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Green Action News MOBILISING PEOPLE TO SAFEGUARD OUR ENVIRONMENT
Help us save the Murray, forever. PLUS The first 100 days of the new state government
I S S UE 14 • AUTUMN 2 0 1 1
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THIS ISSUE
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Help us Save the Murray, forever
Green Action News
Issue 14, Autumn 2011 Design 2Fish Productions Print Print Bound Contributing writers Vicki Kyriakakis, Mark Wakeham, Kelly O’Shanassy, Sarah Dobney, Michele Burton, Domenica Settle, Amelia Young, Juliet Le Feuvre, Nina Bailey, Charlie Davie, Louise Matthiesson Editor Vicki Kyriakakis (03) 9341 8125 editor@environmentvictoria.org.au Membership enquiries (03) 9341 8100 admin@environmentvictoria.org.au Media enquiries (03) 9341 8127 louise.mathiesson@greenmedia.org.au Green Action News is an Environment Victoria publication. For more information, visit www.environmentvictoria.org.au
Putting a price tag on pollution
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Cattle in the high country
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Flemington: A greener place to be
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Alevi Community Council scores 5,000 litre tanks
Irrigators speak up for the Murray River
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First 100 Days of the new state government CoalWatch: our new campaign resource
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GreenTown goes to work
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Murray River: Crossing the Divide
Big challenges ahead in 2011 > Kelly O’Shanassy, Chief Executive Officer
What do a price on carbon, a decision to build a new coal plant in Victoria, and a plan to return water to the Murray River have in common? They’re all happening in 2011. THERE’S NEVER ANY shortage of environmental challenges for us to work on and 2011 is no exception. But there are four big actions for Environment Victoria this year that will take most of our attention. SAVE THE MURRAY. Our article on the next page tells you all you need to know about the plight of the Murray River and our plans to save it in 2011. This year, the federal government will decide how much water to give back to the Murray. We intend to stand up for the silent 77 percent of Australians – farmers and city dwellers alike – who want the Murray saved. NO NEW COAL PLANT FOR VICTORIA. Right now, the EPA is close to giving the proposed HRL coal plant its final approvals before it can be built. But with so many cleaner and safer ways for
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Victoria to produce electricity it would be a total travesty for the power plant to go ahead. Should the EPA decide to give this polluting project the go-ahead, we’ll be there to put a stop to it. Read more about it on page 10. REPLACE HAZELWOOD. The dates have been set for a price on carbon – July 2012. So we’ll be lobbying hard to make sure that the price is set at a level that will help replace our dirtiest power stations – like Hazelwood – with clean energy. We’ve outlined the key tests for a strong carbon price on page 7. SUSTAINABILITY AGENDA FOR VICTORIA. Our new state government hasn’t exactly made the most environmentally friendly start to their term. So we’ve got our work cut out for us. But rest assured, we’ll hold them
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accountable for a credible environment plan over the next four years. We’ll continue to work on our One Million Homes retrofit program and push for government investment in water and energy efficiency, and sustainable behaviour programs. We’ll be supporting our friends at the VNPA to get cattle out of our national parks, rolling out brand new sustainable living programs, and launching our new CoalWatch resource that will help Victorians keep track of coal projects in the state. We look forward to your support over the next year and thank you for being a big part of Environment Victoria’s work. After all, there’s never been a more important time to take Green Action for our environment.
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W AT E R A N D H E A LT H Y R I V E R S
This year, lets save the Murray, forever. > Amelia Young, Healthy Rivers Campaigner
The Murray River is the lifeblood of our country. But for decades we’ve been bleeding it dry.
WE NEED ACTION TO ARREST THE DECLINE OF THE RIVER SYSTEM AND WE MUST MOVE AHEAD WITH IMPORTANT NATIONAL WATER REFORM.
IF YOU HAD ONLY a quarter of your blood coursing through your veins, you’d be dead. In 2009 the mighty Murray had only 26 percent of its long-term average flows left in it. Over the decade or more of drought conditions, inflows into the Murray River and its tributaries decreased. Yet massive amounts of water continued to be extracted for consumptive use. The Murray was struggling to survive. With the recent rains, the river’s mouth is now flowing into the Southern Ocean for the first time in years. But the problem’s not solved. Nothing can survive on one decent drink every 20 years. At the eleventh hour the rains gave the Coorong and our spectacular River Red Gum forest wetlands a much needed drink. But this summer’s flood events can’t fix the environmental damage caused by years of overuse.
For too long our rivers have been mismanaged and exploited. It’s time to look after them. We all know that the way water is shared in the Murray is not working. Now is our opportunity to re-think how
to share total available water. In the face of dangerous climate change, not only do we need to grapple with ‘a land of droughts and flooding rains’, but with droughts and floods of increasing severity. We can’t afford to waste our natural resources anymore. We need to save the Murray River to secure jobs, our health, and the economy.
In fact, a healthy Murray-Darling Basin would deliver almost $10 billion of environmental, social and economic benefits to Australians. Some in the irrigator lobby groups are claiming that giving water back to the environment will cost jobs with huge social and economic impacts. But recent economic research shows that a healthy Murray-Darling Basin provides improved direct benefits (like nature based tourism) and indirect benefits – water filtration, water storage, and habitat for species that provide valuable services to the agricultural sector.1 To give but one example of a benefit provided by a healthy river: a single rookery of Straw Necked Ibis can
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W AT E R A N D H E A LT H Y R I V E R S
TAKE ACTION Influential irrigation lobby groups are touting outrageous myths in a blatant attempt to delay action to Save the Murray. That’s why it’s up to us to act now and fight back with the truth. Your voice and financial support will make all the difference to Australia’s greatest river and the lifeblood of our country.
MAKE A DONATION Your donation will help us run a critical public campaign to counter the lies of powerful vested interests trying to derail our efforts to Save the Murray. We’ll bust the myths and speak up for you – the ordinary Australians and communities who want to save the Murray River for our children. We’ve got big plans but we can’t do it without you. Fill in the donation form on page 15 to make your donation today >
SIGN OUR PETITION A healthy Murray River will provide us with billions of dollars worth of benefits – like fresh, clean water, and secure regional jobs. Demand that our government stand up to the vested interests and Save the Murray, forever. Sign our online petition at: www.environmentvictoria. org.au/content/save-themurray
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consume 500 tonnes of insects a day that would otherwise be eating crops and multiplying.2 In calling for the Plan to deliver up to 7,600 billion litres of water to be return to the Basin’s rivers, we’re asking the Murray-Darling Basin Authority to properly quantify the benefits to be had from restoring the system to health, and indeed, the costs and risks of not taking this course of action.
There’s no doubt about it, we need better economic management of the Murray River. We need action to arrest the decline of the river system and we must move ahead with important national water reform.
Here at Environment Victoria we’re kick-starting a big campaign to Save the Murray, forever. We want to give a voice to the 77 percent of Australians who’ve said they want the Murray River to be saved.3 Up to 7,600 billion litres of water must be returned to the Murray River. That’s 4,500 MCGs worth of water. It’s what the scientists say is needed to return Australia’s greatest river system to health.
In 2011, political leaders will decide the fate of the Murray. We have a once in a generation opportunity to turn things around. We hope you’ll join us – because this is the year to Save the Murray, forever.
1 ACF (February 2011) What’s a healthy Murray-Darling Basin worth to Australians? http://www.acfonline.org.au/uploads/res/ACF_MDB_economic_analysis_2-2-11.pdf, accessed 10 March, 2011. 2 At Border Rivers-Gwydir Catchment Management Authority http://brg.cma.nsw.gov.au/index.php?page=vegetation_ management, accessed 10 March, 2011. 3 At http://www.acfonline.org.au/articles/news.asp?news_id=3194, accessed 10 March, 2011.
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Busting the myths Right now, the Murray-Darling Basin Authority is deciding how much water to return to the Basin’s rivers. Irrigator lobbyists and agribusiness with vested interests are spouting myths to prevent our rivers from getting the water they need. Here are the facts.
MYTH: It’s rained so the
MYTH: Returning water to the
Murray-Darling Plan should be delayed or scrapped altogether.
environment will cost jobs and destroy rural communities.
one decent drink every 20 years. The Plan is our once-in-ageneration chance to turn things around to save the Murray and the communities that depend on it, forever.
FACT: Rural communities thrive on healthy rivers, they’re not destroyed by them. Only a river with water in it can help deliver economic and environmental benefits – business-as-usual is not an option.
MYTH: We’ll run out of food if
MYTH: The Commonwealth
water is returned to the environment.
Government will force irrigators to give up their water.
FACT: Nothing can survive on
FACT: Even under drought conditions we’ve grown more food than we can eat.
FACT: The government only buys water from farmers who decide to sell it.
For more myth-busting details, visit www.environmentvictoria.org.au/busting-the-myths
What the floods mean for our environment Our parched rivers and wildlife have been given a breather after recent flooding brought life back to degraded rivers and wetlands. SINCE 1983, WATERBIRD numbers in the Murray-Darling Basin plummeted by a massive 80 percent. Some waterbirds have taken advantage of the recent rains though, laying clutches of eggs and raising their young on the booming numbers of invertebrates and spawning native fish. The upshot is that bird numbers have increased slightly and
populations are now estimated to be 3040 percent of the long-term average. The positive environmental effects of the flood events could potentially last for years, with the biodiversity of Kerang and Hattah Lakes, and Barmah-Millewa, Koondrook-Pericoota forest wetlands benefitting from the rain. All this is encouraging, but the baseline was very low and the recent rains cannot make up for degradation caused by years of lack of water. If this season is followed by another series of dry years – and we don’t have environmental watering programs in
place – we risk allowing our river systems to seriously decline once again. In short, the recent Victorian flood events don’t solve the crises our rivers are still facing: the Murray River has experienced years of drought followed by intense flooding, but under climate change, we can expect more severe weather patterns. Only a strong Murray-Darling Basin Plan that makes the most of the recent rains and secures up to 7,600 billion litres of water for the long-term health of the Murray will ensure our environment thrives – no matter what the weather.
Learn more about our Save the Murray campaign at www.environmentvictoria.org.au/save-the-murray
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W AT E R A N D H E A LT H Y R I V E R S
Irrigators speak up for the Murray River > Juliet Le Feuvre, Healthy Rivers Campaigner
Helen’s three year old son Jason would reap the benefits of a healthy Murray River.
You’ve probably heard that irrigators along the Murray River oppose a strong plan to return water to the River. And we’ve seen copies of the Guide to the Draft Murray-Darling Basin Plan burnt in the streets in Griffith. Now, Green Action News speaks to two Victorian irrigators who are swimming against the tide. THEY MAY COME from different parts of the state, but Bill MacLumpha from Red Cliffs and Helen Reynolds from Shepparton agree on one thing: healthy rivers benefit more than just the birds and fish. “A healthy river is critical for the survival of riverine communities and for irrigators,” Bill says. And Bill should know – his family as been in the area since the Great War. His sultana and wine grape farm depends on a healthy Murray River. “A healthy river means, or would mean, water users such as myself are farming sustainably, not at the expense of, or despite the environment as has been the case.” Helen – who farms grain and fodder crops – agrees. “For me a healthy river is about a lot of things. It’s about water quality, having enough flows and overbank flooding so that fish and birds can breed. It’s about the movement of water on and off wetlands [and] the survival of threatened species. But I don’t think it has to be the needs of farmers versus the environment.” Helen says the health of the river also directly influences the quality of water irrigators have to use and comes with many natural benefits. “[It’s] a home for native bees that we need to pollinate
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crops and birds to eat insect pests. And of course, it’s a wonderful place to spend time and go for a swim!” Having watched the river for years, Bill says the balance in recent decades has been tipped against the environment. “There has to be a long-term balance between diversions and environmental flows, to maintain water quality and sustain riverine environmental systems,” Bill says.
“WE NEED A BASIN PLAN TO RETURN THE BASIN TO HEALTH. DELAYING THE PROCESS ISN’T GOING TO HELP THAT.” Both irrigators see the Basin Plan as the way to shift that balance back towards the environment. “Over the past century, government policies have encouraged farmers to use water,” Helen says. “Not all that water was used wisely
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and there are areas that have been irrigated that, because of the soil quality or distance to move the water, should never have been irrigated. I think we need a Basin Plan so that we can have a long-term focus on returning the Basin to good health. Delaying the process isn’t going to help that.” Bill too would like to see a plan that delivers a better outcome to the environment but without – as he puts it – crucifying irrigators along the way. “There is not universal support, but there is genuine widespread support amongst irrigators for a basin plan along the lines of the draft MDP.” But Bill believes a lot of confusion and misinformation around the plan has been created and sustained by anti-plan interests groups and inflammatory media coverage. “The debate has been poorly informed and divisive with a majority of irrigators believing – and still believing – that entitlements would be forfeited,” Bill says. It’s a myth that Bill is keen to bust. “Irrigators can retain or sell their entitlement as they wish.” In fact, Bill says, being able to sell water to the government for return to the environment has helped irrigators in hard times. “The buyback program has increased the value of water entitlements and this has benefited the many irrigators who are being forced out of business. Or who need to raise capital to continue irrigating. My own business benefited substantially from the federal buybacks.”
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S A F E C L I M AT E
A6U571N (FLICKR)
Putting a price-tag on pollution > Mark Wakeham, Campaigns Director
ON 24 FEBRUARY, the Prime Minister announced her intention to commence a price on carbon on 1 July 2012. And it will apply to most sectors of the Australian economy. A fixed carbon price will apply for three to five years, and then the scheme will migrate to a capand-trade scheme with a binding target. Here at Environment Victoria, we welcomed the announcement. But as always – the devil will be in the detail. The two most important decisions are yet to be made. What will the starting price on carbon be and how will the revenues be spent? This year we’ll be campaigning for an effective price on carbon as a continuation of our efforts to replace polluting power stations like Hazelwood. We’ll be highlighting the need for a price-tag on pollution, but also working to ensure that the price-tag actually works to reduce pollution. So, here are our key tests of a price on carbon: TEST 1: Does it reduce emissions across the Australian economy? Sounds pretty simple but it’s in no way guaranteed. Particularly if we don’t have a cap on pollution in the early years. Importantly, we need to ensure we’re making real emissions reductions in
Australia – not just buying offsets from overseas. These reductions need to be adequate to put us within reach of what the science tells us is necessary. TEST 2: Does it replace our most polluting power stations – like Hazelwood – with clean energy? Whether or not this happens will depend on whether the mistakes of the CPRS are repeated and billions of dollars is given to coal-fired power generators to continue polluting. A timeframe needs to be set for their replacement. TEST 3: Does it kick-start the transition to a clean-energy economy? A starting price of carbon in the order of $50 per tonne will be necessary to bring online clean energy projects and prevent construction of new coal-fired power stations like HRL. A strong pricetag on pollution will make clean energy cheaper. That way, we can take advantage of our powerful sun, wind and waves to power our homes and businesses.
PHOTO
BY:
It’s the biggest game in town this year, but the question still remains: will 2011 be the year in which our Federal Parliament finally introduces a price on carbon?
TEST 4: Does it help families and businesses reduce their energy use? Using some of the revenues to invest in energy efficiency for our homes and businesses will help families deal with the rising cost of living and lock in emissions reductions for decades to come. TEST 5: Is it all we’re doing? Some in the business community want to use the price on carbon as an excuse to axe all other climate change programs. But we know a price on carbon won’t be enough. We’ll still need renewable energy targets, feed-in-tariffs, public transport investment, energy efficiency standards and programs, and lots more. Environment Victoria is rolling out a significant campaign to ensure the price on carbon meets these tests. Our campaign has already started with some good media coverage. We look forward to working with you this year to bring a price-tag on pollution into reality.
To keep up-to-date with the campaign and what you can do to get involved, sign-up for our Safe Climate Bulletin at www.environmentvictoria.org.au/sign-up.
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THE YEAR AHEAD
The first 100 days of the new state government > Kelly O’Shanassy, Chief Executive Officer
VI
THEY’VE PUT COWS back into our national parks, tried to block a national plan to Save the Murray, and made it harder to build a windfarm than a new coal mine. Not very progressive to say the least. When the Victorian Coalition took power in November’s state election, it did so without releasing a formal policy on the environment or climate change. In the absence of a clear plan, it’s impossible for
ROWAT
The new Victorian Government is introducing policy that will make windfarms harder to build.
Fi
ys
HELPING OUR ENVIRONMENT
rs
t 100 Da
Switching off the pipe The Coalition have made som e progress in switching off the northsouth pipeline (when Melbou rne doesn’t need the water) and giving the water to our rivers. This action isn’t fully implemented thou gh, keep your fingers crossed!
TAKE ACTION! Now more than ever we need your help to speak up for our environment. Donate to our Save the Murray campaign, and help us make sure the Victorian Coalition Government doesn’t derail a national plan to Save the Murray River. See page 15 for more >
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Victorians to know exactly what the Coalition will do to protect our environment. You can expect to hear more from us on this issue as we lobby for a credible state agenda for our environment. Until then, we’ll continue to hold them to account. As a first step, check out our new EnviroWatch tracker for the breakdown on how green the state government’s actions really are!
CH
EN
It’s past 100 days into Victoria’s new coalition government and we’re struggling to find many actions they’ve taken that are good for our environment.
HELPING DESTROY OUR ENV IRONMENT Cattle grazing in the Alpine Nat ional Park The Coalition has let cattle loos e in our national parks under the guise of ‘scientific grazing’. This is a huge step backwards for conservatio n in Australia. Made windfarms harder to buil d The Coalition is placing onerou s conditions to build windfarms within 2 km of any residence, unlike conditions placed on any othe r industrial development. This makes it easier to build a coalmine then a windfarm! Delaying the plan to Save the Murray The Coalition wants the Mur ray-Darling Basin Plan delayed because of the recent rain. They seem to have forgotten how the Murray suff ered during the last two decades of drought! Support for a new coal-fired pow er station The Coalition supports the buil ding of a new coal station for Victoria, despite clea ner energy choices being readily available. Lifted Target 155 The Coalition has lifted this voluntary target that helps Victorians know when they are using water efficiently. There is never a reas on to be wasting water. Extended duck hunting season Now that the ducks are reco vering from the drought, the Coalition has extended the length of time available to shoot them! (No, we don’t mean the Coalition)
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THE YEAR AHEAD
Cattle back in the High Country Cattle are back in the Alpine National Park after a controversial decision by the new Baillieu Government to overturn a 2005 ban on grazing within park boundaries. The move, made under the guise of ‘scientific cattle grazing’, has left scientists baffled and the Park worse for wear.
UP TO 400 CATTLE have been introduced to six ‘research’ sites in the Park as part of the ‘study’, despite 125 Australian scientists calling on the Victorian Government earlier this year to postpone its cattle grazing trials. In a letter to state environment minister Ryan Smith, the scientists said the trials lacked scientific integrity and warned the government it may have broken federal laws. Advice provided to the VNPA by the Environment Defenders Office in January confirmed that the Victorian Government must refer any plans to return cattle grazing to the Alpine National Park to the federal government for consideration and approval. Speaking to The Age in February this year Federal Minister for the Environment, Tony Burke, said the Victorian Government appeared to be treating the national park as though it were a farm. “A few weeks ago I was involved in arguments with the Japanese Government over so-called scientific whaling,” Mr Burke said. “Now I’m here with what the Victorian Government is
wanting to describe as so-called scientific grazing.” Mr Burke said the Victorian government was yet to provide any information to the federal Environment Department to demonstrate the scientific merit of the trial. “My department has been asking for information about this so-called scientific grazing for some time. The information that’s come to us so far hasn’t shown any evidence that they even did a base-line study as to what the situation was before the cattle were introduced.” The VNPA says allowing grazing in the Alpine National Park could set a precedent that would open the gate for cattle grazing and other damaging activities in national parks around the country. “Unless the federal government takes action to enforce national environment and heritage laws, other states and lobby groups could see this as a green light to try their own hare-brained schemes in some of our most precious natural areas,” said Victorian National
Parks Association Executive Director Matt Ruchel. “What will we see next? Scientific logging in the Daintree? Scientific grazing on Kosciuszko? Scientific oil drilling on the Great Barrier Reef?” Fourteen leading environment and heritage groups – including the VNPA and Environment Victoria – released a statement in February calling on Federal Minister Tony Burke to use his powers under federal environment laws to intervene and halt the trial. And Federal Member for Melbourne – Adam Bandt – has introduced a private members bill into Federal Parliament to ban cattle grazing from the park permanently. The VNPA’s parks protection spokesperson, Phil Ingamells, said that the cattle grazing was already having an impact. “It’s been shown to have a significant impact on endangered alpine wetlands, sphagnum bogs and fens, and species like the Alpine Tree Frog, which are protected under federal environment laws.” Scientists who have visited the grazing plot have said cattle are “trampling” rare frogs and wetlands, which are both listed as threatened. And the Minister himself has witnessed first hand the destructive effects. “Using a national park as a farm is wrong, simple as that,” he told reporters on-site at the park. “You can see already in just a few weeks the damage that’s being done.” Conservationists are now pressuring Minister Burke to match his words with action by using his legal powers to halt the trial and order a full environmental impact assessment.
Come along to the VNPA's Public Meeting to hear more about this issue. Details are on the back of this newsletter. For more information on the VNPA’s ongoing campaign, visit www.vnpa.org.au. The endangered Alpine Tree frog lives in mountain wetlands and is threatened by cattle grazing. (CREDIT: PHOTO
COURTESY OF
PETER ROBINSON
AND
VNPA)
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S A F E C L I M AT E
New polluting power station for Victoria?
Coalwatch OUR NEW CAMPAIGN RESOURCE
> Mark Wakeham, Campaigns Director > Sarah Dobney, Communications Officer
The EPA is still in the process of deciding whether or not to approve the new polluting HRL coal-fired power station for Victoria. THE WORKS APPROVAL process has been delayed as the EPA waits for further information requested from HRL. At the time of printing, HRL had yet to provide that information. The company’s lack of cooperation is starting to raise eyebrows. In the meantime, we’ve drawn attention to the project in the media in recent weeks and publically called for the EPA to knock-back the proposal. A decision isn’t expected until at least April. We expect that the Environment Protection Authority will live up to their name and act to protect our environment by rejecting this proposal outright. However, should the new power station go ahead, it will increase Victoria’s greenhouse pollution by 4 million tonnes a year. So we’re going to be pulling out all stops to prevent the project. Along with ensuring an effective price on carbon, it will be our biggest climate campaign this year. We can’t say much more at this stage, but rest assured if the EPA approves the power station, you’ll be hearing from us! Stay tuned for more.
Victoria’s emissions from coal-fire power could rise if HRL’s plans get given the go ahead.
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We’re very excited to announce our latest and greatest campaign resource – CoalWatch. Environment Victoria’s new CoalWatch resource will track coal projects around the state.
It’s an interactive, online resource that tracks the dangerous expansion plans of Victoria’s brown coal industry and will help build a movement to stop these polluting moves. CoalWatch is based on the successful CoalSwarm website in the US, which became the nerve-centre for an anti-coal movement that succeeded in preventing the construction of almost 100 new coal plants. Impressive! So with a little help from our US friends, we’ve set up our very own tracking system that provides details on coal mining leases, power station developments, coal export plans, and so-called ‘clean coal’ developments all over Victoria. The need for a system like this became clear in 2009 when secret plans by the state government to export brown coal from Victoria became public only after a leak to the media. Now through CoalWatch, we plan to make sure any proposed coal projects are in the public domain well before they are a done deal – giving you, the community, the chance to have your say. So jump online and get all the dirty details on the coal industry in Victoria: www.environmentvictoria.org.au/coalwatch
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S U S TA I N A B L E L I F E S T Y L E S
Flemington: Agreener place to be. > Nina Bailey, Project Manager, Sustainable Living
GreenTown Assessor, Ahmed Adem is helping Flemington residents take Green Action.
Ten Flemington residents from Eritrea, Ethiopia, Oromia and Somalia have been trained in home and business sustainability assessment in our GreenTown project. THE GREENTOWN ASSESSORS have hit the ground running, reaching out to 70 households in the Flemington public housing estate and 15 local businesses. They’ve been out talking about the environment in their own languages and showing their communities how to take Green Action and live more sustainably. They’ve told us they’re feeling proud of their role as influential environmental leaders. “I see it every day – the change I have made,” says Somali GreenTown Assessor, Ahmed. “I just get so happy. I’m pleased that I still live in a place where I think I have made a significant change to. Every time I visit a house with a friend, I recognise something in that house – the [compact fluoro] lights perhaps.” Now, Environment Victoria’s partnership with Flemington Neighbourhood Renewal is expanding. As well as GreenTown, we’re working together to deliver a recycling pilot. Like most older public housing estates, Flemington has no residential recycling. It was a gap that the Moonee Valley City Council, Flemington Neighbourhood Renewal and local residents wanted to see plugged. That’s where Environment Victoria stepped in. The new recycling bins are now ready and we’re confident that we’ve started something huge. Environment Victoria is training Vietnamese outreach workers to explain recycling to the largely Vietnamese population of the trial buildings. And the word is spreading. After hearing about the wonderful changes being made by their East African neighbours, Flemington’s Chinese community has also been keen to get active. Interest in sustainable living has
flowed throughout the estate. As a result, we’ve decided to run another project. Flemington Green will start in April, with help of additional funding granted from Sustainability Victoria’s Neighbourhood Renewal Fund. The new project will bring together the Chinese, Vietnamse communities and newer members of the East African community. They’ll be given the opportunity to take part in workshops and field trips to learn more about Melbourne’s environment. Local residents, who know their community, will be employed to engage residents. Through local green jobs, community development, great community networks and loads of passion for the environment, Flemington’s becoming a greener place to be.
“PEOPLE OF MY NEIGHBOURHOOD JUST WISH THAT SOMETHING LIKE GREENTOWN IS ON THE WAY. I TELL THEM IT HAS JUST STARTED.” — Ahmed, Somali GreenTown Assessor
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Greentown goes to work > Michele Burton, Project Manager, Sustainable Living
Indigenous community organisations in Melbourne are taking part in an exciting new project that will encourage their staff to go green. THE ACTIVITY WILL BE part of Environment Victoria’s GreenTown program, which has already worked with 9 Victorian multicultural communities and 45 businesses. The program has worked together with these communities to cut down water and save energy and money. Environment Victoria staff are now working with Gurwidj Aboriginal Neighbourhood House to set up a unique and special GreenTown program for participating Indigenous community organisations. The project will see each community organisation that is taking part receive an assessment by Indigenous GreenTown Assessors. The process will help them make immediate savings and train employees to support ongoing sustainable workplace practices by becoming part of a workplace Green Team. Sharon Bamblett of Gurwidj House says the program is an opportunity for Aboriginal community organisations to take the lead on workplace environmental action. “There are lots of small things that people can do every day in their offices that they might not be aware of. A Green Team will help educate and remind people of what these are. And because the training will
GreenTown assessors, Richard Bamblett (background) and Shannon Laver (foreground) undergo their business training
be by Indigenous Leaders, it will be conducted in a culturally appropriate way.” The Green Teams will be making sure printers are set to double sided, computer monitors are turned off at night, implementing paper recycling schemes and much more.
For more information on this exciting new project, visit www.environmentvictoria. org.au/green-town or contact Michele Burton on (03) 9341 8105.
Multicultural Leaders a boon for Victoria’s environment > Charlie Davie, Project Manager, Sustainable Living
As our federal politicians reflect on the role of multiculturalism in Australia, our Sustainable Living team can speak first hand about the great benefits new refugees and young migrants bring to the community.
The latest crew of Multicultural Leaders is taking the sustainability message even further. ENVIRONMENT VICTORIA’S MULTICULTURAL Leaders in Sustainability (MLS) project is now in its fifth year. Combining English language learning and settlement support with environmental education, MLS is bringing a diversity of benefits to multicultural communities.
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The team will be working in St Albans in 2011, in a new partnership with our friends at AMES. Sustainable Living Project Manager, Nina Bailey, said the program was an effective way to not only get environmental outcomes, but also to help speed the settlement process for new refugees and migrants. “Recently arrived migrants and refugees we work with are really ready to commit to our country. They’re thirsty for knowledge about Australia and looking for opportunities to use their skills. When they learn that we have serious environmental challenges to deal with, they want to jump straight in and help.” Nina said the MLS program gave them the opportunity to do exactly this, and to share their knowledge with family, friends and their communities. Our new group of 17 multicultural leaders are aged between 18 to 26 and have lived in Australia for anywhere between one month to a year. They come from around the world – Sudan, Afghanistan, Egypt, Iran, Turkey, Macedonia, Vietnam and China. Most of them speak at least two languages other than English. “One of the exciting things about this work is hearing about the water and food accessibility issues, and effects of a climate change in different parts of the world,” Nina said. “We also get to hear about how they are meeting these challenges. Comparing how people get their water and how they use it in their home countries makes for some fascinating and illuminating discussions.”
For more information on our MLS program and the latest updates, visit us online at www.environmentvictoria.org.au or contact Charlie Davie on (03) 9341 8108.
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Alevi Community Council scores 5,000 litre tanks > Domenica Settle, Project Officer, Sustainable Living
The Alevi Community Council of Australia has become the proud new owner of two 5,000 litre rainwater tanks, thanks in part to Environment Victoria’s GreenTown program.
The Alevi Community Council are proud of their new rainwater tanks, as they take sustainability to the next level.
THE COUNCIL IS ONE of our many partners in our GreenTown project and a thriving community hub. With a Turkish language school, playgroup sessions, theatre performances, and even a funeral service in line with Alevi beliefs, there are plenty of uses for 10,000 litres of rainwater. Environment Victoria Project Manager, Michele Burton headed to the community centre in North Coburg for the installation of the new tanks that GreenTown helped to fund. “The tanks are just a small part of the sustainability work the community council is now doing, but they were just so excited to get them,” Michele said. “It was great to be there.” While installers were busy climbing ladders and digging holes, the Turkish and Kurdish speaking GreenTown assessors were carrying out more sustainability assessments. Trained at the Alevi Centre under Environment Victoria’s GreenTown program the assessors are helping to evaluate the centre’s progress and so far, they say the results are good. One assessor says she talks to friends about saving water “all the time”, and admits she spent Christmas Day getting solar panels installed. Michele said the program was getting some encouraging results. “We’re getting some really encouraging evaluation results, and at the same time the project just keeps growing and growing.” The GreenTown program has worked with four communities so far, and is getting underway with another two – the Burmese community in Ringwood and the multicultural community in the Collingwood public housing estate. And the stories that are coming out of the program are encouraging. One Egyptian participant has come to love public transport; while an Eritrean man – who loves to talk – estimates that he’s spoken to 600 people about the environment since taking part in GreenTown. And the Alevi Council is not stopping at water tanks. With Environment Victoria’s help, they’ve won a Climate Communities grant that will take ideas from GreenTown to new communities. They’ll be doing household sustainability assessments of Turkish speaking homes in Moreland, Dandenong and Mildura. “GreenTown’s a pretty exciting project to be working on at the moment,” Michele said.
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GREEN COMMUNITIES
Murray River Centre Stage at 2011 Sutainable Living Festival
OUR CEO, KELLY O’SHANASSY, joined independent Federal Member for Lyne, Rob Oakeshott, farmer and member of the Jackson Group, John Pettigrew, and past president of the River Basin Management Society, Ross Hardie, for a community discussion on the Murray River at this year’s Sustainable Living
Festival in late February. Hosted by Rob Gel, “Murray-Darling: Crossing the Divide” drew interested festival goers, eager to hear about what is being done to rescue Australia’s greatest river and secure our future.
Have your say on environment protection in Victoria > Sarah Dobney, Communications Officer
Victoria’s Environment Protection Authority (EPA) wants to establish an open and ongoing conversation with Victorians – to hear from you on what you want for our environment.
THE VENTURE IS PART of their commitment to greater transparency with the community on its decision-making as Victoria’s environmental regulator. In addition, we here at Environment Victoria, think communities are leaders in environmental protection and action and deserve to be listened to by agencies like the EPA. That’s why we’ve joined forces to hold a series of Community Forums — so that you can have your say — and the EPA can understand what the community wants for its environment. But while we will help the EPA listen to Victorians, we'll still be holding it accountable for its decisions. Our aim is to make sure that you have your say and help the EPA make better decisions. The first open-forum discussion kicked off back in December. More than 60 passionate community members participated, telling us what mattered to them. The ideas tossed around on the evening went on to form the basis of the second forum held in February. They covered interesting topics such as sustainable consumption zero waste. (You can download the full discussion at www.epa.vic.gov.au/community_issues/communityforum.asp) Don’t worry though. There’s still a chance to come along and have your say. A third community forum will be held on Thursday, 5 May 2011 at 5.30pm. And the EPA is also holding a series of Open Houses all across the state through March.
Hop online to find an event near you: www.environmentvictoria.org.au/content/epa-coming-your-town
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This year, help us save the Murray, forever. pollies in Canberra Airport with a massive message from the silent majority who want the Murray saved but are not being heard. Help us get the truth out there. Help us spread the word that – despite the rains – our Murray River needs saving and a strong national plan to get there.
TOGETHER, WE CAN PROTECT THE MURRAY FROM IRRIGATOR LOBBY GROUPS AND VESTED INTERESTS. Your donation will help us run a critical public campaign to counter the outrageous lies that threaten the future of the Murray River. Depending on how much money we can raise, we want to book the most visible billboards. We’d love to greet the
YES! I WANT TO SAVE THE MURRAY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. ■ $25
■ $50
■ $100
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■ $500
■ Other $ _______________
■ 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: | _ _ | _ _ | _ _ | _ _ | – | _ _ | _ _ | _ _ | _ _ | – | _ _ | _ _ | _ _ | _ _ | – | _ _ | _ _ | _ _ | _ _ |
PERSONAL DETAILS Title:
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■ Please send all future correspondence by email Help us to help you by telling us a little bit more about yourself. (All information will be kept strictly confidential). Date of Birth: D_______/ M_______/ Y_______ Occupation: _____________________________________________________ ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES YOU CARE MOST ABOUT
■ All ■ Biodiversity ■ Healthy Rivers ■ Safe Climate ■ Sustainable Lifestyles ■ Smart Stuff (Less Waste) 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!
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NOTICE THIS!
WHO’S WHO AT
PUBLIC MEETING Chief Executive Officer Kelly O’Shanassy
CATTLE DON’T BELONG IN NATIONAL PARKS!
CAMPAIGNS Campaigns Director Mark Wakeham Healthy Rivers Campaign Co-Manager Juliet Le Feuvre Healthy Rivers Campaign Co-Manager Amelia Young Safe Climate and Smart Transport Campaigner Victoria McKenzie-McHarg
Stop alpine grazing – it’s a park not a paddock!
SUSTAINABLE LIVING PROGRAM Sustainable Living Director Murray Irwin (acting) Project Manager Michele Burton Project Manager Nina Bailey Program Manager Charlie Davie Project Officer Domenica Settle
When: Wednesday, 6 April 2011 Doors open 6.30pm for a 7.00pm start Where: Box Hill Town Hall, 1022 Whitehorse Road Box Hill (MEL REF Map 47 E9; six minute walk from Box Hill train station, Tram route 109)
Cost: FREE (Donations welcome) The Baillieu Government has reintroduced grazing to Victoria’s Alpine National Park under the guise of a flawed science project. Come along and hear Environment groups, scientists, politicians and others speak of why cattle grazing should be banned from our national parks. For more information visit www.vnpa.org.au, phone on (03) 9347 5188 or email vnpa@vnpa.org.au. Organised and hosted by the Victorian National Parks Association with the support of The Wilderness Society, Environment Victoria and Friends of the Earth.
OPERATIONS Organisational Services Manager Ivan Kolker Administration Coordinator Helen Vine Communications Manager Vicki Kyriakakis Communications Officer Sarah Dobney Fundraising Manager Amber Sprunt Fundraising Administration Assistant Fionnula Nugent Finance Officer Despina Giannakis Media Officer Louise Matthieson
BOARD President Russell Fisher Vice-President Elizabeth McKinnon Sue Noy Amanda Nuttall James Meldrum Robyn Murphy Simone Zmood Jeana Vithoulkas Hugh Wareham REGULAR VOLUNTEERS Paul Batey Peter Flanagan Janet Gellie Colleen Guggisberg Ian Hazewinkel Lance Lessels Cathryn Ryan Les Smith 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