GreenMOBILISING PEOPLE TO SAFEGUARD Action OUR ENVIRONMENT News ISSUE 18 • SPRING 2012

Reclaiming ’s Environment PLUS How we stopped HRL Green Action News

MOBILISING PEOPLE TO SAFEGUARD OUR ENVIRONMENT ISSUE 18 • SPRING 2012

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Reclaiming Victoria’s Environment PLUS How we stopped HRL Victorians take on Taking stock 3 new coal power 4 on Hazelwood and win Green Action News Issue 18, Spring 2012 Design 2Fish Productions Print Almar Press Why Tammy van Contributing writers Brown Coal Alex Merory, Kelly O’Shanassy, Tom 6 Wisse wants to 7 Hartney, Mark Wakeham, Victoria Disaster McKenzie-McHarg, Jean Young, save the Murray Ayeesha Cain and special guest Tammy Van Wisse. Editor Alex Merory (03) 9341 8125 Reclaiming [email protected] A State Membership enquiries 8 Victoria’s 10 (03) 9341 8100 in reverse [email protected] environment Media enquiries (03) 9341 8127 [email protected] Green Action News is an Environment Victoria publication. For more information, visit Environmental Thinking www.environmentvictoria.org.au news from 12 globally, acting 14 around Victoria locally Never say never

> Kelly O’Shanassy, Chief Executive Officer

How do you make the seemingly polluting coal plants in the world is both up to tackle the big challenges ahead. impossible into something that extremely important and incredibly We’ll also officially launch our Reclaim hard. We know there will be set backs Victoria’s Environment campaign, which seems inevitable? You never, along the way, but if we’re going to aims to ensure our political leaders (of all ever give up. create a safe climate future, we can’t shy key political affiliations) stop ignoring away from the tough stuff. the overwhelming community support WHAT A ROLLERCOASTER ride we’ve We’ve successfully set the agenda. for our environment and a clean energy had over the past few months. From the We’ve created huge public momentum future and start taking action (page 10). highs of stopping HRL, the new coal to shut Hazelwood, and journalists and We’d love you to come along on 24 plant proposed for Victoria, to the politicians around the country now refer October (see back cover for details). devastation of the Gillard Government to Hazelwood as ’s most People have asked us how we keep reneging on negotiations to close polluting coal station. Right now the going after such a big disappointment. It polluting stations like Hazelwood. government is ignoring this community certainly helps that we achieve so many Congratulations to everyone involved momentum but that can’t and won’t last. wonderful outcomes like Stopping HRL, in Stopping HRL. Whether you donated People like you Stopped HRL. And we but most of the time I just reflect on to our campaign, signed a petition or are going to shut Hazelwood (check out Christopher Reeve’s philosophy (after all, attended a rally, you have made an our plan on page 3). he was Superman): “At first dreams seem enormous difference. Doesn’t it feel These are the times we have to stay impossible, then improbable, then great? strong and remember the amazing wins inevitable”. And while you may have been that people like you are achieving all the For now, I’m taking a few minutes to dismayed by the government’s backflip time (see page 12). Our 2012 AGM and dream about the next big environmental on Hazelwood, I want you to remember Environment Celebration has been outcome that we’ll achieve together, and three very important things: created to do just that — celebrate these then I’m going to get stuck into Closing down one of the most wins, recognise amazing efforts and gear achieving it!

2 GREEN ACTION NEWS | ISSUE 18 | SPRING 2012 | www.environmentvictoria.org.au SAFE CLIMATE

> Mark Wakeham, Campaigns Director

WEDNESDAY 5 SEPTEMBER was a The price on carbon, or ‘Clean Energy electricity and more than half of the tough day for anyone concerned about Future’ package, was always a delicate state’s greenhouse pollution, it’s clear climate change and Australia’s clean balance with some contradictory that replacing our dirtiest power energy future. elements. On the balance Environment stations remains priority one. At 9.15 Minister Martin Ferguson Victoria supported the package, in large ‘Contracts for closure’ didn’t happen. So announced that the Gillard Government part because of the ‘contracts for closure’ the biggest barrier now to closing these was walking away from its commitment commitment that Environment Victoria dirty power stations and letting the to close 2000 megawatts of our dirtiest elicited from the federal government to carbon price do its job is the $5.5 billion power stations like Hazelwood and retire our dirtiest power stations. However compensation that these same power Yallourn, known as ‘contracts for closure’. the ALP’s decision to walk away from this stations are receiving from the federal In the face of a low carbon price and commitment destroys the equilibrium of government to keep polluting. huge compensation payouts to big the carbon price package and makes So we’re going after these ludicrous polluters, ‘contracts for closure’ was critical hollow talk of Australia’s clean energy compensation payments to big polluters. to achieve the necessary transition to a future. You can’t have a clean energy After all, if they were telling the clean energy future by getting rid of our future if power stations like Hazelwood government in the ‘contracts for closure’ dirtiest polluters. Unfortunately, it now are allowed to pollute indefinitely and negotiations that they have a profitable seems that the Gillard Government wasn’t indeed paid by the government to future and their asset value remains high, trying particularly hard in its negotiations continue operating. then why are we compensating them for with power station owners. asset value lost through the introduction One of the biggest obstacles to closing So where to from here? of the carbon price? our dirtiest power stations like Well we’ve been on the brink of closing Our ‘paid to pollute’ campaign will track Hazelwood is the $5.5 billion of Hazelwood before. Remember back in taxpayers’ dollars that are propping up taxpayers’ funds they’re pocketing as 2010 when the Brumby Government polluters and pressure federal politicians compensation for the introduction of the committed to starting the process of to pull the $5.5 billion compensation carbon price. closing Hazelwood only to lose the 2010 package in the lead up to next year’s election? Back then we dusted ourselves Federal Budget and the federal election. off and came up with a new plan that has We won’t be letting the off the successfully put replacing Hazelwood on hook either. One of the main reasons the national agenda - no small ‘contracts for closure’ failed was due to achievement. uncertainty about the future existence of We’ve also suffered significant a carbon price if Tony Abbott becomes campaign setbacks in the past. When we Prime Minister. We’ll be highlighting the lost our court case to prevent the inadequacy of the Coalition’s so-called THANK YOU construction of the HRL coal-fired power ‘direct action policy’ and the Chicken for your continuing support of station it was a huge kick in the guts. But Little nature of the Coalition’s carbon this important campaign. You in that defeat were the seeds of victory price fear campaign over the coming year. helped get Hazelwood on the and we ultimately won that campaign. So the campaign continues. While this At Environment Victoria we don’t failure of leadership on ‘contracts for national agenda and together focus on what’s easy, we focus on what closure’ is deeply disappointing, with your we can strike it off the list of is important. And with brown coal support and people power we know we’ll Australia’s heaviest polluters. making up over 90 percent of our get there in the end.

GREEN ACTION NEWS | ISSUE 18 | SPRING 2012 | www.environmentvictoria.org.au 3 SAFE CLIMATE Victorians take on new coal power and win > Victoria McKenzie-McHarg, Safe Climate Campaigner

EIGHTEEN MONTHS AGO, Victoria was amazing display of people power. It at a crossroad. A new coal fired power involved years of hard work from people station - the first in 20 years - was across the climate movement and approved for the Latrobe Valley. If it Environment Victoria supporters in went ahead it would keep Victoria in the particular. And it was our legal challenge technological dark ages for decades to (that you funded and supported) against come, addicted to brown coal and the EPA’s approval of HRL, combined shunning clean energy and the jobs that with the impact of community action come with it. But if we could stop it, we that ultimately stopped HRL. knew that no new polluting coal-fired Despite many setbacks and decisions power stations would be built in Victoria that made it seem like we’d lost, the again – a proud legacy for our determination of thousands of people environment. resulted in a campaign win that at times Faced with this prospect, over 10,000 had seemed impossible! Here’s how it people like you took action in an happened:

YOU DID IT! Stopping HRL, the new coal-fired power station destined for Victoria is a major victory for people power and a lasting legacy for our environment. Your support made this happen. Thank you so much for caring enough to take action.

4 GREEN ACTION NEWS | ISSUE 18 | SPRING 2012 | www.environmentvictoria.org.au Timeline to victory 2002 2006 2007 SEP 10 Premier Bracks awards HRL a $50 The Federal Howard Government HRL submit their application for a The Bracks Government awards a million grant for development of a awards HRL a further $100 million Works Approval for their now $1.3 new coal exploration licence to HRL 400 mega watt (MW) coal-fired towards the costs of their $750 billion project to the Environment for the development of a power station. million power station. Protection Authority (EPA). commercial scale power station. Environment Victoria and the Australian Conservation Foundation oppose the licence. The campaign to Stop HRL has begun. MAY 11 MAY 11 MAY 11 The EPA approves 300MW of the Australia’s big four banks all reveal Hundreds rally against the EPA 600MW proposal. that they will not fund the project. decision. Quit Coal (a community SEP 10 Key international banks including group opposed to the project) HSBC and CitiBank also confirm unfurl a massive banner from the You and almost 4,000 others submit that they will not invest in the roof of the building opposite formal objections to the HRL project. HSBC notes that HRL’s Parliament House. proposal – the most ever received proposal exceeds their guidelines by the EPA on a single issue. Just 13 for pollution limits on new submissions were made in support investments. of the proposal. JUN 11 Oct 11 The four week long VCAT hearing Environment Victoria, community begins. Environment Victoria and group Locals into Victoria’s AUg 11 LIVE are ably assisted in their Environment (LIVE), Doctors for the challenge by solicitors from the Environment Australia (DEA) and The amazing generosity of people Environment Defenders Office Brunswick based individual Martin like you means that over 1000 (EDO) and pro-bono barristers Shield launch a landmark legal people (an all time record) respond Adrian Finanzio, Rupert Watters and challenge against the EPA’s to our urgent call to help fund this Feb 12 Emma Peppler. approval of HRL at the Victorian legal challenge and the supporting Hundreds rally in Civil and Administrative Tribunal community action campaign to against the state and federal (VCAT). HRL also appeal the EPA’s stop this new power. government grants amounting to decision wanting the whole $150 million for the HRL proposal. 600MW approved. Greens MP Adam Bandt and Labor MP Kelvin Thomson speak at the FEB 12 rally in support of stopping HRL. Labor MP Kelvin Thomson tables a petition with over 12,000 hand- MAR 12 APR 12 signatures against government HRL win their legal challenge at funding of HRL in Parliament, HRL announce that they have VCAT, and are awarded full approval Canberra. halted development of their project of their 600MW power station. indefinitely as a result of the VCAT Environment Victoria and other condition. FEB 12 challengers lose. However an Next day…: Federal Energy Minister important condition is placed on Martin Ferguson announces the power station due to our another extension for HRL’s federal challenge – HRL is not allowed to government funding. But there are begin construction until another two important details – the power station of the same size has extension is only for six months, signed a contract to close with the and this time it’s final. Australian Government. JUL 12 we Energy Minister Ferguson withdraws HRL’s federal government grant of $100 million. This opens the door for the Victorian government to withdraw their $50 million in grant funding. It’s impossible for HRL to proceed without this government funding… win!

GREEN ACTION NEWS | ISSUE 17 | SPRING 2012 | www.environmentvictoria.org.au 5 SAFE CLIMATE Brown coal disaster > Mark Wakeham, Campaigns Director

Thanks to your generous donations to our recent appeal we’ve been able to crank up our campaign to prevent coal allocations and the establishment of an export brown coal industry. Your support is already having an impact! THANK YOU.

ON JUNE 6, the state government’s power, and thanks to your support we’re Our efforts are starting to pay off. plans to allocate 13 billion tonnes and working to prevent coal allocations and In August 2012 the Baillieu establish new export coal mines the establishment of an export brown Government confirmed that they have encountered a serious hitch. The Yallourn coal industry. Here’s what we’ve cancelled the Latrobe Valley mining mine collapsed, taking the Morwell River undertaken or are about to kick off so far: licence held by Shell and Anglo with it. Yallourn power station ground to • A public campaign to ensure that American for the proposed Monash a halt. Serious flooding on site destroyed none of the Big 4 Banks fund these Energy project. This mining licence, coal conveyor belts and the Environment new coal mines, branding them as an covering billions of tonnes of coal, was Protection Authority issued an investment too dirty and dangerous to allocated in 2002 for a coal to diesel and emergency licence to TRUenergy to touch. carbon capture and storage project that dump contaminated water from the • An independent assessment into the has gone nowhere. We’ve used this mine into the Latrobe River. economic viability of these mines and project in the media repeatedly as an Coming on the back of a similar incident export plans. example of why allocating more coal is at Yallourn in 2007, and problems at the • Fighting for our right to information, not in the public interest. Government Hazelwood mine last year, the incident we’ve mounted a legal challenge with realised that failed and stalled coal serves as a stark reminder of the danger the state government to enforce your projects were a bad look and withdrew and damage inherent in brown coal Freedom of Information rights to the license and coal allocation. This is a mining operations. For the Baillieu know what dirty deals are being done step in the right direction, and we need Government, trying to convince local with the coal industry behind closed to keep the pressure up to ensure that farmers and communities in the Latrobe doors. we don’t end up with 13 billion tonnes Valley that the environmental impact of • Holding the government to account of dirty brown coal dug up, exported new super-mines can be managed, the by exposing these plans to the public and burnt to produce enormous Yallourn failure couldn’t have come at a and media via CoalWatch, the most greenhouse pollution. worse time. comprehensive community coal We know we’ve got a battle on our What’s more, the interruption to monitoring resource in the state. hands to prevent the coal allocation, and Yallourn energy production had no www.environmentvictoria/coalwatch any future export proposals, but we’re impact on our energy supply, evidence • Funding regional forums in the already getting results and we’re only that lights-out scaremongering about Latrobe Valley to let the local just getting started. transitioning away from coal is just that. community know that their back yard Our research shows that Victorians is being sold off and empower them don’t want more coal mining or coal-fired into action.

6 GREEN ACTION NEWS | ISSUE 18 | SPRING 2012 | www.environmentvictoria.org.au WATER AND HEALTHY RIVERS Why Tammy wants to save the Murray

> Tammy van Wisse, River Champion

Tammy Van Wisse knows more than most about rivers. In her lifetime she has swum the circumference of the earth one and a half times! And that’s not all. In 2001 she became the only person to swim the entire length of the Murray River. Starting from Corryong in Victoria’s high country, it took her 106 days to reach the Murray Mouth in South Australia 2438 kilometres away. Since then she’s been a passionate campaigner for the mighty Murray River and efforts to return the water it needs.

I BECAME INTERESTED in the Murray when I heard about Graham Middleton’s swim down the length of it. It really captured my imagination as a marathon swimmer. I had travelled overseas for many years, swimming marathons in different bodies of water and I suffered from gastro more times than I care to “One of the locals told remember. Being immersed in a body of me that once you drink water for such a long period of time, I from the Murray, it became like a human water quality Thank you so much to all of tester – if the quality of the water was our dedicated supporters of will forever flow bad I would get sick. Victoria’s rivers, including through your veins...” This experience drove me to draw those who’ve generously attention to water issues. When it came donated to help save our to doing something in my own lifeblood, the Mighty Murray. allocation and salination are still the backyard, our greatest waterway the We’ll keep fighting so this biggest threats to the Murray system. Murray, seemed like the obvious choice. remarkable river that has Before my swim, one of the locals at The enormous challenge of swimming flourished for thousands of Corryong told me that once you drink the entire length of the river generated a years can flourish for from the Murray, it will forever flow lot of media attention and allowed me thousands more. through your veins and you’ll always be to promote a much more important passionate about it. After spending three message about river health. and a half months submersed in it and When I swam the Murray eleven years the Barmah Forest (near Echuca). It gets swallowing quite a bit during that time, I ago, there had been five years of its dark colour from organic matter that can honestly say it’s true. My passion for drought and flows were very low, with builds up during droughts. This organic the Murray grew with every day of the red gums dying and wetlands under matter is periodically swept into the swim. threat. Ironically, the week before I was water during floods and then Since then I’ve joined the Fight For the due to start my swim there was a huge decomposes, taking oxygen out of the Murray campaign. It astounds me that downpour and the river was up out of its water. The effect is worsened by people don’t understand that without a banks up at Corryong. decreasing regularity of flows due to healthy river system we have nothing. As a result of the rain, a lot of water over-allocation, and many yabbies and Time is running out for us to take was flushed down the river and the extra crayfish in the Barmah had died after the action on the Murray. So my message to flows made it change daily before my rains. At one point it felt like I was the Minister Burke is this: the time for eyes as I swam. only living thing in the Murray. treating the Murray as a political football I saw so much wildlife – at the start I As I crossed the border into South must end or we will lose our river. It’s was lucky enough to swim with a Australia, I actually tasted the water get critical that we get the Murray-Darling platypus! I also encountered ducks, wild saltier, testament to the huge salination Basin Plan right and you have the pigs and was bumped under the water problems that continue today. The lack opportunity to create history and do this by carp. The worst thing was the snakes, of water in the system due to over- for the Australian people. particularly the Tigers and Browns. I had to be extracted quite a few times to Right now, the Murray-Darling Basin Plan is in Parliament. Get the latest, and what avoid being bitten. you can do to make it better, at environmentvictoria.org.au/save-the-murray I swam through the “black water” in

GREEN ACTION NEWS | ISSUE 18 | SPRING 2012 | www.environmentvictoria.org.au 7 RECLAIM VICTORIA’ S ENVIRONMENT A State in Regional snapshot of the action

North West Victoria Northern and • Baillieu Government has reduced Central Victoria support for the Mallee Solar farm, • Attempting to weaken the refusing to commit the full $100m national plan to restore the promised prior to the election, and health of the Murray - Darling only providing the funds if the project Basin Plan by proposing just receives Federal funding. The Mallee 2100 GL be returned to the solar farm could be supported by river instead of the MDBA’s federal Clean Energy Finance proposed 2750GL. Corporation, though the Federal • Allowing firewood collection Coalition have promised to abolish indefinitely from Gunbower this body if elected. and Barmah national parks. • No progress towards the 5% solar • Backflip on pre-election target by 2020 election promise which promise to use Sugarloaf would deliver large scale solar projects Pipeline water for the in the north-west. environment, instead MILDURA Western Victoria auctioning it off to irrigators. and Surf Coast • Put on hold ban on cattle • Coastcare program slashed grazing in new Murray River Renewed Alcoa’s mining lease at Park. Cattle are being allowed • to graze right up to the edge of Anglesea for 50 years with no further SWAN HILL measures to reduce its pollution. the Murray River. • 50 DSE jobs in Ballarat and 75-80 jobs • Department of Sustainability in South-West cut in areas like bushfire and Environment job cuts will prevention, wild dog and weeds reduce staff and program WODON control programs numbers at regional offices in Alexandra, Beechworth, SHEPPARTON A t least 10 jobs in threatened species • Benalla, Bendigo, Broadford, HORSHAM protection in Horsham cut Corryong, Mitta Mitta, BENDIGO • Department of Sustainability and Nathalia, Ovens, Seymour, Environment job cuts will reduce staff Tallangatta, Wangaratta and and program numbers at regional Wodonga. Staff cuts and office offices in Bacchus Marsh, Ballarat, BALLARAT closures of Department of MELBOURNE Geelong, Gellibrand, Heywood and Primary Industries offices HAMILTON Maryborough. Staff cuts and office could also affect agricultural closures of Department of Primary and environmental programs. PORTLAND GEELONG Industries offices could also affect • New planning laws giving WARRNAMBOOL agricultural and environmental households power to veto programs. wind turbines within two • New planning laws giving households kilometres of their homes and power to veto wind turbines within declaring whole regions of the two kilometres of their homes and state out of bounds for wind declaring whole regions of the state farms lead to the Woodend out of bounds for wind farms lead to community wind project, the the Surf Coast community wind Castlemaine community wind project, the Ben More wind farm, the project, the Sidonia wind farm Naroghid wind farm and the Pykes Hill and the Baynton wind farm wind farm being put on hold costing being put on hold costing the the region $370m of new investment region $373m of new in clean energy projects. No such laws investment in clean energy apply to coal-fired power stations or projects. No such laws apply coalmines. to coal-fired power stations or • Approving an open-cut goldmine in coal mines. the heart of a wombat forest near Daylesford

8 GREEN ACTION NEWS | ISSUE 18 | SPRING 2012 | www.environmentvictoria.org.au n reverse taken by the Baillieu Government

Gippsland and Melbourne Alpine regions • Urban sprawl set to continue with • Walked away from a State Government announcement of six more suburbs for commitment to begin closing Hazelwood, Melbourne, covering productive our most polluting power station, giving farmland and green wedges, with less no certainty to workers, the community or protection for threatened species in for new investment . these areas. • Plan to allocate the remaining 13 billion • Abandoned the voluntary Target155 tonnes of brown coal in the Latrobe Valley water efficiency program putting more for new mines and export in late 2012. pressure on the Yarra and Thomson This is the equivalent of 13 mines the size Rivers and increasing future use of the of the current Hazelwood pit. desalination plant. • Returning cattle grazing to the Alpine • Seeking federal funding to advance the National Park under the guise of scientific East-West tunnel freeway instead of research when cattle grazing has been investing in public transport. thoroughly proven to damage alpine Statewide biodiversity. • Broke a pre-election commitment to • Cutting funding for the West Gippsland keep Victoria’s legislated target to reduce CMA which has led to the loss of 17 greenhouse pollution by 20 per cent by frontline river health jobs. 2020. • Supporting and funding a new polluting • Support for households and businesses coal-fired power station just one kilometre to support solar power is slashed from from Morwell when a wind farm in the 60c/kWh to 25c/kWh and then further same location would be banned. slashed to 8c/kWh putting the brakes on NGA • Coal export plans would involve new the solar industry state-wide. WANGARATTA pipelines across farms, infrastructure and N • Environment protection and jobs slashed port expansion in Westernport Bay or Port in state budget. Slashed 400 Department Anthony. of Sustainability and Environment jobs in • Loggers can now seek exemptions from threatened species protection, bushfire environment laws protecting endangered prevention, river health, weeds and feral species under proposed changes. animal programs and the Environment • Provided $1 million for a feasibility study Protection Authority. DSE will suffer for a new dam in the Lindenow Valley on greater job cuts than nearly all other BAIRNSDALE the Mitchell River. departments. Department of Sustainability and Failed to deliver on a $20 million election TRARALGON • • Environment job cuts will reduce staff and pledge to replace energy guzzling street program numbers at regional offices in lights with more efficient lighting. Bairnsdale, Bendoc, Cann River, Erica, • Weakening planning rules around sea Mansfield, Marysville, Noojee, Nowa level rise designed to reduce impacts of Nowa, Orbost, Powelltown, Toolangi, climate change. Traralgon and Yarram. Staff cuts and office • Opposing the creation of any new closures of Department of Primary marine protected areas. Industries offices could also affect Returning duck hunting season to 12 agricultural and environmental programs. • weeks in 2011 putting more pressure on • New planning laws giving households duck populations recovering from power to veto wind turbines within two drought. kilometres of their homes and declaring Undermining the integrity of National whole regions of the state out of bounds • Parks by announcing an inquiry to for wind farms lead to the $31 million extend prospecting and opening up Yarram wind farm being put on hold. No National Parks for development such laws apply to coal-fired power stations or coal mines. • Cutting all Victorian funding to the Native fish strategy which restores fish Abandoned the voluntary Target155 • populations throughout the Murray water efficiency program putting more Darling Basin. pressure on the Yarra and Thomson Rivers and increasing future use of the desalination plant.

GREEN ACTION NEWS | ISSUE 18 | SPRING 2012 | www.environmentvictoria.org.au 9 RECLAIM VICTORIA’ S ENVIRONMENT Getting our environme

Since the Baillieu Government came into power our environment has been under attack, and the hit list keeps growing. In the last few months alone, they’ve further slashed the solar feed-in tariff, cut funding to the native fish strategy and they’ve signaled their clear desire to open up our national parks for development. So we’ve come up with a bold plan to stop the attacks and get the environment back on the agenda. THANKS TO YOUR amazing support, our campaign to Reclaim Victoria’s Environment has kicked off with a bang. Fact-based ads

holding the Baillieu Government to account have been seen by hundreds of thousands

of Victorians in local newspapers across the state.

“ I wwawasas shoshockedcked when I heheardard “ “whatwhaatt Ted Baillieu is doingdoing to our environment.environmentonmentt..

Already the Baillieu Government has: !      !            !      !                   !     !       destroying investment and jobs            mega-mines victoria’svictoriatoria’ss environment:environmentnviron t:: ininast a ststatetaate oofof Victorians are proud emergencemergency of our environment. e y why aren’t you, Mr Baillieu?

Get the full story at: environmentvictoria.org.au/emergency Erika, mother of two, Victoria

Thanks a bunch to Deb, Erika and families for stepping up for the campaign in a big way and being part of these ads.

10 GREEN ACTION NEWS | ISSUE 18 | SPRING 2012 | www.environmentvictoria.org.au nt back on the agenda

In August we released a report specialists to hone our message to reach highlighting the contrast between what Victorians from across the political WANT TO GET INVOLVED? Victorians actually want for their spectrum and inspire them to take environment and what the Baillieu action. In August we welcomed 1. Sign the petition at Government has been up to. The report community campaigner Mick Power to environmentvictoria.org.au/emergency detailed how different regions of Victoria engage more people through on–the- 2. Get involved with letterboxing and stalls in have been affected (see the spread of ground, face-to-face contact and your area. We have posters, brochures and impact by region on pg 8), and created a mobilise them around positive solutions. petition forms to get you started. Contact media buzz forcing the government to All of this is possible because of the our new Community Campaigner Mick at defend their environmental credentials. incredible support of people like you! [email protected] And the momentum is building. On 20 Thank you to all of our wonderful 3. Why not get your friends to chip and fund September an article in covered donors. Your support is making a an ad in your own local area! Contact us to our campaign and the government’s difference. find out how. growing concerns in response. “The environment - particularly as it relates to local issues - is far more INTRODUCING MICK POWER sensitive as a political issue than the government anticipated, particularly when the perception is that things are “My name’s Mick, and thanks to your going backwards” generous donations. I’ll be working on Now the pressure is on for the Baillieu the Reclaim Victoria’s Environment Government to release an grassroots campaign, using people environmental policy that’s up to the power to stop the Baillieu challenge of protecting our Government’s attacks on the environment. This is an important step in environment, and put our issues back our plan to get all of Victoria’s on the political agenda. I’ll be doing a environment back on the political whole bunch of work with community agenda. groups and individuals, so I look But getting them to take notice is just forward to meeting and working with the beginning. We’re working with as many of you as possible!” behaviour change communications

Authorised by Kelly O’Shanassy, Level 2, 60 Leicester Street, Carlton VIC 3053 I was shocked when I heard “ “what Ted Baillieu is doing to our environment.

Already the Baillieu Government has: "! !!! ! ! "! ! ! !!! ! !!!  "!!! ! ! "! !! ! victoria’s   ! ! !   ! !!!  environment: "! !! ! ! "! !!! in a state of destroying investment and jobs ! !  ! ! emergency ! !!!  ! !   Victorians are proud of our environment. why aren’t you, Mr Baillieu? Get the full story at: Deb, mother of two, Albert Park, Victoria environmentvictoria.org.au/emergency

GREEN ACTION NEWS | ISSUE 18 | SPRING 2012 | www.environmentvictoria.org.au 11 AROUND VICTORIA Good news for a > Tom Hartney, Communications Officer It’s always amazing to see some great wins and brave battles spearheaded by community and environment groups. So let’s take a moment to enjoy the good news:

Our GreenTown sustainability program highly commended 16 August: Working with community leaders from the multicultural Collingwood housing estate, we’re helping residents make changes in their homes, businesses and schools to live more sustainably. We’re pretty proud of GreenTown, so we were chuffed when this fantastic program was ‘highly commended’ in the City of Yarra’s annual Sustainability Awards. So far, GreenTown households have saved 4 tonnes of greenhouse emissions per year, 61,000 litres of water per year and 119kg of waste from going to landfill! Everyone’s a winner! http://environm.entvictoria.org.au

Moratorium on fracking and coal seam gas exploration 24 AUGUST: Coal seam gas is often promoted as a ‘clean’ alternative to coal, but the health and environmental impacts of leaked methane gas and other chemicals used in the process can be devastating, for our climate and for our water resources. Far too little is known about the real impact of CSG on our health and environment. Environment groups like Friends of the Earth, concerned landholders and community groups have been calling on the state government to stop the expansion of this industry until more is known about the risks involved. In Hepburn Wind wins the August the Baillieu Government announced a moratorium on new exploration licences for coal seam world wind award! gas and a ban on any approvals for fracking. Well done to 5 July: A year after the Baillieu everyone involved! Government introduced strict anti-wind http://www.melbourne.foe.org.au laws, there was a win for wind and for community action when the Hepburn wind farm was awarded the prestigious World Wind Energy Award 2012 in recognition of their work introducing large scale community wind power to Australia. Many other communities around Australia have been inspired by the ‘Hepburn Model’ to develop their own community power projects. Well done! http://hepburnwind.com.au

12 GREEN ACTION NEWS | ISSUE 18 | SPRING 2012 | www.environmentvictoria.org.au change

Supertrawler stopped... 11 September: The news that one of the world’s biggest factory ships was headed for our southern waters to potentially decimate fish stocks was met with alarm from all quarters! Environment groups formed an alliance with recreational fishing groups to launch an overwhelming campaign to ‘Stop the Supertrawler’, generating plenty of media coverage and almost 100,000 signatures. In response to the outcry, the federal government introduced special laws to stop supertrawlers until it can be proven that they will not damage our oceans. A win for marine life and a win for common sense! http://stopthetrawler.net

Inspirational battle to save our forests The ongoing campaign by local environment group MyEnvironment has been truly inspiring. Their battle to save the remnants of Victoria’s disappearing native forests from being turned into woodchips for office paper has not been without setbacks, but their passion and resolve have never waned. The Ash forests of the Central Highlands contain vital habitat for many endangered creatures, including Victoria’s faunal emblem, the Leadbeater's Possum. With incredible community support they have taken VicForests to the Supreme Court over allegedly logging endangered species’ habitat in Toolangi State Forest and have already saved many hectares from the chainsaw. Keep up the good fight guys! http://www.myenvironment.net.au/

GREEN ACTION NEWS | ISSUE 18 | SPRING 2012 | www.environmentvictoria.org.au 13 SUSTAINABLE LIVING Thinking globally, acting locally

Through our sustainable living programs like HomePlanet and Multicultural Climate Action (MCA), we’re taking the message of sustainable living to Victoria’s culturally and ethnically diverse communities. We’ve been overwhelmed by the passion these new Australians show for safeguarding our environment and their enthusiasm in seeking to raise awareness of climate change in their communities! Here are some of their stories.

feel the cost of energy and power. They don’t like it when dad complains about the lights,” he continued, “but you have to be persistent. Protecting the environment is essential for a better life and a better future.”

NasimJan, 24, Dandenong Afghanistan-born NasimJan Despite their busy schedules, Jennie (14) and is particularly to learning Bill feels this experience will about climate change and its Bill (13) Ho, help prepare him for his solutions. During his future: “I want to build up Delahey schooling in Afghanistan, our experiences; I want to For Jennie Ho, the most NasimJan was not taught build buildings that are rewarding part of the about sustainability and greener for us in the future.” Multicultural Climate Action Rimani Bhatia, environmental practices. Program was learning about 24, Dandenong HomePlanet has increased the Carbon Price. “When you Rimani Bhatia moved to his knowledge of these areas hear about it on the news, Australia from India just over and he has developed a they only talk about it in a three months ago. Rimani passion for tackling climate political perspective. You finds the HomePlanet change. don’t know where it will go teachers inspiring as they NasimJan’sfuture aspirations in the future. So I got to educate students to reduce are clear: ‘trying as much as learn about that in greater their environmental impact. possible to give the message detail.” Already HomePlanet has of climate change to the Together with her brother changed the way Rimani people who don’t know!’ Bill, Jennie delivered a manages her household - workshop on the Carbon she is now recycling, Price and Energy Efficiency Hussein Milhem, donating her old clothes, in the Home to 200 people Caroline Springs taking shorter showers and at the Quan Min Temple in Delivering workshops to saving energy by not using “Protecting the Braybrook, all in Vietnamese! small groups, Hussein found her heating and switching environment is According to Jennie, the that many people were lights off when leaving community was interested curious about the reasons rooms. Rimani now wants to essential for a to hear their message. for introducing a Carbon share and inspire her family better life and a Bill saw the workshop as an Price - why us, why now? “I with her newfound opportunity to share their presented them with the knowledge and hopes to better future.” interest in the environment. problem; the solution is up become a primary school “Young people want to live a to them.” teacher after the Home —Hussein Milhem Planet program. greener future, so we told The father of two, feels our parents to create a strongly about greener future for us to environmental issues, “In live in”. Lebanon we live two-thirds The two play Karate, Piano, of the day without power. Guitar, and learn Vietnamese. The young generation don’t

14 GREEN ACTION NEWS | ISSUE 18 | SPRING 2012 | www.environmentvictoria.org.au SUSTAINABLE LIFESTYLES

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GREEN ACTION NEWS | ISSUE 18 | SPRING 2012 | www.environmentvictoria.org.au 15 AGM & CELEBRATION

You’re invited to a very special celebration of our environment

Swanson Hall, Melbourne Town Hall AGENDA Wednesday 24 October 2012 from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm 5:30: Environment Victoria AGM MC and Comedian Andrew McClelland, winner of Farewell our President Russell Fisher Crikey’s ‘Best of the Fest’ from the 2012 Melbourne There’s no doubt it’s been a tough after over 10 years serving on the board International Comedy Festival year for Victoria’s magnificent environment and for all of us who’ve 6:15: Environment Celebration Environmental recognition ceremony where we’ll celebrate the achievements, courage and persistence watched our hard-fought wins Special guest speaker Danny of community groups and leaders across the state to unravelled by the new state Kennedy, activist turned solar safeguard our environment Followed by entrepreneur and author of Rooftop government. But in the toughest entertainment and a chance to catch up with old Revolution. Beamed live from the USA, times, we need to stick together, friends and make new ones over drinks. celebrate our achievements and get Danny will talk about the global renewable energy revolution and why Official launch of the Reclaim Victoria’s re-energised for the challenges he’s hopeful for the planet’s future. Environment Campaign ahead. You’re invited to a free night of RSVP 5:30 Environment Victoria AGM RSVP essential by Friday 12 October. laughs, celebration and community Please let us know if you’re coming by calling (03) 9341 8100 or fill in the RSVP form at power as we gear up to Reclaim environmentvictoria.org.au/rsvp. If you can’t make the AGM, we’d still love to see you at the Victoria’s Environment. celebration! 6:15 pm Environment Celebration Drinks and nibbles will be provided.

WHO’S Chief Executive Officer Kat Gaita and Eva Gaita Database Officer Polly Hughes Kelly O’Shanassy Multicultural Climate Action Project Tony Cox Peter Flanagan Officer Janet Gellie WHO AT CAMPAIGNS & PROGRAMS BOARD Hannah Smith Colleen Guggisberg Campaigns Director President Lance Lessels Mark Wakeham Program Assistant Russell Fisher Bob Michael Ayeesha Cain Cathryn Ryan Healthy Rivers Campaigner Vice-President Communications Manager Les Smith Elizabeth McKinnon Juliet Le Feuvre Alex Merory Sue Noy Talk to us: Healthy Rivers Campaigner Communications Officer Amanda Nuttall Domenica Settle Tom Hartney Phone: (03) 9341 8100 Robyn Murphy Safe Climate Campaigner Email: OPERATIONS Simone Zmood Victoria McKenzie-McHarg Hugh Wareham [email protected] Organisational Services Manager Fax: (03) 9341 8199 Community Campaigner Ivan Kolker Alison Rowe Mick Power Dieter Schadt Accounts Officer PO Box 12575 A/ Sustainable Living Manager Helen Vine REGULAR VOLUNTEERS A’Beckett Street, Victoria, 8006 Charlie Davie Administration Officer Paul Batey Sustainable Living Program Officer Keran Fegan Frank Burden www.environmentvictoria.org.au Nina Bailey John Egan Fundraising Manager Fran Henry HomePlanet Project Officers Amber Sprunt

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