Green Action News: Issue 11, Winter 2010

Green Action NewsM 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 11 • WINTER 2010

PLUSWe’re on the election trailNew landfill levy to boost recycling

It’s time.

G R E E N A C T I O N N E W S | I S S U E 1 1 | W I N T E R 2 0 1 0 | www.env i ronmentv i c to r i a .o rg .au2

3Replace Hazelwood. It’s time.

4On the election trail. Our special report on Hazelwood

5Rescue Our Rivers

6One million greenmakeovers

7State and federalbudgets disappoint

8Sustainable Living: Where to now?

10Big funding win for GreenTown

11New landfill levy a big win for recycling

12 13

T H I S I S S U E

Emissions trading on thebackburner

Green Action NewsIssue 11, Winter 2010Design 2Fish ProductionsPrint Print BoundContributing writersAmelia Young, Domenica Settle,Josie Lee, Kelly O’Shanassy, MarkWakeham, Michele Burton, MurrayIrwin, Nina Bailey, Sarah Dobney,Vicki Kyriakakis.EditorVicki Kyriakakis (03) 9341 [email protected] Advertising sales enquiriesVicki Kyriakakis (03) 9341 [email protected] Membership enquiries (03) 9341 [email protected] Media enquiries(03) 9341 [email protected] Action News is anEnvironment Victoria publication.For more information, visitwww.environmentvictoria.org.au

FROM OUR CAMPAIGN to ReplaceHazelwood, to retrofitting One MillionHomes and Rescuing Our Rivers, we’vebeen out on the streets, mobilisingVictorians across the state behind ourbig campaigns and crucial programs.We’ve had an important win forrecycling, with the state governmentannouncing an important increase tothe metropolitan landfill levies. And ouraward-winning Sustainable Living teamhas secured the most funding for anycommunity project in Victoria for theirinnovative GreenTown program. Soyou’d be forgiven for thinking that bynow, we’d be ready for a bit of a break.The truth is though, we’re just gettingstarted.

The last three months have been as busyas any I’ve seen here at EnvironmentVictoria. We’ve been meeting andlobbying politicians, advisors andbureaucrats. We’ve built an extensivealliance with grassroots climate actiongroups, environment groups and NGO’sacross Australia. We’ve released a reportcalled “Fast-tracking Victoria’s energy mixto replace Hazelwood” that’s met withextensive media and public support.And generally, we’ve been punching wayabove our weight.And the momentum is really starting tobuild. While publically our state politicalleaders have yet to commit to replacingHazelwood, privately the pressure of themassive grassroots movement we’ve

kicked off has started to have an effect.Even Sunday Age chief politicalcorrespondent, Melissa Fyfe, is callingour Replace Hazelwood campaign the‘number one ask of the environmentmovement’ this year and a ‘powerfulsymbolic move’.It’s safe to say that we’ve got people’sattention. Now we just need to ramp itup, until the will of the people on thesekey environmental issues is impossibleto ignore.This is an election year, which meansyour support and donations now gofurther than any other year. With yoursupport, we’ve already made an impacton our political leaders. Now you canhelp us mobilise thousands more bymaking a donation to our campaign toReplace Hazelwood.We’re excited by the potential for realchange this election year. Help us rampit up and change the game on climateaction in Victoria.

> Kelly O’Shanassy, Chief Executive Officer

We’re already half way through 2010 and the state and federal

elections loom ever closer. So it’s just as well that here at

Environment Victoria, we’ve really hit the ground running.

Environmentalchampion: Abdul Wedai

Elections loom and Environment Victoriagoes into overdrive

OVER THE PAST three months, we’vebeen busy building a strong communityalliance to Replace Hazelwood. And keygroups across the country have rallied tothe cause - from grassroots climateaction groups in Victoria, to affiliatemember groups and national NGO’s likeGreenpeace and GetUp. Together, we’vebeen hitting the streets, letterboxing,doorknocking and taking the messageto the Victorian people. And momentumhas really been building here in Victoriaand across the country.

• We’ve launched the campaign toReplace Hazelwood on the steps ofParliament House in Melbourne inearly May. Organised with keyenvironment and community groups,almost 300 people turned up andcalled on Premier Brumby and TedBailieu to Replace Hazelwood withClean Energy by 2012.

• We released our new report called“Fast-tracking Victoria’s cleanenergy future to ReplaceHazelwood”. The report receivedfantastic media coverage from TheAge, Sunday Age, ABC Television, 3AW,ABC radio, commercial radio stationsand local newspapers. For moredetails, read our story on page 4.

• We launched our new website –www.replacehazelwood.org.au – topromote the campaign and act as ahub for the organisations involved.

• We developed a new YouTube videoabout the campaign to rally Victoriansonline, with the generous pro-bonohelp of Andrew Rainbow from TheVagabond and Rebecca Mercer.

• We launched the first in a series ofbillboards that will go up acrossinner city seats in Melbourne.The first billboard has gone up on thecorner of Hoddle and RoseneathStreets in Clifton Hill. It kicks off a boldand visual public campaign and willreach 40,000 people a day!

• We hosted a breakfast briefing foralmost 100 people, featuringleading US environmentalist BillMcKibben. Bill was in Australia tolaunch his new book “Eaarth”.Described by Australian of the Year,Tim Flannery as ‘the most effectiveenvironmental activist in the world’,Bill said a win in this campaign wouldbe an important and symbolic step inthe global climate movement.

With your support we’ve kicked somemajor goals. But we need your help nowmore than ever. We want to take themessage even further and change thegame on climate action in Australia.

G R E E N A C T I O N N E W S | I S S U E 1 1 | W I N T E R 2 0 1 0 | www.env i ronmentv i c to r ia .o rg .au 3

R E P L A C E H A Z E L W O O D

YOUR DONATION NOW CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCEVictorians and Australiansaround the country are alreadyrallying to our cause, but weneed a game changer. It’s timeto turn things around. It’s timeto Replace Hazelwood. You canmake your donation today byfilling in the form on the back ofthis newsletter.

Other ways you can be involved:• Visit www.replacehazelwood.org.au. Go

to the Make it Happen page for the latestopportunities to get involved.

• If you’re part of a group or organisation andwould like to endorse the Replace Hazelwoodcampaign, contact Victoria McKenzie-McHarg [email protected]. We’ll add you to our site as a supporter!

www.replacehazelwood.org.auPhotograph by Greenpeace/Hunt.

Authorised by K. O’Shanassy, Environment Victoria, Level 2, 60 Leicester St, Carlton VIC 3053. Printed by MetroMedia Technologies Interna onal Inc, Unit J94 21, Hall St, Port Melbourne VIC 3205.

SMS your name to0427 687 129

Replace Hazelwoodclean energywith

HELP US

Hazelwoodcampaign takes flight

Thanks to some very generous donors, our billboard on HoddleStreet will reach 40,000 people a day and kicks off a bold and

visual public advertising campaign. We’ve got half of themoney we need through the door already to run this and

another billboard. Help us reach even more people!

Victoria’s climate action community has ralliedbehind our call to Replace Hazelwood. The result is a cut-through community campaign that is alreadymaking our politicians sit-up and take notice.

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

On the election trail> Mark Wakeham, Campaigns Director

While the state and federal pollies are

moving into election mode, here at

Environment Victoria we’ve been

powering ahead with our election work.

Nearly 300 people turned up on the steps of Parliament last month to ask our political leaders to Replace Hazelwood.

SINCE OUR LAST edition of Green Action News,we’ve made significant progress in getting ourthree major campaigns up and running: ReplaceHazelwood, Rescue Our Rivers, and One MillionHomes.We’ve increased our lobbying activity at the statelevel – briefing Ministers, shadow Ministers,backbenchers and bureaucrats. And we’reworking with other state and nationalenvironment groups to prepare the framework fora scorecard that we’ll be using to rate thecommitment of each party to the environmentcloser to the election. We’re planning a regionalroadshow to take our campaigns all over the statein July and August.Federally, we’re also preparing for a possibleelection in August/September. So we’re ensuringour work is concentrated on issues and in areasthat are relevant to both elections. We’reanticipating holding another Walk AgainstWarming ahead of the federal election and we’reabout to crank up our lobbying federally withboth major parties.We’ve been keeping the pressure on, but thetruth is none of this work would be possiblewithout supporters like you. Thank you for yourongoing support, financial and otherwise. Thenext six months will be extremely exciting as ourcampaigns build to a crescendo and hopefullydeliver some really strong environmentaloutcomes. See you on the campaign trail!

To talk to Mark Wakeham about our any of electioncampaigns, contact him on (03) 9341 8127 or email him at [email protected].

SPECIAL REPORT!Fast-Tracking Victoria’s CleanEnergy Future> Victoria McKenzie-McHarg,

Safe Climate and Sustainable Transport Campaigner

Thanks to the generous

donations of our

supporters, we were

able to commission

energy market analysts

Green Energy Markets

to investigate how we

can Replace Hazelwood

Power Station by the

end of 2012.

OUR STRATEGY WAS tolook at projects that werealready on the table andready to go – projects thatwould achieve the leastemissions possible at a

reasonable cost. The finalreport – “Fast-trackingVictoria’s clean energy futureto replace Hazelwood PowerStation” – demonstrates that

by using a combination of renewable energy, energy efficiency andsome combined cycle gas (as a transition fuel), we can ReplaceHazelwood by 2012 and maintain energy security while we’re at it.The report finds we can bring forward investment in renewable energyacross the state, and have 1500MW of renewable energy ready to go bythe end of 2012. At the same time, we can build an efficient gas-firedpower station that will allow us to generate power during peak periods,like on hot summer days when demand for energy increases. And wecan actually reduce the amount of energy we need by rolling out energyefficiency measures such as solar hot water across the state.The plan is not only good for the environment, it also creates more jobsthan Hazelwood Power Station currently employs. Our analysis showsthat we could expect between 1900-2500 jobs in building the cleanenergy replacements. In addition, around 2300 new ongoing jobs wouldbe created, mostly in energy efficiency. While some of these would belocated in the Latrobe Valley, support for workers and investment inalternative industries across Gippsland would also be needed.Green Energy Markets estimated that the cost of replacing Hazelwoodand bringing on-line the clean energy replacements would be $320million per year. In summary, the report clearly shows that we can Replace Hazelwoodwith Clean Energy by 2012 at reasonable cost, while creating more jobs,freeing up 27 billion litres of water each year, and slashing ourgreenhouse pollution by 12 percent while we’re at it. We think that’s anoutcome worth fighting for.

You can download the report atwww.environmentvictoria.org.au/replacehazelwood


E L E C T I O N N E W S

Sunday Age Chief Political Reporter Melissa Fyfe said replacing Hazelwood was a ‘powerfully symbolic move that would dramatically reduce the state’s carbon footprint’.


G O O D N E W S

IT’S REALLY JUST commonsense. Rivers with water notonly sustain ecosystems,they bring life to ourcommunity. But the last tenyears tell a sad story forrivers and watermismanagement in Victoria. After decades of taking too

much water out of our rivers, the growing effects of climatechange have become all too apparent. Our state governmenthas been asking us to save water, and we’ve been doing a goodjob. We’ve met their Target 155. But the question is: What havethey been up to? Here at Environment Victoria, we don’t think expensivedesalination plants and pipelines are the answer. For one thing,there’s no guarantee that any of the water from these projectswill make it to our rivers.That’s why, in the lead-up to the state election, we’re asking each

political party to commit to Rescue Our Rivers. We’re doing ourbit. It’s time for the government to do theirs. In particular, we’reasking each political party to commit to:

1. Delivering the water promised to our rivers. TheGoulburn, Moorabool, Yarra, Thomson, Barwon, Wimmera,Snowy, Glenelg, Werribee and Murray Rivers have all beenpromised water they’re yet to receive.2. Secure enough water for northern Victorian rivers by2014, prioritising watering of River Red Gum National Parksby 2012. 3. Protecting our rivers’ rights to water. We want them toreform the Water Act to make sure our rivers get the waterthey’re entitled to.

We’re mobilising Victorians in key electorates and hitting the streets todrum up support for our campaign. Get involved by visiting us online atwww.environmentvictoria.org.au/ rescueourrivers or call Amelia Youngon (03) 9341 8120 for more information on how you can help us.


> Amelia Young, Rescue Our Rivers Campaigner

It’s time to Rescue Our Rivers. And this election year, we have a major opportunity to do so.

Give Water, Give Life. Rescue Our Rivers

IT’S A VISION THAT’S broughttogether broad community support.Environment groups, social welfaregroups, unions, manufacturers andbusiness are joining together to putpressure on the government toretrofit one million Victorian homes.At half Victoria’s housing stock, itwould go a long way towards a safeclimate future for our state.The program would also increasehouseholder protection againstheatwaves and cold-snaps. Under theprogram, households would receive acombination of solar hot water

systems, insulation, weather seals,low-flow shower heads, tap flowrestrictors, dual-flush toilets, efficientfridges and more. And while all Victorian homes wouldbenefit from the green makeover,low-income households would be thebig winners. It’s a benefit thatCampaigns Director, Mark Wakehamsays would go a long way towardsoffsetting rising energy and watercosts. “Energy bills have increasedover 50 percent from 2000 to 2008and they’re still growing,” Mark said.“Water prices are now set to join

them, with a projected increase of 51to 64 percent over the next four years.Our One Million Homes programwould not only save water andenergy, it would also protectvulnerable households from sky-rocketing prices.”The campaign has brought together arange of groups who will belaunching the campaign later thismonth with a new report on theprogram. We’ll also be kickstarting around of community action withonline cyberactions planned, letterwriting to local MPs and much more.



One big askOne million green makeovers

Stay tuned for the latest as our One Million Homes campaign heats up:www.environmentvictoria.org.au/onemillionhomes

For more information, contact our Safe Climate Campaigner, Josie Lee on (03) 9341 8118.

> Josie Lee, Safe Climate Campaigner

It’ll provide a green makeover for one million homes, reduce gas emissions by 2.3 million

tonnes a year, save 32.5 billion litres of water and create 6900 additional jobs. It’s our One

Million Homes campaign and, according to a growing alliance of groups, it’s a no-brainer.


P R E - E L E C T I O N B U D G E T S

State BudgetThe State Budget was delivered on 4May 2010. Once again we took part inthe budget ‘lock-up’, pouring over thebudget papers to see if our politiciansare taking our environmentalchallenges seriously. And while therewere some positive initiatives in thebudget, it overall missed theopportunity to scale up Victoria’sresponse on climate change, waterinsecurity and the loss of biodiversity.On the bright side, the Green Jobspackage was a positive investment inenvironmental industries, with theincreased landfill levy the highlight ofthe package. The budget alsoincluded welcome investment ingrasslands protection on Melbourne’sfringe, public transport and promisedfunding for the Land and BiodiversityWhite Paper.However we were disappointed thatthe budget didn’t address some of themajor environmental challengesfacing Victoria. There was little thereto reduce the state’s over-reliance onpolluting coal-fired electricitygeneration and nothing to fast-trackthe replacement of polluting powerstations like Hazelwood.There was also no substantial newfunding to get water back into ourrivers or to overhaul the water andenergy efficiency of homes across thestate. And there was no funding to

secure water for the newly createdRed Gum National Parks.Our response to the budget concludedthat the state government needed toaddress these budget environmental‘gaps’ in upcoming government policypapers – the Climate Change WhitePaper, Future Energy Statement,Regional Blueprint and the ALP’selection platform – if the ALP is to goto the election with a positive story totell on the environment.By contrast the Coalition’s budgetresponse barely mentioned theenvironment and included no newpolicy measures or promised fundingfor environmental programs,highlighting that it is not just the stategovernment that has a lot of work todo in coming months.

Federal BudgetThe Federal Budget, delivered a weeklater, was even more disappointing forthe environment. The governmentmade clear its plans to shelveemissions trading till 2013, and sawmoney that had been earmarked toset up the scheme re-allocated tosupport renewable energy projects. Itwas very disappointing that there wasno new funding in the budget toencourage the economy wideemissions reductions that would havebeen delivered by an effective priceon carbon.

Elsewhere there were further cuts tothe Natural Heritage Trust ($81 millioncut over four years) and Landcare,cuts to urban water efficiencyprograms and a wind-back of theGreen Car Innovation Fund by $200million.More positively there was somespending brought forward to buyenvironmental water for the MurrayDarling Basin and new money for anational waste policy. The proposedResources Super Tax will also see thecommunity benefit more from miningprojects, even if the revenues arebeing used to support non-environmental programs.Again the Coalition’s budget responsewas short on detail, however it wasclear that if elected the Coalitionwould make further cuts to renewableenergy and Green Car programs in anattempt to balance the budget.

What does it mean for our environment?Our hope is that the state and federalgovernments are both saving their bigenvironmental announcements forthe elections. The lack of a coherentclimate policy in particular willbecome a real problem for bothgovernments when they return to theballot box.

THEGOVERNMENTMADE CLEARITS PLANS TO SHELVEEMISSIONSTRADING TILL 2013

THERE WAS LITTLE THERE TO REDUCE THE STATE’S OVER-RELIANCE ON POLLUTINGCOAL-FIRED ELECTRICITY GENERATION

> Mark Wakeham, Campaigns Director

May saw both the state and federal budgets handed down. Both

governments framed their budgets as being ‘economically

responsible’, with only very modest environmental spending.

Environment Victoria’s Mark Wakeham reviews the good, the bad

and the ugly this budget round.

State and federal budgetsdisappoint in election year.

Sustainable Living:Where to now?

After four years, more than 225

workshops and other activities,

47 partner organisations, and

1831 direct participants, our

Regional Sustainable Living

Program is coming to an end.

> Murray Irwin, Sustainable Living Director

IT’S THE END of one era, but the start awhole new one, as we work up a wholeraft of new project proposals that willbuild on the success of our programs.The Regional Sustainable Living Program(RSL), started as a four year programback in 2006. It used innovative projects,carefully shaped for the groups we workwith, to help people live moresustainably. We’ve worked with everyonefrom senior citizens in Colac to youngmums in the Latrobe Valley, and young

migrants and refugees in Melbourne’souter suburbs. Together they are nowsaving more than 2,083 tonnes ofgreenhouse gas and 61,482 kilolitres ofwater each year – that’s 1.6 tonnes ofgreenhouse gases and 46 kilolitres ofwater per household.Over the past years, our program hasempowered some of the mostdisadvantaged people in Victoria to takeGreen Action. It’s proved that anyone,regardless of means or background, cancontribute to a greener future. And the

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

8 G R E E N A C T I O N N E W S | I S S U E 1 1 | W I N T E R 2 0 1 0 | www.env i ronmentv i c to r i a .o rg .au

TOGETHER THEY ARENOW SAVING MORETHAN 1.6 TONNES OFGREENHOUSE GASESAND 46 KILOLITRESOF WATER PERHOUSEHOLD.

results have very often been mutuallybeneficial, with many past participantsfinding new green jobs and buildinginvaluable skills and social networks.Now, the new projects we’re developingwill take our work in whole newdirections. They include expanding ourtraining of Home and Community Careworkers to hundreds more, so that theycan help 7500 home care recipientsmake their homes more environmentallysound and comfortable. Other projectsin the pipeline include:• A program for faith groups that builds

on the work we’ve done with churchgroups in the past;

• A program for the 30,000 first-timemums across the state;

• A program for not-for-profitworkplaces, as a pilot that we couldthen apply to the commercial sector;

• A project to help people get the mostout of their big ticket green items –such as solar hot water and insulation– and to change other behaviours andhabits along the way.

Meanwhile, work is continuing as wewrap up the Regional Sustainable Livingproject and continue to make adifference across the state. We’re runninga Multicultural Leaders in Sustainabilityproject in Melbourne’s western suburbs,and we’re hoping to run it there againlater in the year. We’ve also been runningGreenTown with four migrant andrefugee communities across Melbourne.In late April, GreenTown received aSustainability Fund grant, which meansthe project will be doing a bit ofexpanding of its own. See our article onpage 10 for all the juicy details.

All in all, it’s been a big four years. And we’reoptimistic that the next four will be just agood. We’re still looking for funding to runsome of our brilliant new programs, so if you’dlike to support our Sustainable Livingprojects, and help build a more sustainableVictoria, donate online now atwww.environmentvictoria. org.au/give.


260 seniors getsustainability auditsLocation: Latrobe Valley

We’ve trained 110 Home andCommunity Care workers to conducttheir own audits in clients’ homes. Sofar, they’ve conducted over 252audits. And counting…

Budget sustainabilityLocation: Morwell

Kath Alderwick took part in ourSustainability on a Shoestringprogram that we ran in Morwell. Sheliked it so much, she’s now workingwith us part-time to help organisemore workshops! In the last fewmonths, we’ve run workshops inTraralgon, Churchill, Moe and Morwell.We’ve also been running workshopswith Berry Street Young Mums.

Young Victorians take up the challengeLocation: Morwell

Kate Nesbitt, Andrew McKenzie andTamara Jones may just be finishingour Youth Eco-Challenge, but they’vealready figured out what’s important.Completing the program as part oftheir Victorian Certificate of AppliedLearning, the trio told us: “It’simportant because it’s not just aboutus. It’s about all of us, and the future.”Nice one guys.

Somali kids learn about energy and waterLocation: Flemington

Ahmed Adem has been busy carryingout sustainability audits for fellow EastAfricans, after completing ourGreenTown program. Originally fromSomalia, he is passionate aboutteaching other Somalis to save energyand water. He’s even given GreenTownpresentations to school kids.

STORIES FROM THE FIELDOver the years we’ve been lucky enough to work with thousandsof Victorians from all over our fine state. Together we’ve madereal inroads. And the last six months have been no exception.After working on the Mornington Peninsula, and in Victoria’snorth and west, we’ve been hitting the pavement in Gippslandand working hard as ever to help local communities becomemore sustainable. Here are just a few of their stories.

Want more Green Action stories? There’s lots of people who are passionate about the environment,just like you. Read their stories at www.environmentvictoria. org.au/content/stories.

Seniors change the way they shopLocation: TraralgonDee and Alan Thompson took part in Eco-WiseAction through the Traralgon Uniting Church. The workshops have changed the way they shop, making them aware of some of the more –and less – environmentally friendly products on our supermarket shelves. We’ve also run Eco-Wise Action at the Morwell RSL, and we’re currently running it with the Probus Latrobe Ladies.

AMONG THEM WERE staff fromEnvironment Victoria’s GreenTownprogram. When the recipients of the2010 round of the Sustainability Fundwere announced, our GreenTown projectwas one of them. It was the largestamount of funding given to anycommunity group, enabling us to workwith two new communities – theBurmese community in Ringwood, andthe community in the Collingwood flats.“Heaps of Burmese refugees have settledin Ringwood in the last few years,” saysproject manager Michele Burton, “andthey’ve often been living in refugeecamps for a long time so they don’t havethe kind of employment experience youneed to get a job here.” GreenTown trainsa small group of people to dosustainability audits of households intheir own community. “It’s great becauseit gives them skills in the sustainabilityfield, which is a growing area so it should

help them get jobs down the track,”Michele explains. “The audits also helppeople save water and energy, and tosave money. When you get here andwater just comes flowing out of the tapand electricity out of the power point,it’s easy to believe you can just use asmuch as we like, there’s an endlesssupply. We’ve done a lot of work withmigrant and refugee communitiesbefore, and when you start talking tothem about the environment and theystart to understand the issues, they’reoften really keen to make a difference.”In Collingwood, GreenTown will beworking with a whole range ofnationalities, and even though the newlyfunded GreenTown work isn’t supposedto start till later in the year, things arealready getting busy. “We’re going to beworking with the NeighbourhoodRenewal project there, and we’ve alreadyhad a couple of meetings with them.

Then we’re going to do an art project withthe neighbourhood house, andCultivating Communities – they run acouple of community gardens at the site –they want to work with us on gettingpeople in the flats composting. So we’redown at the flats all the time, even thoughit’s really early days for the project”The original GreenTown project isscheduled to finish working with the lastof four communities, the Indigenouscommunity in Darebin, later in the year.Like the original project, the new projectwill also involve presentations, talks andworkshops, and lots of partnerorganisations: the Migrant InformationCentre – Eastern Region, the ZomiAssociation, the Office of Housing andthe Neighbourhood Advisory Team inCollingwood are just some of theorganisations on board. It’s shaping upto be a big project. “Yep,” says Michele,“we’re pretty excited.”


B I G W I N S !

Big funding winfor GreenTown

On a cloudy day late

in April, a small group

of people gathered in

front of the Collingwood

Housing Commission

flats for a big

announcement.

> Domenica Settle, Project Officer, Sustainable Living Program

Acting CEO &Campaigns Director,

Mark Wakeham,accepts GreenTown

funding on behalf ofEnvironment Victoria

at the announcementof winners of the 2010

Sustainability Fund.With Ministers

Gavin Jennings and Richard Wynne.


THE PROPOSED CHANGES to the levywere passed by the Legislative Council inlate May. The levy for dumping a tonneof waste at a metropolitan waste facilitywill rise from current rates of $9 pertonne to $30 a tonne next financial year,with further increases in following years.This will bring Victoria closer to the

landfill levy in other states such as NewSouth Wales, and will make recyclingmore economic. This is an outcome thatEnvironment Victoria has beencampaigning for over the past two years.Environment Victoria CEO, KellyO’Shanassy said it was fantastic to seecooperation in the Parliament to support

strong new laws. “The laws will driverecycling and reuse, and createthousands of green jobs. Wecongratulate Minister Jennings and theBrumby Government, as well as theCoalition and Greens for making theselaws a reality. Its been rare that we getcross-Parliamentary support for majorenvironmental reforms. We hope to seethe cooperation on this issue applied toother environmental issues in themonths ahead.”“The increased landfill levy will helpVictorians achieve higher rates ofrecycling, and keep valuable materialsout of landfill. This in turn reducesgreenhouse emissions and creates jobsin resource recovery and recycling.”Kelly said that for too long the cost ofdumping waste in Victoria had notreflected the costs for the environmentand the community. “The new leviesaddress this and provide a welcome shotin the arm for recycling businesses thathave been struggling as a result of the lowlandfill levy and weak commodity prices.”“Increasing the landfill levy is themost significant policy plankintroduced to increase recycling ratesand reduce volumes going to landfill.Importantly, all revenue raised will goto support waste reduction andsustainability programs.”“It’s a big win for the environment.”

The new landfill levies will be a shot in the arm for recycling businesses.

MAKE YOUR WINTER SUSTAINABLY TOASTY

B I G W I N S !

New landfilllevy a big winfor recycling> Sarah Dobney, Communications Officer

Environment Victoria has congratulated the Brumby Government and Opposition parties for passing new landfill levies in late May that will increase recycling.

It’s that time of the year again, andall around Victoria people aregetting ready to crank up theirheaters. If only the bills wouldn’tcrank up too! More than half theenergy we use in our homes goes toour heating. And it’s not so good forthe environment either, withheating being a major source ofhousehold greenhouse gasemissions. Thankfully you can be warmwithout chewing through thegreenhouse pollution, just by usingthese smart tips to heat your home.

• There’s no point heating an emptyroom. Close your doors and heatonly the rooms you’re in.

• Make sure your heating’s not toohigh. Turning down your heating bytwo degrees in the winter will saveyou a whopping 890 kg ofgreenhouse gas each year.

• Having an efficient heating systemisn’t much use if all the heatdisappears out the window. If you’rein the market for a new system investin an efficient one. We’ve done themaths for you. www.environmentvictoria.org.au/sites/default/files/Heating%20systems%203.pdf

For more sustainability tips:www.environmentvictoria. org.au/act

HERE AT ENVIRONMENT VICTORIAwe had mixed feelings about theannouncement. On the one hand, theCPRS was riddled with problems andunlikely to drive the changes requiredacross our economy. The decision tohand out billions of dollars worth ofpollution permits to coal-firedgenerators prompted even ProfessorGarnaut to remark that the process usedto develop the legislation was “one ofthe worst examples of policy making wehave seen on major issues in Australia”.The Government’s insistence onnegotiating with the Coalition ahead ofthe Greens saw the legislation go frombad to worse in Parliament.On the other hand, delaying the CPRShas sent a very worrying signal. UntilApril 2010, the Rudd Government talkedrepeatedly about the need to lead onclimate change. The Prime Ministerfamously described climate change asthe “great moral challenge of our time”.The shelving of the CPRS saw asignificant change of tune. Now,according to the Prime Minister, Australiashould wait and see what others do


C L I M A T E A C T I O N

> Mark Wakeham, Campaigns Director

Following a leak in the Sydney

Morning Herald, the Rudd

Government was forced to admit

it was shelving its Carbon

Pollution Reduction Scheme

(CPRS) in April until late 2012.

Kevin Rudd in November 2009 ondelaying action on climate change:“What absolute political cowardice.

What absolute failure of leadership.

What absolute failure of logic. The

inescapable logic of this approach is

that if every nation makes the decision

not to act until others have done so,

then no nation will ever act.”

Kevin Rudd in April 2010: “The

implementation of a carbon pollution

reduction scheme in Australia will… be

extended until after the conclusion of

the current Kyoto commitment period…

that will provide… the Australian

Government at that time.. with a better

position to assess the level of global

action on climate change prior to the

implementation of a CPRS in Australia.”

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

Emissions tradingon the backburner

before addressing climate change.The back-flip has hurt the RuddGovernment’s climate credentials andtheir popularity in the polls. Perhapsmore importantly, it’s left a policyvacuum on climate change. If the ALPGovernment is to retain the support ofthe hundreds of thousands ofAustralians who voted on climatechange in the 2007 election, it will needa coherent replacement for the CPRS.

And while we still need a price oncarbon, our present Parliament isclearly not up to the task ofintroducing an efficient emissionstrading scheme. In the meantime,Replacing Hazelwood and gettingserious about energy efficiency in ourhomes and across the economy willhelp fill that policy vacuum.You can read more about our Safe Climatecampaigns on pages 3 and 5.

‘DELAYING THE CPRSHAS SENT A VERYWORRYINGSIGNAL.’


ABDUL IS OROMO, from Oromiya, aregional state in Ethiopia. He’s beenencouraging his community to livesustainably, as East African communityliaison consultant to EnvironmentVictoria’s GreenTown program, andthrough everyday conversations withOromo friends.Abdul’s role in GreenTown is to helpEnvironment Victoria translatesustainable living messages toFlemington’s East African community,made up of people from Ethiopia,Eritrea, Sudan and Somalia. He alsoorganises GreenTown environmentaleducation activities for the community,including field trips and communityworkshops and promotes GreenTown(and sustainable living tips) via 3ZZZethnic community radio.When he gets home he puts lots of thesegreen living ideas into practice, taking awalk around his garden each night tosee how things are growing, before hetakes off his shoes to head inside.Abdul’s veggie garden bursts with saladlettuce, tomatoes, cabbage, carrots andmore for his family. He can keep it happythanks to two rainwater tanks he hadinstalled, with a third on the way.Water saving is just normal for Abdul’sfamily – his wife uses a bucket in the sinkwhen she washes salad vegetables, andhis son Birra uses a small bucket of waterto wash his hands. Abdul attached his airconditioner’s water pipe to the rainwatertank, so he doesn’t waste the dischargewater – “nothing is wasted” he says.Some of his passion for the environmentgoes back to growing up in Oromiya. He

E N V I R O N M E N T A L C H A M P I O N S

Abdul Wedai’s family will be

the first East African family in

his area to get solar panels,

and he’s proud. But if he has

anything to do with it, they

won’t be the last.

ABDUL WEDAIGreening up the East-African Community

says he remembers Lake Haramaya (alsoknown as Alemaya): “I used to cross thislake by boat to get to school. Now it isdry. There is a change coming.”According to Abdul, many migrants whocome to Victoria experience the newnessof life in a wealthy consumer culture and“want to buy everything when theycome here! They’re not thinking aboutthings like energy efficiency, energysaving – they want to buy cheap things,but don’t think about the cost of runningthe appliance”. He encourages them tothink about the cost over the appliance’slifetime – sometimes the bestenvironmental choice is to buysomething more expensive that is betterquality and will last a long time, or ismore energy or water efficient and sowill help the environment.Abdul has also been encouraging his

friends to buy solar panels, to helpreduce greenhouse gases and also toeventually save money on home powerbills. But while lots of East Africans haveinvested in rainwater tanks, solar panelsare more of a challenge, even when heexplains the government incentives thatare available. He knows that non-English-speaking communities find ithard to access government messages, orprograms like solar power or waterrebates, so is constantly explaining theseto his community.But soon he’ll be happy to be able toalso show them an example – the firstsolar panels that he knows of on an EastAfrican home in Werribee.

For more information on our GreenTownprogram, visit www.environmentvictoria.org.au/green-town.

Abdul (left) with fellow participant Khalid at the GreenTown training.

Lovingly known as BREAZE, the

Ballarat Renewable Energy and

Zero Emissions group is based

in Ballarat, Victoria and is the

newest affiliate member of

Environment Victoria.

A LOCALLY FORMED, grassrootsenvironmental organisation, BREAZEformed in 2006 out of a need todemonstrate that community-basedactions can make a difference in ourresponse to climate change.They’re small in size, but huge in supportand this energetic group believe there aremany sustainable ways of living. And theyactively engage and support the Ballaratcommunity in doing just that. They runsustainability workshops, hold bi-monthlycommunity forums and promote the use ofsolar hot water and electricity in thecommunity. They’ve even managed tofacilitate the installation of solar panels andsolar hot water systems in hundreds ofhomes and 20 odd schools in the Ballaratdistrict. One huge feat for a small army ofpart-time staff.BREAZE also advocate government policiesthat address climate change and partnerwith other organisations to deliverprograms and events. Most recently, theyjoined the 100% Renewable Energyalliance, with over 65 climate action groupsaround the country calling for an urgenttransition to 100 percent clean, renewableenergy. Quite fittingly, they’re also a bigsupporter of Environment Victoria’s ReplaceHazelwood Campaign. But that’s not whereour partnership with our newest affiliategroup ends. Very recently we partneredwith BREAZE to develop a nifty tool-kit forup and coming climate action groups tohelp get them on their feet and keep themgoing. You can find this on our website atwww.environmentvictoria.org.au/act. Formore information on setting up your ownClimate Action Group and some friendlysupport feel free to give us a shout on (03) 9341 8100.

Meantime, you can get the latest and greatestBREAZE and climate action in Ballarat, atwww.breaze.org.au.


A F F I L I A T E M E M B E R F E A T U R E

Ballarat Renewable EnergyAnd Zero Emissions

Environment Victoria and BREAZE havejoined forces to produce a tool-kit fornew climate action groups – expandingthe grassroots movement to secure asafe climate for our future.

New funding opportunityfor community groupsAttention all community groups! The Victorian Government has

recently announced a new grant that provides local groups across

Victoria with funding to take practical action on climate change in

their own communities. Grants of up to $50,000 are available.

THE CLIMATE COMMUNITIES GRANT will help community projects that aim toreduce emissions, build community resilience to adapt to climate change ortrial and promote new ideas to help tackle climate change. It covers a lot ofbases. So, if you’re committed to retrofitting your community hall to reduceenergy use or want to introduce an energy co-op that trials new cleantechnology, this grant is for you.Funding is open to community groups, schools, local councils and individualscommitted to tackling climate change in their communities. The program alsoencourages and supports the establishment of new groups who wish to takeenvironmental action.If your group has a great idea that could do with some funding, head towww.climatecommunities.vic.gov.au/grants/ and apply today. For more info,call the Climate Communities team on 1300 363 744. Best of luck!


YES! I’m changing the game on climate action! I would like to donate:

nn $50 nn $100 nn $150 nn $250 nn $500 nn My own amount $ ___________ Please find enclosed a:

nn Cheque or nn Money Order (payable to Environment Victoria INC.) or please debit my card: nn Amex nn Mastercard nn Visa

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

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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 orvisit www.environmentvictoria.org.au/give and make your donation online.

HELPUSLeading US environmentalist, Bill McKibben has calledit an ‘important step in the global climate movement’.Sunday Age, chief political correspondent, Melissa Fyfehas written that replacing Hazelwood would be a‘powerfully symbolic move that would dramaticallyreduce the state’s carbon footprint’. The Victorian

climate action community has rallied to the call toReplace Hazelwood in their thousands. Now is the timefor us to finally replace this ageing dinosaur. Yourgenerous donation now is one of the biggest actionsyou can take this year on climate change. Help uschange the game on climate action in this country!

replace Australia’s dirtiestpower station and changethe game on climate action!

Chief Executive Officer Kelly O’Shanassy Campaigns Director Mark WakehamSustainable Living DirectorMurray IrwinOPERATIONSOrganisational ServicesManager Ivan KolkerAdministration CoordinatorHelen Vine Communications ManagerVicki Kyriakakis Communications OfficerSarah Dobney

Finance Officer Despina GiannakisFundraising DirectorIan ColemanSenior FundraiserAmber SpruntFundraising OfficerLily WeinbergWATER & HEALTHY RIVERSHealthy Rivers Campaign Co-Manager Amelia YoungHealthy Rivers Campaign Co-Manager Juliet Le Feuvre

SAFE CLIMATESafe Climate and SustainableTransport CampaignerVictoria McKenzie-McHargSafe Climate CampaignerJosie LeeSUSTAINABLE LIVINGPROGRAMProject Manager Michele BurtonProject Manager Nina BaileyProgram Manager Charlie DavieProject Officer Domenica Settle

BOARDPresident Russell FisherVice-President Sue NoyDoug GimesyDavid OsbornElizabeth McKinnonAmanda NuttallJeana VithoulkasJames Meldrum

REGULAR VOLUNTEERSAndrew BoothPeter FlanaganJanet GellieColleen GuggisbergIan HazewinkelCatherine RyanMarion SilverLes Smith

TALK TO US:Phone: (03) 9341 8100 [email protected]: (03) 9341 8199

PO Box 12575A’Beckett Street, Victoria, 8006

N O T I C E T H I S !

WHO’S WHO AT ENVIRONMENT VICTORIA

www.environmentvictoria.org.au

Go into the running to win asigned copy of US activist BillMcKibben’s new book eaarth!

T im Flannery has called him ‘the most

effective environmental activist of our

age’. NASA scientist James Hansen

says that he ‘blazes a path to help preserve

nature’s greatest treasures’.

This is your chance to win a very special edition

of 350.org founder, Bill McKibben’s newest

book – specially signed for our supporters here

at Environment Victoria. In his newest book,

Bill argues that our survival depends on scaling

back, concentrating on essentials and creating

the kinds of communities that will allow us to

weather the coming storm.

For your chance to go into the running, simply

email your name, address and phone number

to us here at Environment Victoria at

[email protected] with

‘EAARTH’ as the subject. Winners will be

chosen by blind raffle.

Documents

Green Action News: Issue 11, Winter 2010