|
Wind and
Wildlife Conference: Oct 9, 2012 in
Melbourne
Registration,
Call for Papers and Sponsorship information available at:
http://windandwildlife.com.au/2012/
The
first Australian conference on wind energy and wildlife interactions
will bring together the finest expertise in Australia to promote
consistencies in research, management and policy on this topical
issue.
Held
in the idyllic settings of the Melbourne Zoo, this one day event
will provide industry, scientists, NGOs and policy makers a unique
forum to promote co-operation, share learning’s and develop
relationships for the future. This event will highlight
Australian best practice in research and management and identify key
knowledge gaps where further investigations are required.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to be a part of the future for
management and research of wind energy and wildlife
interactions.
Key
Dates
Jun
10: Abstract Submission Closes
Jul
31: Speakers Confirmed
Aug
7: Early Bird Registration Closes
Sep
4: Regular Registration Closes
A
decade of Net Gain
On
Thursday 10 May 2012, EIANZ hosted a seminar in conjunction
with Biosis Research on Victoria’s Native Vegetation Management – a
Framework for Action (Net Gain policy). Members arrived in droves to
listen to perspectives from Russell Costello (Formerly with
the Dept of Sustainability & Environment), Alexandra Guild
(Senior Associate, Norton Rose), Aaron Harvey (Director Consulting
Services, Biosis Research), and Rob Taber (CEO Villawood
Properties).
The
Revised Murray-Darling Basin Plan – Failing the Environment
The
Water Act 2007 imposes an obligation on the Commonwealth government
to ensure the return to environmentally sustainable levels of water
extraction in the Murray-Darling Basin. At 6pm on Thursday
24 May, Ian Tulloch from the Sociology and Politics
Program at La Trobe University in Bendigo will be presenting his
view that the targets in the revised Murray-Darling Basin Plan will
not achieve the objectives of the Water Act. The first draft plan,
released in late 2010, recommended that between 3500 and 4000 GL
were required to meet the requirements of the Act. The revised draft
plan has cut this to 2750 GL and increased ground water extractions
by more than 2600 GL. Ian argues that the MDB Plan is designed
to neutralise the MDB as a political issue and that the Commonwealth
Government has missed a historical opportunity to protect the
environmental integrity of the fourth largest river system in the
world.
To
attend, please RSVP to m.kennedy@latrobe.edu.au by
23 May. |
Policy
and Legislation Watch
It
seems so long ago, but do you remember all the hoo-ha surrounding
the Parliamentary review of the Environmental Effects Process in
2010-2011? After two years of pushing hard for reform and a change
in Government , we were delighted to hear that the Victorian
parliament quietly announced their intentions to overhaul the
Act. On the first of March, the Victorian Government released
their response to the Report of the Environment and Natural
Resources Committee on its Inquiry into the Environment Effects
Statement Process in Victoria.
Check
out: http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/enrc/
article/1491
The
EIANZ’s response to this enquiry is summarised in the ENRC enquiry
report, with a full copy of the report found on the EIANZ website.
Stay
tuned for more details.....
Support
Education for Sustainability
The
EIANZ is participating in a new initiative, the Australian Education
for Sustainability Alliance (AESA). This Alliance was formed around
a vision that all Australians should receive effective education
that instils knowledge, practices and values of sustainability. At a
time when our planet increasingly confronts its environmental
limits, it is important that we are equipped to face those
challenges.
The
Alliance is comprised of organisations from the education, union,
youth and environment sectors that want a higher prioritisation of
sustainability in the education system. To achieve its vision, the
AESA is advocating government to implement best practice policy
around education, especially in the Australian Curriculum,
Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative (AuSSI), tertiary
sustainability programs, and continued professional
development.
On
Tuesday the 20th of March, the AESA launched in Canberra at
Parliament House, which EIANZ President Michael Chilcott attended.
The launch included the release of our first report:
The
State of Education for Sustainability in
Australia, a
press conference with school students and our Alliance members
meeting with over 20 Federal Ministers, MPs and Senators. The day
was successful with all politicians showing support for increased
sustainability education and coverage in a number of media outlets
including The
Age.
The
Alliance is now following up with those politicians by connecting
them to AuSSI schools in their local area.
If
you support this initiative, we’d like you to visit www.educationforsustainability.org.au/get-involved/
where
you can sign up for updates and sign the petition to maintain
funding for the AuSSI program. You can also get involved by helping
the team organise a politician to visit your local AuSSI school.
Please contact Paul Keighley, EIANZ Students and Early Careers
Committee Chair, at paul.keighley@gmail.com. |
