22
September 2008 - Environment Minister Peter
Garrett has commissioned an independent
review of proposed new management arrangements
for Queensland’s East Coast Inshore Fin
Fish Fishery to assist in his upcoming assessment
of the fishery under the Environment Protection
and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC
Act).
Mr Garrett said the
review of the fishery, which operates off
the coast of Queensland, including in the
Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area,
would be completed by the end of October
2008, and would look at the proposed management
arrangements for the fishery, providing
recommendations to ensure compliance with
the EPBC Act.
Mr Garrett said the
review follows discussions with Queensland’s
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries,
the Hon Tim Mulherin MP, in relation to
the fishery’s impacts on shark stocks and
the potential for interactions with protected
species, particularly dugongs, whales and
sawfish.
“I expect this review
will also provide the Queensland Government
with additional support and information
in their decision making process in regards
to the East Coast Inshore Fin Fish Fishery.
“Concerns have been
raised by a variety of groups, including
the scientific community, about shark fishing
and about species protected under the EPBC
Act, including dugong. I want to be assured
that the World Heritage Values of the Great
Barrier Reef are adequately protected.
“I look forward to the
outcomes of this important and timely investigation
so we can be confident that the fishery
has the appropriate conditions in place
for accreditation under the EPBC Act.”
Mr Garrett said the
review would be conducted by a panel chaired
by Mr John Gunn, Deputy Chief, CSIRO Marine
and Atmospheric Research, who has 25 years
of experience in marine ecology and fisheries
science, and including Dr John Stevens,
a globally respected shark scientist and
Mr Frank Meere, who has extensive experience
in fisheries management and qualifications
in economics.
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Essendon Football Club
first Green Precincts project
21 September 2008 -
Essendon Football Club first Green Precincts
project (PDF – 77 KB)
The Federal Government is providing the
Essendon Football Club with up to $1.5 million
for water and energy efficiency upgrades
to its facilities at Windy Hill in Melbourne.
Minister for the Environment,
Peter Garrett, said the funding honours
an election commitment.
"This is the first
project under the $15 million Green Precincts
Fund that will support at least 10 demonstration
sites around Australia," Mr Garrett
said.
"The Fund is providing
matching funding of $500,000 to $1.5 million
to community organisations, sporting clubs,
and state, territory and local governments
for water and energy efficiency demonstration
projects in high-profile sites.
"Today we are inviting
owners and managers of high-profile community
facilities to submit project proposals for
the Green Precincts Fund. Successful projects
must be able to demonstrate and deliver
significant water and energy savings."
Minister for Climate
Change and Water, Senator Penny Wong, said
the Green Precincts Fund forms part the
Government's $12.9 billion Water for the
Future plan to secure the long-term water
supplies of all Australians.
"Visitors to Green
Precinct sites will be able to see the relevant
technologies in action - using water more
wisely and energy more efficiently. The
aim is to inspire visitors to adopt these
ideas at their own community facilities
and in their own homes," Senator Wong
said.
Minister for Finance
and Deregulation, Lindsay Tanner, said the
first stage of the Windy Hill project includes
installing an innovative under-oval 800,000
litre water storage system for rain and
stormwater.
"Together with
other new water saving initiatives and recycling
of pool water, the club aims to halve its
use of mains water," Mr Tanner said.
"The Windy Hill
precinct will also generate renewable energy
through solar or wind power, and install
solar hot water services and building monitoring
systems including smart metering. This will
result in substantial reductions in greenhouse
gas emissions.
"I'd like to congratulate
the Essendon Football Club and its Managing
Director Peter Jackson for having the foresight
to partner with the Government on this project."
Guidelines for submitting
an Expression of Interest for the Green
Precincts Fund are available from www.environment.gov.au/water/programs.
Expressions of Interest must be received
by 22 November 2008.
