Archive for August, 2007
Event - Announcing the Sustainable Cities Round Table/ Future Melbourne forum, 12 September
Posted in Events, Models, Policies, Research, Sustainable Cities Round Tables by Ferne Edwards on August 20th, 2007
Announcing the Sustainable Cities Round Table - 12 September!
The goal of the Sustainable Cities Round Table is to enhance collaboration between key stakeholders in urban sustainability while brainstorming new ideas and connections to further sustainability within Melbourne. This next Sustainable Cities Round Table has a focus on urban water issues and will be held in collaboration with the University of Melbourne and the City of Melbourne as part of the Future Melbourne forums.
Speakers include:
Dr Rebekah Brown, Program Leader - National Urban Water Governance Program, School of Geography and Environmental Science, Monash University;
Dr Grace Mitchell, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Sustainable Water Resources, Monash University;
Ms Mary Crooks, Executive Director of the Victorian Women’s Trust & Project Director, Watermark Australia project;
Ms Sheridan Blunt, Sustainable Water Program Coordinator, City of Melbourne;
Mr Chris Chesterfield, Melbourne Water;
Mr Mike Hill, Director and part proprietor, WestWyck Pty Ltd.
The details for the event are:
When: 5 - 7pm, Wednesday 12 September
Where: Yasuko Hiraoko Room, Sidney Myer Asia Centre, University of Melbourne (Swanston Street)
To attend this event, please email Ferne Edwards at fedwards @unimelb.edu.au for an invitation. Seats are limited.
Films of previous Sustainable Cities Round Tables are available by clicking on the “Sustainable Cities Round Table” tag at the top of www.SustainableMelbourne.com.
Event - DHS national conference on Climate Change and Human Health, 16 & 17 October
Posted in Events, Policies, Research by Ferne Edwards on August 17th, 2007
The Victorian Department of Human Services is hosting a national conference on Climate Change and Human Health on 16 & 17 October. Attached is the registration brochure for this conference to download. climate-change-human-health-2007-registration1.pdf
Resource - Melbourne University Up Close Podcast - Genetically modified (GM) crops: the wheat from the chaff
Posted in Policies, Research by Ferne Edwards on August 17th, 2007
Episode 20: Genetically modified (GM) crops: the wheat from the chaff
Professor Rick Roush examines the realities and myths around Genetically Modified (GM) or transgenic Crops. With Dr Shane Huntington.
Visit the University of Melbourne website, http://upclose.unimelb.edu.au/, to download and listen to this conversation. The transcript is also available.
Duration: 26 min 43 sec
Format: MP3
Event - Future Melbourne forum with the Global Cities Institute, 21 August
Posted in Events, Policies, Research, Visions by Ferne Edwards on August 17th, 2007
Future Melbourne - Melbourne’s global identity and the future: where in the world are we? How do you think Melbourne rates as a global city? Join the panelists and help unravel the challenges of ‘going global’ at this free public event.
Moderator - Peter Mares - Presenter, ABC Radio National
Robyn Archer AO - Singer, Writer and Artistic Director
Paul James - Director, Global Cities Institute, RMIT University
Ben Foskett - CEO, Invest Victoria
Ian Jarman - CEO, Spring Worldwide Ltd
When: Tuesday, 21 August, 6pm to 7.30pm
Where: BMW Edge, Federation Square
Registration: Visit www.futuremelbourne.com.au or call (03) 9658 9658.
A Future Melbourne forum presented by the City of Melbourne and University of Melbourne in conjunction with RMIT University’s Global Cities Institute and the City of Melbourne’s Melbourne Conversations series. Future Melbourne is a process to develop a shared vision for the city, guiding our development during the next decade and beyond. For details, or to share your views online, visit www.futuremelbourne.com.au.
Event - Deadline for Applications for the Sustainability Fund
Posted in Events by Ferne Edwards on August 16th, 2007
Do you have a project that will help Victorians take action on sustainability?
The Victorian Government’s Sustainability Fund, managed by Sustainability Victoria, provides funding for projects that drive more sustainable resource use in Victoria. Since 2004, the Fund has provided a total of $42 million to support 82 innovative projects that demonstrate measurable outcomes for a more sustainable Victoria.
Round Three of the Sustainability Fund is now open and will close on Friday, 28 September 2007 at 4.00 PM.
The Fund’s priority is to support projects that help to mainstream sustainable behaviours and action, promote innovation or best practice in resource use and investigate and develop strategic tools, markets and analysis of sustainability trends.
Sustainability Fund Information Sessions
A series of information sessions will be held across Victoria in August to provide further information about the application process and the opportunity to hear from projects currently supported by the Sustainability Fund - details of dates and locations in the attached flyer.sfund_info_sessions.pdf
How to Apply
Before applying please review the criteria in the application kit to assess your project’s eligibility. Applications must be submitted via the application form – available from the website. Please note – faxed or emailed applications will not be accepted. To obtain a copy of the application kit visit: www.sustainability.vic.gov.au
Further information and to RSVP for an Information Session
To reserve your seat for an information session or to find out more about the Sustainability Fund call 1300 363 744 or email: sustainabilityfund @sustainability.vic.gov.au.
Comment - Public transport in Melbourne, Transport Newsletter #26
Posted in Policies by Ferne Edwards on August 15th, 2007
By guest author, Stephen Ingrouille, Principal, Going Solar
Reproduced with permission from Transport Newsletter #26, www.goingsolar.com.au/transport
Public Transport in Melbourne
“I’m not for one minute asking people to put up with this for a long period of time but I would ask them to persevere … to allow us put the changes in place.” [Ref: The Age 27/7/07]
Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky on over-crowding. In Victoria we have the backbone of a good transit system but we just seem to lack the will to make it an excellent system. Why is there this intransigence? Hardly a day goes by without someone commenting on mismatching services. A speaker at a recent forum on German tram systems, in answer to a question, stated that two buses and two trams typically arrive at the same spot at the same time and exchange passengers before moving on. His answer was so matter-of fact that one shivers when we consider the misconnections in our city. And shiver I did while waiting 30 minutes at Glenferrie Station for a train into the city and then 17 minutes
for a connecting tram to South Melbourne Beach. Are thirty minute gaps on a main line in the mid evening really appropriate?
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Event - Permaculture Garden Short Course
Posted in Events, Movements by tess t on August 14th, 2007
Permaculture is a design system for sustainable land use. It offers an integrated approach to designing ecosystems with diversity and sustainability. Dr. David Suzuki, renowned environmental scientist, stated: “What permaculturalists are doing is the most important activity that any group is doing on the planet. “Learn how to turn a damaged landscape into a plentiful and beautiful food garden. Taught by internationally recognised permaculture teachers from the Southern Cross Permaculture Institute. This four day course provides an introduction to permaculture and the basics of permaculture design, as well as hands on application of permaculture practices in a community garden. Requirements: notebook, comfortable work clothes, gardening gloves.
072PERM: Saturdays & Sundays 9.30am - 5.00pm, 4 sessions, Aug. 25, 26, Sept. 8 & 9
Community Card $270, Concession $280, Other $290
http://www.shortcourses.monash.edu.au/diy.html
Event - Environmental Jobs Network Green Drinks, 16 August
Posted in Events by Ferne Edwards on August 14th, 2007
EJN presents GreenDrinks
The Environmental Jobs Network is pleased to announce that the August GreenDrinks will be co-hosted with the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ) to launch their newly formed Students & Young Professionals Committee - EIANZ SYPC!
So come along and get to know EJN and EIANZ as well as a range of different people working, volunteering and studying in the environmental field.
August drinks will be held on Thursday 16 August from 6-8pm at Pugg Mahones in Melbourne - 106-112 Hardware St, Melbourne - www.puggs.com.au.
Review - DOI on DDA - Transport Newsletter #26
Posted in Policies by Ferne Edwards on August 13th, 2007
By guest author, Stephen Ingrouille, Principal, Going Solar
Reproduced with permission from Transport Newsletter #26, www.goingsolar.com.au/transport
DOI on DDA
Congratulations to Victoria’s Department of Infrastructure (DOI) for organising an excellent one day forum on accessible public transport. There were many stories relating to the success of local (often voluntary) community transport and demand-responsive (tele-) buses as well as the much more contentious lack of appropriate transit for those using wheelchairs. Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) compliance is a starting point but what is clear is the need for better systems to stop people becoming isolated in their homes or stranded in the streets.
Earlier this year my parents, both in their 80’s, were in town. Try moving two elderly people on our transit system and then you start to realise the difficulties, and the importance of good planning. One thing that came from the conference that I had not realised is that elderly people fear falling on trams which deters their patronage.
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Local Action - Applications Open for Sustainable Living Festival 2008
Posted in Events by Ferne Edwards on August 10th, 2007
It is with great pleasure that we announce the opening of applications for presenters at the Sustainable Living Festival 2008. There’s plenty of ways to be part of the Festival program. Organisations and individuals are invited to raise awareness about their message by
hosting talks and interactive workshops at various stages across the Festival. The Festival is also an attractive vehicle for artists, musicians, roving performers and filmmakers to profile their work and make the event come alive.
Go to the SLF website for full application details: http://www.slf.org.au/festival/participate/presenters