Green Action News - Autumn 2008

WORK I N G T O G E T H E R P R O T E C T I N G V I C T O R I A ’ S E N V I R O NM E N T ISSUE 3 Z AUTUMN 2008

GO YARRA FLOWMelburnians urged to fight for a better Yarra

NO TIME TO WASTEMetropolitan waste plan city’s best chance

SUSTAINABILITY IN ACTIONEV’s award-winning program more than a philosophy

GO YARRA FLOWMelburnians urged to fight for a better Yarra

NO TIME TO WASTEMetropolitan waste plan city’s best chance

SUSTAINABILITY IN ACTIONEV’s award-winning program more than a philosophy

g r e e n a c t i o n n e w s | i s s u e 3 | a u t u m n 2 0 0 8 | w w w. e n v i r o n m e n t v i c t o r i a . o r g . a u2

3Go Yarra Flow

5Our Rivers

Our Future

6Taking Victoria’s

Environmental Pulse

8Sustainability:

More than

a Philosophy

102008 Sustainable

Living Festival

11Multicultural

Youth Eco-

Challenge Finishes

on High Note

12Committed

to Conservation

13Waste Plan

a City Affair

14 15Decline

of the Moorabool

T H I S I S S U E

Sustainable

Transport Crucial

to State’s Future

THE RESULTS OF THE 2007 DUMP AWARDS ARE IN AND WE HAVE OURWINNERS IN THE RACE TO THE BOTTOM OF AUSTRALIA’S PACKAGING PILE.

Green Action NewsIssue 3, Autumn 2008Design 2Fish ProductionsPrint PrintBoundContributing writersJuliet Le Feuvre, Leonie Duncan, Mark Doggett, Annette Salkeld,Charlie Davie, Victoria McKenzie-McHarg, Daniel Clarke, Vicki KyriakakisEditor Vicki Kyriakakis (03) 9341 [email protected] Advertising sales enquiries

(03) 9341 [email protected] enquiries

(03) 9341 8100 [email protected] Action News is anEnvironment Victoria publication. For more information, visitwww.environmentvictoria.org.auEnvironment Victoria would

like to thank PrintBound

for its in-kind support.

Dump winners fall to the bottom of the pile

Golden DUMP Award: Gillette Fusion razor (Proctor and Gamble) Excessive Use of Material: Gillette Fusion razor (Proctor and Gamble) Poorly Designed for Recycling: Equal Café Sticks 60g (MerisantManufacturing Australia)Going Backwards: Woolworths Apple Snacks (Woolworths Australia)Poorly Labelled for Waste Management: Woolworths HomebrandMousse (Woolworths Australia)Likely to be Littered: Heinz Little Kids Mini Meals (Heinz Australia)Judges’ Special Mention: Nescafé Short Black (Nescafé)These are worthy winners but we’re not done with them yet. They arethe subject of a complaint EV is making to the National Packaging CovenantCouncil: the industry and government group that is tasked with overseeing avoluntary agreement between the government and the packaging industry toimprove packaging sustainability. The original packaging covenant was passednearly ten years ago. The complaint to the council will test whether the industry iswilling and able to self-regulate – and will help build pressure for change insidethe ‘winning’ companies. You can read the full DUMP report on the Environment Victoria website atwww.environmentvictoria.org.au. Go to the Zero Waste page, and choose ‘DUMPAwards’ from the left hand column. We’ll keep you posted on the results of the complaint.

Tell the winners what

you think of their

terrible packaging

practices:

Proctor and Gamble: The Manager,Technical & External Relations P&GAustralia Pty. Ltd Level 4, 1 InnovationRoad Macquarie Park, North Ryde NSW 2113. Merisant Manufacturing

Australia: The Marketing DirectorMerisant Manufacturing Australia,Ground Floor, 37 -41 Oxford St, EppingNSW 2121. Woolworths Australia: Ms ArminehMardirossian, Woolworths GroupSustainability Manager 1 Woolworths WayBella Vista NSW 2153. Heinz Australia: Consumer SupportTeam Locked Bag 19057, Southbank VIC 3006.Nescafé: Consumer ServicesDepartment GPO Box 4320 SydneyNSW 2001

IN MARCH 2006 the world’s eyes wereon the Yarra River, a central feature ofMelbourne’s Commonwealth Gamesopening ceremony. Fireworks shotcolour across a twilight sky from thecorrugated metal fins of 72 amazingfish sculptures that floated on thewater by Federation Square. Each fishsymbolised a country competing in thegames and Australia’s was the short-finned eel.You’d be forgiven for not knowing muchabout this native fish species – very fewof its Melburnian co-habitants do – butthe short-finned eel is a fascinatingcreature. It called the Yarra River homewell before John Batman ever came totown and can still be found swimmingabout today, anywhere from Yarra BendPark to Healesville Sanctuary. When the female short-finned eels areready to lay eggs they swimdownstream, past the tourists drinkingcoffee at Southbank and through the

mouth of the Yarra into Port PhillipBay. From there, they travel to thewarm waters of the Coral Sea: amighty 4000 km north. Their young –the little ‘elvers’ – find their way backhome alone, travelling along the eastcoast of Australia on the current madefamous by the Pixar-animated Nemo.Home to the Yarra.Our city’s river is rich with life andhistory like the short-finned eel’s tale. Many people who live in or visitMelbourne know little of the Yarra’swonders. Some may have onlyexperienced the lower reaches – wherethe river is swollen with the tidalwaters of Port Phillip Bay – upon atourist boat or beneath Princes Bridge.Plenty of people paddle on the riverwith their rowing club or cycle andwalk by its banks. Others havefavourite spots to swim or bushwalkfurther upstream.

WHATEVER THE CONNECTION, all whoknow the Yarra can agree it is one ofour city’s most valuable natural assets.What’s more, up to 70 per cent ofMelbourne’s freshwater supplies aresourced from the Yarra’s upperreaches, allowing us to enjoy some ofthe best drinking water in the world. We don’t just drink the Yarra’s waterthough: we flush toilets and coolfactory operations with vast quantitiesof its flow. Melbourne goes throughabout 500 billion litres of water eachyear, with residential use accountingfor about 60 per cent and commercialand industrial around 30 per cent.The Yarra River is under increasingstress as more and more water isextracted. Right now the Yarra is downto just a third of average flows and thisis taking a great toll on the birds, fish,frogs and platypus that rely on ahealthy environment to survive.Environment Victoria, Yarra

g r e e n a c t i o n n e w s | i s s u e 3 | a u t u m n 2 0 0 8 | w w w. e n v i r o n m e n t v i c t o r i a . o r g . a u 3

ENVIRONMENT VICTORIA’S GO YARRA FLOW CAMPAIGN PLANS TOSEND THE VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT A MESSAGE: MELBURNIAN’SVALUE A HEALTHY YARRA RIVER.

GO YARRA FLOW:Melbourne’s famous river under threat

> Leonie Duncan, Acting Director, Healthy Rivers Campaign One of Melbourne’s most valuable

natural assets, the Yarra is under severe

threat from overuse.

h e a l t h y r i v e r s

continued next page >>>>

Riverkeepers and our supporters wereat the forefront of a campaign to havewater returned to our struggling river. We were relieved when the VictorianGovernment – in a proud history-making moment in October 2006 –listened to the concerns of scientistsand the community and committed aminimum environmental flow regimefor the Yarra as a key action of itsSustainable Water Strategy for greaterMelbourne.For a river like the Yarra, a healthyenvironmental flow – changing inrhythm with the seasons – is vital; itflushes along pollutants, transportsnutrients to where they’re needed andprovides fish with the right conditionsto breed.Sadly, almost 18 months on, we’re stillwaiting for that promise to bedelivered. On Australia Day 2007 the Governmentannounced the Yarra’s newenvironmental flows would stay onhold until water restrictions were backto Stage 1. Then, in June 2007, theGovernment made a dramaticdeparture from its Sustainable Water

Strategy with a snap decision to buildan energy-intensive desalination plantin Wonthaggi and a north-southpipeline that would take – yet to besecured – water from the GoulburnRiver across the Great Dividing Rangeto Melbourne.Finally in October 2007, theGovernment decided to further plunderthe Yarra by taking an additional 10billion litres from the river atWarrandyte.We’re all struggling through these drytimes and that includes our river. Morethan ever before, we need ourGovernment to show leadership andaccelerate, not depart from, it’s long-term plan to secure sustainablesolutions to Melbourne’s water future.The people of Melbourne have beenusing water wisely at home, at schooland at work. We need to ensure thosesavings provide real environmentaloutcomes to our city’s great river.Furthermore, we need our Governmentto help Melbourne get even wiser withwater use by accelerating investmentin water conservation, efficiency, re-use and recycling outlined in the

Sustainable Water Strategy andbeyond.The short-finned eel and othercreatures that call the Yarra home donot have access to the range ofalternatives we humans have to meetour water needs. They need the river tohave a healthy flow. That’s whyEnvironment Victoria has teamed upwith the Yarra River Keeper Associationto form the Go Yarra Flow campaign. Our aim is to send a strong message tothe Government that Victorians value ahealthy Yarra River. To be successful,we need you to add your voice to thecall and to encourage your friends,family and colleagues to support thecampaign too. We trust in our Government to takecare of our rivers for generations tocome, but it is up to all of us ensurethe commitments are met.



‘SADLY, ALMOST 18 MONTHS ON,WE’RE STILLWAITING FORTHAT PROMISE TOBE DELIVERED.’

Support the Go Yarra Flow campaign today:

> Pledge your support online at www.environmentvictoria.org.au or complete the pledge form in this issue of Green Action News> Provide Environment Victoria with a much needed financial boost by making a once-off or regular donation.> Get in touch with the Go Yarra Flow campaign coordinators to share your ideas: Leonie Duncan, Environment Victoria: [email protected] phone 9341 8120, Ian Penrose, Yarra Riverkeeper: [email protected] or phone 0448 927 720

YES! I want to pledge my support to the Go Yarra Flow campaign today!

YES! I want the Victorian Government to:> Stop withholding the Yarra River’s legal right to it’s life-giving environmental flows> Reverse the recent increase in water extraction from the Yarra> Get wise with water conservation, efficiency, reuse and recycling rather than taking more water from our river

YES! Keep me informed on how I can continue to support the Go Yarra Flow campaign

full name

address

Email signature phone date

Please return your completed pledge form to the Go Yarra Flow campaign c/- Leonie Duncan, Environment Victoria, PO Box 12575, A’Beckett Street, MELBOURNE 8006, or Fax: 03 9341 8199

Wildlife and fauna that depend on the Yarra have to compete with the city for the river’s water.

Little black cormorants are just one of the many native birds that rely on a healthy Yarra River.



THE WATER MINISTER is quite right:the whole community – households,farmers, industry and interest groups –needs to have a discussion about the

future of northern Victoria. The questionthe Minister neglects to ask is: whatsort of future do we want? As we faceup to the realities of a changing climateand changing social fabric, we need totake a long, hard look at the way we usewater and the effect this is having onthe environment in which we all live.A Discussion Paper – released by thegovernment as the first step in thedevelopment of a long term Sustainable

Water Strategy for the northern region –paints a disturbing picture of theoutlook for water availability. In the lastten years, inflows into the Murray Riverhave declined by 33 per cent and intothe Campaspe by 67 per cent. TheDiscussion Paper shows that thisdecline has impacted more heavily onthe environment than on consumptiveusers, with the volume of wateravailable to the environment decliningby 44 per cent in the Murray and 84 percent in the Campaspe. If these conditions and establishedwater use patterns continue, the impacton the already stressed floodplainforests and wetlands of northernVictoria will be devastating. Floods willbecome so infrequent that we are in

danger of completely losing our mostloved River Murray icon sites likeBarmah Forest, the largest red gumforest on earth, and the extraordinaryHattah Lakes. These sites areinternationally recognised for theirwater bird populations, which will nolonger be able to breed, and are visitedby hundreds of thousands of peopleevery year. Is this a future that we are prepared toaccept, where whole ecosystems areirretrievably lost? The government’splanned irrigation modernisationprojects will help save water, but thiswill not be enough to save the red gumsor the region’s prosperity. We need to move towards a futurewhere “The management of water willbe based on an understanding that ahealthy economy and society is basedon a healthy environment.” Thisstatement is not someenvironmentalist’s dream. It is the firstprinciple of water management in thegovernment’s Our Water Our FutureWhite Paper, the basis of the Water Act.

SO WHAT MIGHT a future based on thisprinciple look like? The Victorian Catchment ManagementCouncil (VCMC) provides a vision for2025 in its 2007 Catchment ConditionReport. They describe a future whereland use is matched to capability. Themosaic of land uses includes a mix ofintensive agriculture with reduced waterand energy inputs and land formerlyused for farming instead producingecosystem services and carbonsequestration. This kind of approach would allowfarmers to diversify their sources ofincome, provide opportunities for othertypes of economic developmentincluding tourism, and allow water to bereturned to river systems. In the wordsof VCMC, “Water used for environmentalends is not wasted: it is an investmentin the future of an aquatic ecosystemand hence an investment in thecommunities that depend on it.” The development of the SustainableWater Strategy for the northern regionshould be laying the ground work forachieving a future that supports bothregional development and theenvironment: a future we can all have ashare in.

Our rivers our future

Failure to act will have devastating consequences on icon sites such as

Hattah Lakes.

Ph

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by:

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> Juliet Le Feuvre, Healthy RiversCommunity Campaigner

THE RIVERS OF NORTHERNVICTORIA MEAN MANY THINGSTO MANY PEOPLE, BUT ALLAGREE THAT THEY AREFUNDAMENTAL TO SUPPORTINGTHE REGION’S LIFE ANDPROSPERITY. WE CAN ALSOAGREE THAT THE REGION ISFACING UNPRECEDENTEDCHALLENGES.

TAKE ACTIONWhile public submissions on the DiscussionPaper close on March 17, 2008, there will be afurther chance to comment when the draftstrategy is released mid year. If you would liketo discuss the strategy or would like somehelp in making a submission, please contactJuliet Le Feuvre on 9341 8106.

REASONS FOR SUPPORTING EV: Mostrespondents said they supported EVbecause they believed we worked toprotect the environment for the futureand because of our local and state-based focus. Many also reported thattheir motivation to support EV hadincreased in the past few years, withclimate change the most commonlycited reason.

quality of our information: Mostrespondents said they were happy withthe level of information we providedbut many wanted more analytical andpolicy based information. Many alsothought that we needed to focus ongetting greater exposure in the mediaand on forming a stronger connectionto local community groups.

what’s most important to you:

Key issues of concern for respondentswere: climate change, public transport;affordable housing; forest logging;urban sprawl; energy andsustainability; river health and wateruse and management. Respondents

thought that several issues mightstand in the way of successfuloutcomes. These included a lack ofpolitical will; the need for morelobbying on our part; the need forgreater leadership and vision; the risksassociated with continued economicgrowth and consumption; the need forgreater education; and a generalignorance in the community ofpressing environmental concerns.

what we campaign on: Mostrespondents were very supportive ofour current campaigns in climatechange, healthy rivers, sustainableliving, and zero waste. But they alsothought that energy and sustainability,biodiversity, logging and publictransport should be added to the mix.Many said that we should increase ouradvocacy role and profile, especiallywhen lobbying government forenvironmental protection.

our priorities: There were manythings that respondents said EV shouldmake a priority. Amongst these are


> Vicki Kyriakakis, Communications Officer

LATE LAST YEAR, ENVIRONMENTVICTORIA CONDUCTED THEFIRST FULL SURVEY OF GROUPAND INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS,SUPPORTERS AND DONORS INMANY YEARS. AND WHAT YOUTOLD US HELPED US PUT OURFINGER ON VICTORIA’SENVIRONMENTAL PULSE ANDWILL GUIDE THE ORGANISATIONTOWARDS A NEW FUTURE. IT ISNO SURPRISE THAT, IN A TIMEOF CLIMATE CHANGE ANDWATER SCARCITY, MOST OFENVIRONMENT VICTORIA’SMEMBERS AND DONORS WEREMORE MOTIVATED THAN EVERTO SUPPORT POSITIVE ACTIONSON OUR ENVIRONMENT. ANDMOST IMPORTANT OF ALL WASTHE DESIRE TO SECUREVICTORIA’S ENVIRONMENT FORFUTURE GENERATIONS.

Taking Victoria’senvironmental pulse

f u t u r e d i r e c t i o n s

Forest logging and biodiversity

were important issues for many

members and donors.

climate change; water use andmanagement; energy andsustainable living; biodiversity;forest protection; pollution andtransport issues; education ofpublic and politicians; andpromotion of community awarenessand engagement. And to achievethis, respondents said that weshould focus on communityeducation and training; forge closerlinks with our member groups;increase our grass rootsmobilisation activities; and focus on advocacy.

the next steps: This feedback hasprovided EV with critical data tohelp shape our future directions.We understand that we need to domore to strengthen the non-government environment sector inVictoria, particularly through bettersupporting our members. And weneed to do more to amplifycommunity voices on theenvironment. We need to boost ourefforts in training communities tolive within nature’s means and weneed to focus more on developingshared solutions to Victoria’senvironmental problems. Finally we need to better utilise the mediaand other forms of communication

to advocate for a healthier Victorianenvironment.We will also re-examine ourcampaigns to ensure they arefocused on what matters to you andto Victoria’s environment. EV iscurrently reviewing its StrategicPlan which sets key directions andpriorities for our organisation. Thiswill reflect the feedback youprovided to us on our effectiveness.We aim to complete the review byJune 2008.

> Read more about what EnvironmentVictoria is doing now in the areas thatmost concern you! For more informationon our Sustainable Living program, seeour special feature on page 8.* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *> For more information on ourcommunity education and trainingactivities, see our articles on the YouthEco-Challenge and Green BusinessProgram on page 11. And for moreinformation on our Public Transportcampaign, see our article on page 14.* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *> Did you miss the survey or have morefeedback for us? IT’S never too late.Contact Vicki Kyriakakis on 9341 8125 or [email protected] full survey report is available atwww.environmentvictoria.org.au.


Did you know that

Environment Victoria is part

of the Victoria Naturally

Alliance?

The Victoria Naturally Alliance is an alliance ofeight environment groups and has been created towork towards restoring the health of Victoria’sbiodiversity, which after years of land clearance andhabitat fragmentation is in a state of crisis.Our vision is for Victoria’s catchments, coast andmarine waters to have flourishing biodiversity,healthy ecosystems and resilient ecologicalprocesses that are highly valued, securelyprotected, sustainably managed, and effectivelyrestored by communities and governments.The Alliance will initially focus on raising awarenessabout solving Victoria’s biodiversity crises andensuring that the Victorian Government’s Landand Biodiversity White Paper is a strong androbust document, setting the framework forbiodiversity protection, enhancement andrestoration in Victoria for the next 20 to 50 years.For more information go to http://vnpa.org.au.

A majority of respondents were concerned

about climate change, citing it as a primary

reason for their increased motivation to

support Environment Victoria.


TEN YEARS AGO, in a move thatforeshadowed the rising tide ofenvironmental interest, EnvironmentVictoria began to develop communityprograms aimed at helping peoplebecome practical environmentalists.The resulting workshops and trainingprograms have become what is nowEV’s Sustainable Living program.The impetus was a rising awarenessthat key sectors of the community were

being left behind in the move to createa more sustainable society. Whetherbecause of language and culturalbarriers, financial limitations,geographical location or a lack of age-appropriate information, many weremissing out.The knowledge was used to shape EV’saward-winning Sustainable LivingProgram, which now works withsectors of the community that many

consider too ‘hard-to-reach’. And theresults speak for themselves. Theevidence is in that sustainabilityinformation and programs, such asEV’s, are having a significant impact onVictoria’s environmental footprint. Last year, Melburnians collectivelyused up to 69 billion litres less waterthan the year before. And recycling ofwaste has increased from 46 to 60 percent between 2000 and 2006. There is,

s u s t a i n a b l e l i v i n g

Sustainabilty:More than a philosophy> Annette Salkeld, Sustainable Living Program Manager

WITH CLIMATE CHANGE FRONT AND CENTRE OF MAINSTREAM NEWS, THERE HAS BEEN A SURGE OFINFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO REDUCE YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT. WITH EVERYTHINGFROM HOW TO REDUCE YOUR CARBON EMISSIONS, RECYCLING WATER AND WASTE, TO SUSTAINABLETRANSPORT AND GREENING YOUR HOME, SOCIETY HAS BEEN INUNDATED WITH TIPS AND ADVICEON HOW TO BECOME MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY. IT’S NO WONDER SOME FEELOVERWHELMED. BUT, AS SUSTAINABLE LIVING PROGRAM DIRECTOR ANNETTE SALKELD EXPLAINS,CHANGING YOUR WORLD DOESN’T NEED TO BE COMPLICATED.

however, still a long way to go. With a range of issues to deal with,EV’s work with groups such asrefugees and new migrants, seniors,low-income families and non-Englishspeaking communities has made itclear that for many environmentalissues have not been a priority. Andwhere they have, options for changehave often been limited.Living in the suburbs, many of theparticipants in EV’s programs aresimply not aware of the critical healthof our waterways and the issuesthreatening the local environment. Forthose who have come from water-scarce countries or regions, unlimitedwater delivered directly to the home isa gift. EV’s award winning programs with

Melbourne’s Vietnamese communities,for example, has demonstrated theimportance of issues such as trust indelivering successful programs. Asmigrants from a country wheregovernment and officials were highlymistrusted, some participants weresuspicious of EV’s motivations. Ourstaff and volunteers, recruited directlyfrom the community, were crucial tothe program’s success and had to beclear on project activities and aims.While this can take time, the effort wasessential been to building andmaintaining trust. And information on how to install anew water system or how to purchaseenergy efficient white goods is notuseful to those on low incomes,pensions or those who do not own theirown homes.The response has been to designcustom-made programs inconsultation with participants to helpthem make the changes that arepossible for them. Working closely withcommunity groups, service providers,and organisations linked to thecommunity, EV tailors programs toindividual community needs. We talk tocommunities about the issues that areimportant to them, the barriers andenablers to change, and what mostinfluences their current behaviours.EV’s programs are built on thisinformation, using the data andlearning styles that will most motivateeach group and encourage themaximum behaviour change. As aresult, all of our programs are differentand each one individually successful. Programs can include a mix ofdifferent activities, includingworkshops and field trips, personalisedhome audits, information booklets totake home and read, training in

leadership skills and even‘sustainability bingo’, an activity thathas become quite popular with some ofour elderly program participants.Underpinning each of our programs isa theory of behaviour change that ispractical in nature. The idea, based inpsychology, recognises that people aremore likely to sustain a behaviour theyhave opted to change for themselvesand in this way seeks to implementchange from the bottom up. These programs are most effectivewhere there is a personal benefit and,in EV’s case, these are many: animproved environment, reduced energyor water bills, a safer world for theirchildren and grandchildren or just theability to stand up and be heard. Manyof our workshop participants aresimply keen to learn more about theirnewly adopted country or be a part of acommunity activity. The Sustainable Living Program has aninnovative and unique approach tocommunity sustainability educationthat is proving an invaluable addition tomainstream sustainability programs.Through our creative and communalmethodology, we have shown that ourdiverse programs can and do work toreduce the environmental impact of all Victorians.

<<< Working with young people in

regional Victoria, the Youth Eco-

Challenge supports participants to

become role models in sustainable

living practices for their

communities.

The Public Transport Challenge

brings together secondary school

students from across Melbourne in a

day-long experience of Melbourne’s

public transport system.

The Eco-Wise program works with

older people in regional Victoria,

helping participants reduce their

ecological footprint through

affordable, practical and easy-to-

implement home improvements.

The Sustainable Living Program includes MulticulturalLeaders for Sustainability, the Green Business Program,the Public Transport Challenge, the Youth Eco-Challenge, Families Go Green and the Eco-Wise ActionProgram for Seniors. For a brochure or moreinformation on how to get involved, contact AnnetteSalkeld on 9341 8118 or at [email protected].



i n t h e c i t y

2008 Sustainable Living Festival

ENVIRONMENT VICTORIA was one of three organisations that headlined at Melbourne’s2008 Sustainable Living Festival in February. The festival drew thousands of Melburniansand is Australia’s largest sustainability event. EV’s appearance included presentations onworking with diverse communities, a visual DVD presentation and a performance by localMelbourne band, Direct Influence. Our stall, located in the Think Precinct featuredinnovative and practical activities and helped festival-goers to understand how to reducetheir ecological footprint and live more sustainably.

1. Visitors to Environment Victoria’s stall

test for themselves the savings to be

made with energy-efficient light bulbs.

2. Six-piece Melbourne band, Direct

Influence, capped off Environment

Victoria’s presentation at the Sustainable

Living Festival and set toes tapping with

their soulful reggae. 3. Fashionable

sustainability at the SLF Fashion Parade.

4. Melburnians of all ages had the

opportunity to paint their future vision.

5. Traditional weaving. 6. There was plenty

of good advice and food for thought at

EV’s stall. 7. The future of transport: a

solar power speed machine. 8. There was

lots on offer at the Festival.

1

2

3

4

7 8

5

6

PROJECT MANAGER, CHARLIE Davie,said that an appreciation of theprecious ecosystems that supplyMelbourne’s water inspired the youngparticipants to run activities to helptheir local communities reduce theirwater use. “These young people haveled activities which will help residentsof Casey save upwards of twomegalitres of water over the next 12months” he said. “The exciting thing about the Diversityfor Sustainability project is that youngpeople from very differentbackgrounds have built relationshipsand worked closely together to achievethese results.”Twenty-year old Shegofa Zahidi, one ofthe young organisers, said she hadlearnt a lot from visits to the YarraRiver and Cardinia Reservoir. “I havelived through drought in Afghanistanand I know the value of water,’’Shegofa said. “Saving water can meansaving lives. I think by working to savewater together we can bring ourcommunities together.”The Multicultural Youth Eco-Challengewas supported by South East Water.


s u s t a i n a b l e l i v i n g

ALMOST 50 PEOPLE from the communityattended the EV Green Business Programworkshops last month to learn how to makeenvironmentally friendly choices when shoppingin their local community.Participants gathered in a meeting room aboveLittle Saigon Market for the second of theworkshops to learn about issues such asnutrition, buying products with less packaging,the distance food travels to its selling point,buying Australian products and use of pesticidesin farming. The workshops also highlightedproducts from companies that have a badenvironmental or social record. After the presentation, participants were given alist of items to purchase in Little Saigon Market.“The idea is that people could immediately applythe lessons learned in the workshop, such aschoosing items with less packaging and askingthe stall holder what their sources are,’’ EVGreen Business Program project managerMichelle Burton said.“We made the workshops as relevant to thecommunity as possible. While the large food miles

for products sourced from Vietnam is alwaysgoing to be an issue, we recognise that membersof the Vietnamese community often want tosupport businesses from their home country. “The workshop is about helping them make theright decisions when it comes to buying foodproducts that might cause unwarranted adverseaffects on the environment, which is somethingeveryone should consider when they shop.’’After purchasing the products, the participantsreturned to the meeting room to cook up aseafood stir-fry with rice and vegetables, anddiscussed any issues they came across.The Green Business Program, launched in 2005,is part of Environment Victoria’s SustainableLiving Project. It focuses on working withVietnamese businesses to help them becomemore water and energy efficient.“These food workshops ensure that the program

involves the whole community – both residentsand businesses – with the end result being thatthe customers of those green businesses will beable to make green choices when shopping,’’ Ms Burton said.

Vietnamese community embraces ethical shopping> Daniel Clarke, Media Officer

Multicultural Youth Eco-Challenge finishes on high note

EV’s Youth Eco-Challenge participants are spreading the word on sustainability.

FOR THE PAST THREE MONTHS ENVIRONMENT VICTORIA HAS BEENWORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF CASEY AND THECENTRE FOR MULTICULTURAL YOUTH ISSUES TO BRING TOGETHERYOUNG MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES FROM AFGHANISTAN ANDAFRICA, ALONG WITH MEMBERS OF THE CASEY YOUTHAMBASSADORS, TO LEARN ABOUT OUR CITY’S WATER CATCHMENTS.

FOOTSCRAY’SVIETNAMESE

COMMUNITY HASTAKEN ON A

MORE ORGANICAPPROACH TO

FOOD SHOPPINGWITH THE HELP

OF TWO UNIQUEWORKSHOPS RUN

BYENVIRONMENT

VICTORIA.


When did you get first get involved in theenvironment movement?My first environmental involvementfollowed the closing of public rights ofway during the war to make more landavailable for agriculture. Legally, afterseven years, it stops being a right ofway. In the late 40’s the RamblersAssociation was very anxious to makesure that all these paths were openedup again and so groups went out atweekends cutting the fences whichclosed the paths. (The governmentweren’t) particularly worried but thefarmers weren’t very enthusiastic. Itwas a big movement all over Englandto make sure that these importantrights of way got opened. Which I thinkwas successful in the long run. It was abit different to things that happenedhere.

The Little Desert Campaign of 1969 was anextremely successful campaign and isconsidered something of a watershed inVictorian environmental politics. It alsoformed the basis for the formation of theConservation Council of Victoria (nowEnvironment Victoria). What was that like tobe a part of?It was very surprising. Because there’dreally been no interest in conservationand suddenly (there were) whole pagesof letters in The Age about it from justordinary people, culminating in amassive protest meeting at the St KildaPalais. Recently, there was a

demonstration up in the hills nearMarysville on logging catchments. AndI wondered how we could get thegeneral population more active inthese present issues. And I thought itwould be nice if we could find out howit was that people got so wild about theLittle Desert. I don’t know if anybodyever did do a study, but it’d be reallyinteresting.

You’ve been involved in grassrootsconservation for almost 50 years. How doyou think people’s attitudes to conservationand the environment have changed?Many more people are positive about itand the people who were involved inthe first place have mostly got differentviews now to the ones they had before.I think originally (conservation) wasmuch more related to preserving bushbut not necessarily worrying aboutwhat was in it. Now it’s much moreabout making it what it was before

Europeans arrived. And there’s plentyof knowledge around now as to how itwas. Even government departmentsnow work in that direction.

What do you think is the biggest issuefacing us today?Probably climate change. Because ifthat takes hold we won’t have any ofwhat we’ve worked for left.

What would you say to people who haven’tbeen involved in conservation andprotecting the environment but who mightbe concerned about the future?I’ve been retired for a long time nowand people who are working seem tobe much busier than I used to be anddon’t seem to have time for otheractivities. But you really need to maketime for these things. I think thatclimate change is starting to changepeople – it’s getting younger peoplemore involved. I have eightgrandchildren – three of them are 18.And before the last state election, oneof them… said to me, are you going toany demonstrations soon. And I said,well there’s the walk on warming. Andshe said, can I come? She bought adozen friends along and they arecontinuing to be involved. There ismore and more compelling evidencethat climate change could meandisaster for the world. The message topush is that this disaster can beavoided if we act now.

e n v i r o n m e n t a l c h a m p i o n s

LES SMITH IS ONE OF ENVIRONMENTVICTORIA’S LONGEST SERVING MEMBERSAND HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN CONSERVATIONFOR OVER 50 YEARS. HE IS STILL A REGULARVOLUNTEER AT EV AND WORKS TIRELESSLY TOPRESERVE BUSH REMNANTS IN WHITEHORSE.IN THIS EDITION, LES TALKS TO EV ABOUT THE WAY IT ALL STARTED AND HOWCONSERVATION HAS CHANGED OVER THE LAST FEW DECADES.

LES SMITH:Committed toconservation

‘IF (CLIMATECHANGE) TAKES HOLD,WE WON’T HAVEANY OF WHATWE’VE WORKEDFOR LEFT.’

Wasteplana cityaffair> Mark Doggett, Director Zero Waste Campaign


z e r o w a s t e

The new plan has the potential to significantly reduce the amount of waste

sent to landfill by city dwellers.

THE NEW PLAN will be the firstopportunity Melburnians have had toinfluence the environmentalcredentials of Melbourne’s wasterecycling and recovery system. Startingthis month, Melburnians will be able tocomment on a draft of the plan, whichaims to minimise waste generation andmaximise the amount of resourcesrecovered for reuse. The plan will alsoidentify the infrastructure and systemsneeded to do this and create aschedule for the closing and opening ofold and new landfills.

If done correctly the plan can giveMelburnians a system that reuses andrecycles up to 40 per cent more of theirwaste than it does currently. The wrongplan will mean mediocreimprovements or, worse still,business-as-usual. Melbourne desperately needs toreduce its environmental impact. Whilemost people are aware of theenormous quantities of water andenergy the city ingests, far fewerrealise how much other materialMelbourne draws into its boundaries.Matierals such as plastic, glass,aluminium and steel containers, paperand food are consumed by the tonne

loads. In fact, the CSIRO estimates thatMelburnians currently consume over630 million tonnes of naturalresources, not including energy andwater, per year. Melbourne has a long way to go toreduce its impact on the planet butEnvironment Victoria believes that thenew waste plan has the potential to bea positive start. To do this, Environment Victoriabelieves the plan needs to:1 Increase the amount of reusable and

recyclable material recovered fromour city’s garbage;

2 Vastly reduce or eliminate theamount of green waste we send tolandfill; and

3 Increase Melburnians’ willingness toreduce, re-use and recycle theirwaste

TO GET THAT PLAN WE NEED YOUR

HELP! The plan is currently open forpublic comment. Details are listed on the The ZeroWaste page of the EV website(www.environmentvictoria.org.au). Ifyou don’t have access to the internet,you can contribute by contacting MarkDoggett on 9341 8103 for help inmaking your own submission or tosupport our efforts.

THE NAME MAY BE A TONGUETWISTER, BUT THE

“METROPOLITAN RESOURCERECOVERY AND WASTE

STRATEGIC PLAN” HIDES ASTRATEGY THAT IS SET TO PLAY

A FUNDAMENTAL ROLE INHOW WELL MELBOURNE

REDUCES ITSENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

OVER THE NEXT

THIRTY YEARS.

take action now and help environment victoria

reduce Melbourne’s impact on our environment.


WHEN THINKING OF what a desirablefuture for transport would be, severalqualities come to mind: accessibility,reliability, speed, connectivity, safetyand comfort among them. But to betruly sustainable, Victoria must have atransport system that can deal with thechanging nature and consequences ofclimate change and peak oil. Over the past year, the Victoriancommunity has come to realise for thefirst time just how serious the threat ofclimate change is. Greenhouse gasemissions are a byproduct of almosteverything our society and economycurrently create. The result has been thesteady but sure warming of the planet. Over the last 20 years, Victoria hasdoubled its energy use, and emissionsfrom energy production have grown bynearly 30 per cent since 1990. Victorianeeds to cut its greenhouse gasemissions dramatically – and fast. TheVictorian government has set a targetto reduce the state’s emissions by atleast 60 per cent based on 2000 levels.While current science tells us thatemission reductions will have to gomuch further than this (think at least90 per cent reductions), even reachingthese lower targets will be difficult for

Victoria’s transport sector unlessimmediate action is taken. The second issue that will create havocfor Victoria’s current transport systemis peak oil. Peak oil refers to the peakin global oil production. Once the peakhas been reached, oil productionworldwide will decline. While demandfor oil supplies continues to grow, thisgap between demand and supply willlead to even higher petrol prices. Peak oil, and higher petrol prices, willhave a significant effect on allVictorians. A key problem is thereliance of Victoria’s transport systemon individual private car use. This dominance has meant that ourcity has grown largely to accommodatecars. Public transport alternatives arelacking in the outer suburbs and ruralVictoria, making it difficult for peopleliving in these areas to travel without acar. The result is a type of enforced carownership – a system where themajority of Victorians cannot accessservices, employment, education, orparticipate in the community withoutowning a car. As petrol prices continue to increase,more and more people are finding itdifficult to afford to fill the petrol tank.

And with further increases predicted,there will come a point where this levelof reliance on private cars becomesalmost impossible.Rising petrol prices will also affectbusiness and the freight industry, withboth of these sectors having developedupon the assumption of cheap andavailable petrol. Daily commuters and road-basedfreight will need alternatives. But any proposed solution to the threatof peak oil and rising petrol prices, mustalso be a solution to climate change. Wecannot afford the uptake of ‘solutions’that will cause an increase in emissions.Through land-clearing for bio-fuels, orthe use of coal-to-liquid technology,many suggested alternative fuels willactually increase our emissions. Achieving a sustainable transportsystem is an essential part of dealingwith the dual problems of climatechange and peak oil. The transportsystem of the future must provide realchoices that operate on near zeroemissions. Public transport, includingheavy rail, light rail and buses, andactive transport such as cycling andwalking combined can provide almostall of the answers. Environment Victoria believes that asustainable transport system will helpVictorians reduce reliance on depletingoil supplies and reduce our emissions.A sustainable transport system is not atechnological issue, nor an engineeringissue. Through immediate Governmentinvestment in pubic transport, activetransport and rail freight, we have theopportunity to ensure that allVictorians can access a system thatwill serve them well into the future.

t r a n s p o r t

THE FUTURE OF VICTORIA’S TRANSPORT SYSTEM LIES IN ITS ABILITY TOMEET THE CHALLENGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE, WRITES EV SUSTAINABLETRANSPORT CAMPAIGNER VICTORIA MCKENZIE-MCHARG.

> Victoria McKenzie-McHarg, Climate Change and Sustainable Transport Campaigner

TAKE ACTION

Help us push for a truly sustainabletransport system for Victoria. Become aGreen Action Partner or contact ClimateChange and Sustainable TransportCampaigner Victoria McKenzie-McHargon 9341 8112 or at [email protected] for moreinformation on how to get involved.

Sustainable transportcrucial to State’s future


u p d a t e

Decline of the MooraboolWhen local EV representative Cameron Steele, took a photo of the Moorabool River at Hunts Bridge in January 2007 (left), he didn’texpect the river to decline so rapidly. Exactly a year later, the Moorabool is just a shadow of its former self (right). Recent decisions onwater flow allocations, aided by the minister’s decision to allow all passing flows to be stopped at both Lal Lal and Mooraboolreservoirs, have turned this section of the Moorabool into nothing more than a series of disconnected pools. The smaller of these arenow exhibiting signs of heavy algae growth, while the larger pools have dropped by at least half a metre. “I feel (the photographs)provide a graphic representation of the damage being wrought,” Cameron said. “They are a stark reminder that those decisions madein our boardrooms often have very real impacts on the ground.”

JANUARY 2007 JANUARY 2008

H e l p E V f i g h t f o r a h e a l t h i e r f u t u r e f o r o u r r i v e r s .

b e c o m e a G r e e n A c t i o n P a r t n e r t o d a y.

Personal Details

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�� All �� Rivers �� Climate Change

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PLEASE COMPLETE THIS FORM, TEAR OFF THIS PAGE AND RETURN IT TO REPLY PAID 12575, A’BECKETT STREET, MELBOURNE, VIC 8006.

BECOME A GREEN PARTNER NOW! Green Action Partners are monthly donors to EV, whose regularcommitment allows EV to plan and run priority campaigns to protect Victoria’s environment. More than this though, regular monthlydonations reduce administration costs for EV – so a Green Action Partner’s dollar stretches further!

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WHO’S WHO AT

ENVIRONMENT VICTORIA

Chief Executive Officer Kelly O’ShanassyOPERATIONS

Organisational ServicesManager Ivan KolkerAdministration Helen VineCommunications Officer Vicki KyriakakisMedia Officer Daniel ClarkeFinance Officer

Despina Giannakis CLIMATE CHANGE &

SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT

Campaigner Victoria McKenzie-McHarg HEALTHY RIVERS CAMPAIGN

Acting Manager, Healthy RiversLeonie Duncan Community Campaigner Juliet Le Feuvre

SUSTAINABLE LIVING PROGRAMDirector Annette SalkeldProgram Manager (GreenBusiness Program; Eco-WiseAction) Michelle BurtonProject Officer, Families GoGreen Murray IrwinMulticultural Leaders ProgramManager Charlie Davie Public Transport ChallengeProject Officer Michael Chew

Sustainable Living ProjectOfficer Katelyn FryerZERO WASTE CAMPAIGNDirector Mark Doggett

Contact Us (03) 9341 8100 [email protected]. Level 2, 60L Green Building60 Leicester StreetCarlton VIC 3053

come along to the mullum mullum festival. includes walks by experts in their ffields through the beautiful mullum mullum valley.

Opening: April 27, 2008 • Festival: May 3-4, 2008

Where: Mullum Mullum Valley, Victoria

For a full program, contact Les Smith on 9874 2641 or at [email protected]

n o t i c e t h i s

Concernedabout theenvironment? Want to dosomethingabout it?Multicultural Leaders inSustainability is a training program,run by EV and the Centre for YouthMulticultural Issues, that will giveyou the skills and knowledge to helpeducate communities aboutenvironmental and sustainabilitychallenges.

s d s f d s f s f

Open to anyone aged 18-25 yearsfrom migrant and refugeebackgrounds living in Melbourne’ssouth and south-eastern suburbs.

Training runs from April to October2008. Training is FREE and travelcosts are reimbursed.

s d s f d s f s f

For more information, contact the CMYI on 9340 3700 or [email protected].

Mullum Mullum FestivalMullum Mullum Festival

Documents

Green Action News - Autumn 2008