Open access. Highlights include a fine for Adani, a Victorian court ruling, and a Queensland financial assurance bill. Jobs include leadership roles with agencies in Victoria and Tasmania.
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Upcoming events:
Clear the air: Australian climate action summit 2020. A February 11 event at Parliament House featuring speakers including Zali Steggall, hosted by the Business Council for Sustainable Development Australia.
Evidence-based community climate action planning. A February 11 one-hour webinar, hosted by Ironbark Sustainability.
ANU climate update. A February 12 event in Canberra, hosted by the Australian National University.
Climate leaders forum. A February 14 morning seminar in Melbourne, hosted by South Pole Group.
The future of gas in Australia. A February 17 lunch event in Melbourne, with speakers from Jemena, AGL and the Australian Gas Infrastructure Group. Hosted by CEDA.
2020 North Australia savanna fire forum. A February 18 event in Darwin, hosted by the Indigenous Carbon Industry Network.
NSW Environment Management Workshop. A February 18 and 19 workshop in Sydney, hosted by the Australian Sustainable Business Group.
Spiralling into the future of our circular economy. A February 25 morning workshop in Melbourne, hosted by the Supply Chain Sustainability School.
Energy investment: Large-scale solar, pumped hydro, and battery storage. A February 25 and 26 trio of conferences in Sydney, hosted by Informa.
Building a circular economy. A February 26 lunch event in Melbourne, featuring Victoria's Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D'Ambrosio. Hosted by CEDA.
Towards a long-term emissions strategy for Australia: Perspectives on scenarios, investment, and industry. A February 26 lunchtime event in Canberra, hosted by the Centre for Climate and Energy Policy, featuring panellists including Erwin Jackson, Tennant Reed and Anna Skarbek.
AEBN national conference: Environment, climate and energy. A March 6 conference in Melbourne, hosted by the Australian Environment Business Network.
Building a sustainable energy economy. A March 11 lunch event in Brisbane, featuring Ross Garnaut and Queensland Energy Minister Anthony Lynham. Hosted by CEDA.
From risk to remediation 2020. A March 23 to 27 contaminated sites conference in Newcastle, hosted by CRC CARE.
Australian hydrogen conference. A March 30 and 31 conference in Melbourne, hosted by Informa.
Wind industry forum 2020. A March 31 conference in Melbourne, hosted by the Clean Energy Council.
Climate and carbon in agriculture. A March 31 and April 1 conference in Adelaide.
The potential of hydrogen. An April 3 lunch event in Sydney, featuring ARENA chief executive Darren Miller.
National sustainability conference. An April 27 and 28 conference in Brisbane, hosted by the Association for Sustainability in Business.
Large-scale solar forum 2020. A May 14 event in Brisbane, hosted by the Clean Energy Council.
PFAS forum. A May 19 forum in Melbourne, hosted by Informa.
National energy efficiency conference. A May 26 to 27 conference in Melbourne, hosted by the Energy Efficiency Council.
Australian clean energy summit. A July 14 and 15 event in Sydney, hosted by the Clean Energy Council.
National:
The federal government has announced that Kimba in South Australia will be the location for a facility to store low-level radioactive waste.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has appointed Nationals MP Keith Pitt, a Paris Agreement critic, as Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia. Footprint premium coverage here.
The Clean Energy Regulator has confirmed it will offer two types of contracts at the next ERF auction on March 25 and 26. Footprint premium coverage here.
Independent MP Zali Steggall will introduce a net-zero climate change Bill to Parliament on March 23. Footprint premium coverage here.
Environment Minister Sussan Ley has put battery manufacturers on notice that they will be forced to join a product stewardship scheme if they refuse to participate voluntarily. Footprint premium coverage here.
The full terms of the agreement between the federal and NSW governments on energy and emissions deal are now available. Footprint premium coverage here.
The federal, state and territory governments will this year develop a draft regulatory impact statement for a proposed strengthening of efficiency standards for electric motors. Footprint premium coverage here.
Australia's natural history museum directors have jointly warned that the impact of the bushfires on biodiversity has been on a scale not seen since species records were first kept.
More than 400 scientists with research expertise in climate, fire and weather science have signed an open letter on the scientific basis for linking climate change to the bushfires.
ARENA has released its submission to a parliamentary inquiry into innovative waste and recycling technologies.
The federal government has tabled its response to a Senate question about PFAS blood and genetic testing.
Have your say!: Comment closes February 28 on proposed amendments to the ERF legislative rule that would make it easier to transfer ERF projects from one owner to another.
Award opportunity: Nominations must be submitted by March 16 for the national energy efficiency awards, with winners in the 12 categories announced May 26.
Award opportunity: The Australian Council of Superannuation Investors has invited nominations by March 3 for the Michael O'Sullivan ESG rising star award.
Have your say – last chance!: The Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee is reviewing the ERF method that allows carbon credits to be created by treating municipal waste by composting, anaerobic digestion, and conversion to engineered fuel. Comments are due by February 17.
Have your say!: Comment closes February 28 on proposed new approval procedures intended specifically for offshore clean energy projects. Footprint premium coverage here.
Have your say!: The federal government has released a draft Bill to establish a nationally consistent approach for managing the environmental risks of industrial chemicals, with comments due by February 21. Footprint premium coverage here.
Have your say – last chance!: The Department of Environment and Energy is reviewing Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative – Alternative Waste Treatment) Methodology Determination 2015, with comments due by February 17.
Have your say!: Submissions on the EPBC Act review discussion paper are due by April 17. Footprint premium coverage here.
Grant opportunity: The federal government is inviting applications by February 28 for round-two grants of up to $500,000 under its Our Marine Parks grants program.
Have your say – last chance!: Nominations will be accepted until February 14 for new National Heritage listings.
Have your say – last chance!: Comment closes February 14 on a Department of Environment and Energy draft guide to protected species affected by paddock tree removal.
Queensland:
Court ruling: Brisbane Magistrates Court today fined Adani Mining Pty Ltd $20,000 for providing false or misleading information in its annual return about clearing on the site of the proposed mine. Adani pleaded guilty and no conviction was recorded.
The state government has introduced a Bill to strengthen its financial assurance regime for resource projects. Footprint premium coverage here.
Grant opportunity: Applications are now being accepted for a share in $100 million to support land-based carbon abatement projects, offered through the Land Restoration Fund. The government is also offering rebates for project advice. Footprint premium coverage here.
Have your say – last chance!: Comment closes February 10 on proposed changes to regulatory arrangements for local government's management of waste.
NSW:
Have your say!: The state government is consulting on whether changes are needed to a 2016 law that created new offences for protesting on mine and gas production sites. Comments are due by March 1.
The state government has released the report of a review of the Independent Planning Commission and has endorsed all its recommendations. Footprint premium coverage here.
NSW had 115 days of hazardous air quality in 2019, almost double the 59 hazardous days that occurred in 2018, according to the state's annual air quality statement, released yesterday. Footprint premium coverage here.
Have your say!: Comment closes February 21 on an application by Jemena Gas Networks to conduct a five-year trial injecting green hydrogen into gas pipelines at a western Sydney site.
Have your say!: Comment closes February 14 on an application by EnergyAustralia and Re Group to use refuse-derived fuel at the Mt Piper power station, as a supplement to coal.
Have your say!: the EPA has combined several pre-existing guides on the powers of authorised officers into a single guideline, and is seeking feedback by March 13.
A state parliamentary inquiry into NSW's koala population and habitat will hold two public hearings in February.
ACT:
- Grant opportunity: The Territory government is inviting applications by February 29 under its Renewable Energy Innovation Fund direct grants program, which provides early-stage funding for new and emerging technologies and ventures.
Victoria:
Court ruling: The impact of Victoria's bushfires on threatened species might justify applying the precautionary principle in a more expansive way, the state's Supreme Court has ruled. Footprint premium coverage here.
Ahead of the July start of new environmental legislation, the EPA has released a self-assessment tool for small business on managing the risks of causing harm to people and the environment.
The EPA has stripped Glass Recovery Services of its licence after "repeated failure" to comply with licence conditions at its recycling site in the Melbourne suburb of Coolaroo. The site hasn't accepted waste since last April, but the move aims to prevent future stockpiling.
The Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning is investigating the discovery of dead, injured and starving koalas on the site of a former eucalypt plantation near Portland. Footprint premium coverage here.
The Essential Services Commission has released new quarterly statistics on the performance of the Victorian Energy upgrades program.
Have your say!: The state government is consulting on its public engagement framework.
Have your say!: Melbourne's Bayside City Council is seeking comment by March 27 on a proposed climate emergency plan.
South Australia:
All Adelaide City Council operations will be powered by renewable electricity from July 1 under a contract signed with energy company Flow Power. Footprint premium coverage here.
The state government has provided funding to help support research into producing producing a methane-suppressing livestock fodder supplement from a type of red seaweed found offshore from South Australia and New Zealand.
The Essential Services Commission is considering an application from Precision Group Pty Ltd to operate a 883kW solar PV plant at its Port Adelaide shopping complex.
Western Australia:
Former High Court Judge Robert French has delivered a speech on climate change litigation to the WA Law Council.
The state government says the total costs of water-carting to drought-affected communities could exceed $11 million over the period from January 2019 to June 2020, due to unprecedented low rainfall.
Award opportunity: The WA Waste Authority is inviting nominations by March 10 for the 2020 Infinity waste awards.
Have your say – last chance!: Comment closes February 10 on a Department of Water and Environmental Regulation issues paper on native vegetation.
Have your say!: Comments are due by February 16 on stakeholder engagement for fracking activities.
Northern Territory:
- The EPA is inviting comment by March 6 on rehabilitation proposals for the former Rum Jungle mine site.
Jobs and appointments:
The Tasmanian government is recruiting a new secretary for the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment.
The Victorian government is recruiting a chairperson for Sustainability Victoria, and board members for the EPA.
The NSW government is inviting nominations to join the NSW Coastal Council, with applications closing on February 26.
The WA Department of Transport is recruiting a maritime environmental emergency response division commander ($88,047 - $96,994).
The NSW Department of Planning, Industry & Environment is recruiting a principal legal officer for its environment and energy team ($129,360 to $150,647) and a senior legal officer ($118,507 to $126,843).
TAFE NSW is seeking a Sydney-based sustainability and environmental specialist.
AECOM is hiring a sustainability and resilience consultant.
Fulton Hogan is recruiting a senior environmental and sustainability advisor.
CS Energy is hiring a Brisbane-based environmental specialist.
Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines has a vacancy for an environment advisor.
