Archived Industry News for Water Professionals - September, 2013
There has been both welcoming and rejection of Environment Minister Greg Hunt’s ‘water trigger’ for the approval of large coal mining and coal seam gas projects.
Great Lakes push to end plastic plight
One council has taken on the challenge of ridding itself of strangulation by plastic shopping bags.
Green-lip bug fight continues
A class action continues in the Victorian Supreme Court, where a group of 88 members of the abalone farming industry are suing the State Government.
Timetable slips on huge irrigation effort
The government body that has been left holding the bag on Victoria’s $2 billion irrigation project says it has dropped behind schedule.
Undersea photoshoot expanded for science
A massive 3-D survey of the Great Barrier Reef last year continues to have benefits for the endangered natural wonder, and will now be expanded to other reefs.
Water-wise riverside building practice plugged
A regional council is trying to encourage residents not to build houses, shacks or shanties too close to frequently-flooding river edges.
Pilliga gas drilling gets going amid outcry
Preliminary drilling will begin on the possible sites of eight new coal seam gas wells in New South Wales, with a water treatment plant to deal with the damage not yet completed.
Weighty debate on shipping containers
The International Transport Federation wants to see a mandatory weight limit for shipping containers criss-crossing the world’s oceans, warning of vast dangers posed by unweighed or mis-declared loads.
Minister spies untapped gas, gets head of steam
The new federal Environment Minister has begun tackling the ‘green tape’ he sees as strangling progress – hunting up 50 gas and energy projects left in limbo.
Re-heating steam for solar storage
Australian engineers are bringing back the steam engine, revamped as a cheap storage medium for solar power.
Report cuts to core of water risk in QLD
A new report says millions of litres of water are at risk from proposed coal mines in Queensland’s Galilee Basin.
Wary wait to see the cost of development
Community members in Far North Queensland are waiting to see what fate will be bestowed on them by the Queensland Government, with the state’s Deputy Premier saying he will all but disregard environmental authorities in favour of regional development.
Dawn of science certainty, skepticism in power
In the same week that international scientists publish clearer evidence of humanity’s influence on climate change, the Australian government is reducing its focus on pollution, the environment and science itself.
One thousand voices wanted for bore-water survey
A groundwater monitoring group wants to take a real assay of bore water levels and pressure near coal seam gas operations – calling for 1000 landholders to take part.
River funds showered on SA businesses
Members of South Australia’s state government environmental departments have set out the criteria for irrigation funding.
River plans scanned for patch-ups
The Water Sharing plans for several rivers in New South Wales are under review, but the state’s Primary Industries Minister assures it is likely that little will be changed.
Waiting on fate of fish ship ban
Insiders are waiting to see whether changes will be made to a ban imposed by the former Environment Minister on trawling activities around Tasmania.
First words in Alpha court case
Court proceedings have begun today in Queensland’s Land Court, with several groups trying to stop the Alpha Coal Project in the state’s central west.
Kenya bores down to water wealth
An astounding discovery has shown massive underground water supplies beneath a remote region of Kenya, normally plagued by drought.
Debate bubbles up over water plans
One regional council in New South Wales has deferred back to general scientific consensus, voting to undo a previous ban and start adding fluoride to its water.
Eyes on prizes at petrochemical pow-wow
The resource sharks are circling a proposed offshore petrochemical plant near the Northern Territory.