Each year the City of Yarra must prepare a budget, which is guided by the priorities set out in the Council Plan and a legal requirement for all councils. The development of the Budget provides an opportunity for members of the local community to comment on budget priorities, to make sure they accurately reflect community needs.
We urge everyone in Yarra to take part. Download the survey here and make your concerns heard.
Please return the survey by Friday 27 April to Reply Paid, Marc Giglio, Executive Manager Finance and Information Services, City of Yarra, PO Box 168, Richmond 3121, or simply drop it in to Collingwood or Richmond Town Hall.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Monday, April 16, 2007
Earth, Wind & Fire - Four Corners
Four Corners Report Monday 16th April 2007 (will be repeated Wednesday 18th around 11.35 pm and also on ABC2 digital channel at 9.30 pm Wednesday and 8 am Thursday) Earth, Wind & Fire
Picture a windswept hillside lined with slender white skyscrapers, each crowned by a giant whirring rotor longer than a jumbo jet. Or a swathe of desert covered by a sea of mirrors drawing power from the sun.
Wind and solar projects are already in place, or planned, on a much grander scale overseas than here. For decades coal-rich Australia has regarded renewable energy as virtuous, but incapable of meeting the needs of a modern economy. It’s been too costly, not yet proven, intermittent, at best a help at the margins.
But as urgency creeps into the hunt for climate-friendly alternatives can Australia afford to go on downplaying the potential of renewable energy? How much power could we extract from sun, wind and geothermal sources, and at what cost compared with the government’s preferred solutions – nuclear power and "clean" coal?
Wind and solar projects are already in place, or planned, on a much grander scale overseas than here. For decades coal-rich Australia has regarded renewable energy as virtuous, but incapable of meeting the needs of a modern economy. It’s been too costly, not yet proven, intermittent, at best a help at the margins.
But as urgency creeps into the hunt for climate-friendly alternatives can Australia afford to go on downplaying the potential of renewable energy? How much power could we extract from sun, wind and geothermal sources, and at what cost compared with the government’s preferred solutions – nuclear power and "clean" coal?
for full transcript go to ABC website.
Melbourne Social Forum
The 3rd Melbourne Social Forum will be held this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the 20th, 21st and 22nd of April.
This year's theme is "CHANGE THE POLITICAL CLIMATE: TURN UP THE HEAT!"
The mission of the Melbourne Social Forum is to create open public spacesto discuss, share and act on ideas for sustainable social and ecological justice. To do this the MSF hosts events, in public and on-line, which bring together progressive individuals and groups from within civil society in the Melbourne area and beyond. The Melbourne Social Forum is a dynamic open space for addressing the 21st century's most pressing local and global challenges: fair trade, labour rights, environmental sustainability, global peace and human rights issues.
Ticket pre-sale will be available at two locations:
-Friends of the Earth on 312 Smith Street Collingwood
-The New International Bookshop in Trades Hall, Carlton South
for more information about events and costings visit www.melbournesocialforum.org
This year's theme is "CHANGE THE POLITICAL CLIMATE: TURN UP THE HEAT!"
The mission of the Melbourne Social Forum is to create open public spacesto discuss, share and act on ideas for sustainable social and ecological justice. To do this the MSF hosts events, in public and on-line, which bring together progressive individuals and groups from within civil society in the Melbourne area and beyond. The Melbourne Social Forum is a dynamic open space for addressing the 21st century's most pressing local and global challenges: fair trade, labour rights, environmental sustainability, global peace and human rights issues.
Ticket pre-sale will be available at two locations:
-Friends of the Earth on 312 Smith Street Collingwood
-The New International Bookshop in Trades Hall, Carlton South
for more information about events and costings visit www.melbournesocialforum.org
Saturday, April 14, 2007
update from COAG
Unsurprisingly news from COAG (in this morning's Age)
Premiers, PM fail to agree on climate
Mr Howard rejected a proposal by the states to set up a national carbon emissions trading scheme by 2010, with a target of cutting emissions to 60 per cent of 2000 levels by 2050.
Despite the impasse, Prime Minister John Howard described the meeting as "successful", but that view was in sharp contrast to that of Victoria's Premier Steve Bracks. "It could have been a great day, but it wasn't," Mr Bracks said at a news conference after the meeting had concluded. Mr Bracks said the meeting had achieved "about 8.1 of the 10-point plan" for national reform. "Today was a good day but not a great day in terms of the opportunities to put in place a national carbon-trading scheme."
Premiers, PM fail to agree on climate
Mr Howard rejected a proposal by the states to set up a national carbon emissions trading scheme by 2010, with a target of cutting emissions to 60 per cent of 2000 levels by 2050.
Despite the impasse, Prime Minister John Howard described the meeting as "successful", but that view was in sharp contrast to that of Victoria's Premier Steve Bracks. "It could have been a great day, but it wasn't," Mr Bracks said at a news conference after the meeting had concluded. Mr Bracks said the meeting had achieved "about 8.1 of the 10-point plan" for national reform. "Today was a good day but not a great day in terms of the opportunities to put in place a national carbon-trading scheme."
Friday, April 13, 2007
Wind farm to boost power supply
The Victorian government has approved a 160-megawatt wind farm to be built on farmland at Mt Mercer, about 30 kilometres south of Ballarat.It is expected to generate enough electricity to power more than 73,000 homes.
"The Mt Mercer wind farm will be a win for the environment, a win for jobs and a win for sustainable development in rural and regional Victoria," Justin Madden (planning minister) said."We expect this project alone to save more than 390,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year."
(from The Age April 12 2007)
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
YCAN! Meeting 11th April
Please feel free to come along to our next meeting
when: Wednesday 11/04/07 at 6:30 pm
where: Kindness House
288 Brunswick St
Fitzroy 3065.
when: Wednesday 11/04/07 at 6:30 pm
where: Kindness House
288 Brunswick St
Fitzroy 3065.
Australia ignoring solar power
for your interest:
follow this link to see a transcript of the 7:30 Report from 31st of January this year.
Interview with David Mills,one of Australia's leading solar innovators, regarding the lack of interest in his technology from government and energy associations in this country.
follow this link to see a transcript of the 7:30 Report from 31st of January this year.
Interview with David Mills,one of Australia's leading solar innovators, regarding the lack of interest in his technology from government and energy associations in this country.
Eligible to vote?
Not strictly an environment issue, but it is important that everybody concerned about climate change votes in the upcoming Federal election.
Some recent changes made by the government may affect your eligibility to vote.
The changes made by the Howard Government have made it harder to enrol to vote and harder to update your details. These changes will come into force sometime in April. So if you've moved recently you may find it much harder to get your details updated. These changes will also affect you if you are not enrolled correctly, you're a first time voter or if you've been enrolled but taken off the electoral roll.
Under the changes, those people enrolling or updating their details will need to meet the following proof of identity requirements: A driver's license or if you don't have a license, a prescribed identity document such as a passport; or alternatively You must get 2 witnesses, who are not related to you, who have known you for longer than 1 month and who can confirm their identity with a driver's license (or a prescribed identity document).
Just as importantly, the electoral roll will close earlier, disadvantaging first time voters in particular. The roll will be closed 3 days from the time the election writs are issued to update your details - BUT - you'll only have until 8pm on the day the writs are issued to enrol if you've been taken off the roll or enrolling for the first time. The new rules come into force in April so be quick and check your enrolment details at https://oevf.aec.gov.au/
Some recent changes made by the government may affect your eligibility to vote.
The changes made by the Howard Government have made it harder to enrol to vote and harder to update your details. These changes will come into force sometime in April. So if you've moved recently you may find it much harder to get your details updated. These changes will also affect you if you are not enrolled correctly, you're a first time voter or if you've been enrolled but taken off the electoral roll.
Under the changes, those people enrolling or updating their details will need to meet the following proof of identity requirements: A driver's license or if you don't have a license, a prescribed identity document such as a passport; or alternatively You must get 2 witnesses, who are not related to you, who have known you for longer than 1 month and who can confirm their identity with a driver's license (or a prescribed identity document).
Just as importantly, the electoral roll will close earlier, disadvantaging first time voters in particular. The roll will be closed 3 days from the time the election writs are issued to update your details - BUT - you'll only have until 8pm on the day the writs are issued to enrol if you've been taken off the roll or enrolling for the first time. The new rules come into force in April so be quick and check your enrolment details at https://oevf.aec.gov.au/
Monday, April 9, 2007
Small moves
if you're new to this issue you might be wondering what you can do to make small differences at home as well - check out Greenpeace's 12 steps to save electricity (and help the planet) for practical information and tips.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
another one for the diary
Along with the Human Sign project at Sandringham, there is also another important event on the 22nd of April. The Coalition for Peace and Justice Presents two time academy award nominee David Bradbury's:
A HARD RAIN
when: 2pm Sunday 22nd April
where: Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) Federation Square
The film is released officially on April 13 - David has worked around the clock to get the film ready before the April ALP conference where a critical vote will be held to determine the future of Uranium Mining in this country. For more information about the documentary and details about getting a free 20 min cut of the tape see here.
A HARD RAIN
"Traversing five countries – China, France, UK, Japan and Australia - and using what Bradbury learnt from his previous three nuclear documentaries (Public Enemy Number One, Jabiluka and Blowin' in the Wind), A Hard Rain takes a closer look at the global nuclear industry in its entirety – from the mining of uranium through to the nuclear power plant to the radioactive waste and weapons manufacturing. It exposes the hidden agendas behind this latest push for Australia to go nuclear."
where: Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) Federation Square
The film is released officially on April 13 - David has worked around the clock to get the film ready before the April ALP conference where a critical vote will be held to determine the future of Uranium Mining in this country. For more information about the documentary and details about getting a free 20 min cut of the tape see here.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Closer to home....
again in the Age today
Business counters PM to back emissions targets
"AUSTRALIA'S top companies say the country must set concrete targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions over the next 30 years as the centrepiece of policies to combat climate change."
This is in response to Howard's recent attack on emissions targets as proposed by opposition leader Kevin Rudd. (60% by 2050) Howard continually opposes such targets saying they will damage the economy but clearly acceptance by the business community for the necessity of targets is a step towards possibly changing that stance.
Business counters PM to back emissions targets
"AUSTRALIA'S top companies say the country must set concrete targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions over the next 30 years as the centrepiece of policies to combat climate change."
This is in response to Howard's recent attack on emissions targets as proposed by opposition leader Kevin Rudd. (60% by 2050) Howard continually opposes such targets saying they will damage the economy but clearly acceptance by the business community for the necessity of targets is a step towards possibly changing that stance.
A positive sign
In todays Age - US ruling hailed by climate change activists.
we can only hope this is a sign of positive things to come both for the US and ultimately for ourselves
we can only hope this is a sign of positive things to come both for the US and ultimately for ourselves
Monday, April 2, 2007
Human Sign - Sandringham Beach - 22 April 2007
Come down and be part of creating a 'human sign' as part of the Bayside Sustainable Living Expo on Sunday April 22. Over 3,000 people are needed to form the message HALT CLIMATE CHANGE NOW for an aerial photograph. Bring your family and friends to raise awareness about global warming and promote sustainability.
Everyone is encouraged to use public transport or ride your bikes - leave the car at home and enjoy being outdoors!
when: 10:00am (sharp) Sunday 22nd April 2007
where: Sandringham Beach
accessible from Sandringham train station - Sunday supersaver tickets are only $2:50
trains leave Flinders St station at 8:52 and 9:32 am.
for more information refer to the Bayside City Council website here or call (03) 9599 4444 or contact the Bayside Climate Change Action Group directly.
(event will go ahead rain, hail or shine - so don't let a few clouds deter you)
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