Green Action News - Spring 2007

New Road AheadSolutions the focus as new CEO takes helm

The Zero WasteEconomyAdopting a new world view

Fresh from the OvensStories from Victoria’s North East

WORK I N G T O G E T H E R P R O T E C T I N G V I C T O R I A ’ S E N V I R O NM E N T ISSUE 1 Z SPRING 2007

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Green Action NewsIssue 1, Spring 2007Design 2Fish ProductionsPrint PrintBoundCONTRIBUTING WRITERSDr Paul Sinclair, Georgie Coram,Dawn G Lee, Juliet Le Feuvre,Louise Morris, Daniel Clarke,Vicki KyriakakisEditor Vicki Kyriakakis (03) 9341 [email protected] Advertising sales enquiries (03) 9341 [email protected] enquiries (03) 9341 [email protected] Action News is anEnvironment Victoria publication. For more information, visitwww.environmentvictoria.org.auEnvironment Victoria would like to thank PrintBound for its in-kind support.

WHEN CO-OWNERSMARK Tomasini andMauro Mattaruccofirst started Print

Bound over 16 yearsago, the environment was stillconsidered a fringe issue. Now, almosttwo decades later, they are leading theway in clean green practices in theprinting industry, with the launch oftheir new Clean Green Print website.As Mark Tomasini explains, CleanGreen Print is about raising awarenessand ‘providing direction in the printindustry on how to support a

sustainable environment.” The websiteis intended as a forum for new ideasand initiatives and is helping to educateother printing businesses in Victoria onthe environmental impact of printing.Winners of the 2005 Premier’s Awardfor Business Sustainability, PrintBound have incorporated green-friendly measures at every step of theirprinting process. From the world’sgreenest press to vegetable based inks,recycled cartons and a complete wastemanagement system, Print Bound hasmade concern for the environment thecentrepiece of their business.

“We take complete ownership of theprint process,” Mr Tomasini said. “Thatway we can ensure minimal impact onthe environment.”Print Bound has a zero landfill policy,providing quotes on environmentallyfriendly paper, using computer to platetechnology and making the most ofenergy solutions such as infraredsensors, motions sensors, reflectorsand low emission fluorescent lights toreduce greenhouse pollution. They arealready ISO 14001, Waste Wise andFSC certified. They are now focusing onreducing their carbon footprint andhave been accredited by the AustralianGovernment Office as a climate plusmember.EV’s new Green Action News is printedon 100 per cent recyclable paper usingvegetable inks.

3New water world

demands new approach

4Cutting the cost of

environmental damage

4River champions

connect over

sustainable water

management

5Solutions the focus

as new CEO

takes the helm

6Fresh from the Ovens:

Stories from Victoria’s

North East

8Zero Waste:

A new world idea

12Coni Forcey:

Bayside’s

climate action mum

11Students get

behind

MYRiveR Yarra

13 14Victorian

‘Big Switchers’ call

for more action

14Victorians ready

to Walk Against

Warming

16My Heart

is in the land

16Hattah who?

16Notice this

T H I S I S S U E

Clean green print for Green Action News

Politicians fall

behind as

The Big Switch

picks up speed

> Vicki Kyriakakis, Communications Officer

EV NEWS HAS GOT TEN A MAKEOVER AND A NEW NAME. BUT ONE THING HASN’T CHANGED: Green Act ion News IS STILL AS ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY AS EVER.

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WE LIVE IN A NEW WATERWORLD. THE BIG DRY AND ITSIMPACTS ON PEOPLE AND THEPLACES AND SPECIES WE CAREFOR ARE UNPRECEDENTED.

THERE IS LITTLE doubt that theIntergovernmental Panel on ClimateChange is right to conclude that aconsequence of greenhouse gaspollution is that regional climates havealready become drier. We know that our community has thecapacity to adapt to climate change. Wecan develop smarter technology, andchange our behaviour towards waterand energy use to increase ourchances of successful adaptation to climate change. River systems can’tdo that. Rivers and the life that depends onthem need to be given the chance toadapt to climate change. We need to support the recentVictorian Environmental AssessmentCouncil recommendations to createnew red gum national parks to createcorridors so our native animals canmove along rivers to find refuges.Murray wetlands like Gunbower andHattah – Kakadu’s without the crocs –are becoming even more vitalsanctuaries for threatened plants andanimals as the climate dries.Governments must get serious about

creating genuinely sustainableirrigation systems that produce goodfood, and return water to the rivers tomake them healthy. Rules on howexisting dams operate will be a vitaltool in sustaining river gum forests andfloodplain biodiversity. The river needsto be able to store up in existing damsover years so it can be released tomimic the natural floods that feed the river, floodplains and native plantsand animals.Rivers without dams need to stay thatway. The days on concreting in themistakes of the past have to end.In dry years our rivers get hit hardest.In effect they wear the greatest riskfrom the climate change caused by ourpollution. In the Goulburn River, 60 percent of the flow is taken in an ‘average’year and 81 per cent in a dry year.Government needs to allocate aproportional share of a river’s waterthat sustains its health – even in dry years.We know that a drier climate willincrease the likelihood of more toxicblue green algal blooms in rivers likethe Goulburn and Yarra. But that hasn’tstopped the Victorian governmenttaking water specifically set aside toreduce the risk of blue green algalblooms in the Goulburn River andhanding it over to Melbourne andBendigo. That’s an example of passingthe risk of climate change onto the

environment and other communities.One consequence of the big dry is thatthe Goulburn River is being hung,drawn and quartered. Water from theGoulburn River will be pumped tosupply Ballarat and Bendigo. Goulburnwater has been sent 600 kilometreswest in the Waranga Western Channelfor years. The Victorian government isscheming to build an open channelconnecting the Murray and GoulburnRiver’s and get around the peskyBarmah Choke that created thegreatest river red gum forest on earthso it can sell more water.And now 75 000 megalitres ofGoulburn River water will be piped toMelbourne. That’s not a lot comparedto the 1 768 000 megalitres taken byirrigation industries. But it stillmatters.If Melbourne is going to take waterfrom the Goulburn it needs to meet itsobligations to the Goulburn-MurrayRiver system. The government has saidit won’t buy water from irrigators. ButMelbourne could buy water for rivers.Water still needs to be found to meetpromises to made to the Snowy Riverin 2000. And there is no long-term planto give the Goulburn and Murray Riversystems enough water to maintaintheir river red gum forests.Melbourne could lead the way.

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

New water worlddemands new approach> Dr Paul Sinclair, Director, Healthy Rivers Campaign We need to secure water for our rivers if

they are to have a fighting chance against

climate change.

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WITH A FOCUS on hard-to-reachcommunities in the Westernport region,the Regional Sustainable Living programhas been helping residents from thesecommunities reduce their environmentalfootprint and save money.The four year program has been fundedby the Sustainability Fund. In its firstyear, it was delivered in three parts: theEco-Wise Action program for seniorsclubs on the Mornington Peninsula, theFamilies Go Green program for low-income families in Frankston, and theEco Challenge for youth from the City of Casey.

EV joined forces with local government,seniors clubs, and the YMCA to deliverthe projects, which worked to buildcapacity in community leaders to reducetheir own environmental footprint andspread their knowledge to others in theircommunities. The projects have been a resoundingsuccess, saving Victorians thousands ofkilograms of CO2 equivalent and millionsof litres of water in the last financial year.Over 730 showerheads were exchangedduring a Families Go Green communityevent and 1000 indigenous trees weregiven away to help develop a carbon sink

IT WAS A COLD AUGUSTAFTERNOON ON THE BANKS OFTHE COLIBAN RIVER AS EV’SHEALTHY RIVERSREPRESENTATIVES FISHED FORBUGS IN TRAYS OF RIVER WATERWITH TEASPOONS. THEIREXCITED SEARCH TOOK THEMTHROUGH BEETLES, BUGS,SKATERS AND WORMS INSEARCH OF THE ELUSIVESTONEFLY LARVAE.

THE FIELD TRIP was part of theSustainable Water Management shortcourse, conducted by the BendigoRegional Institute of TAFE (BRIT). The

brainchild of the EV’s Healthy Riverscampaign team, the course wasdesigned in partnership with BRIT inresponse to rising demand for trainingto help EV’s representatives becomebetter advocates for Victoria’s rivers.Participants came from a wide varietyof backgrounds, from EVrepresentatives to Landcare groups,landholders and waterkeepers. JohnPoppins, an EV representative on anumber of committees, said thediverse mix of people allowed for adynamic discussion on river issues thatwas both stimulating and inspiring.“Meeting the other attendees andhaving the opportunity to network withthem and learn from them was perhapsthe best benefit of all,” John said.

The sentiment was echoed byCameron Steele, EV’s man on theMoorabool, who agreed that it wasboth the range of topics and peopleinvolved that made the weekendcourse so valuable. “The course wasextremely helpful in solidifying theissues,” he said.A vast array of expert presenters weredrawn from across Victoria for theintensive weekend course, from theCatchment Management Authority, tothe Department of Sustainability andEnvironment and beyond. They tookparticipants through topics such asriver health, hydrology, waterallocation, community engagementand farm management.EV was able to support Healthy Riversrepresentatives who attended thecourse with the help of a grant from the Foundation for Rural andRegional Renewal.


s u s t a i n a b i l i t y

Cutting the cost of environmental damage> Vicki Kyriakakis, Communications Officer

Graduates of the Youth Eco-Challenge will be meeting Al Gore in late September

after helping their communities reduce their environmental footprints.

for CO2. The Eco-Wise Action programtook more than over 200 seniors throughan environmental audit of their ownhomes and taught them how to reducetheir water and energy use. And youngpeople from the City of Casey heldsustainability workshops for over 690people, giving away 510 four-minuteshower timers and exchanging 70showerheads on World Environment Day.The results have drawn wide-spreadattention, with Premier John Brumbyinviting the Eco-Challenge graduates tosit on his table for Al Gore’s presentationto business leaders in Melbourne at theend of September. The Casey youth willhave the opportunity to meet the manhimself on the night, with the help ofSustainability Victoria who funded thecost of the tickets. Jane Sayers, Director of SustainableLiving Campaign said the program’ssuccess was evidence that Victoriansfrom all walks of life were ready to makethe changes necessary to reduce theirimpact on the environment.The next stage of the program will workwith community groups in CentralVictoria. For more information about theprogram, contact Annette Salkeld on9341 8100 or [email protected].

VICTORIANS HAVE SAVED THOUSANDS OF KILOGRAMS OF CO2 AND MILLIONS OF LITRES OF WATER PER ANNUM DURING THE PILOT OF EV’S REGIONAL SUSTAINABLE LIVING PROGRAM.

River champions connect oversustainable water management> Juliet Le Feuvre, Healthy Rivers Community Campaigner

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MS KELLY O’SHANASSY, who took thehelm at EV in June this year, believesthat the future demands a morerefined approach which broadens EV’srole and builds on its strengths. “EV has done an extraordinary job ofraising awareness of environmentalissues. While education and raisingawareness will be an ongoing priority,it’s time to shift into a different gear,”she said. This new phase would involve leading,supporting and motivating allVictorians to meet the challenges ofclimate change, declining river healthand growing stockpiles of waste –

mainstreaming sustainability andadopting solutions that lead to lastingenvironmental improvement. “There is already a high level ofawareness of many environmentalissues and even a sense of urgency outthere– there is now a need to help thepublic, government and businessdevelop the solutions for the benefit ofall Victorians,” she said.“There are many environmental issuesthat still need attention,” Kelly said.“Climate change and water shortagesare household names, but we still needto work hard on the raising awarenesson other issues and promoting

practical solutions.” The community isseeking these solutions.“Looking at things in terms of‘sustainability’ enables us to focus onmultidisciplinary solutions that arebeneficial for all three pillars ofsustainability– environment, economy,and people,” she said. How EV would do this was an issue theorganisation would tackle in a far-reaching strategic review that wouldset the organisation’s direction for thenext step of its evolution. Kelly said theinformation gleaned from the recentsurveys sent to members and donorswould form part of the foundation forthe review.She brings to the table an extensivebackground in environmentalsustainability and water issues andknowledge of the environment,corporate and government sectors. She was instrumental to thedevelopment of Victoria’sEnvironmental SustainabilityFramework and has held leadershiproles within EPA Victoria and theMelbourne water industry. She isfamiliar with practical solutions–before joining government, MsO’Shanassy advised businesses andcommunities on how they could reducetheir environmental impact. EV President Russell Fisher believesher passion and her background inleading reforms for sustainableoutcomes across Victoria is a dynamiccombination. “Kelly outlined a strong vision forVictoria’s evolution into a sustainablestate, which she is in an ideal positionto lead,” he said. “I’ve always had a strong connection tothe environment,” Kelly said. “I grewup on the land and spend most of myspare time kayaking along Victoria’srivers. I’m passionate about protectingthe planet both for its intrinsic beautyand the value it provides to our lives.”“I believe very strong that EV is acritically important organisation and Iplan to work hard to achieve outcomesfor all Victorians.”


p r o f i l e

Solutions thefocus as the newCEO takes helm> Dawn G Lee, Media & Communications Volunteer

VICTORIA’S LEADING ENVIRONMENT ORGANISATION MUST MOVEBEYOND RAISING AWARENESS IN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES TOPROVIDING SOLUTIONS TO CURRENT PROBLEMS AND ADVOCATINGTHEIR ADOPTION, SAYS ENVIRONMENT VICTORIA’S NEW CHIEFEXECUTIVE OFFICER.

“EV HAS DONE ANEXTRAORDINARY JOB OFRAISING AWARENESS OFENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

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AS EXPECTED OF many of Australia’scatchments, the Ovens River teemswith life. It nourishes an increasinglyrare native wetland ecosystem –vegetation such as vibrant red gumforests, threatened and endangeredfish and other aquatic species, andother creatures including 190 nativebirds and water-birds, many of notableconservation significance. Just as predictably, this haven is understress – a consequence of a litany ofhistorical and managementmisjudgment. Much of the catchmenthas been degraded by unsustainableagricultural practices, gold dredgingand the invasion of pest plants andanimals, including admittedlymisguidedly introduced species.Exacerbating the problem is theharvesting of water in warmer months,which puts the river’s flow regime outof sync with natural processes anddisrupts the breeding patterns ofnative fish. What makes the Ovens unique,however, is its distinctiveness in beingthe last remaining free-flowingVictorian river feeding into the Murray,absent of any major dams or weirs. Itscontribution is substantial andstartlingly disproportionate– itprovides 14 per cent of flow into theentire Murray-Darling Basin, despitemaking up just 0.75 per cent of thetotal Basin area. The importance of maintaining theOvens’ stream flow and water qualitybecomes even starker when oneconsiders what this relatively intactriver and its tributaries protect – theMurray Hardyhead, which facesstatewide extinction; the iconic MurrayCod, Trout Cod, Macquarie Perch– allendangered or threatened. Forperspective, only 10 per cent of theMurray-Darling Basin’s native fishpopulation is estimated to remain. The

Ovens River is one of the fewremaining havens that shelter someof the last creatures of their kind inthe world. These unique qualities and richecology draw many researchers toits banks. Fish ecologist BillO’Connor was part of a researchteam studying the secret life of theMurray Cod in the early 1990s,Australia’s biggest freshwater fish,with a specific focus on the Ovens.While he has worked on rivers allover Victoria, Bill still describesseeing the Ovens in flood as apersonal highlight of the two yearshe spent on the project. “It wasinspiring. All the billabongs came tolife and it made me think, ‘wow, thisis the way it once would have been inother rivers as well’.”Witnesses to the warning signs ofthe river’s declining health are Ovensfarmer Carmelo Leggio and his son,Joe. Carmelo has spent his lifegrowing tobacco on the river flatsand his passion is fishing in theOvens River. The pair mourns theloss of deep water holes and treeroots, which provided good riverhabitat and cover for fish. Joeobserves, “those deep holes have alldisappeared now. The river hasbecome really wide and shallow.”


v i c t o r i a’s r i v e r s

Fresh from theOvens: Stories fromVictoria’s North East> Dawn G Lee, Media & Communications Volunteer

ON THE SURFACE, THE STORY OF ONE OF VICTORIA’S GREATEST RIVERSIS ALMOST TEDIOUSLY FAMILIAR. ITS FUTURE IS IN DOUBT, BUT THESTAKES INVOLVED IN ITS DECLINE REACH FAR BEYOND ITS BANKS.

above: Illustrated by Ailey Ball for

EV’s Your River project. The Murray’s

last free-flowing river is home to

some of the state’s most endangered

species. topleft: The Ovens River was

a personal muse for Wangaratta

artist, Trish Gallagher, in the

Goulburn and North East Art’s

Alliance’s first ever exhibition.

right: Boorhaman Primary School

students created a tribute to the

river in the form of a paved mural

on the path into their school.

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BANKING ON THE OVENSApart from supporting abundant life,there are those for whom the river islifeblood. Wangaratta, the largest urban centre inthe Ovens catchment with a populationof 18,000, for instance, draws its watersupplies from the Upper Ovenscatchment. This represents 17 per centof water consumed across thecatchment. The Ovens also provides enjoyment andprosperity to the people who live, workand play along its banks. Their stories,deeply interlinked with the life of theirbeloved river, are diverse, but theyshare a common bittersweet qualityshaped by having been forced to watchits gradual decline. The students of Boorhaman PrimarySchool, for one, have an appreciationfor the local knowledge the riverprovides and how it is intricately linkedto their lives. They know, for instance,that farmers can gauge how muchspring rain to expect if they observe theriver’s resident black swans. “If it’sgoing to flood, the black swans willbuild their nests high,” explains MarleyStevenson, one of the school’sstudents, “and if there’s only going tobe a little bit of water, they’ll buildnests down low.”The river is also a playground. Brightchef Patrizia Simone recalls her son,Anthony, spending idyllic days by theriver with his friends, swimming,fishing or tumbling over rapids atoplilos. Her livelihood is directly connected tothe river. Patrizia runs the popularSimone’s of Bright, and believes thatpeople are drawn to Bright because ofthe stunning natural setting of thesnow-capped mountains and babblingOvens River. She admits, “I don’t knowwhat Bright would be without the river.”The alpine climate and fertile valleysof Victoria’s Northeast make it one ofthe state’s leading gourmet food andwine areas. It produces chestnuts,walnuts, wines, beers, cheese,mustards, berries and olives. A healthyOvens River underpins production ofthis good food and is a major draw-card for tourism and recreation in theUpper Ovens. Clearly, the region’s continuedprosperity relies on finding balancebetween water for agriculture andwater for the environment– as does thefate of the thousands of species whosesurvival depends on the value we placeon keeping the Ovens alive and well.


RIVERS

Tuesday 16th October, 7.30pm

John Hopkins Room, VCA Music 234 St Kilda Rd, Southbank

Tickets $20 Bookings (03) 9341-8120All proceeds to Healthy Rivers Campaign

VCA Music - Percussion presents

Artistic Director: Kim Chalmers

Musical Director: Peter Neville

The VCA Percussion Ensemble will present a contemporary,

water themed program including works by Peter Sculthorpe,

Toru Takemitsu, Jacob Druckman and Kim Chalmers

Fixing the Ovens:

A shared responsibility

Recognition of the importance of sound rivermanagement in preserving the Ovens’ healthand preventing further damage is growing. In the forty years that Leigh Ferguson has spentworking on the ground along the Ovens River,he has seen many changes in approaches to rivermanagement. Many of these approaches nowinvolve increased consideration for the delicacyrequired in handling natural systems.Willows planted along riverbanks in the 1970s,for example, are now recognized as having anadverse impact on stream health and waterquality. “Black willows were a big mistake– theybecame an invasive weed,” he explains. Recently,his work has focused on restoring nativevegetation in an effort to improve stream flow,water quality and biodiversity. The Victorian government has committed towriting a Stream Flow Management Plan for theOvens River and a Sustainable Water Strategy forVictoria’s northern region. This has created awindow of opportunity for community action,allowing it a chance to raise the importance ofriver health and ask the government to settargets and timelines for providing water forrivers and securing town water supplies. For the more stories on the Ovens River and the Your River project, visitwww.environmentvictoria.org.au.

TAKE ACTIONIndividual Victorians are a crucial part of protectingour rivers. Conserving water, getting active in aWaterwatch, Landcare or Waterkeeper group (or setting one up!), and giving the issue a voicethrough sharing stories, passion and enthusiasmall combine to make an impact. For moreinformation on how you can help save Victoria’srivers, contact Leonie Duncan on (03) 9341 8120.

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VICTORIANS ARE RECYCLING morethan ever before, but current practicesin resource-extraction are bleedingmany of the earth’s most preciousresources. As we head further into the 21stcentury, supply of rare elements suchas platinum are not expected to meetdemand. A vital component found inboth catalytic converters in cars andfuel cells, platinum is in extremelyshort supply. And, unlike oil ordiamonds, it has no syntheticalternative.Other rare metals are also beingconsumed at alarming rates. Indium,(used in the LCD’s of flat-screen TVs)and Tantalum (found in chips of mobilephones) are both in increasing demandand rapidly diminishing supply. Globalsupplies of uranium are debatably notsustainable past fifty years and evencommonplace elements like zinc,copper, nickel and phosphorus havetheir end in sight.While studies are underway todetermine when these supplies will

run out, these are few and far between— a fact that is alarming given ourdependency on these elements and thelack of developed alternatives. Professor Armin Reller, from theUniversity of Augsburg in Germany,heads up a team that is exploring theearth’s diminishing materials.His predictions are dire: “Reserves ofindium will last ten years, at best,”according to Professor Reller. His workspeculates on a range of criticalelements, advising that we need to“minimise waste, find substituteswhere possible and recycle the rest.”Professor Reller’s advice translates toevery material currently consumed inthe economy. It would force us to takea very careful look at what materials


z e r o w a s t e

ZERO WAdopting a new

OVER THE YEARS, VICTORIANS HAVE PROVEN THEMSELVES TO BE GOOD RECYCTONNES OF SOLID WASTE GENERATED IN VICTORIA IN 2005 WAS DIVERTED FRSWIFTLY DWINDLING, IS THIS ENOUGH TO SUSTAIN OUR CURRENT LIFESTYLESOF ZERO WASTE AND DISCUSSES WHY THIS SYSTEM-WIDE CHANGE IS NECESS

> Georgie Coram, Zero Waste C

Recycling

is on the

increase in

Victoria,

but we still

have a long

way to go

to realise a

Zero Waste

economy

Supplies of elements like Indium,

used in the LCDs of flat-screen TVs,

are rapidly running out.

EV004_GAN_0907_v4 18/9/07 12:16 Page 8

we allow into the economy, howproducts are manufactured and justwhat happens to them at the end oftheir functional life.

AN URGENT ISSUEAlmost all the materials we currentlyuse to manufacture products begin asnatural resources. While we continueto dump waste into landfill, wesimultaneously continue to extractvirgin materials from the earth.Current production systems operateunsustainably. Practices in mining,forestry and agriculture, for example,not only create massive ecologicaldamage, but also use too much energyand often require transportation overlarge distances. They use resources

stripped directly from the earth andinvolve the disposal of materials beforethe end of the full life-cycle. The endresult is a vast majority of productsflowing through the economy andending up discarded as waste.Part of this old world view in Australiahas evolved from the belief in thecountry as a vast land, abundant inresources. For early immigrants toAustralia, this may very well have beenthe case.But, as Susan Kinsella and DanielKnapp from the Grass Roots RecyclingNetwork assert, today’s resource-scarcity and environmentaldegradation tells a very different story.“Our worldwide manufacturing,distribution and disposal systems have

evolved with support from laws andpractices over more than 150 yearsthat encouraged the rapid conversionof natural resources into finishedproducts. Today everyone knows thiswas an illusion.”It is an illusion that has promoted‘business-as-usual’ approaches toindustrial development andtechnological achievement that cannotsustain a healthy, vibrant lifestyle forthe world’s vastly expanded population.Only by immediately adopting ZeroWaste as our goal, can we shift theeconomy to handle the flow ofresources in a way that does not createwaste. Thus, we will begin to recognisethe interconnectedness of ourdecisions with the impact they have onour planet.

THE ZERO WASTE CONCEPTZero Waste is a vision and principle tolive by. It enables us to profoundlychange the way we approach resourcesand production so that we not onlyrecycle and reuse materials in a betterway, but we don’t create waste in thefirst place. It extends our currentthinking so that newly designed,resource-efficient materials can berecycled back into the economy.This can be achieved by redesigningthe economy.In contrast to the current outdatedlinear modeling of the economy, ZeroWaste is grounded in the theory of a‘closed-loop cycle’. Based on thenatural cycles that occur in nature, aclosed-loop cycle enables the routine


WASTE ew world view

D RECYCLERS. FIGURES SHOW THAT ALMOST 55 PER CENT OF THE 9.88 MILLIONTED FROM LANDFILL INTO RECYCLING. BUT, WITH THE PLANET’S RESOURCES

STYLES? ZERO WASTE CAMPAIGNER, GEORGIE CORAM, EXPLORES THE CONCEPTECESSARY TO ACHIEVE REAL SUSTAINABILITY IN OUR ECONOMY.

Waste Community Campaigner

An example of Zero Waste in action, Dung

Beetles feed on the waste of other animals.

Third year graphic design student,

Ryan Eyre from the Australian Academy

of Design in Melbourne, designed the

Zero Waste logo, helping solidify the

Zero Waste message.

>>>>>

EV004_GAN_0907_v4 18/9/07 12:16 Page 9

use and reuse of resources as theycycle through the economy.In nature, waste forms a veryimportant part of the complete cyclingof materials: the byproduct orexcrement of one species forms a foodsource or nutrient supply to another.These cyclic interactions form theunderlying principles of the Zero Wastephilosophy. Waste from onemanufacturer becomes a valuablecommodity for another.Philip Sutton, Convenor of theGreenleap Strategic Institute says theprinciples behind the closed-loop cycleinclude the natural cascade down-cycling in the quality of a product. “In usual practice, some of theinherent quality of the product’smaterial is lost during recycling andreproduction. Zero Waste aims to keepthe product high in the hierarchy andminimise losses in quality.”As good recyclers, most Victorians are

familiar with the ‘reduce, reuse,recycle’ mantra of the waste hierarchy.The Zero Waste concept expands thisidea, integrating other factors into thesystem that eliminate the need fordisposal and replace it with upcycling.Upcycling resynthesises a product atthe end of its lifecycle into somethingthat is clean and useable.

VICTORIA: TOWARDS ZERO WASTEIn 2005, the Victorian governmentlaunched the Towards Zero WasteStrategy. It called for all Victorians tominimise waste generation andmaximise opportunities in materialsrecovery. The strategy sets fourstatewide targets for waste reduction,resource recovery and littering. It alsosets specific targets and actions forVictoria’s municipal and businesssectors to deliver more sustainable useof resources by 2014.EV’s Zero Waste campaign supportsthis vision of moving towards the goalof zero waste and argues for measuresto be taken to support it.Victoria is now annually improving theamount of waste it recycles and isactually holding its landfill steady. Yetthese are just the first steps tosustainable consumption. Victorianeeds to move beyond recycling wasteto reducing the amount of wasteproduced in the first place. Only this

way will we truly and drasticallyreduce our impact on the

planet.


z e r o w a s t e

THE ZERO WASTE CAMPAIGN IS ASKING FOR:The redesign of products and packages for durability, reuse and recyclabilityProducts should be designed using fewer material types, which can beeasily reused or repaired at the end of their lifecycle.

THE CREATION OF JOBS FROM DISCARDS Wasted materials equals wastedjobs – jobs that can be created when the resources that are preserved are used in materials-assorting facilities. Currently the materials recovery industry is predominantly a smallbusiness phenomenon. We need to work together to grow an industry that combinestechnology, human resources and creativity into converting everything we currently wasteinto products valuable enough to be traded.

GREATER PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY Zero Waste puts the responsibility forwaste management on the shoulders of the manufacturer, rather than the consumer or alocal council. In this scenario, the manufacturer is responsible for a product at the end of itslifecycle, giving them the incentive to design and produce a product that is free from toxins,and that can be easily recycled, reused or recovered.

‘TRUE COST’ ACCOUNTING This involves calculating the total cost of a product.Products do not currently reflect the full cost of the environmental degradation, publichealth impacts, species loss, and social fragmentation associated with the extraction,production, distribution and disposal of that product. When the market reflects the true costfor products, we will see a shift towards environmentally-friendly and socially-responsibleproducts that are also less expensive.

INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE, NOT LANDFILLS Rather than put moneyinto landfills, governments should invest in infrastructure that makes use of waste.International communities have developed ‘waste warehouses’ or ‘waste malls’ that operatein an integrated way with businesses. Other facilities include waste-to-energy facilities suchas energy produced from organic waste. The development of this infrastructure is vital inrealistically moving towards zero waste.

AN END TO TAX PAYER SUBSIDIES FOR WASTEFUL AND POLLUTINGINDUSTRIES In Australia, many of the industries that make products from virginmaterials are subsidised, such as forestry and mining. A large percentage of our pollution,energy consumption and environmental destruction occurs during themanufacture of such products. Without tax payer subsidies, themarket can fairly determine which products are truly less expensive.This creates a more even playing field for eco-friendly products.

TAKEACTION

YOU CAN BE AN ETHICAL CONSUMER. ASK YOURSELF:>> Do I really need this?

>> Can I borrow it or buy it second hand?

>> Where is it produced? Can I buy the same product locally?

>> What is the overall environmental impact of the product? Considerproduction, energy and materials usage, transport, packaging and disposal.

>> What is the full lifecycle of the product?

>> Does the producer guarantee to take the product back and recycle itat the end of its lifecycle?

>> Is the product the most energy efficient on the market?

Green Actions lead to Green Solutions. Sign-up to our Zero Waste bulletinat www.environmentvictoria.org.au. For more information on how you cantake part in EV’s Zero Waste campaign, contact Georgie Coram at

[email protected] or on 9341 8164.

>>>>>

EV004_GAN_0907_v4 18/9/07 12:16 Page 10

THE WATER AND habitat tests of theYarra River and its tributaries werepart of the Eureka Award winningMYRiveR Yarra program, and markedthe first time that tests for E. Coli werecarried out by members of the public.Results from the tests shockedstudents, with the detection ofdangerous levels of E. Colicontamination and widespread habitatdegradation.E. Coli was found at 25 of the 27 lowercatchment sites tested. E. Coli are abacteria found in the intestines of allwarm blooded animals and are anindicator of faecal contamination iffound in water.Habitat was degraded at more thanhalf of the sites tested in the upperYarra catchment and over three

quarters in the lower part. The riparianzone (vegetation alongside the stream)was slightly to extremely degraded atall but two of the 50 sites tested.After studying the results, the studentsdetermined the issues facing the Yarracatchment that were of most concernto them, envisioned how they’d like

things to be in the future, and decidedwhat individual actions they wouldtake. They presented their views at twoyouth-led community forums in YarraGlen and Abbotsford on August 24 and 31.Alphington Grammar Year 8 studentBen McWiggan said his interest inenvironmental issues had grownbecause of the program. “The Yarrawas sicker than I thought it would be,’’Ben said.

“The phosphate levels were 70 timeshigher than they should be. Lots ofpeople use the Yarra for recreation so Ithink politicians should be more awareof it so we can work together to fix theproblems. It would be great if peoplecould swim in it again.’’Ben said the students now planned tocarry out regular water tests ofDarebin Creek to monitor its health.OzGREEN project coordinator WendyHopkins said it was encouraging to seeyoung people determined to become“champions of the river’’.“It’s about developing their own formsof action as to what they, as youngpeople, are prepared to do to make acontribution to caring for the river,’’ MsHopkins said. It was great for studentsto get first-hand experience of just howmuch stress the river is under and theimportance of protecting our naturalenvironment.’’


i n t h e c i t y

Local students get behind MYRiveR Yarra> Daniel Clarke, Media Officer

STUDENTS FROM SCHOOLS ACROSS THE YARRA CATCHMENT BECAME WATER ‘CHAMPIONS’ LAST MONTH WHENTHEY CARRIED OUT A SERIES OF TESTS TO GAUGE THE HEALTH OF MELBOURNE’S MOST IMPORTANT RIVER.

Students were concerned by the high

levels of contamination in

Melbourne’s best-known river.

MYRiveR Yarra is a bold concept that setsthe goal of engaging young people andtheir communities throughout the YarraRiver basin in informed, active andempowered volunteer participation.The program is a collaboration betweenOzGREEN, Environment Victoria, and theYarra Riverkeeper Association. MYRiveRYarra is supported by the Department forVictorian Communities Volunteer SupportGrants and is based on OzGREEN’sEureka Award winning program that hasbeen running in the Murray-Darling basinsince 2002.For more information, contact WendyHopkins on [email protected] or (03) 9341 8104.

“ RESULTS FROM THE TESTSSHOCKED STUDENTS, WITH THE DETECTION OFDANGEROUS LEVELS OF E. COLI…”

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GAN: When did you first become interestedin climate change? Coni Forcey: My interest in theenvironment is long-standing. I wasraised in a small country town and hadthe great fortune to have a fantasticscience teacher in 7th and 8th grade.He was the first environmentalist I’dever met, and his passion for naturewas infectious as he was a realcharacter! He was instrumental inteaching me to love and respect theenvironment. Like most people whoenjoy nature, you become passionateabout protecting it for futuregenerations. I first became interestedin climate change about a year ago. Imust admit I do separate my life a bitinto bcc (before climate change)awareness and acc (after climatechange), because since I’ve becomeaware of it, my life and lifestyle hascertainly changed.

GAN: As a co-founder of BCCAG, what werethe biggest challenges you faced?CF: I suppose the only challenge wasgetting over my own fears of beingostracised within my own communityfor trying to alert people and movethem into action - No one wants to belabelled as “chicken little”. I initiallyorganised the BCCAG because I wasarmed with the belief that there wereother people who were concerned, so Isought them out and with their help,formed the BCCAG into a non-political,

not-for-profit organisation which wouldprovide a collective voice for Baysideresidents.

GAN: Your first event, the human sign atSandringham Beach, was a huge success anddrew more than 4000 people and mainstreammedia attention. Were you surprised by theresponse? CF: Not surprised, but thrilled. I’velived in Bayside for over 20 years. Iknow my community and I know thatthey are the type of people who willrise up to a challenge and supporttheir neighbours when needed. I knowthat people in my community are veryaware of the risks we face as a resultof climate change and are keen toexpress their concerns by standing onthe beach with their friends, family andneighbours to make a statement. Oncewe spoke to the local schools and gottheir support, I knew that the responsewould be huge, because parents areconcerned about the future that theirchildren will be facing as a result ofglobal warming. The mainstreammedia attention was fantastic, and I’mthrilled at the continued interest fromall over the world that it has generated.

GAN: What message do you think ourpolitical leaders should take from this?CF: The political leaders should notmisunderstand who put them there inthe first place! Demands for changeare the inherent right and

responsibility of citizens in ademocracy. Politicians are the servantsof the people - if we are not gettingadequate leadership in making theright decisions on climate change, thenwe have to let them know what wewant and get them to act upon it.

GAN: Many people can feel overwhelmed bythe enormity of the issue facing us as asociety. How do you deal with it? CF: I guess I look at it this way. Everygeneration has had its challenges.Whether it was smallpox, World War I orII, Polio, the Great Depression, or thethreat of nuclear war. Each and every oneof these challenges has been met andmankind as a whole has grown, learnedfrom it, and moved forward. If we are toface the issue of global warming, we willneed to do so as a global community. Wecan work together to face this, and whatwe’ll learn from that we’ll be able to usein ending poverty, HIV, and any numberof other challenges that the human racefaces. As a result, I believe we willbecome better stewards or caretakers ofthe planet.

GAN: Tell us about your group’s involvementin The Big Switch... CF: BCCAG was happy to be involvedand put their name onto the website.We’ve been meeting with our MP’s andare keen to share the information withpeople both within our electorate andbeyond. We really are wanting tohighlight to the government theconcerns we have and our desire forstrong legislation to enable realchanges in CO2 reduction.

GAN: What advice do you have for peoplewho would like to do something but don’tknow where to start? CF: One person making changes suchas changing their light globes,reducing water consumption, andusing public transport doesn’t seemlike a big difference. However, if youcan unite a community to tackleclimate change by initiating societalchange, then the prospect doesn’tseem quite so daunting. Our vision is, ifyou can shift one community, it willhave a ripple effect into others. So myadvice is to get started right away. Yourefforts do make a difference.


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

CO-FOUNDER OF THE BAYSIDE CLIMATE CHANGEACTION GROUP (BCCAG), CONI FORCEY SAYSFINDING OUT ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE WAS ALITTLE LIKE LEARNING THERE WAS NO SANTA CLAUS.“ONCE YOU UNDERSTAND, YOU CAN’T EVER GOBACK.” SHE BELIEVES, HOWEVER, THAT MEETINGTHE CHALLENGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE ISSOMETHING THE WORLD CAN ACHIEVE AND LEARNFROM. A GREEN ACTION NEWS ‘ENVIRONMENTALCHAMPION’, CONI SPOKE WITH EV ABOUT HERHOPES FOR THE FUTURE AND WHY SHE BELIEVESONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

CONI FORCEY:Bayside’s climateaction mum

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FROM CLIMATE CONSCIOUS PeterAndren, member for Calare in NSW, toDr Dennis Jenson, Member forTangney in Western Australia, whosuggested erecting ‘a giant shadeclothbetween orbiting satellites’ to combatglobal warming, The Big Switch istaking the climate change campaign to the people and empoweringAustralians to make informeddecisions at the coming federalelection.All 150 federal politicians were askedto complete The Big Switch survey inthe lead-up to the election and comeclean about their climate changepolicies. So far, only a smallpercentage has responded, a resultthat Big Switch national director Tricia Phelan says is surprising givenhow concerned Australians are aboutthe issue.“The major political parties arecompletely out of step with theAustralian electorate,” Ms Phelan said.“Australians are coming to grips withthe enormity of the issue and yet ourgovernment is still refusing to sign the Kyoto Protocol or set the necessarygreenhouse gas emission reductiontargets.”So far, over 4200 people have signed upto The Big Switch and pledged to takeaction, putting pressure on politicalleaders to set real targets on climatechange. They are joining EnvironmentVictoria, the other conservationcouncils in Australia, Greenpeace andGetup to call on political parties toadopt policies on climate change thatwill reduce greenhouse pollution byleast 30 per cent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050. This needs to besupported by a federal renewableenergy target of 25 per cent by 2020 toget Victoria, and the country, off itsreliance on fossil fuel energy sources.

This ground-swell of communitysupport is reflected in EV’s work on theground. Workshops are being run withcommunity groups from Healesville toSandringham and Geelong on theimpacts of climate change and whatpeople can do to avoid dangerousclimate change in their personal lives,communities and on the political level.And Climate Action Groups arespringing up around the state.Ms Phelan said the coming federalelection was an opportune time to putpressure on political representatives,and to urge them to complete The BigSwitch survey and get real aboutclimate change. “Elections are whenlocal MPs really have their ears open,”she said. “Now is the perfect time tocontact your MP about climate change.Visit The Big Switch site, sign up andget involved. It’s really easy. We needyour support to ensure every MP takesour message on board.”“Australians want real and bindingclimate action from their leaders.”

For more information, contact TriciaPhelan at [email protected] on (03) 9341 8112.


c l i m a t e c h a n g e

Politicians fall behind as The Big Switch picks up speed> Vicki Kyriakakis, Communications Officer

The Big Switch is calling for the

major political parties to commit to

growing Australia’s renewable

energy industry with a federal

target of at least 25 per cent by 2020.

“ AUSTRALIANS ARECOMING TO GRIPSWITH THEENORMITY OF THEISSUE AND YET OURGOVERNMENT ISSTILL REFUSING TOSIGN THE KYOTOPROTOCOL…”

AUSTRALIA’S BIGGEST EVER CLIMATE CHANGE CAMPAIGN HAS KICKED OFF,WITH THE LAUNCH OF THE BIG SWITCH WEBSITE LAST MONTH. BUT, ASPEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY GET SERIOUS ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE, THEMAJOR POLITICAL PARTIES CONTINUE TO FALL BEHIND.

EV004_GAN_0907_v4 18/9/07 12:16 Page 13


a c t i o n

MOIRA AND BILLJEFFREYS, RETIREESMoira and Bill Jeffreys, from theMcEwen electorate, believe thatthe major political partiesshould work together to helpmeet the challenges of climatechange. To do their part toreduce green house emissions,Moira and Bill are buying ‘greenenergy’, making sure thatelectrical equipment is turnedoff at the plug when not in use,using cold water in the washingmachine, and trying not to use thedishwasher until it is full. But their mainworry is one common to many ‘BigSwitchers’: a concern for futuregenerations.“We are concerned about our children’sand grandchildren’s futures and thelack of meaningful action by ourgovernment. We would like to see themworking in a bipartisan way to get thebest results in reducing our emissions.”

GEORGIA BLOMBERG, SENIORBUSINESS ADVISORGeorgia Blomberg knows a thing or twoabout business and she knows theimportance of setting targets. AlthoughGeorgia has never been an activist onenvironmental issues before, shebelieves that people must work togetherto fight climate change. And she ismaking some changes herself, toensure that she reduces her owngreenhouse pollution. But Georgiathinks that politicians need to set realtargets to combat greenhouse pollution.

‘Big Switchers’ callfor more actionVICTORIANS OF ALL AGESARE MAKING THE BIGSWITCH TO A GREENERWAY OF LIFE. THREEVICTORIAN ‘BIGSWITCHERS’ SHARETHEIR STORIES AND TALKABOUT HOW THEY ARELEADING THE PUSH FORREAL ACTION ONCLIMATE CHANGE.

“Without short and medium termmilestones, you can never achieve thelonger term ones. The economies thatare changing and restructuring forclimate change now, will be the newpower economies.”

DIMITY WILLIAMS, DOCTORDimity Williams lives in Ashburton,Victoria. Her electorate is Higgins andher local MP is just about as high profileas they come – he’s the federaltreasurer. Having Peter Costello as herlocal representative didn’t stop this 39-year-old mother and doctor frommeeting with him to talk about climatechange.“I wanted to ask him about his party’sposition on climate change and tospecifically ask him to take on The BigSwitch requests. I met with PeterCostello along with three othermembers of the Families Facing

TAKE ACTIONJoin Moira, Bill, Georgia, Dimity and other‘Big Switchers’ like them to demand that ourpolitical leaders set real targets to deal withclimate change. Sign up to The Big Switch(www.thebigswitch.com) and turn yourthoughts into action.

Children from the Higgins electorate asked Peter Costello to come clean

about his climate change policies.

Climate Change action group and ourchildren. We presented him with acanvas that 140 children of hiselectorate had created for him usingtheir footprints and written messagesstating what they were doing to reducetheir carbon footprint. The canvas askedhim what kind of footprint we, as acountry, were leaving.”

EV004_GAN_0907_v4 18/9/07 12:16 Page 14

AS THE FEDERAL election looms,Victorians are once again preparing to puttheir feet where their mouth is and joinAustralians nationwide to Walk AgainstWarming. The event will be held onSunday, two weeks before the federalelection and organiser, Louise Morris,says preparations are already well andtruly underway. “We’re keeping our eyes and ears peeled

for a potential date for the election,”Louise said. “In the meantime, the WalkAgainst Warming team here at EV andnationally has been hard at work.” Louise said people across the state hadbeen thinking and talking about climatechange all year and were now at the pointwhere they simply wanted to know whatto do about it. “Climate change action groups have been

popping up all over the state, showingjust how concerned people are about thisissue.” Louise said. “It’ll be a great event.We’ve got great speakers and bands forthe day. It’s going to be really engagingand family friendly.”Special edition Walk Against Warming t-shirts are available for the event. For more information on how to getinvolved, visit the national Walk AgainstWarming webpage atwww.walkagainstwarming.org.au. Register to Walk Against Warming andget a buy-one-get-one free pass to The White Planet, which opened earlierthis month.

u p d a t e

> Vicki Kyriakakis, Communications Officer

IN NOVEMBER 2006, 40,000 VICTORIANS POURED ONTO THE STREETS OFMELBOURNE TO DEMAND ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE. THIS YEAR, WITHCLIMATE CHANGE A HOT POLITICAL ISSUE, WALK AGAINST WARMINGPROMISES TO BE ONE OF THE MOST PIVOTAL EVENTS ON THE CALENDAR

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Victorians ready to walkagainst warming

EV004_GAN_0907_v4 18/9/07 12:16 Page 15

My Heart is in the Land— By Greta Wingrove

I see whales sleeping on beds of coral,Under the deep blue sea.Where the fishes swim through seaweed,That’s where you will find me.I see ships sailing, north, east, west, south,Over the deep blue sea.Where the sun glitters on the waves,That’s where you will find me.I see serpents terrorizing towns.Across the deep blue sea.Where the monsters lurk in the shadows,That’s where you will find me.I see children playing,In the golden sand.For although you’ll find me in the sea,My heart is in the Land

© Greta Wingrove; 2007

Greta Wingrove, the latest and

youngest addition to EV’s Zero Waste

network, has always felt a “pull for the

land”. And, as this budding eleven year

old poet from Middle Park Primary

School will tell you, once that happens

that is where “your heart always

remains”. A whale-lover, Greta

eventually plans to go overseas and

study myth and legends. She also wants

to be a photographer and try to make a

difference in the world. “If there’s

anything you can do, even if it’s really

small, it will make a difference,” Greta

says. “Everyone can make a difference.”

WHO’S WHO AT

ENVIRONMENT VICTORIA

Chief Executive Officer Kelly O’ShanassyOPERATIONS OrganisationalServices Manager Ivan KolkerAdministration Helen VineSupporter Liaison OfficerCandice Feuerring Communications Officer Vicki Kyriakakis Media Officer

Daniel Clarke Finance OfficerDespina Giannakis CLIMATE CHANGE

CAMPAIGN

Director Trisha Phelan

Community Campaigner LouiseMorris Sustainable TransportCampaigner Robyn EvansHEALTHY RIVERS CAMPAIGN

Director Paul SinclairCommunity Campaign

Coordinator Leonie DuncanCommunity Campaigner Juliet Le Feuvre SUSTAINABLE LIVING PROGRAMDirector Annette SalkeldProgram Manager (GreenBusiness Program; Eco-WiseAction) Michelle BurtonProject Officer, Families GoGreen Murray Irwin

Multicultural Leaders ProgramManager Charlie DavieProject Officer, RegionalSustainability Rob BallZERO WASTE CAMPAIGNDirector Mark DoggettCommunity CampaignerGeorgie Coram

Contact Us (03) 9341 8100 [email protected].

WHAT DOES HATTAH MEAN TO YOU?‘Hattah Storylines’ is the latest project for Environment Victoria’s HealthyRivers Campaign.We want to know what the Murray River’s Hattah Lakes means to some ofthe tens of thousands of Victorians who visit each year to camp, fish, canoe,watch birds, bushwalk and enjoy the tranquility of nature. Ten Victorian’sfrom across generations, cultural backgrounds and geographic origins willbe invited to record their connection to Hattah in a digital story-tellingworkshop in March 2008. To find out more contact Leonie Duncan, Healthy River Community Campaign Coordinator, on (03) 9341 8120 or at [email protected].

WIN DOUBLE PASSES TO THE WHITE PLANETGreen Action News has three double passes to give away tothe new film by Thierry Ragobert and Thierry Piantanida,‘The White Planet’. To win, be one of the first three peopleto answer this question: In a Zero Waste economy, what would upcycling involve? Send your answer, along with your name and address, to [email protected] for your chance to win.

EV004_GAN_0907_v4 18/9/07 12:16 Page 16

Documents

Green Action News - Spring 2007