In the media – National
Knight Frank: Airport parking spaces, costs
increase
The number of car parking spaces at Australian airports has
increased, as has the rate charged for airport parking, according
to new research from Knight Frank (06 August 2012)
More...
New Murray-Darling plan criticised
Premiers and ministers from three states have criticised a
new draft plan published by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority,
released in response to a series of proposals put forward by state
water ministers last month. The authority says it supports an
adjustment mechanism which could see the amount of water available
for irrigation move between 2,400 and 3,200 gigalitres a year (06
August 2012)
More...
Survey: Institutional Investors Keeping Tighter Check on
Listed Entities
Investors are increasingly grilling leading Australian listed
entities on environmental, social and governance issues, according
to a new survey released. Major investors need to know how
corporations are tackling issues like the carbon emissions, water
usage and other important ESG concerns (01 August 2012)
More...
In the media – Victoria
Innovative social housing project for Port
Melbourne
An innovative housing project is delivering social housing with a
difference in Port Melbourne has been announced by the Minister for
Housing Wendy Lovell (08 August 2012)
Innovative social housing project for Port Melbourne
Update on changes at Point Nepean
Minister for Environment and Climate Change Ryan Smith said the
$13.8 million Victorian Coalition Government major works program at
Point Nepean to upgrade roads, carparks, and essential services
infrastructure was well underway. Mr Smith said he was pleased to
announce the Port of Melbourne Corporation had finished
constructing a new communications tower at Monash Light within the
park (08 August 2012)
Update on changes at Point Nepean
Agreement reached on Ararat prison
project
The Ararat prison expansion will be completed and subcontractors
will be paid valid claims under an agreement negotiated by the
Victorian Coalition Government (03 August 2012)
Agreement reached on Ararat prison project
Minimum standards or maximum fine
Consumer Affairs Victoria will have new powers to issue
on-the-spot fines of up to $2,800 to rooming house operators who
fail to keep their accommodation up to legislated standards (03
August 2012)
Minimum standards or maximum fine
In the media – New South Wales
Government calls for nuclear dump designs
The Federal Government has released a tender calling for concept
designs for Australia's first radioactive nuclear waste dump.
The tender says the concept design will be appropriate for a site
in arid to semi-arid areas of Australia (08 August 2012)
More...
National Landscapes - tourism in the wet
tropics
The Wet Tropics have been recognised as one of Australia's
premier tourism destinations. The nature and culture on offer in
the Wet Tropics will feature prominently in Tourism Australia's
international marketing. It now joins 13 other National Landscapes,
including Australia's Red Centre, the Kimberley and the Great
Barrier Reef (08 August 2012)
More...
Australian Government's Water for the Future: third
round
The third round of funding for stormwater harvesting and reuse
projects forms part of the Australian Government's National
Urban Water and Desalination Plan, has been announced by the
Government, which supports urban areas to secure water supplies and
reduce reliance on traditional water sources (08 August 2012)
More...
Knight Frank : Airport parking spaces, costs
increase
The number of car parking spaces at Australian airports has
increased, as has the rate charged for airport parking, according
to new research from Knight Frank (06 August 2012)
More...
New Murray-Darling plan criticised
Premiers and ministers from three states have criticised a
new draft plan published by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority,
released in response to a series of proposals put forward by state
water ministers last month. The authority says it supports an
adjustment mechanism which could see the amount of water available
for irrigation move between 2,400 and 3,200 gigalitres a year (06
August 2012)
More...
Regulations a barrier for cheaper power
Power could be cheaper by using trigeneration and having fewer
regulations blocking local energy production, according to the City
of Sydney Chief development officer. Trigeneration networks could
solve peak power demand problems more cheaply and efficiently than
continually upgrading electricity networks and building remote,
"inefficient" coal or gas-fired power stations (06 August
2012)
More...
Clean technology grants to cut manufacturing
emissions
New grants from the $1 billion Clean Technology Investment
Programs will help four Western Australian based manufacturers
become more efficient and reduce their power bills. The Minister
for Industry and Innovation said the new grants, worth a combined
$1.8 million, would support these businesses with their
installation of over $4.8 million worth of energy efficient
equipment (03 August 2012)
More...
PwC achieves carbon neutral certification
Leading professional services firm, PwC Australia, has achieved
landmark certification of its carbon neutral status from Low Carbon
Australia. PwC's CEO said receiving Australian
Government-backed recognition for our carbon neutrality is an
important milestone in PwC's journey towards halving our carbon
emissions (03 August 2012)
More...
Power generator rort alleged by regulator
The Australian Energy Regulator has indicated large price rises
since the introduction of the carbon tax, and is continuing to
monitor the market. Unusual pricing activity has been noticed in
the Victorian and South Australian markets, along with Macquarie
Generation's alleged activities in New South Wales and AGL
boosting prices in South Australia with the ''extreme
pricing'' (02 August 2012)
More...
Survey: Institutional Investors Keeping Tighter Check on
Listed Entities
Investors are increasingly grilling leading Australian listed
entities on environmental, social and governance issues, according
to a new survey released. Major investors need to know how
corporations are tackling issues like the carbon emissions, water
usage and other important ESG concerns (01 August 2012)
More...
ACCC's first infringement notice for carbon
claim
GFC Berwick Pty Ltd, trading as Genesis Fitness Club, has paid an
infringement notice in the amount of $6,600 in relation to carbon
price claims made about the cost of gym membership fees. The letter
sent represented to members that by taking up this offer members
could avoid a fee increase of 9-15 per cent due to the carbon price
(01 August 2012)
More...
Green Building Council of Australia governance
changes
The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has implemented a
number of governance changes, with members unanimously approving
nine governance changes which are consistent with best practice for
boards in Australia. These include changes to length of board
tenure and the election and rotation of directors (31 July 2012)
More...
More Jobs in Western Sydney Vital for Sydney's
Planning
The Urban Taskforce Australia has treleased a report which finds
that the most important issue in improving Sydney's transport
and infrastructure problem is to reverse the massive number of
commuters heading daily from Western Sydney to work in other parts
of Sydney (09 August 2012)
More...
LGSA to merge into one association
Members of the Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW
(LGSA) have voted to form a single group. The association will be
broken up into a metropolitan/urban region and a rural/regional
region to ensure fair representation of councils' interests
regardless of geographical location. (08 August 2012)
More...
$1.4 million energy efficiency makeover for City of
Canada Bay
The Federal Government is helping Canada Bay Council in NSW save
tens of thousands of dollars on energy bills with a $1.4 million
energy efficiency grant to upgrade local facilities, under the
national Community Energy Efficiency Program (CEEP) (09 August
2012)
More...
Federal grant for Sydney semiconductor manufacturer to
cut energy use, reduce pollution and save tens of thousands of
dollars
Technology company, Silanna Semiconductor, which makes
microelectronic circuits for space and defence satellites,
deep-space probes and mobile phone infrastructure, has been awarded
a Federal Government grant worth nearly a quarter of a million
dollars to reduce its energy use and cut its carbon emissions
intensity by more than 21 per cent (09 August 2012)
More...
$4.5 million water boost for the
Illawarra
The Minister for the Illawarra Greg Pearce said the
Government's commitment to the Illawarra is continuing with
$4.5 million investment in water and wastewater infrastructure. Mr
Pearce said Sydney Water's work in the region would ensure a
reliable water supply and wastewater services (06 August 2012)
More...
Household survey reveals: Newcastle rejects fourth coal
terminal
Fewer than 10% of Newcastle residents support the proposed fourth
coal terminal, 68% feel affected by the existing terminals and
almost half consider the expansion of the coal industry bad for the
community. These and other findings were reported in an attitudinal
survey commissioned by the Coal Terminal Action Group (CTAG) (06
August 2012)
More...
$80 million precious metals mine approved in western
NSW
The NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure has approved the
construction of a new $80 million mine near Cobar in the
state's west. Hera Resources Pty Limited will develop and
operate the Hera Project, approximately 100km south east of Cobar
and 4km south of Nymagee (03 August 2012)
More...
Packer steps up Sydney luxury hotel push
An agreement provides Crown with the right to work exclusively
with Lend Lease for as long as 24 months, jointly developing a
concept plan for the hotel resort which is expected to be located
on a site to be agreed with the NSW government on the north-west
corner of Barangaroo South (02 August 2012)
More...
Cobbora's environmental impacts
revealed
A mining company is being accused of underestimating the
environmental, social and economic impacts of a proposed
state-owned coal mine near Dunedoo. The council says an independent
consultants' review of the figures has found the study does not
address certain planning requirements (02 August 2012)
More...
Consumers hit with needless energy costs
Sydney households are paying more than $1100 a year just for the
upkeep of the state's poles and wires after a surge of
investment by electricity companies which the independent price
regulator says has needlessly inflated prices. Prices charged for
poles and wires are set by the Australian Energy Regulator.
IPART's terms of reference, laid down by the NSW government,
require it to pass increases on to consumers (01 August 2012)
More...
IPART needs to recognise its role in rising energy
prices
Recent big increases in NSW energy bills were driven by critical
upgrades to the electricity networks to stop the system from
meltdown, the energy industry said today. Media reports quote the
Chief Executive of the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal
(IPART), Jim Cox, claiming power prices had been unnecessarily
inflated by excessive spending by network businesses (01 August
2012)
More...
Sydney takes a bigger shine to solar
power
The City of Sydney is poised to boost its leadership in solar
power usage, with panels being installed on major City-owned
buildings, grandstands, depots and libraries across the city.
Following a tender process, the City has selected Solgen Energy to
undertake a $6 million project to fit solar photovoltaic (PV)
panels to more than 30 sites over the next two years to generate
12.5 per cent of the electricity needs of all City properties (01
August 2012)
More...
Report on the environmental water needs of the Lowbidgee
floodplain
The process for water management in the Lower Murrumbidgee
(Lowbidgee) floodplain has been outlined in this report (01 August
2012)
Report on the environmental water needs of the Lowbidgee
floodplain
Report on the NSW Cold Water Pollution
Strategy
This report considers the progress of the cold water pollution
strategy that aims to reduce the effect that major dams have on the
ecology of large rivers (01 July 2012)
Report on the NSW Cold Water Pollution Strategy
Gold mine approved in central western NSW
A new $65 million gold mine in central western NSW, which will
extract up to 1.5 million tonnes of gold ore each year, has been
approved by the NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure after
careful assessment (01 August 2012)
Gold mine approved in central western NSW
Commonwealth's grant mistake hits NSW councils back pocket Councils across NSW will be forced to reassess and modify their adopted 2012-13 budgets after the Commonwealth Government substantially overestimated the amount of funds councils would receive in Financial Assistance Grants (FAGs) for 2011-12 (01 August 2012) More...
In the media – Queensland
Government calls for nuclear dump designs
The Federal Government has released a tender calling for concept
designs for Australia's first radioactive nuclear waste dump.
The tender says the concept design will be appropriate for a site
in arid to semi-arid areas of Australia (08 August 2012)
More...
National Landscapes - tourism in the wet
tropics
The Wet Tropics have been recognised as one of Australia's
premier tourism destinations. The nature and culture on offer in
the Wet Tropics will feature prominently in Tourism Australia's
international marketing. It now joins 13 other National Landscapes,
including Australia's Red Centre, the Kimberley and the Great
Barrier Reef (08 August 2012)
More...
Australian Government's Water for the Future: third
round
The third round of funding for stormwater harvesting and reuse
projects forms part of the Australian Government's National
Urban Water and Desalination Plan, has been announced by the
Government, which supports urban areas to secure water supplies and
reduce reliance on traditional water sources (08 August 2012)
More...
Knight Frank : Airport parking spaces, costs
increase
The number of car parking spaces at Australian airports has
increased, as has the rate charged for airport parking, according
to new research from Knight Frank (06 August 2012)
More...
New Murray-Darling plan criticised
Premiers and ministers from three states have criticised a
new draft plan published by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority,
released in response to a series of proposals put forward by state
water ministers last month. The authority says it supports an
adjustment mechanism which could see the amount of water available
for irrigation move between 2,400 and 3,200 gigalitres a year (06
August 2012)
More...
Regulations a barrier for cheaper power
Power could be cheaper by using trigeneration and having fewer
regulations blocking local energy production, according to the City
of Sydney Chief development officer. Trigeneration networks could
solve peak power demand problems more cheaply and efficiently than
continually upgrading electricity networks and building remote,
"inefficient" coal or gas-fired power stations (06 August
2012)
More...
Clean technology grants to cut manufacturing
emissions
New grants from the $1 billion Clean Technology Investment
Programs will help four Western Australian based manufacturers
become more efficient and reduce their power bills. The Minister
for Industry and Innovation said the new grants, worth a combined
$1.8 million, would support these businesses with their
installation of over $4.8 million worth of energy efficient
equipment (03 August 2012)
More...
PwC achieves carbon neutral certification
Leading professional services firm, PwC Australia, has achieved
landmark certification of its carbon neutral status from Low Carbon
Australia. PwC's CEO said receiving Australian
Government-backed recognition for our carbon neutrality is an
important milestone in PwC's journey towards halving our carbon
emissions (03 August 2012)
More...
Power generator rort alleged by regulator
The Australian Energy Regulator has indicated large price rises
since the introduction of the carbon tax, and is continuing to
monitor the market. Unusual pricing activity has been noticed in
the Victorian and South Australian markets, along with Macquarie
Generation's alleged activities in New South Wales and AGL
boosting prices in South Australia with the ''extreme
pricing'' (02 August 2012)
More...
Survey: Institutional Investors Keeping Tighter Check on
Listed Entities
Investors are increasingly grilling leading Australian listed
entities on environmental, social and governance issues, according
to a new survey released. Major investors need to know how
corporations are tackling issues like the carbon emissions, water
usage and other important ESG concerns (01 August 2012)
More...
ACCC's first infringement notice for carbon
claim
GFC Berwick Pty Ltd, trading as Genesis Fitness Club, has paid an
infringement notice in the amount of $6,600 in relation to carbon
price claims made about the cost of gym membership fees. The letter
sent represented to members that by taking up this offer members
could avoid a fee increase of 9-15 per cent due to the carbon price
(01 August 2012)
More...
Green Building Council of Australia governance
changes
The Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA) has implemented a
number of governance changes, with members unanimously approving
nine governance changes which are consistent with best practice for
boards in Australia. These include changes to length of board
tenure and the election and rotation of directors (31 July 2012)
More...
Public housing plan underway
Housing and Public Works Minister inspected a new apartment
complex at Mitchelton that is helping address Queensland's
social housing shortfall. Stage 1 of the Churches of Christ
development will allow 22 applicants to be moved from the waiting
list into public housing. An additional 24 units currently under
construction would be allocated to existing public housing tenants
who wish to downsize to smaller dwellings later in the year (09
August 2012)
More...
QCAT decisions challenged by
Attorney-General
The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice has announced he
will attempt to overturn two recent decisions of QCAT, including
recent QCAT decision allowing a sex worker to operate out of a
Queensland motel (09 August 2012)
More...
Sustainable Planning Regulation red tape cuts for
development applicants
The Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development,
Infrastructure and Planning said amendments to the Sustainable
Planning Regulation would remove a range of triggers requiring
referral of development applications to State agencies, including
social housing tenants who will be able to convert their tenancy to
a long term lease without triggering the need for a development
application (09 August 2012)
More...
Queensland Office of Fair Trading extended warranty
concern
The Queensland Office of Fair Trading is highlighting its concerns
about the value of extended warranties following the collapse of
extended warranties provider, U-nited Warranties Pty Ltd (09 August
2012)
More...
Queensland sand quarry fined for releasing contaminated
water
The Newman Government welcomes a decision to fine a southern
Queensland sand quarry company $75,000 for poor water management.
The operator of the quarry pleaded guilty to two counts of wilfully
breaching a development approval condition, seven counts of
contravening an Environmental Protection Order (EPO) and two counts
of failing to comply with an authorised person's direction in
an emergency (09 August 2012)
More...
Hotel industry troubled by anti-discrimination worker
case
The Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) ruled the
owners of a motel in the mining town of Moranbah breached the
Anti-discrimination Act for denying the sex worker a room. The
ruling could have broader implications for motels and hotels in
Queensland's mining boom towns (08 August 2012)
More...
Working with NQ cane growers to protect the
reef
North Queensland cane growers will be able to increase their
productivity and reduce pollutants reaching the Great Barrier Reef
with the assistance of five new management projects aimed to
improve sustainability, water quality management and reef health in
the Wet Tropics, Burdekin Dry Tropics and Mackay-Whitsunday
catchments (06 August 2012)
More...
Queensland suburb of Charters Towers City officially
named
The central business district of Charters Towers has been
officially named the suburb of Charters Towers City by the
Department of Natural Resources and Mines. The Charters Towers
Chamber of Commerce and Mines submitted the place name request to
the department with overwhelming support from residents and
businesses (06 August 2012)
More...
State action to end housing crisis
The Newman Government's action to end the housing crisis in
the state's mining towns, includes the fast tracking of land
releases for housing development to free up land held by the Urban
Land Development Authority (ULDA). The Premier has set a new
direction for the ULDA, which was being merged into the Department
of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning (06 August 2012)
More...
Partnership for cleaning up graffitied
railways
Premier Campbell Newman and Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk have
heralded the start of a landmark partnership to tackle graffiti on
the city's vandalised rail corridors. The $500,000 partnership
involves Queensland Rail joining Brisbane City Council and
Queensland Police in their joint Taskforce Against Graffiti (04
August 2012)
More...
Queensland Building Services Authority parliamentary
inquiry
The Transport, Housing and Local Government Committee of the
Legislative Assembly will undertake a review of the Queensland
Building Services Authority (BSA). The inquiry will consider
streamlining the BSA to improve payment outcomes for subcontractors
and home owners, and look at changes to the setting of licensing
standards and regulatory reform that may lower the cost of building
a home (03 August 2012)
More...
Planned rail routes force farmers to question
future
A group of central Queensland landholders says farmers still face
years of uncertainty about rail line routes to service the Galilee
Basin. The State Government has endorsed two rail corridor options
from the basin to the coast but admits other lines could still be
proposed by mining companies in the future (03 August 2012)
More...
New code of compliance for Pumping
stations
The Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (EHP) has
developed a new code of environmental compliance for operators of
sewage pumping stations which will save millions in application
costs. The new code allows operators of pumping stations with a
capacity of greater than 40 kilolitres per hour to operate under
set conditions, without having to apply for a development approval
for an environmentally relevant activity (ERA) (03 August 2012)
More...
Greentape Reduction Bill 2012
The Queensland Parliament has passed laws to reform licensing
processes. The Bill streamlines mining and petroleum approvals by
clarifying the application process and removing the need for
administrative transfers while ensuring communities are consulted
earlier in the process. The new framework is intended to commence
in March 2013 (02 August 2012)
More...
PCA: Brisbane office space continues to attract strong
demand
The Brisbane office market continued to experience strong demand
in the six months to July 2012, according to the Property Council
of Australia's latest Office Market Report (02 August 2012)
More...
Proposed new rules on CSG water
The Newman Government has proposed new rules to govern the
management of water and brine produced from the coal seam gas
industry, with the introduced proposed amendments to the Petroleum
and Gas (Production and Safety) Act 2004 in State Parliament. CSG
companies would still require an Environmental Authority and a
water licence to transport water and brine off their lease (02
August 2012)
More...
Feedback on More resilient electrical infrastructure in
high rise buildings
The Minister for Energy and Water Supply Mark McArdle has released
a discussion paper seeking industry comment on a Queensland Floods
Commission of Inquiry recommendation to consider introducing a
legislative requirement that electrical substations in buildings be
located at or above the defined flood level (02 August 2012)
More...
Energy and Water Ombudsman new chair and council
members
A new Chair and members of the Advisory Council to the independent
Energy and Water Ombudsman Queensland has been announced by the
Government. The Energy and Water Ombudsman Queensland, is a free,
fair and independent confidential dispute resolution service for
Queenslanders who are unable to resolve a complaint with their
electricity, gas or water supplier (02 August 2012)
More...
Federal Court: Djungan People's native title rights
recognised
The Federal Court of Australia has today recognised the Djungan
People's Native Title rights and interests over more than
182,000 hectares of land in North Queensland. The land covered by
the determination included Land Act reserves, pastoral leases and
some leasehold and unallocated State Land situated in and around
Mount Mulligan, west of Mareeba (02 August 2012)
More...
State Inquiry into retirement village
legislation
The Transport, Housing and Local Government Committee will
undertake a review of the Retirement Villages Act to ensure elderly
residents are adequately protected from unscrupulous operators. It
will take public submissions and consult with key industry groups,
including retirement village scheme operators and residents. The
committee will report to Parliament by 30 November 2012 (02 August
2012)
More...
Interim SEQ bulk water board announced
A three member interim board has been announced that will lead the
transition of three bulk water entities into a single body, the
South East Queensland Bulk Water Company Limited. The SEQ Water
Grid Manager will be dissolved by 1 January 2013 and its functions
transferred to the new entity (01 August 2012)
More...
Metricon Homes $800,000 penalty for misleading
representations
The Federal Court has ordered Metricon Homes Qld Pty Ltd to pay
$800,000 in penalties and $50,000 towards the Australian
Competition and Consumer Commission's costs after it agreed
that some of its advertising and promotional material was false or
misleading (31 July 2012)
More...
Published – articles, papers, reports – National
Proposed basin plan August 2012
Author: Murray Darling Basin Authority
The re-revised Murray-Darling Basin plan with proposed changes to
water regulation guidelines and the socioeconomic implications
these differences will have to regional areas (02 August
2012)
Proposed
basin plan August 2012
Published – articles, papers, reports – New South Wales
Recording Emissions Reduction Schemes in ABS
Statistics
Author: Australian Bureau of Statistics
ABS Statistics (cat. no. 5257.0.55.001) paper details the
statistical treatment of the measures legislated under the group of
Acts that are known collectively as the Clean Energy Acts that came
into force on 1 July 2012 (30 July 2012)
More...
Government Response: Australia's biosecurity and
quarantine arrangements
Author: Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References
Committee The committee's recommendations are provided in the
order they are presented in the current report (30 July 2012)
More...
Housing finance, Australia 2012
Author: Australian Bureau of Statistics
This paper contains time series data for secured and unsecured
housing finance commitments for owner occupation, commitments for
construction or purchase of dwellings for rent or resale, and loan
outstandings to individuals/households for housing (08 August
2012)
Housing finance, Australia 2012
Public risk perceptions, understandings and responses to
climate change in Australia and Great Britain - final
report
Author: Joseph P. Reser, and others; National Climate Change
Adaptation Research Facility
Australians are accepting climate change and are taking adaptive
action, states this report (08 August 2012)
Public risk perceptions, understandings and responses to climate
change in Australia and Great Britain - final report
Property industry confidence survey
Author: Property Council of Australia
The latest Property Council of Australia-ANZ Property Industry
Confidence Survey shows Victorian respondents' sentiment
declined from 96 on the index for the June quarter to 93 for the
September quarter (04 August 2012)
Property industry confidence survey
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