Briefs
Finance for energy efficiency projects through Low Carbon Australia
Low Carbon Australia Ltd's Energy Efficiency Program can provide low cost finance and advice to sectors including local government, through innovative programs to catalyse investment in the take-up and use of energy efficient technologies and practices for cost-effective carbon reductions. Through the Energy Efficiency Program, Low Carbon Australia seeks to co-invest with interested parties on energy efficiency retrofits of existing non-residential buildings.
Low Carbon Australia has flexibility to support a range of innovative financial solutions to overcoming traditional barriers and market failures when it comes to implementing energy efficiency improvements and there is no "one size fits all" formula. An example of the finance arrangements Low Carbon Australia is developing is the partnership established with Alleasing. Alleasing has created a new lease product, the Energy Efficiency Equipment Lease, which provides a funding pool of up to $100 million to enable sectors, including local government, to obtain an operating lease for energy efficiency equipment.
Councils in particular may find this financing option of interest if they are unable to enter into a commercial loan arrangement, but want to minimise the cost of equipment ownership and avoid having an on balance sheet debt. This approach avoids the need for upfront capital investment and also technology obsolescence for equipment which is rapidly developing.
An alternative strategic project and financing framework could involve Low Carbon Australia, a Local Government Association and other potential funding sources, administering a pool of funds that individual councils within the Association's jurisdiction could access for energy efficiency retrofits. This umbrella type approach increases the number of local government projects that Low Carbon Australia could finance compared to providing direct low interest loans to individual councils.
Supporting project financing in the local government sector is of particular interest to Low Carbon Australia due to the high demonstration value that energy efficiency projects in this sector can achieve. Given the State-specific local government networks in existence, Low Carbon Australia would anticipate undertaking a lot of case study development and other forms of project showcasing and communications, to encourage further local government entities to replicate energy efficiency projects themselves.
In terms of eligibility, all projects can be considered for co-investment apart from: new builds; residential projects; research and commercialisation of new technologies; and Commonwealth or State-owned offices. Interested parties can find further information on project eligibility, investment criteria and the project submission and evaluation process on the Low Carbon Australia Limited website including the proposal submission template.
New freedom of information laws
Australian Government agencies are now required to publish a broad range of information on their websites as part of an Information Publication Scheme (IPS) required under new freedom of information laws. Australian Information Commissioner, Professor John McMillan said that publication of government information can enhance participatory democracy by assisting the public to better understand how government makes decisions and administers programs.
"A better informed community can participate more effectively in government processes, and contribute to better policy and decisions. Transparency in government also means people are less likely to be disadvantaged in their dealings with government through lack of knowledge or a misunderstanding of government processes," he said.
Agencies are now required to publish ten categories of information, including information about the agency's structure, functions and statutory appointments. Agencies must also publish 'operational information' that guides decisions affecting members of the public as well as information about how the public can comment on policy proposals. Each agency is required to publish a plan showing how it proposes to meet the requirements of the IPS, and must ensure that information published is accurate, up to date and complete.
Many agencies have included an icon on their website to alert members of the public to where they can access information published under the IPS.
Australia's FOI Commissioner, Dr James Popple, noted that the new laws require Australian Government agencies and ministers to publish information that has been released in response to a freedom of information (FOI) access request. This information, known as a 'disclosure log' must be published within ten working days of giving the FOI applicant access to the information. For more information about the IPS and disclosure log requirements, see www.oaic.gov.au.
ABS releases disability figures
Just under one in five (18.5%) Australians had a disability in 2009, according to new figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). This represents approximately 4.0 million people.
The main disabling conditions reported in 2009 were back problems (15.6% of all persons with a disability) and arthritis (14.8%).
Between 2003 and 2009 the proportion of people with a disability decreased by 1.5 percentage points, mainly due to decreases in the prevalence of arthritis, back pain and asthma. However, the number of people with a disability has increased along with population growth.
During the same period, there has been almost no change in the proportion of the population with the most severe types of disabilities - those people who always need help or supervision with their mobility, communication and/or self-care. This group has remained relatively steady at approximately 2.9% of Australia's population (634,600 people in 2009).
There were 2.6 million carers in Australia who provided some assistance to others who needed help because of disability or old age. Around 55% of all carers were women.
Further details are available in Disability, Australia, 2009 (cat. no. 4446.0) and Disability, Ageing and Carers: Summary of Findings, Australia, 2009 (cat. no. 4430.0).
Victoria to trial national disability plan
Victoria is set to become the test case for the $12.5 billion national disability support scheme - provided the states and the federal government can agree on funding arrangments.
The no-fault insurance scheme was one of the key recommendations in a draft report from the Productivity Commission which said the current system was underfunded, unfair, fragmented and inefficient and needed to be replaced with a new national insurance scheme.
Victoria's Community Services Minister Mary Wooldridge said Victoria had offered to host a trial of the "no-fault" insurance scheme in 2014 to "test out all the bugs", before a national rollout in 2015. Ms Wooldridge said a key sticking point in setting up the scheme would be working out funding and governance arrangements.
The state government has already announced an expert taskforce to advise the government on disability reform and has successfully lobbied to place the issue on the agenda of the Council of Australian Governments.
"We had Medicare, we had compulsory super - for people with a disability, this will be a fundamental change", Ms Wooldridge said.
Multicultural Youth Sports Partnership Program - grants
Councils are eligible to apply for the Federal Government's Multicultural Youth Sports Partnership Program. The Program will provide grants of between $5000 and $50 000 to create opportunities for young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, to engage with sport and physical activity. The opening of the grant applications is a commitment, from the Australian Government, to promoting social cohesion and building a more inclusive multicultural society. Applications will open for a period of four weeks from 29 April 2011. Successful applicants will be announced in July 2011. For more information on the grants and how to apply, please visit the Australian Sports Commission website.
New building accessibility standards in force
The Disability (Access to Buildings - Premises) Standards 2010 (Premises Standards), an important milestone in the Government's National Disability Strategy, came into operation on 1 May. The standard requires all new and upgraded public buildings in Australia to be accessible to people with a disability.
The access requirements in the Premises Standards operate throughout Australia and are complemented by building regulations in each state and territory. The Premises Standards have been under development since 2001. Copies of the Premises Standards and associated documents are available here and further information on the Standards is available here.
The Disability (Access to Premises - Buildings) Standards 2010 Compilation can be found here.
The Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 Compilation can be found here.
Victorian rate rises
Victorian ratepayers face higher council rates, as well as the expectations of tough state and federal budgets.
Many councils are drawing up budgets for 2011-12 and the signs are not good for households already struggling with interest rate rises and spiralling inflation. The City of Whitehorse has confirmed a proposed rise of 8.5 per cent and Manningham City Council is proposing a 5 per cent rise. The City of Monash has submitted a rise of 6 per cent. Other councils including Banyule, Knox, Dandenong, Maroondah, Nillumbik and Yarra Ranges are believed to be considering rate increases of 5-7 per cent. Some councils affected by flooding are trying to hold rates steady.
Ratepayers Victoria president Jack Davis said across-the-board increases were not unexpected "when you consider the shortfall in what the State Government gives to local councils", adding that "State government grants are decreasing, so I don't think local councils have any options."
"The other major issue is the amount of debt councils must service and that has become a real problem."
Bill McArthur, president of the Municipal Association of Victoria, said rate increases were unfortunate but necessary if people expected the same level of service.
"Last year the local government index was about 4 per cent, based on CPI, and I anticipate we will see something similar this year and rates will build on that," he said.
"If you look at Queensland, they are anticipating a local government index of 7.5 per cent due to the problems they have had.
"Yes, of course it hurts households, but communities are used to a level of service being maintained."
Draft sea level rise policy sets planning benchmarks
Almost two years ago, in October 2009, the NSW Government released its sea level rise policy statement, which stated that sea level rises will impact locally on the NSW coastline and will require action by communities, the government and local councils.
The policy statement included the NSW sea level rise planning benchmarks, which indicate an increase above 1990 mean sea levels of 40cm by 2050 and 90cm by 2100.
Last year, the NSW Government released the NSW Coastal Planning Guideline: Adapting to Sea level Rise, which aims to provide assistance to councils and State agencies in considering the impact of sea level rise when planning for the NSW coast.
All coastal councils in NSW have been asked to prepare a sea level impact strategy at the request of the NSW Government, making an overall plan for the future of the coast.
Several NSW councils are preparing draft sea level rise policies and placing them on public exhibition for their communities. Greater Taree Councils is one of the councils which has prepared its draft policy and sees that it has a duty of care to protect the community from the potential future risks of sea level rise. The draft policy can be viewed on council's website.
Coffs Harbour City Council has released its Coastal Processes and Hazard Definition Study for public consultation here.
The study is the first step in developing a strategy to tackle future risk areas, with all potentially affected property-owners sent letters detailing and explaining the study, with relevant maps and a fact sheet.
Discrepancy between new coastal protection laws and Local Government Act
Byron Shire Council's acting manager of planning, Wayne Bertram, says a discrepancy between new coastal protection laws that came into play on January 1 and the Local Government Act, has resulted in the need for a new coastal management plan.
Mr Bertram said local government laws were not changed at the same time as the coastal protection laws were changed, resulting in a discrepancy between the two which created too much uncertainty. Despite years of work, the Council has decided to dump its sensitive draft Coastal Zone Management Plan underpinned by a controversial planned retreat policy and will prepare a new one. After extensive consideration, council decided that rather than dedicate any further resources to the old plan, given that it would have to be replaced quickly, it decided to withdraw the old plan and get on with making a new Coastal Zone Management Plan under the new laws.
The draft plan, coupled with the impacts on private property of the Main Beach groyne, has led to a series of court actions against the council which have so far cost Belongil Beach residents almost $3 million and possibly the same amount for the council.
Mr Bertram said that the council had made submissions to the state Government voicing concerns. The council would now prepare a coastal management plan under the new laws.
Melbourne to cut city speed limit to 40kph
The RACV is giving conditional support to a Melbourne City Council proposal to cut the speed limit in the CBD to 40km/h to save the lives of pedestrians and cyclists has been conditional approval by the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV). RACV supports a trial of a 40km/h speed limit in the inner CBD of Melbourne, to determine if the 40km/h speed limit is practical for road users and if it does make a difference to pedestrian safety, according to RACV manager of public policy Brian Negus.
VicRoads is investigating the merits of a reduction of the limit from 50km/h to 40km/h. The proposal has the backing of the Transport Accident Commission, Victoria Police and road safety experts.
According to Melbourne City Council, 800,000 pedestrians use the city's streets every day. By 2014, that will rise to 1 million. Victoria Police figures show officers are called to 20 collisions a month involving pedestrians in the CBD, and that on average, two pedestrians are killed as a result of being hit by vehicles in the city each year, 200 are injured, 75 of them seriously.
Monash University Accident Research Centre says authorities should be aiming to drop the speed limit to 30kph in the CBD, potentially reducing the risk of pedestrian deaths by up to 95 per cent. However, Mr Negus said the RACV would not support a 30km/h limit because "it would be a challenge to get motorists to comply with it".
The Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerce and Industry spokesman said it would not support a move to lower the limit to 40kph in the CBD because it would slow down the city too much, particularly on through roads.
Safe Work Awards
An iPhone application for first aid training and a management plan to combat driver fatigue were two of the innovative solutions to workplace safety announced last night at the 6th annual Safe Work Australia Awards. The Safe Work Australia Awards showcase the achievements of Australians, who have made safety at work a top priority.
Winners included the CSIRO for a groundbreaking solution to reduce its employees' exposure to liquid nitrogen, and the Ballina Bypass Alliance, who implemented a broad spectrum health and safety management system that improved safety across the organisation's worksites.
Former Premier to be NSW infrastructure adviser
Mr Nick Greiner, who was the Premier of NSW between 1988 and 1992, will become chairman of Infrastructure NSW, it was announced on the weekend. Confirming the appointment, current Premier Barry O'Farrell described Mr Greiner as a "can do man".
As chairman of Infrastructure NSW, Mr Greiner will be responsible for the overall strategy of the NSW government, including advising on which road, rail, hospital and port projects are to get priority, how to fund them and overseeing their delivery. He will report to Mr O'Farrell. Mr O'Farrell believes that rebuilding the state's infrastructure is the way to lay the foundation for economic growth. In his role as chairman, Mr Greiner will also sit on the cabinet infrastructure committee, which will be chaired by Mr O'Farrell.
"That's what we need in NSW - someone willing to get on with the job of providing the roads, rail lines and other infrastructure that NSW has been starved of for the last 16 years", Mr O'Farrell said.
Mr Greiner is also on the board of governors of the Committee for Economic Development of Australia and is chairman of the advisory council of the SMART think tank at the University of Wollongong. The government is expected to introduce legislation to establish Infrastructure NSW when the NSW Parliament resumes next week, after which the remaining board members will be appointed. One of its first tasks will be to develop a 20-year infrastructure strategy detailing projects worth more than $100 million.
$200M to students with disabilities
Prime Minister Julia Gillard today announced new budget funding of $200 million to provide extra support for students with disability in Australian schools. The Prime Minister said that every student in every school deserves a great education and this extra funding will help ensure that students with disability get that same opportunity.
There are more than 164,000 students with disabilities currently attending Australian schools. The More Support for Students with Disabilities initiative will deliver new services, equipment and support. This will make a significant difference for thousands of children with disabilities at school and their families.
The Prime Minister made the announcement on 3 May with the Minister for School Education Peter Garrett, at Harrison School in Canberra.
Further information on the More Support for Students with Disabilities initiative is available here.
15th International Conference for Women Engineers and Scientists
The conference for women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, is being held in Adelaide from 19-22 June and will discuss innovative technology across the engineering, science and technological professions. Further information and registration can be obtained here.
Communities in Control Conference
Further information on this conference, to be held in Melbourne from 30-31 May, can be obtained here.
Quote of the week
"I do not think that more than 1% of the net's applications have been invented, 99% of applications still lie in the future." - Vinton G Cerf, Vice President of Google
International news 
United States authorities say the death toll has risen to at least 350 from last week's tornadoes and severe weather.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says Wednesday was the second deadliest single day of tornadoes in U.S. history. It was topped only by the 747 killed in a series of twisters that struck through the central part of the country in 1925. Survivors and volunteers across seven southern states continued their searches on Saturday through rubble for possessions and signs of people still missing.
U.S. President Barack Obama surveyed the devastation last Friday in Alabama, where at least 254 people were killed and whole portions of communities were flattened. The president said he had "never seen devastation like this. It is heartbreaking." President Obama consoled survivors and talked with state and local officials about the rescue and cleanup efforts. He pledged to "make sure" the storm-damaged region is "not forgotten." He said "maximum federal help" would be provided.
President Obama signed a disaster declaration for Alabama on Thursday and on Friday for portions of the neighbouring states of Mississippi and Georgia. That makes federal funds available to help residents, businesses and local governments. About 2,000 National Guard soldiers have been deployed in Alabama to assist local emergency crews. (Source: Voice of America)
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