National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) 2006-07 data now available

The National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) is a publicly accessible database with information on the types and amounts of substance emissions to the Australian environment. Emissions to air, land and water are estimated by facilities each year. The NPI also holds some data for diffuse sources whose emissions are aggregated together, including emissions from motor vehicles. The 2006-07 NPI data is now available.

SmartLink Transport in western Sydney

SmartLink Transport aims to both help the environment and to provide transport services for disadvantaged people and community groups in the Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury and Penrith local government areas in the west of Sydney.

Minister welcomes Port Phillip Bay Channel Deepening Decision

The Hon Peter Garrett MP, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts has issued a media release welcoming the judgement handed down in the Federal Court on 28 March dismissing the grounds for the Blue Wedges appeal against his decision on the Channel Deepening Project in Port Phillip Bay. Blue Wedges is a coalition that is campaigning against the deepening and dredging of Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne.

Free CyberTracker software for environmental monitoring

CyberTracker Conservation is a non-profit organisation whose vision is to promote the development of a worldwide environmental monitoring network. The open source CyberTracker software has been downloaded more than 30 000 times in more than 75 countries. Climate change, pollution, habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity may have serious impacts on human welfare. To anticipate and prevent negative impacts will require ongoing long-term monitoring of all aspects of the environment. The CyberTracker mission is to improve environmental monitoring by increasing the efficiency of data gathering and improving observer reliability.

Quarantine and Biosecurity Review submission period extended to 28 April

On 19 February 2008, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Hon. Tony Burke MP announced a comprehensive, independent review of Australia’s quarantine and biosecurity systems. The timely review, the first wide-ranging assessment of quarantine and biosecurity in this country for many years, includes, but is not limited to, the functions of the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service and Biosecurity Australia.

On 31 March 2008, Minister Burke announced that the review will be extended by two months. The panel is now to deliver its report and recommendations to the Minister by 30 September 2008. The Minister’s decision has enabled the Panel to extend the period in which submissions can be received. The submission period now runs until close of business on 28 April 2008.