Toxics and pollution news
ABC News
The dredging of Botany Bay, part of a $1bn port expansion in New South Wales has raised concerns about the welfare of the bay. Greens MP Lee Rhiannon has voiced her disapproval, saying dredging could cause tidal changes to occur and potentially rouse toxic sediments from the bottom of the bay, disturbing fish and bird breeding grounds. Ports Minister Joe Tripodi has stated that although there may be unfavourable short term consequences, appropriate precautions will be maintained to ensure minimal environmental impact.
posted by cecie on August 19, 2008 at 7:40 pm · filed under
ABC News
A survey conducted by the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries and Water has detected pesticide contamination in nine out of the fifty-five waterways investigated last month through its program for the monitoring of industrial and agricultural pesticides. The State government is currently seeking public submissions on a new guidelines for ground and aerial pesticide spraying, which could include exlcusion zones around waterways.
posted by ruby on August 13, 2008 at 5:37 pm · filed under
ABC News
A waste clean-up plan has been approved for uranium mining company Marathon Resources, who were found guilty last year of secretly burying 35 tonnes of waste in the Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary in the Flinders Ranges of South Australia.
Whilst Marathon Resources was forced to stop drilling in Arkaroola after their waste was discovered, the company is said to be planning a recommencement of exploration drilling in the area.
posted by megan on August 12, 2008 at 3:18 pm · filed under
| August 25, 2008 | to | August 31, 2008 |
Running from Monday 25 – Sunday 31 August 2008, Keep Australia Beautiful Week encourages Australians to reduce all kinds of waste. Keep Australia Beautiful also recognises efforts to clean up and maintain the natural environment with various awards.
posted by seamas on August 11, 2008 at 4:17 pm · filed under
ABC News
The Australian Workers Union are calling on the Federal Government to provide assurance that there will be no job losses as a result of the implementation of the emissions trading scheme. There are concerns that industries producing aluminium, concrete and LNG will seek to move their operations off-shore where they are not subjected to the higher operational costs that an emissions trading scheme will entail, and that such a move would result in local job losses. The Australian Workers Union is working with the Government to seek ways in which job losses can be avoided whilst working towards a better environment.
posted by steve on August 11, 2008 at 11:16 am · filed under
The Age
Leading ice and snow experts are predicting that the arctic icecap covering the North Pole could disappear altogether during the summer months within five years. Just a few years ago the predictions were that this “melt-out” would not occur before the end of the century, but ongoing observations have resulted in the prediction being brought steadily forward. Historical records show that the Arctic Ocean has not been ice-free at any time in the last 16 million years.
posted by steve on August 4, 2008 at 7:18 am · filed under
ABC News
Airservice Australia are trialling a new air traffic simulator, designed by Canberra-based researchers, which they hope will cut pollution, air noise and costs by actively simulating advanced air conditions. The researchers are hoping that this system might be adopted globally in order to analyse and modify flight-paths to decrease the amount of fuel used and the volume of noise generated. Estimates show that a typical flight from Melbourne to Sydney could have it’s fuel requirements cut by half a tonne, and have its noise reduced by upto 30 per cent in the vicinity of the aircraft.
posted by steve on August 4, 2008 at 6:32 am · filed under
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