South Australia and ACT to relax water restrictions after heavy winter rains

ABC News

Heavy rain has boosted River Murray water flows according to SA Water, which recorded a staggering influx of 31 giga litres last week. The South Australian Government was able to announce the lifting of the state’s water restrictions will occur on December 1, 2010. South Australia’s desalination plant is expected to open around the same time, following a four month delay.

Good winter rainfall is also allowing the ACT to relax water restrictions this week.

posted by seamas on August 30, 2010 at 7:15 am · filed under

Greens promise residential and commercial water efficiency standards

The Australian Greens

The Australian Greens will be hoping to have more representatives after the federal election to act on their pledge to introduce national mandatory water efficiency standards for residential and commercial buildings. Greens Victorian Senate candidate Richard Di Natale believes the hard work by householders to conserve water needs to be matched with better government regulation that bring all buildings into line.

posted by seamas on August 12, 2010 at 6:09 pm · filed under

Taxpayers could foot 40 per cent of environmental spill bill

The Australian

Treasury officials in an investor teleconference have confirmed that the government would pay 40 per cent of the cost of BP-style environmental disasters in Australia under the government’s proposed resources super-profit tax.  Treasury officials have declined to comment further on the statement.

posted by ruby on June 9, 2010 at 8:45 am · filed under

Cape York challenges High Court on Wild Rivers

The Australian

Indigenous leaders are appealing the April 2009 declaration that three major river systems and their catchment basins in Cape York are “wild rivers”, and therefore subject to legislative control.  The challenge, which alleges that the Queensland government has violated the Racial Discrimination Act and the Native Title Act in the wild river declarations, is funded by the Cape York Land Council.  Opponents say restricting the rivers from commercial development was an electoral deal between the Queensland Labor Party and the Wilderness Society to secure Greens preferences.

posted by ruby on June 9, 2010 at 8:43 am · filed under

Doubts linger over Victorian irrigation scheme

The Age

Victorian Premier John Brumby has been accused of hiding facts about unrealistic water savings proposed in a $1 billion irrigation upgrade that was rejected by state cabinet in 2008 and had to be revised prior to approval last year. Farmers are expressing doubt and concerns about the effectiveness of the State Government’s new irrigation scheme.

posted by seamas on June 7, 2010 at 7:13 am · filed under

Water Minister unclear on climate change

ABC News

WA Water Minister Graham Jacobs admitted yesterday to having occasionally removed the term ‘climate change’ from Department of Water documents, however says his stance has no impact on how he manages the water portfolio.

posted by ruby on June 3, 2010 at 9:46 am · filed under

Murray Darling’s River Red Gums Protected

The Wilderness Society

The Wilderness Society and ten other environment groups have applauded the New South Wales Government for adding 107,000 hectares of new protected areas to create a world class cross-border National Park protecting River Red Gums in the heart of the Murray Darling Basin, and also committing to deliver improved outcomes for traditional owners by designating large Indigenous Protected Areas.

posted by seamas on May 21, 2010 at 7:20 am · filed under