18
November 2008 - Environment Minister Peter
Garrett today opened a new e-waste recycling
facility expected to divert as much as 20,000
tonnes of electronic waste from landfills
when it operates at full capacity.
Visiting the Sims e-waste
recycling plant in Villawood, Sydney, Mr
Garrett said the facility was a great start
to boosting Australia’s ability to effectively
manage e-waste.
“The Government welcomes
the development of recycling plants capable
of processing electronic waste such as computers
and televisions, which have been recognised
as a priority waste by all levels of government
in Australia,”Mr Garrett said.
“Recycling delivers
important environmental benefits, including
energy and water savings, and a reduced
demand for landfill space.
“Sims expects the plant
will divert up to 20,000 tonnes of material
from landfill per year and recycle up to
98 per cent of the material that passes
through its front gate.
“We know that e-waste
is a growing problem as Australians embrace
newer technologies across a range of electrical
and computing goods, and it is an issue
that I am closely examining with my state
and territory colleagues through the Environment
Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC).
“At the recent meeting
of the EPHC in Adelaide, ministers agreed
to develop a national policy to deal with
Australia’s increasing volumes of waste.
Arecent snapshot of waste and recycling
trends in Australia showed the amount of
waste Australia generates has increased
by 28 per cent between 2003 and 2007.
“A national waste policy
will provide much-needed clarity on what
is appropriately dealt with at which level
of government, and will improve economic
efficiencies by better harmonizing waste
policies between jurisdictions. It also
affords a timely opportunity to revisit
waste policy in the context of broader Government
policies on climate change and sustainability.
“The development of
the policy will be informed by a comprehensive
report on waste, ensuring thatpolicy development
is informed by a detailed analysis of action
currently being undertaken and emerging
issues, including e-waste.”
Member for Blaxland,
Jason Clare, said: “The opening of the Sims
recycling plant is a positive, practical
step in support of the Government’s ambition
to finding lasting and effective solutions
for our waste problems, while also demonstrating
the economic opportunities that are available
in this area.”
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Scientific experts to
advise on water use for Murray-Darling Basin
rivers and wetlands
18 November 2008 - A
panel of scientific experts has been appointed
to advise the Rudd Government on the use
of water purchased to restore the rivers
and wetlands of the Murray-Darling Basin.
Minister for Climate
Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, said
today that the Environmental Water Scientific
Advisory Committee would provide advice
to the Commonwealth Environmental Water
Holder and the Department of the Environment,
Water, Heritage and the Arts.
"This committee
has been appointed to ensure the best possible
benefits for Murray-Darling Basin rivers
and wetlands from water purchased from willing
sellers under our $12.9 billion Water for
the Future plan," Senator Wong said.
"Members have been
appointed on the basis of their expertise
across a range of scientific disciplines,
including hydrology, river and floodplain
ecology, wetland ecology, ecological risk
assessment and the management of aquatic
ecosystems.
"The committee
will provide expert advice on setting environmental
watering priorities, monitoring the benefits
of environmental flows, and identifying
knowledge gaps.
"I'm pleased that
such an eminent group of experts has accepted
appointment to this committee, which will
play a vital role in helping restore the
Basin's rivers and wetlands to health."
Committee members have
been appointed for an initial period of
two years. Emeritus Professor Barry Hart
of Monash University, who chaired the Great
Barrier Reef Water Quality Partnership -
Science Advisory Panel, will chair the Environmental
Water Scientific Advisory Committee. The
other committee members are:
Professor Angela Arthington,
Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University;
Dr Ben Gawne, Director of the Murray Darling
Freshwater Research Centre;
Professor Richard Kingsford, School of Biological,
Earth and Environmental Sciences, University
of NSW;
Dr Mike Stewardson, Senior Lecturer, Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering,
University of Melbourne;
Associate Professor Keith Walker, School
of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University
of Adelaide;
Associate Professor Robyn Watts, School
of Environmental Sciences, Charles Sturt
University.
Details about the Commonwealth Environmental
Water Holder are available at: www.environment.gov.au/water/environmental/cewh/
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Rudd Govt funding research
into Tasmanian platypus disease
20 November 2008 - A
project to investigate a disease that strikes
Tasmanian platypus is one of nine Tasmanian
projects to share in more than $28.5 million
from the Rudd Government to protect Australia’s
environment and promote sustainable farming.
Details of the nine
Tasmanian projects to receive funding under
the Caring for our Country Open Grants were
announced today by Environment Minister
Peter Garrett and Minister for Agriculture,
Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke.
The Open Grants funding
is part of the $2.25 billion earmarked for
the first five years of Caring for our Country,
launched in July this year.
Mr Garrett said the
projects, ranging from $80,000 to $400,000,
would lead to significant environmental
benefits and advances in land management
practices in all states and territories.
“Through Caring for
our Country, the Government is taking a
comprehensive, targeted and integrated approach
to natural resource management funding,
encouraging organisations to work together
to deliver on national priorities,” Mr Garrett
said.
“Many of the organisations
funded through this Open Grants scheme look
beyond their local environmental issues
to link up with others to deliver better
environment and land management practices
on a larger scale.
“The Platypus diseases
assessment and conservation project, for
example, will see the Tasmanian Department
of Primary Industries and Water bring together
a team that will investigate the impact
of platypus mucormycosis disease. This disease
is caused by a fungus, perhaps carried to
Tasmania via infected frogs from mainland
Australia and it seems to affect only Tasmanian
platypuses.”
“We have seen the terrible
impact Facial Tumour Disease is having on
the Tasmanian devil population and the Government
has already committed $10 million for research
into it through Caring for our Country .
“It is hoped that the
platypus research funds announced today
will fill some of the fundamental gaps in
our understanding of this disease, and its
ecological impacts so that we can develop
long-term conservation strategies for these
unique creatures,” Mr Garrett said.
Both Ministers said
climate change and other pressures such
as invasive weeds and pests emphasised the
need for the Government to work in partnership
with communities to help ensure the future
of Australia’s environment and farming industries.
Of the 137 Open Grants
projects funded across Australia, 72 projects
worth approximately $14.4 million specifically
address sustainable farm practices and Landcare.
“Our farmers have produced
food in Australia’s harsh climate for so
long – they understand the need to look
after our precious landscape,” Mr Burke
said.
“This funding will help
many farmers continue their important work
helping to manage the land in a sustainable
way, including in partnership with local
groups.
“For example, a project
to control invasive weeds in the Cradle
Coast region and a project to control boneseed
and asparagus weeds in southern Tasmania
are both being funded.
“These projects involve
landholders and more than 90 community groups
working together to fight weeds.”
Further information and a full listing of
successful grants is available at www.nrm.gov.au
