EIANZ Illawarra event: affecting positive change while working in the environment industry

The EIANZ NSW Division is hosting a networking event in the Illawarra where we will consider how to affect positive change while working in the environment industry. The objectives for the night are to: 

• Connect like-minded individuals in the Illawarra and help each other achieve improved environmental outcomes
• Hear from three prominent individuals with a wealth of experience as environmental professionals
• Discuss our diverse and interesting careers in the environment industry
• Reflect on how to deliver positive outcomes in the environment industry
• Leave empowered with the idea that while we may not have total control over a project, we have influence and an ability to voice and promote sustainable goals.

Watch out for an email with event details!

Vale Andrea Zambolt

It is with deep sadness, we acknowledge the passing of Andrea Zambolt, former President of EIANZ NSW Division and a Registrar for the CEnvP program. EIANZ colleagues remember Andrea as a warm, humble and supportive environmental professional with a sense of humour and positivity. She always thought of others, particularly those in their early careers.

Andrea was fun, approachable, level-headed, organised, understanding and had a warmth about her that many loved. Despite being a busy lady who loved her doggies, family and friends, she always had time for others and EIANZ commitments. Her expertise in environmental approvals and management, and her unending support of the environmental profession were also noted.

On a personal note, Andrea was a dear friend of Monica Darlow, NSW Division Secretariat. She was Monica’s good friend for 41 years.  Andrea’s new life on the Gold Coast with her partner Charles and working with WSP was going well until cancer struck a year ago.

In memory of the Andrea, the NSW Division committee will make a donation to the Breast Cancer Network Australia. The EIANZ Central Office has donated Andrea’s membership fees to the McGrath Foundation. In lieu of flowers, personal donations can be made to any of the following charities that Andrea supported:

• Breast Cancer Network Australia
• RSPCA
• Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

Plastic Pandemic Pandemonium

EIANZ NSW Division Committee member Dr Avanish Panikkar presented at the EIANZ Conference on the topic of single use plastics and soft plastics, focusing on the medical sector as impacted by the COVID pandemic.

While the social and economic impacts of the pandemic was and is in everyone’s mind and every country’s policies and budget papers, the third element of a triple-bottom-line assessment, the environment, did not get the same or comparable/equitable attention from most quarters. Environmental consequences of COVID-19 impact various sides of our life, the planet’s life rather, such as changes in the type and quantity of waste, management and disposal of waste, use of energy due to varied work and life practices, use of fuel due to varied travel practices etc. While the travel restrictions contributed to nearly 5.5% reduction in global carbon emissions in 2020 (in some places up to 30%), it caused more than eight million tonnes of health-care single-use plastic waste with an estimated 25,000 tonnes ending up in oceans. This includes approximately 3.4 billion single-use masks and 65 million nitrile/latex gloves per day.

A Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of the plethora of our wants and needs would yield confusing and confronting images of the situation, intensified beyond our customary imagination. The majority of us remain oblivious to the obvious, though the self-demonstrating changes have been happening around us. The plastic chokehold on the planet’s neck has been exacerbated with bits and pieces of the “new normal”. Unbeknown to the healthcare industry, public littering of used masks and gloves has been captured in widely publicized (in social media at least) images at beaches, public parks and other open spaces due either to carelessness of the user or lack of proper disposal options. This would eventually find its way to a water body or other sensitive environment. Amelioration of the pandemic conditions has not eased the situation much, as the virus has not fully relieved us of its circulation yet. Efforts in innovation in recycling, especially for soft plastics and single-use plastics of any stream, should extend further to current horizons. The presentation, and possibly a future paper, take a fresh new look at the situation from across the planet based on published data to contemplate some feasible solutions or the all-important ‘new way of thinking’.

Transport for NSW|GTIA update

Transport for NSW is currently updating the "Guide to Traffic Generating Developments"(GTGD), first published in the 1990s, and is interested in your thoughts on possible improvements.

The Guide is used by councils and developers to outline aspects of traffic generation, parking and vehicle access considerations relating to developments. Transport for NSW is proposing to update the GTGD to become the "Guide to Transport Impact Assessment" (GTIA). Proposed updates may include:

• Addressing each mode of transport and other important matters like car parking and travel demand management.
• Ensuring transport system outcomes are considered in the development assessment process.
• Providing clear and transparent guidance for developers at the application stage.
• Supporting the development sector in communicating with Transport for NSW to ensure impacts are mitigated and advice provided in a timely manner.

Transport for NSW is keen to hear from the industry on how the current GTGD can be improved. 

• Short survey - Click here >
• More information, please contact the team at GTIA@transport.nsw.gov.au     

EIANZ is looking forward to supporting Transport for NSW in this review and will update members as the consultation progresses.

EIANZ MoU with National Environmental Law Association (NELA) MoU

The Board of EIANZ have developed a national memorandum of understanding (MoU) to facilitate collaboration with the National Environmental Law Association (NELA) for the mutual benefit of both organisations’ members.   Collaboration covers a number of areas such as making each other’s events available, cross promotion and facilitating joint webinars and forums.  More information to come from central office.

For more information on NELA events - Click here >