Opportunity to have your say on Marine Park management (Gladstone LMAC)

Media Release: GBRMPA website
http://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/corp_site/info_services/media/2005/2005-11-22b.html
Tuesday 22 November 2005
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority is inviting people from the Gladstone region to have their say on Marine Park management by joining the Gladstone Local Marine Advisory Committee.
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Chairman, The Hon. Virginia Chadwick AO, said the committee gave people an opportunity to advise the Authority on the conservation and sustainable use of their coastal and marine environments.
“The committee provides a forum for representatives from local interest groups, the community, and management agencies to discuss management of the Great Barrier Reef Marine World Heritage Area,” she said.
“We encourage nominations from a range of stakeholder groups, including recreational and commercial fishers, tourism, Indigenous, conservation, catchment managements, port authorities, relevant industries, local government and interested individuals.”
Gladstone Local Marine Advisory Committee Chairman Warwick Sheldon said it was important that all groups who have a stake in the Marine Park nominate for membership to the committee.
“Over the past three years the Gladstone Local Marine Advisory Committee has been able to advise and influence Federal, State and local government organisations on issues relating to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in our local area,” he said.
“This is an excellent opportunity for people who have an involvement or genuine interest in the management, conservation, and ecologically-sustainable use of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area to become directly involved and have a say in its management.”
Membership to the Local Marine Advisory Committee is voluntary and membership renewal occurs every three years. The Committee meets six times a year.
There will be 11 Local Marine Advisory Committees operating along the coast from Cooktown to Bundaberg.
For details on how to apply, call Tracey Rehbein on 4750 0738.


Communications Unit(07) 47 500 846 [day & evening]Email: media@gbrmpa.gov.au

Emergency powers to deal with water supply crisis

Below is a Media Release that may be of interest to people;
Emergency powers to deal with water supply crisis

The State Government now has increased powers to deal with any future water crisis in Queensland after amendments to Queensland's Water Act were passed by State Parliament tonight.

Minister for Natural Resources and Mines Henry Palaszczuk said Queensland now has emergency powers to deal with any serious risk to Queensland's essential water supply needs.

"Until now the State has not had the power to respond or coordinate a response to a water supply emergency because the responsibility and accountability for managing water supplies has rested with the service providers," Mr Palaszczuk said.

"The latest amendments will ensure the State can respond to a water supply emergency such as severe extended drought, failure of large water supply infrastructure such as water treatment plants, or contamination of a water storage used for essential water supply needs.

"The amendments set out a clear process for declaring a water supply emergency; what actions or measures a service provider can be directed to carry out; and how a water supply emergency ends.

"The State Government must consult with any parties that will be directed under the emergency powers prior to making an emergency declaration.

"Where short-term action - such as the imposition of water restrictions
- is required, the Minister may prepare a water supply emergency declaration.

"Otherwise, where long-term action - such as the construction of additional infrastructure - is required, a water supply emergency regulation may be made.

The new legislation allows the State to direct a water service provider to take action to deal with a water supply emergency.

"This could include constructing new infrastructure, fast tracking major maintenance programs to reduce water losses, implementing demand management programs or implementing water restrictions," Mr Palaszczuk said.

Mr Palaszczuk said the new provisions would allow the water service provider to recover from customers investment costs incurred from carrying out emergency activities.

"This will ensure the water service provider's financial viability is not compromised as a result of having to comply with a water supply emergency declaration relating to emergency water supplies," Mr Palaszczuk said.

"The amendments also set out a clear process for applying for compensation for loss incurred as a result of complying with a water supply emergency direction.

"An application for compensation may be made if a person has suffered loss or damage as a result of a water service provider complying with a water supply emergency declaration or regulation."

Mr Palaszczuk said that another amendment passed today meant service providers may specifically restrict the volume of water 'taken by' a customer or type of customer.

"This would allow restrictions to be applied to industrial or commercial customers to better facilitate local management of drought by applying equitable restrictions to both residential and industrial customers," Mr Palaszczuk said.

Media contact: John Algate 3896 3689 or 0418 197 350

Rainwater tanks needed

Media Release
Infrastructure First

14 November 2005
National plan on rainwater tank provision needed

A national plan for the installation of rainwater tanks in Australian homes would put back the need for new dams by up to 80 years, a senior executive of one of Australia's major companies says. The President of BlueScope Water, Col Weatherstone said the answer to Australia's water needs for most of this century is falling into our backyards and washing away down the drain. "The installation of 5000-litre rainwate r tanks for hot water, toilet, laundry and outdoor use at an installation rate of between one and two percent of households per annum will significantly defer the need for augmentation projects, such as new dams," he said.
"It will harvest water that is currently just running off into drains and by avoiding projects such as increased pumping from rivers or new dams, will lower greenhouse gas emissions. "In addition, the water supply chain is streamlined - with more water being stored on site the costs of transport are significantly reduced."
On Tuesday 15 November, Mr Weatherstone will address a session of Infrastructure First, a group of community leaders, businesspeople and academics concerned over the failure of governments to supply and maintain Australia's infrastructure needs. Mr Weatherstone will report that Australians are already embracing water conservation.
"In 2004 more than 90 per cent of those surveyed reported taking conservation measures in the garden and 46 per cent reported saving water in and around the dwelling," he said. "Many Australians already have expe rience of rainwater tanks - 17 per cent of households used water from that source in 2004."
However, any significant increase in this figure will need the right economic incentives. These could include:
*Reducing water supply charges to customers who install rainwater harvesting equipment
*Mandating rainwater harvesting in legislation or town planning regulations. *Increasing the price of water provided through current infrastructure. *Increasing government rebates to homeowners installing rainwater tanks.
Mr Weatherstone said that as well as meeting the water needs of households across Australia, water harvesting would result in systems being developed that could be sold to other countries struggling to meet water demands.
Further information: Peter Grigg (Infrastructure First Chairman) 0419 436 923
Media enquires to contact speakers: Amanda Cenin 0407 047 353

2006 Calendar Launched

The 2006 Port Curtis Waterwatch Calendar is now available. Thankyou to all our corporate sponsors who made production of 2500 calendars possible. We had more than 600 poster entries this year, and as you can see, the result was fantastic. Contact Anna if you would like a copy.

Plastic bags usage cut by 34 per cent

Media Release from Australian Minister for the Environment and Heritage - Senator the Hon. Ian Campbell
15 September 2005
C267/05
Plastic bags usage cut by 34 per cent
Supermarket shoppers continue to pass up on plastic bags in favour of more environmentally friendly alternatives, with a report released today showing a significant cut in usage.
The Australian Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell, said the Australian Retailers' Association report showed that lightweight plastic bag use in the three and a half years to 30 June this year had been cut by more than one billion bags – or 33.8 per cent.
"This is a very good result," Senator Campbell said.
"It is clear evidence of a change of culture by shoppers and the excellent work being done by the major supermarkets to encourage their customers to switch to reusable and other carry bags.
"The target is to achieve a cut of 50 per cent by the end of this year. That remains a challenging goal, but it is within reach if everyone keeps playing their part."
The voluntary targets agreed to by the major supermarkets and Federal, State and Territory governments under a code of practice are based on 2002 usage rates.
During 2002, Australian shoppers in all sectors used a total of 6 billion lightweight bags. Half of these were in major supermarkets.
Senator Campbell said another report, by consultants Nolan ITU, showed that in the first half of this year, shoppers in all sectors used 2.15 billion bags, indicating 4.5 billion bags for the full year.
"This would mean be a cut of 1.5 billion bags since 2002 – which is a huge win for the environment," he said.
Media contact: Renae Stoikos (02) 6277 7640 or 0418 568 434

Poster Competition winners

Overall winner: Samantha Ogden Yr 7 Gladstone West State School
General winners:
Phillipa Page Yr 1 Gladstone West State School
Jackson Adnum Yr 1 Gladstone West State School
Emily Ogden Yr 5 Gladstone West State School
Liam Duff Yr 7 Gladstone West State School
Hayden Holley Yr 5 Trinity College
Joshua Wessely Yr 5 Tannum Sands State School
Brittany Booth Yr 4 Boyne Island State School
Jaiden Eddy Yr 1 Benaraby State School
Aaron Von Oettingen Age 12 St Stephen’s College
Erin Pammenter Age 11 St Stephen’s College
Kevin Upton Age 12 St Stephen’s College
Laura Darrach Yr 6 Clinton State School

All winning artwork will now be made into a 2006 calendar which should be available by mid-October.

Birds in Backyards website

Birds Australia and the Australian Museum are pleased to announce the launch today of the Birds in Backyards website www.birdsinbackyards.net
The site is designed to link old and new bird lovers alike into the magic of Australian birds. An initiative of the Sydney-based Birds in Backyards program, the site is focused on urban birds, habitats and conservation issues and is relevant for the 85% of Australians who live in urban areas. Special Features include:
· Bird Finder – name that bird! The Birds in Backyards Bird Finder, is the first comprehensive tool to help you name that elusive bird on-line. It allows users to enter the size, shape and colour of a bird. This prompts identification of your bird, from an initial database of 150 species found in Sydney and other Australian east coast cities, with work underway on the final target of 800. You can also listen to the calls of 120 species
· On line Volunteer Bird Surveys Who will hear the first Koel of Spring?Where are all the Superb Fairy-wrens?
There is also extensive information about habitat, gardening for birds and some historical data on birds of Sydney.