Green Action News - Environment Victoria...In 2012, after years of campaigning by Environment Victoria and others, the Federal Labor Government promised and then failed to deliver

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 21 • AUTUMN 2014

State election 2014PLUSOur Rivers, Our Lifeblood

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BUT AS WE SWELTERED THROUGH

January heatwaves I’m not sure werealised just how quickly the year wasgoing to crank up. Six weeks later, Victoria is on the brink ofmassive change. Car manufacturers areleaving, ALCOA’s Point Henry aluminiumsmelter is closing in September, and firesat the Hazelwood mine have threatenedthe health and safety of 13,000 residentsof Morwell in one of the state’s worstpollution events ever. The need to getserious about shifting our state to asustainable footing has never been quiteso stark.

Luckily we’ve been preparing for this,beginning our state election campaignto Reclaim Victoria’s Environment overtwo years ago. We’ve transformed theway we work to ensure that we’rebuilding enduring power and networks

of activists in the areas that politicianstake the most notice of.

As ever, we've focused on what's goingto make the biggest difference for ourenvironment. You can read all about ourelection policy priorities on pages 7-13.

But it’s not just Victoria that’sundergoing change. We’ve got some bigchanges happening at EnvironmentVictoria too, with Kelly O’Shanassy, oursmart and fearless leader for the past sixyears, moving on to lead ACF.

A huge thank-you to Kelly for herinspiration, leadership and wisdom insteering the organisation to the strongposition we're in now. It’s a tribute to her,but also to Environment Victoria’sleadership in the environmentmovement, that she is now heading upthe Australian Conservation Foundation.

I’m excited and honoured to be taking

the reins as Acting CEO over the comingmonths. But Environment Victoria hasnever been just about the CEO; it’s beenabout the collective impact of our staff,volunteers, members and supporters.Our supporter base, now 56,000 strong,has never been more powerful orinvaluable.

That’s where you come in. We havesome extremely exciting campaigns todeliver this election year. We’re workingto reach hundreds of thousands ofVictorians and make the environmentand climate change pivotal to theelection. To do this we’ll be recruiting,training and coordinating hundredsmore volunteers.

If ever there was a year to be gettinginvolved, it’s this year.

See you on the campaign trail!

> Mark Wakeham, Acting Chief Executive Officer

Editorial

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I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E

Green Action NewsIssue 21, Autumn 2014Design 2Fish ProductionsPrint Almar PressContributing writersAlex Merory, Tom Hartney, Mark Wakeham, Juliet Le Feuvre, Nick Aberle, Lena Herrera Piekarski,Anne Martinelli, Kelly O’ShanassyEditorAlex Merory (03) 9341 [email protected] Membership enquiries (03) 9341 8100 [email protected] Media enquiries(03) 9341 [email protected] Green Action News is an Environment Victoria publication. For more information, visitwww.environmentvictoria.org.au

Our Rivers, Our Lifeblood

The secret life of our rivers

The clean energyrevolution

Special Feature:Election 2014

Our election policy ask: a clean energyplan for Victoria

Our election policy ask: an action plan to restoreVictoria’s river corridors

Sue Noy isForever Green

Hazelwood burning

2014 was always going to be a big year with a state election in November

and a new federal government taking environment policy back to the trenches.

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THE FIRE CAME AT THE END OF A

long, hot and dry summer (much likethose we are predicted to get moreoften as climate change bites).

How the fire got so out of control is indispute, and is now the subject of ajudicial inquiry. There have beensuggestions that fixed water pipes thatshould act as the first line of fire-fightingdefence against embers had beenremoved and that the highlycombustible exposed coal seams werenot then properly rehabilitated (typicallyby covering with clay or soil to preventignition).

However it started, and whoever wasat fault for allowing the mine to be sovulnerable, the Hazelwood mine fireunfolded into a complete disaster. Theneighbouring town of Morwell wasenshrouded for weeks on end in a plumeof coal ash, toxic particulate matter,carbon monoxide and other pollutants.

Monitoring by the EPA indicated an airquality more than ten times worse thanthe cut off for “very poor”. Potentiallycarcinogenic particulate matter PM2.5reached 20 times higher than therecommended safe level. Eventually thetown was partially evacuated, but formany, the government’s response wastoo little too late. Instructions toresidents were unclear and sometimescontradictory. To add insult to injury,

many of Morwell’s businesses have beendealt serious financial blows as a resultof the smoke.

That the fire happened meanssomebody was asleep at the wheel:corners were cut by mine management,or the regulations were eitherinadequate or not enforced properly.Environment Victoria is in the process ofobtaining copies of the work plan, thefire management plan, and therehabilitation plan for the Hazelwoodmine, to assess whether any of thesewere breached. If a breach occurred, wewill investigate our legal options forholding either the company or theregulators accountable.

Further, the judicial inquiry will revealmuch of interest in how well the coalindustry is regulated, and whether thegovernment is really looking after thebest interests of the community.

One thing we do know is that now isnot the time for the NapthineGovernment to be thinking aboutallowing more coal mines to be dug –precisely what would happen if they goahead with the coal allocation they arecurrently considering.

In 2012, after years of campaigning byEnvironment Victoria and others, theFederal Labor Government promisedand then failed to deliver the retirementof 2000 megawatts of coal. This promise

would likely have meant the phasedclosure and rehabilitation of Hazelwoodpower station and mine, and a newfuture for the people of the LatrobeValley.

The Latrobe Valley will transition awayfrom coal. Energy economics and globalfinance are shifting irreversibly to cheaprenewables. The Valley’s transition canbe planned now and be relativelysmooth. Otherwise we can just let ithappen on someone else’s timeframe,which will inevitably be much moredisruptive to the community. After beingtaken for granted for so long, the peopleof the Latrobe Valley deserve better thanmore coal promises and hollowreassurances that everything is fine. TheHazelwood fire has shown us that itclearly is not.

THANK YOU!It’s crucial that we act to end ourreliance on dirty, dangerous coaland move to clean, safe,renewable energy and energyefficiency. We don’t need to keepburning coal in Victoria and wecertainly don’t need new coalmines. Thank you to everyonewho has donated and takenaction to replace old coal andstop new coal. With you by ourside, we will create a brighter for Victoria.

HAZELWOODBURNING> Dr Nicholas Aberle, Safe Climate Campaign Manager

You may have seen it across newspapers

and on your screens: the coal mine that

feeds the Hazelwood Power Station in the

Latrobe Valley was burning out of control

for an entire month.

S A F E C L I M AT E

Hazelwood open-cut coal mine burning. PHOTO: TOM MORRISON

H E A L T H Y R I V E R S

IN THE NEW OUR RIVERS OUR

Lifeblood web-atlas we take a touraround Victoria’s 29 river basins, lookingat each river in turn from the Snowy inthe east to the Glenelg in the west, theMurray in the north to the Bunyip in thesouth. We look at the key values, identifythe biggest threats and assess the healthof the rivers. We tell stories about theanimals, the people, the history, what’sbeen lost and gained. We also take alook at what needs to be done to protectand improve river health.

The issues vary from catchment tocatchment but key themes occur againand again across the state - fairersharing of water, restoring landscapeconnectivity, protecting water qualityand preserving water quantity.

An issue that comes up in every singleriver catchment is the damage caused bylivestock grazing on river banks andpolluting the water. Grazing has beenidentified by scientists and catchmentmanagement authorities as the numberone manageable impact on river healthand riparian degradation is listed as athreatening process under the Flora and

Fauna Guarantee Act. The phase-out ofgrazing on public land on river bankshas been recommended by VEAC1 andthe Commissioner for EnvironmentalSustainability.2

River banks are special places asthey’re the meeting point between landand water. They provide habitat andfood for land and water creatures likeplatypus, frogs and turtles. They filter outpollutants to keep water clean and treesalong the river bank provide shade tokeep the water cool for fish andwaterbugs. The trees drop branches intothe river that provide homes for nativefish like the Murray cod.

Cattle, sheep, goats, horses and otherlivestock cause significant damage tothis precious ecosystem. They eat andtrample vegetation, muddy the water bypaddling in it and pollute it bydefecating in it, erode the riverbank anddamage the habitat of threatenedspecies. We estimate that a staggering4,500 tonnes of cow poo is enteringVictoria’s rivers and creeks every day. Thepathogens in the dung pose a risk tohuman health and increase the cost ofdrinking water treatment.

Our solution is simple – move livestockout of our rivers. Check out the detail onpage 13.

1. VEAC River Red Gum Forests Investigation. 2. State of the Environment report 2008

Our Rivers, Our Lifeblood

Victoria’s rivers are the lifeblood

of our landscapes. They connect,

support and nurture communities

of all kinds — animals, plants and

people. They give us water to

drink and to grow our crops, they

clean up pollution, store flood

water and bring fertility to the

soil. They enhance our lives and

give us places to love and enjoy.

> Juliet Le Feuvre, Healthy Rivers Campaigner

Our Rivers, Our Lifeblood was launched atthe Sustainable Living Festival at BirrarungMarr by the Yarra River on 16 February witha little help from some very friendly cows!

THANK YOU!Rescuing our rivers, our most preciousresource, will not be possible without yourhelp. Thank you so much to everyone whohas donated to this vital campaign. Togetherwe will remove livestock from our riverbanksand restore our lifeblood, our rivers to health.

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Take a tour: www.environmentvictoria.org.au/lifeblood


Find out more at www.environmentvictoria.org.au/lifeblood

LAKE BOLAC, located in theHopkins Catchment, was createdabout 20,000 years ago when lavaflows blocked the flow of FieryCreek. It’s well known for its eelsand the Lake Bolac Eel Festival isheld annually to enrich the life ofthe community and promote therestoration of Lake Bolac andsurrounding stream systems. Itsmusical line up draws the crowdsand it’s also a celebration of localIndigenous culture in which eelharvesting has played a vital partfor thousands of years.

At the mouth of the MITCHELLRIVER silt deposited over millionsof years now extends 8 km intoLake King as silt jetties. It’s thebiggest delta system of its kind inthe world after the MississippiRiver! However, since the lakeswere permanently connected tothe sea by dredging at LakesEntrance, the silt jetties are beingeroded away due to increasingsalinity, which is slowly killing thelake side vegetation, andincreased wind and wave action.In the long term they are likely tobe lost altogether.

THE GENOA RIVER in Far EastGippsland flows through amagnificent red sandstone gorgecontaining ancient fossil footprintswhich are believed to be amongthe oldest fossil records of a landdwelling vertebrate (about 395million years old).

In the early 1900s, in a significant feat of engineering, goldminers diverted the flow of the THOMSON RIVER through atunnel at Horseshoe Bend. While the tunnel made things mucheasier for the goldminers it’s proved a major obstacle for fishmigrating up the river and has essentially blocked off the upperriver to species like the EPBC listed Australian grayling. The WestGippsland Catchment Management Authority is leading a projectto create a fishway and restore flows to the original river bedround the Bend – from the fishes’ point of view the project can’tcome soon enough.

LITTLE RIVER GORGE, located within the Snowy catchment isVictoria’s deepest gorge at 600m with several spectacularwaterfalls. It’s one of only three sites in Victoria where thecritically endangered brush-tailed rock wallaby is found. Thereare about 30 of them, most of them named and tagged by thebrush-tailed rock wallaby recovery team. They came close tobeing wiped out when bushfires threatened the Little River area.

Each of Victoria’s magnificent rivers has a story to tell. Read some of them here.> Juliet Le Feuvre, Healthy Rivers Campaigner

The secret life of our rivers


OUR RIVERS OUR LIFEBLOOD has involved a huge amount of workand would have been impossible without the help of an army ofvolunteers. They’ve looked up obscure species, researched streamconditions, grappled with Google Earth and fiddled with footnotes,and spent countless hours uploading maps and data. Then there arethe many keen photographers who shared their river images.

Thank you all so much – we

couldn’t have done it without you!


The clean energy revolution

A R O U N D T H E W O R L D

There’s been little for environmentalists to celebrate

lately in Australia, with the new federal government

being touted as ‘the most anti-environment in the

nation’s history’ and supposedly ‘conservative’ state

governments in Victoria, Western Australia, NSW and

Queensland rushing to open up national parks for

development, radically expand coal mining and lock in

native forest logging.

But a quick look further afield gives some cause for

hope. Already, 46 countries source at least 60 percent

of their electricity from clean, renewable sources.1

While it’s frustrating that Australia, with our abundant

free clean energy resources, isn’t at the vanguard of

the clean energy revolution, we all stand to gain from

the innovation and growing momentum we’re seeing

around the world.

> Tom Hartney, Communications Officer

DENMARKIn March 2012 Denmark agreed to arenewable energy target of 100percent by 2050! And they’re well ontheir way. In 2012 the countryreceived more than 30 percent of itsenergy from wind, while on at leasttwo separate occasions last yearDenmark produced all of thecountry’s energy needs with wind!

KENNETH (FLICKR)

TOKELAU Renewable energy’s not just forEuropeans. Sunny Pacific IslandTokelau is getting in on the act,ditching diesel for solar to power itsthree atolls. They can now meet 150percent of their electricity demandfrom the sun.

CONNECTED (FLICKR)

SPAIN Just to pour super-heated moltensalt on the myth that solar can’twork at night, one Spanish solarpower plant in Seville uses super-heated molten salt to store and deliver clean electricityaround the clock.

GREENS MPS (FLICKR)

PERU A fantastic government programmeto supply Peru’s 2 million pooresthouseholds with free solar panelswill give many Peruvians access toelectricity for the first time.

JULIA MANZEROVA (FLICKR)

SCOTLANDScotland set the ambitious goal tosource 100 percent of its electricityneeds from renewable sources by2020. And so far they’re on track,with 40.3 percent of energyconsumption in 2012 met by thesector - up from 36.3 percent theprevious year and 24.1 percent in2010.

MAKE BELTZNER (FLICKR)

PHILIPPINESAs we saw in November with thedevastation of Typhoon Haiyan, thePhilippines is on the front line when itcomes to feeling the effects of climatechange. But they’re also on the frontline of efforts to fight climate changetoo with an extremely ambitioustarget to shift from around 20 percentcurrently to 100 percent renewable injust 10 years.

350.0RG (FLICKR)

1. http://www.1010global.org/itshappening


S P E C I A L F E AT U R E : E L E C T I O N 2 0 1 4

ON 29 NOVEMBER VICTORIANS WILL

return to the polls to cast judgement onthe Baillieu/Napthine Government. Andwith just one lower house seatseparating the two major parties and themost recent polls showing a 53:47 leadto the ALP, the 2014 state election isanyone’s to win.

It’s also an opportunity to draw a lineunder a period of attacks on theenvironment from the Baillieu/NapthineGovernment. We’ve been hearing thatthe Coalition’s poor environmentalrecord is starting to hurt them in theeastern and south-eastern suburbs,according to Coalition internal polling.Thanks to our incredible supporters andthe thousands of face-to-faceconversations the superforce of ‘ReclaimVictoria’s Environment’ campaigningvolunteers have been having in theseplaces, we’re having an impact.

The challenge for us now is to intensifyour efforts and turn this environmentalconcern into strong environmentalpolicy agendas from all partiescompeting in the election. We have areal opportunity to make environmentand climate policy a defining issue of theelection campaign.

The Coalition has an awful lot of workto do in the months ahead to develop a

credible environment agenda. A goodstart would be delivering on the promiseit made ahead of the last election toimprove the energy efficiency of allVictorian homes to a 5-star standard.They’re also under growing pressure tosave the Leadbeaters Possum bycreating the Great Forest National Park,to rule out a damaging new coal exportindustry and to protect our rivers fromthe damage caused by cows tramplingriverbanks and polluting the water.

The ALP meanwhile is yet to release itspolicy platform, though it has madesome important commitments to revokeTed Baillieu’s anti wind-farm laws anddevelop a renewable energy investmentand jobs plan.

The Greens have aspirations of holdingthe balance of power in both the lowerand upper houses of Parliament, wherethey would hold tremendous influence

over the environmental program of thenext government should they choose towield that power.

The Victorian election is also extremelyimportant nationally. Tasmania has justtaken a step to the right with the newlyelected government wanting to tear upthe forest conservation agreement, whilesince being elected nationally theAbbott Government is emulating theattacks we’ve seen on the environmentin Victoria and Queensland in particular.

We need to make the Victorianelection the beginning of a new cyclewhere incoming governments realisethat strong climate and environmentpolicies are critical to their success andlongevity. Victoria has always been aleader for progressive thought andaction, and our nation needs us morethan ever now.

Environment Victoria has been inelection mode since 2011. We’vepublished a detailed policy agenda,done communications research andpolling, run a massive campaign toinform Victorians about the attacks onour environment, and we’re buildingdeep, grassroots power in the placesthat will determine the result of theelection.

So hang on to your hats – it’ll be a wildride but we look forward to workingwith you to make this year’s stateelection count for our environment.

Election 2014With your support we have a real opportunity to make environment and

climate policy a defining issue of the 2014 state election campaign.

THANK YOU!Thank you so much to thewonderful people who arestanding with us to get ourenvironment back where itbelongs on the agenda ofall political parties. You arechanging the game –creating a powerfulmovement of people toprotect our environmenttoward the 2014 electionand beyond.

> Mark Wakeham, Acting CEO

Sometimes an election

outcome comes down to a

small number of people in a

handful of places. Those are

the people that politicians

really listen to, and those are

the people we need to

convince to speak up for our

environment before the

November state election.



THE GOALTO PUT THE ENVIRONMENT BACK ON THE POLITICAL AGENDA IN VICTORIA.

We’re asking each major party to take anenvironment and climate agenda to the 2014state election, covering three key areas:

• Safeguarding our climate (pg 11)• Creating sustainable homes, cities and

communities (pg 12)• Protecting nature (pg 13)

And we're asking them to ensure that no morebackward steps are taken for our environment.

(For more information on our detailed policy agenda see

http://environmentvictoria.org.au/2014policyagenda)

THE STRATEGYBUILDING POWER

We’re building enduring power in the Victorianenvironment movement - establishinggrassroots muscle in areas that are alwaysimportant politically so we can deliver and wincampaigns up to and beyond the 2014 election.Our aim is not to tell people who to vote for, butto ensure the environment and climate changeis uppermost in people’s minds when they vote.Through our local Superforce of campaigningvolunteers, we’ve already talked to thousandsliving in these areas about the solutions for ahealthy environment and a prosperous Victoria.But this year we’re really ramping up the actionand we’ll be asking them to sign our pledge to‘vote for your environment.’

BellarineGeelong

Ballarat East

Ballarat West

Bendigo East

Bendigo West

Election 2014> Mark Wakeham, Acting CEO, > Alex Merory, Communications Manager

OUR TARGET COMMUNITIESPRIORITY 1. Undecided voters in target areas

PRIORITY 2. Environment Victoria supporters in target areas

PRIORITY 3. Environment Victoria supporters in non-target areas

PRIORITY 4. Undecided voters in non-target areas


Ivanhoe

Prahran Forest Hill

Modrialloc

Carrum

Frankston

MAKINGTHE DIFFERENCE

IN AREAS THAT MATTER

ENVIRONMENT VICTORIA’S TARGETS FOR OUR ELECTION WORK:

Face to face conversations with undecided voters:

20,000 Meaningful discussions:

4,000 Vote Environment pledges

from undecided voters:

2,000

A sustainable futurefor our environmentand our economy

While we build power in theareas that matter most, we alsoneed to build the case for howprotecting our preciousenvironment is going to affect

the issues politicians careabout the most - jobs and the

economy.

That’s why we joined forces withVictorian business leaders toform The Future EconomyGroup. CEOs from forward-thinking banks, investmentgroups, manufacturing,infrastructure development andclean energy companies have

come together withEnvironment Victoria to help

create a paradigm shift ineconomic thinking that willprotect nature and buildresilient businesses for the 21stcentury.

For the first time in Australia’shistory, the research we’vesponsored will examine the jobsand industries at risk if wecontinue to diminish nature andthe benefits of rebuilding our

natural capital. A sneak peekat our findings shows thatrebuilding our natural capital –

our forests, rivers, land andclimate – will produce economicrewards for Victorian businesses

and employees, and out-perform ‘business as usual’that diminishes nature.

Together we’ll show our politicalleaders that the economy of thepast is not viable into the futureand that we need to urgentlytransition to a future economythat is smart, sustainable anddelivers environmental,employment and economicoutcomes.

Our groundbreaking researchwill be released mid-year, staytuned for more.



In focus –Forest Hill Neil Barter

BLACKBURN

> Tom Hartney, Communications Officer

SITTING MEMBER

I first became aware of environmental issues in the70s when I was visiting Canterbury Cathedral. I wasshocked to learn that its glorious, centuries-oldwindows had been destroyed not by WWII orCromwell’s puritans – but by pollution. At the same time, air pollution was also attacking themagnificent pine forests of Scandinavia.

Today I have an interest in water quality anddeforestation, but with mounting evidence of the correlation between rising greenhouse gases and the rise of unsustainable temperatures aroundthe globe, my real passion is significantly loweringgreenhouse gases. I want to see Hazelwood powerstation replaced, the laws that choke wind turbinedevelopment lifted and more support for the solarindustry to make solar panels affordable for ordinary households. Our houses should be covered with them.

Peoples’ environmental concerns have been welldocumented, but as the political world feels it canignore the warnings, I feel it’s time not just to be a sitting supporter of environmental groups, but to get out there to encourage people to activelyvoice their concerns.

The EVEasties, as we are known, have started puttingstrategies together to work with other groups to havestreet stalls and to leaflet areas in the electorate ofForest Hills, one of the very marginal seats. I enjoygetting out there, armed with a petition oradvertising an event, and talking with the public.

I have found people responsive and glad we are taking a positive approach, as they feeloverwhelmed when it comes to acting.

On a personal level it’s good to let friends andneighbours know where I stand on issues likerenewable energy and encourage them to contactpoliticians about these issues.

The area is strongly environmentally friendly but our local member doesn’t seem to be interested inthe environment at all and there’s a fair lack ofawareness of the state government’s failings on the environment. I feel there’s work to be done tobring it home that it’s not the just the federalgovernment that’s being wantonly neglectful, but the state government too.

Neil Angus Margin: 3.5% (1225 votes)

Voting history:2010 – 2014 Lib2002 – 2010 ALP1976 – 2002 Lib

Environment VictoriaPresence:Eastsiders volunteer group (2 coordinators, 5 volunteers)1150 supporters

At the 2010 election the Coalition won Forest Hill by a

margin of 1225 votes. That means that a switch of just 613

votes could result in a change of power, which makes Forest

Hill a key battleground ahead of the 2014 election. And that

means we know that politicians will be listening hard to what

people in Forest Hill have to say about their policies.

Environment Victoria now has 1150 supporters in Forest Hill,

with our Eastsiders holding regular stalls and letterboxing

events to encourage people to ‘vote environment’

‘Eastsider’ Neil

Barter has been

working

tirelessly in and

around the

marginal seat of

Forest Hill to get

the environment

on people’s radar

ahead of the

2014 election.

FIRSTLY, THE GOVERNMENT MUST

aim much higher; we need an ambitiousemissions reduction target that alignswith climate science: 50 percentreduction on 2000 levels by 2020. TheVictorian Government should also use itsinfluence to keep the federalgovernment accountable on climateaction and energy policy.

Victoria’s electricity supply is amongstthe dirtiest in the world, and is aloneresponsible for over 50 percent of totalstate greenhouse gas emissions. For thatreason, we’re calling for drastic action toaddress both the supply and demand ofour electricity.

On the supply side, we need anintegrated renewable energy investment

strategy that makes it possible forVictoria to both slash its emissions andsimultaneously reap the rewards of theclean energy revolution.

Our state government should alsodevelop a process for phasing out atleast one of our major coal-fired powerstations. It is absurd for such aprosperous and innovative state to behome to some of the most pollutingpower stations in the world.

Unconventional coal and gas projectsshould be kept on hold until it can beclearly shown that they pose no risk ofenvironmental degradation and canmeet low lifecycle emissions standards.

On the demand side, our stategovernment needs to commit to a range

of energy efficiency programs acrossresidential, commercial and industrialsectors. The cheapest emissions savingsare the energy we don’t use.

We also want our state government tocommit to not becoming part of theinternational problem. Plans to exportour dirty brown coal must be dropped inorder to encourage the uptake ofrenewables in developing countries andavoid tying the future of the LatrobeValley to a resource that needs to stay inthe ground.

Whoever is in power after the 2014election will have ample opportunitiesto take real action on climate changethat benefit Victoria. Let’s make sure theydo it.


S A F E C L I M AT E

> Dr Nicholas Aberle, Safe Climate Campaign Manager

After the blistering summer we’ve just been through, it hardly bears repeating that Victoria is extremely

vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. A responsible state government will protect Victorians and ensure

our communities have a safe climate. At a time when the federal government is rolling back every step of action

that has been gained, the state government has an even more critical role to play. So we’re asking all major

parties to bring a commitment to a Clean Energy Plan to the 2014 state election.

Our policy asks: A cleanenergy plan for Victoria

AHEAD OF THE 2010 STATE ELECTION,the Coalition committed to significantlyimproving the energy and waterefficiency of houses built in Victoriabefore 2005 when the 5-Star standardfor new homes and renovations wasintroduced.

But since then no action has beentaken to deliver on this promise.

If the Coalition government hadbegun implementing the One MillionHomes plan we called for in 2010, bynow we would have avoided millions oftonnes of greenhouse emissions inwasted electricity use, saved billions oflitres of water and created thousands ofnew jobs in trades and manufacturing.

And most importantly, thousands ofVictorians would be living in homes thatwere cooler in summer, warmer in winterand cheaper to run. With life-threateningheatwaves becoming increasinglycommon, this would also protect thosemost at risk from extreme weather andtake pressure off the grid, reducing thelikelihood of dangerous blackouts onextremely hot days.

Everyone wins.The One Million Homes plan calls fordirect government assistance to retrofitthe homes of low-income Victorians(those most vulnerable to bill stress), anda mix of policy measures and financial

incentives to encourage home-ownersand landlords to invest in improvements.

It’s practical, cost-effective and willsave the government $2.5 billion over 20years from the energy concessionsbudget that assists low incomehouseholds with their bills.

As we head towards the next election,all the major political parties again havethe opportunity to commit to bringingour existing housing stock into the 21stcentury.

But this time they need to actuallydeliver.


O N E M I L L I O N H O M E S

Our policy asks: Smart and sustainable homes, cities and communities> Anne Martinelli, One Million Homes Campaigner

Most houses in Victoria are

pretty leaky when it comes

to energy and water. In fact,

houses built before 2005

average just 2 stars out of 5

for energy and water

efficiency. This means

they’re hotter in summer,

colder in winter and a whole

lot more expensive to run

than they need to be.

THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY LIVESTOCK

has been identified as the number onemanageable impact on river health.Stock access to waterways damagesvegetation, decreases water quality,causes erosion, impacts upon threatenedspecies, and poses a risk to humanhealth. It’s been listed as a threateningprocess under the Flora and FaunaGuarantee Act.

The solution is pretty straightforward –fencing off riverbanks and managingthem for biodiversity conservation ratherthan grazing, starting with the 17,000kmof public land that’s currently managedunder a grazing licence by adjacentlandholders. The Victorian governmentrecognises the problem but at thecurrent rate of progress and investmentit will take 100 years to fence off thepublic land!

Removing stock from public land onriverbanks requires a number of steps:• Identifying the highest value areas for

protection through a VEAC inquiry• Preparing all licence holders for

changes to their licence conditions,starting at the next licence renewal inOctober 2014

• Government investment of $30million per year for 6 years to fence offriver frontages, revegetate them andprovide off-stream watering for stock

• This funding to include extraCatchment Management Authoritystaff to implement the licencetransition – two or three positions per CMA area

• All grazing licences to be amended to conservation licences by the time they are due to be renewedagain in 2019.



Our policy asks: Anaction plan to restoreVictoria’s river corridors

> Juliet Le Feuvre, Healthy Rivers Campaigner

Our rivers are our number one resource. We can’t live without them and nor can the

thousands of native species that call our rivers home. Yet over half of publicly-owned

river banks are open slather for livestock.

Hollands Creek, Tatong PHOTO: DANIELLE BEISCHER

It’s time to mooove!Sign the petition to Parliament asking

them to get livestock out of our rivers at

environmentvictoria.org.au/cutthecrap


GAN: What are your greatestenvironmental concerns? SUE: I continue to be amazed and attimes distressed by the lack of publicunderstanding that we humans areentirely dependent on our currentenvironment. The ‘environment’ willsurvive into the future, but at the rate weare going that environment will not beone that humans can live in. I mourn forthe loss of forests and other ecosystems.But climate change is currently my majorconcern, especially with the aggressiveactions of government againstresponsible and visionary responses tothe threat it poses.

GAN: Why did you decide to leave abequest to Environment Victoria? SUE: I donate my time and money toenable Environment Victoria to be astrong voice on the issues that I careabout. Being part of the EnvironmentVictoria’s board, I could see thatbequests were a great way for me tocontinue to support an organisationafter I’m gone. So about four years ago Idecided to leave a bequest toEnvironment Victoria, to continue my

legacy of supporting an organisationthat shares my passion for Victoria’sunique environment, and is working tosecure a safe climate future.

GAN: Why do you think EnvironmentVictoria would be a good choice to leave your legacy?SUE: Environment Victoria is a tough,hardworking and effectiveenvironmental NGO, strategicallytackling the big challenges we face inprotecting our priceless environmentand having success. I want to make sure Environment Victoria can continueto be a strong voice for the environmentand our community’s future after I’mgone. Strategic, long term campaignssuch as mobilising community intoaction for positive change are vital tocreate system change in moderndemocratic societies. That will continueinto the future, so a bequest is help for future work.

GAN: What is your hope for the future ofVictoria and for your children’s lives?SUE: My future Victoria is a strong andvibrant place, with diverse ecosystems

throughout the urban and rural areas ofthe state, healthy rivers and mountainash forests. We will have transitionedaway from fossil fuel dependence andtoward renewable power generationand water capture. We will have movedon from the current linear systems ofexcessive consumption and waste. Wewill be living in thriving communitiesthat embrace closed loop systems – re-using, sharing resources, fostering localfood production, and respecting thenatural world that we are a small part of.As for my children I want them to growup in a safe and healthy environment.

Sue Noy is Forever Green

Like Sue, you too can help Victoriabecome Forever Green. Simply fillin the form on the next page andwe’ll send you your very ownForever Green Information Pack.

BECOME FOREVER GREEN

At Environment Victoria every day we meet inspiring, passionate people – one of them is Sue Noy. Since 2004

Sue has supported Environment Victoria as volunteer, Vice President and board member. Four years ago she

decided to leave a lasting legacy to Environment Victoria in her Will, helping to create a Victoria that’s forever

green. Green Action News spoke with Sue about what drives her passion for the environment.

‘Strategic, long termcampaigns such asmobilising communityinto action forpositive change arevital to create systemchange in moderndemocratic societies.’

> Lena Herrera Piekarski, Fundraising Officer

F O R E V E R G R E E N



Dear Mark,

Yes! I want to help create clean and healthy rivers and water catchments for thepeople and wildlife that depend on them. Please accept my donation of:

■■ $100 ■■ $250 ■■ $500 ■■ $1000 ■■ Surprise us $ _______________

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

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

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

Card number:

■■ Please send me information about how I can create a Victoria that’s FOREVER GREEN by making a gift to Environment Victoria in my Will.

■■ Please send me information about how I can safeguard Victoria’s environment for the long term by becoming a Green Action Partner.

Are your personal details correct on your letter? Or are you moving soon? Please update your personal information here if necessary.

PERSONAL DETAILS

Title: First Name: Family Name:

Address:

Suburb: State: Postcode:

Email:

Tel: (BH) (AH)

Please complete this form, tear off this page and return it to Reply Paid 12575, A’Beckett Street, Melbourne, VIC 8006 or visit

www.environmentvictoria.org.au/give and make your donation online. Thank you for your generosity!

URGENT: Help create healthy rivers

Active Chief Executive OfficerMark Wakeham

Outgoing Chief Executive OfficerKelly O’Shanassy

CAMPAIGNS & PROGRAMSHealthy Rivers Campaigner Juliet Le FeuvreSafe Climate Campaign Manager Nicholas AberleOne Million Homes Campaigner Anne Martinelli Sustainable Living Manager Michele BurtonOne Planet Living Campaigner Lakshmi VenugopalSustainable Living Program Managers Domenica SettleEva GaitaSustainable Living Project Officers Kat Gaita Miranda BlokJeremy WigginsWendy HopkinsRichard Whatley

Community Organiser Jane StabbAdministration Assistant Lara Fitzgerald BeissbarthCommunications Manager Alex MeroryCommunications Officer Tom Hartney

OPERATIONSOrganisational Services Manager Nadine Ponomarenko Accounts Officer Helen VineAdministration Officer Cate HoyleFundraising Manager Amber SpruntFundraising Officer Lena Herrera PiekarskiDatabase Officer Tony Cox

BOARDPresident Amanda NuttallVice-President Joan StaplesRobyn MurphySimone ZmoodHugh WarehamDieter SchadtCarl YoungEmma HumannAlice SkipperKate Colvin

REGULAR VOLUNTEERSLes SmithIan HazewinkelLance LesselsSarah BoweMichael AlexanderChristy ArnottNeil BarterJackson ClerkeRobyn ErwinBruce CuttsIngrid DeNeveMark Wallace

Gabriella HontAyumi DentryKylie Rhie-JonesJoan Selby SmithJudith WakemanAmanda Rasmussen-HuangDon McArthurMike HansenKarly RoolkerKatie Lindsay-SmithRaphael JohnstonSawyer PetersonIan PartridgeMonique Edwards

TALK TO USPhone (03) 9341 8100 [email protected] (03) 9341 8199

PO Box 12575A’Beckett Street, Victoria, 8006www.environmentvictoria.org.au

WHO’SWHO AT

Did you know you can donate online? www.environmentvictoria.org.au/give

Documents

Green Action News - Environment Victoria...In 2012, after years of campaigning by Environment Victoria and others, the Federal Labor Government promised and then failed to deliver