s why we joined forces with Victorian business leaders to form The Future Economy Group. CEOs from forwardthinking banks, investment groups, manufacturing, infrastructure development and clean energy companies have come together with Environment Victoria to help create a paradigm shift in economic thinking that will protect nature and build resilient businesses for the 21st century. For the first time in Australia’s history, the research we’ve sponsored will examine the jobs and industries at risk if we continue to diminish nature and the benefits of rebuilding our natural capital. A sneak peek at our findings shows that rebuilding our natural capital – our forests, rivers, land and climate – will produce economic rewards for Victorian businesses and employees, and outperform ‘business as usual’ that diminishes nature. Together we’ll show our political leaders that the economy of the past is not viable into the future and that we need to urgently transition to a future economy that is smart, sustainable and delivers environmental, employment and economic outcomes. Our groundbreaking research will be released mid-year, stay tuned for more.
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S P E C I A L F E AT U R E : E L E C T I O N 2014
In focus – Forest Hill > Tom Hartney, Communications Officer
Neil Barter BLACKBURN ‘Eastsider’ Neil Barter has been working tirelessly in and around the marginal seat of Forest Hill to get the environment on people’s radar ahead of the 2014 election. I first became aware of environmental issues in the 70s when I was visiting Canterbury Cathedral. I was shocked to learn that its glorious, centuries-old windows had been destroyed not by WWII or Cromwell’s puritans – but by pollution. At the same time, air pollution was also attacking the magnificent pine forests of Scandinavia.
At the 2010 election the Coalition won Forest Hill by a margin of 1225 votes. That means that a switch of just 613 votes could result in a change of power, which makes Forest Hill a key battleground ahead of the 2014 election. And that means we know that politicians will be listening hard to what people in Forest Hill have to say about their policies. Environment Victoria now has 1150 supporters in Forest Hill, with our Eastsiders holding regular stalls and letterboxing events to encourage people to ‘vote environment’
SITTING MEMBER
Neil Angus Margin: 3.5% (1225 votes) Voting history: 2010 – 2014 Lib 2002 – 2010 ALP 1976 – 2002 Lib Environment Victoria Presence: Eastsiders volunteer group (2 coordinators, 5 volunteers) 1150 supporters
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Today I have an interest in water quality and deforestation, but with mounting evidence of the correlation between rising greenhouse gases and the rise of unsustainable temperatures around the globe, my real passion is significantly lowering greenhouse gases. I want to see Hazelwood power station replaced, the laws that choke wind turbine development lifted and more support for the solar industry to make solar panels affordable for ordinary households. Our houses should be covered with them. Peoples’ environmental concerns have been well documented, but as the political world feels it can ignore the warnings, I feel it’s time not just to be a sitting supporter of environmental groups, but to get out there to encourage people to actively voice their concerns. The EVEasties, as we are known, have started putting strategies together to work with other groups to have street stalls and to leaflet areas in the electorate of Forest Hills, one of the very marginal seats. I enjoy getting out there, armed with a petition or advertising an event, and talking with the public. I have found people responsive and glad we are taking a positive approach, as they feel overwhelmed when it comes to acting. On a personal level it’s good to let friends and neighbours know where I stand on issues like renewable energy and encourage them to contact politicians about these issues. The area is strongly environmentally friendly but our local member doesn’t seem to be interested in the environment at all and there’s a fair lack of awareness of the state government’s failings on the environment. I feel there’s work to be done to bring it home that it’s not the just the federal government that’s being wantonly neglectful, but the state government too.
S A F E C L I M AT E
Our policy asks: A clean energy plan for Victoria > Dr Nicholas Aberle, Safe Climate Campaign Manager
After the blistering summer we’ve just been through, it hardly bears repeating that Victoria is extremely vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. A responsible state government will protect Victorians and ensure our communities have a safe climate. At a time when the federal government is rolling back every step of action that has been gained, the state government has an even more critical role to play. So we’re asking all major parties to bring a commitment to a Clean Energy Plan to the 2014 state election.
FIRSTLY, THE GOVERNMENT MUST aim much higher; we need an ambitious emissions reduction target that aligns with climate science: 50 percent reduction on 2000 levels by 2020. The Victorian Government should also use its influence to keep the federal government accountable on climate action and energy policy. Victoria’s electricity supply is amongst the dirtiest in the world, and is alone responsible for over 50 percent of total state greenhouse gas emissions. For that reason, we’re calling for drastic action to address both the supply and demand of our electricity. On the supply side, we need an integrated renewable energy investment
strategy that makes it possible for Victoria to both slash its emissions and simultaneously reap the rewards of the clean energy revolution. Our state government should also develop a process for phasing out at least one of our major coal-fired power stations. It is absurd for such a prosperous and innovative state to be home to some of the most polluting power stations in the world. Unconventional coal and gas projects should be kept on hold until it can be clearly shown that they pose no risk of environmental degradation and can meet low lifecycle emissions standards. On the demand side, our state government needs to commit to a range
of energy efficiency programs across residential, commercial and industrial sectors. The cheapest emissions savings are the energy we don’t use. We also want our state government to commit to not becoming part of the international problem. Plans to export our dirty brown coal must be dropped in order to encourage the uptake of renewables in developing countries and avoid tying the future of the Latrobe Valley to a resource that needs to stay in the ground. Whoever is in power after the 2014 election will have ample opportunities to take real action on climate change that benefit Victoria. Let’s make sure they do it.
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ONE MILLION HOMES
Our policy asks: Smart and sustainable homes, cities and communities > Anne Martinelli, One Million Homes Campaigner
Most houses in Victoria are pretty leaky when it comes to energy and water. In fact, houses built before 2005 average just 2 stars out of 5 for energy and water efficiency. This means they’re hotter in summer, colder in winter and a whole lot more expensive to run than they need to be.
AHEAD OF THE 2010 STATE ELECTION, the Coalition committed to significantly improving the energy and water efficiency of houses built in Victoria before 2005 when the 5-Star standard for new homes and renovations was introduced. But since then no action has been taken to deliver on this promise. If the Coalition government had begun implementing the One Million Homes plan we called for in 2010, by now we would have avoided millions of tonnes of greenhouse emissions in wasted electricity use, saved billions of litres of water and created thousands of new jobs in trades and manufacturing. And most importantly, thousands of Victorians would be living in homes that were cooler in summer, warmer in winter and cheaper to run. With life-threatening heatwaves becoming increasingly common, this would also protect those most at risk from extreme weather and take pressure off the grid, reducing the likelihood of dangerous blackouts on extremely hot days.
Everyone wins. The One Million Homes plan calls for direct government assistance to retrofit the homes of low-income Victorians (those most vulnerable to bill stress), and a mix of policy measures and financial
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incentives to encourage home-owners and landlords to invest in improvements. It’s practical, cost-effective and will save the government $2.5 billion over 20 years from the energy concessions budget that assists low income households with their bills. As we head towards the next election, all the major political parties again have the opportunity to commit to bringing our existing housing stock into the 21st century. But this time they need to actually deliver.
H E A LT H Y R I V E R S
Our policy asks: An action plan to restore Victoria’s river corridors > Juliet Le Feuvre, Healthy Rivers Campaigner
Our rivers are our number one resource. We can’t live without them and nor can the thousands of native species that call our rivers home. Yet over half of publicly-owned river banks are open slather for livestock.
THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY LIVESTOCK has been identified as the number one manageable impact on river health. Stock access to waterways damages vegetation, decreases water quality, causes erosion, impacts upon threatened species, and poses a risk to human health. It’s been listed as a threatening process under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act. The solution is pretty straightforward – fencing off riverbanks and managing them for biodiversity conservation rather than grazing, starting with the 17,000km of public land that’s currently managed under a grazing licence by adjacent landholders. The Victorian government recognises the problem but at the current rate of progress and investment it will take 100 years to fence off the public land! Removing stock from public land on riverbanks requires a number of steps: • Identifying the highest value areas for protection through a VEAC inquiry • Preparing all licence holders for changes to their licence conditions, starting at the next licence renewal in October 2014 • Government investment of $30 million per year for 6 years to fence off river frontages, revegetate them and provide off-stream watering for stock • This funding to include extra Catchment Management Authority staff to implement the licence transition – two or three positions per CMA area • All grazing licences to be amended to conservation licences by the time they are due to be renewed again in 2019.
oovaesk! ing o m o t e im t ’s It tition to Parliament rs at
Sign the pe vestock out of our rive li ap them to get ictoria.org.au/cutthecr tv n e environm
Hollands Creek, Tatong PHOTO: DANIELLE BEISCHER
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FOREVER GREEN
‘Strategic, long term campaigns such as mobilising community into action for positive change are vital to create system change in modern democratic societies.’ At Environment Victoria every day we meet inspiring, passionate people – one of them is Sue Noy. Since 2004 Sue has supported Environment Victoria as volunteer, Vice President and board member. Four years ago she decided to leave a lasting legacy to Environment Victoria in her Will, helping to create a Victoria that’s forever green. Green Action News spoke with Sue about what drives her passion for the environment.
Sue Noy is Forever Green > Lena Herrera Piekarski, Fundraising Officer GAN: What are your greatest environmental concerns? SUE: I continue to be amazed and at times distressed by the lack of public understanding that we humans are entirely dependent on our current environment. The ‘environment’ will survive into the future, but at the rate we are going that environment will not be one that humans can live in. I mourn for the loss of forests and other ecosystems. But climate change is currently my major concern, especially with the aggressive actions of government against responsible and visionary responses to the threat it poses. GAN: Why did you decide to leave a bequest to Environment Victoria? SUE: I donate my time and money to enable Environment Victoria to be a strong voice on the issues that I care about. Being part of the Environment Victoria’s board, I could see that bequests were a great way for me to continue to support an organisation after I’m gone. So about four years ago I decided to leave a bequest to Environment Victoria, to continue my
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legacy of supporting an organisation that shares my passion for Victoria’s unique environment, and is working to secure a safe climate future. GAN: Why do you think Environment Victoria would be a good choice to leave your legacy? SUE: Environment Victoria is a tough, hardworking and effective environmental NGO, strategically tackling the big challenges we face in protecting our priceless environment and having success. I want to make sure Environment Victoria can continue to be a strong voice for the environment and our community’s future after I’m gone. Strategic, long term campaigns such as mobilising community into action for positive change are vital to create system change in modern democratic societies. That will continue into the future, so a bequest is help for future work. GAN: What is your hope for the future of Victoria and for your children’s lives? SUE: My future Victoria is a strong and vibrant place, with diverse ecosystems
G R E E N A C T I O N N E W S | I S S U E 2 1 | A U T U M N 2 0 1 4 | w w w. e n v i r o n m e n t v i c t o r i a . o r g . a u
throughout the urban and rural areas of the state, healthy rivers and mountain ash forests. We will have transitioned away from fossil fuel dependence and toward renewable power generation and water capture. We will have moved on from the current linear systems of excessive consumption and waste. We will be living in thriving communities that embrace closed loop systems – reusing, sharing resources, fostering local food production, and respecting the natural world that we are a small part of. As for my children I want them to grow up in a safe and healthy environment.
BECOME FOREVER GREEN Like Sue, you too can help Victoria become Forever Green. Simply fill in the form on the next page and we’ll send you your very own Forever Green Information Pack.
H E A LT H Y R I V E R S
URGENT: Help create healthy rivers Dear Mark, Yes! I want to help create clean and healthy rivers and water catchments for the people and wildlife that depend on them. Please accept my donation of:
■ $100
■ $250
■ $500
■ $1000
■ Surprise us $ _______________
■ Cheque or ■ Money Order (payable to Environment Victoria Inc.) Or charge my credit card as follows. ■ Amex ■ Mastercard ■ Visa
Please find enclosed:
Cardholder’s name: ________________________________________Expiry date: __ __ / __ __ Signature: ___________________________
Card number:
■ Please send me information about how I can create a Victoria that’s FOREVER GREEN by making a gift to Environment Victoria in my Will. ■ Please send me information about how I can safeguard Victoria’s environment for the long term by becoming a Green Action Partner. Are your personal details correct on your letter? Or are you moving soon? Please update your personal information here if necessary. PERSONAL DETAILS Title:
First Name:
Family Name:
Address: Suburb:
State:
Postcode:
Email: Tel: (BH)
(AH)
Please complete this form, tear off this page and return it to Reply Paid 12575, A’Beckett Street, Melbourne, VIC 8006 or visit
www.environmentvictoria.org.au/give and make your donation online. Thank you for your generosity!
G R E E N A C T I O N N E W S | I S S U E 2 1 | A U T U M N 2 0 1 4 | w w w. e n v i r o n m e n t v i c t o r i a . o r g . a u
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WHO’S WHO AT
Active Chief Executive Officer Mark Wakeham Outgoing Chief Executive Officer Kelly O’Shanassy CAMPAIGNS & PROGRAMS Healthy Rivers Campaigner Juliet Le Feuvre Safe Climate Campaign Manager Nicholas Aberle One Million Homes Campaigner Anne Martinelli Sustainable Living Manager Michele Burton One Planet Living Campaigner Lakshmi Venugopal Sustainable Living Program Managers Domenica Settle Eva Gaita Sustainable Living Project Officers Kat Gaita Miranda Blok Jeremy Wiggins Wendy Hopkins Richard Whatley
Community Organiser Jane Stabb Administration Assistant Lara Fitzgerald Beissbarth Communications Manager Alex Merory Communications Officer Tom Hartney OPERATIONS Organisational Services Manager Nadine Ponomarenko Accounts Officer Helen Vine Administration Officer Cate Hoyle Fundraising Manager Amber Sprunt Fundraising Officer Lena Herrera Piekarski Database Officer Tony Cox
BOARD President Amanda Nuttall Vice-President Joan Staples Robyn Murphy Simone Zmood Hugh Wareham Dieter Schadt Carl Young Emma Humann Alice Skipper Kate Colvin REGULAR VOLUNTEERS Les Smith Ian Hazewinkel Lance Lessels Sarah Bowe Michael Alexander Christy Arnott Neil Barter Jackson Clerke Robyn Erwin Bruce Cutts Ingrid DeNeve Mark Wallace
Gabriella Hont Ayumi Dentry Kylie Rhie-Jones Joan Selby Smith Judith Wakeman Amanda Rasmussen-Huang Don McArthur Mike Hansen Karly Roolker Katie Lindsay-Smith Raphael Johnston Sawyer Peterson Ian Partridge Monique Edwards TALK TO US Phone (03) 9341 8100 Email admin@environmentvictoria.org.au Fax (03) 9341 8199 PO Box 12575 A’Beckett Street, Victoria, 8006 www.environmentvictoria.org.au
Did you know you can donate online? www.environmentvictoria.org.au/give