Audit of the Roads to recovery Program

The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) released the report of the audit of the Roads to Recovery Program that commenced in July 2005 and the AusLink R2R Supplementary Program on 22 April.

Under these Programs a total of $1.537 billion was paid to 720 local government authorities. The audit involved the examination of the use of, and accountability for, R2R funds by a representative sample of 41 councils from 4 state and territories. This represented almost six per cent of all funding recipients and eleven of total funding provided under the program. The audit made a number of adverse finding regarding the administration of the Program by both councils and the Federal Department about signs, reporting of projects and the timely expenditure of R2R funds. The most serious finding however relates to the maintenance of own source funding roads expenditure.

The audit found that the reporting by local government authorities of their own source expenditure has been error prone and has been inconsistent with other reporting on local road expenditure. It found that each year up to nine per cent of councils reported that they had not met the expenditure maintenance requirements despite easier reporting requirements from the department. The Departments administration of the reported under expenditure by councils has also drawn criticism as being to lax.

The ANAO made four recommendations including the following regarding the maintenance of expenditure requirement.

ANAO recommends that, given the importance to both the Roads to Recovery and Strategic Regional Programs of Local Government Authorities maintaining their own level of expenditure on roads, the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government:

1. obtain greater assurance over the accuracy of own source roads expenditure reported to it by Local Government Authorities by requiring these figures to be included in the scope of the Audit Certificate included with each Authorities' Annual Report on the use of program funds; and
2. develop a more effective range of sanctions to apply in circumstances where own source expenditure has not been maintained, with a particular focus on those Local Government Authorities that frequently fail to maintain their annual expenditure and/or that do not make up shortfalls in later years.

The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government has agreed to all the recommendations. At this time it is not known how the Department will implement the recommendations.

The full Audit report can be found here.

Overseas Trip Opens Window on ADF Reserves

Heading towards the end of his four month deployment to the Solomon Islands with the Australian Army, the first familiar face Greater Taree City Council employee, John Connell, saw recently was that of his boss, Ian Potter.

An invitation to see how Army Reservists operate on deployment saw Ian head to the Solomon Islands recently as part of Exercise Boss Lift.

Conducted by the Department of Defence's Cadet, Reserve and Employer Support Division (CRESD), Exercise Boss Lift allows employers to experience first hand their civilian employee's Reserve role and duties while deployed overseas.

Ian joined 17 other employers to travel to the Solomon Islands for a four day visit to the Combined Task Force 635 Rotation 19 - the Australian Defence Force contribution to the Regional Assistance Mission Solomon Islands (RAMSI).

"This experience has been an eye opener to me - it really has," said Ian, who is the Manager of Engineering Support.

"Seeing the good work that is being done by our Reservists and the civil stability of the Solomon Islands is quite amazing."

Ian's Reserve employee is John Connell, a Staff Sergeant in the Army Reserve, who works in the Trade Services area at the Council where he is responsible for most of the administration work for the trade personnel and after nearly six months away from the civilian workplace, Ian can notice positive differences in his employee.

"Looking at John, I can see the changes in him," Ian said.

"He has always been organised and efficient within the Trade Services area before leaving for the Solomon's, after visiting him I would say that he has developed a greater level of organisational ability in his job here in the Solomon Islands.

"You can really notice a positive change in him."

Ian said there was no doubt to him that the skills John learnt as a Reservist applies strongly in the civilian workplace.

"John has been in the Reserves for 29 years and his work ethic, punctuality, and organisational skills make him a valuable employee."

During the four days Ian participated in battlefield tours, shot on the range under the tutelage of Staff Sergeant Connell, visited schools with the Army and toured Honiara in conjunction with 16 other employers and industry leaders.

"I found visiting some of the memorials around the place amazing, causing me to reflect on what the soldiers must have experienced back in the Second World War, a very sobering experience. The schools we visited left a lasting imprecation on me," Ian said.

Ian's employer, the Greater Taree City Council, donated a quantity of children's books from the Taree Library to a local school with Ian making the presentation, and Ian is hoping to continue with the support of Greater Taree City Council this type of work.

In relation to civilian employer support for Reservists, Ian is quite straightforward in his view.

"You've got to support them - show that support and as an employer, you will see the benefits in the workplace.

"And when you see the work they're doing in places like this and how grateful the locals are, there is an element of pride as an employer in that it is my Reservist who is making such a valuable contribution."

For further information on Exercise Boss Lift and support for employers - click here.

CAPTION: Taree Council engineering support manager Ian Potter, left, sights the F88 Austeyr under the watchful supervision of his civilian employee Staff Sergeant John Connell.

Beechworth wins

Beechworth, in Victoria, was announced the Overall Winner of the Keep Australia Beautiful/Tidy Towns awards for 2009-2010 at Government House last Friday. Beechworth also won the Dame Phyllis Frost Litter Prevention award and the Energy Innovation award, as well as receiving a commendation in the Heritage and Culture category award.

The national judge, Dick Olesinski, complimented Beechworth's diverse range of projects and said that the Tidy Town committee, Indigo Shire and the community as a whole had a strong sense of commitment and pride, and that their initiatives would ensure a sustainable future.

Beechworth and the Indigo Shire Council participated in the Cities for Climate Protection Program, which helps local governments and their communities cut greenhouse gas emissions. The town's Sustainability Group holds regular workshops on new ways to conserve energy by educating residents about how to reduce home energy use. The town also has a variety of litter reduction approaches.

Don Chambers, Chairman of Keep Australia Beautiful and former Mayor and Councillor of Indigo Shire, noted: "These awards celebrate the achievements of local communities which includes volunteers, businesses, council employees and elected officials. It was wonderful to see the mayors of all seven national finalists attend the Australian Tidy Towns Awards. We are hoping to see all the mayors at next year's event and challenge the state and federal MP's for these communities to do the same. They can help take our message to state, territory and national governments where the hard work of our volunteers can be rewarded by more practical support for their projects."

The awards are sponsored by Grundfos Pumps, the Hungry jack's 'Bag it & Bin it' program and Navman. Representatives accepted the awards at Canberra's Government House last Friday. Pictured are: back row left to right - Joanna Meyer (Program Manager, Keep Australia Beautiful VIC), Anita Roper (CEO, Sustainability Victoria), Adam Wynne-Jenkins; Sharon Wynn-Jenkins; Grieg Daley-Lovett & Lyn Daley-Lovett (Beechworth Re-enactment group), Joan Simms OAM (Beechworth Oration).

Front row - far left, Mayor Bernard Gaffney (Indigo Shire Council), 2nd from left, Don Chambers (KABNA chair), Jill Jarvis-Wills (Beechworth Tidy Towns Committee), to the left of certificate holder is the The Administrator, Dr Ken Michael AC, certificate holder, Anne Wilson (Indigo Shire Council), to the right is Iris Mannick (Beechworth Tidy Towns Committee) far right, Cr Barb Murdoch (Indigo Shire Council).

Roads to Recovery Audit

The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) released the audit of the Roads to Recovery (R2R) program on 22 April (see separate story).

The findings of the Audit make some disturbing reading for local government. The audit found that some 9% of councils were not meeting the requirement that they maintain expenditure on roads from their own sources. It also found that councils were not able to spend their R2R allocation and that around one-half of all local government authorities were in "catch-up" mode in the final year of the program.

Audit findings of this nature, of course, make a good headline. The Australian Financial Review had the headline "Councils rort road spending by $1.3bn".

The reality is that local government has, on the whole, been very good at abiding by the rules that the Federal Government sets for the R2R and other funding Programs. Even using the ANAO's own figures, 91% of all councils met the maintenance of expenditure requirements. That is a good result and when the ANAO report is read closely it is acknowledged that those that didn't had particular problems that were accepted by the administrators in the Department.

Unfortunately it is the headlines that are remembered.

The ANAO Report is a timely reminder that we are always under close scrutiny and it is in the sector's own best interests to fully meet all the requirements of funding programs even if at times they seem unrealistically onerous.

The R2R program and its administrative arrangements which bypass the states and recognise that councils are best placed to make local investment decisions have been extremely popular. R2R is the program that we always point to as the administrative model we favour for federal funding programs.

For those councils that may be having difficulties with the R2R requirements, I urge you to do all in your power to meet the requirements and not spoil local government's good reputation with the federal government on program delivery.

Roads Study

The R2R program has now been in place for 10 years and by the time of its conclusion in 2014 over $4 billion will have been provided for local roads. That is a lot of money, yet we know anecdotally, a lot more needs to be done. As a result the ALGA Board recently decide to undertake a study into the needs of local roads.

ALGA has engaged Jeff Roorda & Associates to undertake the study with a view to reporting the findings to the Roads and Transport Congress in Bunbury (6-8 October 2010). The findings will be used to make the case to the federal government for continuation of the R2R program beyond 2014 at increased levels of funding.

To make the case to the federal government we need good, solid data on the deficiencies in local roads. The only source of that data is of course councils. This means that over the coming weeks a sample of councils will be approached for information.

The better the quality of our data, the stronger the case that we can make for improved road funding.

More details of the study will be announced in ALGA News over the coming weeks.

Cr Geoff Lake
ALGA President

Briefs

Call for nomiations - closing date for nomination extended

Australia Award for Urban Design - nominations close 5 May 2010

Closing for Nominations for the 2010 Australia Award for Urban Design has been extended to 5 May 2010. This is your opportunity to highlight leading examples of urban design in Australia.

Have you been involved in a recent project demonstrating excellence and innovation in all elements of urban design?

Are you aware of recent Australian urban design initiatives, projects or developments that deserve national recognition?

The Australia Award for Urban Design was created by the Taskforce and was first awarded in 1996. The Award was established to recognise recent urban design projects of high quality in Australia and to encourage cities, towns and emerging settlements of all sizes to strive similarly for improvement. It acknowledges the critical role of good urban design in the development of our cities and towns.

The Australia Award for Urban Design is hosted by the Planning Institute of Australia, with support from the Australian Institute of Architects, Property Council of Australia, Green Building Council of Australia, Consult Australia and the Urban Design Forum.

The nomination form is available here. Nominations close 5 May 2010.

Tickets for the AAUD dinner and awards presentation are available through www.bemp.com.au.

For more information please contact Planning Institute Australia:
Phone 02 6262 5933
Email marketing@planning.org.au

The AAUD is proudly sponsored by Think Brick Australia.

ATUG 2010 National Regional Roadshow

ATUG is keen to use the Roadshow events to update communities on progress with the Government's NBN Policies and Network Deployment and on the support available for consumers and to focus on the way individuals, communities, businesses and government agencies can use advanced communications services to bring better outcomes to people in Regional Australia.

The history of ATUG'S focused effort to improve regional communications goes back to 2003, a time when the Broadband Advisory Group had finished its 12 month deliberations about broadband. At the completion of the 2009 Roadshow the total number of regional centres visited from the first pilot in late 2003 held in Dubbo was 85, travelling in total 126,573 kilometres and speaking with nearly 7,000 people at events and in informal discussion.

ATUG's 2010 Regional Roadshow objectives include:

• To inform and educate regional users and their representative organisations about communications issues and programs
• To identify issues of interest to regional users of communications services through workshop discussions with relevant stakeholders
• To foster industry awareness of communications issues of relevance to regional broadband users
• To ensure government and industry policy developments are understood by regional broadband users

For more information and an opportunity to participate as a stakeholder please email Elizabeth.lawler@atug.org.au.

Association welcomes new Minister for Local Government

Bryan Green was recently appointed to the Local Government portfolio in Tasmania. The President of the Local Government Association, Cr Barry Easther, commented on Mr Green's no-nonsense attitude to getting things done, saying that he was experienced and had a close affiliation with local government during his previous infrastructure portfolio.

Cr Easther stated: "Planning reform implementation is a significant undertaking and it is important that the Minister responsible has a good handle on not only the desired outcomes, but the issues associated with implementation and managing the expectations of the community and the business sector. We don't underestimate the Minister's likely desire to stamp his own mark on the sector," he concluded, "but we look forward to working closely with Minister Green in his new role and are confident that the relationship will be a solid one built on sound foundations."

Protection of coastal environment

Councillors have taken a giant step towards protecting the Sunshine Coast's unique environment for future generations by adopting the Sunshine Coast Biodiversity Strategy 2010-2020, which will be used to guide the council's environmental programs and biodiversity conservation over the next decade, reports the Noosa Journal recently.

Environmental portfolio councilor, Keryn Jones, said that the strategy would lead the way towards protecting, enhancing and connecting the Coast's natural assets. The council reviewed the submissions received on the draft biodiversity strategy during the Our Place Our Future consultation last year, and most of the feedback strongly agreed with the strategy's vision.

"The feedback highlighted concerns about the effect of population growth and development on the environment, and supported the need for council to facilitate community partnerships and involvement, and co-ordinate pest management. The actions, many of which are only made possible due to the environment levy, will focus on building green infrastructure across the landscape and we are already well on the way," said Cr Jones.

Over a five-year period, until 2014, the council has allocated $19.6 million to buy environmentally significant land for future generations to enjoy. Four properties have been bought so far and the council is close to buying two more.

Ipswich jobs

A campaign to create 1,000 local jobs in Ipswich was endorsed by Ipswich City Council recently, reported the Ipswich Advertiser on 21 April. Mayor Paul Pisasale said that the 1,000 jobs campaign aimed to deliver a unified, local response to unemployment by encouraging employers to look at every avenue possible to create new jobs.

He said: "The 1,000 Local Jobs Campaign is a collaborative initiative, involving three levels of government, recruitment agencies, Job Services Australia, apprenticeship organisations, local media, local employers and the local employment co-ordinator committed to its successful implementation."

Cr Pisasale commented on the project's potential to provide a case study for industry and all levels of government. "The model provides streamlined and tailored recruitment and pre-employment preparation for employers to engage quality, work-ready candidates without permanent recruitment charges," he said.

Put that dog on a leash!

According to the Dog Attack Register, the attack figures keep rising. There were 1,122 dog attacks in New South Wales between January and March, which represents an increase of 41 per cent compared with the previous three months. Local Government Minister, Barbara Perry, has warned dog owners to keep their animals under control.

Recent figures establish the Staffordshire bull terrier as top of the list of aggressive breeds, followed by the Australian cattle dog and the German shepherd. Until recently, Blacktown council recorded the highest number of attacks in New South Wales. Before that, it was Cessnock. Now, according to Alex Easton in Wednesday's Northern Star, it's Byron Shire.

Byron Bay Veterinary Clinic vet Rowen Trevor-Jones said dogs that attacked people and other dogs often did so because they were poorly socialised. A spokeswoman for Local Government Minister Barbara Perry said that under The Companion Animals Act, the owner of an attacking dog was not only exposed to criminal prosecution, including fines of up to $55,000 or two years' jail, but was liable in damages for any injury or loss occurring as a result of an attack.

Meanwhile, new laws proposed by the New South Wales state government would allow cafe and restaurant owners to use their discretion about letting dogs in their open-air eating areas. If dogs are allowed, they would have to be on a leash, sit on the ground, and not be fed.

The issue gained much attention last year when Mosman Council in Sydney's north received complaints from a few residents about dogs in local cafes. Local Government Minister Barbara Perry said that the legislation reflected NSW's changing lifestyles, and that people should be able to sit down with their dog at an outdoor cafe and enjoy a coffee.

Ms Perry said the legislation has the support of cafe and restaurant owners, the Local Government and Shires Association of NSW, the NSW Food Authority and the NSW Department of Health. The legislation is expected to become law before June, and dogs will still not be allowed within 10 metres of food preparation areas.

Methane heats Mill Park pool

Methane is being tapped from Sycamore Reserve in Mill Park, which was previously a landfill site, and piped more than 2km to the Mill Park Leisure Centre's swimming pool leisure centre. According to the Whittelsea Leader, the concept is similar to that of bioreactors. There are modern day tips that collect and utilise greenhouse gases for commercial use.

Whittlesea East Ward councillor Sam Alessi said it was a perfect example of waste to energy transformation. "The whole idea is to ensure that this methane is utilised, whether it's heating a pool, as it is at Mill Park, or going back into the electricity grid, as long as the greenhouse gases are used as a resource and not polluting the atmosphere," he said.

The Sycamore tip operated from 1984 until 1990 before Whittlesea Council upgraded the site into a gas co-generation facility in 1996. Now there are 17 gas extraction wells, all 10 metres deep and connected by underground pipes.

"Rehabilitation of the site involved the construction of the parkland reserve, including two sports ovals, re-vegetation, strategic planting, construction of walking tracks and development of sporting facilities," Cr Alessi said.

Gas from the Wollert landfill site is also tapped and put into the city's electricity grid. Divisional manager Sam Bateman, from Hanson Landfill Services which operates the Wollert site, said that 90 per cent of the landfill's gas was used to generate electricity.

Community engagement

Brisbane, Ipswich and Logan City councils recognise the importance of truly engaging with their communities, and have been named in the top 14 Queensland councils for community engagement. Minister for Local Government, Desley Boyle, said that the data showed Queensland councils recognised the value of communication, with 90 per cent reporting they used a range of methods to keep ratepayers informed.

According to the Satellite newspaper, the three Mayors had varied ways of actively engaging with their communities. Paul Pisasale, Mayor of Ipswich, stated: "Twice a year council conducts its monthly ordinary council meetings at night in the suburbs to give community members unable to attend daytime meetings the opportunity to see council in action."

Twice a year council delivers a newsletter to all Ipswich residents to ensure they are well informed about all aspects of council's programs and services. Ipswich City Council also has a standing committee devoted to community engagement. This sets the agenda for a whole of council approach to engage all levels of the community. New initiatives to keep residents informed include any changes to council services; road upgrades; health programs and services; waste education information; library activities; tourism initiatives and services; development approvals; environmental programs and recreational options.

Pam Parker, Mayor of Logan, said that Council saw a need to establish a dedicated community engagement program to stay in touch with the city's increasing number of residents and the council?s large staff. She said that community engagement is about putting the human factor into council decisions and activities.

Logan City Council's Corporate Plan 2009-2013 expands on legislative requirements and states that council strives to "develop and implement initiatives that will encourage the community to become more actively involved in issues that may affect them."

Campbell Newman, the Lord Mayor of Brisbane, has a vision "to transform Brisbane into Australia's most liveable city and community consultation allows residents to have their say on how we go about that. Brisbane City Council carries out community consultation for a range of projects, such as: neighbourhood planning projects, road projects and road works, public and active transport projects like bikeway projects, community projects and master planning, the building and naming of parks."

Western Downs recycling success

A new recycling trial at the Dalby landfill site has been deemed a success by the Western Downs Regional Council, and will now continue on a permanent basis.

Happy with the response from residents over the trial period, the council has confirmed that the recycling initiative will be part of a continual improvement program underway at the landfill. "The trial indicated that there is a need for the service in Dalby, given the amount of green waste collected and mulch produced to date," Spokesperson for Environment and Health Councillor George Moore said.

Recycling decreases the amount of waste that ends up in the landfill site, improves the site's carbon footprint and significantly reduces the amount of gas emissions. From May to December, residents helped to produce 704 cubic meters of mulch. This mulch is being used in rehabilitating landfill sites and for council parks and gardens.

A similar trial in Chinchilla is being investigated, while Council is searching for other possible alternative locations for future green waste recycling trials across the region. The program is free for residents, however, a commercial waste disposal fee will apply to business operators.

Biodynamic winery on solar power

A Bungendore winery has become the first in the Canberra district to embrace solar power, reports Ben Houston in the Canberra Times. The Lark Hill Winery, the only one in the district that produces biodynamic wine, aims to produce more electricity than it uses, allowing it to pump power back into the local network. David Carpenter, who operates the winery in partnership with wife Susan and son Christopher, said that installing the solar panels was part of a broader environmental philosophy.

"It's an attitude that we espouse which is to do with sustainability, to do with minimising our carbon footprint, to do with reducing input," Dr Carpenter said.

The 56 solar panels costing about $55,000 but made viable through a NSW Government feed-in tariff were installed in February. Wiring and testing were completed yesterday ahead of the system being handed over to power company Country Energy for its approval.

Dr Carpenter, whose background is in physics, said there were times when the 25ha winery, located 6km west of Bungendore, used a lot of electricity, particularly for refrigeration. "As global warming hits, we inevitably will have earlier vintages and that means in warmer times of the year refrigeration will become more important."

Climate change was, in fact, already having an impact. "You give me an alternative reason why we, as a nation of grape growers, find ourselves picking grapes earlier and earlier."

Lark Hill at which riesling, chardonnay, gruner vetliner, pinot noir and sauvignon blanc grapes are grown started this year's harvest in mid-March and continued it through to early April. Dr Carpenter said there were several reasons behind Lark Hill's decision to shift into biodynamic wine production seven years ago. Biodynamic wine producers embrace farming principles developed by Austrian philosopher, Rudolf Steiner. The philosophy takes a whole-of-farm approach and involves winemakers "being in tune with nature".

Carpenter said: "You can't go on just pouring toxic spray and fertilisers on the land and get away with it. At some point the land will throw it back at you. And it's bad for people, it's bad for vines."

Urban orchards

Imagine nature strips lined with plum, apple and pear trees instead of asphalt and dying grass, the Frankston Standard/Hastings Leader reported on 26 April. Urban orchards involve volunteer residents and community groups planting and managing fruit and nut-bearing trees, shrubs and vines in public areas, including schools, community gardens, public housing developments and along railway lines.

Using public spaces to grow fruit trees is nothing new, with cities from New York to London getting involved. Now the grassroots movement is gaining momentum in Australia.

Transition Town Boroondara founder Razia Ross said interest in urban food growing was skyrocketing as people learnt more about climate change, decreasing fossil fuels and the importance of "food miles".

Ms Ross said urban orchards allowed people in built-up areas to grow healthy food, "green" spaces and improve community food security. "We've really got to start producing our own food. It's a great idea; people can go there and take what they need."

Ms Ross urged anyone interested in setting up an urban orchard to contact their council.

Have your say on councillors' salary

Ratepayers are being asked how much their councillors should be paid. The independent Remuneration Tribunal, which sets elected members' pay rates, is seeking submissions from ratepayers on fair allowances for councillors and mayors.

Chief executive salaries will still be determined within councils, however, despite public outcry over recent pay rises, including Onkaparinga chief Jeff Tate's controversial $37,000 salary rise last year. Councils and the Local Government Association also will be allowed to make submissions.

In the past, the Government capped allowances paid to councillors at $15,000 and mayors at $60,000, except for Adelaide Lord Mayor Michael Harbison, whose pay was capped at $105,000. Within those limits, the state's 68 councils had the discretion to determine their allowances. Under new legislation, those caps have been scrapped and the power to determine allowances handed to the Remuneration Tribunal, meaning allowances could rise or fall dramatically. However, tribunal president Hedley Bachmann said, "don't assume anything".

In determining new allowances for elected members, the tribunal will look at the size, population and revenue of the council in addition to submissions and any other relevant factors. The LGA's director of government relations and communications, Chris Russell, said that councils and the LGA were glad the decision would be made independently. "It's been a long time coming, and it's good to see it's here," he said.

In penning the laws, Local Government Minister Gail Gago said that setting allowances could be a, contentious issue and that for it to be made by an independent umpire is a good idea. The new allowances will be set every four years just prior to council elections, and pay rates will be indexed every year. Submissions close on Friday, June 4.

For more information please click here.

Quiet achiever in Penrith

Penrith Disabilities Resource Centre Inc has been in Penrith for 21 years but most locals have never heard of it. The centre is coordinated by Denise Roberts, who says that what the centre does from its Henry St headquarters is provide an advocacy, information and referral service for people with a disability.

"We help them find services or equipment and also help get their complaints through the system," Ms Roberts, of Winmalee, said. "We do this because some people are unable to speak for themselves or they have a lack of understanding. They might also be afraid government departments can be a bit intimidating." Ms Roberts says the centre is underfunded and needs another advocate to meet demand. "We need more funding and another advocate at the centre," she said. "More advocacy hours means we can support more people."

Another member of the PDRC is Strengthening Community Links project manager Robyn Miller. Ms Miller began working on the long-running project in February and said it should be completed by the middle of the year. "We're working for better co-ordination of service information for the Penrith LGA," she said.

The project began in 2005 and is funded by the Western Sydney Area Assistance Scheme to operate for four years. Inquiries to the PDRC are handled by 18 volunteers, many of whom are from a culturally diverse background. The centre services Penrith, the Blue Mountains and the Hawkesbury and is funded by the State Ageing, Disability and Home Care Department.

For details please click here.

Waste products of whales

Another reason to save the whales: this week the Goldcoast Bulletin reported the following intriguing fact: whale poo has been found to recycle iron in the oceans and greatly assist the life cycle of carbon dioxide-absorbing algae. The Australian Antarctic Division and the Climate and Ecosystems Co-operative Research Centre are studying how whales and their food, krill - a tiny crustacean - contribute to the algae's growth. They found that krill contained high amounts of iron, which was recycled in faeces.