The Australian Government has released three more draft Emissions Reduction Fund methods for public consultation.

Emissions reduction methods set out the rules for estimating emissions reductions from proposed activities.

The draft methods cover projects in large industrial facilities, wastewater treatment and transport.

The draft facilities method will credit verified emissions reductions achieved at facilities that report emissions under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme and produce a saleable product.

The Government is consulting on a number of priority methods across a range of sectors to ensure methods are ready for use when the Emissions Reduction Fund begins. The first five draft methods were released for public consultation in September 2014.

Businesses, community organisations and individuals are invited to make submissions on the most recent draft methods by 5pm AEDT on 12 November 2014.

Submissions on the draft methods for commercial building energy efficiency and avoided clearing of native regrowth close next Thursday, 23 October.

Further details about the draft methods and how to make a submission are available here.

Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss updated delegates at the Sustainable Economic Growth for Regional Australia conference in Alice Springs last week on the outcomes of the review of the Regional Development Australia (RDA) model.

Mr Truss told the conference that the government will retain the existing 55 RDA committees which will be expected to focus more strongly on regional economic development and facilitating local projects that aim to make a difference for their local communities.

RDA committees will be funded to:

• maintain and keep current a three to five year regional plan;
• advise on priority activities that will drive regional economic development;
• assist local community stakeholders to develop project proposals, including applications for the National Stronger Regions Fund;
• provide advice to the government on critical issues affecting each region; and
• be a mechanism to increase awareness of Australian Government programs in their communities.

Mr Truss said the appointment process to RDA's will also be simplified. The chair and deputy chair will be appointed by the government, jointly with state and territories where they are funding partners. The chair and deputy will make appointments to fill committee vacancies themselves.

The importance of engagement with local government was also stressed.

A copy of Mr Truss' speech is available here.

The National Heart Foundation of Australia's released its Blueprint for Active Australia​ in Canberra yesterday.

The Blueprint is a call to all Australian governments to implement a 13-point plan to get the nation moving.

Mary Barry, National CEO of the Heart Foundation said despite the image of ourselves as an active nation; the data tells a different story.

"The majority of Australian children between the ages of 5-17 do not currently meet the physical activity guidelines and participation decreases with age, from 36 per cent of five to eight year olds to just 6 per cent of 15 to 17 year olds."

Physical activity levels in both adults and children are lower than those of most comparable nations.  Since 2001, the proportion and number of Australians doing very little or no exercise has continued to increase. 

This second edition of the Blueprint features new action areas, reflecting a growing evidence base that reinforces the need for urgent, coordinated and concerted action across all levels of government.

The report argues that the potency of physical activity as a policy investment for Australia extends far beyond health; that active living plays a key role in broader economic and social goals for our nation.

More than 130 public libraries across South Australia have been connected, allowing customers to borrow and return items at these libraries with the one library card.

The One Card Network was launched last week.

The One Card Network is a collaboration between South Australian councils, the Libraries Board of South Australia, Public Library Services, the Local Government Association of South Australia, and library staff in more than 130 Council and school-community-based libraries across South Australia.

Local Government Association President Mayor David O'Loughlin highlighted the savings to councils across SA as a result of the shared project between State and Local Government.

"It's been estimated that the implementation cost of the new shared system over 4 years will be at least $700,000 less than the cost of councils continuing to operate separate library management systems over the same length of time," Mayor O'Loughlin said.

The new system is set to boost the appeal of an already popular community service according to James Bruce, Chairman of the Libraries Board of South Australia.

For more information read the summary report of the benefits of the One Card project.

The Minister for Agriculture, Barnaby Joyce, announced on Tuesday 13 October that a National Water Infrastructure Roundtable will be held on Wednesday, 29 October in Canberra.

"The Australian Government's Water Infrastructure Ministerial Working Group identified around 30 projects which should be a priority to progress from 63 projects submitted by the states and territories.

Minister Joyce said he was hopeful that the roundtable would bring together everyone involved in water infrastructure from across Australia, including investors, representatives of irrigators, mining and power industries, financiers, state and territory governments, local governments and construction companies.

The Australian Government's Water Infrastructure Ministerial Working Group has identified a shortlist of projects which could potentially begin immediately, or which could be fast-tracked for development.

"The shortlist of projects includes a number of sites across Australia in Tasmania, Queensland, New South Wales, Northern Territory and Western Australia. This list of projects will be included in the Green Paper for the Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper," Minister Joyce said.

Murray-Darling Basin Authority chairman Craig Knowles has advised he will finish in the role when his four-year term expires in January 2015.

Federal Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment, Senator Simon Birmingham, said that Mr Knowles had played an extremely valuable role in working towards a balanced and consultative approach in the development of the Basin Plan.

Mr Knowles said he had enjoyed his time in the role and felt he had achieved what he had set out to do.

"I came into this role with the challenge of taking the MDBA through a process and delivering a Basin Plan to the Australian Parliament in what has been, for more than 100 years, an extremely challenging and important area of public policy," Mr Knowles said.

"I also express my great appreciation to the many thousands of Australians who attended meetings, wrote submissions, came up with solutions, took leadership roles and helped to educate us all along the way. The fact that we are now well into the second year of implementation is a testament to both the quality of the Basin Plan and to the men and women who crafted it."

Senator Birmingham said an appointment of a new Chair would be made in due course, consistent with the requirements of the Water Act.

The  Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC)  is offering an energy efficiency program for small and medium enterprises in the food and grocery manufacturing sector - AFGC empower. The program, funded by the Department of Industry, provides energy efficiency related information and advice to businesses, with less than 200 employees, in the sector. As a part of the program, AFGC have developed various tools and factsheets which are available on the program website. These tools assist businesses to identify, prioritise and implement energy saving opportunities.

The program also provides free energy assessments and implementation support through workshops. The energy assessments are on a first come basis. The program finishes in April next year, and the AFGC is looking to engage with as many businesses as possible. There is no cost for businesses to take part. For more information contact Kartik Madhira (Kartik.madhira@afgc.org.au) on (02) 6270 9016.

The Australian Government and the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) launched the Creating Inspiring Rural Community Leadership and Engagement (CIRCLE) program on Monday 13 October, which will provide resources and grants to build capacity in Australia's regions.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss said the CIRCLE program, funded by the Australian Government and developed by FRRR, focuses on fostering community leadership in rural, regional and remote communities.

"It is critical to encourage local leadership skills and build community capacity to address local issues and keep community spirit alive through initiatives like the CIRCLE program."

FRRR Chief Executive Officer Alexandra Gartmann said CIRCLE had three main components: providing training and development materials; delivering a $350,000 grants program focused on building leadership; and conducting an environmental scan to assess development opportunities.

"Community groups can access a series of case study videos and other information online at the FRRR website. Web users can also register to attend the first of a series of CIRCLE webinars at 1.30pm on 28 October, which will feature the Chairman of the Into Our Hands Foundation, Loretta Carroll.

For more information about the CIRCLE program, visit FRRR.

ACELG has been appointed by the Australian Human Rights Commission to develop an online resource to assist local government to prevent and respond to racism and intercommunity conflict as part of the National Anti-Racism Strategy.

ACELG is seeking input from councils regarding initiatives they have undertaken to foster social cohesion.

The Human Rights Commission has prioritised the development of a practical resource to support local governments in responding to racism and strengthening social cohesion in their communities.

ACELG is looking to showcase a number of local governments as part of the online resource and are keen to hear from councils which have implemented strategies, policies and programs to build social cohesion/and or prevent or respond to racism; adopted internal strategies for cultural diversity in the workplace; partnered with other organisations to strengthen community relationships; worked with sections of the community, especially young people, to understand their attitudes to different cultures; and worked to build relationships between diverse communities or different faith groups.

ACELG can be contacted about the project on social.cohesion@acelg.org.au

It is expected the resource will be available in July 2015.

The ACT's all-inclusive playspace, Boundless, was opened on Saturday.

The playground, in Kings Park, near the Carillon at Lake Burley Griffin, caters to children of all physical ability levels, and is one of a growing number of playgrounds being constructed as part of the Livvi's Place National Network of inclusive playspaces, an initiative of the Touched by Olivia Foundation.

The first Livvi's Place playground opened in 2006 in Cambelltown, Sydney and the first regional playground opened in Dubbo, NSW, in 2011.

An all-abilities playground is currently under construction in Port Macquarie.

The Foundation hopes to see 10 of the playgrounds constructed each year.