green action news: issue 14, autumn 2011

M O B I L I S I N G P E O P L E T O S A F E G U A R D O U R E N V I R O N M E N T ISSUE 14 • AUTUMN 2011

PLUSThe first 100 daysof the new stategovernment

Help us save the Murray, forever.

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Green Action NewsIssue 14, Autumn 2011Design 2Fish ProductionsPrint Print BoundContributing writersVicki Kyriakakis, Mark Wakeham,Kelly O’Shanassy, Sarah Dobney,Michele Burton, Domenica Settle,Amelia Young, Juliet Le Feuvre,Nina Bailey, Charlie Davie, LouiseMatthiessonEditorVicki Kyriakakis (03) 9341 [email protected] Membership enquiries (03) 9341 [email protected] Media enquiries(03) 9341 [email protected] Green Action News is anEnvironment Victoria publication.For more information, visitwww.environmentvictoria.org.au

THERE’S NEVER ANY shortage ofenvironmental challenges for us to workon and 2011 is no exception. But thereare four big actions for EnvironmentVictoria this year that will take most ofour attention.

SAVE THE MURRAY. Our article on thenext page tells you all you need to knowabout the plight of the Murray River andour plans to save it in 2011. This year, thefederal government will decide how muchwater to give back to the Murray. Weintend to stand up for the silent 77 percentof Australians – farmers and city dwellersalike – who want the Murray saved.

NO NEW COAL PLANT FORVICTORIA. Right now, the EPA is close togiving the proposed HRL coal plant itsfinal approvals before it can be built. Butwith so many cleaner and safer ways for

Victoria to produce electricity it wouldbe a total travesty for the power plant togo ahead. Should the EPA decide to givethis polluting project the go-ahead, we’llbe there to put a stop to it. Read moreabout it on page 10.

REPLACE HAZELWOOD. The dateshave been set for a price on carbon –July 2012. So we’ll be lobbying hard tomake sure that the price is set at a levelthat will help replace our dirtiest powerstations – like Hazelwood – with cleanenergy. We’ve outlined the key tests for astrong carbon price on page 7.

SUSTAINABILITY AGENDA FORVICTORIA. Our new state governmenthasn’t exactly made the mostenvironmentally friendly start to theirterm. So we’ve got our work cut out forus. But rest assured, we’ll hold them

accountable for a credible environmentplan over the next four years. We’llcontinue to work on our One MillionHomes retrofit program and push forgovernment investment in water andenergy efficiency, and sustainablebehaviour programs.

We’ll be supporting our friends at theVNPA to get cattle out of our nationalparks, rolling out brand new sustainableliving programs, and launching our newCoalWatch resource that will helpVictorians keep track of coal projects inthe state.

We look forward to your support overthe next year and thank you for being abig part of Environment Victoria’s work.After all, there’s never been a moreimportant time to take Green Action forour environment.

What do a price on carbon, a decision to build a new coal plant in Victoria, and a plan

to return water to the Murray River have in common? They’re all happening in 2011.

Big challenges ahead in 2011

Irrigators speakup for the MurrayRiver

Putting a price tagon pollution

First 100 Days ofthe new stategovernment

Cattle in the high country

CoalWatch: ournew campaignresource

Flemington: Agreener place to be

GreenTown goesto work

Alevi CommunityCouncil scores 5,000 litre tanks

Murray River:Crossing the Divide

Help us Save theMurray, forever

> Kelly O’Shanassy, Chief Executive Officer

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W AT E R A N D H E A L T H Y R I V E R S

> Amelia Young, Healthy Rivers Campaigner

IF YOU HAD ONLY a quarter of yourblood coursing through your veins, you’dbe dead.

In 2009 the mighty Murray had only 26percent of its long-term average flowsleft in it.

Over the decade or more of droughtconditions, inflows into the Murray Riverand its tributaries decreased. Yet massiveamounts of water continued to beextracted for consumptive use.

The Murray was struggling to survive.With the recent rains, the river’s mouth isnow flowing into the Southern Ocean forthe first time in years. But the problem’snot solved. Nothing can survive on onedecent drink every 20 years.

At the eleventh hour the rains gavethe Coorong and our spectacular RiverRed Gum forest wetlands a muchneeded drink. But this summer’s floodevents can’t fix the environmentaldamage caused by years of overuse.

For too long our rivers have beenmismanaged and exploited. It’s timeto look after them.

We all know that the way water isshared in the Murray is not working.Now is our opportunity to re-think how

to share total available water. In the faceof dangerous climate change, not onlydo we need to grapple with ‘a land ofdroughts and flooding rains’, but withdroughts and floods of increasingseverity.

We can’t afford to waste our naturalresources anymore. We need to save theMurray River to secure jobs, our health,and the economy.

In fact, a healthy Murray-DarlingBasin would deliver almost $10billion of environmental, social andeconomic benefits to Australians.

Some in the irrigator lobby groups areclaiming that giving water back to theenvironment will cost jobs with hugesocial and economic impacts.

But recent economic research showsthat a healthy Murray-Darling Basinprovides improved direct benefits (likenature based tourism) and indirectbenefits – water filtration, water storage,and habitat for species that providevaluable services to the agriculturalsector.1

To give but one example of a benefitprovided by a healthy river: a singlerookery of Straw Necked Ibis can

The Murray River is the lifeblood of our country. But for decades we’ve been bleeding it dry.

This year, lets save the Murray, forever.

WE NEEDACTION TOARREST THEDECLINE OFTHE RIVERSYSTEM ANDWE MUSTMOVE AHEADWITHIMPORTANTNATIONALWATERREFORM.

WE NEEDACTION TOARREST THEDECLINE OFTHE RIVERSYSTEM ANDWE MUSTMOVE AHEADWITHIMPORTANTNATIONALWATERREFORM.




consume 500 tonnes of insects a daythat would otherwise be eating cropsand multiplying.2

In calling for the Plan to deliver up to7,600 billion litres of water to be returnto the Basin’s rivers, we’re asking theMurray-Darling Basin Authority toproperly quantify the benefits to be hadfrom restoring the system to health, andindeed, the costs and risks of not takingthis course of action.

There’s no doubt about it, we needbetter economic management ofthe Murray River.

We need action to arrest the decline of the river system and we must move ahead with important nationalwater reform.

Here at Environment Victoria we’rekick-starting a big campaign to Save theMurray, forever. We want to give a voiceto the 77 percent of Australians who’vesaid they want the Murray River to besaved.3

Up to 7,600 billion litres of water mustbe returned to the Murray River. That’s4,500 MCGs worth of water. It’s what thescientists say is needed to returnAustralia’s greatest river system tohealth.

In 2011, political leaders willdecide the fate of the Murray.

We have a once in a generationopportunity to turn things around.

We hope you’ll join us – because thisis the year to Save the Murray, forever.

Influential irrigation lobbygroups are toutingoutrageous myths in ablatant attempt to delayaction to Save the Murray.That’s why it’s up to us to actnow and fight back with thetruth. Your voice andfinancial support will makeall the difference toAustralia’s greatest river andthe lifeblood of our country.

MAKE ADONATIONYour donation will help usrun a critical publiccampaign to counter the liesof powerful vested intereststrying to derail our efforts toSave the Murray. We’ll bustthe myths and speak up foryou – the ordinaryAustralians andcommunities who want tosave the Murray River forour children. We’ve got bigplans but we can’t do itwithout you. Fill in the donation form on page 15 to make yourdonation today >

SIGN OURPETITIONA healthy Murray River willprovide us with billions ofdollars worth of benefits –like fresh, clean water, andsecure regional jobs.Demand that ourgovernment stand up to thevested interests and Savethe Murray, forever. Sign ouronline petition at: www.environmentvictoria.org.au/content/save-the-murray

TAKEACTION

1 ACF (February 2011) What’s a healthy Murray-Darling Basin worth to Australians?http://www.acfonline.org.au/uploads/res/ACF_MDB_economic_analysis_2-2-11.pdf, accessed 10 March, 2011.

2 At Border Rivers-Gwydir Catchment Management Authority http://brg.cma.nsw.gov.au/index.php?page=vegetation_management, accessed 10 March, 2011.

3 At http://www.acfonline.org.au/articles/news.asp?news_id=3194, accessed 10 March, 2011.



Our parched rivers and wildlife

have been given a breather after

recent flooding brought life back

to degraded rivers and wetlands. SINCE 1983, WATERBIRD numbers inthe Murray-Darling Basin plummeted bya massive 80 percent. Some waterbirdshave taken advantage of the recent rainsthough, laying clutches of eggs andraising their young on the boomingnumbers of invertebrates and spawningnative fish. The upshot is that birdnumbers have increased slightly and

populations are now estimated to be 30-40 percent of the long-term average.

The positive environmental effects ofthe flood events could potentially last foryears, with the biodiversity of Kerangand Hattah Lakes, and Barmah-Millewa,Koondrook-Pericoota forest wetlandsbenefitting from the rain.

All this is encouraging, but thebaseline was very low and the recentrains cannot make up for degradationcaused by years of lack of water.

If this season is followed by anotherseries of dry years – and we don’t haveenvironmental watering programs in

place – we risk allowing our riversystems to seriously decline once again.

In short, the recent Victorian floodevents don’t solve the crises our riversare still facing: the Murray River hasexperienced years of drought followedby intense flooding, but under climatechange, we can expect more severeweather patterns.

Only a strong Murray-Darling BasinPlan that makes the most of the recentrains and secures up to 7,600 billionlitres of water for the long-term health ofthe Murray will ensure our environmentthrives – no matter what the weather.

Busting the mythsRight now, the Murray-Darling Basin Authority is deciding how

much water to return to the Basin’s rivers. Irrigator lobbyists and

agribusiness with vested interests are spouting myths to prevent

our rivers from getting the water they need. Here are the facts.

What the floods mean for our environment

Learn more about our Save the Murray campaign at www.environmentvictoria.org.au/save-the-murray

MYTH: It’s rained so theMurray-Darling Plan should bedelayed or scrappedaltogether.

FACT: Nothing can survive onone decent drink every 20years. The Plan is our once-in-a-generation chance to turnthings around to save theMurray and the communitiesthat depend on it, forever.

MYTH: We’ll run out of food ifwater is returned to theenvironment.

FACT: Even under droughtconditions we’ve grown morefood than we can eat.

MYTH: Returning water to theenvironment will cost jobs anddestroy rural communities.

FACT: Rural communitiesthrive on healthy rivers, they’renot destroyed by them. Only ariver with water in it can helpdeliver economic andenvironmental benefits –business-as-usual is not an option.

MYTH: The CommonwealthGovernment will forceirrigators to give up their water.

FACT: The government onlybuys water from farmers whodecide to sell it.

For more myth-busting details, visit www.environmentvictoria.org.au/busting-the-myths




THEY MAY COME from different parts ofthe state, but Bill MacLumpha from RedCliffs and Helen Reynolds fromShepparton agree on one thing: healthyrivers benefit more than just the birdsand fish.

“A healthy river is critical for thesurvival of riverine communities and forirrigators,” Bill says. And Bill shouldknow – his family as been in the areasince the Great War. His sultana and winegrape farm depends on a healthy MurrayRiver. “A healthy river means, or wouldmean, water users such as myself arefarming sustainably, not at the expenseof, or despite the environment as hasbeen the case.”

Helen – who farms grain and foddercrops – agrees. “For me a healthy river isabout a lot of things. It’s about waterquality, having enough flows andoverbank flooding so that fish and birdscan breed. It’s about the movement ofwater on and off wetlands [and] thesurvival of threatened species. But I don’tthink it has to be the needs of farmersversus the environment.”

Helen says the health of the river alsodirectly influences the quality of waterirrigators have to use and comes withmany natural benefits. “[It’s] a home fornative bees that we need to pollinate

crops and birds to eat insect pests. Andof course, it’s a wonderful place to spendtime and go for a swim!”

Having watched the river for years, Billsays the balance in recent decades hasbeen tipped against the environment.“There has to be a long-term balancebetween diversions and environmentalflows, to maintain water quality andsustain riverine environmental systems,”Bill says.

Both irrigators see the Basin Plan asthe way to shift that balance backtowards the environment. “Over the pastcentury, government policies haveencouraged farmers to use water,” Helensays. “Not all that water was used wisely

and there are areas that have beenirrigated that, because of the soil qualityor distance to move the water, shouldnever have been irrigated. I think weneed a Basin Plan so that we can have along-term focus on returning the Basinto good health. Delaying the processisn’t going to help that.”

Bill too would like to see a plan thatdelivers a better outcome to theenvironment but without – as he puts it– crucifying irrigators along the way.“There is not universal support, but thereis genuine widespread support amongstirrigators for a basin plan along the linesof the draft MDP.”

But Bill believes a lot of confusion andmisinformation around the plan hasbeen created and sustained by anti-planinterests groups and inflammatorymedia coverage. “The debate has beenpoorly informed and divisive with amajority of irrigators believing – and stillbelieving – that entitlements would beforfeited,” Bill says.

It’s a myth that Bill is keen to bust.“Irrigators can retain or sell theirentitlement as they wish.” In fact, Billsays, being able to sell water to thegovernment for return to theenvironment has helped irrigators inhard times.

“The buyback program has increasedthe value of water entitlements and thishas benefited the many irrigators whoare being forced out of business. Or whoneed to raise capital to continueirrigating. My own business benefitedsubstantially from the federal buybacks.”

You’ve probably heard that irrigators along the Murray River oppose a

strong plan to return water to the River. And we’ve seen copies of the

Guide to the Draft Murray-Darling Basin Plan burnt in the streets in

Griffith. Now, Green Action News speaks to two Victorian irrigators who

are swimming against the tide.

> Juliet Le Feuvre, Healthy Rivers Campaigner Helen’s three year old son Jason would reap the benefits of a healthy Murray River.

“WE NEED A BASINPLAN TO RETURNTHE BASIN TOHEALTH. DELAYINGTHE PROCESS ISN’T GOING TOHELP THAT.”

Irrigators speak up for the MurrayRiver

Irrigators speak up for the MurrayRiver



S A F E C L I M AT E

ON 24 FEBRUARY, the Prime Ministerannounced her intention to commencea price on carbon on 1 July 2012. And itwill apply to most sectors of theAustralian economy. A fixed carbon pricewill apply for three to five years, andthen the scheme will migrate to a cap-and-trade scheme with a binding target.

Here at Environment Victoria, wewelcomed the announcement. But asalways – the devil will be in the detail.The two most important decisions areyet to be made. What will the startingprice on carbon be and how will therevenues be spent?

This year we’ll be campaigning for aneffective price on carbon as acontinuation of our efforts to replacepolluting power stations like Hazelwood.We’ll be highlighting the need for aprice-tag on pollution, but also workingto ensure that the price-tag actuallyworks to reduce pollution. So, here areour key tests of a price on carbon:

TEST 1: Does it reduce emissions acrossthe Australian economy?

Sounds pretty simple but it’s in no wayguaranteed. Particularly if we don’t havea cap on pollution in the early years.Importantly, we need to ensure we’remaking real emissions reductions in

Australia – not just buying offsets fromoverseas. These reductions need to beadequate to put us within reach of whatthe science tells us is necessary.

TEST 2: Does it replace our mostpolluting power stations – likeHazelwood – with clean energy?

Whether or not this happens willdepend on whether the mistakes of theCPRS are repeated and billions of dollarsis given to coal-fired power generatorsto continue polluting. A timeframeneeds to be set for their replacement.

TEST 3: Does it kick-start the transitionto a clean-energy economy?

A starting price of carbon in the orderof $50 per tonne will be necessary tobring online clean energy projects andprevent construction of new coal-firedpower stations like HRL. A strong price-tag on pollution will make clean energycheaper. That way, we can takeadvantage of our powerful sun, windand waves to power our homes andbusinesses.

TEST 4: Does it help families andbusinesses reduce their energy use?

Using some of the revenues to investin energy efficiency for our homes andbusinesses will help families deal withthe rising cost of living and lock inemissions reductions for decades tocome.

TEST 5: Is it all we’re doing? Some in the business community want

to use the price on carbon as an excuseto axe all other climate changeprograms. But we know a price oncarbon won’t be enough. We’ll still needrenewable energy targets, feed-in-tariffs,public transport investment, energyefficiency standards and programs, andlots more.

Environment Victoria is rolling out asignificant campaign to ensure the priceon carbon meets these tests. Ourcampaign has already started with somegood media coverage. We look forwardto working with you this year to bring aprice-tag on pollution into reality.

To keep up-to-date with the campaign and what you can do to get involved, sign-upfor our Safe Climate Bulletin at www.environmentvictoria.org.au/sign-up.

Putting aprice-tag onpollution

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It’s the biggest game in town this year, but the question

still remains: will 2011 be the year in which our Federal

Parliament finally introduces a price on carbon?

> Mark Wakeham, Campaigns Director


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The first 100 days of the new state government

The new Victorian Government is introducing policy that will make windfarms harder to build.

THEY’VE PUT COWS back into our nationalparks, tried to block a national plan to Savethe Murray, and made it harder to build awindfarm than a new coal mine. Not veryprogressive to say the least.

When the Victorian Coalition took powerin November’s state election, it did sowithout releasing a formal policy on theenvironment or climate change. In theabsence of a clear plan, it’s impossible for

Victorians to know exactly what theCoalition will do to protect our environment.You can expect to hear more from us on thisissue as we lobby for a credible state agendafor our environment. Until then, we’llcontinue to hold them to account.

As a first step, check out our newEnviroWatch tracker for the breakdown onhow green the state government’s actionsreally are!

Switching off the pipeThe Coalition have made someprogress in switching off the north-south pipeline (when Melbournedoesn’t need the water) and givingthe water to our rivers. This actionisn’t fully implemented though,keep your fingers crossed!

HELPING DESTROY OUR ENVIRONMENT

Cattle grazing in the Alpine National ParkThe Coalition has let cattle loose in our national parksunder the guise of ‘scientific grazing’. This is a hugestep backwards for conservation in Australia.Made windfarms harder to buildThe Coalition is placing onerous conditions to buildwindfarms within 2 km of any residence, unlikeconditions placed on any other industrial development.This makes it easier to build a coalmine then awindfarm!Delaying the plan to Save the MurrayThe Coalition wants the Murray-Darling Basin Plandelayed because of the recent rain. They seem to haveforgotten how the Murray suffered during the last twodecades of drought! Support for a new coal-fired power stationThe Coalition supports the building of a new coalstation for Victoria, despite cleaner energy choicesbeing readily available. Lifted Target 155The Coalition has lifted this voluntary target thathelps Victorians know when they are using waterefficiently. There is never a reason to be wastingwater. Extended duck hunting seasonNow that the ducks are recovering from the drought,the Coalition has extended the length of time availableto shoot them! (No, we don’t mean the Coalition)

> Kelly O’Shanassy, Chief Executive Officer

TAKE ACTION!Now more than ever we need yourhelp to speak up for our environment.Donate to our Save the Murraycampaign, and help us make sure theVictorian Coalition Governmentdoesn’t derail a national plan to Save the Murray River. See page 15 for more >

HELPING OUR ENVIRONMENT

It’s past 100 days

into Victoria’s new

coalition government

and we’re struggling

to find many actions

they’ve taken that

are good for our

environment.

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VIROWATCH

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UP TO 400 CATTLE have beenintroduced to six ‘research’ sites in thePark as part of the ‘study’, despite 125Australian scientists calling on theVictorian Government earlier this year topostpone its cattle grazing trials. In aletter to state environment minister RyanSmith, the scientists said the trials lackedscientific integrity and warned thegovernment it may have broken federallaws.

Advice provided to the VNPA by theEnvironment Defenders Office in Januaryconfirmed that the VictorianGovernment must refer any plans toreturn cattle grazing to the AlpineNational Park to the federal governmentfor consideration and approval.

Speaking to The Age in February thisyear Federal Minister for theEnvironment, Tony Burke, said theVictorian Government appeared to betreating the national park as though itwere a farm. “A few weeks ago I wasinvolved in arguments with the JapaneseGovernment over so-called scientificwhaling,” Mr Burke said. “Now I’m herewith what the Victorian Government is

wanting to describe as so-calledscientific grazing.”

Mr Burke said the Victoriangovernment was yet to provide anyinformation to the federal EnvironmentDepartment to demonstrate thescientific merit of the trial. “Mydepartment has been asking forinformation about this so-calledscientific grazing for some time. Theinformation that’s come to us so farhasn’t shown any evidence that theyeven did a base-line study as to what thesituation was before the cattle wereintroduced.”

The VNPA says allowing grazing in theAlpine National Park could set aprecedent that would open the gate forcattle grazing and other damagingactivities in national parks around thecountry.

“Unless the federal government takesaction to enforce national environmentand heritage laws, other states andlobby groups could see this as a greenlight to try their own hare-brainedschemes in some of our most preciousnatural areas,” said Victorian National

Parks Association Executive DirectorMatt Ruchel.

“What will we see next? Scientificlogging in the Daintree? Scientificgrazing on Kosciuszko? Scientific oildrilling on the Great Barrier Reef?”

Fourteen leading environment andheritage groups – including the VNPAand Environment Victoria – released astatement in February calling on FederalMinister Tony Burke to use his powersunder federal environment laws tointervene and halt the trial. And FederalMember for Melbourne – Adam Bandt –has introduced a private members billinto Federal Parliament to ban cattlegrazing from the park permanently.

The VNPA’s parks protectionspokesperson, Phil Ingamells, said thatthe cattle grazing was already having animpact. “It’s been shown to have asignificant impact on endangered alpinewetlands, sphagnum bogs and fens, and species like the Alpine Tree Frog,which are protected under federalenvironment laws.”

Scientists who have visited the grazingplot have said cattle are “trampling” rarefrogs and wetlands, which are bothlisted as threatened. And the Ministerhimself has witnessed first hand thedestructive effects. “Using a nationalpark as a farm is wrong, simple as that,”he told reporters on-site at the park.“You can see already in just a few weeksthe damage that’s being done.”

Conservationists are now pressuringMinister Burke to match his words withaction by using his legal powers to haltthe trial and order a full environmentalimpact assessment.

Come along to the VNPA's Public Meeting tohear more about this issue. Details are on theback of this newsletter. For more informationon the VNPA’s ongoing campaign, visitwww.vnpa.org.au.

The endangered Alpine Tree frog lives in mountain wetlands and is threatened by cattle grazing. (CREDIT: PHOTO COURTESY OF PETER ROBINSON AND VNPA)

Cattle back in theHigh CountryCattle are back in the Alpine National Park after a controversial decision

by the new Baillieu Government to overturn a 2005 ban on grazing

within park boundaries. The move, made under the guise of ‘scientific

cattle grazing’, has left scientists baffled and the Park worse for wear.



S A F E C L I M AT E

Newpollutingpowerstation forVictoria?

CoalwatchThe EPA is still in the process of

deciding whether or not to approve

the new polluting HRL coal-fired

power station for Victoria.THE WORKS APPROVAL process has beendelayed as the EPA waits for furtherinformation requested from HRL. At the time ofprinting, HRL had yet to provide thatinformation. The company’s lack ofcooperation is starting to raise eyebrows.

In the meantime, we’ve drawn attention tothe project in the media in recent weeks andpublically called for the EPA to knock-back theproposal. A decision isn’t expected until atleast April.

We expect that the Environment ProtectionAuthority will live up to their name and act toprotect our environment by rejecting thisproposal outright. However, should the newpower station go ahead, it will increaseVictoria’s greenhouse pollution by 4 milliontonnes a year. So we’re going to be pulling outall stops to prevent the project. Along withensuring an effective price on carbon, it will beour biggest climate campaign this year.

We can’t say much more at this stage, butrest assured if the EPA approves the powerstation, you’ll be hearing from us! Stay tunedfor more.

Victoria’s emissions from coal-fire power couldrise if HRL’s plans get given the go ahead.

> Mark Wakeham, Campaigns Director

OUR NEW CAMPAIGN RESOURCE

> Sarah Dobney, Communications Officer

We’re very excited to announce our latest and greatest campaign resource – CoalWatch.

It’s an interactive, online resource that tracks the dangerousexpansion plans of Victoria’s brown coal industry and will help builda movement to stop these polluting moves. CoalWatch is based on the successful CoalSwarm website in the US,which became the nerve-centre for an anti-coal movement thatsucceeded in preventing the construction of almost 100 new coalplants. Impressive!So with a little help from our US friends, we’ve set up our very owntracking system that provides details on coal mining leases, powerstation developments, coal export plans, and so-called ‘clean coal’developments all over Victoria.The need for a system like this became clear in 2009 when secretplans by the state government to export brown coal from Victoriabecame public only after a leak to the media. Now throughCoalWatch, we plan to make sure any proposed coal projects are inthe public domain well before they are a done deal – giving you, thecommunity, the chance to have your say. So jump online and get all the dirty details on the coal industry inVictoria: www.environmentvictoria.org.au/coalwatch

Environment Victoria’s newCoalWatch resource will track coalprojects around the state.



Ten Flemington residents from

Eritrea, Ethiopia, Oromia and

Somalia have been trained in

home and business sustainability

assessment in our GreenTown

project.

THE GREENTOWN ASSESSORS have hitthe ground running, reaching out to 70households in the Flemington publichousing estate and 15 local businesses.They’ve been out talking about theenvironment in their own languages andshowing their communities how to takeGreen Action and live more sustainably.

They’ve told us they’re feeling proudof their role as influential environmentalleaders. “I see it every day – the change Ihave made,” says Somali GreenTownAssessor, Ahmed. “I just get so happy. I’mpleased that I still live in a place where Ithink I have made a significant changeto. Every time I visit a house with afriend, I recognise something in thathouse – the [compact fluoro] lightsperhaps.”

Now, Environment Victoria’spartnership with FlemingtonNeighbourhood Renewal is expanding.As well as GreenTown, we’re workingtogether to deliver a recycling pilot. Likemost older public housing estates,Flemington has no residential recycling.It was a gap that the Moonee Valley CityCouncil, Flemington NeighbourhoodRenewal and local residents wanted tosee plugged. That’s where EnvironmentVictoria stepped in. The new recyclingbins are now ready and we’re confidentthat we’ve started something huge.Environment Victoria is trainingVietnamese outreach workers to explainrecycling to the largely Vietnamesepopulation of the trial buildings.

And the word is spreading. Afterhearing about the wonderful changesbeing made by their East Africanneighbours, Flemington’s Chinesecommunity has also been keen to getactive. Interest in sustainable living has

flowed throughout the estate. As aresult, we’ve decided to run anotherproject. Flemington Green will start inApril, with help of additional fundinggranted from Sustainability Victoria’sNeighbourhood Renewal Fund.

The new project will bring togetherthe Chinese, Vietnamse communitiesand newer members of the East Africancommunity. They’ll be given theopportunity to take part in workshopsand field trips to learn more aboutMelbourne’s environment. Localresidents, who know their community,will be employed to engage residents.

Through local green jobs, communitydevelopment, great communitynetworks and loads of passion for theenvironment, Flemington’s becoming agreener place to be.

S U S T A I N A B L E L I F E S T Y L E S

Flemington: Agreener place to be.

“PEOPLE OF MYNEIGHBOURHOODJUST WISH THATSOMETHING LIKEGREENTOWN IS ONTHE WAY. I TELLTHEM IT HAS JUSTSTARTED.” — Ahmed, Somali GreenTown Assessor

GreenTown Assessor, Ahmed Adem is helpingFlemington residents take Green Action.

> Nina Bailey, Project Manager, Sustainable Living



Indigenous community organisations in Melbourne

are taking part in an exciting new project that will

encourage their staff to go green.THE ACTIVITY WILL BE part of Environment Victoria’sGreenTown program, which has already worked with 9 Victorianmulticultural communities and 45 businesses. The program hasworked together with these communities to cut down water andsave energy and money.

Environment Victoria staff are now working with GurwidjAboriginal Neighbourhood House to set up a unique and specialGreenTown program for participating Indigenous communityorganisations. The project will see each community organisationthat is taking part receive an assessment by IndigenousGreenTown Assessors. The process will help them makeimmediate savings and train employees to support ongoingsustainable workplace practices by becoming part of a workplaceGreen Team.

Sharon Bamblett of Gurwidj House says the program is anopportunity for Aboriginal community organisations to take thelead on workplace environmental action. “There are lots of smallthings that people can do every day in their offices that theymight not be aware of. A Green Team will help educate andremind people of what these are. And because the training will

be by Indigenous Leaders, it will be conducted in a culturallyappropriate way.”

The Green Teams will be making sure printers are set to doublesided, computer monitors are turned off at night, implementingpaper recycling schemes and much more.

For more information on this exciting new project, visitwww.environmentvictoria. org.au/green-town or contact Michele Burton on (03) 9341 8105.


> Charlie Davie, Project Manager, Sustainable Living

As our federal politicians reflect on the role of

multiculturalism in Australia, our Sustainable Living

team can speak first hand about the great benefits

new refugees and young migrants bring to the

community.

ENVIRONMENT VICTORIA’S MULTICULTURAL Leaders inSustainability (MLS) project is now in its fifth year. CombiningEnglish language learning and settlement support withenvironmental education, MLS is bringing a diversity of benefitsto multicultural communities.

The team will be working in St Albans in 2011, in a newpartnership with our friends at AMES. Sustainable Living ProjectManager, Nina Bailey, said the program was an effective way tonot only get environmental outcomes, but also to help speedthe settlement process for new refugees and migrants. “Recentlyarrived migrants and refugees we work with are really ready tocommit to our country. They’re thirsty for knowledge aboutAustralia and looking for opportunities to use their skills. Whenthey learn that we have serious environmental challenges todeal with, they want to jump straight in and help.”

Nina said the MLS program gave them the opportunity to doexactly this, and to share their knowledge with family, friendsand their communities.

Our new group of 17 multicultural leaders are aged between18 to 26 and have lived in Australia for anywhere between onemonth to a year. They come from around the world – Sudan,Afghanistan, Egypt, Iran, Turkey, Macedonia, Vietnam and China.Most of them speak at least two languages other than English.

“One of the exciting things about this work is hearing aboutthe water and food accessibility issues, and effects of a climatechange in different parts of the world,” Nina said. “We also get tohear about how they are meeting these challenges. Comparinghow people get their water and how they use it in their homecountries makes for some fascinating and illuminatingdiscussions.”

For more information on our MLS program and the latest updates,visit us online at www.environmentvictoria.org.au or contact Charlie Davie on (03) 9341 8108.

Greentown goes to work

Multicultural Leaders a boon for Victoria’s environment

> Michele Burton, Project Manager, Sustainable Living

GreenTown assessors, Richard Bamblett(background) and Shannon Laver (foreground)undergo their business training

The latest crew of Multicultural Leaders is taking the sustainabilitymessage even further.



THE COUNCIL IS ONE of our many partnersin our GreenTown project and a thrivingcommunity hub. With a Turkish languageschool, playgroup sessions, theatreperformances, and even a funeral service inline with Alevi beliefs, there are plenty ofuses for 10,000 litres of rainwater.

Environment Victoria Project Manager,Michele Burton headed to the communitycentre in North Coburg for the installation ofthe new tanks that GreenTown helped tofund. “The tanks are just a small part of thesustainability work the community council isnow doing, but they were just so excited toget them,” Michele said. “It was great to bethere.”

While installers were busy climbingladders and digging holes, the Turkish andKurdish speaking GreenTown assessors werecarrying out more sustainabilityassessments. Trained at the Alevi Centreunder Environment Victoria’s GreenTownprogram the assessors are helping toevaluate the centre’s progress and so far,they say the results are good. One assessorsays she talks to friends about saving water“all the time”, and admits she spentChristmas Day getting solar panels installed.

Michele said the program was gettingsome encouraging results. “We’re gettingsome really encouraging evaluation results,and at the same time the project just keepsgrowing and growing.”

The GreenTown program has worked withfour communities so far, and is gettingunderway with another two – the Burmesecommunity in Ringwood and themulticultural community in the Collingwoodpublic housing estate. And the stories thatare coming out of the program areencouraging. One Egyptian participant hascome to love public transport; while anEritrean man – who loves to talk – estimatesthat he’s spoken to 600 people about theenvironment since taking part inGreenTown.

And the Alevi Council is not stopping atwater tanks. With Environment Victoria’shelp, they’ve won a Climate Communitiesgrant that will take ideas from GreenTown tonew communities. They’ll be doinghousehold sustainability assessments ofTurkish speaking homes in Moreland,Dandenong and Mildura.

“GreenTown’s a pretty exciting project tobe working on at the moment,” Michele said.

The Alevi Community Council are proud of their newrainwater tanks, as they take sustainability to the next level.

The Alevi Community Council of Australia has become the proud new

owner of two 5,000 litre rainwater tanks, thanks in part to Environment

Victoria’s GreenTown program.

> Domenica Settle, Project Officer, Sustainable Living


Alevi Community Councilscores 5,000 litre tanks



Murray River Centre Stage at2011 Sutainable Living Festival

G R E E N C O M M U N I T I E S

THE VENTURE IS PART of their commitment to greater transparency with the community onits decision-making as Victoria’s environmental regulator. In addition, we here at EnvironmentVictoria, think communities are leaders in environmental protection and action and deserve tobe listened to by agencies like the EPA.

That’s why we’ve joined forces to hold a series of Community Forums — so that you can haveyour say — and the EPA can understand what the community wants for its environment. Butwhile we will help the EPA listen to Victorians, we'll still be holding it accountable for itsdecisions. Our aim is to make sure that you have your say and help the EPA make betterdecisions.

The first open-forum discussion kicked off back in December. More than 60 passionatecommunity members participated, telling us what mattered to them. The ideas tossed aroundon the evening went on to form the basis of the second forum held in February. They coveredinteresting topics such as sustainable consumption zero waste. (You can download the full discussion at www.epa.vic.gov.au/community_issues/community-forum.asp)

Don’t worry though. There’s still a chance to come along and have your say. A third communityforum will be held on Thursday, 5 May 2011 at 5.30pm. And the EPA is also holding a series ofOpen Houses all across the state through March.

Hop online to find an event near you: www.environmentvictoria.org.au/content/epa-coming-your-town

Have your say onenvironment protection in Victoria

OUR CEO, KELLY O’SHANASSY, joined independent FederalMember for Lyne, Rob Oakeshott, farmer and member of theJackson Group, John Pettigrew, and past president of the RiverBasin Management Society, Ross Hardie, for a communitydiscussion on the Murray River at this year’s Sustainable Living

Festival in late February. Hosted by Rob Gel, “Murray-Darling:Crossing the Divide” drew interested festival goers, eager tohear about what is being done to rescue Australia’s greatestriver and secure our future.

> Sarah Dobney, Communications Officer

Victoria’s Environment

Protection Authority (EPA)

wants to establish an open

and ongoing conversation

with Victorians – to hear

from you on what you want

for our environment.



YES! I WANT TO SAVE THE MURRAY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

■ $25 ■ $50 ■ $100 ■ $250 ■ $500 ■ Other $ _______________

Please find enclosed: ■ Cheque or ■ Money Order (payable to Environment Victoria Inc.)

Or charge my credit card as follows. ■ Amex ■ Mastercard ■ Visa

Cardholder’s name: ________________________________________Expiry date: __ __ / __ __ Signature: ___________________________

Card number: | _ _ | _ _ | _ _ | _ _ | – | _ _ | _ _ | _ _ | _ _ | – | _ _ | _ _ | _ _ | _ _ | – | _ _ | _ _ | _ _ | _ _ |

PERSONAL DETAILS

Title: First Name: Family Name:

Address:

Suburb: State: Postcode:

Email:

Tel: (BH) (AH)

■ Please send all future correspondence by email

Help us to help you by telling us a little bit more about yourself. (All information will be kept strictly confidential).

Date of Birth: D_______/ M_______/ Y_______ Occupation: _____________________________________________________

ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES YOU CARE MOST ABOUT

■ All ■ Biodiversity ■ Healthy Rivers ■ Safe Climate ■ Sustainable Lifestyles ■ Smart Stuff (Less Waste)

Please complete this form, tear off this page and return it to Reply Paid 12575, A’Beckett Street, Melbourne, VIC 8006 orvisit www.environmentvictoria.org.au/give and make your donation online. Thank you for your generosity!

TOGETHER, WE CAN PROTECT THE MURRAY FROMIRRIGATOR LOBBY GROUPS AND VESTED INTERESTS. Your donation will help us run a critical public campaign tocounter the outrageous lies that threaten the future of theMurray River. Depending on how much money we can raise, wewant to book the most visible billboards. We’d love to greet the

pollies in Canberra Airport with a massive message from the silent majority who want the Murray saved but are notbeing heard.

Help us get the truth out there. Help us spread the word that –despite the rains – our Murray River needs saving and a strongnational plan to get there.

This year, help us savethe Murray, forever.


Chief Executive OfficerKelly O’Shanassy

CAMPAIGNSCampaigns Director Mark WakehamHealthy Rivers Campaign Co-Manager Juliet Le FeuvreHealthy Rivers Campaign Co-Manager Amelia YoungSafe Climate and Smart TransportCampaigner Victoria McKenzie-McHarg

OPERATIONSOrganisational Services Manager Ivan Kolker Administration Coordinator Helen Vine Communications Manager Vicki Kyriakakis Communications Officer Sarah DobneyFundraising Manager Amber SpruntFundraising Administration Assistant Fionnula NugentFinance Officer Despina GiannakisMedia Officer Louise Matthieson

SUSTAINABLE LIVING PROGRAMSustainable Living Director Murray Irwin (acting)Project Manager Michele BurtonProject Manager Nina BaileyProgram Manager Charlie DavieProject Officer Domenica Settle

BOARDPresident Russell FisherVice-President Elizabeth McKinnon Sue NoyAmanda NuttallJames MeldrumRobyn MurphySimone ZmoodJeana VithoulkasHugh Wareham

REGULAR VOLUNTEERSPaul BateyPeter FlanaganJanet GellieColleen GuggisbergIan HazewinkelLance LesselsCathryn RyanLes Smith

Talk to us:Phone: (03) 9341 8100 Email:[email protected]: (03) 9341 8199

PO Box 12575A’Beckett Street, Victoria, 8006

www.environmentvictoria.org.au

N O T I C E T H I S !

WHO’SWHO AT

Stop alpine grazing – it’s a park not a paddock!When: Wednesday, 6 April 2011Doors open 6.30pm for a 7.00pm startWhere: Box Hill Town Hall, 1022 Whitehorse Road Box Hill (MEL REF Map 47 E9; six minute walk from Box Hill train station, Tram route 109)

Cost: FREE (Donations welcome)The Baillieu Government has reintroduced grazing to Victoria’sAlpine National Park under the guise of a flawed science project.Come along and hear Environment groups, scientists, politiciansand others speak of why cattle grazing should be banned from our national parks.

For more information visit www.vnpa.org.au, phone on (03) 9347 5188 or email [email protected].

Organised and hosted by the Victorian National Parks Associationwith the support of The Wilderness Society, Environment Victoriaand Friends of the Earth.

PUBLIC MEETING

CATTLEDON’TBELONG INNATIONALPARKS!


green action news: issue 14, autumn 2011

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