Australian Local Government Environment Yearbook 2011-12 by Executive Media

THE AUSTRALIAN LOCAL GOVERNMENT

environment YEARBOOK 2011/2012 ®

ISBN 978-1-921345-20-3

the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 • 1

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Contents

4 The Banksia Awards

Energy

5 Minister’s Foreword

Community

67 Boosting local government finances through energy efficiency

70 Pecan Lighting launches LRL SAT-S fixture in Australia

6 Burying our rubbish in landfill costs Sydney dearly, but what else can we do with it?

12 CSIRO Sustainable Communities Initiative

72 Local government partnership addresses climate change impact of commercial office buildings

14 Naturally resourceful councils

74 A big positive for the Australian solar industry

14 Compost. We’ve got the field covered.

Energy – Solar

15 BusinessRecycling.com.au is for councils too

76 Choosing a photovoltaic solar array project partner

Best Practice

78 Renewable energy and local government

18 FreshBins Pty Ltd

Energy – Retrofitting

20 Regenesis: A sustainability success story

80 Beautiful views and BAL40 bushfire compliance can be done!

26 Local government climate change

82 A case for performance glass to meet stricter regulations

31 Introduction to SESA 32 Cleaning up, fixing up and rebuilding Queensland

84 Smart, sensible, sustainable retrofits

35 Protector Alsafe Training Services

Renewable Energy

Corporate Profile

87 Steps along the renewable energy path

38 McDonald’s in the community

90 Committed to energy efficiency

40 A proud contributor

Environment + Sustainability

40 Giving back through sport and recreation

92 Sustainable procurement: how local governments can lead the way

41 Ronald McDonald House charities

95 Volvo leads the way on fuel economy

Infrastructure 42 Are you ready for the AGIC national sustainability rating scheme for infrastructure?

98 Working with climate change times 100 Green your event with BioPak

46 The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council

102 BioBag

50 Improving the environmental performance of the built form

103 Think global… Green local!

Parks + Gardens

Innovation

107 Community gardening: a fruitful endeavour

58 Growing the culture of local government innovation

114 Who is Sustainable Gardening Australia (SGA)?

65 Exemplar Zero

Lighting, Exterior + Interior 116 FluoroCycle 119 Turning old lamps into new products

Published by:

430 William Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 Tel: (03) 9274 4200 Fax: (03) 9329 5295 Email: media@executivemedia.com.au Web: www.executivemedia.com.au

The Australian Local Government Environment Yearbook® is a registered trademark of Executive Media Pty Ltd. All rights reserved. First edition 1997. Second edition 1998. Third edition 1999. Fourth edition 2000. Fifth edition 2001. Sixth edition 2002. Seventh edition 2003. Eighth edition 2004. Ninth edition 2005. Tenth edition 2006. Eleventh edition 2007. Twelfth edition 2008. Thirteenth edition 2009. Fourteenth edition 2010. Fifteenth edition 2011. ISBN 978-1-921345-20-3 Edited by: Gemma Peckham Design: Jody Green

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120 Transforming your urban landscape 122 Sustainable street lighting 126 This is LED site lighting perfection 128 Hobsons Bay lighting recycling program

Equipment + Machinery 130 New Holland 132 The environmental balancing act 134 ASC Dulevo 138 Green purchasing

Regional development 142 Natural disaster and community recovery 146 Adbri Masonry 148 A sustainable solution for urban pollution

Education + Training 150 Sustainable leadership in local government 153 New infrastructure asset management course 154 Arbortrim training specialise in short course arboricultural training 155 Linking, learning and sharing together

Finance + Business STRATEGY 159 Australian councils take on Lehmans in responsible investment class action 161 How responsible is your super? 162 Be treated like a member, not just a customer

Waste Management + Sustainability 166 Avoiding the ‘Brookland Greens’

Waste Management 169 Go green with Cleanway 170 Waste and our organic future 173 Above ground mining 175 The Wheelie Bin Cleaning Company

Features: Australian City Farms & Community Gardens Network Blacktown City Council Centre for Sustainability Leadership CitySwitch Clean Up Australia CSIRO ECO-Buy Greening Australia Hobsons Bay City Council Ironbark Sustainability Lighting Council Australia Local Government Managers Australia Sustainable Gardening Australia Sydney City Council The Alternative Technology Association The Australian Bioplastics Association The Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government The Australian Fleet Managers Association (AfMA) The Australian Green Infrastructure Council The Australian Solar Energy Society The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) The Energy Efficiency Council The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) The National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) The National Centre for Sustainability The Responsible Investment Association of Australia The Urban Sustainability Support Alliance (USSA) VECCI Zero Waste Australia

The editor, publisher, printer and their staff and agents are not responsible for the accuracy or correctness of the text of contributions contained in this publication or for the consequences of any use made of the products, and the information referred to in this publication. The editor, publisher, printer and their staff and agents expressly disclaim all liability of whatsoever nature for any consequences arising from any errors or omissions contained in this publication whether caused to a purchaser of this publication or otherwise. The views expressed in the articles and other material published herein do no not necessarily reflect the views of the editor and publisher or their staff or agents. The responsibility for the accuracy of information is that of the individual contributors and neither the publisher or editor can accept responsibility for the accuracy of information which is supplied by others. It is impossible for the publisher and editors to ensure that the advertisements and other material herein comply with the Trade Practices Act 1974 (CtH). Readers should make their own inquiries in making any decisions, and where necessary, seek professional advice. © 2011 Executive Media Pty Ltd. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part, without written permission is strictly prohibited.

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The Banksia Awards are more than just an acknowledgment

ocal government has always played a key role in leading the community in environment and sustainability. Not only in the work undertaken, but also the partnerships formed and the communication and education networks created. Entering the Banksia Awards will provide an additional platform to assist others to take on the various challenges that lie before us. The Banksia Foundation, established in 1989, is a national not-for-profit organisation that promotes environmental excellence and sustainability through the Banksia Awards series.

The Banksia Awards are made up of 10 category awards:

Origin Gold Banksia Award Supported by Origin Education – Raising the Bar Supported by Publishers National Environment Bureau

Indigenous – Caring for Country Supported by Australian Government

Land and Biodiversity – Preserving our Ecosystems Supported by Closed Loop Recycling

Water – Our Most Precious Resource

The aim of the Banksia Awards is to raise the profile of current environmental and sustainability issues facing Australia, and recognise those whose initiatives are an encouragement and an example for others to follow.

Agriculture and Food – From Paddock to Plate Sustainably

As a highly sought after independent award program, the Banksia Awards are regarded as the most prestigious environmental and sustainability awards in Australia. The Awards also incorporate the Prime Minister’s Environmentalist of the Year Award, the Environment Minister’s Young Environmentalist of the Year Award, the Mercedes-Benz Australian Environmental Research Award, and the Brian Robinson Fellowship.

Clean Technology – Harnessing Opportunities

‘Over the last 23 years, we have seen the Banksia Awards grow exponentially and today it is seen as far more than just an acknowledgement. For the recipients, they are stepping stones opening doors to opportunities previously out of reach,’ said Graz van Egmond, Executive Director, Banksia Environmental Foundation. ‘Winning a Banksia Award provides a great sense of achievement and immense satisfaction knowing that the results of your hard labour are recognised nationally,’ comments Ben Hoffmann, Senior Research Scientist, CSIRO representing Origin Gold Banksia Award winners ‘Yellow Crazy Ant Management Project’ Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation, Northern Territory, in partnership with CSIRO and Rio Tinto Alcan. He adds that ‘through our successes, we hope to inspire others to achieve ambitious goals, especially where the odds are stacked against them.’ 4 • the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012

Supported by the Australian Food & Grocery Council

Built Environment – Harmonious Man-made Landscapes

Transportation – Mindful Movement Leading in Sustainability – Setting the Standard for Large Organisations Supported by NSW Office of Environment and Heritage

Leading in Sustainability – Setting the Standard for Small to Medium Businesses Supported by Amcor

The Banksia People’s Choice Award Supported by Australia Post

The Banksia Community Grant Supported by The GPT Group

These awards are open, where applicable, to business, local government, community organisations and individuals. Out of these categories, finalists are established and winners announced at the Banksia Awards Annual Presentation each October. An overall winner deserving of extra recognition is awarded the Origin Gold Banksia Award.

minister’s foreword

As Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government, I understand the vital role that local government plays in keeping our regions economically and environmentally strong and sustainable. That is why I am pleased to be part of a publication that is an important resource for councils across our nation, offering detailed information on local government issues, particularly environmental concerns. This government wants to empower regions, and we are working across all levels of government to achieve this. We want to achieve sustainable futures for our regions and a big part of this is coping with environmental challenges. Flooding in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, fires in Western Australia, cyclonic activity in the north, as well as the day-to-day reality of our growing population and climate change, have been some of the tests for our nation in recent times. This government is meeting these challenges head-on, working with state and local governments to get the best results, because I know local approaches work best, informed by people with the knowledge of where the need is and the individual strengths of their community. This was demonstrated following the floods and Cyclone Yasi crises, when my department responded immediately to the natural disasters affecting most states, but in particular Queensland and Victoria. We have already approved early payments of $354 million in Financial Assistance Grants for the 2010–11 financial year, and advances totalling $406 million to allow local governments in disaster-affected areas to undertake urgent rebuilding work. We also ensured that local governments affected by those natural disasters can modify or amend projects under round three of the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program, in order to reprioritise projects under this $100 million funding round.

The National Broadband Network is another way in which we are working with local governments. This $43 billion package is the largest infrastructure investment made by an Australian Government and will bring cuttingedge technology to our regions for the benefit of the whole nation. I’m working closely with the Australian Local Government Association, and the Australian Council of Local Government will continue to be an important partnership between the Australian Government and the 565 councils in Australia. We have also strengthened and revitalised the network of 55 RDA committees across the nation. I know we can only secure sustainable futures for our regions by equipping them to meet challenges and seize opportunities created by changes in population and demographics, such as the ageing population, the conditions of the global economy and the transition to Australia’s low carbon future. Using our environmental resources wisely is at the heart of many of our policies. For example, our $1 billion Regional Development Australia Fund will support infrastructure projects and economic and community development in our regions. All funding applications must support at least one of six national priorities, two of which are sustaining our environment and water and energy efficiency. I look forward to continuing to work with local government to improve the social, economic and environmental future of Australia’s regions by ensuring that local communities have a strong voice in government decision-making. The Hon Simon Crean MP Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government

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community

Burying our rubbish in landfill costs Sydney dearly, BUT WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO WITH IT? By Clover Moore, Lord Mayor of Sydney

In five years time, Sydney’s main landfill sites at Eastern Creek and Lucas Heights will be full. When that happens, every bit of the city’s waste will be hauled to a new tip 250 kilometres southwest of Sydney.

hat longer journey won’t just produce more carbon pollution, it will be more expensive. Every load of rubbish will cost more for ratepayers.

In any case, our rubbish tips produce huge amounts of methane, a long-term greenhouse gas pollutant with 25 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide. The noxious gas leaks out over decades as food and other organic material rots. If we do nothing, greenhouse gas emissions from landfill in Australia are projected to double within a decade. That’s the bleak picture painted in a 2009 New South Wales Government report. We need imaginative ideas to solve these problems and to get people on board. Making it fun and easy to take personal action, while focusing attention on the enormous challenges and transformative work needed at a national and global level, is the hallmark of some of the most significant environmental movements. But we also need continued innovation to develop the projects to achieve those aims, and the political will to put those plans into action. In early 2011, the City of Sydney agreed to double the amount of household waste diverted from landfill, by sending all 40,000 tonnes of household garbage to advanced waste treatment facilities that recover recyclable materials and produce compost. The garbage will be used to produce low-grade compost and a small amount of electricity, with glass, paper and metals recovered, and the remaining waste going to landfill.

Garage sales in Surry Hills and Glebe.

Using the new facilities, combined with the existing kerbside recycling, the City will now meet its 2014 target of diverting two thirds of waste from landfill – three years ahead of schedule. It will stop methane emissions being released from rotting garbage in landfill sites, as well as the transport emissions from hauling rubbish further and further out of Sydney. In other words, it’s the kind of practical solution we need. continued on page 10

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How responsible is your super?

We all want the best returns on our super but do you really know how your super fund achieves those returns? Some investments may be profitable in the short term but they can cause lasting environmental damage in the longer term. That’s why Local Government Super has been committed to a responsible and sustainable investment strategy for over ten years. Our aim is to achieve strong long-term returns for our members by investing in the long-term sustainable future of our environment. And that’s why we’re the Sustainable Super Fund of the Year.* To find out more, just go to our website at www.lgsuper.com.au Strong sustainable super

*Ethical Investor, December 2010 This advertisement has been prepared by LGSS Pty Limited (ABN 68 078 003 497) (AFSL 383558), as Trustee for Local Government Superannuation Scheme – Pool A (ABN 74 925 979 278) and Pool B (ABN 28 901 371 321) – collectively known as Local Government Super. The information contained in this article is of a general nature only and is not intended to be a substitute for advice. It does not take into account any individual’s or organisation’s investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs. If you require advice that is based on your own personal situation, we recommend you contact an the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 • 7 authorised financial advisor. For more information about Local Government Super, contact Member Services on 1300 369 901 or go to www.lgsuper.com.au to obtain a copy of the relevant Product Disclosure Statement pertaining to your membership. 1316-03/11-EnvYearbook

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community

continued from page 6

Garage sales in Surry Hills and Glebe.

But for a low-waste Sydney, residents and businesses have to be on board, and that kind of cultural change takes creative ideas.

The City of Sydney raised over $1,000 from its own garage sales at Surry Hills and Glebe, which was donated to Keep Australia Beautiful.

Last year, two Bondi locals inspired their neighbours to organise 126 garage sales on one day. They sold an average $750 worth of goods each, and moved an estimated 15 shipping containers worth of unwanted items from around people’s homes.

Visitors to the City’s own Surry Hills sale had the chance to buy a signed jersey and football of Australian rugby union captain, Rocky Elsom, at a charity auction, as well as get some drumming tips from Australian band The Vines’ drummer Hamish Rosser, who entertained the crowd with a drumming solo.

This small start-up event has inspired a renaissance of the humble garage sale. It highlights how often we just buy something brand new, instead of seeking out a second-hand find with a bit of character, and how easy and enjoyable it can be to get out of the old ruts and back into your neighbourhood. As part of the now national event, thousands of bargain hunters came to more than 220 garage sales in the City of Sydney on Sunday 10 April as part of the Australia-wide Garage Sale Trail event. The roller doors came up on more than 80 garage sales in Surry Hills and over 50 in Glebe – the bargain hotspots for the event. There were pop-up record and book stores, art shows, as well as your classic clothes and bric-a-brac.

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The City of Sydney supported this event because we see the need to minimise the cost of Sydney’s waste to our ratepayers. It is also an opportunity for neighbours to get out on the streets and meet each other. The bright idea of a couple of Sydney-siders has grown to the extent that the whole of Australia can participate to reduce our waste and meet each other as a community. I believe that is something worth supporting.

Clover Moore is Lord Mayor of the City of Sydney and State MP for Sydney.

Interested in preserving your local wartime heritage? The Saluting Their Service commemorations program offers modest grants to assist local communities to honour the service and sacrifice of Australia’s veterans. The program is designed to help preserve our heritage from wars and conflicts and encourage community participation in commemorative events.

A wide range of community projects may be supported including: • establishing or refurbishing community war memorials; • restoring vandalised memorials; • restoring and publicly displaying wartime memorabilia; and • commemoration of significant anniversaries of battles and other military operations. Local councils, schools and community groups such as historical societies and ex-service organisations can apply for grants through the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Application forms and funding guidelines available from the DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS on: 133 254 – metropolitan callers 1800 555 254 – non-metropolitan callers Website: www.dva.gov.au/grants the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 • 11

community

CSIRO Sustainable Communities Initiative: Supporting regional communities to become more sustainable Climate change, environmental degradation and water scarcity are just a few examples of the complex environmental sustainability issues that impact on the social fabric, economic resilience and general wellbeing of Australian communities.

he Sustainable Communities Initiative (SCI), a partnership formed in 2006 between the private sector, local councils, communities, and CSIRO, aimed to offer an innovative and collaborative approach to support communities in their efforts to become more sustainable. Under the SCI, Regional Development Victoria provided funding for five communities to explore their local sustainability challenges and opportunities with a CSIRO research team. Expressions of interest were sought from each of the five Victorian regions, and Natimuk, a small community 300 kilometres from Melbourne, was selected from the responses from the Grampians region. Their proposal was to explore options for becoming a zero waste and emissions free community, an objective identified through a recent community planning process.

Natimuk Natimuk, with a population of 449, or 750 if residents of its surrounding farming land are included, is the closest settlement to Mount Arapiles, the ‘best rock-climbing destination in Australia’, and an international climbing destination that attracts 124,500 visits per year. Once a flourishing agricultural centre, the township no longer has an agricultural servicing role and is heavily reliant on Horsham for employment, services, and commodities. ‘Full-time’ climbers began to settle in Natimuk in the 1980s. An art community has also recently developed in Natimuk. Over the past twenty years, these newcomers have established themselves and today contribute to crucial community functions. Highlights include the establishment of the Goat Gallery and the Natimuk Frinj Festivals (see http:// www.grampianslittledesert.com.au/?id=natimuk_mta ). Natimuk is therefore unusual compared with other towns within the wheat and sheep belt, for which population decline is a more typical experience. Natimuk is one of three small communities supported by the Horsham Rural City Council to participate in the state government’s Community Building Initiative (CBI) program, funded by the Department of Planning and Community Development. Through the Community Planning process, the community identified a priority of making Natimuk a zero waste and emissions community. Residents formed a working group to investigate the possibility of Natimuk reducing its carbon emissions and working towards zero waste status. The Renewable Energy and Zero Emissions Natimuk Group (REAZEN) has been instrumental in providing information to residents to take advantage of continued on page 16

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Naturally resourceful councils

ome to iconic golden beaches and sandy bottom creeks, coastal councils Waverley and Great Lakes are the first in NSW to substitute virgin quarried sand with recycled glass sand in local asphalt and concrete road surfaces. Waverley Council has begun constructing two pavement roads in Bondi, with Great Lakes starting their project later this year. Partners include: • Australian Food and Grocery Council, Packaging Stewardship Forum • Office of Environment and Heritage, NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet • Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia NSW (IPWEA) • Roads and Traffic Authority NSW Road construction uses millions of tonnes of sand each year. By using recycled crushed glass as a replacement for sand, we can save natural resources, divert valuable material away from landfill and provide ongoing local markets for the glass we collect. Added benefits include the reduction of energy and water use as well as carbon pollution. The Waverley works involve the construction of two 100 metre sections of road pavement. A total of 83 tonnes of crushed recycled glass, equivalent to 460,000 stubbies

or 166,000 wine bottles, are contained in the pavement. Waverley Mayor, Cr. Sally Betts, said she was delighted to see her council lead the state in such an important initiative, which was working to reduce our dependence on virgin sand quarried from the natural environment. Great Lakes Council has recently taken Waverley’s green roads effort a ‘footstep’ further. A new glass reprocessing plant at the Tuncurry Material Recovery Facility was opened in February 2010. Opening the facility, Federal Member for Lyne, Rob Oakeshott MP said, ‘This is a great regional solution. It’s a win for the environment and the economy and a model that I would recommend to others.’ Construction of two sections of road pavement containing crushed glass at Nabiac and Hawkes Nest will use about 100 tonnes of recycled crushed glass, coming from the new J.R. Richards & Sons recycling facility at Tuncurry. Applying waste to land in NSW may trigger regulatory requirements. You should ensure that you comply with an appropriate general exemption published by Office of Environment and Heritage NSW. To help NSW get the most out of the recycled materials, Office of Environment and Heritage NSW has published Specification for Supply of Recycled Material for Pavements, Earthworks and Drainage. For more information visit environment.nsw.gov.au or email sustainability@environment.nsw.gov.au

Compost. We’ve got the field covered.

ompost can save one third of the water used on sporting fields and can reduce the need for fertilisers, among other benefits. That’s good news for councils, especially through times of drought and water restrictions. Over the past six years, the Office of Environment and Heritage, NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet has investigated the use of compost to renovate and maintain playing fields on various soil types. The results are very positive. Adding compost to sporting fields has: • improved water holding capacity and reduced the need for watering, by more than 30 per cent in some trials • reduced the need for fertilisers • reduced nutrient leaching, erosion and runoff X ••the 14 theaustralian australianlocal localgovernment governmentenvironment environmentyearbook yearbook2011/2012 2011/2012

• improved soil structure, with less compaction and faster recovery from it • reduced surface hardness, by 25 – 40 per cent • reduced thatch • improved soil organic carbon levels. Soil organic carbon levels are an indicator of soil biology activity. Improvements lead to better turf performance. Using compost can also benefit our waterways and catchments by extracting less soil and sand from these areas to build and maintain turf. To find more information, guides and case studies, visit environment.nsw.gov.au or email sustainability@environment.nsw.gov.au

BusinessRecycling.com.au is for councils too

n only nine months, recycling service locator website, BusinessRecycling.com.au was visited more than 100,000 times. With two thirds of small businesses looking to do better environmentally, it’s easy to see why more than 12,000 recycling drop off locations and services across Australia have already listed on the site. ‘Research* carried out by Planet Ark for National Recycling Week in 2008 showed that 66 per cent of small businesses had actively looked for information on ways to reduce their impact on our environment’ says Brad Gray, Head of Campaigns at Planet Ark. ‘The BusinessRecycling website and hotline (1300 763 768) now make it easier for them to find that information and the services they need.’ More and more, councils and shires are using the site to advertise their commercial recycling services. So far, about 50 councils from across Australia have registered. It’s simple, and it’s free. BusinessRecycling.com.au is helping councils to raise awareness of their services, and makes it as easy as possible for businesses to ‘do the right thing’. Eleanor Raftery from Waverley Council recommends the site, also for electronic waste. ‘…it’s a great resource for locating recycling businesses and listed charities,’ she said. Kim Host, National Sustainability Manager at Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL), together with the building management teams of JLL and The GPT Group recently used the BusinessRecycling website to find businesses to collect and recycle electronic waste from their commercial buildings and tenancies across Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Since commencing the collections, 19 tonnes of electronic waste has been recovered. Kim said, ‘It’s a great site. There’s a lot of confusion

about what and where we can recycle and reuse our unwanted or used office materials, and this website provides a simple but very effective directory.’ Craig Cook, owner and manager of C and C Plastics and Toolmaking, is one of the many small businesses who have used Craig Cook has saved money by using the BusinessRecycling website BusinessRecycling. com.au to save money and help our environment. Through the site, Craig found a recycler willing to pay him for the used hydraulic oil from his factory, which directly reduced his operating costs. C and C Plastics and Toolmaking has also invested in a compactor to compress and bale various waste, making it convenient for recyclers to collect and process. Now, Craig’s cardboard is recycled for free. Planet Ark’s BusinessRecycling website is a partnership program that has been funded by the Office of Environment and Heritage, NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet, the Queensland Government and Pitney Bowes. The site launched in June 2010. *

Make Recycling Your Business Report – Available from the Recycling Information pages of the website.

The BusinessRecycling website helps with information on nearby recycling services and material characteristics

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community

continued from page 12

government rebates on solar hot water and photovoltaic systems. About 40 households took part in a bulk purchase of solar panels. While engaged in these activities, the group realised there was very little benchmark data about current energy use, attitudes and behaviours around waste, water use, and transport. Realising that this information gap made it difficult to demonstrate change at the community level and to justify any further investment in mitigation projects, it was decided during the project planning discussions with the CSIRO researchers that a carbon and waste audit would be a valuable project activity.

Developing a baseline Understanding how much carbon dioxide and waste is currently being generated by the community, and from which activities, provides a useful starting point for them to identify what could be done to reduce carbon emissions and waste in the future. It also provides a baseline for comparison with future measurements, to see how they’re tracking. Two community information sessions were held with CSIRO researchers in April and May 2010 to provide Natimuk residents with information about the Sustainable Communities Project, and to discuss which aspects of the community’s CO2 emissions would be assessed. Project updates were also placed in the monthly community newsletter, The Progress Press. A community researcher was employed to interview households, with the aim of gathering data from at least a quarter of them. During May and June 2010, the community researcher visited every third house in each street in Natimuk. The participation rate was high, with only two people declining to participate. The community researcher revisited homes missed during the first sweep; however, if there was no response at a second call, the next house along the street was selected for surveying. The researcher also aimed to interview farmers and other commercial business operators but, at the time of surveying, many farmers were busy sowing crops and only one farmer responded to the survey request. Nine commercial businesses responded to the survey but this was only a small sample of the businesses in the area, and the results were highly variable so only limited results from that group were included.

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The survey questions were developed by the community and were based upon: 1) the national census conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, particularly for the section on socio-demographics; 2) prior surveys conducted by CSIRO on household consumption, such as the National Consumption and Lifestyle Survey (http://www.csiro.au/ resources/lifestyles-consumption-snapshot.html); and 3) the Carbon Cops Emissions Calculator (abc.net.au/tv/ carboncops/calculator.htm). This calculator uses data on energy, transport and waste to calculate overall household CO2 emissions. The community was interested in other aspects of sustainability in addition to CO2 emissions and waste reduction, and took the opportunity to build additional elements into the survey to explore these areas. Specifically, questions were designed to collect information on: demographics; housing; food production; waste and recycling; energy generation and use; water capture and use; transport; and everyday purchasing decisions. Once the data was collected from residents, CSIRO researchers analysed it.

Audit results •

Food production. Just over two thirds of respondents indicated that they produce some of their own food. Of those that did produce their own food, vegetables were the most likely food to be grown, followed by fruit, eggs and meat.

•

Waste and recycling. On average, over the course of a year, respondents disposed of 117 litres of rubbish each week, just more than one small garbage bin. Almost all respondents indicated that they recycled their food scraps and green garden waste, mainly through composting.

•

Energy production and use. Average electricity use was found to be 14.7 kWh per day for private households, 22.0 kWh per day for homebased businesses and 19.6 kWh per day for commercial businesses. Overall, this represented

community

an average of 16.3 kWh across all three groups. Natimuk households were more likely to own air conditioners, ceiling fans, energy efficient light bulbs, outside awnings and double glazed windows than the rest of the Australian population, but were less likely to own clothes dryers or dishwashers. •

Water capture and use. All respondents owned rainwater tanks, and almost all supplemented their use of rainwater with metered town water, particularly for showering and laundry. Two thirds of respondents reported that they recycled or reclaimed water. This was largely achieved by draining washing machines or showers onto gardens.

•

Transport. Respondents relied heavily on cars for transport. Public transport was rarely used, although carpooling was common.

•

Everyday purchasing decisions. Price, functionality and energy-efficiency were three key considerations that respondents took into account when making purchases. More than two thirds of respondents indicated that they always or regularly take their own bags when going shopping. A similar proportion intentionally purchased goods that had minimum packaging and just over half purchased their food and dispensables in bulk.

•

Household CO2 emissions. On average private households produced 19.4 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year, home-based businesses produced 34.2 tonnes per annum and commercial businesses produced 40.1 tonnes per annum. The average for the two household groups was 21.8 tonnes per annum. This comprised 3.0 tonnes from waste, 6.9 tonnes from energy use and 11.8 tonnes from transport. Compared to average CO2 emissions produced by Australian households, Natimuk households’ energy emissions were on par, while total emissions were 50 per cent higher than average. No comparisons were available for waste and transport-based CO2 emissions.

Concluding remarks The results indicate that Natimuk households had higher CO2 emissions than average for Australia. This was largely due to a strong reliance on private vehicles for transport for work, shopping and recreation, and residents indicated that the remoteness of their locality makes it difficult to reduce vehicle use. As part of the research, community members were asked what could be done to help reduce emissions. Possibilities suggested included expanding the public

transport system to better coincide with working hours, daytime and evening needs, as well as having more than one drop-off point around Horsham. Further research on alternative transport options may help inform policies to support lower vehicle use and emissions. Emissions due to energy use were on par with the average for the Australian population. The results indicate that it may be possible to reduce energy emissions through generating more solar electricity and reducing appliance use, particularly clothes dryers. The results from this research will be used by the Natimuk community and particularly REAZEN to develop actions at a community level to reduce CO2 emissions in the areas of waste, energy and transport. It is expected that the data in the audit and reports will prove useful for developing future reduction targets and actions, and for demonstrating change in behaviours or emissions in future when seeking government investment. The full report can be found on the Horsham City Council website.

Sources This article is an abridged version of the Executive Summary from: Graham, S. and Hamdorf, C. (2010) Natimuk Carbon Footprint Audit. CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Canberra. http://www.hrcc.vic.gov.au/index.php?option=com_ content&view=article&id=265:natimuk-carbon -footprint-audit&catid=12:environment&Itemid=18 With inclusions from: Darbas, T. and Williams, R. (2010) Sustainable Communities Initiative in Natimuk, Horsham Rural City Council. CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, Canberra. References ABS (2007a) 2006 Census QuickStats : Natimuk (L) (Urban Centre/Locality). Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra Birrell B, Dibden J, and Wainer J. (2000) Regional Victoria: Why the Bush is Hurting, Centre for Population and Urban Research, Monash University Davison G (2005) ‘Rural Sustainability in Historical Perspective’, in Cocklin C and Dibden J (Editors) Sustainability and Change in Rural Australia, University of New South Wales Press, Sydney Natimuk Community Building Initiative Steering Committee (2007) Natimuk Community Action Plan, Horsham Rural City Council

the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 • 17

best practice

FreshBins Pty Ltd

reshBins is an innovative Australian company that has designed, developed and patented a mobile wheelie bin cleaning system that combines world first 3D robotic technology with a chemical-free cleaning and sanitising process. The community is becoming more environmentally responsible in the way we live; the way we manufacture; the way we dispose of and recycle the goods and products that we consume daily. Health, hygiene and sanitation considerations increasingly dominate our focus to ensure we maintain our cities, towns and communities in a hygienic state, free from disease and other health threats. However, much of the waste from cleaning domestic and commercial bins is released down our storm-water drains and into our ground water systems, eventually releasing litter, chemicals, pollutants, pathogens and toxins into our rivers and oceans. Whilst this practice is illegal and increasingly unacceptable to a more informed community, until now there has been no system to address the issues. The deployment of Putrescible waste management strategies is increasing throughout Australia meaning that all organic matter will be collected in a single container, ideally without the use of bin liners and other non-degradable plastic wrappers. With such strategies, maintaining a hygienic and sanitary bin will become increasingly difficult, especially in northern Australian climates where heat accelerates the decomposition process. Emptying bins more frequently will not remove the waste stuck to the inside and lid of the bins. Bin Cleaning is a service that health departments and consumers will increasingly demand to maintain community health and hygiene standards. Using specially equipped trucks, the FreshBins system cleans and sterilises wheelie bins without the use of X18• •the theaustralian australianlocal localgovernment governmentenvironment environmentyearbook yearbook2011/2012 2011/2012

chemicals, and requires less than a cup of recycled water per bin compared with up to 100 litres when cleaned with a hose. Targeted at providing community-wide services, the FreshBins system enables one truck to clean and sterilise over 1,000 bins per shift. The FreshBins patented chemical-free cleaning system destroys 99.9% of all diseases and pathogens found in wheelie bins and is able to separate and collect sterilised bin residue for responsible waste disposal. This means that bins can be cleaned and sanitised, with no negative impact on our river, ocean and land ecosystems. Additionally, the potential water and waste savings are enormous. With approximately 27 million wheelie bins in Australia, 32.4 billion litres of drinking water could be saved and up to 100,000 tonnes of rubbish and toxins removed from the environment. With the FreshBins innovation, community and Government leaders now have the opportunity to provide a community-wide Bin Cleaning Service at commercial volumes and minimal cost while meeting all community environmental and health expectations in a responsible and cost effective way. “FreshBins Pty Ltd is an environmental company committed to the sustainability of life on Earth. Unless we all change the way we live our children and our grandchildren will live a life of dwindling water supplies, food shortages and dramatic environmental changes. FreshBins is proud that our innovation and commitment to releasing environmental bin cleaning solutions has been recognised locally and internationally ” says John Robinson BM, Chief Executive Officer, FreshBins Pty Ltd.

The Revolutionary Environmental Solution for Cleaning Bins

Health & Hygiene; Environment & Sustainability; Conservation of our natural Habitat; Responsible recycling and disposal of our waste; Conservation and optimum use of our precious water supplies; Community awareness of these is changing the way we live, the way we act and the way we care for our Environment. To date, the only solution for cleaning smelly, disease ridden, maggot infested garbage containers was to ﬁll the bin with disinfectants, toxic chemicals, water, and scrub the bin. The toxic waste water was then dumped on the ground or down the storm-water drains into our rivers and oceans. While this practice is illegal, there was no alternative. Yet for every litre of toxic water we release into our rivers and oceans, we contaminate another 1000+ litres of water.

The current process for cleaning domestic and commercial garbage bins is now recognised as impacting our environment.

FreshBins Resolves the Bin Cleaning issues • • • • • • • •

No Chemicals are used while we hygienically clean and sanitise your bin inside & out. Destroys 99.9% of all diseases and pathogens while the bin is fully sterilised and sanitised leaving the bin odour free. Use Recycled Water. We use zero water from domestic water supplies and only use half a cup of water per bin clean. Closed-loop cleaning process All water is continually recycled and sterilised with all bin waste residues ;iltered off and collected for responsible waste disposal. Zero Environmental Impact No water or chemicals are released into our storm-water and river systems. No more Bin Liners. No need for land-;ill polluting Bin liners . We can keep your bins clean. Operator Safety. Operator is not physically involved in the cleaning process removing all OH&S concerns. Volume Cleaning. 1,000+ bins can be cleaned per truck per day making it economically viable to provide a Community-wide cleaning service.

Preserving our Water resources is important; Protec3ng our Environment is important; Health and Hygiene in our community is important;

FreshBins now delivers a Service that hygienically cleans our Community with zero impact on the Environment while Saving Water.

Welcome to our cleaner Earth! FreshBins. Phone: email:

(03) 5562 6798 info@freshbins.com.au

website: www.freshbins.com.au the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 • 19

best practice Blacktown City Community Members turn out to plant 3000 native plants in the diverse carbon forests. Muja Bijar Reserve, Blacktown.

Regenesis

A sustainability success story In March 2011, when Blacktown City Council and Liverpool Plains Shire Council gathered with their Regenesis project partners and stakeholders to celebrate the project’s achievements, there was much to celebrate.

20 • the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012

By Blacktown City Council

n the initial three-year grant-funded period of the project, Regenesis planted 222,000 native trees, shrubs and grasses (all specific to the locality) to establish 33 bio-diverse carbon forests on 100 hectares of land in urban and rural areas. It had developed a project model for others to follow, published a ‘Regenesis Toolkit’ to guide those interested in conducting similar projects, and established the Regenesis Forest Registry; an online carbon accounting system and marketplace for trading carbon offset certificates. Such success did not occur overnight. It took innovative thinking, planning, collaboration and hard work. Nearly five years earlier, in 2006, the New South Wales Environmental Trust’s Urban Sustainability Program (USP) offered grants of up to $2 million for innovative local government partnership projects that integrated environmental, social and economic benefits. Blacktown City Council saw the USP as the perfect opportunity to extend its existing revegetation program beyond business as usual, team up

best practice

Blacktown City Bushcare volunteers visit the Liverpool Plains Shire to assist in the planting of one of the 10 Regenesis forests on private land.

with rural sister city Liverpool Plains Shire Council, as well as their communities and other partners and stakeholders, to establish income-generating, locally native bio-diverse carbon forests. From the outset, Regenesis integrated the social engagement of community planting activities, the environmental benefits of revegetation, the ability of growing forests to sequester carbon and the financial benefits of carbon trading. The grant funding allowed for two full-time staff in Blacktown City Council and one full-time staff member in Liverpool Plains Shire Council. The primary project partners, Blacktown City Council and Liverpool Plains Shire Council, signed a Memorandum of Understanding, which outlined, amongst other things, communication and decision protocols. While Blacktown City was the lead partner and held most financial responsibility, regular meetings and communication between the two partners ensured that the project adopted a collaborative process. Forests help to address climate change by capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during plant photosynthesis, and sequestering (storing) carbon in trunks, roots, branches and leaves as the plants grow. The Regenesis model plants locally native communities of vegetation in ways that enhance biodiversity, and improve local environmental outcomes such as reducing soil salinity, while also meeting the requirements of forests established to generate and trade carbon offsets. Regenesis has been designed to remain flexible in order to meet the requirements of numerous emissions trading schemes. Regenesis was conceived to work within the New South Wales Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme (GGAS) and to be implemented at the same time as the national Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) was scheduled for commencement in 2009/10. Regenesis is based on the requirements set out in the Kyoto Protocol and the minimum values for the definition of a forest used in Australia’s National Carbon Accounting System (NCAS). To comply, a proposed carbon forest must: •

• • •

Have been predominantly non-forested (i.e. with a canopy cover of less than 20 per cent of the site) at 31 December 1989; Have been reforested through human inducement on or after 1 January 1990; Be at least 0.2 hectares (2,000 m2) in area; Be at least 10 metres in width.

To comply, the reforestation work must: •

Have a dominant tree species with a potential height of at least two metres at maturity; • Result in a canopy cover of at least 20 per cent of the forested site. In carbon emissions trading schemes that include reforestation projects, one carbon certificate is issued for each tonne of carbon sequestered in the forest. Certificates can be used to offset the greenhouse gas emissions of the certificate’s owner, or sold to someone else who wishes to offset their carbon emissions. Each certificate is then ‘retired’ or ‘surrendered’, so that it cannot be sold again. In this way, a certificate can be used only once to offset a tonne of carbon. The Regenesis project developed biodiversity strategies for Blacktown City Council and Liverpool Plains Shire Council to inform and guide local development policy and biodiversity enhancement, and to assist in locating all proposed Regenesis plantings. To help strengthen and enhance biodiversity, Regenesis favoured sites that extended wildlife corridors and provided buffer zones for remnant bushland and previous revegetation work. Local catchment management authorities (CMAs), land managers and landowners assisted Regenesis to identify suitable continued on page 24

the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 • 21

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best practice

Extending remnant vegetation corridors – 18-month-old bio-diverse carbon forest at Duncan Park, Seven Hills.

school and business groups. To avoid water use over hot summer months, planting occurred only from March to October. In total, Regenesis hosted 99 planting events (and other community programs) in which more than 11,000 people were involved.

When a carbon forest site is proposed, existing and future plans for the site need to be considered, along with potential impacts on the neighbouring community. continued from page 21

sites that complemented the objectives of catchment action plans and other strategic plans. In Liverpool Plains Shire, Namoi CMA partnered with Regenesis and the individual landowners to help in the site selection for local environmental benefits and to offer specialist local knowledge. The Regenesis Forest Criteria was developed to ensure that all potential issues were considered when planning urban and rural carbon forests. When a carbon forest site is proposed, existing and future plans for the site need to be considered, along with potential impacts on the neighbouring communities, to ensure that no conflicting land use will have a negative impact upon the proposal and vice versa. These considerations include existing and proposed plans or management, community safety, bushfire-related regulations and current and future use of the sites. The marketing and community engagement strategy included widely promoted Blacktown City community plantings of Cumberland Plain Woodland species; the critically endangered ecological community native to the Blacktown area. These community activities took place at Blacktown City parks and reserves and were attended by as many as 200 individuals. When requested, additional events were arranged for interested religious, community,

24 • the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012

Based on the ongoing ‘Bridges to Boorowa’ program run by North Sydney Council and Boorowa Shire Council, the Regenesis weekend trip of 17 Blacktown City Bushcare volunteers to plant in the Liverpool Plains Shire supported the landowners Lindsay and Carolyn Bridge to achieve ambitious planting goals and enhanced understanding between the volunteers and locals. Partnerships with agencies including Namoi CMA, and ongoing involvement by Quirindi High, were pivotal to successful community engagement in Liverpool Plains Shire. Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA) and the Department of Juvenile Justice continue to provide site preparation, planting and maintenance for Regenesis forests throughout Blacktown whilst providing valuable skill enhancement and experience for participants. To supplement community planting events, separate request for quote processes were undertaken in Blacktown City and Liverpool Plains Shire to establish panels of suitably qualified contractors and suppliers to undertake site preparation and planting work. In 2009, Regenesis undertook social research with Liverpool Plains Shire landowners to gauge the level of interest in native tree planting and potential motivations for collaborating with Regenesis to plant on privately owned land. Landowners were approached with the view to planting on marginal land, to complement cropping and grazing activities. The survey and landowner forums showed that the main motivations for native tree planting were local environmental and agricultural benefits, such as windbreaks, shelter for stock, and reduced soil erosion. At that time, the research showed that the potential for carbon trading income was a lesser incentive. Regenesis then called for expressions of interest from private landowners wishing to plant Regenesis forests on their land. Ten Liverpool Plains Shire landowners partnered with Regenesis to plant species from the endangered ecological

best practice

community of White Box Grassy Woodland, prevalent prior to European settlement. Regenesis partner and private landowner, Scott Harrod, described his involvement in this way: ‘I always wanted to improve the biodiversity on the farm, and Regenesis provided the opportunity. The Regenesis planting on my land links remnant bushland areas, making it a good thing, not just for my farm but for the district. I think we all have an obligation to leave things in a better condition than we found them.’ Landowners like Scott and both partner councils were in control of the projects on their land, and the principle of landowners having control over projects on their land was incorporated as a feature during the development of the Regenesis Forest Registry. The biodiverse carbon forests on council-owned land can be used to offset the greenhouse gas emissions of the owner council, or some or all resulting certificates can be sold, for example to finance forest maintenance or expansion. Regenesis is flexible enough to operate in current and future markets. As a model, it meets the relevant requirements of the Kyoto Protocol and Australian carbon reforestation standards, enabling landowners to participate in a range of currently existing voluntary carbon trading mechanisms. However, because carbon trading scheme rules can change, landowners need to gain expert advice, or themselves check that their planting project complies with the relevant scheme at the time they wish to register.

Although the USP funding grant concluded at the end of 2010, Regenesis lives on in three distinct ways. In Blacktown City, council has scheduled community planting events throughout 2011 to extend the local Regenesis forests. Community members and others are welcome to join these activities. For more information, please contact Blacktown City Council on 02 9839 6000. Additionally, the Regenesis Toolkit and Regenesis Forest Registry are available for those interested in learning more, and perhaps establishing their own biodiverse carbon forests and/or purchasing verifiable carbon offset certificates from forests that provide additional environmental and social benefits. Using a request for quotation process, Regenesis selected a carbon adviser and broker, Australian Carbon Traders Pty Ltd, which, in addition to meeting other criteria, had developed a landowner-controlled system, now adapted for use by Regenesis. The resulting Regenesis Forest Registry is an online system that facilitates carbon accounting and the advertising and trade of carbon certificates for Regenesis forests. Councils, CMAs, other agencies and private landowners are welcome to log on, look and even join. See http://www.australiancarbontraders.com/regenesis. Also downloadable free from this website is ‘The Regenesis Toolkit: your guide to establishing locally native mixed species carbon forests in urban and rural environments’.

Students from William Dean Public School, Blacktown planting in Upperby Reserve, Dean Park.

Planting trip to Liverpool Plains Shire – dirty but enjoyable work!

the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 • 25

best practice

Local government CLIMATE CHANGE

By John Ravlic, Chief Executive, LGMA National Introduction The Climate Commission claims that 2011–2020 is the crucial decade in terms of whether or not we can get on top of the climate change challenge. The Gillard government has indicated that it is committed to introducing a price on carbon during 2011, and has established a multi-party committee to oversee the process. It has also appointed a range of experts to assist the committee, including Professor Ross Garnaut. Since 2007, Local Government Managers Australia (LGMA) has spent a fair amount of time and resources in consulting with the local government sector and working with the federal government to develop a proposal for a climate change capacity building program, prior to the Rudd government putting its climate change policy on hold until 2013. The adoption of a broad environmental framework will be a significant priority for the Gillard government this year. The environmental framework will have a flow-on effect on the business community, as well as state and local governments and the general community. The Australian Local Government Association’s (ALGA’s) policy position on behalf of local government is to support a price on carbon and to support a market-based approach to determine the price. The need for councils to contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions is also recognised. The sector will approach the federal government regarding practical ways of reducing council and community CO2 emissions and limiting the cost impact of a carbon price on ratepayers. The sector is looking for a way forward, and the recently established Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government (ACELG) recently held a national roundtable to scope the road ahead. 26 • the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012

This article outlines the recent climate change activity and LGMA’s contribution, along with some thoughts and ideas for what’s next.

Memorandum of understanding Following the last federal election, the Greens signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the minority Gillard government to assure them of some certainty for the coming term. The MOU covers a number of interesting points, including an agreement on a climate change policy: ‘The Parties agree on the following policy issues: a) That Australia must tackle climate change and that reducing carbon pollution by 2020 will require a price on carbon. Therefore the Parties agree to form a well-resourced Climate Change Committee which encompasses experts and representative ALP, Greens, Independent and Coalition parliamentarians who are committed to tackling climate change and who acknowledge that reducing carbon pollution by 2020 will require a carbon price. The Committee will be resourced like a Cabinet Committee. The Parties will, by the end of September 2010, finalise the structure, membership and work plan of the Committee...’ The MOU commits the Gillard government to the introduction of a price on carbon and the establishment of a Multi-Party Climate Change Committee. Since February 2011, Prime Minister Gillard has pinned her government’s environmental credentials on achieving a carbon price during 2011. The Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Greg Combet, confirmed the government’s commitment to achieving a price on carbon in 2011.

Multi-party committee The Gillard government is prosecuting the case for action on climate change. It has established a Multi-Party

best practice Climate Change Committee to look at how carbon pricing relates to a broader economic framework, and how this will shape the government’s future work plan. The Multi-Party Climate Change Committee comprises government representatives, the Greens and the regional NSW Independent MPs Tony Windsor and Rob Oakeshott. The Multi-Party Climate Change Committee will explore options for the implementation of a carbon price. The federal government’s key adviser on climate change, Professor Ross Garnaut, recently flagged that there will be greater costs to the economy and the Australian business community under any future emissions regime as a result of years of inaction in tackling the issue. Professor Garnaut has warned that Australia has been falling behind both the United States and China in dealing with climate change. It is envisaged that Australia’s tight budgetary conditions will limit any assistance provided to industry under any carbon price scheme.

Garnaut update Minister Combet late last year invited Professor Ross Garnaut to update significant elements of his 2008 Garnaut Climate Change Review, and to report by 31 May 2011.

Since the withdrawal of funding in 2009 for the CCP by the federal government, our sector has had neither a coordinated approach nor a consistent framework for implementation of its climate change activity. Focus group In 2007, LGMA National established a focus group comprising local government practitioners from around Australia. The climate change focus group considered the climate change needs of local government and concluded that: •

there appears to be a need for a mechanism to inform and equip council chief executives on climate change issues; and

•

a more detailed consultation process should take place with council chief executives nationally to determine their needs in this regard.

In association with ICLEI, LGMA put together a survey of local government chief executives with regard to issues dealing with climate change. The survey was completed in March 2008, and its major results are as follows: •

ICLEI, scientific organisations specialising in climate change, academic institutions and the media are seen as the principal sources of information on climate change.

•

The biggest problem is time to process information, which may be sensationalised, contradictory or not entirely relevant. Almost half of the respondents considered the information positive and useful.

•

There is a desire amongst respondents for information that is:

The review update will consider: •

international developments on climate change implementation efforts;

•

developments in climate change science, and understanding of climate change impacts;

•

previous proposals to develop a carbon price in Australia and the ensuing public debate;

•

domestic and international emissions trends;

•

changes in lower emissions technology costs and availability;

•

potential for abatement within the land sector; and

•

developments in the Australian electricity market.

- specific to local government; - specific to the role and purpose of local government; and - specific to the locality and region. •

Strong views were expressed about the need for relevant information to be coordinated on behalf of the sector and shared.

Cities for Climate Protection

•

In June 1997, the federal government agreed to support a Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) program, which ICLEI Oceania was responsible for implementing across Australia. The CCP program was a voluntary program for CO2 abatement run by large and small councils. The Australian program ran between 1997 and 2009. During this time, 238 councils participated, covering 50 per cent of the local government areas that contain 84 per cent of the Australian population.

Weaknesses identified in information provided included irrelevance to locality and region, sensationalised and/or overbearing presentation, and a lack of direction leading to confusion on where and how to progress.

•

The respondents’ greatest needs were seen as:

Background

The core indicator for the success of the CCP was the reduction of CO2 emissions. By the end of the 2008/09 financial year, councils reported to ICLEI that they had saved 18 million tonnes of CO2 emissions since the CCP program started in 1997.

- knowing what to do and how the climate change activity forms part of the business of councils; - having access to current and relevant climate change information and practical case studies that detail how to go about a required task; and - the availability of resources – both dollars and the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 • 27

best practice

‘No matter how much we elevate the importance of the climate change debate, there are rural and remote communities whose needs and priorities will be so basic – such as housing and safety – that dealing with climate change will not be a priority for them in the short term.’ expertise – for developing climate change strategies and implementing action plans. •

There appears to be a need for a trusted source to provide information and guidance on what local government should do.

Capacity building program Based on the results of the survey, discussions took place with the Department of Environment, Water Resources, Heritage and the Arts (the DOE) in relation to the establishment of a climate change capacity building program for local government. The scope of such a capacity building program was to extend to providing skills, expertise and resources to regional, rural and remote councils. 2008 National Congress – focus groups Three focus groups with the abovementioned department were held in May 2008, in conjunction with the Gold Coast LGMA National Congress. Some 50 local government practitioners participated. The outcomes of the focus group discussions were used to finetune the scope and methodology of the capacity building program. Professor Tim Flannery was one of the keynote presenters at the 2008 LGMA National Congress, and delivered a climate change wake-up call to our sector. 2009 National Congress – panel sessions During the 2009 LGMA National Congress, held in Darwin, LGMA National hosted a panel session on ‘Carbon Friendly Country’. Anthony Cheshire from Balance Carbon Pty Ltd and Greg Bruce from Townsville City Council presented at the session. The presentations were followed by a facilitated discussion with some 110 delegates. The panel session validated previous LGMA/ICLEI survey findings that: •

local government does not have the necessary climate change expertise; and

•

local government does not have the resources to implement climate change initiatives.

One of the strong outcomes from the panel session was the identification of the need to incorporate water initiatives alongside other climate change initiatives. Many of the

28 • the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012

delegates and those active in climate change see water as a critical element of the bigger climate change picture. The other major outcome from the panel sessions was the realisation that no matter how much we elevate the importance of the climate change debate, there are rural and remote communities whose needs and priorities will be so basic – such as housing and safety – that dealing with climate change will not be a priority for them in the short term. There was also a desire for an ‘agreed space’ that defines our sector’s role and activity in the climate change roadmap.

Think Tank One of the primary outcomes of work undertaken by LGMA will be the establishment of a climate change Think Tank that represents the sector’s climate change thought leaders. The specific role and purpose of these leaders will be to drive innovation in the sector using their own councils as examples. The Think Tank participants will be highprofile and well regarded by their peers, as well as being immersed in climate change activity. Whilst it is important to have experts as members of the Think Tank, it is also important to have chief executives who have a passion for climate change and who are managing climate change as a priority for their councils. Reflecting the need for greater local government and community involvement in climate change activity, the Think Tank will develop a sector-wide approach to rolling out a national Climate Week, which will be used to raise awareness and provide education on what needs to be done to move towards more sustainable local carbon futures.

Climate Change Fellowships The United States’ Climate Change Fellowship Program is part of the Professional Fellows Program set up by the US Department of State. The International City/County Management Association (ICMA) is implementing the program in conjunction with LGMA and other partner organisations from China, New Zealand and Indonesia. The fellowship program targets local government professionals who are actively involved in the area of climate change and sustainability in their local council, and has a strong emphasis on knowledge exchange and collaboration in the face of common and imminent climate challenges. The goal is to promote partnerships on climate change and sustainable communities at the local governance and community level. The program also aims to establish networks and international relationships, and actively engage participants in the enabling creativity of identifying locally appropriate solutions for creating more sustainable and resilient communities within the context of a changing climate. Twenty-four international climate change fellows

best practice from Australia, China, Indonesia and New Zealand will travel to the United States and spend two weeks in Washington DC, and two weeks in a host community. Upon returning from the United States, the Australia fellows will form the founding members of LGMA’s Local Government Climate Change Think Tank and reference group. In return, 16 US fellows will travel to Australia, China, Indonesia and New Zealand for up to three weeks to participate in an exchange program. Australian communities will be selected to host two US fellows in mid-2011 and two fellows in the first half of 2012. The first round of Australian fellows have recently completed their exchange in the US: •

Warren Mortlock from Redland City Council in Queensland, who spent two weeks in the City of Palm Bay, Florida;

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Wayne Prangnell from the Shire of AugustaMargaret River in Western Australia, who spent two weeks in the City of Austin, Texas; and

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Jeff Green from Coffs Harbour City Council in New South Wales, who spent two weeks in the City of Austin, Texas.

A key element of the program is the networking and knowledge exchange between local government climate change fellows from the US and their international counterparts. The US Department of State, and ICMA, in conjunction with LGMA, will ensure that the benefits of the program are sustained, and extend well beyond the in-country exchange through alumni networks and other programs.

International development LGMA, in conjunction with its international development partners, is developing a program to support climate change initiatives undertaken by councils in the Pacific. The program will consist of climate change capacity building through mentoring, skill development, and information and knowledge transfer.

NSW LGSA survey Most New South Wales councils have developed plans and strategies to deal with climate change but have not allocated any money for implementation. The Local Government and Shires Association (LGSA) surveyed New South Wales councils in November 2010 about actions they were taking to cope with the impact of climate change. It received 106 responses, representing a 70 per cent response rate.

The survey found that most councils did not budget for climate change implementation, and are looking to funding from state and federal governments to do the job. The biggest barrier to climate change actions was identified as competing priorities for scarce funds, while support by the council senior management was seen as the most significant driver for action. Almost two thirds of councils have a documented strategy or plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Most councils are undertaking energy audits of council facilities and are seeking grants to undertake mitigation projects; however, 19 councils indicated that they had not taken any action to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. A third of councils indicated that they had taken no action to prepare for climate change. The LGSA survey recommended that: •

local government be properly resourced to undertake climate change actions;

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councils be further encouraged to participate in climate change risk assessment and prepare adaption strategies;

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more scientific, council specific information be provided to inform council decision-making;

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more climate change training be provided and targeted at local government professionals and senior managers; and

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a coordinated approach by all levels of government be taken.

The survey found that many councils are facing difficulties in driving action on climate change due to competing priorities, limited availability of internal and external funding, and finite levels of staff. Most councils called for funding for climate change, particularly for additional staff to lead the initiatives. The LGSA survey reflects the findings of the LGMA ICLEI survey conducted in 2008. A particularly interesting discovery was the critical role that local government staff plays in driving councils’ climate change activity. This led to the recommendation that funding be provided for the

the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 • 29

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The biggest barrier to climate change actions was identified as competing priorities for scarce funds, while support by the council senior management was seen as the most significant driver for action. engagement of skilled staff who would be able to undertake the development and implementation of climate change activity.

ACELG roundtable The ACELG recently held a climate change roundtable, at which key local government stakeholders participated in a fairly broad discussion around the sector’s role and response to climate change. One key conclusion to emerge from the discussion was that there is a need for institutional capacity within the sector to take on a broad coordinating role to develop a framework and direction for the sector’s involvement in climate change. The meeting also confirmed that local government had, through the CCP program, undertaken significant climate change activities in the last decade but that, in the absence of such a program, local government has struggled to maintain its momentum and direction in this key area. It found that there is a need for a ‘trusted source’ to establish the way forward for the sector’s involvement in climate change, as many small councils don’t have the expertise or the resources to tackle the issue on their own. It concluded that with the Gillard government’s renewed impetus in relation to climate change, as reflected in its determination to put a price on carbon this year, it is time for local government to come to grips with its role, purpose and direction in climate change activity. Significant discussion also revolved around the language of climate change and its user friendliness, particularly when we consider community education and involvement. The case was argued for a move away from the language of mitigation and adaptation to one that communicates the need for sustainable local carbon futures. It’s been recognised that many more initiatives and benefits could be achieved with direct community involvement in climate change. ACELG captured the sector’s mood in relation to climate change, and gained significant commitment and involvement. ACELG will present the roundtable outcomes to the sector and the relevant state and federal agencies in the hope of informing and influencing each tier of government’s climate change policy, programs and activity.

Conclusion LGMA’s climate change activity dates back to 2007, but

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came to an abrupt halt in 2010 once the Rudd government determined that it wasn’t going to proceed with an ETS as a broad climate change framework. Prior to that decision, LGMA had conducted a number of focus groups and surveys, and facilitated sessions to finetune an appropriate capacity building program for the sector. With the renewed commitment by the federal government to establish a price on carbon within 2011, there is a significant opportunity to re-establish climate change activity as a priority for local government. Differing intergovernmental policy approaches impact on effective implementation of local government climate change activity. More intergovernmental coordination will be required to achieve better results and to enhance community engagement in climate change activity. Greater effort needs to be placed in educating our leaders about the need for a low carbon future, keeping in mind that we will be dealing with climate change for many years to come. Coordination of the sector’s resources and sharing of ideas, solutions and approaches will go some way to increasing our sector’s climate change capacity. LGMA’s climate change Think Tank may be used to assist with: •

development of the sector’s climate change position for advocacy purposes with ALGA and the federal government;

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development of a capacity building program that will aid local government with resources and expertise to implement climate change initiatives as a direct response to the federal government’s environmental framework.

Whilst ACELG’s climate change role and activity is yet to be defined and adopted, there is a significant opportunity for it to take on the much-needed role of a ‘trusted source’ to coordinate and enable the sector’s climate change response and activity.

‘It is time for local government to come to grips with its role, purpose and direction in climate change activity.’

best practice

Introduction to SESA

ESA Safety & Environmental Services Australia is a team of management OHS consultants, environmental consultants, occupational hygienists, scientists, engineers and inspectors specialising in occupational health and safety (OHS), environmental risk management, property safety and occupational hygiene. SESA team is based in Sydney and provides services across Australia. The team assembles highly qualified professionals including employees and a network of sub-consultants who are experts in their field. SESA is a leading provider of risk management services to various industries including government, construction, manufacturing, property and facilities management and business services. Combining our effective project management processes, technical expertise and our years of hands-on experience, SESA offers clients the following servicesOccupational Health and Safety (OHS) Services • OHS Management Systems • OHS Procedures • Safe Work Method Statements • Site Safety Plans • OHS Audits • Workplace Inspections Occupational Hygiene Services • Occupational Hygiene Baseline Surveys • Air Monitoring • Workplace Noise • Indoor Air Quality • Hazardous Chemicals Handling & Storage • Lighting Survey Environmental Assessment Services • Environmental Site Assessments • Ground Water Assessments • Air Quality testing • Environmental noise Property Risk Management • Property OHS Inspections • Floor Slip Testing • NABERS Accredited Ratings Asbestos & Hazardous Material Services • Asbestos Inspections and Asbestos surveys • Asbestos Testing • Asbestos air monitoring OHS Training • Hazardous substances and dangerous goods • Noise awareness training • Customised OHS Training

Health, Safety & Environmental Risk Management Solutions

Safety, Environmental & Occupational Hygiene OHS Management Systems Occupational Hygiene Contract Consulting OHS Risk Assessment Property OHS Inspections Workplace Assessment OHS Compliance Audits Chemicals Assessment Ofﬁce/Indoor Air Quality Occupational Noise Surveys Customised OHS Training Contaminated Sites Assessment NABERS Accredited Ratings

Asbestos & Hazardous Materials Inspections, Surveys, Testing Air Monitoring Clearance Inspections & Reports NATA Endorsed Analysis Removal Project Management T: 02 8747 0360 PO Box 4689 Casula Mall, NSW, 2170

Members of SIA & AIOH w w w. s e s a . c o m . a u

For more information go to www.sesa.com.au

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Brisbane locals ventured out by kayak to remove rubbish from Brisbane River

Cleaning up, fixing up and REBUILDING QUEENSLAND By Ian Kiernan AO, Chairman, Clean Up Australia

ince I organised the first Clean Up Australia Day in 1990, I’ve seen literally millions of Australians volunteer their time to support the local environment and the community – but the phenomenal contribution everyday Australians made to clean up in 2011 exceeds anything I’ve ever witnessed. In the early months of 2011, Queensland was devastated by natural disasters. Residents in the north of the state faced the horrific Cyclone Yasi as those in the south reeled in shock from the effects of the nation’s worst ever floods. And yet, while Cyclone Yasi and the floods left a trail of destruction across the state, they also revealed the strength of Australia’s community spirit. With gloves and bags in hand, thousands of volunteers worked to wipe away the terrible destruction. Three quarters of Queensland was declared a disaster zone and the workload must have appeared daunting, but the pragmatic Australian approach kicked in. People rallied together in the immediate aftermath of the floods to clear mud from friends’ homes, rescue stranded pets and remove debris from the environment. Some were helping neighbours, while others travelled from out of town and even interstate to get behind the clean-up effort.

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The mammoth task of coordinating these clean-up crews fell to our local councils. Councils in affected areas responded immediately to assist residents and local businesses, while those across Australia were quick to lend a hand by providing donations, lending equipment, and helping to supply manpower – even while many areas in Victoria and New South Wales were also coping with floods, and those in Western Australia had suffered from bushfires. Here we had the opportunity to witness Australia’s community spirit on a larger scale, as councils all over the country recognised that such significant natural disasters were Australian disasters, not Queensland disasters. At Clean Up Australia, we work closely with local councils in the delivery of Clean Up Australia Day and year-round clean-up activities, and our relationship with disaster-affected councils took on particular importance in 2011. Each year, councils register numerous Clean Up sites; they assist us and our amazing volunteers by providing skips or picking up waste on request, and they often provide extra materials to local groups conducting cleanups. Some host barbecues after the event, or provide Clean Up site coordinators with a catering budget. In 2011, many of them went the extra mile to make Clean Up Australia Day 2011, on 6 March, a big event.

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The building industry has progressed rapidly, releasing new and innovative products that are more environmentally friendly, have lower environmental footprints, and utilise the best design and technology. Different areas were at different stages of their postdisaster clean-up. For some, Clean Up Australia Day was a way to reinvigorate the community. With the immediate clean-up of homes and workplaces completed, media focus had waned and Clean Up Australia Day presented an opportunity to inspire the community to clean up parks, waterways, bushland and other public areas. Brisbane City Council is an excellent example. For others, in the earlier stages of cleaning up the horrendous destruction caused by Cyclone Yasi, Clean Up Australia Day was an opportunity to rally the community together to begin the daunting clean-up effort. A post-disaster Clean Up site can be very different to the usual sites our volunteers clean up. In 2010, plastics, glass and paper were the major sources of rubbish removed by Clean Up volunteers in Queensland. But in 2011 we knew to expect changes, with larger items, tangled debris and in some cases even hazardous materials such as asbestos (which should only be handled by licensed operators) being found. In areas affected by floods and Cyclone Yasi, councils assisted Clean Up Australia by verifying the safety of each registered site – some of which had been registered months in advance, before disasters struck; others that had been registered in response to recent damage. They advised on Clean Up sites that should be postponed for safety reasons or would require specific equipment, and many continued registering Clean Up Sites beyond 6 March. Now cleaning up is giving way to fixing up and rebuilding – but many waterways, national parks and other areas of bushland still need attention. Clean Up Australia encourages councils to continue registering Clean Up sites and working with their communities to restore local areas. While clean-ups can be held at any time of year, we know that our Great Northern Clean Up will

provide means for those affected by Cyclone Yasi to bolster their efforts. Taking place over the second weekend of September (10-11 September), the Great Northern Clean Up is an opportunity for communities north of the Tropic of Capricorn to clean up ahead of the wet season. This year, it will take on particular importance as communities remove accumulated rubbish, the remains of building debris and other potentially harmful materials before they become the sort of rubbish we saw strewn across the landscape this wet season. As well as getting behind the Great Northern Clean Up, we hope to see councils using the post disaster rebuild as an opportunity to create green communities. The building industry has progressed rapidly, releasing new and innovative products that are more environmentally friendly, have lower environmental footprints, and utilise the best design and technology. By encouraging adoption of solar technology, prefabricated steel and other climate independent products, implementing sustainable building practices and providing incentives for local residents and businesses, councils can create communities that will be better placed to withstand nature’s fury, and will also be more energy, water and waste efficient. I hope that in this way, despite the tragic nature of the Queensland floods, we can create a positive legacy in their wake.

Ian Kiernan AO is the founder and Chairman of Clean Up Australia and Clean Up the World. Australian of the Year in 1994, Ian is also the recipient of the UNEP Sasakawa Environment Prize.

Brisbane suburbs received a makeover thanks to thousands of volunteers the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 • 33

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Clean up Australia Day

Brisbane 2011

Clean Up Australia Day weekend, and engaged the support of local skip bin companies to supply skip bins and portable two-metre cubed skip bags around Brisbane for use by clean up volunteers.

The Lord Mayor and Brisbane City Council called on the people of Brisbane to continue Brisbane’s fabulous clean-up effort in both flood affected and non-flood affected areas.

Brisbane City Council facilitated a Clean Up Australia Day Tally Room on Sunday 6 March 2011 to answer coordinator and volunteer queries during the clean-up, and record clean-up efforts.

Council invited Brisbane residents to support the clean-up using a range of promotional channels including media, online, mobile communications and social media marketing.

More than 100 dedicated council staff members were on hand to supervise and coordinate the major Clean Up sites and assist with the clean-up.

risbane City Council proudly supported Clean Up Australia Day’s clean-up efforts in Brisbane in 2011, marking the event’s 21st year.

Brisbane faced an even greater clean-up challenge as we moved forward in recovering from the devastating January floods. In response to the need, Council focused on delivering a bigger clean-up effort for 2011 and identified and registered more than 200 flood affected sites around Brisbane in need of a clean-up, in addition to community registered sites.

Brisbane residents could either join one of Brisbane City Council’s Priority Flood Clean Up sites, register their own Clean Up site, or join an existing local site. Brisbane schools and businesses were also called on to take part. In the lead up to Clean Up Australia Day, Brisbane City Council conducted site checks on all registered Clean Up sites and communicated with site coordinators on logistical issues for the day.

160 skips (135 skip bins and 25 JumboBags) were secured and strategically located around Brisbane in conjunction with registered Clean Up sites. Jumbo skip bags were sourced for large Clean Up sites and Brisbane City Council’s Local Asset Services was on board to collect additional waste.

Some of the more unusual items collected this year include a kitchen sink, a set of golf clubs and a wooden leg. The community spirit is evidently alive and well in Brisbane with a record number of participants and a record amount of rubbish collected for Clean Up Australia Day in Brisbane in 2011. The key results for the 2011 Clean Up Australia Day in Brisbane include: •

Brisbane City Council’s move to make 2011 Brisbane’s biggest clean-up effort to date for Clean Up Australia Day would also mean a mammoth task in rubbish removal. Council organised waste transfer stations around Brisbane to open free of charge to private vehicles on the

• •

a total of 507 Brisbane Clean Up sites (an increase of 68 per cent from 2010) including 28 business sites, 72 school sites, 28 youth sites, 163 community sites and 216 council designated sites; an estimated 23,472 volunteers (on the actual day, over 1500 participated); and an estimated 1340 tonnes of rubbish collected.

Commonwealth Bank volunteers work to clean up Kangaroo Point on Clean Up Australia Day 34 • the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012

best practice

Protector Alsafe Training Services

rotector Alsafe Training Services is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO Provider No. 21897) delivering Nationally Recognised Competency based training offering a variety of courses under the current Scope of Registration. Our strategy is simple. We are committed to providing the highest standard of safety training using a variety of competence based learning and assessment programs that enable our students to develop the essential skills to work safely in a variety of workplace environments. With an extensive national footprint we are able to provide comprehensive accredited and non-accredited induction and training packages to both the metropolitan and remote regional areas. Protector Alsafe is the National Safety Specialist within the Wesfarmers Industrial & Safety (WIS) Group with 38 locations throughout Australia. This geographic coverage combined with the resources of the broader WIS group provides our customers with a supplier who has the specialisation and focus on Personal Protective Equipment, Clothing and Footwear, Training and all Safety related services. Offering the industry the best range of the highest quality safety products and training services, we back our complete safety offering with technical support, product training and a network of knowledgeable product and training specialists who work with you to keep your workplace safe.

Framework (AQTF) to ensure relevance, fairness and validity of training and assessment. Workplace Safety Training To ensure that employees are working in a safe workplace environment it is a requirement that organisations provide employees with the appropriate training in workplace safety standards and hazards. It is essential that the minimum standard requirements are met and maintained. Protector Alsafe Training Services can provide a comprehensive range of courses to cover the requirements for Workplace Safety.

Our Instructors ‘You’re in Safe Hands’ All Protector Alsafe instructors are highly qualified and dedicated professional trainers. Selected directly from the Emergency Services, Military and Security industries, they offer a wealth of hands-on practical experience and a passion for sharing their knowledge. With safety as our primary focus, you can be confident that all the training courses will be conducted in a true professional and safety focused environment. Our Training Accredited Training Protector Alsafe Training Services is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO Provider No. 21897) delivering Nationally Recognised Competency based training. All training courses can be tailored to meet the specific requirements of a particular industry or company whilst ensuring that all national and state legislative requirements including Australian Standards are met. Training courses are designed to comply with the Australian Quality Training

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best practice

Some of the Workplace Safety Training that Protector Alsafe can provide includes: • Enter a Confined Space • Working Safely at Height • Gas Detection • Operate Breathing Apparatus and respiratory protection • First Aid - Apply First Aid and Perform CPR • Fire Safety • Fire Training Grounds Emergency Response Team Training Emergency Response Teams provide immediate help and care to emergencies and accidents within the workplace. ERT team members need to be highly technically trained and possess a high level of practical competence to be able to deal with critical life threatening emergencies. Protector Alsafe Training Services specialises in a complete range of ERT training. Some of the Emergency Response Team Training that Protector Alsafe can provide includes: • Undertake Vertical Rescue • Undertake Road Accident Rescue • Undertake Confined Space Rescue • Hazardous Material Response • ERT – Breathing Apparatus • ERT – Monitor Hazardous Atmospheres Online Training When there is restricted access to training, or perhaps rostering or time constraint issues, online training can provide a simple and cost effective solution. This method of applied learning allows the student to complete the theoretical training online using a blend of innovative technology and proven educational principles. Protector Alsafe Training Services can provide both standard and customised training and induction courses to suit all of your needs. 36••the theaustralian australianlocal localgovernment governmentenvironment environmentyearbook yearbook2011/2012 2011/2012 Y

Our Facilities With Training Centres located all across Australia, Protector Alsafe is able to provide training in modern state-of-the-art fully equipped classrooms. Our purpose designed practical training areas then provide the student with the opportunity to maximise and enhance the valuable hands-on training experience in a realistic and safe workplace environment. As an alternative, Protector Alsafe can conduct training onsite. This allows organisations to better control the training process when rostering, equipment and the workplace environment are an issue.

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Workplace Safety Training

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Protective Clothing & Footwear

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Personal Protective Equipment Customised Clothing

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Height & Site Safety

E-Business Solutions *Not available in all states

40 LOCATIONS AUSTRALIA WIDE

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corporate profile

McDonald’s in the Community

ince the early 2000s McDonald’s Australia has been on a journey of change and development in response to the increasingly diverse needs of our customers, and our potential customers. Today, more than 1.7 million of them walk through our doors every day, helping us become the $3.5 billion business that we are now. We value each and every one of them and do our best to provide them with the service they expect at McDonald’s, every time. So what are they telling us? Well, they tell us that given their busy lifestyles, they want us to be even more convenient for them. That means being closer by and open for business when they’re looking for a bite to eat. So we’re doing what we can to meet those needs, with extended hours and a focus on strategically expanding our development program. Over the next three years, we anticipate opening approximately 40 restaurants across Australia each year, which amounts to a capital investment value of approximately $120 million annually. As a significant employer, purchaser, retailer and franchisor in Australia, we know we have a responsibility to add value and contribute to the local economy and to the communities in which we operate. Each new restaurant brings with it local employment and training X 38••the theaustralian australianlocal localgovernment governmentenvironment environmentyearbook yearbook2011/2012 2011/2012

for approximately 100 to 120 people in part time and full time positions, as well as a number of casual positions. During the construction phase, new restaurants also create additional employment, including opportunities for local trades. Many of our restaurants are located in country towns and regional centres creating employment opportunities where they are often most needed. The wages bill for an average restaurant is in the vicinity of $1 million every year. This income enters the local economy as employees make purchases and pay taxes. Careful planning and preparation go into the development of a McDonald’s restaurant. Traffic assessments, environmental considerations, exterior and interior design, construction materials and local council and community involvement all play a key role in making sure that the new restaurant best suits the needs and wants of the local community. The results are modern looking restaurants that use natural materials, such as timber and stone, and ultimately integrate with the look and feel of the local community.

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corporate profile

A Proud Contributor

eing part of the community means getting involved, and McDonald’s and our franchisees are proud contributors, everywhere we operate. From small to large, grassroots to national, McDonald’s supports many different kinds of initiatives that are important to us and our customers. As an example, McDonald’s Australia marked 22 years of partnership with Clean Up Australia Day, an event we actually helped start in 1989 as Clean Up Sydney Harbour, but that is today held locally across the country. It’s now a community icon and the country’s biggest annual volunteer event. For over two decades more than 11 million volunteers have collectively donated over 24 million hours to their community. During this time we have seen the removal of almost 256,000 ute loads of rubbish from more than 130,000 sites right across the country, fostered more than 200 local projects and inspired one in three Australians to take action. This year, Clean Up Australia estimated 565,510 volunteers across Australia participated in the clean up, collecting approximately 16,454 tonnes of rubbish at 7,479 registered Clean Up Sites across Australia. In addition, it’s estimated that 70 per cent of Australians have an old mobile lying around at home, yet 90 per cent of the materials in mobiles could be recycled. So we were pleased that Clean Up banded together with McDonald’s to again run an e-waste collection as part of Clean Up Australia Day 2011. Our mobile phone recycling program was a huge success, with 200 restaurants signing up to

have a recycling booth set up in their restaurants. This initiative was timely and much needed given e-waste is currently increasing at three times the rate of municipal waste. For every phone collected in our restaurants, Clean Up received $3.00. However, keeping Australia clean isn’t a one-day affair. We want the surroundings of our restaurants and community to be clean and tidy every day. That’s why we run a Clean Streets Program which is designed to keep the area around our restaurants litter free. One of the key elements of this initiative involves our staff picking up litter from the restaurant grounds, as well as the neighbouring streets. Car park signage, packaging and restaurant traymats are also designed and displayed throughout the restaurant to remind customers not to litter, and plenty of bins are available for use throughout our sites.

Giving Back through Sport and Recreation

eyond bricks and mortar, local jobs and support for local initiatives, a local McDonald’s often leads to considerable sponsorship opportunities for local sporting or other community teams, clubs and events that are important to our customers or make a difference to the lives of Australians. Giving back to the community is a fundamental part of our business philosophy dating back to McDonald’s founder, Ray Kroc, and is carried on today by the company and our franchisees. Encouraging more people, especially children, to participate in sport is a key part of our commitment. A great example is a program we call the McDonald’s Player Escort Competition, in which McDonald’s leveraged our partnership with the FIFA World CupTM and invited kids to tell us a story about a time they exhibited or experienced good sportsmanship. The best 11 entries won a once-in-alifetime opportunity to walk on the field with the Australian team at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The program allowed kids from across the country to experience

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first hand the thrill and inspiration of world-class sport. On a wider scale, hundreds of sporting clubs across Australia benefit from the support of their local McDonald’s restaurant. McDonald’s restaurant owners and managers often team together across their state or in smaller regional or suburban groups to support their local sporting groups. From supporting holiday soccer clinics in regional South Australia and AFL clinics with the Collingwood Football Club, to providing sponsorship to Basketball Victoria and Swimming Queensland, all our sporting commitments are designed to help keep kids active. Rugby union, rugby league, soccer, AFL, netball, swimming and basketball are all supported somewhere in Australia by McDonald’s. Every McDonald’s restaurant in the country is committed to contributing to the community within which it operates – whether this is by joining with other restaurants to fund a major sponsorship, individually supporting their local youth sporting team or raising funds for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC).

corporate profile

Ronald McDonald House Charities

onald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) is an independent charity first established in Australia in 1985 by McDonald’s. Its mission is simple – to create, find and support programs that help seriously ill children and their families. Most recently in conjunction with the Board of the Ronald McDonald House in Orange and Royal Far West, RMHC launched Australia’s first Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, which will provide child health services and health promotion to families living in rural and remote NSW. The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile is a purpose-built, 12 metre long vehicle with two clinical consulting rooms, staffed by Group shot outside Ronald McDonald Care Mobile Catriona Noble, a team of Royal Far West clinicians to Dr Jane Lesslie, Richard Barron, Harrison Fisher provide child health services to children in the areas where they live. It will make Ronald McDonald Family Retreat accessing child health services easier for hundreds of NSW The Ronald McDonald Family Retreat Program provides country families each year. families with the opportunity to take a holiday when they In addition to the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, there need it most but can least afford it through the provision of are six key programs run by Ronald McDonald House free holiday accommodation. Charities in Australia. Ronald McDonald Grants Ronald McDonald House The Ronald McDonald Grants Program allows RMHC to Ronald McDonald House provides a home-away-fromsupport programs that enhance the quality of care and home for families of seriously ill children being treated at support for seriously ill children and their families. This can nearby hospitals. be in the form of one-off contributions or more ongoing assistance and since 1987, $11 million has been provided Ronald McDonald Family Room to a variety of projects through the Grants Program. The Ronald McDonald Family Room Program gives local families the opportunity to take a break and experience a RMHC is managed by an independent board of little bit of home within the hospital, only footsteps from their volunteer directors which includes McDonald’s Australia child’s bedside. management, RMHC management, McDonald’s franchisees and community and medical representatives. Ronald McDonald Cord Blood Banks Being able to maximise support is key, which is why Ronald McDonald House Charities remains committed all administration and management expenses of RMHC to being the major charitable funder of public Cord Blood are met by McDonald’s Australia so that 100 per cent of Banks in Australia, which collect and store life saving all funds donated can be used for programs to benefit umbilical cord blood used mainly to treat childhood seriously ill children. cancers. Ronald McDonald Learning Program The Ronald McDonald Learning Program helps children who have suffered serious illness to catch up on their missed schooling.

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infrastructure

Are you ready for the AGIC national sustainability rating scheme for infrastructure?

hen one considers the extreme nature of recent weather and climate-related events across Australia, it is fitting that the first Australian Green Infrastructure Council (AGIC) sustainability assessment category to be authored and completed was the Climate Change Adaptation category; however, it is important to understand that where sustainability is concerned, Climate Change Adaptation is but one of many issues to be considered in the sustainable design, construction and operation of Australia’s infrastructure. Sustainability is now a strategic business imperative for any organisation, and local governments also need to meet this new challenge – it is the logical and necessary next step in all areas of human activity. The challenge is to identify the vehicle to be used to change mature and often entrenched cultures and provide the environment for people to embrace the necessary changes to move an organisation forward in a more sustainable manner. One only has to look to past precedents in the quality, safety and environmental areas to find evidence of great changes in organisational cultures and performance after a recognised national framework guided the business strategies in these important areas. Sustainability is no different, as, in my view, a national structured framework is a necessary platform to achieve the organisational culture changes that result in both innovation and more sustainable outcomes. AGIC’s sustainability rating scheme for infrastructure is designed to encourage such innovation in the design, construction and operation of civil infrastructure, and it will provide the national framework to platform the necessary changes. In broad terms, the scheme covers road, rail, sea

42 • the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012

By Doug Harland, CEO, Australian Green Infrastructure Council and airports, and transmission grids (pipes, poles and wires) and the headworks on other civil projects. Greater detail is available on the AGIC website: www.agic.net.au. Three years of development of the scheme has resulted in a practical suite of sustainability assessment criteria soon to be launched in the Australian market. The authorship of the scheme is now well advanced, with authors recently passing the final review milestone. Following the peer review currently underway, project trials to test-market the tool will soon commence in readiness for its national release in February 2012. Comprising five themes with a total of 16 sustainability assessment categories, the development of the categories for the rating tool has been subject to rigorous quality assurance. Authors were identified and contracted for each category to develop the training manuals, scoring spreadsheets and benchmarks of best practice. Each category author has a technical peer reviewer supported by a Global Review Panel of experienced infrastructure professionals who overview the total authorship of all of the categories to ensure the relevance, consistency and practicality of the material. These reviews were conducted at the 15 per cent, 30 per cent, 60 per cent and final draft milestones, and two stages of project trials will require further reviews as the scheme is test-marketed to ensure that it is finely tuned prior to its February 2012 national launch.

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The AGIC Board is most appreciative of the pro bono support provided by the peer reviewers. GHD was contracted to manage the authorship program, and this ensured that milestones were met on a timely basis and issues raised by authors were addressed in a prompt manner. The appointment of Rick Walters as AGIC’s technical manager in February was welcomed, and has greatly assisted the scheme’s development, and the AGIC Board looks forward to its release. AGIC has three releases that are freely available on its website.

The first is the Climate Change Adaptation Guideline.

The second release is the Quick Check sustainability reference guide.

Consideration of trends and the potential risks posed by a changing climate have not in the past had the prominence that regulators, operators, owners, and infrastructure design and construction companies are now according them, and this category is designed to bridge this gap.

Developed by AECOM Director Scott Losee for AGIC, this questionnaire-based spreadsheet with 136 questions allows the sustainability credentials of a new project or existing asset upgrade to be tested within an hour for areas of strength and weakness in relation to sustainability. Quick Check is again freely available on the AGIC website and provides the user with an understanding of the issues to be covered by the National Sustainability Rating scheme when released.

Traditionally, infrastructure is designed on the basis of models based on historical weather records, and an assumption that the future climate will be the same as in the past. In addition, it is still common to find that some stakeholders are not heeding the lessons (namely social, economic and environmental costs) from the impact of natural catastrophes on current operating infrastructure in their operations and maintenance plans, nor their long-term strategic thinking. The objectives for both the AGIC category and the interim guideline include: • • • •

when climate change related risks should be considered and how; assessment of likely impacts; identifying timely and appropriate resilience and adaptation measures; and relative levels of assessment and implementation.

Further details are freely available on the AGIC website.

Main Roads WA was one of the first organisations to train their staff in the use of Quick Check, and it has now been used successfully to raise awareness of and assess sustainability issues on a number of new projects.

The third release was the AGIC web-based Knowledge Hub. The Knowledge Hub (K-Hub) is AGIC’s online library, allowing organisations and individuals to share information and experiences regarding best practice, new technologies, and better ways forward in achieving sustainability in infrastructure. An overview of a few of the case studies currently available on the K-Hub website www.agic-khub.net.au follows:

the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 • 43

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The Clem7 – Excellence in Sustainable Water Management case study highlights the project’s 100 per cent recycled water management system, which saved Brisbane 1,500 ML of town water and set a new benchmark for alternative, self-sufficient water supply for construction projects across the country. The joint venture’s foresight and commitment to sustainability saw project partners Baulderstone, Leighton Contractors and Bilfinger Berger receive the Contractor Excellence award at the 2010 National Infrastructure Awards.

The Legacy of the Green Games is a thought piece on contributions made by the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and the London 2012 Olympic Games to infrastructure sustainability – in terms of environmental, social and socio-economic performance and outcomes. It compares and contrasts the approaches to sustainability taken for these Games. This item was created and submitted by Manidis Roberts.

The E-Crete case study was provided by Aurora Construction Materials and introduces a new low carbon concrete used for landscaping works and pathways at the CERES Community Environmental Park in Melbourne. E-Crete features reused ‘waste’ materials as a cement replacement, reducing carbon output by as much as 80 per cent when compared to conventional concrete.

The Northern Busway – Royal Children’s Hospital case study discusses the dual role of design and environmental management that allowed SMEC to embed environmental staff on the project team at the initial design stage, and incorporate sustainability principles throughout the project. Therefore environmental, economic and social outcomes were enhanced for the client and the community, resulting in a reduction in the project’s environmental footprint, economic savings and an increase in innovation, as well as creating a benchmark for future projects.

THE Ipswich Motor Upgrade – SAFElink Alliance case study provides an overview of the sustainability aspects and outcomes integrated into the SAFElink Alliance. Initiatives included solar bike track lighting, fauna crossings, a range of stormwater management controls, landscaping using native species and efficient irrigation, and crime prevention using design guidelines. Provided with thanks from Arup. To read more about any of these case studies, visit www.agic-khub.net.au/directory. To share your knowledge, go to www.agic-khub.net.au/ contributor-registration/ and submit your case study. The AGIC Board looks forward to the release of the scheme in 2012. Doug Harland, CEO AGIC 0418 987 662 • dharland@agic.net.au

44 • the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012

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infrastructure

The Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council A Unique Meeting of Sustainability Minds By Jayne Paramor, Executive Officer, ASBEC

esponsible for around one quarter of Australia’s indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the buildings sector, both residential and commercial, undoubtedly has a significant role to play in the achievement of GHG mitigation objectives being undertaken at home and around the world. As awareness of the growing consequences of climate change has increased, many in the buildings sector have embraced the principles of sustainability, and are increasingly recognising the urgency with which we need to act to minimise the sector’s contribution to dangerous climate change. And with a more holistic approach being taken to addressing these emerging issues, the role of the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) has become firmly established within the Australian political and commercial landscapes, as a sector-wide voice for the sustainability agenda. Unique in its character, ASBEC is the peak body of key professional industry and government organisations committed to a sustainable built environment in Australia. ASBEC’s membership consists of industry and professional associations, non-government organisations, educational institutions and government observers who are involved in the planning, design, delivery, operation and maintenance of our built environment, and are concerned with the social and environmental impacts of this sector. By bringing together such a varied membership, often with quite disparate views, ASBEC provides a forum for diverse groups involved in the built environment to gather, find common ground and intelligently discuss contentious issues, as well as advocate their own sustainability products, policies and initiatives. Similarly, the Council provides an opportunity to share perspectives and to garner an understanding of issues from various positions, improving the overall appreciation of the nuances and barriers associated with pursuing sustainability objectives within the sector. An increasingly recognised voice among industry and across all levels of government, ASBEC continues to

46 • the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012

produce highly influential research around many of the issues facing the sector, as it tackles sustainability head-on. Aside from the broader discussions held quarterly among the full Council membership, ASBEC runs a number of task groups, which consist of members particularly engaged with the focus of each group. These groups are dedicated to specific subject areas relating to sustainability and the buildings sector. The Climate Change Task Group (CCTG) is focused on the impacts of and adaptation to the climate-related upheaval projected to take place over the next century. Responsible for The Second Plank – Building a Low Carbon Economy with Energy Efficient Buildings (2008) and The Second Plank Update: A Review of the Contribution that Energy Efficiency in the Buildings Sector can make to Greenhouse Gas Emissions Abatement, the CCTG has had positive influence in discussions surrounding the role of the buildings sector in cutting emissions, by targeting the relatively low-hanging fruits of energy efficiency and demand-side management. Drawing from a reference made by the then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, that energy efficiency forms the second plank on the road to a low-carbon economy, the reports support the need for complementary measures to enhance the capacity of a carbon reduction program in achieving meaningful abatement goals. Outlining a range of policies surrounding incentives to encourage investors and deterrents to penalise laggards, the research also quantifies the risks and barriers associated with achieving such an objective, both as a complementary component of a broader carbon strategy, and as a strategy employed in isolation. Perhaps most significant is that taking such an approach can be done at little or no cost to the economy over the long term. Regardless of changes at the federal level around what a national carbon pricing scheme might look like, the ASBEC CCTG’s policy recommendations have welcomed strong support, highlighted in the commitment by the Gillard government to offer tax breaks for businesses

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The Climate Change Task Group (CCTG) is focused on the impacts of and adaptation to the climate-related upheaval projected to take place over the next century.

investing in energy efficiency initiatives in the buildings sector. While not in the form of accelerated green depreciation, as recommended by the CCTG, the policy nevertheless offers a significant incentive to the private sector to capitalise on the benefits that green buildings can offer, and will undoubtedly speed the process of ‘greening’ existing building stock. Recent announcements delaying the implementation of the scheme, however, point to the need for further development at a policy level to ensure that it produces the desired outcomes, and ASBEC hopes to be a keen participant in this process. The Second Plank Update report also points to the healthy capacity of government as an influencer in such circumstances, to lead the push from its own position as a major building owner, landlord and tenant within the national property market. Addressing another set of issues, the ASBEC Cities for the Future Task Group (CTG) is working to address the relationship between GHG emissions, land use and transport. The nation’s love affair with the car and the quarter-acre block points to a bleak outlook for the second half of this century, with longer travel times, more congestion and higher GHG emissions by 2041. It is here that sustainability considerations must carry some weight, particularly in relation to urban design and planning, in order to improve possible outcomes from the projected growth in urban population over coming decades. Using modelling around data for the greater Melbourne area and South East Queensland, the Task Group acknowledges the link between the urban form and GHG emissions and advocates a complete rethink of the way urban space is allocated, designed and developed. Benefits would be twofold, by not only minimising the environmental impacts of existing models, but also retaining and improving the quality of life for the inhabitants. One step towards the achievement of such goals is to take a more holistic approach to assessing the liveability of urban developments. This is outlined in the report’s recommendations to establish a set of measures, beyond sustainability indicators, to help better understand the urban form in the context of variation between Australian

cities and was brought closer to fruition with a workshop hosted by the CTG late in 2010, to discuss the shape of a possible set of indicators. ASBEC’s most recent contribution to the discussion came in the form of a Call to Action, made at the Green Cities conference in Melbourne in March. The Call seeks the creation of a Federal Minister for Cities and Urban Development, supported by a Cabinet Committee, a COAG Ministerial Council, a Department and an NGO Roundtable, in an effort to streamline the design and development of our cities in the most sustainable way possible. ASBEC argues that a coordinated approach to urban policy development is required to lift the performance of our cities, to meet Australians’ desire for sustainable and liveable cities, to make our cities more resilient to climate change and environmental disasters, and to maximise the opportunities of our cities as drivers of Australia’s productivity and innovation. Time will tell if the Gillard government will take up the urban growth challenge, but ASBEC will continue taking every opportunity to remind our audience of the urgent need for action, which encompasses all levels of government – the commercial sector right through to the residential consumer. The Zero Emissions Residental Task Group (ZERTG) shifts the focus to building and construction in the residential sector and drills down to the potential improvements in the efficiencies attributable to the ‘end user’ in all of us. The ZERTG seeks to address the need for a cohesive strategy, and for voluntary tools and ‘sustainability drivers’ to reduce residential emissions in Australia, with a view to developing a framework and advocacy campaign that defines, measures and rates zero emission homes. A focus on residential homes (i.e. both new and old detached, semi-detached dwellings and apartments) beyond just energy efficiency and the building envelope has potential flow-on benefits over and above the direct emissions reduction of the home itself. It also has the potential to change how people value their homes – in terms of quality of life, not simply the cost for development, maintenance and appliances – and influence the decision-

the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 • 47

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making that they and professionals within the residential sector undertake in relation to emissions. The ZERTG is currently working on a draft action plan for the development of an educational campaign targeting the residential sector, with the objective of informing Australians about the benefits of zero emission homes and equipping industry to deliver en masse. The ASBEC website will update the group’s progress with announcements expected in the coming months. Certainly all of these subject areas have implications for local government, and it is easy to see the synergies and interconnectedness of different areas of dialogue around the sustainability agenda. It is also easy to appreciate the ramifications of a breakdown in communication among a complex web of stakeholders; how decisions taken in isolation, without broader consultation and evaluation, can be detrimental for the potentially unconsidered issues pertinent to other parties in the equation. With impacts at all levels of government, we are pleased to have the Council of Capital City Lord Mayors and the City of Melbourne as observer members of ASBEC. While it is imperative that the discussion be had at all tiers of government, as well as the commercial sector, it is also essential for local government to have a voice at the table as these issues are debated. Through the relationships that ASBEC fosters across the whole built environment sector, and the participation of sector experts who bring immense experience to the discussion, the Council seeks to widen the scope of input to the conversation around the co-existence of well-managed urban development and the need for a sustainability focus. This will go a long way to shoring up our lifestyles and prosperity into the long distant future. While high degrees of uncertainty continue to exist around sustainability issues within the Australian political landscape, ASBEC will continue to have a role in promoting sustainable outcomes through one of the largest sectors of the Australian economy. It is clear from our recent research that significant gains can be made across the buildings sector, making it absolutely imperative that a holistic approach be advocated in achieving the mitigation and adaptation objectives that we set ourselves as a nation. Only when sustainability is a mainstream, bottom-line consideration in the day-to-day operation of government, commerce, industry and the consideration of everyday consumers will ASBEC’s role become redundant… not to be pessimistic, but there are a good few years left in us yet, I’d say! 48 • the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012

About ASBEC ASBEC is a non-profit volunteer organisation. Members commit their time, resources and energy to developing practical opportunities for a more sustainable built environment.

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WHO WILL JUDGE ENTRIES All entries will be judged by an independent committee of industry representatives, established by the ACRS specifically for this award.

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www.acrs.org.au/award Entries open 1 April 2011 and close 5pm (EST), 1 August 2011. the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 • 49 3M is a trademark of 3M Company. © 3M 2011. All rights reserved.

infrastructure Penrith Government Office Building

Improving the ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMACE

of the built form

By NABERS

The built environment is responsible for approximately 20 per cent of our carbon emissions. In Australia around 70 per cent of government agencies operate from office buildings with the Commonwealth alone occupying 10 per cent of the nation’s commercial office market.

overnments are therefore in a uniquely strong position to set an example when it comes to improving the environmental performance of the built form and through the use of innovative tools and considered legislation, governments are stepping up to the challenge. Most Commonwealth, state and territory governments have policies and targets for improved efficiency in the buildings they occupy, measured using the National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS). Local governments are increasingly looking to these targets as an example of how to use the NABERS tool to set and reach their own sustainability goals within their own jurisdictions.

50 • the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012

NABERS – measuring the way forward NABERS is an initiative of all Australian state and territory governments, managed by the New South Wales Department of Environment and Heritage. The Energy, Water, Waste and Indoor Environment tools measure the operational performance of buildings in comparison to the wider market, using a simple rating system of 1 to 5 stars. NABERS encourages innovation and best practice to improve the environmental performance of buildings, and helps to identify where savings and improvements can be made. In the 10 years since NABERS was introduced, it has become a world leader in this area, helping to place Australia’s building owners and tenants at the forefront of

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building energy efficiency, with some 51 per cent of the nation’s office space rated through NABERS.

Why should local government aim to achieve the best NABERS ratings for their own buildings? The commercial property sector consumes approximately one fifth of Australia’s electricity and accounts for about 13 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions – a figure that rises by three per cent each year. Manager Built Environment – Department of Environment and Heritage, Yma ten Hoedt, said that a NABERS rating can help local government to evaluate how efficiently a building is operating compared to other buildings in the marketplace. It is important for local government to consider its portfolio of commercial buildings within its jurisdiction and recognise that being environmentally efficient can help the bottom line. A building that uses less water and power, for example, costs less to run. ‘As a result, building owners use a NABERS rating as a benchmark for measuring improvement and communicating their achievements,’ said Ms ten Hoedt. While driving improved performance standards in the commercial sector through Commercial Building Disclosure (CBD), the Commonwealth Government is using its influential position as a major national tenant by setting a minimum 4.5 star NABERS Energy rating for buildings that it occupies. It also ensures that all of its tenanted buildings include a green lease schedule (GLS) in new or negotiated leases. A green lease guide explains what a green lease is and also provides commercial office tenants with a guide to what to consider when choosing a building and designing an office fitout. It provides an opportunity to identify and commit to objectives that will save tenants money, provide an excellent working environment for employees, and enhance an organisation’s reputation through reduced environmental impact. State governments, such as New South Wales, which also seeks 4.5 stars for both NABERS Energy and Water in its premises, are leading by example with strategies such as the New South Wales Government’s Sustainability Policy, a strategy addressing sustainable water use, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from energy, waste and fleet management and sustainable purchasing.

Project officer in the sustainable government section of the New South Wales Office for Environment and Heritage, Sam Hewett, said that it is fast becoming conventional wisdom that sustainable businesses are viable businesses. ‘By improving efficiencies, engaging staff and minimising environmental impacts, public sector businesses can reduce costs, build resilience and stay ahead of environmental regulation,’ Mr Hewett said. ‘The New South Wales Government Sustainability Policy is recognition of this. The local government sector faces similar challenges, which is why the New South Wales Government encourages the local government sector to adopt sustainable business practices by having all the tools and resources accessible on the internet.’

Savings to be made A 2009 study looking at low-energy high-rise buildings by Sydney University’s Warren Centre found a direct correlation between simply obtaining a NABERS rating and a significant reduction in operational expenditure. The study also found that most buildings have the capacity to easily make energy savings equivalent to half a star rating – or about a 10 per cent reduction in energy use – simply by streamlining and fine-tuning the existing systems in the building. Highlighted, too, were the innovative strategies being used to extract capital for environmental improvements from reduced maintenance or operating expenses, rather than from capital budgets. The study found that in some cases a return on investment could be achieved within 12 months. ‘In an environment where capital for new build projects is still scarce, the focus for Australia’s property owners is on improving environmental performance of existing stock and looking for cost-effective refurbishment options,’ Ms ten Hoedt said. ‘Reducing operational costs is crucial to the local government building sector and the NABERS tools are essential to meeting this objective.’ Local government strives to set an example to employees as well as the communities within their jurisdiction, and a NABERS rating can also educate and assist in benchmarking improvements to the indoor environment of local government buildings to create green workspaces and generate higher productivity and enhanced wellbeing among employees.

the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 • 51

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About a quarter of water consumed by Australia’s commercial buildings is due to leaks and wastage.

‘Research indicates a strong link between a good indoor environment and improved productivity and reduced absenteeism, potentially leading to substantial financial benefits,’ Ms ten Hoedt said. By owning and occupying a building with a high NABERS Indoor Environment rating, local government is using the workplace as a practical demonstration of government’s commitment to improving environmental performance. Ms ten Hoedt agrees that the process of getting a rating, as well as the rating itself, highlights areas where financial savings can be made. The NABERS Energy rating process, for example, identifies opportunities to re-evaluate fitout lighting that accounts for more than 60 per cent of the average tenant’s energy costs, and represents the greatest opportunity for energy savings. Tenancies that make good use of natural light and efficient lighting design can also reduce energy bills. These measures will also reduce the heat load on the base building air conditioning, resulting in further indirect cost savings.

Queanbeyan Government Service Centre

52 • the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012

Likewise, a NABERS Water rating can unlock significant opportunities to reduce water consumption and lower operational costs. About a quarter of water consumed by Australia’s commercial buildings is due to leaks and wastage. A NABERS rating will identify such obstacles as water-based air conditioning systems, which can account for about a third of the building’s total water consumption. A NABERS Waste rating identifies waste as a valuable resource and a cost-saving opportunity. Waste management costs are often passed on to tenants, and a comprehensive waste minimisation and recycling system can generate significant savings. NABERS Waste is crucial to informing the development of a waste management system, and sets a positive example for a business and its employees.

Helpful resources To stimulate energy efficiency upgrades in the commercial building sector within local government, New South Wales has recently followed Victoria’s lead with the introduction of the Local Government Amendment (Environmental Upgrade Agreements) Act 2010.

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The Act aims to improve access to low-cost loans for upgrades to improve the environmental performance of existing buildings with repayments by way of additional council charges. Initiatives such as these motivate local government to encourage landlords of buildings within their jurisdiction to invest in energy savings upgrades, the savings of which will pay for the improvements over time. In high density areas such as Sydney’s CBD, Parramatta and North Sydney, for example, office, hotel and retail buildings can account for as much as 77 per cent of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions. Tenants obviously benefit from reduced electricity bills resulting from upgrades that may not otherwise have happened. CitySwitch Green Office is a growing national partnership between businesses and local government acting as environmental leaders. CitySwitch is the only national tenant energy efficiency program addressing the climate change impact of commercial office tenancies. CitySwitch encourages business leaders to commit to improving energy efficiency, offering a support network of

like-minded organisations, free resources and promotional opportunities to signatories as they embark upon the journey to becoming more energy efficient. City of Sydney CitySwitch program manager, Virginie Vernin, said that NABERS is a reliable and consistent tool that is simply structured for everyone to use. ‘NABERS is a tool for operational performance measurement, making it easy to compare one building with another. CitySwitch uses the rating tool to help signatories progress and benchmark their performance. For example, when a signatory signs up with a current 3-star NABERS Energy rating and commits to 4 stars, CitySwitch provides a framework to achieve meaningful progress,’ Ms Vernin said. ‘Obtaining a NABERS Energy rating is an integral part of the CitySwitch commitment. Whilst it’s easy to show people how to improve energy efficiency, NABERS ensures that tenants see the results, not just via electricity bills but also by comparing tenancies and the market as a whole. This enables them to track the progress they are making and this is very rewarding,’ she said.

Department of Regional Australia, rn t Regional Development and Local Government

Australia’s regions are integral to our values and sense of identity, which come from our unique and diverse culture, landscape, history and people. The Australian Government, through the Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government, contributes to the prosperity of the economy and the wellbeing of all Australians by assisting regions to realise their potential and manage their own futures. As part of the Australian Government’s commitment to regional Australia, approximately $1 billion has been allocated to the Regional Development Australia Fund (RDAF). The RDAF will build on regional capabilities by funding infrastructure projects which improve the economic, social and community outcomes of Australia’s regions. The program also maximises outcomes by leveraging partnerships across all levels of government, and the business and not-for-proﬁt sectors.

Local cal government ern nt b bodies od es and a inco incorporated orpo po ted not-for-proﬁ organisations eligible apply for no -pr ﬁtt org anisatio ons are a eligib gib to a ply fo ght o art of o RDAF funding, ei either in theirr ow own right or as pa part um a consortium. ts is b ad. d. All proje ectss The scope of elig eligible pro projects broad. projects rt at least ast one e of the Aus tra ia an must support Australian m na al p ties Re g onal Government’s national priorities. Regional nt Australia (RDA) ( ) committees co ommitte are ep ying Development playing yin RDAF DAF applications plic ns w ha a key role in identifying which are h Regional gio Pla ki consistent with their Plans. Proj Projects see seeking funding must be endorsed b by the lo locall RDA co committee as a community priority. Round One of the RDAF is providing up to $100 million of Commonwealth funding for approved projects. Applications for Round One closed on Friday, 13 May 2011 and a subsequent funding round is expected to be announced in the second half of 2011. The RDAF Guidelines, a Frequently Asked Questions document and a copy of the application form are available at www.regional.gov.au/regionalprograms. the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 • 53

315582A_Dept Regional Australia | 1701.indd 1

4/21/11 12:07 PM

infrastructure

In high density areas such as Sydney’s CBD, Parramatta and North Sydney, for example, office, hotel and retail buildings can account for as much as 77 per cent of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions. The NABERS rating tools – what are they and how do they work? NABERS ratings tools can generally be applied to base building, whole of building or tenancy scenarios. Energy NABERS Energy assists owners and tenants to reduce energy use, energy costs and greenhouse emissions. Implementing energy efficiency practices can save 20 per cent to 40 per cent on the energy bills of many buildings. More than 51 per cent of the national office market has been rated with NABERS Energy (as at June 2010), so there is still significant scope for improvement. A base building rating is based on the energy intensity and greenhouse gas emissions of the building, excluding all energy use from tenants. It assesses greenhouse gas emissions associated with energy consumed in supplying building central services to lettable office areas and common spaces, including: •

Common-area lighting and power;

•

Lifts and escalators;

•

Air conditioning and ventilation, including:

•

Tenant-controlled supplementary air conditioning; and

•

Generator fuel for tenant usage.

Whole of building: When tenants’ and landlords’ energy use cannot be separated, a whole of building rating is based on the intensity of the energy used and greenhouse gas emissions of the base building and tenancies. This includes all energy supplied to the building for the operation of the building and the occupants of the office space.

Water

NABERS Water is used by property owners and managers to track the impact of water upgrades for public environmental reporting, and as a KPI in many building management contracts. As at June 2010, 35 per cent of the national office market had been rated with NABERS Water, and the take-up of this tool continues to grow. The NABERS Water rating:

− Base building services to meet normal requirements − Centralised supplementary services for tenants

•

Calculates the amount of water used by the building;

•

Adjusts raw data to take account of hours of use and climate; and

•

Divides the water use figure by the rated area, to give the water use per unit of rated space (kL per m2).

− Supplementary services to ensure premises are safe, lit and comfortable for office work, where there is no special tenant requirement.

NABERS Water can only be used to rate the base or whole building, as most water consumption in a building is influenced by the building owner.

•

Exterior lighting;

•

Exterior signage provided by the building owner for the benefit of office tenants;

•

Generator fuel where it serves central services; and

•

Car park ventilation and lighting, where internal or external car parks within the legal boundaries of the site are provided for tenant use.

A tenancy rating is based on the amount of energy used per square metre of the tenancy associated with: •

Lighting;

•

Power to equipment (computer servers, tenantinstalled signage etc):

54 • the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012

Waste

A NABERS Waste rating provides market recognition and a competitive advantage for buildings with low waste generation and high recycling rates. It encourages the minimisation of waste to landfill and allows building owners, managers or tenants to promote the waste and recycling performance of their building. A NABERS Waste rating measures the amount of ‘materials generated’ (garbage, recyclables, re-use, etc.) by a building and how much of that is diverted from landfill/ disposal.

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Indoor air quality is a major concern to building managers, tenants and employees, because it can impact the health, comfort, wellbeing and productivity of building occupants. Indoor environment A NABERS Indoor Environment rating assesses the relationship between a building’s indoor environment quality and the health, comfort and wellbeing of its occupants by analysing: •

Thermal comfort – temperature, relative humidity and air speed. Thermal comfort is directly linked to people’s productivity and is important for their comfort and wellbeing. There are well-accepted ‘comfort’ ranges for temperature, air speed and relative humidity.

•

Air quality – ventilation effectiveness and indoor pollutants. Indoor air quality is a major concern to building managers, tenants and employees, because it can impact the health, comfort, wellbeing and productivity of building occupants. Research shows a strong relationship between good indoor air quality and people’s performance at work.

•

CASE STUDY:

SPA

As a statutory authority established to improve operational efficiencies in the use of government office accommodation, the State Property Authority (SPA) takes an integrated approach to planning, strategy and property management. The SPA supports government agencies in property management in order to improve economic, social and environmental outcomes for the people of NSW. The SPA’s commitment to achieving sustainability at every level of the organisation is reflected in the objectives of the State Property Authority Act 2006. The SPA’s use of the NABERS tools reflects this commitment to making government property more sustainable and improving environmental outcomes throughout building engineering and design processes.

Acoustic comfort – ambient sound levels. Acoustic conditions directly affect occupant satisfaction and productivity. One research study shows that over 50 per cent of occupants in office cubicles think that noise levels interfere with their ability to get their job done.

Make friends with NABERS Australian governments have led the way internationally in the development of the NABERS tools, reducing the impact of the built environment and taking proactive measures to improve the performance of the sector. Ensuring that government buildings and tenancies are rated with NABERS tools is a critical component of improving efficiency, lowering costs and reducing emissions. If you haven’t already made friends with NABERS, what are you waiting for?

For more information on NABERS, or to find an accredited assessor, visit www.nabers.com.au.

David Franco

David Franco, the SPA’s Senior Engineering Services Manager, said that ‘NABERS provides a clear, practical tool for identifying where improvements are required across our portfolio of buildings.’ Hence NABERS provides the SPA with resources that are invaluable in their quest toward sustainability. The organisation is embracing the knowledge NABERS provides throughout its portfolio in new and existing assets. The SPA operates a diverse portfolio of properties spanning a variety of building types. Because the portfolio incorporates such divergent forms as heritage buildings, new developments, large CBD office towers and regional offices it can be difficult to compare the portfolio’s sustainability. The NABERS suite of tools is

the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 • 55

infrastructure

beneficial as it provides guidelines for best practice and comparative information to ensure sustainable outcomes are achieved. ‘NABERS allows diverse building types, operating in differing climatic zones, to be compared with each other,’ said Mr Franco. ‘By taking these variations into account, it is possible to assess the sustainability of developments and monitor how we can develop buildings to meet NABERS guidelines.’ As well as acting as a tool for the development of efficient buildings, NABERS also provides the SPA with selection criteria when choosing office buildings to occupy. When it comes to developing new buildings, NABERS provides the SPA with clear performance targets.

David Henry, Building Manager for the Dubbo Government Office Building, with recently installed solar hot water unit.

The increasing recognition of the importance of sustainability in building products means that sustainable features have come to be seen as a performance requirement in contracts. Accordingly, NABERS provisions are now fixtures in the SPA’s tender briefs.

‘NABERS Energy has provided guidance on where lighting upgrades and/or air conditioning efficiency improvement can be made. It helps us to prioritise capital investment decisions and identify the most effective environmental and financial strategies.

As well as embedding NABERS performance targets in all projects, the Authority is encouraging landlords to include Green Lease Schedules into future leases wherever possible.

‘NABERS tools provide a simple language to communicate and compare the performance of the SPA’s buildings to external sources.’

Two significant projects designed to achieve a 4.5 star NABERS rating when they were completed in 2008 were the Queanbeyan and Penrith Government Office buildings.

The SPA’s implementation of NABERS provisions will enable its continuing position as a leader in sustainable buildings.

Commitment Agreements for these buildings helped the design team to focus on the environmental outcomes to be measured by NABERS. ‘By operationally rating our properties we can identify where improvements are required throughout our portfolio,’ said Mr Franco. Mr Franco said that the SPA had been using NABERS Energy, or ABGR as it was previously known, since 2003 as a system for rating its office buildings. ‘We have also recently adopted NABERS Water,’ said Mr Franco. ‘By the end of the year all our properties will be NABERS Water-rated. Currently, we have two five-star NABERS Water buildings in our portfolio.

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Penrith Government Office Building, designed to achieve 4.5 stars.

The Department of Primary Industry, Victoria, Pilot, Electricity Monitoring Project The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is one of 11 Victorian Government Departments and reports to the Minister for Agriculture and the Minister for Energy and Resources. DPI employs 2,500 staff in 70 locations around the State to develop sustainable agriculture, fisheries, energy resources and forest industries in Victoria. Like all other Victorian departments, DPI aim to continuously improve environmental performance whilst achieving service delivery requirements. A large proportion of DPI energy consumption is related to research activities. However current DPI environmental performance monitoring is restricted in its ability to separately report office and non-office usage due to existing infrastructure at major DPI research based sites. In 2009 DPI issued a select RFQ for a pilot electricity submetering solution covering 5 major research sites spread around Victoria. The project aim was to collect the remote energy data from the five sites and to integrate this data into the DPI database via their Environmental Management Tool (EMT), which requests the sub-meter data from the energy database and reconciles the data to each site’s total consumption for environmental performance analysis. Fastron Technologies Pty Ltd was awarded the contract and offered DPI various options including: • Energy data collected remotely via a local computer or by central computer at DPI’s head office • Communications to Spring Street via Internet, GPRS or LAN • Interface into the DPI computer by “.csv” file or directly via an SQL database enquiry. DPI chose to have a Central Computer at head office running on their existing Local Area Network (LAN) and to input data into their server by an SQL database enquiry. This reduced complexity and cost as well as providing a more efficient software interface. The software utilised on this project is the Fastron Technologies “ERGO” Commander software which currently resides on a computer located at the Spring Street office and which polls all energy meters in the field on an hourly basis via their LAN. The “ERGO” Commander is also designed to be fully scaleable and to allow any new process data such as water and gas to be seamlessly added through fully addressable IP nodes and field RS485 multi-drop links. The data from each site can also be used in the future to provide profiling data, alarms and reporting to each Site Manager. This will enable each Site Manager to analyse their own local operation to reduce wasted energy, monitor and target their consumption in order to maintain the savings and to further benchmark specific actions taken to reduce energy. Mike Trubridge Managing Director Fastron Technologies Pty Ltd 25 Kingsley Close, Rowville, Victoria, 3178 Tel 03 9763 5155

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innovation

Growing the culture of local government innovation Professor John H. Howard from the University of Canberra, in a conversation with Paul Bateson of the Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government about innovation and local government. Paul Bateson: John, innovation has been close to your heart and professionally for many years – I would say decades. You’ve assisted government and industry with innovation. Within the local government context, in your opinion, what does innovation mean? John Howard: If you start from a general proposition about innovation, it’s very simply the successful application of new ideas. We can get carried away with complex definitions and concepts of innovation. Innovation isn’t something new; it’s been around ever since the beginning of capitalism. It really needs to be understood as a very simple concept, and then basically you get on and do it. Now in local government, it’s probably been slower to embrace the innovation imperative, than certainly the manufacturing and services sectors, and more recently government. That comes back to the issue of why we need to be innovative, and essentially from an economist’s and manager’s points of view, you want to drive productivity improvement and international competitiveness. Basically, it’s about improved performance. Paul: So it could also be an older idea that is revisited, and not just new ideas? John: Innovation is a topic of interest that comes in waves. You can trace that back to the 1960s, and every few years coming from the management consultants or the managers

58 • the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012

Professor John H. Howard (left) in conversation with Paul Bateson

themselves or from a broader economic policy dimension. There has been this interest in innovation, as a need to address the productivity and competitiveness issues. It’s probably useful to think about innovation from a national perspective, a regional perspective and also perspectives of the firm. So there are different imperatives driving the innovation paradigm. Certainly at the national level, economic policy advisors know that if you are going to be competitive in the global economy, you have to be continuously innovative. At the regional level, it’s a bit more complex, and certainly there’s been a lot of interest in regional innovation systems, which are a more wholesome concept than national innovation systems. It’s about interaction between government, business, community and higher education institutions to drive innovation. At the firm level, innovation is largely about management organisational performance, including (going back to the enlarged definition of innovation) the adoption and introduction of new products and processes and forms of organisation, or fundamentally new ways of undertaking the business. Paul: You mentioned the ‘firm’. Could local government be seen as the firm? Are there similar principles at play (for local government)? John: Oh absolutely, when we talk about the firm it’s sometimes easier to talk about the business organisation. Sure, local government is an organisation just the same

innovation as a not-for-profit organisation, business organisation or government organisation. They display similar characteristics, and the differences are more at the margins than they are at the fundamentals about delivering the product(s) or service(s). At end of the day, local government is there to deliver a service to the community efficiently and effectively to meet the client or customer needs and expectations. To do that in an environment of fiscal restraint means doing things in new ways through the successful application of new ideas. Paul: What do you think the main constraints are that impede local government from having a culture of innovation? John: Having been a management consultant (for too many years!), the issue comes around to change and the drivers and imperatives for change. It’s very easy for organisations to become accustomed to routines. It’s not just local government; it’s also state and Commonwealth government agencies and private sector organisations. In the private sector the ultimate test is the ability to change and to innovate. If they are unable, they go out of business. In local government and government generally, they don’t go out of business. They’re there to implement programs, and the imperative in public sector organisations is much stronger to innovate and change and achieve value for money. Of course that’s why we have a lot of attention to program evaluation and performance audits. In terms of drivers for innovation and change, and within a management context the two go together, do you really want to focus on what the ratepayers need and expect (which changes)? Sure there are some ongoing responsibilities of local government, such as garbage collection and street cleaning (like of fallen chestnuts along the autumn streets of leafy Canberra!), they also want them delivered efficiently and effectively. The way to achieve substantial change is through fundamental innovation, thinking about a new way to deliver a service or a new way of organising a council (although just outsourcing to save money is not necessarily innovative). Rather, innovation is a new idea or way of delivering a business. Local government tends to be driven by structure, traditional forms of organisation, and forms of promotion and advancement, which presents some difficulties in bringing in fresh people from outside the local government sector. However, I think we’ve made a lot of progress since the national review of local government labour markets, for example. We no longer have a requirement that you must have the town clerk’s certificate to become a chief executive, and an engineer to first hold a municipal engineering certificate. While that’s only happened in the last 10-15 years or so, in

many ways we shouldn’t beat up on local government for its lack of innovation. Introduction of changed management structures and arrangements has come a long way. It’s that capacity to bring in people with new ideas. Change is difficult, and sometimes there needs to a ‘burning platform’, such as a severe budgetary problem. Paul: Just on that, John, we’re hearing from the UK that as part of tough budgetary measures there will be cuts in core funding from the national government to councils of up to 40 plus per cent. That puts those local authorities under very real pressure. Does that situation stimulate innovation or inhibit innovation? John: Well, a general manager could probably go in two quite different directions. They could wring their hands, say ‘we’ve run out of resources and therefore we are going to cut services’. So cut the level of existing service or quality of service to meet the budget. Or an innovator would go in a different direction and say ‘here’s a challenge, we’ve still got these demands for services. How do we do this more cost-effectively and efficiently?’ To me that drives innovation; you’ve got a resource constraint, you’ve got to live within it, and you’ve got expectations. The innovative general manager will talk to his colleagues and say, ‘look, we need to deliver this and we need to do it in new ways’. Another concept of innovation is using existing resources in new ways to achieve change. There have been a lot of successful public sector organisations that have fundamentally changed the way they do business in order to achieve outcomes, like Australia Post, for example. Paul: Are there any local government initiatives that you’ve come across that you could highlight as being particularly innovative, either individual councils or groups of councils? John: If you come back to the concept of innovation (new product, process, service or forms organisational delivery), local government probably isn’t much different to the rest of the public sector or corporate sector. You can always point to new products or services that local governments offer. City of Sydney Council had its ‘smart (street) poles’ for example; there are a lot of product/service innovations like that. In terms of processes, this is an interesting area because it only recently became a focus of management attention as to how you get productivity improvement and innovation out of information and communications technology. There was literature several years ago that found that despite the massive expenditure in information communications technology (ICT) services, there was no discernible increase in productivity. We are now starting to look at ICT as a lever of change and innovation as opposed to the automation of processes.

the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 • 59

innovation For example, with banks, the way they now use their customer relationship management (CRM) systems is to not only find out about their customers but actually to offer better service for their customers. Why can’t we think about that in local government IT? Does the planning system talk to the engineering systems, and talk to the financial systems, and talk to the admin systems? For local government, the true innovation would be building profiles of your ratepayers and clients through IT as a way of delivering a better service. In terms of the third category of organisational innovation and transformation, issues of amalgamation have been on the cards for very many years. The amalgamation argument is premised on the idea of getting economies of scale for administration and delivery. That might work in a concentrated area or metropolitan region with councils of close proximity in terms of standard and quality of services (particularly, for example, engineering services in some inner LGAs of Sydney). Also, the ‘doughnut’ shires that have been amalgamated just didn’t make sense. In dispersed rural areas, big doesn’t necessarily mean better, where collaboration or co-operation might produce a better outcome. Paul: Well for that contrast of scale, hypothetically, if I’m the CEO of a small population, lower rate-base, but large land area council in the Wheatbelt of Western Australia, and want to become more innovative, what can I be doing and what can I prioritise that really benefits the community? John: If you are covering a large area, the opportunity to be innovative is very much developing the capacity to access new ideas from outside the council. This means getting into networks and collaborative arrangements across the state/territory and the nation. The downside is that getting into networks can be expensive, and political masters need convincing that being in network arrangements like going to Perth or across Queensland to meet colleagues can actually deliver new ideas and applications that lead to improved performance and productivity. The successful councils in Tasmania looked elsewhere and recruited elsewhere to fill key positions. For example, in Launceston City Council, the GM came with a human resources management background in Myer and brought virtually a long career of experience with good effect. The council, as a large employer, needed innovative and new practices to run the business enterprises, including commercial operations such as the museum and theatre. Paul: Which leads on to local government increasingly being expected to take on a number of extra responsibilities beyond the ‘roads, rates and rubbish’. Climate change is

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one of the most immediate concerns globally, and also has implications at the local level. From local government, we often hear complaints that ‘we are overwhelmed and expected to do more’ with not much more in terms of resources – financial or human. How do we reconcile this, especially in relation to climate change? John: We all understand that local government has been a lot more than ‘roads, rates and rubbish’ for a long time. In Australia it does take on a wide range of activities, including economic development, community development and being a significant supporter of local business enterprises. Being interested in climate change and sustainability isn’t something new. When I did work on the ‘Green Economy’ (or clean economy), what impressed me was local government in the United States taking the lead in terms of innovation in the green economy. Why was that? Local government looks after land-use. It had the opportunity by its own example, and through regulatory and support regimes, to be able to promote sustainability. Chicago stands out as one of the green, clean economy cities, along with a number of others in North America. So local government (in Australia) does have the opportunity to set an example for the state and national governments. In terms of being overwhelmed, there is the issue of prioritisation and also to take an interest in something or

innovation have an influence doesn’t necessarily mean spending lots of money. Building brand, reputation and profile; they are really a behavioural issue for the council and staff. Spending a lot on advertising often has little effect, whereas senior staff and councillors going out in the community, selling as part of an engagement strategy, is likely to have far more of an impact. You can influence things in many ways other than through public expenditure. Governments can regulate, subsidise, tax, advertise or, better still, influence through relationships and engagement, which is much more powerful. Paul: There seem to be some themes coming from our conversation; of the need for leadership, behavioural change and engagement with stakeholders and the community. Is that a fair summary of what are some the keys to success with becoming innovative? John: Absolutely, both at the firm level and regional level. Looking at the successes, the common and underlying characteristic is that they are well led. Someone has to take the lead. You don’t get change and innovation through setting up a structure. Any structure will do if you want to achieve your objectives, and that’s a fault with the public sector way of thinking about structures to change. You start with a strategy. Some regions around the world are characterised by strong leadership and networks. For example, they talk about the ‘Cambridge phenomena’, with leadership from two or three people who stood out. In depressed communities of the United States, you’ll find that one or two people come out as innovators and leaders, bringing the community along with them. It’s very hard in the public sector for a CEO to be a leader. We want that leadership yet there is a constraint from political masters with other agendas; this just makes it more interesting and challenging!

For further details on the Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government, visit www.acelg.org.au and www.iken.net.au

Background biographies John Howard John Howard is Pro-Vice Chancellor (Development) at the University of Canberra. He is responsible for business, government and community engagement, alumni relations, honorary appointments and, through UC Knowledge, the broader aspects of knowledge transfer. Prior to joining the university, John was a founding managing director of Howard Partners Pty Ltd, a consulting firm that provided research and consulting advice to government and industry in the areas of innovation and research policy. John commenced his consulting career in 1985 with a research assignment for the National Inquiry into Local Government Finance. He subsequently worked with the National Review of Local Government Labour Markets, which was instrumental in changing the management and organisational traditions in the local government sector. In the years following, John provided advice to many local councils on management and organisational change, restructuring, and local economic development strategies. Clients ranged from small rural councils to the larger metropolitan councils. John holds a PhD from the University of Sydney, a Master of Arts in Administration from the University of Canberra, and an Economics (Honours) degree from the University of Tasmania.

Paul Bateson In early 2011, Paul was appointed as Program Co-ordinator of Innovation and Best Practice with the Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government, a position hosted by the University of Canberra. Over more than two decades, Paul (also known as Pablo) has worked in the fields of environmental management and sustainability, with extensive experience in the ‘not for profit’ sector, local government, industry, regional organisations, contract positions for Commonwealth programs, and freelance consultant. He has authored numerous publications as well as ‘how to’ material for educational, professional development and communications purposes for local government. This included Incentives for Sustainable Land Management (2001) published by the Department of the Environment and Heritage in Canberra. Paul has held numerous honorary positions, including President and Vice President of Environs Australia: the Local Government Environment Network (1995-1999) and member of the IUCN’s Commission on Education and Communication for ESD (2001-2005). Paul holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Geography from the University of NSW and is a co-recipient of the National Award for Planning Excellence 2002, Planning Institute of Australia.

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innovation

Exemplar Zero Integral Economic Model and Deployment of Global Innovation Commons

By Dr David Martin, Founder and Chairman of M·CAM Inc. Founder, Global Innovation Commons

magine a world in which ecosystem, human interaction, and value exchange brought dignity to the Earth, facilitated collaborative engagement between people, and yielded prosperity to every engaged person. Imagine a world where we did not have to choose the ‘ends’ while justifying the ‘means’. Exemplar Zero (EZ) is one of the world’s first opportunities to transition from imagination to action. And ironically, this opportunity has been created by decades of resource imbalance, unconsidered consequence, and asymmetric wealth and power distribution. Not only does EZ provide a globally relevant platform to demonstrate the accessibility of innovations to meet some of our greatest challenges, but the financial model supporting it will be equally transformative. Whether you approach challenges from the lens of local or sovereign procurement, development grants and philanthropy, or private and public debt and equity, the EZ Integral Economic Model (EZ-IEM) will both engage current paradigms and work to transform them in creative ways. At the core of the EZ-IEM is a very special asset. Since the modernisation of the intellectual property system and sponsored research programs of the past four decades, economic development and exclusionary innovation property rights have gone hand-in-hand. However, as far back as 1980, these property systems were contaminated by a growing practice of using patents and other intellectual property regimes to block commercial access and market use. It is no accident that some of the largest patent estates were filed (and restrained from market adoption) by companies who had the most market share to lose. Oil companies filed and held thousands of environmentally desirable patents in fields ranging from solar and wind power to hydrogen and hybrid propulsion. Paint companies filed and held thousands of patents on alternative surface coating techniques only to continue using toxic metals in industrial production. Pharmaceutical companies and their agro-chemical allies filed and held thousands of patents on treatments and cures for disease and on land renewal technologies and ensured that these options were not

available for deployment. And the list goes on. However, in this ‘cold war’ of innovation abuse, many property holders did not consider the consequences of their actions. Properties that had been claimed and enforced only had an operational lifespan of 20 years. Today, these properties have expired and the ideas contained therein are freely available to be used in the public domain. Also, many countries were not considered viable markets at that time and innovators failed to pursue patent coverage in these markets. Patents simply were not filed in markets that didn’t seem to matter. This context has created an unprecedented opportunity for bringing hope to us all. Profiling over 400,000 innovations in sectors which include agriculture, clean energy, water, and health, we at the Global Innovation Commons (GIC) have identified innovations on environmentally prosperous technologies that have expired through the normal passage of time, been abandoned and no longer maintained by the industrial giants, or failed to gain protection in the first place. It is this asset that serves as the collateral basis for the EZIEM value differentiation. These innovations represent over US$2 trillion of research and development, which is now available to any user of the GIC without any requirement for proprietary pricing or royalty. The financing options made possible by the Global Innovation Commons framework are compelling: •

Research and development funding efficiency is very poor with less than 2.5 per cent of all publicly funded research resulting in a commercially viable product. By starting with established technology success, focus moves from R&D to deployment and commercialisation where the funding efficiency increases tenfold or more;

•

Innovation and technology transfer is the most valuable asset to exchange in the management of Trade Credit Offset obligation fulfillment. Every industrialised country’s companies have offset obligation challenges. Every economically marginalised country has unmet obligations owed.

the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 • 65

innovation > If provided to an existing business, the company would use the Trust licence as collateral and project financing for deployment capital. The return would come in the form of a royalty on credits enabled to the company by the innovation (see below left); an option to provide procurement receivables financing from funds in the Trust, and an option to participate in equity in future commercial activities arising from the initiative.

By facilitating technology transfer (credited at up to 10 times fair market value for its future earning potential), industrialised countries can incentivise their companies to partner in funding development activities out of existing capital arising from commerce – not investment; •

•

Seeding entrepreneurial ventures with innovation estates from the open source directly increases the commercial productivity of existing ventures and those in formation, creating revenue support for existing or future conventional debt or equity engagement; and

> If provided to an entrepreneurial company, the company would use the Trust licence and a procurement agreement for goods and services for a receivables funding agreement. The return would come in the form of return on project financing at a commercial rate and all financing would be credit enhanced using all applicable innovations in the GIC pool attributable to the enterprise.

Effectively linking open-source innovation commercialisation entities with government procurement for domestic or international development consumption decreases unit cost, and increases funding efficiency.

Inno ent

GLOBAL INNOVATION COMMONS

Ecosy ste m

Propulsion Tech

ent rem

wm do n E

Surface Coating Tech

> If provided to research institutions, the institution would share a royalty interest return back to the Trust for all innovations from the GIC that seed funded research or licensed technologies. •

The Trust appoint an asset management team responsible for ensuring that all use of GIC assets are linked to a productivity return agreement which replenishes allocated capital and provides a return that can come in the form of: > Trade credit offset royalty participation; > Tax, environmental, or enterprise credit royalty participation;

Ethic al Pr o

CO2 Tech

Inte gr

sts Tru

al pit Ca

va tio

In this time of global economic realignment, the EZ-IEM serves as a perfect platform to demonstrate the power of the Global Innovation Commons to bridge between oldparadigm economics into a more ethical capital future. It’s really quite straightforward. The process is simplified below:

Harbor Tech

Existing Companies

Entrepreneurial Companies

Research Institutions

• Credits (environmental, trade credits, tax, etc.) • Favourable procurement • Existing capital with better collateral

• Procurement guarantees or preference • Innovation output receivables financing • Equity options on future commercialisation

• Commercial relevant research education • Global collaboration • Internships for students

The financing is then possible in a number of forms but would ideally operate in the following manner: •

A Trust, including the Global Innovation Commons innovation options, combined with the capital from the Australian Future Fund or similar strategic regional funds would be created.

•

The Trust would provide rights to use GIC innovations to various enterprises:

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> Forward ‘Innovation Commodities’ which allow for a return based on a pre-determined discount on future sales as a profit-sharing/risk-sharing financial instrument (somewhat similar to forward contracts on commodities); and > Retained interest in future commercial productivity from newly created enterprises. This model has been successfully deployed in a number of settings around the world and creates a series of enterprise engagements that can be profitably operated and transparently managed such that any subsequent financing activities are available in any market – both conventional finance markets as well as religion-sensitive markets – should funds from Middle East/North Africa or Southeast Asia be desired. By using hundreds of thousands of documented innovations now freely available for public use, local governments and enterprises can implement desired infrastructure and technology programs immediately. Using the Global Innovation Commons to match innovators and companies to government needs, we reduce the cost of and need for R&D, eliminate proprietary cost markup in the bidding process, and select partners who demonstrate and deliver the best open source solutions.

energy

Boosting local government finances through energy efficiency By Rob Murray-Leach, CEO, Energy Efficiency Council

Energy efficiency is one of the greatest opportunities for local governments to reduce their environmental impact and show leadership, but just as critically it delivers major cost savings. Retrofitting local government buildings helps sustainability teams deliver on greenhouse targets and make firm friends with the chief financial officer. The drivers for energy efficiency There are three main reasons for local governments to improve the energy efficiency of their operations. The first is reducing expenditure on energy and exposure to rising energy prices. The second driver is a set of economic, social and environmental benefits. The third driver is community expectations, driven in particular by climate change. So, let’s start with the financial driver. Local governments in Australia already spend millions of dollars on energy each year, and energy prices are rising dramatically. The average price of energy in Australia has risen about 30 per cent over the last four years, and will continue to rise over coming years. These price rises are mainly for reasons that are completely unrelated to climate change. Ross Garnaut estimates that a whopping 68 per cent of electricity price rises in Australia are due to upgrades on the electricity grid, with just 19 per cent due to new generation and climate change programs. Energy efficiency can substantially lower energy bills. Local governments can typically reduce energy use in

their buildings by over 20 per cent with an annual return on investment of seven to 15 per cent. The Victorian Government projects that its energy efficiency program will save $1 billion over 25 years. From another perspective, energy efficiency reduces the impact of rising energy prices on governments’ budgets, which reduces the need to increase rates or cut services just to deal with rising energy costs. This means that energy efficiency isn’t just something to put in the ‘nice to do’ pile – delaying action on energy efficiency has a real cost. The Victorian Government estimated that delaying their energy efficiency program by just one year would have cost them $21 million. Local governments that are laggards could also miss out on funding opportunities – in 2010 the Prime Minister announced her intention to release $80 million in grants for local governments for projects like energy efficiency upgrades. The second driver for energy efficiency in government operations is a range of environmental and economic benefits for the wider community. Energy efficiency in local governments cuts greenhouse gas emissions, sets an the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 • 67

energy

example to the local community, creates jobs and builds the local energy efficiency industry. Although most people are aware that energy efficiency is one way to cut greenhouse gas emissions, it’s much less widely known that energy efficiency is actually the biggest source of greenhouse gas abatement over the next two decades. The International Energy Agency estimates that energy efficiency could deliver a massive 54 per cent of global greenhouse gas cuts in the energy sector to 2030. This is more abatement than they believe will be delivered collectively by renewable energy, clean coal and nuclear power. Because energy efficiency also saves money, it’s not just about climate change; it’s also about improving the welfare of households and the competitiveness of businesses. ClimateWorks estimates that energy efficiency could save the Australian economy $5 billion a year. One study in the US found that each dollar invested in energy efficiency generates $2.32 in local economic activity, which is 57 per cent more than expenditure on gas and fuel bills. Furthermore, the Victorian Government estimates that its own energy efficiency program will generate 250 new jobs. These benefits create the third driver for energy efficiency – community expectations. Communities expect local governments to take action on climate change, and these expectations seem to be growing. As a result, the media has started to pay attention to inefficient energy use in governments, because it combines a waste of ratepayer dollars and unnecessary greenhouse gas emissions.

Think process, not technology

mixture of purchasing policy and improving the use of this equipment through staff training and behaviour change programs. Councils have a wide array of resources that they can draw upon to develop good purchasing practices, like ECO-Buy (www.ecobuy.org.au). The efficiency of buildings and community facilities is a different matter, because buildings typically last many decades, and in some cases even centuries. This means that local governments need to actively ‘retrofit’ their existing assets. Retrofitting buildings generally focuses on improving the efficiency of lighting, heating and cooling by reprogramming controls, installing new control systems and re-tuning or replacing existing equipment. A combined bundle of these measures will generally cut energy use by over 20 per cent. In some cases, particularly in facilities like swimming pools, a retrofit will involve installing a cogeneration system that uses gas to generate electricity, and the waste heat to warm and cool water and buildings. Conventional coal and gas generators are sited a long way from buildings, and often more than 60 per cent of the energy in the fuel is simply lost as heat in places like the Hunter Valley and Hazelwood. With cogeneration, this waste heat is used in council buildings, so that over 70 per cent of the energy in the fuel delivers a useful service. However, each building is unique, so the design for the most cost-effective retrofit will vary dramatically from building to building. It takes years to develop the expertise to design and implement an energy efficiency retrofit, and most local governments will not have this expertise inhouse.

These three justifications make a solid case for local governments to improve their energy efficiency, but progress varies dramatically between councils. The main factor behind success, or lack of success, is a good process to improve energy efficiency. Although I’ll briefly canvass the technologies involved in energy efficiency upgrades, the key issue for local governments is the process for improving energy efficiency. In other words, it’s more important for local governments to know how to engage and work with specialists than develop an in-house, intimate knowledge of energy efficiency technologies. With equipment that is replaced relatively frequently, like appliances and vehicles, improving efficiency is generally a

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Absorption chiller

energy

Finding the right specialists is about to become a lot simpler, with a range of accreditation schemes currently under development. This means that councils should focus their efforts on setting goals and partnering with specialists that can help them deliver a retrofit. The process for councils is relatively simple: •

Develop a business case and set financial goals;

•

Engage specialists to identify options to reduce energy use and then pick a package of measures that meets the local government’s goals;

•

Work with specialists to implement the package of measures; and

•

Measure and verify the savings and ongoing management of staff and equipment.

Developing the business case is relatively simple – the council needs to assess their existing assets and set energy reduction and financial goals. These goals are not always the same, as the most cost-effective retrofit may only involve energy savings of 20 to 30 per cent, whereas a council may want to deliver greater energy savings to meet greenhouse gas reduction targets. Engaging experts the right way is critical. Traditionally, local governments have hired an auditor to design a retrofit, and then hired different contractors to implement the retrofit. This puts a lot of pressure on the local government to manage the process, and if the local government doesn’t have in-house technical expertise it can result in serious problems. First, auditors with no experience in implementing retrofits may have nice ideas, but they’re less likely to know what works in practice. Secondly, if the implementation doesn’t involve the auditor, the results could be very different from what was intended. Finally, if the project doesn’t deliver the results, it’s harder to hold anyone to account. An alternative model is a partnership approach where the local government undertakes a rigorous process to find the right specialist to help them deliver a retrofit. Finding the right specialists is about to become a lot simpler, with a range of accreditation schemes currently under development (visit www.eec.org.au for more information).

There are a number of ways to partner with experts. One is to engage the expert for ‘prescriptive outcomes’, where they help deliver the measures that they promised. Another is the ‘performance model’, where the specialist is contracted to deliver a specific outcome, such as a certain amount of energy savings. The best model will vary with the situation. For example, energy performance contracts are great for larger sites or multiple sites, but can be less suitable for sites with an energy spend below $250,000 a year. A number of local governments are leading the way, like the City of Sydney and the City of Melbourne. The City of Melbourne is using a performance contract to reduce its energy bill by $190,000 every year and cut its greenhouse gas emissions by 1560 tonnes. While real leaders like the City of Sydney and the City of Melbourne are already taking action, we’ve barely started to tap the potential for energy efficiency in Australia. This means that there are a lot of $100 bills lying around for local governments to pick up.

Rob Murray-Leach is the CEO of the Energy Efficiency Council. For more information visit www.eec.org.au

Under a partnership approach, the energy efficiency specialist designs the retrofit, helps the local government to select the measures that meet their goals, and then either directly implements the retrofit or helps the local government to manage the implementation.

the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 • 69

energy

Pecan Lighting Launches LRL SAT-S Fixture in Australia

ED Roadway Lighting Ltd. (LRL) has introduced a new, smaller form-factor LED street and area lighting fixture. The SAT-S is part of the company’s Satellite Series. While the SAT-S is smaller in size, it compromises nothing in terms of performance and reliability. The Satellite Series fixtures are engineered for a 20 year design life, using high reliability aerospace and automotive grade components. The SAT-S provides up to 80% energy savings and has a total life cycle cost that is substantially lower than conventional street lighting systems. The SAT-S is available in 24 and 48 LED models and a range of finishes. SAT-S Benefits: • Highest Power Supply Reliability (independently tested in accordance with Telcordia SR-332) • 20 Year Design Life • Energy Efficient – Up to 80% savings • Environmentally Friendly – RoHS compliant and Dark Sky Association Approved • Easy to Install and Maintain – No special tools or training required - fixtures are maintenance-free • Lowest Total Life-Cycle Cost • Wall-mounting bracket available (for commercial-industrial applications) About LED Roadway Lighting Ltd. LED Roadway Lighting Ltd. (LRL), represented in Australia by Pecan Lighting, is a leading designer and manufacturer of LED (light-emitting diode) based street and area

X 70••the theaustralian australianlocal localgovernment governmentenvironment environmentyearbook yearbook2011/2012 2011/2012

lighting fixtures and control systems. LRL is located in Nova Scotia, Canada, with research and design facilities in Halifax and a 55,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Amherst. LRL offers a complete range of LED based street and area lighting fixtures that meet or exceed IES (Illuminating Engineering Society), CIE (Commission Internationale de L’Eclairage) and IDA (International Dark Sky Association) requirements. LRL’s products are RoHS compliant (free of lead and mercury), provide energy savings of up to 80% and substantially reduced maintenance costs. LRL’s products are currently installed in more than 250 locations in 12 countries including Australia. For further information please contact Pecan Lighting E: info@pecanlighting.com.au or visit the LRL website www.ledroadwaylighting.com.

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info@pecanlighting.com.au | www.pecanlighting.com.au info@ledroadwaylighting.com www.ledroadwaylighting.com the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 â&#x20AC;˘ 71

energy Stockland Tenancy

Local government partnership Addresses CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT OF COMMERCIAL OFFICE BUILDINGS Through local government leadership, CitySwitch Green Office is transforming commercial offices in our cities.

itySwitch Green Office is a national tenant energy efficiency program, run in partnership between capital city councils and state government agencies to address the climate change impact of office buildings. The program began as the 3CBDs Greenhouse Initiative in 2005, a joint project of the City of Sydney, North Sydney and Parramatta City Councils, and the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage. Now three years on from its national beginnings, CitySwitch has forged an alliance with 287 organisations covering over 1.52 million square metres of office space across Australia. This growing partnership includes high-profile organisations across a wide range of sectors from property, insurance and finance, to legal and government. CitySwitch is the only energy-efficiency program of its kind, aimed at providing the dual benefits for commercial office tenants of cost savings from lower energy use and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The program provides free resources, support, networking and promotional opportunities to signatories as they take the journey to becoming more energy efficient. The delivery of the program is led by the National Steering Committee and endorsed by the Council of Capital City Lord Mayors. National partners represent the cities of Sydney, North Sydney, Parramatta, Willoughby, Canberra, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne, Perth, Port Phillip and Yarra. With the initiative linking local governments across Australia, along with the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage and Sustainability Victoria, CitySwitch partners 72 • the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012

are playing a key role in the push for greater sustainable practices across the commercial sector.

Addressing energy demand An estimated 80 per cent of Australia’s greenhouse gases are produced in cities, and a large proportion of this is made up by the energy demand attributed to office tenancies. Tenants therefore have a major role to play in meeting Australia’s international greenhouse targets. Tenants can have the biggest immediate impact on reducing carbon emissions in our cities, simply by managing the way they use energy. With Australia’s major building refurbishments occurring on average every 20 to 25 years, rather than waiting for this stock to be replaced, CitySwitch encourages green tenancy fit-outs and energy efficient office practices to deliver short-term greenhouse gas reductions. Many of these practices include low and no-cost improvements to office equipment, lighting and computers, as well as behavioural change initiatives aimed at engaging employees with day-to-day operations.

Benchmarking performance with NABERS With increasing pressure for buildings to perform, CitySwitch signatories are ahead of the game, addressing their climate change impact and reaping the wider benefits of office energy efficiency.

energy Stockland Energy efficiency is becoming a key competitive driver in the commercial office market as electricity prices continue to rise and the government prepares to put a price on carbon pollution.

Organisations that become CitySwitch signatories commit to achieving an accredited 4 stars or higher NABERS Energy rating for their tenancy or whole building. Administered by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, NABERS Energy is an industry-recognised tool to help tenants across Australia benchmark their greenhouse performance. Ratings go from 1 to 5 stars, with 5 stars representing an exceptionally high level of energy efficiency. With the average tenancy performing at 2.5 stars, a 4 star commitment means the tenant is striving to become at least 20 per cent more efficient than the general tenant market. As demonstrated by many of the program’s existing signatories, this commitment can be achieved by simple, easy-to-implement actions.

Potential savings If all of Australia’s commercial office tenants were to achieve a NABERS Energy tenancy rating of 4 stars or higher, a saving of 960,000 tonnes of CO2 could be made each year, which is the equivalent of taking 200,000 cars off the road.

As Australia moves towards a low carbon economy, CitySwitch Green Office is transforming commercial offices in our cities by helping organisations reduce energy costs and carbon emissions. Each participating council has a target of 20 per cent of total net lettable area committed to the program, equating to a target of 700 signatories covering 3.4 million square metres to attain an emissions reduction of 162,000 tonnes by 2012. Through enrolling businesses as CitySwitch signatories, councils partnering in the program advocate for better energy efficiency within existing commercial building stock, support a change in city worker behaviour, and aim to create more environmentally sustainable offices in Australia.

Stockland reduced carbon emissions by 800 tonnes a year and saved $90,000 in energy bills as part of their commitment to CitySwitch. Stockland achieved a top 5 star NABERS Energy tenancy rating for their Sydney head office through initiatives such as sub-metering to monitor energy use, motion sensors for lighting, energy efficient appliances, replacement of all energy-intensive CRT monitors with flat-screen LCDs, timed air-conditioning switches in all meeting rooms and extensive staff engagement. The property developer won the 2010 National CitySwitch Signatory of the Year award.

Brisbane City Council Brisbane City Council’s Green Square tenancy has implemented a number of measures resulting in a 12 per cent reduction in energy intensity. This has largely been attributed to efficient operations and staff involvement including energy efficient T5 lighting throughout, adjustment of air-conditioning operation times and lighting zoning controls, and a reliance on a building management system to monitor progress.

Norton Rose Legal firm Norton Rose has implemented initiatives such as a staff behavioural change campaign, increased server virtualisation and T5 lighting upgrades to achieve impressive energy efficiency results. The Sydney tenancy has achieved a 4 star NABERS Energy rating and a reported annual saving of $42,000.

SA Department for Families and Communities The South Australian Department for Families and Communities ‘Greening Ambassadors Project’ has helped reduce operating costs by over $500,000 and CO2 emissions by 75 tonnes per annum. The Ambassadors have led staff engagement initiatives, encouraging ‘switch off’ practices, and complemented an extensive printer consolidation project. The Department was awarded CitySwitch Signatory of the Year (South Australia) in 2010 and continues to lead by example and reduce the carbon footprint of their metropolitan and regional offices.

Norton Rose’s Sydney Tenancy

For more information visit: www.cityswitch.net.au the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 • 73

energy

A Big Positive for the Australian Solar Industry

he solar industry is booming. Solar energy retailers are located all over Australia and, for most, the phones don’t stop ringing. Of course, the continuing reduction in government rebates has a large part to play in this consumer frenzy. Despite the frenzy, the Australian solar industry has been plagued with insufficient solar panel supply for years. Once a leader in the solar industry, Australia now lags behind countries that have invested heavily in manufacturing plants. Australia has now become dependent on manufacturing supply from overseas. With such strong demand in European and US markets, Australia often receives what’s ‘left over’ – and that is not enough to cover demand. As any economist will tell you, when supply and demand don’t marry, things can go awry. It’s this supply issue that has led Chinese based LIGHTWAY New Green Energy Company to make the move to Australia and launch LIGHTWAY Australia Pty Ltd. ‘We do not just want to be a supplier of solar panels to the Australian market, we want to be right here to offer top level service, answer customer queries, meet our clients personally, and work closely with the government in making real investments in creating solar farms in Australia,’ said David Chu, CEO of LIGHTWAY Australia. LIGHTWAY’s objective from the beginning has been to establish a true and permanent presence in Australia. LIGHTWAY will be manufacturing specifically for Australia so as to ensure fast and consistent supply of premium quality solar panels and to build the right networks to work with government on local, state and national level solar projects. LIGHTWAY is globally renowned for their single minded focus on catering their production to suit large scale and complex orders in the shortest possible timeframe. The state-of-the-art manufacturing facility places innovation and quality at the forefront of their production facility. In fact, LIGHTWAY has just launched their new OP+ solar panels which utilise world leading technologies combined with precision engineering. ‘Our OP+ range is amongst the highest quality panels in Australia, and they are also the hardest working. These panels cater to Australia’s varied climate and deliver high yield even in low light,’ said Mr.Chu. X 74• •the theaustralian australianlocal localgovernment governmentenvironment environmentyearbook yearbook2011/2012 2011/2012

LIGHTWAY’s OP+ range features a ‘+5W Tolerance’ rating which simply put, means that these panels continually exceed their stated wattage output amount – and that is a positive for the Australian market and more specifically for the Australian consumer. For more information on LIGHTWAY’S OP+ range, call 1300 822 287.

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+5W ensures that LIGHTWAY panels continually TOLERANCE exceed their stated wattage output allowing a faster return on investment.

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All LIGHTWAY panels include 50mm anodised frames - robust construction designed to withstand the toughest Australian conditions.

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LIGHTWAY OP+ includes three Bus Bars per cell for greater low light energy performance.

LIGHTWAY OP+ features six bypass diodes, providing optimum energy return in shaded conditions and superior protection against hot spots.

ALL TRADE ENQUIRIES: 1300 822 287 www.lightwayaustralia.com.au the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 • 75

energy

Choosing A Photovoltaic Solar Array Project Partner

nderstanding the clean energy options that are available to you can be difficult. Having decided you want to go ahead with a clean energy power system, understanding what that system includes and finding the best performing system can be like looking for a proverbial needle in a haystack! It is important that you find a provider who will act as a partner for your project - who pays great attention to detail across a broad range of disciplines to ensure that the correct solution is found and that the chosen system energy yields are maximised. Solar power system design encompasses far more than traditional electrical engineering. Factors such as microclimate, prevailing weather, shading obstructions and building energy efficiency all play a vital role. Solar Inverters are a company that believes in these added value planning stages and the benefits they bring – as can be demonstrated in the 136.5kW system installed by the Coffs Harbour City Council on their Rigby House Library (see photos opposite). Solar Inverters follow a process starting with site analysis and client consultation to understand your specific requirements and the site capabilities, followed by an evaluation to identify if there are any shading issues or if a north facing array is not possible. These are the critical first steps in establishing energy production capacity, and an accurate payback period. Following a consultation process such as this, Solar Inverters then offer full project planning by our engineers and installation team to ensure an accurate and timely result. You can get more involved in the planning stage through using the Solmetric SunEye desktop software. This cost effective, easy to use programme allows you to design a solar array to suit 136kW system - Coffs Harbour City Council X76• •the theaustralian australianlocal localgovernment governmentenvironment environmentyearbook yearbook2011/2012 2011/2012

your roof shape. It also allows you to create and compare multiple ‘what-if’ scenarios based on the potential system energy yield a must have in the planning of any significant size solar array. Selecting quality materials and installation services are extremely important. Choose a reputable company that offers guaranteed brands of solar panels and inverters. Aurora photovoltaic central inverters are a cost effective way to build multi megawatt PV systems. This proven European technology uses multi input high-speed Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) allowing the processing of multiple strings of solar panels. Using real-time MPPT these inverters allow your system to harvest more sun energy, allowing you to maximise your return on investment. Solar Inverters are a local clean energy wholesale and retail supplier and installer with over 20 years experience within the industry. They work only with latest quality solar and wind power components. Combine this with the back up support for their systems which include in-house or on-site inverter repairs and you have a win-win situation. You can contact Solar Inverters on 02 6652 9700 to discuss your requirements in more detail.

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650 x 210W Kyocera Panels 22 x 6kW Aurora Inverters Scientific grade environmental sensors and data logger Custom engineered solar panel mounting system Not all systems fit one standard design. This installation had various shading issues which required the use of multiple string inverters instead of one large central inverter.

Over 20 years industry knowledge Central Inverters

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sales@solarinverters.com.au ~ www.solarinverters.com.au the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 â&#x20AC;˘ 77

energy – solar

Renewable energy AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT by John Grimes, Australian Solar Energy Society

he role of local government in the uptake of renewable energy technologies has recently manifested itself in the installation of solar (photovoltaic) panels. Nearly every capital city in Australia has instigated one or more projects that have seen the installation of panels on roofs. The Sydney City Council is one example where an iconic building, the Town Hall, has become the largest photovoltaic installation in the central business district. The plan is to provide 25 per cent of the council’s energy needs from renewable sources and a further $18 million is being invested to improve energy efficiency through solar hot water, solar panels, sensor lighting and intelligent control systems. Melbourne too has its iconic low energy buildings. The city’s council house – CH2 – is a good example of excellence in low energy design. Melbourne, like Sydney, has examples of new buildings as well as refurbishments that stand as leaders. The 60L building in Carlton is a ‘new’ structure created from two older buildings, and close attention has been paid not merely to reducing energy consumption, but also water is recycled on-site and aspects of human behaviour, such as personal transport, have been changed. Every possibility for energy consumption reduction has been exploited. The fact that there are no PV panels on the roof does not mean that 60L does not have an impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Right in our centre, Alice Springs has not been

78 • the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012

slow to make major strides in solar. The town’s reputation as the solar centre of Australia will soon be evident to every person who arrives by air, when the Alice Springs airport becomes the first airport in Australia to be powered by a large-scale solar power station. The second of five large-scale iconic projects for Alice Solar City, the Alice Springs Airport Solar Power Station will deliver 600 Megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity to the airport; approximately 28 per cent of its demand. But what of local governments around the country, in the suburbs, the bush? What can be done? One approach was that adopted by the Leichhardt Council in Sydney in the 1990s – the then Development Control Plan No. 17, now part of the present Town Plan 2000. The DCP was essentially asking for designers of new buildings and renovations to show just cause as to why they wouldn’t install solar hot water systems and adopt practical measures to work with the local climate. Not only did this DCP create opportunities for solar hot water system installers, it had a ‘me too’ effect that saw neighbours installing solar hot water systems. Perhaps the most costeffective way of reducing energy consumption, the solar hot water system has been with us for at least half a century, and now the technology being superior, represents a way that local shires can make a difference by making them compulsory. A shift in emphasis in building components

energy – solar

To get the maximum use of renewable energy in buildings is more complex than substituting the solar panel to meet the energy demand.

and design features makes them affordable. The question that should be asked by all shires if they do not have planning controls that mandate solar hot water systems is – why not? Clearly, there is a need for a sympathetic approach to licensing building constructions – no solar technology will work to its full capacity if there is shade to the north, north east and north west. And if town planning (especially street layouts) is within the control of the local shire, much better outcomes are possible by applying good passive solar design to new suburban layouts. Not only can more homes be built on the same space, but allowances can be made for local community centres and allotments for vegetable growing, in part obviating the need for car transport. Such suburb layouts create homes that get the maximum benefit possible from both solar hot water and solar electricity systems, and may open up renewable energy possibilities such as geothermal energy for district heating and cooling. Most of Australia has been mapped for geothermal resources, and many areas can take advantage of lower temperature hot water at shallower depths – this is not electricity production but direct heating and cooling. There is nothing new in this technology, as it has been in use in many countries for many years. The zoo in Perth used to rely on geothermal heat, as do a number of swimming pool operators at present. It obviously makes sense to reduce a $200,000 gas bill to $20,000 by using the earth’s heat. So if, say, a library and a swimming pool are being planned, why not put them in close proximity and reduce running costs and energy consumption significantly? Even the use of shallow ground heat in the environs of a building can be an effective means of fossil energy reduction. The US Environmental Protection Agency has called ground source heat pumps the most energy efficient, environmentally clean and cost-effective space conditioning systems available. The wind turbine is not quite as amenable to the built environment, since the output of smaller turbines is not great enough to justify placement of them on shire office roofs, and even less so on domestic residences. What strategies we adopt around the country are dependent on the local climates. The variation in climates and seasonal effects is significant. A house built for Canberra will not serve in Darwin, nor will one in Alice Springs serve in Sydney. None of this was known to our forefathers settling in Sydney Cove and building

in a style they brought with them. Nothing wrong with Georgian houses in London where the servants would stoke up the coal fires in winter, and the summer was of no consequence for comfort. Translate that to a maritime environment and you have a bearable summer, but still need winter heat, so you burn wood. Move inland and the answer to summer was a verandah. We still have the legacy of India with us, and whilst summer heat may be moderated by shade, no sun can penetrate in winter. Our most abundant (passive) renewable energy resource, the sun, is denied to us. There are much more effective ways of controlling the sun’s ingress and access. It is very much in the purview of local governments to introduce change as was done in Leichhardt. To get the maximum use of renewable energy in buildings is more complex than substituting the solar panel to meet the energy demand. There are numerous projects around Australia that have taken the two main components of a sustainable energy future – energy conservation and renewable energy in its various forms – to create functional examples of the way forward. One of the ways we have seen some significant traction in our move to renewable energy and energy efficiency is the Solar Cities program, a federal government initiative. The areas involved are Adelaide, Alice Springs, Blacktown, Central Victoria, Moreland, Perth and Townsville. Solar cities are about as diverse as the locations themselves, but all of them have very similar aims. Federal funding has enabled some imaginative projects to commence. The Townsville Solar City, like most of the others, has several projects, but the project at Magnetic Island, just off the coast, is exemplary. Faced with the prospect of installing another undersea cable to meet the island’s power demands, a different approach was taken. Now, the rooftop solar PV system is a common sight. Ergon Energy owns the panels rather than the residents. In an environment where energy demand is rising, the Magnetic Island project has seen a decline in demand due to solar. As well as household electricity demand being supplemented by solar PV, there has been an extensive marketing campaign to get residents to reduce consumption. ‘Beer is not allergic to veggies’ was the slogan of a campaign to get the second fridge turned off. The use of rooftop solar PV will grow, but another way of using the same technology is to integrate it into the building fabric, and again local shires have been exploring the possibilities.

the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 • 79

energy -– retrofitting

Beautiful views and BAL40 Bushfire compliance can be done!

ith the harsh Aussie bushfire season again almost upon us, new home builders and renovators are rightly concerned to choose materials to protect their homes and families which will also meet the strict new Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) standards introduced after the devastating Black Saturday fires. Since that day, Australia’s largest glass manufacturer Viridian has created Viridian PyroGuard 40™, Australia’s only Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) 40 glass, meeting the necessary standards in high risk, bushfire prone areas. ‘During a fire, the Viridian PyroGuard™ 40 ultra-thin transparent coating minimises the flow of radiated heat through windows, providing greater protection for homes during a bushfire,’ says Cameron Hook, Viridian’s Marketing Communications Manager. ‘Home owners are also very much concerned with the look of their homes, and thankfully installing Viridian PyroGuard™ 40 will mean they can avoid using unattractive bushfire resistant shutters or metal screens on their homes in most situations.’ Virdian’s Pyroguard 40™ has an extremely strong coating fused to the glass as it leaves the furnace which provides the heat protection and also has the added benefit

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of being an energy efficient glass that provides for improved comfort and power savings on heating and cooling costs all year round. Viridian PyroGuard 40™ can be purchased as part of a window system from several window fabricators and these comply with the relevant building standards in bushfire prone areas. Viridian can also assist with other fire resistant glass such as clear glass providing up to 60 to 120 minutes of fire resistant performance For more information on Viridian visit www.viridianglass.com

Australian made for Australian conditions. Viridian CSR is Australia’s leading glass manufacturer. With a long history in Australia, Viridian manufactures a wide range of glass products to comply with the varied needs of Australia’s diverse climates. Whether it is BAL40 bushfire compliance, energy efficient windows for improved energy Star Rating compliance, low reflectivity glass, noise reducing glass, or security glass covering intruder resistant to bomb resistant, Viridian can service your needs. Our national network of sites, over 1000 employees, technical assistance and quality systems around Australia will ensure your needs for timeliness, costs, compliance and ongoing support are fully met. To find out more visit viridianglass.com or call 1800 810 403.

Core Products

Energy

Noise

Clear Vision

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™Trademark of CSR Building Products Limited. Disegno VIR10980

Bushfire Protection

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the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 • 81

energy -â&#x20AC;&#x201C; retrofitting

A case for performance glass to meet stricter regulations Cameron Hook, Viridian Glass Marketing Communications Manager for Aus & NZ, explains how considering energy efficient glass means a better choice for the home and office environment and major energy savings.

e know that working in this industry means having to keep abreast of the constantly changing face of building regulations, with few areas having received more scrutiny than energy efficient performance requirements. Window assemblies along with external shading and heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) designs used in commercial projects are being reshaped to comply with ever more stringent performance requirements set by the Building Code of Australia (BCA), NABERS and the Green Building Council. There is little wonder this is occurring, as HVAC units are the largest single user of energy (accounting for 68 per cent of CO2 emissions) in commercial buildings. As windows dramatically affect HVAC performance, the glass industry is now playing a significant role in helping reduce energy consumption in buildings through improving the insulation and solar control properties of glass. Historically, glass has ranked very poor in the energy efficiency stakes - up to 12 times worse than a typical adjoining wall. Consequently, designing buildings with small windows or an array of obtrusive external awnings may be considered to satisfy the energy requirements. However, this approach is strongly opposed by building owners and users who want views, natural light and connectivity to the outside world. The answer is performance glass. Current methods used to colour (tone), coat and glaze fabricated glass units have made significant inroads toward decreasing the thermal load within commercial buildings and reducing total building energy consumption. Many Australian projects have demonstrated a measurable and direct link between performance glazing and construction and HVAC cost savings and also ongoing energy savings. Recently a builder completing an infrastructure project in Queensland investigated using a standard grey glass for a project instead of the

82â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;˘the theaustralian australianlocal localgovernment governmentenvironment environmentyearbook yearbook2011/2012 2011/2012 X

energy -– retrofitting Viridian Low E glass which was specified. Changing the type from a Low E to ordinary grey would have saved the builder $40,000. After consulting with the HVAC engineer, it was determined that the builder would need to pay an additional $145,000 in extra HVAC cost to compensate for the lesser performing glass if he used ordinary grey. In short, had the builder proceeded with the cheaper glass it would have cost him an extra $105,000. This demonstrates the critical and effective role that glass is playing in energy efficient design and real construction costs. Performance glass does cost more than ordinary glass, but when combined with the savings made in HVAC and other considerations, in many cases performance glass actually reduces construction costs as well as running costs over time. New advanced glass coating technologies permit greater design flexibility while significantly reducing the solar heat load. This is achieved without sacrificing visible light or window size. For example, the triple silvering coating technology used on certain double glazed units reduces heat gain by 74 per cent through the glass and achieves U values that exceed standard triple glazing. This is remarkable considering the product remains almost completely clear. Most Green Building Council design instruments require certain performance standards not only in terms of ultimate solar load permissible through the glass facade but also in visible light. By setting standards around visible light, building users are able to be less reliant on artificial lighting and in turn use less energy. Many traditional toned glass types may achieve the energy requirements in some climate zones but are too dark to comply with these higher standards. For this reason, the market pressure to produce new and more transparent glass types has been felt with domestic and overseas glass producers. Sadly some designers who aren’t aware of these improvements may feel they have no other choice but to meet rising standards through formidable external shading, reducing the size of the windows or worse still, designs with no windows at all. Architects and building designers who are aware of the many recent improvements made to glass products have more flexibility in designing an energy efficient building rather than relying on traditional glass types and methods. Current glass technologies when integrated with good design can greatly reduce energy use and at the same time, increase the comfort levels for users within commercial buildings. This ensures that building users can continue to enjoy natural light, views and connectivity to the outside world without sacrificing energy efficiency.

theaustralian australianlocal localgovernment governmentenvironment environmentyearbook yearbook2011/2012 2011/2012••83 Y the

energy – retrofitting

Smart, sensible, sustainable retrofits

City of Gosnells exterior

s most buildings are built to last 50 years – or longer – it is often assumed that cutting carbon emissions in the building sector is a long-term process. But this is not the case. Retrofitting Australia’s existing buildings is by far the most effective way to achieve dramatic reductions in the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the built environment. Research by the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) and the Centre for International Economics has found that the base building load for the residential and commercial sector alone is responsible for 23 per cent of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has stated that ‘no other sector has such a high potential for drastic emission reductions’. UNEP’s findings have been supported by a report released in 2010 by ClimateWorks Australia, which finds that we can reduce our national greenhouse gas emissions to 25 per cent below 2000 levels by 2020 at an average annual cost of $185 per household, and that this reduction can be achieved using technologies that are available today. The most cost-effective abatement opportunity, ClimateWorks found, was retrofitting commercial buildings such as offices, shopping centres, schools, public buildings

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Romilly Madew, Chief Executive Green Building Council of Australia and hospitals. The easiest ‘win’ would be removing, replacing or downsizing inefficient equipment to reduce energy waste. This was followed by retrofitting heating, ventilation and cooling systems, appliances, lighting, water heating and insulation. According to ClimateWorks, around three quarters of the emissions reduction opportunities identified are profitable to investors – even without a carbon price. Of Australia’s 21 million square metres of existing office stock, 81 per cent is more than 10 years old. This represents a huge opportunity for green retrofits. In fact, research by Davis Langdon has confirmed that 1.7 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions could be saved every year by retrofitting office stock that is more than 20 years old to achieve NABERS 4.5 Star ratings. This 38 per cent improvement in energy efficiency would be equal to removing at least a quarter of a million cars from Australian roads. Increasingly, local governments are recognising the environmental and economic benefits of retrofitting their own buildings. Take the City of Gosnells in Perth, which recently achieved a 5 Star Green Star rating for its refurbished Civic Centre. The council’s 5 Star Green Star rating, which represents ‘Australian excellence’ in sustainable design, demonstrates that even inefficient 1970s buildings can go green.

energy – retrofitting

Many of our students and teachers spend their days in poorly-designed classrooms with limited access to fresh air and natural light.

Paul McAllister, Project Manager, City of Gosnells, explains: ‘Initially we thought the age of the building would make a sustainable retrofit unviable; however, for an additional cost of three per cent, a sustainable makeover was the only responsible option.’

But Green Star – Performance is about more than just offices. This new rating tool will also assess the operational performance of existing schools, hospitals and a range of public buildings that might not have previously had Green Star ratings.

In fact, the council expects a five-year payback period on the ‘green premium’ of $750,000 – which is just a fraction of the $26 million spent on the project.

The GBCA is very proud of the 18 Green Star-rated education facilities and 80-plus Green Star-registered education projects around Australia, and the fact that many governments are now referencing Green Star for all new educational projects.

The sustainable transformation means the Civic Centre is now future-proofed to withstand tighter environmental legislation and the introduction of a price on carbon. Its energy- and water-saving features will reduce bills, while the improved indoor environmental quality is helping the council attract and retain staff who want to work in a healthy and sustainable workplace.

From design to performance Each year, just two per cent of Australia’s buildings are considered ‘new’. The remaining 98 per cent represents the built environment’s ‘next frontier’ – greening our existing stock. The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) is currently developing a Green Star rating tool to measure the operational performance of existing buildings. Green Star – Performance will be able to provide local government building owners with holistic assessments of the operational performance of their buildings. They’ll gain a performance rating for each building assessed, covering the full range of Green Star environmental impact categories of management, indoor environment, energy, transport, water, materials, land use and ecology, emissions and innovation. Importantly, they’ll understand essential environmental benchmarks before they embark on green renovations.

However, we also know that Australia currently has more than 9500 schools. Many of our students and teachers spend their days in poorly-designed classrooms with limited access to fresh air and natural light. This affects student health and learning, teacher morale and school operational costs – as well as the environment. Green Star – Performance will support the greening of these existing schools through holistic assessments of their infrastructure in operation. Schools will have benchmarks that they can use to set targets to increase energy and water efficiency, reduce waste and improve factors that influence learning, such as indoor environment quality. Similarly, libraries, law courts, leisure centres and other buildings owned and operated by local governments will benefit from Green Star – Performance ratings. Local governments will gain a better understanding of their buildings’ operational performance and where improvements can be made. Green Star – Performance will ‘close the loop’, ensuring that our buildings are not only designed and constructed to the highest standards of sustainability, but also managed and maintained to those intended sustainability standards. For more information: www.gbca.org.au/performance

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CASE STUDY:

City of Gosnells When the City of Gosnells decided to revamp its office accommodation, it asked its staff to outline the defining physical features that would assist the council to become a Western Australian ‘employer of choice’ with a culture of sustainability. The staff vision was for an equitable workplace with ease of movement across all departments promoting positive, stimulating and collaborative relationships. They wanted a flexible office that would allow for changes in project work teams and evolve with time. They wanted fresh air, natural light, views of the outdoors and a high degree of indoor comfort. They wanted recreational facilities that promoted healthy transport alternatives. The vision outlined by the City of Gosnells staff has been translated into a 5 Star Green Star-rated office built on basic, common sense, green design principles. And the City of Gosnells is able to ‘walk its talk’ with a daily demonstration of its commitment to its staff and the local environment. Good indoor environment quality is nothing to be sneezed at. The OECD’s Environmentally Sustainable Buildings report argues that health problems from indoor air pollution are now one of the most acute problems related to building activities. CSIRO modelling based on US research into the affects of indoor environment quality on health and productivity has found that potential annual savings in Australia could be up to $21 billion each year. The City of Gosnells was determined to provide a healthier, happier and more productive working environment for employees – and that meant reducing internal noise levels and maintaining a comfortable temperature for employees. The Civic Centre also minimised staff exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are linked to Sick Building Syndrome, by specifying low-VOC paints and carpet.

City of Gosnells interior

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Other environmental features of the building include a thermal energy storage tank which will store cool energy in the form of ice. The storage tank is charged overnight to avoid peak energy tariffs, with the cool energy then released during the day, reducing the council’s reliance on traditional air conditioning. This will save the City of Gosnells money by reducing energy demand at peak periods. Overall, the building is expected to reduce energy usage by 315,878 kilowatt hours each year – equivalent to taking 43 cars off the road for a year. The Civic Centre also uses solar energy to heat water for domestic use within the building, a single measure that has reduced gas usage by 55 per cent. Water-efficient fittings and fixtures, as well as a rainwater tank used to flush toilets, have been installed to reduce water use. These measures will cut the council’s water use by 35 per cent each year, saving 840 kilolitres of water, equivalent to the water in nearly 17 average-sized backyard swimming pools, from being flushed down the drain each year. Stormwater is also collected and filtered on-site before it enters the Canning River. This will improve the health of the river by reducing runoff contamination and will reduce the need for extra in-ground stormwater infrastructure in the future. The Civic Centre was also awarded an innovation point for its unique approach to collecting paper waste. Recycling stations are integrated throughout the floor plan making them easy to access and natural to use, which will increase recycling rates. As Paul McAllister says: ‘Having the highly visible yellow coloured recycling bins conveniently located next to workspaces has encouraged staff to recycle waste paper and packaging rather than depositing the waste in the traditional green bins.’

renewable energy

Steps along the RENEWABLE ENERGY PATH By the Alternative Technology Association

There are enormous benefits and opportunities for local governments in the rapidly growing fields of renewable energy and sustainability.

owadays, environmental awareness informs the thinking and planning of almost all councils, with many priding themselves on drastically reducing greenhouse emissions from council-owned buildings and vehicles. The cities of Sydney, Fremantle and Darebin in Melbourne’s inner north are three of the local governments leading the way in renewable energy and energy efficiency. The first – but certainly not the sole – step for councils on the renewable energy path is education. The complexity and continual changes in state and federal rebates for measures like home insulation, solar hot water, rainwater tanks, energy-efficient lighting and appliances mean councils can play a leading role in keeping the community informed about the cheapest ways to go green.

Residents of remote villages in East Timor can benefit enormously from clean, environmentally friendly technology

And increasingly, councils are involved more directly in supporting the environmental consciousness of their residents in ways like helping residents’ groups bulk-buy rooftop solar panels and solar hot water systems, and even installing small wind turbines for clean energy generation. The Alternative Technology Association (ATA) has for 30 years been a helpful tool for local governments wanting information and expertise on renewable energy, water conservation and energy saving. The ATA is a not-forprofit organisation providing services to more than 5500 members across Australia who actively walk the talk of sustainability in their own homes and communities. Australian homes contribute 17 per cent to the country’s greenhouse gas emissions, so the residential sector is an important part in the drive towards a cleaner, more energy-efficient future. Local government is the tier closest to householders, providing essential services and linking individuals and families to their immediate community. With utility costs, especially electricity, on an upward spiral, councils are in an important position not simply to help people save money, but to increase the sustainability and resilience of communities. For householders, payback times are very short for measures like energy-efficient lighting and insulation, and mean lower bills for many years to come. Environmental action in the form of conscious energy management makes economic sense. Take lighting as an example – replacing

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renewable energy

Solar panel installation is booming in rural areas, as it is in most parts of Australia

energy guzzling halogen downlights with energy efficient LED downlights can lead to energy savings of 90 per cent, with a new globe paying for itself in a matter of months. Heating water is another important household consideration. Water heating can make up as much as 40 per cent of energy use and, with an old electric system, is intensive and inefficient. Unless people buy GreenPower with their electricity, hot water can also be extremely emissions intensive. Solar hot water systems and high-efficiency gas water heaters operate at much less cost and with a much smaller carbon footprint. If converting from electric, solar hot water systems can pay for themselves in a few years and are an extremely effective way to offset greenhouse emissions from electricity. After reducing energy consumption and making a home as energy efficient as possible, householders can investigate rooftop solar panel electricity generation. A solar photovoltaic system can be connected to the electricity grid or generate independent of the grid – and the cost of the technology is falling fast. A typical 1.5-kilowatt solar array now costs as little as $2500. Incentives through the renewable energy market and feed-in tariffs (payment for exporting electricity into the grid) mean the economics of rooftop solar now make real sense, and are another way to offset electricity price rises. The market for small solar systems in Australia has grown exponentially in the past two years, with about 10 times the amount of megawatt capacity installed during this short time, compared with the amount installed in all of Australia’s history before 2008. According to the Clean Energy Council’s Clean Energy Report 2010, there was more solar power installed on rooftops between January and October 2010 than for the entire previous decade – more than 100,000 solar systems that year compared with 81,200 between 2000 and 2009. Because solar hot water and electricity generation is becoming more economically attractive, many ‘bulk buy’ schemes are appearing across the country. These

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schemes, often managed through local councils, pool a large number of people – sometimes more than 100 – to set up deals for solar power systems at cheaperthan-market rates. An example of a successful bulk-buy organisation is the Envirolink group on the Capricorn Coast in Queensland. Solar panels are set to be installed in 450 homes on the Capricorn Coast this year as a result of the immense community interest and campaigning of the group. Bulk-buy schemes are a good way for householders to get into solar technology, but consumers need to be aware of all the usual issues regarding quality – i.e. how long the systems are guaranteed to last; what warranties there are; and who the warranties reside with (given that

renewable energy

Increasingly, communities are looking to collectively owned, commercial-scale wind farms as a viable investment in sustainable technology. most of the components are imported). The ATA provides independent advice to consumers and members on exactly this type of information to ensure that consumers balance the competing factors of price and quality when making decisions.

Talking with the right people about a potential wind project from the start is crucial to avoid pitfalls and save considerable time and money on non-viable sites. The ATA’s energy projects team has extensive expertise in assessing and developing all scales of wind energy projects.

In recent years, there has been a rapid expansion and interest in wind-generated electricity. Various state and federally-funded incentives exist for small-scale wind turbines (up to about 100 kilowatts, most commonly under 10 kilowatts) and most local government areas have many private and public sites suitable for demonstration wind turbines.

Perhaps one of the most satisfying contributions councils can make in renewable energy is helping to improve the lives and communities of people in developing countries. The ATA’s International Projects Group works with a number of council-supported Friends groups to install solar panels and small wind turbines in remote villages in East Timor.

Increasingly, communities are looking to collectively owned, commercial-scale wind farms as a viable investment in sustainable technology. In the 1990s, the ATA operated Australia’s first collectively-owned wind turbine at Brimlea in Victoria. The torch bearer for communityowned wind farms, the first of its kind in Australia, is the 4-megawatt Hepburn Wind project near Daylesford in central Victoria, which is majority owned by more than 1500 local and Victorian households.

The lack of power in many parts of East Timor means villagers are often reliant on toxic kerosene for lighting. Since 1996 the ATA has installed solar panels on more than 800 houses, schools and community centres as well as training locals in solar installation and maintenance. There is huge potential for local government to spread the benefits of clean, renewable energy in Australia’s region through projects in places like East Timor.

A community-scale wind farm of two turbines, Hepburn Wind was assessed under the Hepburn Shire’s planning guidelines and given the green light in February 2007. A share offer was announced, with priority to local residents, and eventually $11.6 million was raised. The wind farm is expected to start generating electricity later this year. Intermediate-sized wind turbines of up to one megawatt are well suited to some industrial and agricultural sites. The owners of the trailblazing Elgo Estate winery in Victoria’s Strathbogie Ranges installed a 150-kilowatt wind turbine to generate power for wine production. Excess electricity is fed back into the grid, saving about 500 tonnes of greenhouse gases a year.

By the Alternative Technology Association: www.ata.org.au The article ‘Beyond Zero Emissions’ in the 2011 Australian Local Government Yearbook was also provided by the ATA, and originally appeared in ReNew magazine, which is published by the ATA.

Assessing a site for any scale of wind turbine is a highly specialised task that requires expertise in a number of technical, economic, environmental and social fields, as well as knowledge of ever changing local and state planning requirements and state and federal legislation.

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renewable energy

Committed to Energy Efficiency

GL’s commitment to energy efficiency is carried out across many aspects of the company’s operations; from various products and services provided to its customers, both business and residential, to new energy efficiency initiatives and community involvement. And it’s because of this overarching commitment that AGL is Australia’s leading renewable energy company. In 2010 AGL sponsored the Giant Pandas, Wang Wang and Funi at the Adelaide Zoo. The sponsorship involves providing and installing a solar PV energy system, which will provide clean, renewable solar energy for the panda’s exhibit. The system aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and has the capacity to chill rocks, power water misters and an industrial sized refrigerator to chill their all-important bamboo. AGL hopes the panda’s solar set up will inspire the zoo’s visitors to introduce renewable energy back at their homes. Another initiative by AGL is the zero emissions Bogong Hydroelectric Power Station in Victoria’s high country. The 140MW power station has the capacity to provide renewable electricity to more than 120,000 homes during the growing peak summer demand period and has the ability to reduce up to 88,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year. It was the biggest hydroelectricity project on mainland Australia in the past 25 years and one which created 200 jobs. The solar energy upgrade of Melbourne’s Flemington Racecourse is another example of AGL’s energy efficiency endeavours, with last year’s Melbourne Cup carnival being powered by 384 new solar PV modules (30kW capacity). The solar project was a joint initiative between AGL and the Victorian Racing Club, under the Flemington Green Fields sustainability initiative, with additional support from the Victorian Government, which contributed $100,000 to the project. Additionally, AGL’s commitment to energy efficiency was the feature of its television commercial, where the energy efficiency of its production was as important as the message itself. The production crew left no stone unturned in the process, with initiatives including solar energy, LED lighting, the use of energy efficient light

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globes, solar hot water, a bio-diesel generator and recycling and composting of crew waste among many others. These are just a small handful of examples of AGL’s growing portfolio of energy efficiency initiatives. Not mentioned above of course is the offering of energy efficiency products and services to Australian residences and businesses, including a wide variety of energy saving tips, as well as more comprehensive and tailored energy assessments. AGL is proud to be at the forefront of the growing area of renewable energy and energy efficiency practices in Australia and to be contributing to the sustainability of our country’s future.

Make your office more energy efficient by: • • • •

Replacing normal globes with energy saving light bulbs Using energy efficient equipment Keeping appliances, equipment and fittings in good working order Educating your staff to use energy more efficiently

For more energy efficiency tips visit agl.com.au/BusinessEfficiency AGLMM11840 (1210)

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environment + sustainability

Sustainable procurement: How local governments can lead the way By Hugh Wareham, Chief Executive Officer, ECO-Buy Limited

ocal governments across Australia spend more than $20 billion annually providing infrastructure and an increasingly broad range of services to their diverse communities, and are ideally positioned to leverage their considerable purchasing power to deliver improved environmental, economic and social outcomes. Sustainable procurement, also referred to as ‘Triple Bottom Line’, is defined as:

‘A process whereby organisations meet their needs for goods, services, works and utilities in a way that achieves value for money on a whole of life basis in terms of generating benefits not only for the organisation, but also to society and the economy, whilst minimising damage to the environment’. (Australian and New Zealand Government Framework for Sustainable Procurement, Australian Procurement and Construction Council) Sustainable procurement is an important enabling tool for local governments to reduce their environmental impacts through choosing greener product alternatives, and reduce their costs by basing decisions on the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). TCO looks at the life cycle of a product and takes account of the costs of operation, maintenance and disposal. In addition to reducing their own direct environmental impacts, a key objective for local governments is to develop strong and resilient local economies that provide suitable employment and opportunities for their communities, and many have implemented policies that support procurement from local suppliers. Sustainable procurement has an essential role in this through: •

Building the capacity of local suppliers to innovate and provide environmentally preferable products with reduced carbon impacts, lower toxicity, that are produced using fewer resources (water, energy and raw materials), and reduce waste through manufacture using recycled content and/or are

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recyclable at end of life. Businesses that are able to respond to the increasing demand for greener products will be more competitive when faced with the impacts of a carbon price, and better placed to create new jobs. •

Supporting suppliers whose organisational purpose or structure is designed to deliver social benefits to groups that may be at a disadvantage (social procurement). Examples include disability enterprises, indigenous businesses, minority-owned micro enterprises and not-for-profits.

This approach also facilitates greater integration, understanding and cooperation between council economic development and procurement staff to support resilient local economies. In 2010, ECO-Buy launched its online Sustainable Procurement Assessment Tool (affectionately known as the SPAT), based on the UK Government’s Sustainable Procurement Framework, which is an internationally recognised model of best practice. Part One of the Assessment Tool provides a benchmark of an organisation’s sustainable procurement status in five key areas: 1. People – presence of a champion to lead on sustainable procurement, staff training, sustainable procurement in position descriptions and KPIs; 2. Policy, strategy and communications – setting of sustainable procurement objectives, development of policy, strategy and action plans and review mechanisms; 3. Procurement process – understanding the organisation’s sustainability impacts of procurement and considering sustainability criteria in tenders and contracts; 4. Supplier engagement – communication and assessment of the sustainability performance of suppliers; and 5. Measurement and results – the use of tools to track and report on sustainable procurement.

environment + sustainability

ECO-Buy Awards

Part Two covers procurement expenditure and calculation of environmental impacts. More than 150 organisations are now registered to use the Assessment Tool, comprising local and state governments, the education sector and businesses (including some from overseas). The 2011 ECO-Buy Awards for Excellence in Green Purchasing, which take place in June 2011, will include five awards based on the Assessment Tool categories, which is a different format than in previous years. Any organisation that has completed Part One is eligible, with finalists selected on the basis of their responses and provision of supporting evidence. There are further awards covering Overall Champion, Local Government Metro and Regional (ECO-Buy members only), Supplier of the Year, and Innovative Green Product of the Year. The two local government awards are based on expenditure on genuine green products, with the winners for the other eight being decided by an independent judging panel. The ECO-Buy Awards are now in their ninth year, and the event is the only one in Australia dedicated to environmentally sustainable purchasing and green products. The aim of the Awards event is to showcase and celebrate leading practice in a fun and creative way. The audience comprises around 200 invited guests, who are a mix of CEOs, mayors, councillors, senior managers, procurement and sustainability specialists from government and industry alongside suppliers of genuine green products. Winning an award provides a number of benefits, including public recognition of sustainability efforts and achievements, an enhanced profile amongst stakeholders,

and an important morale boost for procurement and sustainability staff who work hard to make sustainable procurement ‘business as usual’ in their organisations. The ECO-Buy Awards event is produced to the world-leading BS 8901 Standard for Sustainable Event Management, and in 2010 was acknowledged for sustainable event leadership as a finalist in the Australian Event Management Awards. In 2010, Local Government Victoria, part of the Department of Planning & Community Development, began a process of engaging with Victorian councils on strategic procurement through its Procurement Excellence Program. This program is part of the Victorian Government’s wider Councils Reforming Business agenda, and includes a focus on sustainable procurement in line with government commitments in this area. The aim of the Procurement Excellence Program is to embed best practice in Victorian local government procurement, and includes the development and implementation of procurement improvement roadmaps, individually tailored to each council. Procurement capabilities are assessed through a data capture process, giving councils the opportunity to benchmark and analyse their procurement performance, identify needs and tailor an individual improvement program. In turn, councils can increase savings, boost their efficiency and realise triple bottom line objectives. ECO-Buy’s Sustainable Procurement Assessment Tool has been used throughout the roadmapping process to benchmark councils’ sustainable procurement status, with ECO-Buy providing individual reports for each council. the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 • 93

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The roadmapping process has highlighted that some of the key opportunities for addressing gaps and embedding sustainability requirements into procurement include: •

incorporating sustainability requirements in procurement policy and guidelines;

•

developing systems to track and report sustainable procurement;

•

incorporating sustainability requirements in request for tender (RFT) and request for quotation (RFQ); and

•

engaging with suppliers on sustainable procurement through use of sustainability KPIs and effective contract management.

Another finding is the need for many local governments to ‘reposition’ sustainable procurement within the organisation to ensure that there is ownership for embedding it into procurement processes and executive oversight to drive behavioural change. Sustainability staff would benefit from basic knowledge and understanding of procurement processes to ensure that they are aware of where the opportunities exist to include a sustainability requirement. The program is due for completion at the end of June 2011, with all Victorian local governments having prepared a procurement improvement roadmap that will be implemented over the next two years.

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About ECO-Buy ECO-Buy Limited is a not-for-profit Centre of Excellence in Environmental Purchasing, established to encourage the procurement of environmentally preferable (green) products and services. Green procurement is based on the simple premise that every purchase impacts on the environment in some way, and is about choosing to buy products and services that are less damaging to our environment and human health than competing products and services that serve the same purpose. With 11 years of award-winning experience delivering practical programs, ECO-Buy’s objective is to increase the demand for, and use of, environmentally preferable products and services. ECO-Buy provides independent advice and expertise to government and businesses on how to embed sustainability into procurement.

environment + sustainability

Volvo leads the way on fuel economy

ith so many brands to choose from, selecting a truck manufacturer can be confusing. To get the best balance of a truck that doesn’t cost a fortune to run, meets government regulations and suits your drivers, you need to consider three things: fuel economy, emissions levels and safety standards. Volvo is the industry leader on all three. Fuel – every litre saved is another dollar on the bottom line The price of fuel has risen dramatically in recent years, adding a further cost directly to all retail prices. Even a tiny reduction in fuel consumption can boost your bottom line by thousands of dollars a year, but how do you do it? You buy trucks with the most fuel-efficient engines you can find. Fuel-efficiency has always been a core design element for Volvo, and the 2011 range of trucks is no exception. Take the new FH16 for example, which can comfortably travel up to 3000 kilometres without re-fuelling, making it hugely popular in B-double long haul applications.

to have engine emission levels that conform with the Euro5 and US-07 standards. Volvo’s trucks complied with Euro 5 eighteen months in advance of this deadline, putting Volvo way ahead of the competition. Using Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology, Volvo’s engines convert nitrogen oxide into harmless nitrogen and water. So when you buy a Volvo, you can be certain it meets all the emissions standards.

Exhaust emissions – Volvo is years ahead On January 1, new exhaust regulations came into effect that require all new trucks sold in Australia

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environment + sustainability Volvo - synonymous with safety No other truck manufacturer takes safety as seriously as Volvo. Volvo believes the most important part of a truck is its driver, which is why Volvo offers a complete range of sophisticated safety technologies, including its unique Electronic Stability Program, Adaptive Cruise Control, Electronic Braking System, Driver Alert Support, Lane Change Support, and more. Accidents are expensive Quite apart from the human cost on the driver and anyone else involved in an accident, there’s the operational cost of having the truck off the road while it’s being repaired or replaced. Anyone who’s been in a truck accident will tell you that no expense is worth sparing to avoid it. Volvo has always focussed on safety. In one of the earliest Volvo sales manuals, the founders of the company said “An automobile conveys and is driven by people. The fundamental principle of all design work is, and must be safety.” A Volvo designer called Nils Bohlin invented the threepoint seatbelt in 1959, and that’s the most significant safety improvement ever made. Volvo’s Truck Accident Investigation Team has been reviewing accidents for over 35 years. Their research has been the basis for a whole

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series of safety advances which are now built into every truck, not just Volvos. Front under-run protection (FUPS), for example, which is now mandatory in Europe, was a Volvo invention. One area that Volvo has specialised in for many years is cab design. The crash-test dummies at the Volvo crash-lab in Gothenburg, Sweden have taken a beating. Volvo has done a lot of research and development designing the cab around the driver and they’ve smashed more cabs than anyone to improve cab safety. Besides their own crash test standards, all Volvo cabs have to pass the Swedish Cab Strength Test, which is the toughest legislated cab standard in the world. So when you’re looking for a truck that protects your driver and others on the road, is fuel-efficient and meets all emissions standards, look no further than Volvo.

AUSTRALIA’S BEST

WASTE TRUCK Designed and engineered in Australia to suit local working conditions, the Volvo FE Dual Control is Australia’s best waste truck.

Cleanest The only waste truck that is built in a CO2 neutral factory. The only side-loader available with Enhanced Environmentally-friendly Vehicle (EEV) technology as an option.

Quietest The only side-loader in Australia that features a unique, noise reducing compression braking system, ideal for sensitive residential and city areas.

Safest The only side-loader that offers an Electronic Braking System (EBS) for near instantaneous brake response. The only waste truck that offers all wheel disc brakes as standard. For a test drive contact your local dealer on 1800 803 427.

VOL0231_02

volvo trucks. driving progress www.volvotrucks.com.au

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Working with

Climate Change Times By Stephanie Lai, National Centre for Sustainability, Swinburne University of Technology

Are local governments ready for the climate change opportunities and challenges that lie ahead? It’s easier to train your staff than you might think, and the investment is worth it.

reparing for climate change and the proposed carbon tax, a number of local councils are investigating training opportunities for staff in order to maximise opportunities, respond to challenges and capitalise on existing resources in a sustainable way.

Systems-response to climate change It is important for councils to invest in training that will enable staff to respond to climate change issues. This means breaking through traditional silos of knowledge and instilling a culture of collective learning and knowledge sharing across departments. All local government staff must understand how to respond to climate change in a coordinated manner. From mitigation to adaptation, a whole-of-council approach is required to effectively deliver policy and services that meet the needs of the community, while taking into consideration the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. This means that it is not just environmental staff, but planners, engineers and community development workers that must understand the relevance of climate-related policies, and the impact these will have on council procedures and processes. Increasing staff understanding of the impact of climate change will maximise the effectiveness with which they conduct their roles, and will lead to a more adaptable workforce ready to face rapidly changing policy and environmental settings. Ensuring a common understanding among staff will also lead to interdepartmental collaboration that fosters creative solutions to the challenges that lie ahead. Some rural councils are already training staff in climate adaptability and improving their risk management policies. Well-trained staff, with a rounded awareness of potential

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climate challenges and armed with an intimate knowledge of their local government, are more effectively able to identify potential risks. For example, one Melbourne outskirts council has provided sustainability training to staff from a range of departments including parks, community services and building. These staff have been able to identify gaps in existing risk management policies, including the vulnerability of seniors to rising temperatures and increased flood and fire occurrences. They have also identified the vulnerability of council programs such as Meals on Wheels due to rising food costs as a result of increased fire and flooding events, and increased energy and fuel costs due to peak oil and the carbon tax. These staff, completely separate from council’s sustainability and environment officers, could not have effectively and efficiently planned for the future without an adequate knowledge of environmental and climate change issues; and to obtain this knowledge, training is essential.

Engaging with the community Community engagement and behaviour change is becoming a critical issue for local government in climate change mitigation. Although many local governments have begun this engagement through community workshops and awareness events, attendance at these events can often be limited to those with an existing interest in these issues. It is also important to recognise that the communication that takes place between councils and the community is rarely limited to one or two designated sustainability officers. Policies and procedures will often have impacts that reverberate through every department. A single ratepayer may talk to receptionists, cashiers, environmental health officers and planners, all without talking to the council’s sustainability or environmental officers. It is important, then, that all staff are trained to recognise and communicate how climate change may affect policy and procedures.

environment + sustainability

With effective training, council staff can develop skills that will enable them to work more effectively within the workplace and the community. There are a number of training opportunities available to local government.

Community workshops and awareness events can still, however, be a convenient and cost-effective community engagement method, though the benefits of community workshops are lessened when staff lack the skills needed to facilitate them. Research shows that local government staff often lack the training or skills to successfully implement education for sustainability policies at the community level. Training and mentoring of this staff would allow council programs to be more effective within the community, and would save councils money in the long run, as sustainability training professionals could be cultivated within the council, rather than brought in from outside.

Options for training With effective training, council staff can develop skills that will enable them to work more effectively within the workplace and the community. There are a number of training opportunities available to local government. Training can be accredited with assignments and grading. Accredited training offers pathways to further accredited training and often requires staff to complete a project, which is incorporated into their daily tasks, minimising pressure on staff time. Although accredited training is often more expensive than non-accredited training, it is more comprehensive, resulting in a recognised, formal qualification that staff can use and take with them as they move into other roles. Alternatively, training can be non-accredited, taking place on the job or in informal workshops. A similar level of skills and knowledge can be attained from such training, though it does not result in formal qualifications or results. This can be a cheaper option for local governments. Both of these options have the benefit of contextualising the training in order to take advantage of both council and staff requirements. A good training provider will ensure that training material is customised to meet the organisation’s and learner’s needs.

distance from major centres; however, many educational providers and sustainability training experts are willing to provide training on location. Online workshops and training are also available, and provide staff with a means to undertake distance education. Don’t be doubtful – online training can be incredibly effective, and allows staff to learn at their own pace, without being limited by project concerns and time and location constraints. There are, however, some issues to consider with online training: it can be costly, so it is important to find out if there are hidden costs, and to ask about what happens when timeframes for training blow out. In order to determine which type of training is best for your council, a training needs analysis should be undertaken. This is something that quality training organisations should be able to provide and will allow for your organisation’s and staff’s learning needs to be identified, and a training program to be customised.

REFERENCES http://www.aries.mq.edu.au/handbook/files/1-FrontCover.pdf – Education for Sustainability in Local Government: Handbook

The NCS at Swinburne is committed to excellence in program delivery, research and providing industry consultation to key stakeholders derived from the industry and organisational networks. The NCS works towards exploring and developing opportunities to promote sustainable practices, through its in-house expertise and specialised skills as well as through its links with those industries, consultancies and government departments that uphold sustainable practices.

However, even a standard cookie-cutter style course can benefit local government staff by providing a broad level of knowledge. A common misconception is that regional councils cannot access quality training providers because of their

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Green Your Event With BioPak

very year, hundreds of events occur across the country, from major music and theatre festivals to parades. They provide a platform for the arts, sports, food, history, politics and entertainment and celebrate a wealth of lifestyles and passions. But because of their nature, festivals also have the potential to impact negatively on the environment. A gathering of thousands of people at a festival naturally generates waste – empty bottles, used paper plates, plastic cutlery and glasses, packaging, food, cartons and plastic bags. Across the world, more and more festivals are being “greened”. There are many ways that you can “green” your festival, and in the process educate and inspire your stakeholders and attendees. BioPak, Australia’s leading supplier of foodservice disposables has extensive experience working with outdoor event organisers to reduce the environmental impact of their events. The Sydney City to Surf event together with BioPak diverted 1 million cups from landfill. The Lovedale long lunch used BioPak disposables to serve over 20 000 meals , Taste of Tasmania festival diverted 7.5 tons of organic waste from landfill by using biopackaging supplied by BioPak, other festivals and events that rely on BioPak for their food service disposables include: Sydney Night Noodle Markets and Queen Victoria Markets in Melbourne & Peats Ridge festival, to name a few. BioPak services include the management of the entire waste collection and disposal process. We have the most comprehensive range of cost effective food service disposables all made from plant based materials and certified compostable. BioPak works with event organisers, sponsors and vendors and with our national network of distributors and

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strategically located warehouses we are able to offer unparalleled service and unbeatable prices. In addition to providing high quality food packaging solutions made from renewable plant based resources, all BioPak products are certified carbon neutral and all emissions associated with the production and distribution of our products are offset through the purchase of carbon credits. For the greening of your event to be successful, you will need the full participation of attendees. BioPak produces and supplies signage for your event to educate attendees on bio-packaging and direct them to the appropriate organic waste disposal bins. After the event, BioPak will provide total figures of waste produced and the amount of waste diverted from landfill as a result of effectively separating recyclables from the waste stream and composting discarded food and food service disposables. This data should be reported to sponsors, site owners, event owners and local media. By partnering with BioPak greening your event, your business or canteen will be a breeze, it will save resources, reduce waste and ultimately save money. The community expects it and the planet deserves it.

We make packaging from

BIOPAK COMPOSTABLE FOOD PACKAGING AND CATERING DISPOSABLES We create compostable packaging because we know it’s good for the environment. By using BioPak products you are supporting a greener future. Put simply, our products are all made from plants and will decompose within 120 days if disposed of in an industrial compost facility. A complete range of plant based food packaging & catering disposable: Hot Cups | Cold Cups | Cutlery | Bowls | Clamshells | Straws | Plates

BIG BENEFITS: Carbon Neutral – ALL EMISSIONS ARE OFFSET Low Impact – WE USE RENEWABLE MATERIALS Reduced Waste – OUR PRODUCTS ARE COMPOSTABLE

Tel 0800 BIOPAK (246725)

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BioBag

ioBag was the pioneer in Australia (and worldwide) of using compostable bags and ventilated bins for source separation of household food waste. We introduced this easy efficient system to Australia in 2003. The clean, no mess, no smell, easy system has very high acceptance among householders and is now accepted as best practice across Australia. Worldwide thousands of communities and millions of householders use the BioBag MaxAir system. BioBag has imitators but the BioBag MaxAir design with BioBags is proven to produce the best results.

BioBag uses non GMO inputs from sustainable renewable resources. BioBag films and bags have a high renewable content. BioBag makes a full range of bin liners to suit all bins. BioBag liners use a state of the art resin that is stronger weight for weight than polyethylene. BioBag bulk dog bags are fully compostable and competitively priced. Our dog bags on block are fully compostable and team up with a simple effective and economically priced dispenser that minimizes waste to provide a cost effective solution that protects the environment.

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Think global... Green local! By Greening Australia

At Greening Australia, we sometimes feel like we are the dating agency of the environmental sector. As an apolitical, nongovernment not-for-profit social enterprise, we often find ourselves acting as the critical lynch pin that brings many and various parties together on projects. We specialise in bringing together landholders, communities, schools, businesses, research bodies and local, state and federal government, all with the shared goal of ‘transforming our landscapes’.

ig or small, Greening Australia is working in a community near you: from 50-year projects like Habitat 141 that stretch from the ocean to the outback, to training local communities in the lost arts of food preserving to improve their food sustainability practices as part of the ‘Make an Impact’ program. We have over 300 specialist staff across the country. As one of the largest not-for-profit environmental organisations in Australia, Greening Australia manages world-class, award-winning environmental projects at all scales across Australia. Being farmer-friendly and science guided, we address critical environmental issues by ‘doing’ and providing solutions and results. Greening Australia’s core business is native vegetation management to create sustainable landscapes and communities. Our team protects, repairs and reinstates native vegetation through technical expertise and community education and training. We provide scientific and practical advice and assistance for land managers and communities on all aspects of sustainable land management, native vegetation protection and revegetation.

What defines Greening Australia? Transforming our landscapes – landscape-scale projects that enhance, link and protect critical areas of remnant vegetation; bold in vision of both time and scale. Examples: •

Habitat 141 encompassing the border region of Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales along the 141st meridian of longitude;

•

Gondwana Link in Western Australia linking the Fitzgerald and Sterling Ranges; and

•

The Great Eastern Ranges Initiative, which spans over 1000 kilometres of New South Wales and Queensland using methods like large area direct seeding.

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Practical science – our work is guided by science and our 29 years of experience working across Australian landscapes. Research and education are key, and Conservation Action Planning underpins all of our major projects. The Grassy Groundcover Restoration Project in Victoria shows that we can recreate functional ecosystems in critical landscapes.

River recovery is Greening Australia’s major initiative to rehabilitate key river reaches around Australia. This national program is focused on restoring health to rivers including the Yarra in Victoria, the Hawkesbury in New South Wales, the Derwent in Tasmania and the Peel in Western Australia.

Regional partnerships – we understand rural Australia and aim to maximise landscape productivity for agricultural and environmental values. The WOPR project (Whole of Paddock Rehabilitation) in ACT and Western Australia demonstrates that this is possible.

Community engagement – education and training is critical, and Greening Australia’s experienced staff are skilled in community facilitation and coordination, and in translating knowledge into practical action.

Working with local government Greening Australia works with local councils and shires in all states of Australia. A snapshot of our projects includes:

2. River recovery

Case study: Boorowa River Recovery in the ACT The Boorowa River Recovery campaign is addressing water quality and biodiversity issues in this important tributary of the Lachlan River in central west New South Wales. This project involves targeted onground works and an education program, and seeks to reduce sedimentation and salt loads transported by the Boorowa River into the Lachlan; an important river in the Murray Darling Basin system. This project was awarded an Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM) ‘Project Management Achievement Award’ for the ACT and has become a leading practice example of project management in sustainability.

1. Environmental management services From technical site assessment and land management plans through to implementation of management of works crews, our Bush Management and Environmental Services teams work with local council on: weed management, remnant protection, fencing, direct seeding revegetation and rehabilitation, site assessment and monitoring, seed collection and seedbanking, and a range of other services.

3. Enviromark

Remnant native vegetation along roadsides often provides important habitat and movement corridors for native plants and animals and, in some cases, provides an important refuge for endangered species. However, roadsides are a significant source of weed invasion into adjacent bushland. The Enviromark system helps roadside managers implement an effective weed management strategy to reduce the threat.

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4. Urban bushland Case Study: Greening Western Sydney Greening Western Sydney is the largest urban environmental restoration project in Australia. Since 1992 Greening Australia has been actively restoring the bushland and rivers in the publicly owned lands of Western Sydney, and each year locals invest over 5000 hours of volunteer labour to restore and enhance native bushland, providing public open space and recreation opportunities. Community engagement and support is critical to the project’s success. In addition to revegetation, volunteers are involved in a range of restoration activities including seed collection, weed and pest control and riverbank stabilisation. The Nurragingy Community Nursery provides a focal point for meetings and wildlife walks, and an active schools program is in place. Achievements: • • • •

Establishment of over 990,000 native trees, shrubs and grasses; Restoration of over 30 kilometres of river and creek frontage; Annual volunteer commitment of over 5000 hours; and Installation of over 100 kilometres of protective fencing.

5. Partnering with business

Greening Australia partners with businesses across Australia both large and small. Case study: Gemtree Vineyards, SA Over the past five years, Gemtree Vineyards have been working with Greening Australia in South Australia on the Gemtree Wetlands. In that time the site has been transformed from degraded farmland into a wetland habitat for native frogs and other fauna. The wetland area, located in the McLaren Vale region of South Australia, is known as the Gemtree Wetlands Walking Ecotrail, and comprises a one-kilometre walk with 10 information markers along the way. The trail starts at the carpark, where visitors can view an interpretive map. Brochures are provided to help guide people around the ecotrail and inform them of various points of interest in the wetlands. Picnic shelters, a public barbecue, information boards, a bike rack, and a bench seat for resting while taking in the views of the vineyard and surrounding beauty of the wetlands have all been installed. Sustainable farming practices and the responsible use of water resources by McLaren Vale irrigators are a feature of the educational program on the site and will help to reinforce the region’s leading position in this area.

Case study: Loys Paddock, Melbourne Loys Paddock is situated in the heart of Melbourne on the banks of the Yarra River. Greening Australia has worked with the City of Yarra and a number of schools to revegetate the area, educate the school children and community on environmental and sustainability issues, accredit trainees in conservation and land management, and create a recreation space for inner Melbourne. Celebrities including Magda Szubanski and Ron Barassi have also supported the program through attending events.

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Case study: Weed Management for Rydges Capricorn, FNQ This case study is just one example of Greening Australia’s weed management capabilities in Queensland, and more generally across Australia. Rydges Capricorn Resort, near Yeppoon on the central Queensland coast, has the dubious honour of hosting three of Australia’s top 20 weeds of national significance. These weeds are invading the lush tropical vegetation and displacing native plant and animal species. Greening Australia is working with resort owners, Iwasaki Sangyo Corporation, on a plan to control weed species on the 7970 hectare freehold property. The plan identifies 10 species for priority control based on their invasiveness, potential for spread, and environmental and economic impacts.

6. Engaging with the community Case study: ‘Make an Impact’ Alcoa of Australia and Greening Australia have partnered to develop a program to help Alcoa employees and their families reduce their household water and energy use and become part of the solution to climate change. ‘Make an Impact’ helps people to think about climate change and how they could do things differently in a carbonconstrained world. ‘Make an Impact’ has assisted over 1200 Alcoa employees and hundreds of school children to reduce their carbon footprint. The program has now expanded to Barwon Water employees and their families, and a trial pilot program in Anglesea (Victoria) and Pinjarra (Western Australia), where the ‘Make an Impact’ program will be offering a series of hands-on workshops and activities for sustainable living suited to all ages and skill levels.

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In a nutshell A snapshot of the last five years of Greening Australia activities includes the following: • • • • • • • • •

Planted over 15.5 million seedlings; Direct seeded 19,000 kilometres of tree line; Collected 18,250 kilograms of native seed; Conserved over 340,000 hectares of native vegetation; Erected over 8000 kilometres of fencing to protect and conserve native vegetation; Partnered with 10,000 landholders in onground projects; Engaged with over 2000 schools nationwide; Trained and educated over 80,000 people; and Worked with over 430,000 volunteers.

More information on Greening Australia and how we can work with you can be found at our website: www.greeningaustralia.org.au

parks + gardens

James Street Reserve Community Gardens

Community gardening: A fruitful endeavour

By Russ Grayson, Australian City Farms and Community Gardens Network

It’s something new for councils and communities – the creative reuse of public or institutional land for growing fruit, vegetables, herbs and other plants in community gardens.

ommunity gardens are a new presence in the urban landscape and they offer opportunities for regreening our cities with plants that are directly useful to people. For councils, they offer challenges and new possibilities in urban design. For communities, they bring new recreational, socialising and learning outcomes. For our cities, they offer the opportunity to produce some of the food we eat, and neighbourhood greenspaces, the social value of which increases with urban consolidation and density. Community gardens are a new urban land use in tune with our changing cities.

The many benefits of community gardens While doing research on community gardens for a policy directions document for Marrickville Council several years ago, I found that there were three main benefits to community gardens. The first of these was access to fresh, local food. This turned out to have a lot to do with distrust of food available

in supermarkets, and was linked to health concerns and uncertainty over the genetic modification of foods, food irradiation and similar controversies. Gardeners recognise that they can grow only a small portion of their diet in community gardens, especially in the smaller gardens characteristic of inner urban zones such as the City of Sydney local government area (LGA), where open space is in short supply. Gardeners usually grow commonly-eaten vegetables and culinary herbs, mainly annual plants. The second benefit was the opportunity for socialisation. This was usually put in terms of ‘getting to know your neighbours’, as well as meeting local people and working together on something worthwhile. This reflects the role of community gardens as ‘third places’. The third place is a concept developed by Ray Oldenburg in his book The Great Good Place in which he describes how low cost, easily accessible local places assist the gaining of a sense of both place and community and are important to the development of civil society, democracy and an engaged citizenry. Oldenburg’s model is based on time spent in different locales, with the home the

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Gardeners recognise that they can grow only a small portion of their diet in community gardens, especially in the smaller gardens characteristic of inner urban zones.

‘first place’ and the workplace the ‘second place’. There is ample evidence that community gardens fulfil a third place role in our neighbourhoods. Third among the benefits of community gardening cited by respondents was the opportunity to learn. While most respondents mentioned the gaining of basic horticultural skills, there was also learning about working successfully with other people and the acquisition of what we might call the skills that make up ‘social capital’ – decision-making, dispute resolution, shared planning and the like. Most learning in community gardens happens peer-to-peer and to a lesser extent through workshops.

Benefit to placemaking For planners and for local government, enabling community gardens is to enable placemaking. The gardens create opportunities for council staff and elected councillors to directly and constructively engage with people in the municipality, and are examples of placemaking as defined by the respected educational organisation, Project for Public Places – (PPS) – (http://www.pps.org/). PPS describes placemaking as an approach to the planning, design and management of public spaces that involves citizen participation and capitalises on a local community’s assets and inspiration, to create places that promote health, happiness, and wellbeing.

into a productive garden of herbs and vegetables tended by an enthusiastic community team and their young children. The garden was opened by Lord Mayor Clover Moore in October 2010, and is now flourishing. With experience behind them as successful placemakers, the James Street Reserve gardeners have successfully negotiated with the City to start phase two of their plan, which will see the construction of a storage shed using the earth bag building technique and the installation of a rainwater tank to harvest water from the roof of an adjacent building. Being civic minded, the James Street community gardeners assisted the City to develop its first licence to give legal tenure to community gardens.

Considerations for councils Until a few years ago, councils dealt with requests for assistance in starting community gardens on a one-off, adhoc basis in which the knowledge and attitude of council staff or councillors determined whether assistance was forthcoming. As demand has increased over the past six or seven years, more councils have adopted policies to enable community gardening.

Enabling policy Adoption of a policy enables councils to put funds, resources and staff time into the development of

This is exactly what happened when a group of local residents got together to do something about the largely unused and scrappy-looking James Street Reserve in inner urban Redfern in the City of Sydney LGA. Seeking to reclaim part of the pocket park for constructive community use, the garden team defined their ideas then approached the City of Sydney Community Garden and Landcare Coordinator for assistance under the City’s Community Garden Policy. The group obtained a Matching Grant (City funds matched by voluntary input from the community group), then set to work. Within a couple of months, an uninteresting reserve was transformed

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Charles Kernan Reserve Food Garden – Construction Day

parks + gardens

Charles Kernan Reserve Food Garden

community gardening. Policy can link community gardening to relevant city plans as well as sustainability, green waste reduction and social plans. Policy should include a simple process through which communities can approach councils for assistance. Policies differ between councils with, for example, some councils requiring that community garden proposals be accompanied by a development application (DA) and, in some cases, a building certificate if pergolas or other structures are to be erected. Seeking to remove cost and bureaucratic impediments to community gardening, the City of Sydney has exempted community gardens from the DA process and from licence renewal fees. Councils should be clear why they would support community gardening. Is it part of a broader food security policy? A nutrition or community development program? A means of repurposing poorly used land? Building social capital? New recreational opportunities? A sustainability initiative? The answer to this will determine just where in council the responsible officer would be situated. Commonly, responsibility for community gardens is part of sustainability or parks departments.

Most objections are manageable Council staff should anticipate objections to proposals to develop community gardens. While some objections are little more than negative, default responses to change of any sort (NIMBYism), others are based on assumptions that what could go wrong will go wrong. Common objections allege that community gardens will attract vermin, vandals and other undesirables; that they will produce odour and look messy; that they will alienate public open space. While badly managed compost has produced odour and attracted rodents in a very small number of cases, objections can be dealt with through design thinking and gardener education.

Alienating land or enabling new opportunities? Allegations that community gardens alienate public open space are based on the notion that they give public land to a select group in the community. A momentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s reflection, however, discloses that public open space is often made available for special uses such as bowling clubs, sporting facilities and childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s playgrounds. In this sense, allocating land to community gardening is nothing more than providing opportunity for a new recreational facility. There are a number of local government design responses to charges of alienating open space. Where community gardens are established in areas of public parks, the City of Sydney discourages the erection of high, chainlink fences as they would likely be perceived by the community as exclusionary. Instead, the City provides a low fence like a swimming pool safety fence. This delineates the gardening land use and keeps the young children of gardeners safe inside the fence. A fence of this type was erected around the James Street Reserve Community Garden. Because it occupies part of a pocket park, public access along the existing path through the community garden had to be maintained. Gates with childproof closures allow public thoroughfare. In its community garden licence agreement, the City stipulates that community gardens on public open space remain open to public visitation that does not interfere with gardening. To some extent this gets around charges of alienating public open space. A further solution is to include community gardens in the design of public open space as a land use option along with playgrounds, barbecues and tables and passive recreation areas. This is best done when public parks come up for a complete makeover. The tiny Charles Kernan Reserve Food Garden in Darlington in the City of Sydney LGA and the larger Manly Vale Community Garden in the Warringah LGA occupy larger, multiple-use reserves.

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Infrastructure for community gardens Over its 35 or so years of history in Australia (Nunawading Community Garden in Melbourne was the first documented, opening in 1977), the experience of community gardening discloses that there is some basic infrastructure required of all successful gardens.

This includes: Social: •

a group of people prepared to start and manage the garden;

•

security of tenure; a one-year trial period followed by five years between licence of lease renewals allows the time needed to develop the garden;

•

democratic, participatory decision-making;

•

a means of communication between members of the community garden and with the public; community garden websites are common, as are Facebook pages and Google or Yahoo groups; and

•

a liaison to communicate with council or landholder.

Material: •

land free from contamination that would affect human health;

•

garden beds and paths of durable materials that maintain the aesthetic values of city parks; the City of Sydney is currently producing a document listing preferred materials for community garden beds and paths;

•

a BBQ or similar for preparing coffee or tea, contributing to the convivial atmosphere of community gardens;

•

a pergola or shelter from sun and rain; this could well be considered an OHS requirement for the gardeners;

•

a storage shed for tools and equipment;

•

water supply – preferably a rainwater tank backed up by a mains-connected tap. There is good argument to allocate a higher water allowance to community gardens during dry times and water rationing as they make a more conservative use of water in food production compared to agriculture;

•

plant propagation area – this is best located adjacent to the pergola/shelter and to the water supply, as proximity will ensure monitoring of the seedlings; and

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•

compost production – this is best located in a utility area of the community garden where construction and other material is stored.

Some teams prefer to self-construct their community garden. It’s a good idea if they talk over their design with the landholder before starting. If the landholder is a council, it will have considerations of public safety and aesthetics to consider. One reason that aesthetics are important is because gardens perceived as unaesthetic, as messy or as not looking good, often result in complaints to council. Another point about aesthetics is that they may need to complement the design, gardens and fittings that give some public parks a particular feel. This was the case with the community garden in the grounds of historic St Andrews Hospital in Adelaide, which had to complement the historic building ambience of the grounds. Sometimes, funds allowing, councils might prefer to construct a community garden themselves so that they end up with a high-quality finish. It is important to involve the community garden group in the design process, however. This was the case with the small food garden in the Charles Kernan Reserve. Whereas the James Street Reserve garden was designed and built by the gardeners (having a couple of landscape architects on the team certainly helped), council completed the Charles Kernan Reserve garden to a stage at which the gardeners could complete the job by filling the raised, recycled brick planters, planting out and laying pavers as stepping stones to access the beds. As council does with self-build gardens, it provided a supervisor to assist and advise on the first construction day. The practicality of self-building depends on the skills held by the community gardeners. Poorly built garden beds invite weed invasion and create a maintenance problem for the gardeners. More on community garden infrastructure can be found at: http://communitygarden.org.au/basic-infrastructure

parks + gardens

Charles Kernan Reserve Food Garden

A new demand calls for a creative response Community gardening is a new demand on local government and councils vary in their response to requests for assistance. In presentations on community gardening and community food systems, I emphasise this to local government staff (and to communities, as they need to understand it too), and tell audiences that councils and communities are still creating the practice of community gardening as they go. Thus, we need to allow for mistakes and develop solutions to them, just as we need to highlight what works and seek to replicate and adapt that. For local government, community gardening enables aspects of city and other plans to be implemented at the same time that communities develop greater capacity to engage creatively with councils and the urban environments they inhabit. Community gardening is a new way for people to interact with public open space and accept the responsibilities that come with managing an area of public land. There are great opportunities here for constructive partnerships. Russ Grayson is media liaison for the Australian City Farms & Community Gardens Network (he is also Community Gardens & Landcare Coordinator for the City of Sydney). P: W:

0414 065 203 http://communitygarden.org.au

City of Sydney: Community Garden Policy, Getting Started in Community Gardens guide book, location of community gardens â&#x20AC;&#x201C; http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Residents/ ParksAndLeisure/CommunityGardens/ StartingACommunityGarden.asp Management plan development process for new community gardeners (governance, site management): http://communitygarden.org.au/management-plantemplate

James Street Reserve Community Garden

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Who is Sustainable Gardening Australia (SGA)? SGA is a non-government, not-for-profit environmental organisation that was established in 2003. SGA works with industry, local government and home gardeners to encourage more sustainable gardening practices.

What is ECLIPs? – Environmentally Certified Landscape Industry Professionals SGA established an environmental certification for retail garden centres (SGA Certified Garden Centres) that is now operating in 90 garden centres in Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania. In 2007, SGA received funding from the Victorian Government’s Sustainability Fund to establish a similar certification program for landscape professionals and other organisations involved in the management of private and public parks and gardens. SGA worked closely with the Landscape Industries Association of Victoria (LIAV) and other industry professionals on the development of ECLIPs. Certification is relevant for landscape designers, landscapers and garden maintenance operators. To date nearly 100 private landscape businesses are ECLIPs certified.

What are the key principles of ECLIPs? To design, construct and maintain gardens and other open spaces that: •

Minimise the use of water;

•

Minimise the use of harmful chemicals;

•

Enhance the opportunity for biodiversity;

•

Avoid the disruption of natural systems; and

•

Avoid the use of locally invasive plants.

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City of Casey Staff undergoing onsite training with SGA

ECLIPs for local government In 2008 SGA commenced working with a number of Victorian local government parks and gardens managers to modify and adapt the ECLIPs program to be relevant for that sector. Since the program was launched in Victoria two years ago, 14 local governments have joined the program.

Steps to ECLIPs certification of a public park or garden Local government starts the process by subscribing to the SGA program and then nominating a major park or garden for ECLIPs certification. This is generally an open space that management believes is, or can be, managed according to best practice in sustainable horticulture, and can provide an example of excellence in sustainable management to the local community. Over time, and in line with a council’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, councils can gradually nominate other parks/gardens in their municipality to become ECLIPs certified. Once a park has been nominated, those staff that work on the nominated park/garden undertake the SGA Sustainable Parks and Gardens training event on sustainable park management. Whilst SGA would encourage all local government parks and gardens staff to complete the SGA Sustainable Parks and Gardens training course, ECLIPs certification only requires staff or contractors who work on the nominated park/garden to complete the course.

parks + gardens

SGA trainer discussing tree health and mulch with participants

The Sustainable Parks and Gardens training consists of a six-hour one-day session. The training is customised to ensure that locally relevant examples are discussed. Training consists of theory and hands-on practical site assessment. Topics covered include: •

Soils – structure and improvement, organic recycling, fertilisers, composts and mulches;

•

Plant selection – managing existing plants, heritage gardens and significant sites, public open spaces, roadside vegetation, appropriate plant selection including exotic, Australian native, locally indigenous and drought tolerant plants and locally invasive plants;

•

Plant health – diagnosing plant problems, pest and disease control and cultural management practices;

•

Water resources – water sensitive urban design, water harvesting, water recycling and efficient irrigation practices;

•

Resource use – sourcing of ethical products, sustainable harvesting of materials and life cycle assessment; and Site management – sediment control and erosion issues, waste minimisation, protection of natural site topography, cultural elements, habitat and vegetation controls.

Staff will need to pass a written training assessment. All staff who successfully complete the Parks and Gardens training course are issued with a training certificate. SGA provides ongoing training opportunities for parks and gardens management staff and onground crews. Once staff training is complete SGA will send a ‘Local Government Parks and Garden Audit Kit’, which will enable managers to review the management practices of your nominated park/garden and gain a good understanding of what the SGA auditor will be looking for. When council has sent back this garden self-audit to SGA, we can discuss any necessary changes needed or any site-specific issues that may cause difficulties. When the local government manager is confident that the nominated park or garden is operating in line with environmental best practice as defined by the requirements of the ECLIPs program, SGA is to arrange for a final audit. An SGA appointed auditor will then conduct an onsite audit of the nominated park/garden. Once staff has completed training and the nominated park/garden has passed the audit, the park/garden will be

ECLIPs certified. SGA will provide an ECLIPs certificate, logo use and list your council and park/garden on the SGA website as a fantastic example of sustainable management of a public park.

What are the benefits of ECLIPs to local government? By achieving ECLIPs certification of an individual park/ garden, your local government will: •

Receive public recognition as a leader in sustainability in parks and gardens management;

•

Be listed and promoted on the SGA website, which has an average of 30,000 unique visitors per month;

•

Be provided with signage text to place in gardens to educate and inform the public on council’s commitment to leading the community in sustainable horticultural practices;

•

Have access to ongoing staff development and training in environmental horticulture;

•

Receive ongoing information on current and proposed environmental legislation that impacts on parks/gardens management;

•

Receive early notification of environmentally friendly horticultural products;

•

Participate in an ongoing information exchange network with other ECLIPs members;

•

Be provided with a media kit of suggested articles that can be adapted and used for local media; and

•

Be part of the larger environmental solution.

Contact details For further information on SGA ECLIPs Parks and Gardens Certification contact Simon Branson on 0413 317 540 or simon@sgaonline.org.au

SGA COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS Sustainable Gardening Australia also works with local government in developing and delivering sustainable gardening workshops to residents. In the last financial year SGA delivered over 70 workshops on various topics from vegie growing, waterwise gardening, habitat gardening, gardening for renters, organic pest control, composting and worm farming and sustainable garden design. the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 • 115

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FluoroCycle By Bryan Douglas, Chief Executive Officer Lighting Council Australia Around 95 per cent of waste mercury-containing lamps in Australia currently end up in landfill. Local government agencies and businesses across Australia can have a profound impact on changing this statistic. The recently launched FluoroCycle scheme – an Australian Government initiative – has been developed to encourage recycling of mercury-containing lamps. The scheme aims to encourage recycling within the commercial and government sectors in order to divert hazardous waste from landfill. Signatories to the scheme agree to undertake recycling or to encourage others to recycle.

he majority of waste lighting is generated by government and industry, and for this reason the FluoroCycle scheme does not currently target households. FluoroCycle is a voluntary scheme and is supported by the Environment Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC) through the National Waste Policy. Lighting Council Australia, the peak body for Australia’s lighting industry, has been appointed the Administrator of the scheme. Organisations are encouraged to become Signatories to the FluoroCycle scheme and commit to recycling at premises over which they have control and/or to promote the scheme to their tenants or business networks. Signatories receive public recognition for their commitment to the environment and have full use of the FluoroCycle logo. There is no fee to apply for Signatory status.

In February 2009, in response to growing international concern about the global effects of mercury, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Governing Council decided to negotiate a legally binding instrument for the international control of mercury. The scope of this instrument is likely to include provisions for the disposal of waste consumer products that contain mercury. These international activities provide impetus for Australia in relation to the environmentally sound disposal of waste that contains mercury. FluoroCycle Guidelines 2010, page 3.

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Mercury (Hg)

Glass

Phosphor Powder

Aluminium

Four principal items are extracted during the recycling of mercury-containing lamps

Mercury and lighting

Which lamps contain mercury?

Even though most landfill sites have been suitably chosen so that there is no leakage to the ground water system, mercury that ends up in landfill is converted to methylmercury and can be released through the atmosphere â&#x20AC;&#x201C; not just through soil or water. Once released, mercury can persist in the environment, where it circulates between air, water, sediments, soil and biota in various forms. Atmospheric mercury can be transported long distances in the atmosphere, incorporated by microorganisms, and may be concentrated up the food chain.

Linear fluorescent lamps, mostly used in offices, retail outlets and industrial sites contain from around 1.2 to 15 milligrams (mg) of mercury. In Australia, the maximum amount allowed is 15 mg. Many major lighting suppliers in Australia offer tubes that contain up to 5 mg, as these align with European requirements. Mercury vapour lamps, often used for street lighting, can vary with the lamp wattage from 25 mg in a 75 Watt lamp to 200 mg in a 1500 Watt lamp. Metal halide lamps, also used for street lighting, vary with wattage from 20 mg (35 Watt lamp) to 145 mg (1000 Watt lamp) and sodium vapour lamps (high pressure sodium/ceramic arc) can vary from zero, and 10 to 100 mg for 20 to 1,000 Watt lamps, depending on the type used. In comparison compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) contain between 1.4 and 5 mg of mercury and are used mostly in homes.

Although international lighting manufacturers have substantially reduced the amounts of mercury used in individual lamps over the past 20 years, there is no suitable replacement for mercury. Although the quantity of mercury currently used in a mercury-containing lamp is relatively low, the widespread use of these lamps across Australia for street lighting, offices, retail outlets, sporting venues and industrial sites contributes to the amount of mercury that is released into the environment. Without mercury vapour, there would be no chemical reaction to create the light. The glass in a fluorescent tube is coated with phosphor with electrodes at each end. Mercury is added to the tube, and when voltage is applied the electrodes energise the mercury vapour. The mercury vapour generates ultraviolet (UV) energy and the phosphor absorbs the (UV) energy and causes the phosphor to glow, creating light. At present, the only viable solution to avoid continued mercury contamination of the Australian environment from waste lighting is to encourage Australian governments and industry to stop transporting waste lighting to landfill and to commit to recycling.

Where can we recycle waste lighting in Australia? Currently there are two major waste lighting recyclers operating in Australia: Chemsal (www.chemsal.com.au) and CMA EcoCycle (www.cmaecocycle.net). Both companies have facilities in most Australian states and territories. Many major waste management organisations in Australia have arrangements to pass on waste lighting to one of these recyclers. Both recyclers also offer sealed crushing bins for regional sites where the waste lights can be crushed safely without releasing the mercury. This reduces the volume by approximately 80 per cent, creating savings on transport costs. During the recycling process the lamps are crushed to extract the white phosphor powder where the bulk of the mercury accumulates. This powder is then sent to a thermal retort to recover the elemental mercury. The mercury, glass, phosphor and aluminium contained in the lights can all be safely recovered, and the components may then be reused in other products. the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 â&#x20AC;˘ 117

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Local government organisations are encouraged to review their current waste management plans and include waste mercury-containing lamp recycling.

What are the benefits of FluoroCycle Signatory status? Signatories receive public recognition for their commitment to the environment, and may be the subject of case studies in newspapers, journal articles and in media releases. There are no fees to become a FluoroCycle Signatory, and Signatories have full use of the FluoroCycle logo. Signatories also receive a certificate acknowledging their commitment to the FluoroCycle scheme. Some current signatories include: the Westpac Group; the CitySwitch program, which includes all the major city councils; National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA); GHD Victoria; Zero Waste SA; the EPA South Australia; SITA Environmental Solutions; Sydney Convention and Entertainment Centre; IP Australia; OSRAM; Lismore City Council; and Camden Council. Many other major corporates and government departments are currently preparing applications.

How do we apply for Signatory status? There are two groups of Signatories to the FluoroCycle scheme: Commercial Users and Facilitators. A Signatory can be both a Commercial User and a Facilitator. A Commercial User is defined as an organisation that owns or manages premises such as retail outlets, shopping malls, apartment blocks, office blocks, industrial facilities, mines, road and street lighting, hospitals and sporting venues. There are two categories of Commercial User: Type A Applicants are already recycling all their waste mercurycontaining lamps, and Type B Applicants are not currently recycling but will commit to putting recycling arrangements in place within three to six months. A Facilitator is an organisation that commits to promoting FluoroCycle to their customers, members or networks. Facilitator categories include: Advocates; Collectors; Contractors; Government; Media Partners; Peak Bodies; Recyclers; Lighting Suppliers; and Trainers. Facilitators are asked to submit an Action Plan with their application, outlining how they will promote the scheme. Organisations can apply for Signatory status online at www.fluorocycle.org.au.

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Audit process In order to maintain the integrity of the scheme, the senior executive within each organisation is asked to sign a Signatory Commitment document. The FluoroCycle scheme operates on the principle of self-certification, and at the end of 12 months, a Signatory will be asked to submit a statement that the organisation is adhering to the requirements of the scheme. The administrator will undertake random audits of Signatories to ensure compliance with their commitments to the FluoroCycle scheme.

In conclusion Local government organisations are encouraged to review their current waste management plans and include waste mercury-containing lamp recycling. In return, they will be eligible to apply for Signatory status to the FluoroCycle scheme and receive public recognition for their commitment to the environment.

Please contact the FluoroCycle administrator, Lorraine Lilley, at Lighting Council Australia (administrator@fluorocycle.org.au) or visit the FluoroCycle website www.fluorocycle.org.au for more information.

lighting, exterior + interior

Turning Old Lamps Into New Products

s a society we continue to look at ways in which we can help to reduce our impact on the environment, ensuring the survival of our planet for future generations. Due to the small amounts of mercury used in fluorescent lamps, it is important to ensure that these lamps are disposed of responsibly and don’t turn into landfill and cause health and environmental problems. The mercury contained in one fluorescent tube can pollute 30,000 litres of water beyond a safe level for drinking. Listed as the most hazardous metal on the EPA’s list of industrial pollutants, mercury is a very potent neurotoxin. However, through the recycling of lamps, we can help ensure that this dangerous material is contained and safely managed. Recovery and recycling is the only safe, efficient and effective way to reduce current levels of mercury in our environment. The resulting environmental benefits from recycling include: • A reduction in landfill • Reducing the risk of contamination of our waterways

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Providing a start to finish service, SYLVANIA’s SYLrecycle program ensures that all lamps are converted into safe, reusable materials for the building, health and agricultural industries. Each lamp is initially crushed before the endcaps, glass and phosphor are isolated. The phosphor then undergoes a mercury recovery procedure, safely capturing the hazardous metal. Components are then cleaned and distilled for reuse. The SYLrecycle program is available for all types of lamps up to 1500mm in length, including all High Pressure Sodium, Metal Halide, Mercury Vapour and Compact Fluorescent lamps. To take part in SYLrecycle contact your SLA representative or email sylrecycle@sla.net.au

the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 • 119

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Transforming your urban landscape

hilips is a global company of leading businesses creating value with meaningful innovations that improve people’s health and wellbeing. We strive to make best use of the opportunities for lighting, to achieve lasting change in many aspects of life and, in particular, enhance well-being. This notion is the signature of how we simply enhance life with light. Philips believes that cities, towns and villages should be warm, inviting places that people enjoy living in and visiting. Research has demonstrated that high-quality white light offers many clear advantages over yellow light. For example, the ambience is perceived as brighter, colours appear more natural and it is easier for pedestrians and cyclists to recognise the faces of other people and obstacles on the street. This greater clarity improves the general feeling of security. Because it improves visibility, especially in the periphery, which can be very important for motorists, white light can make the roads safer as well. And that’s not all. Modern white light sources offer comparable or even better energy efficiency than the high-pressure sodium lamps. Urban development and regeneration programs are increasingly focused on re-humanising the urban environment, and we believe lighting has a vital role to play in this regard, creating an appealing, inclusive ambience.

Lighting streets and pedestrian areas The illumination of streets and pedestrian areas has evolved from simple functional lighting into a more demanding and creative discipline. It should not only provide light in which people can drive, cycle and walk safely, but must be pleasing and inviting as well. It should promote communication and well-being, encouraging night-time socialising and complementing the city’s night life. Luminaires for street and pedestrian lighting also have an architectural role. During the day they become an integral part of the street scene. Our range of architectural street luminaires has been designed with this is mind, offering a winning blend of performance and style.

No one else has the breadth and depth of expertise in all aspects of lighting, or the means to offer solutions that address the needs and challenges faced by society today. Over more than a century, we have built up a depth of understanding and a craft for innovation that continues to benefit profoundly all our stakeholders – lighting professionals, their customers and consumers alike. With Philips, you are at the forefront of technological innovation and new value creation. We believe that trust, openness and brilliant ideas can change the world.

Lighting residential areas For many years residential lighting was purely functional. And although safety, security and orientation remain essential requirements, there is now a drive to improve the residents’ quality of life, creating a pleasing identity for these often-overlooked parts of the city.

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For more information and helpful hints on how to implement cost and energy efficient lighting systems, please contact Philips Customer Service: 1300 304 404 or email lightingsalesdesk@philips.com or log onto www.philips.com.au/lighting.

Lighting for the future Want to cut your energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and financial resources in urban lighting? Want to improve pedestrian and road safety while also enhancing the urban environment? Contact Philips to discover how our sustainable and long lasting lighting solutions can help you achieve your goals. www.philips.com.au/lighting Tel: 1300 304 404 the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 â&#x20AC;˘ 121

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Sustainable STREET LIGHTING Sustainable street lighting – A brief history (1990-2011)

By Paul Brown, Ironbark Sustainability

Street lighting is the single largest source of greenhouse gas emissions from local government, typically accounting for 30 to 60 per cent of their greenhouse gas emissions. For councils, the focus on street lighting greenhouse emissions has been gaining strength since the early to mid1990s. In the ’90s, this was largely due to the preference for High Pressure Sodium (HPS) lamps, which reduced emissions by around 35 per cent for each main road light. However, the main driver for this was maintenance (the lamps lasted at least a year or two longer before needing to be replaced). In the early 2000s, renewed interest in residential street light efficiency led to the development of the T5 road light (Energy Distributor, Integral Energy, now Endeavour Energy, combined with Pierlite to drive this development). Now there is a wide range of technologies available to improve energy efficiency in residential streets including fluorescents, LEDs, induction and other lights. In January 2011, the Australian and New Zealand Road Lighting Standards Committee changed the standard to require any new designs not to use Mercury Vapour lamps. This means that in order to meet AS/NZS 1158, all stakeholders will need to choose alternative products for new designs. All of this sounds quite rosy, and looking back the change has been inexorable and is clearly tracking towards a more sustainable street lighting future. However, the detail shows something quite different.

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Street lighting in Australia – the numbers In 2011, Ironbark was commissioned by the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency to consult with councils, distributors and main road authorities about the development of a street lighting strategy to drive change nationally. As part of this work, Ironbark collated the street lighting numbers in Australia.

lighting, exterior + interior There are approximately 2.28 million street lighting lamps in service in Australia, with around 33 per cent on main roads and 67 per cent on local (or residential) roads. The annual energy cost of public lighting in Australia exceeds $125 million (and more than $250 million including maintenance). These lights contribute almost 1.5 million tonnes of greenhouse emissions each year. A change to widely accepted energy efficient technologies would save more than a quarter of these emissions, and in many council areas 50 per cent of emissions could be reduced.

Barriers to energy efficiency Also as part of the initiative commissioned by the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Ironbark collated information on barriers to improving street lighting energy efficiency in Australia. The main barriers that were identified included: •

Bulk changes to energy efficient street light alternatives. Active programs in Vic, some areas of NSW. Lighting approvals Approvals for energy efficient technologies. Difficult. Regional operation beginning through PLAN. Research and trials Identify, confirm energy efficiency opportunities.

•

Expertise and time to deal with the complexity of street lighting; and Delays around lighting approvals and working with external stakeholders.

The strong response (over 200 respondent organisations) to the survey is consistent with the complex nature of the issue of energy efficiency in street lighting. It also reflects the current situation where there has been a lack of widespread action despite significant attempts by local government. It also supports the need for a strategic approach to the issue. It is likely that no single initiative will be sufficient to untangle the web of financial, regulatory and expertise issues preventing progress.

Local government action Figure 1 below outlines the current actions by councils that are being progressed to accelerate sustainability in public lighting. The areas that have been highlighted in blue are areas in which many councils are active.

Financial cost (largely capital cost);

Street lighting Est. 90% of lights

•

Non-street lighting Est. 10% of lights Open space auditing Including energy and asset management plans. Implementation Of audit recommendations. Asset management Continual monitoring, updating data and ensuring asset management meets needs from policy, strategy and budget.

Strategy and policy Sustainable public lighting action plans and strategies Identifying the key actions for each council or region. Guides For new installations, direct retrofitting or design issues. Policy When, where, why & how council will provide lighting. Advocacy To identify funding of bulk changes and support for energy efficiency.

Competitive tendering Under development for bulk changes.

Figure 1: Council activities for improved efficiency in public lighting

What action has been successful? Typically there are two main areas of focus that lead to improved outcomes for local governments: 1. Make sure new designs are installed as best practice; 2. Accelerate a change from current inefficient technologies.

There are many councils that have successfully achieved the first focus. For contacts or example documents email paul@realaction.com.au. Like any policy or guidelines process this will take some time and expertise but is usually an area that can be easily and quickly completed. The second (accelerating a bulk change to efficient lights) is usually much more difficult. A common process used by most councils considering a change is detailed in the table over. the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 • 123

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Process

Why do this?

Complete a business case

Bulk changes are expensive. It is not uncommon for a change to cost several million dollars. A business case allows you to discuss the program with your distributor and senior management in an informed manner.

Decide what lights you want changed when

This allows the program to consider issues such as which lights to replace, needs for public transport and community safety, and council budgeting processes.

Procure the project services

Through tendering or working/negotiating directly with your distribution business this stage is aimed at getting the best price for council’s preferred program.

Each of the steps in the table above can take time and can involve difficult negotiations internally and externally. It is best to try and be as inclusive as possible in terms of consultation and the technologies you replace so that you don’t need to go through the negotiations several times for different regions, technologies or outcomes. Councils that have been able to successfully complete bulk changes of their street lights to efficient options (focusing on areas that have replaced more than 1000 residential street lights) include: •

Coffs Harbour (New South Wales 2004);

•

Subiaco (Western Australia 2008);

•

Frankston, Nillumbik, Cardinia, Port Phillip, Manningham (Victoria 2010);

•

Hobsons Bay, Yarra, Booroondara, Bayside (Victoria 2011) (some of these are to be completed at time of printing and several other Victorian councils are expected to complete changes during 2011).

In Victoria a large number of changes are expected over the coming three to five years because of a perfect storm of state and federal funding, centralised support for lighting technical approvals and collective action with distributors to make changes easier for local governments to engage with. Replicating this in other states may be a good way to make fast changes to reduce emissions.

Funding for street lighting efficiency There are few external funding opportunities for street lighting efficiency. This reinforces the need for local (and state) governments to complete business cases to determine the overall benefit with or without external funding. However, some funding is of relevance, including the federally funded Low Carbon Communities program. This is an $80 million funding program for local government and community organisations from the federal government. It is designed to fund programs to reduce energy costs through energy efficiency upgrades to street lighting, community facilities and council buildings. 124 • the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012

Low Carbon Communities will provide competitive grants to local councils and operators of community facilities via three funding streams: 1. Small-scale grants of up to $500,000 for local councils to undertake smaller scale projects to reduce energy consumption in facilities such as outdoor lighting; 2. Large-scale grants of up to $5 million for operators of community facilities to invest in energy efficient upgrades such as the installation of cogeneration or new heating and air conditioning; 3. Greener Suburbs grants of up to $500,000 for councils to implement capacity building and demonstration projects that improve the use of parks and green spaces in urban areas. Similar programs have been promised in Victoria. While this funding will assist the transition in certain areas, the scale of these incentives is not likely to result in large-scale change on its own.

Further information For information on the content feel free to contact Ironbark Sustainability on 1300 288 262, www.realaction.com.au or info@realaction.com.au. The author is Paul Brown and can be reached on paul@realaction.com.au. For the Low Carbon Communities grant funding: http://www.climatechange.gov.au/government/ initiatives/low-carbon-communities.aspx ICLEI Public Lighting Toolbox http://www.iclei.org/index.php?id=publiclighting

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Green Generation Lighting

For your budget, for the environment.

Musco Lighting has provided indoor and outdoor lighting solutions through innovative technology and service for over 30 years. Our extensive research and development has led to numerous sports-lighting innovations.

Musco’s Green Generation Lighting provides significant advantages: · reduces energy consumption by up to 50% · cuts spill-light by 50% · provides constant light levels · includes industry-leading warranty

Unequalled performance . . . for your budget, for the environment. Musco Lighting Australia, PTY Ltd. Unit 45, 28 Barcoo Street Chatswood, NSW 2067

Phone: 61 2 9417 0100

www.musco.com

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or 35 years, Musco has revolutionized sports lighting, specializing in the design and manufacture of lighting systems for sports facilities — offering major enhancements in energy efficiency, environmental light control and cost effectiveness. Musco has been a leader in developing sports-lighting technology — to make it safer, more efficient, and easier to install and maintain. Musco offers a comprehensive package of services for projects large and small, and special fabrication abilities matched with project management for custom applications. Musco’s energy-efficient Green Generation Lighting® systems are the result of 30 years of technology innovation. Operating costs are cut by up to half when compared to conventional lighting systems. Maintenance costs are eliminated for 10 years, including lamp replacements. Off-site spill lighting and glare are reduced by 50%, and Constant light levels are guaranteed for 10 years/5,000 hours. Improved photometrics mean light is controlled more efficiently when directed onto the pitch. Less energy is consumed per square meter of surface area to achieve desired results, providing substantial life-cycle savings over the life of the system. Green Generation Lighting® provides unequalled performance supported with Musco’s Constant 10™ product assurance and warranty program, assuring 10 years of carefree lighting equipment operation. For more information, contact Musco Lighting at www.musco.com or by phone at 61 2 9417 0100.

the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 • 125

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This is LED Site Lighting Perfection.

im Lighting is known throughout the world as a premier designer and manufacturer of quality, high performance, and architecturally relevant outdoor lighting solutions. Kim Lighting is a division of Hubbell Lighting, Inc. and is based in California. Kim Lighting has now released the WARP9 LED, the newest innovation in high tech site and street lighting. By controlling powerful solid-state sources with advanced reflector dynamics, WARP9 LED harnesses the enormous brightness from the latest diode technology to collect and widely distribute light precisely and efficiently without objectionable glare or hot spots. Combine this with a rugged, visually stealthy housing, an upgradeable LED module, and progressive warranty protection, WARP9 LED is the modern, energy efficient, truly sustainable LED lighting solution that will serve your community for decades. With Kim Lighting’s WARP9 LED, the future of site and street lighting has arrived. WARP9 LED is the first outdoor area light to utilise LEDs properly and safely to effectively capitalise on the incredible efficiency, life, and brightness of Solid State Lighting technology. Just because LEDs are the wave of the future does not mean that designers should abandon the important safety practices and performance standards established by the industry over decades of study and refinement. Rather, WARP9 LED meets or exceeds currently adopted international outdoor lighting codes to maintain existing pole spacings, extinguish backlight pollution, completely cut off up-light, and eliminate harmful glare which can significantly improve citizen safety. Equinox Business Park, Deakin A.C.T. is a 17,000m2 master-planned environmentally sustainable business park. International Lighting collaborated with the project designers to illuminate one of Canberra’s latest business centres. The external area has abundant on-site car parking as well as 88 secure bicycle parks. The project was originally specified to employ HID sources for the external car parking. However, the specifications were switched once the project managers learned of LED performance advancements, and rewrote the specification to include the WARP9 luminaire. As a result, the new technology placed light where it was needed (controlled light spill), whilst meeting the 1126 • the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 • the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012

required light levels to ensure safety and security for the local community. Furthermore, Kim Lighting stands by its LED products and offers a progressive 5/6/10 warranty on all new LED luminaires and an exclusive “plus one” on any LED housing that is upgraded with a new Kim Lighting LED Emitter Deck, including HID to LED upgrade kit conversions. International Lighting is the sole distributor for Kim Lighting, Architectural Area Lighting and Hubbell products throughout Australia and New Zealand. For further details contact International Lighting by phone on (02) 98164155 or email enquiries@internationallighting.com.au

WARP9® LED Collection This is LED Site Lighting Perfection. This is Kim Lighting.

GLARE, NO. BRILLIANT, YES.

+ 61 2 9816 4155 www.internationallighting.com.au the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 • 127

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Hobsons Bay LIGHTING RECYCLING PROGRAM By Jen McQueeney, Environmental Education Officer, Hobsons Bay City Council Introduction In early 2009, Hobsons Bay City Council, in partnership with Swinburne University’s National Centre for Sustainability, hosted a three-month Environmental Ambassadors program. A lighting recycling program, still available to Hobsons Bay residents, was just one of the many fantastic community-led sustainability initiatives to result from the Environmental Ambassadors Program. The Environmental Ambassadors program trained 13 local residents committed to becoming leaders for sustainability within Hobsons Bay. As part of the broader Living Green in Hobsons Bay program, participants in the Environmental Ambassadors course attended five twohour training sessions, which assisted them to develop a working knowledge of the key issues affecting behaviour change and to formulate and implement a behaviour change program. Training sessions focused on a broad range of environmental themes, including energy in the home, waste and sustainable consumption, healthy homes and transport and water in the home garden. Upon completion of the program, successful participants were credited with a unit from Swinburne University’s Diploma of Sustainability. To be eligible, participants were required to work in small groups to deliver an assessed behaviour change program, including planning, implementing and presenting back to their fellow participants. Two of the participants chose to implement a lighting recycling program within Hobsons Bay for their assessed behavior change program (Lighting Recycling Group).

The issue The Lighting Recycling Group expressed concern about issues that were likely to arise as a result of the planned phase-out of incandescent lighting, which would be replaced by compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) from November 2009. They recognised that CFLs contain a small amount of mercury, which potentially poses health and environmental risks to the community.

Environmental concerns Spent lighting is the largest source of mercury contamination in landfills across Australia. It has been estimated that between 50 and 70 million mercury containing lamps are disposed of in Australia each

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year, dumping over 10,000 metric tonnes of mercury contaminated waste into the nation’s landfills (Australia’s national local government newspaper LG Focus, 26 March 2009). This can result in toxins being leached into the groundwater and the release of toxic and volatile gases into the atmosphere. The Lighting Recycling Group was particularly concerned about the potential worsening of the threat posed to local lakes, rivers and coastal areas, and the marine life they support, as a result of the changeover from incandescent lights to CFLs.

Health concerns In addition, the Lighting Recycling Group wanted to ensure that the community was aware that CFLs do contain a small amount of mercury – about five milligrams each, roughly equivalent to the tip of a ballpoint pen. Whilst this tiny amount of mercury is unlikely to be dangerous, the group was determined to ensure that people did know of the risks and handled CFLs with care. In particular, they wanted to ensure that, as part of the program, residents were informed about safe ways of cleaning up broken CFLs and safe transport of CFLs.

Resource recovery All types of spent lights have a number of useful chemicals and resources that can be recovered and reused. Of the 50 to 70 million fluorescent tubes and high intensity discharge lamps disposed of by Australians each year, less than one per cent is recycled. Glass, aluminium and chemicals (including mercury) from these lights can be separated, recovered and reused in new or recycled products. At the time of the Environmental Ambassadors program, the closest lighting recycling service was located in Heidelberg. As this service is located over 50 kilometres from Hobsons Bay, it is not well used by Hobsons Bay residents. The Lighting Recycling Group was keen to ensure that residents of Hobsons Bay had easy access to lighting recycling services, thereby reducing the environmental footprint of the municipality.

The solution The Lighting Recycling Group recognised that resources required for setting up and maintaining a lighting recycling program already existed within Hobsons Bay, but just needed to be coordinated to form an accessible system for residents.

lighting, exterior + interior

•

compact fluorescent lights (CFLs);

•

standard incandescent light globes;

•

traditional straight fluorescents;

•

circular, U-shaped and coated fluorescents;

35 per cent of residents surveyed purchase their lighting from Bunnings Altona, making it a convenient location to host a lighting recycling disposal receptacle;

•

high-pressure mercury vapour lamps;

•

high-pressure sodium vapour lamps;

•

metal halide, ultraviolet and voltaic arc lamps; and

Chemsal Pty Ltd, based in Laverton North, already recycle spent lighting (including CFLs) from commercial, industrial and residential sources as part of their core business; and

•

dichroic lamps (e.g. down lights).

As a result of research and community consultation, the Lighting Recycling Group discovered that: •

•

98 per cent of Hobsons Bay’s residents said they would use a lighting recycling service if it was available in the municipality;

Bunnings Altona and Chemsal Pty Ltd were interested in partnering in a lighting recycling program for Hobsons Bay residents.

Hobsons Bay Lighting Recycling Pilot Program The Lighting Recycling Group put a funding proposal to the council, asking them to support their Environmental Ambassadors through providing funding for a four-month lighting recycling pilot program. The proposal was accepted and a partnership between Bunnings Altona, Chemsal Pty Ltd and Hobsons Bay City Council was forged. A pilot program began operating in February 2010. Over 12 months later, the pilot has been deemed so successful that the lighting recycling program has been extended until June 2011. The scheme will be reviewed with a view to putting a permanent service in place. Under the program, lighting recycling facilities can be found at Bunnings Altona, 290-298 Millers Road, and Chemsal Pty Ltd, 83 Doherty’s Road, Laverton North. The following lighting is currently accepted for recycling:

Lights deposited at Bunnings Altona are taken to Chemsal Pty Ltd and fed into a compact crusher processor that separates the glass, aluminium and chemicals (including mercury). Then: •

The crushed glass is recovered for re-use in glass products;

•

The machine captures the hazardous component phosphor, which contains mercury, which is separated for reprocessing; and

•

The aluminium is recovered for re-use in new products.

Results to date Well done to Hobsons Bay residents who helped recycle over 160 kilograms of spent lighting through the Lighting Recycling Program since February 2010. This represents a significant recovery of useful chemicals and resources, which would otherwise have ended up in landfill. A big congratulations to the Hobsons Bay Environmental Ambassadors who led the setting up of this service – they truly have become leaders for sustainability in the community! the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 • 129

equipment + machinery

New Holland

ew Holland Government and Commercial customers can count on the widest offering of innovative products and services: a full line of equipment, complemented by tailored financial services from a specialist in the field. A highly professional dealer network and New Holland’s commitment to excellence guarantees the ultimate customer experience for every customer. Our BoomerTM range of Compact tractors, up to 60 HP, offer exceptional power, manoeuvrability and operating ease, making it the ultimate tool for landscapers, golf courses and municipalities. Series TT 55 and 75 HP ROPS tractor, in two and four wheel drive, are a one specification product range with simple, efficient drivelines and minimal electrics. This ensures that the Series TT is easy to maintain and achieves low running costs. New Holland TDD Plus Series tractors match great looks with class leading ergonomics, low noise, excellent comfort, brilliant service access and superb all-round visibility, along with simple operation and a specification to meet diverse customer needs. With HPs ranging from 60 to 95 HP, they are available in both Cab and Rops, and 2WD and 4WD. T4000 Utility Tractors, from 78 H.P. to 97 H.P. come in both ROPS and Cab versions. They bring with them greater levels of comfort, economy, performance and productivity. They feature an impressive specification list including 4 cylinder, turbocharged & intercooled engines, reduced noise and vibration levels, and new design New Holland front axles with higher load carrying capacity, in a compact package New Holland T5000 tractors combine proven engineering with the most up to date engines yet offered in this category of tractor, with 4 horsepower offerings, from to 106 hp, the T5000 offers a balance between proven design and modern technology. T6000 series tractors, from 101 to 141 Engine HP, are available in three levels of specification.The new entry level T6000 LS model range from 101 HP to 141 HP provides a new industry benchmark, ideal for front end loader applications and general operations. The T6000 Plus tractor is the all purpose, all rounder, • the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 X130 • the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012

providing a feature packed model line-up with lower operating costs. With all the features found in the LS series, plus further enhancements such as cab suspension, upgraded instrumentation, TerralockTM and automatic four wheel drive engagement. The high performance T6000 ELITE model range features New Holland’s Common Rail fuel injection and Engine Power Management system and provides unmatched levels of performance for any application. In all New Holland tractors, operator comfort remains a key design priority. Controls are ergonomically positioned, colour coded and grouped to maximise productivity, giving operators familiar surroundings and continuity between the various models. Our G6000 Out front mowers are purpose built for demanding contract, highway and municipal applications. G6000 commercial mowers match tough build and low whole life operating costs with the very best comfort and safety features. With great visibility, brilliant traction and outstanding manoeuvrability, G6000 mowers are the first choice for professionals. Our RustlerTM Utility Vehicles combine rugged construction and gritty performance with an ultra smooth ride and feel good amenities. With three 4WD models, available in two or four passenger versions, with choice of either petrol or diesel engine, there is a RustlerTM Utility vehicle ready for you. For more information on New Holland visit www.newholland.com

COUNT ON NEW HOLLAND WITH THE RANGE AND VERSATILITY TO SUIT YOUR APPLICATION New Holland has a range of tractors designed with the commercial and groundscare professional in mind. With compact tractors, through to large horsepower articulated models, out front mowers, and utility vehicles, whatever your needs New Holland has you covered. With a highly professional dealer network and New Hollandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commitment to excellence we guarantee the ultimate customer experience every time. For more information or to find your nearest New Holland dealer visit www.newholland.com

www.newholland.com

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Own a bright future

equipment + machinery

The environmental

balancing act

By Kenneth Thompson Australasian Fleet Managers Association

eing ‘environmentally friendly’ is a common catch phrase, but how to go about achieving this from a fleet perspective without it costing the organisation is one of the big questions of today. The problem associated with vehicle emissions has been well researched and understood. However, identifying the best approach in addressing this issue presents several challenges to what is perhaps one of the most defining issues for the future. The Bureau of Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) estimates that ‘in the year 2000, motor vehiclerelated ambient air pollution accounted for between 900 and 4500 morbidity cases – cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and bronchitis – and between 900 and 2000 early deaths’ (Working Paper 63: Health Impacts of Transport Emissions in Australia: Economic Costs, p. ix). Several solutions have been proffered as to the answer for this issue; however, these do not help the fleet manager who has to balance the cost against risk to the organisation. With the introduction of the all-electric vehicle (EV),

AfMA sees a blurring of the conventional boundaries used in defining vehicle emissions. Traditionally, the fuel used in providing the motive power, usually hydrocarbon based, is included in this calculation, but the availability of hybrid vehicles and EVs has challenged the convention. Where electricity is generated by burning coal, particularly brown coal, any advantage an EV might have over a petrol, diesel or LPG vehicle can quickly disappear. There has been difficulty in determining power station emissions directly associated with the electricity generation process required to charge an EV’s battery. Researchers from the Swiss organisation EMPA published an article in August 2010 entitled ‘The Ecobalance of Li-ion rechargeable batteries for electric cars’. When applying the EMPA findings to an Australian context, taking the average emissions per kilowatt associated with power generation on a state-by-state basis and comparing that with the emissions by fuel type, the indication is that there is no emission reduction advantage with the adoption of EVs other than in Tasmania and the Northern Territory (see tables 1 and 2 below).

Table 1: Australian power stations average emissions by state State

TAS

QLD

NSW/ACT

VIC

Emissions produced*

0.13

0.79

0.98

1.04

1.06

1.31

*Department of Climate Change estimate’s CO2-e/kWh. Information source Table 39 in National Greenhouse Accounts (NGA) Factors – November 2008 at http://www.climatechange.gov.au/workbook/index.html

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equipment + machinery

Whatever path is chosen, it could all change instantly depending on what carbon emissions charge is levied, or if any subsidies become available for EVs. Even if all the issues identified were overcome the likelihood that a new paradigm could be sustained were EVs to take a sizable market share is in doubt.

The challenge for fleet managers is to develop a fleet management strategy that balances reducing emissions with the need for fit-for-purpose vehicles and whole-of-life cost considerations.

Currently EVs struggle to be environmentally efficient due to the level of power station emissions. A value for money analysis also shows a less than favourable result due to purchase price premium over an equivalent conventionally fuelled vehicle. The potential introduction of a carbon tax will also have a negative impact, and residual values for EVs are an unknown at this stage.

Table 2: Emissions comparison: Power generation v conventional fuels State

Tas

QLD

NSW/ ACT

VIC

Power generation emissions*

0.13

0.79

0.98

1.04

1.06

1.31

0.562

Mitsubishi i-MiEV @ 16 kWh

2.08

12.64

15.68

16.64

16.96

20.96

8.99

Nissan Leaf @ 24kWh

3.12

18.96

23.52

24.96

25.44

31.44

13.49

Petrol @ 11lt/100km

24.58

Petrol @ 9lt/100km

20.00

Petrol @ 8lt/100km

18.00

LPG @ 15lt/100km (gas injection)

23.00

LPG @ 11lt/100km (liquid injection)

17.00

Diesel @ 8lt/100km

21.31

Diesel @ 6lt/100km

15.98

Diesel @ 4lt/100km

11.00

#Empa study @ 17kWh European

2.21

13.43

16.66

17.68

18.02

22.27

9.55

All electric vehicles

Other Fuels

*Department of Climate Change estimates Kg CO2-e/kWh for Australian states. Information source Table 39 in National Greenhouse Accounts (NGA) Factors â&#x20AC;&#x201C; November 2008 at http://www.climatechange.gov.au/workbook/index.html #EMPA study based on a European vehicle with a 17kWh battery capacity.

Petroleum-based fuels also present challenges, as supply and demand pressures are likely to force price increases. Current market conditions could change overnight with supply-side restrictions due to instability in oil producing regions. Australia has a capability in gaseous fuels, whether natural gas, coal gas or LPG mixtures with existing refuelling infrastructure in place for LPG. However, there is a purchase cost premium and it is uncertain if the petrol/ diesel/LPG price differential will remain at its current level. The choices facing the industry are difficult and varied and are subject to almost instant change driven by world events and the availability of oil, as well as attitudes and actions of government at both a state and federal level. The challenge for fleet managers is to develop a fleet

management strategy that balances reducing emissions with the need for fit-for-purpose vehicles and whole-oflife cost considerations. All options should be considered at face value without being caught up in the rush for new technology or the latest trends. True strategic management requires in-depth analysis and comprehensive scenario planning to ensure that you reach your desired outcome. The Australasian Fleet Managers Association (AfMA) is a not-for-profit association for fleet managers, those professionals who manage vehicle fleets within organisations. Our 550plus members with over 800,000 vehicles under their control are represented across all levels of government and the private sector. For more information, visit www.afma.net.au

the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 â&#x20AC;˘ 133

equipment + machinery

ASC Dulevo

ello and welcome to the interesting world of Dulevo Street sweepers. Dulevo is an ancient Greek word that means ‘Work’. Dulevo International is a global company with factory interests in Australia, Italy, France, Mexico and India. Its sweepers are widely used in the arid environments of the Middle East as well as most wet parts of the western world. As a global brand Dulevo is internationally recognised for quality and longevity. Dulevo as a company was founded some 40 years ago with a specific task of producing the world’s best and cleanest sweepers. It employs some of the best European engineers and assemblers whose lives are devoted to producing the finest sweepers known to mankind. Today the Dulevo Group has an annual turnover of €1.4 billion euros making it the largest privately owned sweeper company in the world. Dulevo machines have been sold in Australia for some 24 years in the industrial market but recently the board of Dulevo International set up a joint venture operation with ASC (Australian Sweeper Company - www.sweeper.com.au ) to really shake up the municipal market by offering real value, product difference and machines that are designed and proven to work in arid and dusty environments. Dulevo’s first move was to purchase a company owned warehouse in Melbourne to store the parts and quick moving stock. An initial investment of $4.5 million was invested on day one. 134 • the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 X • the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012

From that initial investment Dulevo has now extended its reach and has branches in Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast and Perth offering the Dulevo line of products. The Dulevo model is about providing the best machines available on the world market and guarantees its after sales back up. Like a Caterpillar Earthmover, when you invest a whole lot of money in great engineered equipment, you need to be able to speak to a human being that can isolate problems over the phone and ship parts that day. We modelled a business in Australia that is standard in 70 European cities which allows the end user to be sure they can source quality back up and support backed by the factory. ASC Dulevo Australia today markets industrial and municipal sweepers, scrubbers and street flushers. Please see attached some photos which show the type of machines we manufacture and sell in Australia. Please feel free to ask for a free demonstration & visit www.dulevo.com.au and allow your council to feel, see and smell the world’s most durable sweepers in action. We are sure you will see how a great piece of Dulevo engineered machinery will not only reduce your existing running cost but clean your city in twice the speed you are used to and eliminate the headaches you currently face justifying why your existing fleet of sweepers cost so much to run and maintain.

equipment + machinery

ASC Dulevo

SC Dulevo has many world firsts that are now available to Australian municipalities. Gore Filters. It is hard to believe that in this day and age a conventional (NEW) street sweeper discharges up to 2 tonnes of airborne dust per annum making the process of cleaning a city an environmental nightmare. A motorist driving past most sweepers in use today will see airborne dust being thrown into the air like a chimney. Not only is this unsafe it is dangerous. So what can Dulevo do that’s different? Well, we can reduce 2 tonnes of airborne dust down to 320 grams (that’s right, 1 margarine tub of airborne dust per annum). The trick to delivering the world’s best dust control is to work with the world’s biggest dust control company and invest millions of dollars in research and development to achieve this. After 5 years of work, we managed the impossible. Clean technology, PM10 dust control, a universal standard now set by the EPA globally as to meet dust emission targets. Blue Scope Steel at Port Kembla (Running 4 x Dulevo 5000 sweepers 75 km per day 7 days a week) was the first organisation in Australia to experience this at a time when residents were demanding a cleaner city. By investing in a Dulevo

with Gore filters you can now get dust control that all other manufacturers are at least 20 years away from. At ASC Dulevo, we believe residents and motorists should get their cities and streets cleaned without the implications of spreading dust and harmful contaminants into the environment. Ask for a Dulevo presentation and see how you can benefit. Speed... We are all told to slow down and reduce speed. At Dulevo we think the opposite. A conventional suction street sweeper sweeps at 4 km per hour. They are slow, noisy, and hit and miss as to what they pick up. At Dulevo, the Model Dulevo 5000 can sweeper at 25 km per hours (5 times faster) with 100% pick up of all dust, sand and stones in one pass. Please ask for a demonstration or presentation to understand how this will save your municipality money, time, labour and reduce capital expenditure as 1 machine can now do what 4 existing machines are doing. Check out www.dulevo.com.au or free call 1800 769 905. Dulevo: very little noise, zero dust emission, versatile, practical and simple to maintain and operate.

australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 •X thethe australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 • 135

Got Dirt, Dust & Rubbish? Whatever it is, ASC Dulevo industrial line of machines has your State Government & Local Council covered! ASC Dulevo has grown to establish itself as Australia’s premier industrial sweeper and scrubber company, offering top quality industrial sweepers and scrubbers.

today, more than ever, rubbish removal, dust free and clean environments are essential.

ASC Dulevo, more than any other company in Australia & New Zealand, can deliver this in every As a company ASC Dulevo brings to Australia Industrial market sector with better products and the best sweeper and scrubber technologies solutions making every choice a safe and wise investment. Whatever the type of dirt, ASC Dulevo’s available on the global market. As used by multiple Australian councils throughout Australia, industrial line of machines can meet your needs.

Australia Wide Free Call: 1800 769 905

www.dulevo.com.au 136 • the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012

ASC Dulev o stree t sweepe rs are keeping Australia clean! Public Areas cleaning Urban Area cleaning Car Park cleaning Roads and Pathways cleaning

ASC

DULEVO

850

The ASC Dulevo 850 combines great sweeping capacity with ease of manoeuvrability and is the ideal solution for city centres and areas beyond the reach of traditional sweepers: pathways, stations, cycle lanes, pedestrian areas, parking, gardens etc.

ASC

DULEVO

200

The ASC Dulevo 200 is one of the world’s QUATTRO first medium-sized street sweepers to offer a unique combination of compact mechanical & suction technologies. Unmatched sweeping, 100% dust control & maximum productivity, combined with low operating costs.

ASC Dulevo street cleaning equipment offers a wide range of machines for rapid, silent, dust free cleaning performances always considering the environment.

ASC 2000 DULEVO

The brand new ASC Dulevo 2000 features both innovative and efficient features which include resourcefulness, versatility and a compact nature. Its ideally suited for the sweeping of congested areas, difficult pedestrian and parking areas.

ASC 5000 DULEVO

The world’s only industrial, street sweeper and leaf sucker, capable of combining manoeuvrability, economy, and serviceability, with a superior sweeping performance. Delivering 100% dust control, maximum productivity & low operating costs.

Australia Wide Free Call: 1800 769 905

www.dulevo.com.au

the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 • 137

equipment + machinery

Green purchasing By Stacey Skurnik, VECCI Sustainability Services What makes a product green? Every product or service your organisation purchases impacts our environment in some way. Because of this, green purchasing is one of the most effective ways your organisation can reduce its environmental footprint and enhance its green credentials.

Other certifications to look out for are: Good Environmental Choice Australia label ISO14001 certified, Energy Rating label, Energy Star label, Planet Ark endorsed, Blue Angel label, ECO-Buy listed, Eco Specifier listed.

Made from recycled materials, reused, or reduced

While there are vast arrays of standards and processes that can determine what an environmentally friendly or ‘green’ product is, a simple approach can be taken. In general, green products have higher environmental standards compared with alternatives that perform the same function.

Products made with recycled content have been through a full life cycle and could be in their second or third life cycle. Recycled products are a more environmentally friendly option because less carbon emissions are used to produce an entirely new product, and it means products at the end of their lifecycle do not end up in landfill.

There are two important environmental aspects that make a green product – its function and its creation. Function means a green product has a reduced/low/ zero negative environmental impact when being used; for example, a green reusable shopping bag, compared with a plastic shopping bag.

Reused products are products that can be used for another purpose once they have fulfilled their initial purpose.

Creation means a green product has been manufactured in a way that has a reduced/low/zero negative environmental impact; for example, paper created with an energy efficient rated machine versus a less efficient model. There are a few elements that can make a product green; in general they are:

Sourced responsibly Products sourced from responsible and sustainably managed sources are a more environmentally friendly product option. You can verify the source of a product with certifications such as the Forest Stewardship Council logo (FSC). The FSC certification provides a credible link between responsible production and consumption of forest products such as paper. Similarly, products that carry the Fairtrade logo support better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world.

Carry a third party verification or endorsement Australia is one of the few countries with a developed organic sector that does not have a national organic logo/ mark. But there is an Australian Standard for Organic and Biodynamic Products, and products can be certified organic through a range of bodies.

138 • the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012

Reduced goods are products with little or no packaging like concentrates or refills. They also include items that can be repaired or reused.

Made locally Locally sourced products have a lower transportation carbon footprint than products sourced from overseas. Purchasing locally sourced products also supports local industry and encourages local economic growth.

Creating your green purchasing action plan Creating and implementing a green purchasing action plan is the first step to help you change your purchasing decisions and generate green purchasing policies, and it’s simple. A green purchasing policy outlines your organisation’s commitment to reducing the environmental impacts of its operations through the products and services it purchases. A green purchasing policy provides a purchasing framework that will advance the sustainable use of resources and serve as a communication tool to contractors and the community. When writing your green purchasing policy, ensure that it: •

is specific to your business’s activities;

•

is succinct and easy to understand;

•

is practical and achievable;

•

is developed jointly by management and staff, in particular any staff that handle purchasing; and

•

is reviewed and revised regularly.

equipment + machinery Green purchasing policies often include sections on: •

purpose of policy;

•

purchasing goals;

•

value for money;

•

local purchasing;

•

roles and responsibilities; and

•

definitions.

Once you’ve got your policy together, ensure that purchasing staff are appropriately trained in regards to what makes a product environmentally friendly. You can also provide examples of typical questions purchasers should be asking suppliers. Other things to consider when communicating your green purchasing policy are: •

sharing it with all staff (e.g. presenting the policy at a staff meeting, including it in staff induction training);

•

communicating the policy to your contractors and suppliers;

•

creating a questionnaire for potential suppliers to complete, answering key questions on their environmental impacts and management; and

•

making it available to customers, stakeholders and the public.

How to manage your waste, energy and water through purchasing systems Organisations that purchase green products recognise that it is about taking a long-term perspective of their business. Purchasing green products can help to manage your environmental and financial costs associated with waste, water and energy outputs. Green products are generally reusable and their product lifecycle will be longer than conventional alternatives. Therefore, purchasing green products will keep unnecessary waste out of your landfill bins, reducing your environmental impact and saving you money in collection fees. Green electrical products are designed to be more energy efficient, they use less electricity in operation and will therefore lower your overall energy consumption. This will in turn reduce your carbon footprint and your power bills. Similarly, green water products such as water tanks, flow restrictors and waterless urinals are designed to control and reduce water consumption. There are many benefits to purchasing green products, and although they are typically a little more expensive than conventional products, they are increasingly becoming the preferred choice, which means increased demand and decreased price. The key is to remember that every time

you choose to buy a green product, you are helping to lower the overall cost.

How to gain a competitive advantage through sustainability Starting a green purchasing action plan is a great first step to becoming more sustainable. Once this is implemented into the workplace, your organisation can begin to reap the benefits of running a sustainable business. By becoming a sustainable organisation you will: •

save money;

•

reduce your carbon footprint;

•

increase profitability and market share;

•

be ready for a carbon curbed future;

•

attract and retain staff, and increase staff satisfaction;

•

reduce resource usage – waste, energy and water; and

•

increase attractiveness for loans/tenders/sponsors/ supporters/customers.

The following are some resources that will help your organisation to implement green purchasing. Green purchasing resources Resource

How they can help you

Reference

Buy Recycled Business Alliance

Directory for buying 100 per cent recycled content products

www.brba.com.au

ECO-Buy

Directory and information on green products and services

www.ecobuy.org.au

Green Pages Australia

Eco directory that enables you to search by postcode, local council or suburb

www. greenpagesaustralia. com.au

Sustainable Living Directory

Find businesses that have demonstrated their commitment and contribution to environmental and social responsibility

www.slf.org.au/directory

Greenpeace Good Wood Guide

Make an informed and environmentally responsible decision when buying wood and wood products

www.goodwoodguide. org.au

Recommended Environmentally Accountable Paper (REAP) Guide

A guide to assist you in deciding which type of paper product to purchase

www.green.net.au/srd/ reap.htm

Ethical Consumer Guide

A guide that gives you the lowdown on the environmental and social record of companies behind common brand names.

www.ethical.org.au

VECCI (Victorian Employers’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry) Sustainability Services has developed a range of programs, products and services to help businesses understand the key issues and respond to the challenges of climate change. VECCI’s sustainability programs, run in partnership with Victorian government agencies, are designed specifically to assist businesses to reduce their emissions and increase efficiency and productivity. For more information please contact sustainability@vecci.org.au or visit www.vecci.org.au/sustainability. the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 • 139

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the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 â&#x20AC;˘ 141

regional development

Natural disaster and community recovery By Jo Mason and Hannah Jakab, Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal

Local government plays a crucial role in the recovery of communities affected by natural disasters, particularly in rural and regional areas where there is limited access to services, information and established service providers.

n recent years there have been a number of major international and national natural disasters. This has created a wealth of information regarding the effective role that local governments can play, and the strengths they can bring to a recovery process. Between September 2010 and February 2011, rural and regional Australia experienced a number of significant natural disaster events including flooding, flash flooding, severe storms, cyclone and bushfires. Communities in five states across Australia have experienced significant damage to property and infrastructure and, in some instances, tragic loss of life. The scale and geographical spread of affected communities creates a unique set of challenges, as well as the specific issues around government responses, natural disaster category classification and proposed responses from the not-for-profit and corporate sectors.

Collaboration, not consultation State and federal government agencies, the media, charitable institutions and service providers rely on input from local government, particularly during the immediate relief phase of a natural disaster. This provides local governments with a unique opportunity to implement collaborative relationships with existing and emerging community leaders and groups that will assist in the development of capacity of these communities to deal effectively with the medium- to long-term recovery issues. Many councils have established relationships with active community groups through a Community Grants Program. Some offer leadership courses, assist with committees of management, or have established community advisory groups on key local issues. During a natural disaster, it is often these groups that the rest of the community will turn to for assistance, guidance and leadership. Local councils can encourage and support this process by providing these key people with an accessible engagement and communication process, and by inviting them to work collaboratively in the recovery process. Having an existing relationship with community groups prior to a natural disaster allows councils to implement a disaster response rather than build relationships in a crisis environment.

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regional development

Through using existing structures and groups in developing community recovery committees, council is formally recognising and supporting the work of these groups that are already active in the community. There are a number of real benefits to Council in engaging in a collaborative partnership with established community groups rather than creating an additional layer of consultation: 1. Community ownership – Community groups involved in a collaborative process are more likely to have a sense of ownership and responsibility for a project, which will ensure their commitment beyond the initial recovery period. 2. Community leadership – Using and supporting existing structures will encourage the development of existing leaders and encourage emerging leaders to participate. Council will receive information on recovery issues and project implementation directly from community members, resulting in a more representative process. 3. Leadership fatigue – Relying on a small number of leaders can result in fatigue. Collaborating with a wider pool of community groups gives greater advocacy to a more diverse range of groups and needs, and will reduce the burden on the key community leaders. 4. Development, implementation and monitoring of recovery projects can be conducted in partnership with key community groups and stakeholders, reducing the risks of project or financial difficulties.

Communicating a message – recovery takes time The most significant role that local government can play is to communicate and advocate, on behalf of communities, that the recovery will be a long-term process. Natural disasters invoke an emotional response from charitable institutions, philanthropy, individuals and corporates, which often results in a need to contribute immediately towards reconstruction activities. Donors, government agencies and the media place a great deal of pressure on local governments and community groups to ‘rebuild’, and great expectations are often placed on volunteer community groups in smaller communities to create plans, attend consultations and develop project concepts within the early phase of the recovery process. There is a widely held misconception that physical construction represents community recovery, however social cohesion and community wellbeing are far stronger indications of resilience and capacity in communities. Inappropriate infrastructure can undermine the recovery process by causing division within community groups and an increased and unplanned financial burden. Replacement of a weatherboard community hall with a larger brick structure appears on face value to have merit; however, there are additional maintenance and running costs associated with these buildings that small volunteer-based committees of management will struggle to meet, particularly with a decreased fundraising capacity due to the economic impact of the disaster. Genuine community engagement on this issue may also reveal that

the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 • 143

regional development

When people are particularly attached to a place and that place is destroyed, they experience prolonged loss and distress.

the population is likely to age, and will require alternative outlets for social activities that the building will need to accommodate. These issues are often overlooked when artificial timeframes are placed on a planning process. The timing for this process, whilst necessary, needs to be driven by the community, not by funding requirements, political or media pressure. Local councils can advocate to these agencies on behalf of their communities that planning needs to be conducted appropriately.

Flexible, adaptable and accessible funding Beyond the immediate relief period, the community recovery period may span up to 10 years, and may also have long-lasting economic, social, psychosocial and environmental impacts. Recovery project funding needs to be able to meet a diverse range of needs and must to be accessible to community groups. Local council can ensure that the process of project funding in response to a disaster is appropriate. 1. Funding program guidelines need to be simple, non-bureaucratic and inclusive. Rural and regional communities struggle with access to IT infrastructure, and government grant applications are often lengthy and repetitive, making it difficult for small volunteer-based committees to demonstrate the strengths and potential outcomes for their projects. 2. Assessment processes need to be efficient and responsive, and grant agreement and reporting requirements kept to a minimum in recognition of the additional burdens on volunteer committees involved in recovery work.

5. Infrastructure and capital works are integrally linked to issues such as mental health, environment and wellbeing in a recovery situation. 6. The arts and art therapy play an important role in the psycho-social recovery process, particularly with children. Emphasis should be placed on funding arts projects, and engagement with local artists and groups should be encouraged.

‘Acute’ volunteer fatigue Volunteering is usually perceived as a social and communal activity that enhances social capital, strengthens the community and helps to deliver services that otherwise would have been more expensive or underprovided. Research has shown that actively engaging residents in efforts to improve their communities is associated with increased feelings of self-efficacy and empowerment. Many of the volunteers involved in community recovery are involved due to necessity, and not through traditional volunteering motives. Instead of choosing to be involved in a community project that makes use of individuals’ existing skills, many volunteers are attempting to gain the necessary skills and knowledge as they work in unfamiliar fields. When people are particularly attached to a place and that place is destroyed, they experience prolonged loss and distress. The experience of a trauma can result in a wide range of psycho-social and psychiatric disturbances, including depression, anxiety, substance abuse, personality disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The majority of communities in rural and regional areas have small populations and limited resources to manage

3. Recovery projects are likely to vary in scope and direction over a period of time, as the community grows and progresses. Funding processes need to be able to adapt to project variations and enhancements in a practical manner, encouraging recipients to link their project with other activities or extend its application, rather than view a variation as a negative process. 4. Guidelines may need to be adjusted and regularly reviewed in partnership with community groups to ensure that they reflect the changing needs as the communities grow through the recovery process.

144 • the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012

A new command vehicle at Glenburn CFA, funded by FRRR

regional development

CASE STUDIES: From FRRR’s Repair, Restore, Renew (RRR) Victorian 2009 Bushfire Grants Program 1) Landcare groups protect and restore bushfire affected environment the mammoth task of rebuilding and reshaping their communities, as well as rebuilding their own lives and homes. Only a small number of people are capable or willing to be involved in volunteering. Many volunteers do not seek a leadership role, but in order to achieve community goals it is critical that they engage with the recovery process, assuming an active leadership or participatory role. ‘Acute’ volunteer fatigue refers to the combined impact of the issues outlined, as well as the issues that individual community members struggle with, such as the ongoing grief, loss and stigma associated with the disaster. This fatigue is not consistent with traditional definitions of volunteering, but is indicative of the long-term impact of a natural disaster on the mental health and wellbeing of community groups and individuals that still have several years of reconstruction and recovery ahead of them. The task that the volunteers are often attempting to accomplish is immense and complicated, and beyond the ability of many of the individuals. In addition, it is unreasonable to expect that volunteers can sustain the level of effort into the long term without support and assistance. Local councils can play an important role in addressing the issue of volunteer fatigue through advocating to state government and allocating council funds for additional community development resourcing, and the provision of a support network for volunteers through paid coordinators and the availability of skills and development training.

Landcare groups in bushfire affected regions support a range of environmental and landscape repairwork, including assisting with the care and rehabilitation of wildlife and habitat, weed control programs in fire-affected areas, planting sterile rye grass in agricultural soils at risk of erosion, fencing around significant vegetation and aquatic sites, and erosion control work on stream banks and around wetlands. The Black Saturday bushfires have had a detrimental effect on certain native species that were becoming rare before their environment was destroyed. Landcare groups are involved in collecting seed, replanting, documenting remaining specimens, and surveying and monitoring. Landcare groups are strongly connected to their communities. In some rural bushfire affected areas, Landcare groups are the only established community group involved in bushfire recovery. Landcare projects that have received funding through the RRR program have assisted communities to restore and protect the local environment, and encourage the area to return to its former glory. In turn, Landcare projects have had a positive effect on the mental health of residents, who are able to be part of healing their local area and be included in a social group with a common interest.

2) Men’s Shed programs assist with rebuilding and the prevention and treatment of mental health concerns in the male population. Men’s Sheds are springing up all around Australia, and provide a communal place for men to tinker, as they would in their own home. The shed is a device to promote an active body and an active mind through social interaction and stimulation, enabling men to feel productive and to ward off loneliness and depression. In bushfire affected regions, the creation of a space for local men to meet and have access to tools has had a positive effect on the rebuilding process and mental health concerns. Many locals who wish to be involved in rebuilding their properties are unable to replace the resources they had access to before the fires. Funding tool libraries and Men’s Sheds allows the entire community to access equipment, advice and assistance for individual and community projects. Men’s Sheds in disaster affected regions provide a safe and informal environment where issues can be shared. Men traditionally have difficulties discussing their problems and feelings with others; after a traumatic event such as a natural disaster, there is the danger of individuals suffering long-term mental health issues. Men’s Sheds assist in preventing PTSD symptoms such as depression, anxiety and the instance of suicide.

The authors work on the ‘Repair, Restore, Renew’ Program at FRRR, delivering in bushfire and cyclone affected regions. Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal

114 Williamson Street, Bendigo VIC 3550 Tel: 03 5430 2399 • Email: info@frrr.org.au Web: www.frrr.org.au

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Adbri Masonry

perating from 15 sites throughout Australia, with industry leading experience in manufacturing quality concrete products, Adbri Masonry prides itself in both product innovation and sales service, supplying solutions in: • Pavements: For all residential, commercial and government applications, from streetscapes and roadways to permeable paving systems, Adbri Masonry has a solution to any paving predicament. Adbri Masonry is also Australia’s only producer of the premium Euro® paving range, the designer’s choice for streetscapes and commercial pavements. • Brick and Block: With a wide range of dense or lightweight brick and block products, able to be produced in a variety of colours and finishes, Adbri Masonry’s brick and block range is perfect for use in all walling applications from commercial load bearing basement walls to boundary and dividing walls. Adbri Masonry also produces the popular Versaloc™ mortarless masonry system which allows rapid wall construction with its unique stacking lug system. • Retaining Wall: Choose from a large assortment of landscape and commercial retaining wall products suitable for every application, from heavy duty load bearing projects to small garden edging. • Wall Cladding: Eldorado Stone® manufactured veneers offer a realistic, lightweight and cost effective solution for internal and external walling applications. • Environmental Products: Adbri Masonry produces an assortment of innovative environmental products, from our EcoPave® range,

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designed to better utilise water resources, to Tri-Lock™ used for erosion control. In addition to this full complement of high quality products Adbri Masonry also features: • NATA Accredited laboratory • National transport network • Contracting Services team (an internal design, supply, install and certification division) • State based customer service teams • Experienced in-house engineers who can provide design solutions for commercial projects • Specific Architectural and Engineering consultants • Strong local sales teams • The ability to create customised product solutions specific to individual projects (select products only, minimum quantities and lead times apply) With a superior, versatile product rage as well as

industry leading service, Adbri Masonry has a solution for your next project. Contact Adbri Masonry on 1300 365 565 or visit www.adbrimasonry.com.au

Breathing life into the urban environment

More than just a paver, permeable pavements are the visible starting point to a simple, environmentally effective, water saving system beneath the surface. With constant water restrictions and ever growing urban land development, architects and designers are under increasing pressure to incorporate water management systems that maximise the use of water resources. When an Ecopave® permeable pavement system is installed, a series of drainage holes are formed in the pavement surface. These drainage holes are filled with a small aggregate to allow water to filtrate through the surface layers, minimising stormwater run off, downstream flooding and pollution problems, with the added benefit of reducing the need for costly underground retention systems. Although permeable pavements are an effective structural solution, with obvious environmental

benefits, permeable paving itself does not create a sustainable water management system. Permeable paving together with an appropriate basecourse and sub-base material, is needed for the successful filtration of stormwater for either harvesting, slowing the rate of runoff, or re-introducing runoff into ground water tables. As seen in projects such as Sydney Olympic Park, as well as many other projects big and small across Australia, permeable paving systems are a practical and effective solution to water management issues in Australia. Available in a number of made to order colours and finishes, Adbri Masonry’s Ecopave® permeable pavement system is the inspired solution for permeable paving projects.

Ecotrihex® - 181mm x 88mm x 80mm thick

Need a breath of life in your next project? Call Adbri Masonry on 1300 365 565 or visit www.adbrimasonry.com.au/permeable

Australia’s leading manufacturer of quality concrete building and landscaping products

www.adbrimasonry.com.au

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A Sustainable Solution for Urban Pollution

s more open urban land is developed and redeveloped, there is ever increasing pressure to use stormwater management options that go beyond the conventional practice of collecting storm run-off and draining it off site. Current design practise often seeks to hold and use the rain where it falls, thereby reducing surface run-off and allowing natural drainage patterns to be maintained. With this in mind, Adbri Masonry has created an EcoPave® range which, when used in a permeable paving system, is ideal for retaining or allowing water run off to permeate through to the sub-grade. Moore Park East Event Bus Station An ecological paving system provided several solutions for problems associated with the set-down area for the bus station located in Moore Park, adjacent to the Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Football Stadium and Fox Studios. One of the major challenges for the project came in providing sufficient aeration and moisture to nine heritage listed Hills Weeping Figs. However, utilising the benefits of a permeable paver, Adbri Masonry’s Ecotrihex® paving system provided tree protection and sustainability as well as a durable, yet safe pedestrian surface for large crowd traffic and occasional vehicle loads. The basic design consisted of building up a pavement on top of the existing subgrade after minimal trimming so as to leave the tree roots undisturbed, followed by the addition and

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regional development compaction of several sub base layers, with varying sizes of aggregates, to ensure adequate filtration of water run off. The drainage voids and joints were swept with a 2-5mm crushed aggregate and the pavement compacted until the aggregate in the drainage voids was full to the surface. Aesthetically, the landscape architect selected 9,000 square metres of segmental pavers to give a softer appearance to the large expanse of pavement, combining a honed Ebony coloured Trihex® and the Ecotrihex® paver with a contrasting white aggregate in the drainage voids enhanced this effect. The result is an attractive yet functional pavement. The use of the Ecotrihex® permeable paving system enabled the designers to achieve the environmental requirements for the project with a simple and durable design.

Paving solution to an existing pathway predicament Brisbane City Council contacted Adbri Masonry to discuss permeable paving as a potential solution to damaged pavements, caused by the tree roots of 130 year old Moreton Bay Figs, in the Botanic Gardens. After meeting on site, Adbri Masonry’s Contracting Services team came up with a design to allow water to infiltrate through the pavement layers, into the subgrade and garden beds in an effort to keep the tree roots from coming to the surface in search of water. This project consisted of approximately 250 square metres of Ecotrihex® paving, requiring around 90 tonnes of sub base aggregate and a further 10 tonnes of 7 mm drainage for bedding and jointing of the pavers.

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Sustainable leadership IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT By Andrew Foran, Centre for Sustainability Leadership

Our world needs change

he natural environment that underpins our economic, social and cultural systems, that provides us with the air we breathe, the water we drink and the resources we use in our daily lives, is under threat from myriad impacts. The overarching, big daddy of these is, of course, climate change, but there are many other environmental issues that we face, including biodiversity loss, species extinction, soil erosion and salinity, chemical and toxin build-up in the food chain, air pollution and waste/litter. Every environmental issue is ultimately a local environmental issue, and as the area of our democracy closest to both people and the environment, local government is at the front line of dealing with these environmental impacts and issues, and with implementing change and planning for a more sustainable future. The 2006 Australian State of the Environment report highlights that local government environmental spending far outweighs that of the state and federal governments, and that as well as driving many strategic, long-term environmental policies, especially in the area of land use planning, local governments also make small decisions and actions each day that ‘cumulatively amount to shifts in regional environment and heritage values’. So from land management and rehabilitation, development planning and preserving cultural heritage, to waste collection, recycling and disposal, local government is actively and daily leading a response to the environmental issues we face. There are many examples in the pages of this yearbook that attest to the great work being done or supported by local governments across Australia. However, we need to step it up. We need to both improve and transform the way we do things, to accelerate the improvements we make to existing systems, and at the same time explore the options for significant systems redesign. There are a lot of actual and potential solutions out there, many great and promising ideas to deal with the issues we face, as well as plenty we’re yet to come up with. What’s missing most right now is the leadership to

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breathe life into the ideas we already have, to turn them into action and to get the rest of us involved, and also to make sure that there are spaces and work cultures that allow new ideas and thinking to germinate and flourish. Action only happens when individuals have the courage to become leaders, and sustainability leadership on a much wider and bolder scale is needed, in local government and throughout our society, if we are going to deliver on the opportunity of a more sustainable world.

So what does sustainability leadership look like? At the Centre for Sustainability Leadership (CSL), we prefer to look at leadership not as a characteristic, as something you are, but rather as an action, as something you do. At its simplest, leadership is about seeing a problem and putting your energy into fixing it, about stepping up and

education + training

‘I am a great believer that if you are not happy with a process or an outcome, get involved and help it change, don’t sit on the sideline being a spectator.’

doing something that otherwise wouldn’t have been done, about organising a group of people to achieve a common goal. Traditionally, people have thought of leadership as belonging to those in positions of authority – the boss, the CEO, the captain or the prime minister. Often, those in positions of power are managers rather than leaders. In other words, their job is to protect the status quo, to keep things ticking over, instead of rethinking, reinventing and recreating how we do things. The reality is that plenty of leaders and change makers have no position of formal authority, but what all leaders do have is influence. Think of Ghandi, Eddie Mabo and even Oprah. We give these types of leaders authority, but one that is earned, based on our respect for their work, their views and their practices. Anyone can exercise influence, from any position in any organisation, company or family. We can all exercise individual leadership through our choices as a ratepayer, consumer, investor, voter, commuter, employee, employer, parent, son or daughter. It’s when we don’t consciously exercise these choices that we default our power to others, to organisations or individuals whose values and vision may not align with ours. We also need to recognise that leadership doesn’t just live in grand visions and innovative ideas; that as well as existing in speeches and presentations, and in projects and initiatives, sustainability leadership can be and needs to be present in the discussions at a council depot or library, on Facebook or at the water cooler, around the dinner table or a barbeque. Leadership in the modern world is built around collaboration, communication and innovation, and to really build change, we need to leverage the advantage we have of being part of a bigger, collaborative force through our involvement in the organisations we work or volunteer for, or want to create, and the community we live in. CSL works with a select group of emerging leaders from across all sectors and industries through our annual Fellowship Programs in Sydney and Melbourne, and globally through our online platform Leadership Rewired. Our starting premise is that in order to create change for a sustainable future, instead of getting people in positions of power and influence to care about sustainability, we aim to get people who care into positions of influence.

Emily Boucher, team leader of Environmental Planning, Kingston Council We do this by building their skills, knowledge and networks so they can realise their vision of a more sustainable world, and can better lead and influence change in their workplaces and communities. Emily Boucher, the team leader of Environmental Planning from Kingston Council in Victoria, is a CSL Alumni from 2009. Emily’s experience of the Fellowship program, especially the other participants and their stories and ambition, inspired her to ‘step it up’ and not compromise on the change she wanted to see happen. At the time, Emily was leading a staff behaviour change program at Kingston Council called ‘Our Place’, and she used the CSL fellowship to test ideas in a supportive way, explore her own leadership style, and to learn about practical tools to facilitate such things as visioning, goal setting and project planning. Emily believes that whilst the difference she and others like her make at the local government level can seem small, their impact can be significant – inspiring fellow staff, the community and other local governments to make real and lasting change. She says that ‘no matter how small the change is, if everyone does the same, the impact in immense.’ ‘I am a great believer that if you are not happy with a process or an outcome, get involved and help it change, don’t sit on the sideline being a spectator. ‘Local government has a unique position in the Australian community,’ says Emily. ‘We are the level of government often most accessible to our local community, thus can have significant influence and provide powerful inspiration and direction.’ This sentiment is echoed by Marnie Kikken from Kuring-gai Council in NSW (and also a 2009 CSL alumni), who says because of its closeness to the community, local government ‘is in a unique position to educate and engage local communities through its own activities’. A great example of this is the CEE Change program that Marnie works on, a partnership between Ku-ringgai, Mosman, City of Sydney, Bathurst-Orange-Dubbo, Wyong and Coffs Harbour Councils, and the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage. The program aims to strengthen staff and community education and engagement (CEE)

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in order to improve sustainability outcomes in local government. As part of CEE Change, Ku-ring-gai council has launched the Tanks a Million project, which aims to create a community of practice with the goal of saving a million litres of water per year through increasing the uptake and efficient use of rainwater tanks and other water saving practices. The idea is to get friends, family, neighbours and work colleagues thinking and talking about saving water and energy. The program also pays to put the best ideas into practice with ‘top-up’ rebates to fund the best ideas, and helps with information, calculating water, energy and financial savings, selecting eco-tech for your home, contacting suppliers and accessing funds. There are thousands of local government employees and community members who can imagine a more sustainable future, but aren’t sure how to go about creating it. What’s missing is the support they need to bridge that gap, to build their skills, knowledge and networks (especially for those in rural and regional areas), and the CEE Change program is a practical example that addresses this. Leadership Rewired, the Centre for Sustainability Leadership’s online learning and community platform, is also designed to bridge the idea/action gap, enabling people anywhere to access a practical and proven leadership curriculum. With leadership methodologies, tools and thinking models, video interviews and case studies with sustainability leaders from around Australia and the globe, quizzes, and an ‘I have/I need’ matching service to help get a project or organisation off the ground, it aims to be an online community where people can share ideas, ask questions, collaborate and assist others with their leadership journey.

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Leaders are supposed to possess plenty of skills, from political and social skills, storytelling and public speaking skills, motivational skills, technical skills and management skills. As Emily points out, leadership is about getting involved – it’s something you do more than something you are, and if you don’t have all of the skills you need to succeed, which, let’s face it, is a pretty tall order, then you can always learn them (through resources like CEE Change and Leadership Rewired), or you can find others who have them. In the meantime, focus on stepping up and using the skills, experience and vision that you have right now, and building relationships, communicating and working with others, in order to make a difference in your part of the world. Marnie has some advice for leaders and change makers in local government: •

Be persistent – change happens slowly and over time the wins will become greater and greater;

•

Talk the right language – the benefits of sustainability are not intrinsic to all, so use tangible, practical and, where possible, quantifiable examples; and

•

Develop relationships – with other champions or change agents in your organisation, to support and facilitate a groundswell for change.

Ultimately, sustainability leadership is about relationships, about how we work, live, communicate with and influence others towards a common goal, and local governments and their communities are the most vital and fertile place for this to happen. Andrew Foran, CEO Centre for Sustainability Leadership www.csl.org.au www.rewired.org.au

education + training

New Infrastructure Asset Management Course The Centre for Pavement Engineering Education and the University of Tasmania are offering in 2011 an industry specific eight unit Graduate Diploma in Infrastructure Asset Management.

his course, initiated by the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia (IPWEA) and jointly developed with the Centre for Pavement Engineering Education (CPEE) will respond to the need for a program for engineering and science graduates employed in local government and public works authorities in the emerging discipline of Infrastructure Asset Management. The recent recognition of the long-term lifecycle costs associated with the operation, maintenance and renewal of physical assets has created the need for skills in the management of infrastructure networks such as roads, water supply, drainage and sewerage. State governments have legislation requiring local authorities to

create and implement asset management plans for the physical infrastructure under their control. This will add to the demand for specialists with Infrastructure Asset Management qualifications. The course, which builds on the existing Graduate Certificate in Infrastructure Asset Management, can be studied entirely by distance and will provide graduates with the knowledge and skills to fill senior positions in this specialist field. Applicants for the course must hold a Bachelor degree in Engineering or Science (in an appropriate discipline) or an equivalent qualification. An applicant holding a three year Bachelor degree will be required to have had at least three years relevant work experience.

Education Enhancement Opportunities Graduate Diploma in Infrastructure Asset Management Accredited by the University of Tasmania, this new program has been jointly developed by the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia (IPWEA) and CPEE to meet the need for enhanced technical skills in the field of public works Infrastructure Asset Management

The course has as core units: • Asset Management Fundamentals • Asset Management Practices • Infrastructure Financial Management with a range of electives including • Project Evaluation • Engineering Risk Management • Building Energy Accounting & Management The course will provide today’s Infrastructure Asset Management Specialist with the opportunity to expand their skills and knowledge and to gain recognition with a University postgraduate award.

Infrastructure Asset Management

If you would like to be amongst the first to study this exciting new program contact CPEE on (03) 9890 5155 or at info@pavementeducation.edu.au log on to www.pavementeducation.edu.au

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Arbortrim Training specialise in Short Course Arboricultural Training For 30 years Arbortrim has been the acknowledged leader in provision of approved arboricultural training programs for Council personnel for tree maintenance services, basic to advanced. Refresher Training AINTAINING COMPETENCY. Industry recommends refresher training be undertaken for each unit. Arbortrim currently offers a free Refresher Training Reminder service, that will let companies know when their employees are due for the recommended refresher training. If you’d like to know more, simply contact the office. Arbortrim is unique, in that our qualified and highlyexperienced trainers can come to you, and provide most training ‘on-the-job’. This has proven to be an effective and economically viable way for many Councils to keep their training up to date, whilst keeping their department running. This approach also allows participants to use real life, every day situations which they can relate to. This can often be a very powerful and effective method of training. Our exceptional trainers are DEDICATED & PASSIONATE.

Arbortrim prides itself on having a team of trainers who provide the very best in arboricultural training. Each trainer has years of experience, industry know-how, and is highly qualified in their field. 2 new short courses added: White Card & EWP Training Arbortrim has just added White Card and EWP Training (TLILIC) to scope! Already working with numerous Councils around the country, Arbortrim is able to provide a flexible and responsive training service for all your arboricultural needs. See www.arbortrim.com.au for course schedules

ARBORTRIM Arboriculture Training

SHORT PRUNING COURSE TWO DAYS ONLY

“PRUNE SHRUBS & SMALL TREES”

This course is designed for all personnel engaged in tree pruning, street trees, parks etc including those who supervise these activities so providing participants with the working knowledge & understanding of correct tree pruning practices as per the Australian Standard for Pruning of Amenity Trees AS4373-2007, including industry accepted techniques.

Personnel who require more advanced training such as Pruning in an electrical environment, or above ground pruning via climbing or EWP please contact us for specially designed courses. This course can be booked to occur at your premises when convenient or you may attend the next open course at ours which occur from time-to-time. The next such open pruning course will be 13-15 July 2011 with another late in the year. Arbortrim offer the full range of arboricultural training including Chainsaw & Woodchipper use, Tree Felling, Tree Climbing, Traffic Management, First Aid and more. Tailor made courses for your Council`s special requirements can be designed to suit your particular needs. Also available are full qualification courses from Certificate III – V in Horticulture (Arboriculture). Please visit us at www.arbortrim.com.au for all course content outlines & schedules - or ring Graeme Izzard on 03 9728 6080 TO BOOK NOW.

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education + training

Linking, learning and sharing together how councils can work internally to educate staff on sustainability practices.

By the USSA sustainability training team – Sue Martin, Niki Carey, Rebecca Jones and Grahame Collier from T Issues P/L.

ur Urban Sustainability Support Alliance (USSA) program has been an amazing opportunity, working with keen officers within New South Wales Councils who want to progress the sustainability journey of their council. This article shares some of the tips and advice that we in the USSA sustainability training team can give to other councils as they work to integrate sustainable practices into everyday council policy and practice.

attempting to get everyone in the organisation to own the journey, which is hard and often long.

The USSA program is a New South Wales Environmental Trust funded program that involves developing a sustainability knowledge hub and network. It has also conducted important research, the ‘Barriers and Drivers’ report, which led to the Sustainability Tools Selector guide. We have undertaken professional development for council officers. The program is a support program for officers within council as they work with their communities; these communities include households, businesses, schools and their own internal community within council. The internal community is often a difficult community to work with as it works to influence peers in order to change often entrenched behaviours. Our advice: it is the small steps, working where you are at, finding your champions,

2. Get to know the community you are working with; talk with everyone in the organisation;

The LGSA ‘Towards Sustainable Communities’ project identified eight key steps to planning an effective council sustainability education program to work with communities, i.e. council staff: 1. Know what your council is working towards – work to get support from the top;

3. Decide what you want to achieve and how you will know when you have succeeded; 4. Have a strategy to work with staff – the ‘Plan’; 5. Know your barriers and your hooks; 6. Know your partners and use them – don’t work in isolation; 7. Use the available resources to create a work plan; and 8. Celebrate your achievements – let everyone know what you have done. the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 • 155

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From 2009 until mid 2011, the USSA has carried out ‘Sustainability Training’ workshops with over 40 of the 152 councils in New South Wales. The training was designed as a mechanism to spark action. One key outcome for the USSA training program has been the development of the Sustainability Training Workshop Package, which includes training materials that are available to all councils who wish to work with their community. The impact of the training was qualified by one council as follows:

‘The training has given our sustainability program a significant boost. It would probably take some years to achieve that level of communication and support for sustainability without the training. The key for us now will be to harness the enthusiasm demonstrated at the workshops.’

What is sustainability practice in local government? The USSA program has chosen not to define what sustainability means to each council, but many councils use the Bruntland definition.

Why do councils go on the journey? In New South Wales, the Local Government Act gives a legal imperative to give due consideration to the sustainability pillars (quadruple bottom line) of economic, social and environmental in a governance framework. The USSA program encourages everyone in council from councillors, senior management, administration and operations staff to consider each of the pillars in the decisions they make each day.

The methodology that the USSA used in its training program incorporated education for sustainability principles, which include being as participatory as possible, using multiple ways of working with people, and trying to be locally relevant. One of the most effective ways to engage council officers in training was to use stories from other councils of what had worked. From evaluation of the training program, the outcomes are varied and include: •

• • • •

•

embedding of sustainability into council policy and practice in the councils where training has been undertaken; the identification of key sustainability champions in the organisation; the establishment of sustainability committees in councils; personal commitments to act on ideas generated within the workshop; sharing (often for the first time) across the organisation what their council was doing around sustainability; and reflection and development of sustainability visions and action plans to achieve these.

The training sessions are a great way to build an organisational culture of sustainability, getting an outside person to spread the sustainability vision of the council in a non-threatening atmosphere, allowing some to voice their ideas – some often for the first time. It has been amazing how many people, especially operations staff, have ideas, but nobody has ever asked them.

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Understanding behaviour change theory Working with sustainability teams within council, we have tried to emphasise that behaviour change is difficult, and that getting sustainable practices as normal behaviour takes time. Understanding the Diffusion of Innovation model (Rogers 03) helps to understand adoption rates of new behaviours, and that different programs are needed – one size fits all does not work. Sometimes with laggards the only program that works is the ‘stick’ (fines, legislation changes), but most sustainability officers don’t have authority to fine and tend to use programs that use ‘carrots’. Our advice is: don’t get too caught up with getting the laggards on board, work with the innovators and early adopters first, and get some wins. Burn out happens easily if the sustainability officer has the sole responsibility for the sustainability journey of the council.

SHAPING TOMORROW’S WORLD The Faculty of Science and Information Technology at the University of Newcastle oﬀers cutting edge postgraduate programs relevant to tomorrow’s world. Our degrees provide a foundation of knowledge, skills and attributes that allow graduates to move with the times and contribute actively and responsibly to society. Our programs are taught by highly skilled educators with ‘real world’ practical experience providing you with an exciting and rewarding learning environment.

It’s also about getting the balance between your work, family and study right. To achieve this, our programs are offered 100% online. The result is a level of freedom to tailor a study experience to match your busy lifestyle. Programs currently offered: • Master of Environmental and Business Management • Master of Environmental Management • Master of Science Management To find out more go to www.GradSchool.com.au

Flexible Online Learning “GradSchool gave me the opportunity to upgrade my qualiﬁcations so I could shift careers in line with my evolving interests. It helped integrate a passion for the environment with my existing career without the need for time-oﬀ work” Taariq – Master of Environmental and Business Management

DESIGNED FOR LIFE

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Often council officers are skilled at running community green event programs and can easily run these events internally.

Community-based social marketing theory suggests that embedding a behaviour needs incentives and prompts. Les Robinson talks about some officers just using brochures as a behaviour change tool, and it has been shown that knowledge alone will not change behaviour; a brochure is part but not the entire program. Sometimes it is branding that will make a difference. Have a clear, concise message, like the USSA tag line: ‘Supporting councils in their journey towards sustainability.’

Innovators Early Early Late Laggards Adopters Majority Majority

Sustainability governance Sustainability governance within a council is another consideration; an ultimate goal is to have sustainability practices embedded within each person’s job description and as criteria when employing and when assessing work performance. Sustainability committees within council can be very varied. They can be formal, informal, have a budget, just be advisory and can have endorsed terms of reference. Some sustainability practices that can easily be incorporated into council include staff induction having a sustainability focus, sustainable procurement and events policy (LGSA Sustainable Choice program) used by all, whole of council programs, e.g. Energy Olympics, staff audit kits and resource library, sustainability award programs and fleet management programs (for more information, see USSA ‘10 ways to work internally’). Often council officers are skilled at running community green event programs and can easily run these events internally, e.g. Earth Hour, Water Week, Recycling Week (and many more), focusing on resource efficiency, for example kitchen compost systems – the list is endless. The LGSA hosts an online support for any interested sustainability officer, found at www.sustainablenet.org.au

Diffusion of Innovations model (Rogers 2003)

The most important thing that professionals in sustainability will have to offer in the future is not ready-made solutions. Rather, it is an ability to improvise, adapt, innovate and dream up still more visionary-yet-feasible ideas about how to transform a global civilisation or rescue ecosystems in trouble.

Alan Atkinson in Believing Cassandra.

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finance + business strategy

Australian councils take on Lehmans IN RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT CLASS ACTION By Sarah Clawson, The Responsible Investment Association of Australia Hands up how many of you think the global financial crisis happened because: A. ‘It [was] not the responsibility of the Federal Reserve – nor would it [have been] appropriate – to protect lenders and investors from the consequences of their financial decisions.’ Ben Bernanke B. ‘People are often more willing to act based on little or no data than to use data that is a challenge to assemble.’ Robert J. Schiller C. ‘The whole of the global economy is based on supplying the cravings of two per cent of the world’s population.’ Bill Bryson D. ‘The gap in our economy is between what we have and what we think we ought to have – and that is a moral problem, not an economic one.’ Paul Heyne

hile answers may vary, most people are united in their belief that the global financial crisis (GFC) has changed the investment marketplace forever. For one thing, it has attracted more people to responsible investment. In the 12 months to May 2009, during the height of the GFC, signatories to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment rose by a remarkable 45 per cent to 525. In fact, the GFC, and all that it stood for, has created an exemplary case study in favour of responsible investment. Australian local councils understand this more than most. In March 2011, the Wingecarribee Shire Council, Parkes Shire Council and the City of Swan together led the world’s first class action against former Wall Street giant Lehman Brothers. The case alleges that Lehman Brothers misled councils by investing in collateralised debt obligations (CDOs) creating unnecessary risk for local governments and their investments. Lehman Brothers was the first major bank to collapse during the global financial crisis in September 2008. This had repercussions around the world and has required that investors re-examine their risks and opportunities when it comes to investment policies. While Australia has fared better than most countries throughout the credit crisis, it has still suffered from a loss of trust in the financial services industry. Many investors still feel vulnerable to risky markets and are looking to turn to more responsible investment practices.

Environmental, social and governance issues impact investment strategies Responsible investment describes an investment strategy that seeks to maximise financial return while incorporating environmental, social and corporate governance issues into the investment decision-making process. For example, the effects of climate change, a global population that is growing and ageing rapidly, funding for healthcare, the scarcity of food and water, or the social and environmental practices of companies are all major global issues that companies and investors alike are grappling with, as they know these issues impact company performance and financial returns. Specific environmental, social or governance (ESG) risks previously have not been well appreciated or understood because they have not traditionally appeared on the balance sheet that investment professionals typically look at. That is all changing now. The importance of ESG issues for investment decisionmaking, corporate performance and shareholder value is increasingly well understood. Over 850 of the world’s largest investors controlling assets in excess of US$25 trillion (representing one quarter of the world’s funds under management) have signed on to the United Nations backed Principles of Responsible Investment, which proceeds on the basis that ESG factors must be appropriately considered in investment decisions if fiduciary obligations are to be properly discharged. One only need consider recent world events such as the global financial crisis, the BP oil spill, the Tepco and the Fukushima nuclear crisis, for example, and the ensuing share price destruction, to understand the scale of ESG risks currently faced by investors across asset classes and industry sectors. For example, Mercer, a leading provider of specialist investment advice, has recently forecast that climate change risk requires a 40 per cent reallocation of portfolio assets towards ‘climate sensitive’ investments.

Regulatory frameworks follow lead from responsible investment ESG risks are in no way removed or controlled by government intervention; however, the establishment of robust policy, legislative and regulatory framework to ensure such risks are properly considered is vital.

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finance + business strategy The Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA) is working with policy-makers on a number of issues, including some of the following recommendations: •

That legislation, regulations and policy directives covering fiduciary duties, disclosure and reporting requirements, training and competency standards, governance, transparency, short-termism, financial literacy and engagement measures explicitly incorporate the mandatory consideration of material environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks.

•

That the above mentioned legislative and policy positions be supplemented by consistent regulatory guidance, monitoring and enforcement activities, undertaken by both APRA and ASIC.

•

That listing rules, director duties, disclosure and reporting requirements for companies complement the above mentioned requirements for financial services participants in retail and wholesale markets. This is essential if institutional and retail investors alike (and key advisory intermediaries – analysts, consultants, financial advisors, etc.) are to be provided with the requisite information to properly incorporate ESG risks into the investment decision-making process.

•

That training and competency standards (for retail and wholesale market participants across the financial services industry) necessarily include measures requiring understanding and awareness of ESG issues and how such factors are materially impacting corporate performance, shareholder value, investor attitudes and the deployment of capital. This foresight underpinned the federal government’s decision to establish the RI Academy in 2009. That financial literacy measures actively embrace responsible investment considerations – leading to attitudinal and generational change embedding Australia’s rapid transition to a low carbon economy.

Responsible investment becomes strategy of choice Australia is a world leader in responsible investment, with over 50 per cent of all assets under management signed to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment. This means that many of Australia’s largest institutions have undertaken to introduce responsible investment practices across all of their investment activities. In fact, Australia and New Zealand lead the world in signatory numbers to the Principles for Responsible Investment. Responsible investment has become the preferred approach for an increasing number of institutional and individual investors, and often outperforms other funds. By way of example, the RIAA 2010 Benchmark Report on Responsible Investment in Australia and New Zealand reveals that the average return over the year for responsible

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investment Australian share funds was 15.09 per cent, versus an average return of 11.56 per cent for other Australian share funds. This outperformance trend over longer timeframes is also reflected in responsible investment funds for overseas shares and balanced growth funds.

Australia introduces world-first training in responsible investment Whilst awareness of the importance of incorporating ESG issues into the investment process is growing exponentially, one of the biggest barriers to practical implementation is the availability of quality education and training to promote understanding and analysis of these issues, and how they can be practically integrated into investment decision-making and organisational delivery. This is where the RI Academy comes in. The RI Academy is the world’s first structured learning pathway for financial services, corporate and other professionals needing to understand how ESG issues are impacting investment decision-making, company and shareholder value and ongoing access to investment and capital markets. Born as an Australian Government initiative, the RI Academy is being exported to the world’s financial services and corporate markets. In this regard, the RI Academy has a role to play in assisting jurisdictions implement a new and sustainable financial services architecture, where key market participants embrace investment techniques integrating ESG risks and opportunities. This approach underpinned the establishment of the RI Academy and is now being considered in the design of best practice fiduciary, risk management, training, financial literacy and competency standards currently under international consideration. Two years in the making, the RI Academy started accepting enrolments in January 2011. Early demand is strong and has included asset managers, banks, wealth managers, corporations, credit unions and government agencies. Courses in the RI Academy are delivered entirely online, provide certification on completion and include cutting edge interactive elements, self-testing requirements, theory, case studies and investor tools designed to deliver maximum practical guidance and knowledge retention. Curriculum content has been designed in collaboration with global subject matter experts, specialist research and data providers, think tanks, universities, and in consultation with the Principles for Responsible Investment.

The Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA) is the leading professional membership organisation for responsible investment in Australia and New Zealand. www.responsibleinvestment.org

finance + business strategy

How responsible is your super?

e all want the best returns on our super investment but do you really know how your super fund achieves those returns? Some investments such as forestry or uranium mining may be highly profitable in the short term but they can cause lasting environmental and social damage in the longer term. Responsible investing is all about how you can manage these risks and still achieve strong long-term returns. ESG risks It’s a fact that all investments carry some environmental, social and governance risks, commonly known as ESG risks, and some super funds manage these risks better than others. Some examples of these risks include: • Activities such as uranium mining, old-growth logging and arms production • Excessive executive remuneration • Human rights violations • Long-term depletion of natural resources • Operating in remote and unstable countries • Climate change. Super is a long-term investment and many of these risks can have long-term negative effects. For example, an oil spill can have a devastating impact on business, communities and entire regions for many years after the event. That’s why super funds need a long-term strategy to manage these risks and protect the retirement savings of

their members. Can you be responsible and still achieve strong long-term returns? Yes you can. Strong long-term returns on your super are usually underpinned by a healthy natural environment, strong social cohesion and the good governance of companies in your super fund’s investment portfolio. Most investment analysts agree that climate change is a significant risk. The transition to a low carbon future will have a huge impact on many companies and may very well threaten their long-term viability. On the other hand, companies which develop new cleaner, environmentally sensitive technologies are more likely to grow their market share and increase their returns over the medium to long term. The key is to invest in companies with a sustainable long-term future. So do all super funds practice responsible investing? Some do a little, some don’t, but Local Government Super does the most. The Responsible Investment Association of Australasia recognised Local Government Super as having the largest allocation of responsible investment assets, and our aim is to increase this allocation to $3 billion in 2011. We were also named Sustainable Super Fund of the Year by Ethical Investor magazine in December 2010. To find out more, go to our website at www.lgsuper.com.au.

This article has been prepared by LGSS Pty Limited (ABN 68 078 003 497) (AFSL 383558), as Trustee for Local Government Superannuation Scheme – Pool A (ABN 74 925 979 278) and Pool B (ABN 28 901 371 321) – collectively known as Local Government Super. The information contained in this article is of a general nature only and is not intended to be a substitute for advice. It does not take into account any individual’s or organisation’s investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs. If you require advice that is based on your own personal situation, we recommend you contact an authorised financial advisor. For more information about Local Government Super, contact Member Services on 1300 369 901 or go to www.lgsuper.com.au to obtain a copy of the relevant Product Disclosure Statement pertaining to your membership.

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5.75% p.a. 4.00% p.a. 5.40% p.a. 5.40% p.a. 3.00% p.a. 5.40% p.a. 5.55% p.a.

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1 M ar -1

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mebank.com.au Graph compares the highest quoted rate for a 90 day Term Deposit of $100,000 for each selected group of financial institutions. Rates were effective on 20th of each month listed. The information in the graph has been extracted from information available on each bank’s website. Other financial institutions may offer higher rates on Term Deposits. Every attempt has been made to compare the ME Bank Term Depositgovernment with the most similar product from selected institutions, however the•exact the australian local environment yearbook 2011/2012 163features of these accounts may vary. Terms and conditions are available on request. Fees and charges may apply. This is general information only and you should consider if the ME Bank Term Deposit is appropriate for you. Members Equity Bank Pty Ltd ABN 56 070 887 679.

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waste management + sustainability

AVOIDING THE ‘Brookland Greens’

By Rowan Williams, President, Australian Bioplastics Association

he Victorian Ombudsman’s investigation into methane gas leaks from a former landfill site in suburban Melbourne, Brookland Greens, now a residential estate, highlights the negative outcome of decomposing organics in landfill. Landfill gas, consisting mostly of methane and carbon dioxide, is produced over time as organic matter decomposes. In this particular case, the landfill gas migrated into the newly-constructed residential dwellings in the new estate. The emergency that ensued caused great distress to the homeowners in the area as methane, an explosive gas, was being generated in significant quantities and migrating across the landfill into the residents’ living rooms. This particular case has had negative consequences for both the local council and EPA Victoria as a result of something that was permitted many years before, but the chickens only came home to roost much later. Given that technology and science exists today to stop the deposition of organic waste into landfill, and the market demand from nurserymen to farmers exists for valuable nutrient-rich compost, diverting organics from landfill in the first instance is a much better solution. More details and the outcomes of this very unpleasant scenario are available at www.ombudsman.vic.gov.au. The Australian Government (Department of the 166 • the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012

Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts) produced a National Waste Policy Fact Sheet. From this document we can see that approximately two thirds of all waste landfilled in Australia is organic waste. Organic waste originates from plant or animal sources and examples of organic waste generated by Australian households and industry are food scraps and garden waste. To contextualise the types of resources we are wasting, in 2006-07, approximately 20 million tonnes of organic waste was generated in Australia and an astonishing 62 per cent, or nearly 14 million tonnes, was sent to landfill. If we extrapolate this number out to 2020 at an average growth rate of three per cent per annum, we will be landfilling roughly 20 million tonnes of organics if nothing is done. The potential negative outcome of this practice is highlighted in the case above. An opportunity for local councils to show leadership on organics waste diversion is to put in place, by engagement with their communities, a program for source separation at the household level. A proactive step in the diversion of organic waste from landfill is using biodegradable organic waste bags, certified to AS 4736 – available from many suppliers in Australia – filled with organic waste by residents and deposited into their kerbside collected organic waste bin, returned to composters and then returned as nutrient rich compost to farmers, nurserymen and households.

waste management + sustainability

What is required is the means by which consumers and authorities alike can quickly and easily satisfy themselves that a product meets appropriate standards and complies with the law.

The results of this program can be improved agricultural soils, addressing climate change through carbon sequestration (putting carbon back in the ground where it belongs, as nutrient-rich compost), supporting farmers, reducing the cost of waste overall, reducing waste to landfill, and reducing greenhouse gas generation from decomposing organics left in landfill. Compostable and therefore biodegradable plastics offer reduced system costs for a series of single and/or short-term use applications. For example, organic waste collection, in agriculture and horticulture as mulch films, twine and silage films as well as in food packaging. However, in recent times, more and more companies make claims about their products being green, or biodegradable, however some other terms have crept in that distort the true efficacy of genuine products that can claim and are certified as biodegradable and compostable. What is required is the means by which consumers and authorities alike can quickly and easily satisfy themselves that a product meets appropriate standards and complies with the law. The ACCC has been quick to act on companies that have made misleading or inaccurate claims about their products. Thus it is in everyone’s interest to understand what is meant by claims of biodegradability or compostability. Compostable plastics break down in a defined environment, with known controlled conditions and with no toxic impact to the surrounding environment; hence they are perfect for the collection of organic waste destined for commercial composting. All compostable plastics are biodegradable; however, not all biodegradable plastics are compostable.

Compostable and therefore biodegradable waste bags are an important part of collecting organic waste in the home or in commercial premises, and ensuring the organic waste goes to a composting site to be transformed into valuable compost, rather than be dumped in a hole in the ground that today we readily identify as landfill. Australian Standard 4736-2006 exists to guide manufacturers and suppliers in ensuring that their products can truly claim to be biodegradable or compostable. Biodegradability of the plastics considered by the Australian Standard AS 4736-2006 is defined as ‘the ability of organic substances to be broken down by microorganisms in the presence of oxygen (aerobic) to carbon dioxide, water, biomass and mineral slats or any other elements that are present (mineralisation). Alternatively, the breakdown of organic substances by micro-organisms without the presence of oxygen (anaerobic) to carbon dioxide, methane, water and biomass’. There are products in the marketplace that make claims of being biodegradable and compostable but that may not conform to the AS 4736. In this case, authorities like the ACCC may scrutinise the claims made by the suppliers and hold them to account if the claims cannot be substantiated. The Australasian Bioplastics Association (ABA) can assist in differentiating between what does and what does not conform to the Australian Standards. The ABA represents member companies that are pioneering the development of biodegradable and compostable plastics for a wide range of applications. The ABA administers a certification system that allows the use of the readily identified ‘seedling logo’ on certified companies’ materials and products, such as organic

BEFORE

AFTER

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waste bags. This allows the end user to easily identify products that are certified compostable and biodegradable and can be safely sent to a commercial composting site. This certification is voluntary, and lines up with Australian Standard AS 4736.

for companies wishing to avoid misleading or deemed deceptive conduct when scrutinised by authorities such as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, who regularly publish articles and warnings about green marketing, carbon claims and plastic bag claims.

Once verified that a product or material meets AS 4736, the applicant is invited to use the ‘seedling logo’ as a readily identifiable logo on their product as evidence of the product being compliant to the Australian Standard. This certification system is available to members and nonmembers of the association alike, as it is in our industry’s interests to support all that can substantiate their claims, and avoid misleading claims and unscrupulous operators from tarnishing an emerging and valuable industry.

Many companies have submitted their products and the materials from which the products are made to the ABA administered certification scheme to have their claims of compostability and therefore biodegradability, in conformance with the AS 4736 verified.

The ‘seedling logo’ is the property of European Bioplastics and is used under licence by the Australasian Bioplastics Association. On the other hand, oxodegradable or more correctly oxo-fragmentable polymers do not fragment in compost heaps and do not meet these composting standards. The seedling logo has proven useful

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Products that cannot demonstrably meet these criteria should probably be avoided. Certification to AS 4736 is a sure and simple way for the avoidance of doubt in meeting the required Standard and avoiding potentially misleading conduct, and also getting what you have paid for. Local councils can generate revenue streams from the provision of compost to their ratepayers, and also probably save money in using landfills as composting sites rather than non value-adding activities like landfill.

Rowan Williams, President Australasian Bioplastics Association www.bioplastics.org.au

waste management

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leanway Environmental Services is a total waste management company that specialises in Chemical and Hazardous waste Removal. We currently service a wide range of industries and government agencies. Cleanway can provide services for small amounts of waste generated from Panel Shops, Engineers, and Manufacturing Ect right up to bulk liquid disposal and site cleanups. Cleanway also provides a rapid response service to dumped or damaged waste and can also assist in Chemical spills and Spill prevention equipment including Spill Kits Bunded pallets Chemical storage cabinets and marine booms. Cleanway also provides a free online chemical or Hazardous waste assessment. By simply going to www.cleanway.com.au and clicking on “FREE WASTE ASSESSMENT” you can fill in a small amount of technical information and receive a written quotation. Cleanway is licensed by the Department of Environment

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and Climate and Water (EPA) and will provide waste tracking for waste disposals. Contact Cleanway on www.cleanway.com.au Sydney 02 9820 5144 Melbourne 03 9764 9242

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WASTE

and our organic future By Gerry Gillespie, President, Zero Waste Australia

question in the 2003 ‘Who Cares about the Environment’ social Research Series document, from the then New South Wales Department of Environment and Conservation, asked people to nominate the two most important issues for attention by the state government. The two social priorities and values of concern nominated by the vast majority were health and education. The environment rated as sixth and water as eighth. There is no indication whether any of the people questioned were aware of the interconnection between the quality of their health, the standard of education and the state of the environment or, indeed, the quality and quantity of water. In fact, the manner of treatment of each of these issues by the media, by government, by science and the bureaucracy means that each of these issues is treated in isolation, as a series of separate and unrelated entities. John Hamaker noted in his book Survival of Civilisation that as humans, we are killing ourselves with specialisation. The inability to recognise that all things in nature are interconnected has been fundamental to the human ability to survive. The reductionist approach to science has isolated specialist knowledge into specific fields of endeavour, where cross-pollination of scientific abilities is either dismissed or actively discouraged. There is little awareness at any level of the population that the quality of the environment, specifically the quality of soil, in many ways determines not only the quantity and quality of water but it also determines the quality of human health. We are what we eat. Civilisations that have survived flood, drought, disease and famine are those that have a reliable and consistent food supply. Those with a successful agrarian base are those that nurture their soils, caring not only for the plants but also for the biology of the soil, which stimulates the release of nutrients and maintains soil structure, secures carbon and moisture and increases land value. Within this context, waste becomes a metaphor for our attitude to the planet on which we rely for our survival. It is an ‘end of pipe’ attitude, which is also reflected in our health, education and prison systems.

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We cannot in all truth refer to our system of community care as a ‘health’ system, when its principal focus is on keeping people alive once they are ill. We spend the vast majority of money on sick people, not on keeping people well. It is not a ‘health’ system; it is a ‘death’ system. We are addressing only the symptoms of our disease. Waste, like illness, incarceration and ignorance is the result of a lack of care, and a lack of care is reflected in our attitudes to consumption. The structure of human values within western society is bordered by parameters such as new or old, antique or second hand, used, reused and recycled. In most modern economies, up-and-coming younger generations pursue the new in preference to the old – they must have the latest in all things when asset gain is the principal social imperative. The driver is more; to have more is to be happy. More money equals more things and more things equal more happiness. Our modern social context is predicated on getting what you want, not necessarily what you need. The corporate intent of the commercial world is to spread that same condition to the rest of humanity so that every human on earth can also get what they want and not necessarily what they need. This does not occur through any interest in social justice or fairness or equity, but simply to ensure that the shareholders’ investment in the corporate structure is constantly protected by creating new markets and generating more profit. In the creation of these new markets, the only obligation on both the corporate structure and its board of directors is to make more money for the shareholder. The shareholder in turn is comfortably removed from the day-to-day liabilities and any ethical responsibility for the behaviour of the directors by simply declaring their interest as purely investment. Environmental groups constantly question this model, which is clearly eating the heart out of our potential to exist on the planet, yet we seem helpless to stop it. Indeed, every lifestyle in the main supports the very consumption that is destroying it.

waste management

In the environmental movement, most of our efforts in developing recycling tools do little more than replicate and endorse the very technology that made the destructive product socially desirable in the first place. Our personal guilt in engaging in the pursuit of greed and using the materials of our age is assuaged by our efforts to help the corporate world to reclaim their assets at highly discounted cost. We have taken the Industrial Revolution to its logical consumptive conclusion by consuming the principal chemical inputs of the planet to zero and raising the pollution levels to the maximum inhabitable for humanity. Yet the recent financial collapse on Wall Street, driven by greed, was immediately followed by huge investment by governments around the world, using community money, to support the very system that created the cancer in the first place. The natural consequence of such a step is that what we have just seen occur will occur again, unless we drive change from a different position. We need a different base for our economy, other than greed. We need to go beyond treating only the symptoms of our disease. We are told that we need consumption as a part of our economic condition. To expand a healthy economy we must have profits, and to maintain profits we must consume. This is woven into every part of the global economy and is the principal mantra of political life on the advice of economic principles founded in the Industrial Revolution.

We give back steel and glass at a fraction of the price we paid for it. We provide newspapers and their editors with the tools to continue their economic fabrications to us by giving them back, at discount prices, the same cheap fibre on which they gave us the questionable information in the first place. What we are currently creating is surely not change but a minor shift of emphasis, a small charity bowl at the end of the greed pipeline. It could indeed be argued that in our recycling programs, while we have created great social good, have we created any real social shift? The work we do is fiddling on the periphery of the corporate structure. We simply provide some of the means to ensure the slide to the bottom continues, unimpeded by the limitations of conscience. In the process of developing recycling programs, it is true that we have developed many new employment positions and generated great wealth, but have we created real change?

This mantra in turn is driven by the tools of Wall Street, the World Bank and the World Monetary Fund for the financial benefit of a small minority of wealthy individuals. When you consider any natural model, being new is a state of being, a position in a continuum – a role in a phase of life that is not more or less important than any other. It simply is. It is a secondary element of birth itself. It is a place where all things are at one time. It is not something to be retained at all cost but is simply a phase through which all things must pass on their continuing journey to the next. Yet achievement of the state of ‘new’ in all things is the consumer’s principal icon.

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At any time in the world there are around one billion people who are suffering from starvation or who are desperate for food.

While we endorse and indeed support the work of activists such as Vandana Shiva in challenging the movements by the corporate world to own the very means of life itself, our actions in the world of environmental action in the main support the pursuit of what is wanted rather than what is needed. The work of Shiva is focused on the fact that many of those she fights for already had most of what they needed before the wealth of Wall Street moved into their backyard. They had what they needed for many generations. Shiva is fighting for the right of her fellow patriots not to have what our corporate structure says they should want. Many farmers in South East Asia, India and Africa have battled to retain their organic connection to their soil. Their reliance on ancient practices has not been shaken by the false promises of the Green Revolution or the threat of an ensuing GM assault on their farms. Indeed, the actions of these farmers, using simple processes in pursuing their organic methods of farming, demonstrate that the tools of the corporate structure are clearly not the magic black box they purport to be. We are told that the world needs GMOs to feed the growing population, yet the plain and simple figures do not support this argument. At any time in the world there are around one billion people who are suffering from starvation or who are desperate for food. Yet the population in western civilisations throws away enough food annually to feed around three billion people. It is clearly not a lack of food on the planet that keeps people starving – it is politics! The drive for GMOs is not driven by facts. It is driven by ignorance and greed. The short-term cash wealth of modern corporate existence pales into insignificance when compared with the organic economic benefit generated by a thousand generations of subsistence farmers who produce 60 per cent of the world’s food. In a soil-based economy, one small hectare of productive land over 10 generations is worth many times more than the Mona Lisa. With the crippling results of chemistry models like DDT, thalidomide and Agent Orange still swirling through the veins of deformed children around the world, the World

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Bank is being asked once again to fund a second round of the failed and despotic Green Revolution. The question is surely not how do we replace the success of subsistence farmers and their methods, but how can we endorse and build on millennia of a successful model so that it can work in every community in the world? Can we have farming models that take the organic base of subsistence farming and build upon it to deliver the needs of humanity while supporting the needs of the planet and its human inhabitants?

Science, soils and social insanity Margaret Wertheim, in her book Pythagoras’ Trousers, notes that society develops a concept of scientific outcomes that is somewhat different to the reality of science itself. The scientific reality is distorted by the media and their masses to suit the overall social perception of the day. This notion of massed humanity takes the outcomes of scientific work, then modifies it to suit what the collective mass thinks it ought to mean. An excellent example of this is the work of Justus von Liebig who in the 1840s gave us, among his work on chemistry and other matters, the notion of NpK fertiliser values. To simplify the work of Liebig, he deduced that plant ash contained all the nutrition necessary for plant growth. This, of course, was later disproved and conceded as inaccurate by Liebig himself before his death; however, it was picked up by others and became the great agricultural panacea for future agriculture. Not because it is true, but because it turned a profit. Liebig was not experienced in agriculture and in fact boasted of his detachment from such matters. His initial work, however, became the basis for ‘modern’ farming practices throughout the world. The principal driver of ‘modern’ farming developed more from the need of the corporate sector to continue selling the outputs of munitions factories when war ended, rather than the desire to feed and clothe the world. Even if feeding the hungry was the original intent, it certainly has not happened. Politics and power as ever, still keep the food from people’s mouths. The powerful position of chemical manufacturers, who

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determine the focus of future research funding in much of the scientific world, is determined by this same financial imperative. They set the agenda, and their corporate partners in the media confirm it for the masses, who, like rabbits in the headlights, have neither the sense nor the ability to refute the considerable evidence they are given to the contrary, nor the good sense to challenge the inevitability of their situation. For the past 100 years we have been sold a story for the production of food in a ‘modern’ western economy, which is both destructive and cynical, while being simultaneously profitable and protective of its corporate base. But the pressure this corporate model has placed on the resources of the earth is ringing its own death knell. The overuse of phosphate fertiliser has now brought us to a point where at current usage rates we will simply run out of mineable phosphate within 30 years. An alternative is imperative and necessary. As organic and biological farmers the world over have been telling us for millennia, an alternative is indeed available. In addition, we now have the necessary means to bring this message to the individual consumer.

The organic base Every individual, regardless of their social standing, produces organic waste as long as they continue to eat. The true value of this product, in terms of its nutrient value, its ability to feed biology and its value as a catalyst for the soil to generate more food has never truly been capitalised on in western society. It is only in Asian communities that the true value of returning organic materials to soils has been appreciated and developed. At the heart of these farming practices is connection to your food supply and respect for the soil. Yet even in western societies, where the public, with the exception of gardeners, has long been seen as ignorant of value of this material, a substantial shift has begun to take place with the advent of new programs focused on food. For the first time in its modern history, western society has begun to truly look at its waste organic outputs. In the first instances, this was mainly from the western

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perspective of wasted food as a waste of money, but now also and more importantly, for its value to the food chain. This in turn has led to a consideration of the value of clean, quality organic products as a catalyst in the production of quality food from quality soil.

It is only in Asian communities that the true value of returning organic materials to soils has been appreciated and developed. The Groundswell project in New South Wales has clearly demonstrated that, given the right tools and information to act, the public will respond with enthusiasm to the collection of food waste for reuse in agriculture. This project, using the City to Soil collection system, has demonstrated that at our very animal base, we fully grasp the importance of soil as our mother, in the sense that it feeds and clothes us. As individuals, parents and grandparents, we see that the security of future generations is firmly based in the soil. The response to this project has seen the collections of organic waste with extremely low contamination rates of less than half of one per cent. This project has clearly demonstrated that the public wants to be involved. Indeed it has demonstrated that the collection of organic waste, once it is embraced by the community, will not only empower them to become part of the solution but will also provide the basis for a link into a much bigger picture of behavioural change.

Compost and carbon In developing the City to Soil process, the project managers needed to reduce the cost of compost manufacture and so designed a new system where the organic waste requires no shredding and very little turning. This process importantly also produces no odour. Material is sprayed with water and a two-part biological inoculant, covered with tarpaulins and left for six weeks without turning. The material can achieve temperatures in excess of 70° Celsius in the first week. It then settles back to around 55° Celsius for the remainder of the process. The material produced in this compost process,

The Wheelie Bin Cleaning Company

he Wheelie Bin Cleaning Company is a family owned business that has been delivering hygiene solutions to Councils and business in NSW. They proudly present you their new environment

friendly product ‘EnviroClean’. Proprietor George Hall says their new EnviroClean liquid product is a heavy duty cleaner, sanitiser and deodoriser solution to controlling odours whilst sanitising treated surfaces with just a light spray on surface. Bins, rear laneways and public toilets are areas that need EnviroClean treatment to prevent both disease and foul odour from spreading. Treated areas give off a lovely vanilla scent subtly making it obvious you are working to protect the health of your ratepayers. EnviroClean is a multi-purpose spray using a base of pure vanilla that is 100 per cent organic but other biodegradable, proprietary ingredients ensure that it also kills germs on contact (lasting for 10 days, residually). Interestingly, only the finest vanilla scent is used, which is proven to deter vermin from re-visiting areas such as rear lanes behind food vendors, for example. It is specially designed for bathrooms, kitchens, indoor and outdoor use. EnviroClean is perfect on hard surfaces too. It is ideal for public and outdoor toilets as it fights with bacteria and fungus while it sanitises and gives you a ‘perfect finish’. Our very experienced principal, George Hall, personally guarantees his products to work. No ifs, no buts. NB: A money back guarantee applies.

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Enviroclean is totally bio-degradeable with zero harsh chemicals but bacteria will die & rodents shy away, effectively deterred. Enviroclean is a heavy-duty, liquid deodorising sanitiser which can be wiped, sprayed or rinsed in areas where offensive odours & diseases gather such as public toilets, wheelie bins, rear laneways behind food outlets etc. NB: Treated surfaces are rendered repellent to vermin for 10 days. Enviroclean Concentrate for Councils is a very economical solution to these unpleasant problems. When sprayed, it can be easily added to the pressure tank on a street sweeper for very simple application to laneways. 100% UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED TO WORK - OR YOUR MONEY BACK WITH NO QUESTIONS ASKED! The Wheelie Bin Cleaning Company is a proven Australian family company, tried & tested since 1996 in producing the most satisfactory results for Councils by eliminating the once nagging sanitary problems of odour & hygiene. Please visit us online for more info or to order at

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Or call our principal, George Hall, on 0400 383 848 with any queries please australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 •X thethe australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 • 175

waste management

The greed of the global economy has forgotten that you can’t have a labourer in China make cheap clothes for the world market without food. And you can’t feed that labourer without soil.

returned to the soil provides the basis for supported land management change, which dramatically reduces fertiliser use, improves moisture retention in soils, increases yield and increases soil carbon. If the legacy emissions currently in the atmosphere are to be addressed, improving our soils worldwide is the only way of doing it. While climate change may be the largest threat we have brought upon humanity, the generation of carbon in agricultural soils and the opportunities for change that it brings could be one of the greatest benefits that humanity has ever given to the world. We have at our fingertips the means to end poverty, we have at our fingertips the means to feed the world, and we have at our fingertips the means for a new world economy. This new direction, this new hope is based on the simplest and most disregarded of the products of humanity – our organic waste. Source-separated organic waste provides the tools to link the community back to its food supply, it provides the tools for us to rebuild our relationship with our soils – it provides the means to support local regional economies. The only thing we need to do to be part of this great revolution is to maintain ownership of our own organic waste.

Conclusion The greed of the global economy has forgotten that you can’t have a labourer in China make cheap clothes for the world market without food. And you can’t feed that labourer without soil. The global economy has forgotten that it is nothing without soil. Every cheap shirt, every cheap car, every cheap tool represents some part of a nation’s soil. We are nothing without soil. We don’t exist without soil. Peak phosphorus spells the death of chemical agriculture. There is a new way. There is a better way – for humanity and for the planet. Owning your organic wastes in your home and in your community provides you with the power to help local farmers produce food and to generate local wealth in the emerging carbon market.

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No economy, rich or poor, exists without food – because no economy rich or poor exists without soil. The issues of ‘peak oil’, of ‘peak phosphorus’, and of other matters of assumed criticality are all indicators of our humble human need to replace one problem with another by addressing only the symptoms of our disease. In the same way that ‘peak oil’ tells us that we have been too reliant on an unsustainable supply of oil, ‘peak phosphorus’ tells us that we have relied for too long on industrial chemical farming. Good quality soil and soil carbon can provide humanity with the direct link back to its very basic roots. It can be part of our individual responsibility to ensure that the farmers are given the right tools and the capacity to utilise their soil based on the experiential management skills of themselves and past generations. In linking personal behaviour with soil carbon we will be weaving the tapestry of soil quality into the reality of our daily existence. To achieve this we need to have a community understanding and response to the ability to grow our soils. The only place this can be achieved is on the farm. It is that same place that grows our food and is the home and heart of our repeatable economic base. In the world voluntary carbon market we have been presented with the first opportunity in human history to include our environment in our economy. We as humans have finally reached that same point that every monkey, bird and bee awoke to as it was born new into its circumstance, its natural economy. Every species lives within its economy because to do otherwise is to perish. We can now join the evolution of economy by including the obvious in our accounts. Everything we now do and make can be predicated on its carbon value. You as an individual in this place are at an exciting starting point. We must begin.

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the australian local government environment yearbook 2011/2012 • 177

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