22
July 2008 - Marking the start of term 3
in New South Wales, Environment Minister,
Peter Garrett today
reminded Australia’s 9000 plus schools that
they now had the opportunity to become solar
schools thanks to the National Solar Schools
Program.
Mr Garrett said grants
of up to $50,000 were now available for
the installation of solar power systems
and a host of energy and water saving measures.
Visiting Newtown Public
School in Sydney, Mr Garrett said the program
would provide schools with an unprecedented
opportunity to take practical action to
help tackle climate change while saving
money, energy and water.
“The Rudd Labor Government
wants every Australian school – primary,
secondary, public and private – to have
the opportunity to become a ‘solar school’
and the commencement of this half a billion
dollar program delivers on our election
commitment.
“Schools can save energy,
water and money through this program. Schools
with mains power supply may also be able
to sell surplus solar power from weekends
and school holidays back into the grid –
making these schools ‘mini’ renewable power
stations.”
Mr Garrett said the
National Solar Schools Program replaced
the Green Vouchers for Schools program,
and provided schools with greater freedom
to choose from a wider range of renewable
energy and energy efficiency technologies.
“Every school, every
home and every community is different. The
National Solar Schools Program provides
the flexibility schools need to find sustainable
solutions that suit their individual needs.
We will be encouraging schools to undertake
a sustainability audit to help them determine
what delivers the best results for them,”
Mr Garrett said.
“Rainwater tanks, solar
hot water systems, upgraded lighting, insulation,
small wind or hydro power generators, awnings
– there is a long list of water and energy
efficiency measures that schools can choose
from to improve their sustainability. Schools
will decide what is best and the Government
will provide the backing.
“Solar Schools will
strengthen the Australian Government’s partnership
with state and territory governments through
AuSSI - the Australian Sustainable Schools
Initiative, which seeks to improve education
in schools about sustainability.
“Industry too will benefit
from the program from the $480 million federal
funding injection creating increased demand
for large solar power systems for school
roofs.
“Importantly, this program
will also provide students with a practical
demonstration and knowledge which will carry
with them into their homes and into our
communities; every little bit helping in
the global effort against climate change,”
Mr Garrett said.
Mr Garrett said schools
could find out more information about the
program, including funding guidelines at:
www.environment.gov.au/settlements/renewable/nationalsolarschools/index.html
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FUNDING BOOST HELPS
PROTECT HMVS CERBERUS
25 July 2008 - Heritage
Minister Peter Garrett today said the National
Trust of Victoria would use $500,000 in
Federal funding as a first step towards
stabilising the HMVS Cerberus shipwreck.
The Minister announced
the funding during a visit to the wreck,
which sits as a breakwater a few hundred
metres off the beach at Melbourne’s Half
Moon Bay, Black Rock.
“Purpose-built in 1868
for the Victorian Colonial Navy, the HMVS
Cerberus is a unique part of our naval heritage.
It was included in the National Heritage
List in December 2005,” Mr Garrett said.
“Named after the three-headed
mythological guard dog, the Cerberus was
Victoria’s and then Australia’s most powerful
warship. Her heavy iron structure was the
prototype for 19th century steampowered
battleships.
“After protecting Victoria
from potential attacks for over 50 years,
in 1924 she was declared surplus by the
Navy and sold to a salvage company. The
hulk was purchased for 150 pounds by the
Sandringham Council, and scuttled at Half
Moon Bay.
“In 1993 the hulk suffered
a major collapse and since then has been
sinking at a rate of about 16 millimetres
per year.
“The $500,000 we’ve
provided is seed funding for a stabilisation
project, which will see the Cerberus carefully
raised and then placed on an underwater
platform.
“Work began in 2004,
with a Heritage Victoria grant to remove
four 18-tonne guns. The next phase involves
building an overhead jacking frame and the
underwater supporting platform.
“This is a complex job.
Minus the guns, the section of the vessel
to be lifted is a massive 1900 tonnes. The
extraordinary amount of iron and the state
of the partially collapsed hull means a
delicate operation will be required.
“I hope our funding
will help advance this ambitious project,
and I wish the National Trust of Victoria
the best of luck in taking it forward. My
thanks to Heritage Victoria for their work
to this point.
“I’d also like to acknowledge
the Friends of the Cerberus and others who’ve
been raising awareness of the wreck for
many years. Their passion for protecting
our heritage means future generation will
be able to share in it too.”
Funding was provided
by the National Heritage Investment Initiative.
Other 2007-08 projects include exterior
restoration at the Royal Society of Victoria
Hall; stonework at Fort Denison, NSW; stonework
at Mitchell Library, State Library of NSW;
and conservation work at Fremantle Museum
& Arts Centre, WA.
More information about the Cerberus is available
at http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/places/national/hmvs-cerberus/index.html
and
http://www.cerberus.com.au/
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CONSULTATION TIME EXTENDED
ON ACCC RURAL WATER RULES
25 July 2008 - Minister
for Climate Change and Water, Senator Penny
Wong, today announced a revised timeline
for developing the water market and water
charge rules for the Murray-Darling Basin
to allow more stakeholder input.
Under the Water Act
2007, the Australian Competition and Consumer
Commission (ACCC) has the task of advising
the Minister on draft rules to give farmers
flexibility to trade their water access
rights and help ensure more efficient and
sustainable water use across the Murray-Darling
Basin.
“Since April 2008, the
ACCC has been conducting formal consultations
on both the water market and water charge
rules. Along the way, stakeholders have
indicated that they want more time to consider
the draft rules,” Senator Wong said.
“In response to this
feedback and at the request of the ACCC,
I have decided to extend the deadline for
the ACCC to provide its advice to the Australian
Government to allow more time for stakeholder
consultation.”
As a result of this
extension, the ACCC will include an additional
stage to consult with stakeholders on the
water charge and water market rules.
The extra stage will
give stakeholders four to six weeks to comment
on a position paper that outlines the ACCC’s
early policy position on key issues with
respect to the draft rules.
“The ACCC will now adopt
a three stage process, consulting on an
issues paper, a position paper, and then
a draft report and rules, before providing
its final advice on the rules to the Australian
Government.
“Stakeholders will have
a chance to provide feedback on every stage
of the process ahead of the ACCC finalising
its advice.”
As a result of today’s
extension, the ACCC’s advice to the Australian
Government on the water market rules and
the water charge rules will be provided
in December 2008 and June 2009 respectively.
“The ACCC’s consultation
process will be critical in informing future
arrangements in the Murray-Darling Basin
and I strongly urge all stakeholders to
participate,” Senator Wong said.
“More efficient water
markets are important an element in the
Rudd Government’s Water for the Future plan,
which has four priorities: tackling climate
change, using water wisely, supporting healthy
rivers and securing our water supplies.”
For further information
on the ACCC’s timelines for consultation,
visit the ACCC’s website at www.accc.gov.au
and sign up for email updates.
