At it's 30 April 2009 meeting, the Council Of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to the new expanded National Renewable Energy Target (RET) and five key measures to improve the energy efficiency of residential and commercial buildings across Australia and . COAG also reaffirmed its commitment to introducing a comprehensive National Strategy for Energy Efficiency, and agreed to reform the current rating and assessment processes for building energy efficiency standards. (Source: EnviroInfo - 7 May 2009).
23 May 2009
CLIMATE, ENERGY, WATER: New Green Loans scheme commences on 1 July 2009
The Green Loans Program is a new Australian Government initiative to help Australians tackle climate change. The program starts on 1 July 2009 and will assist Australian families to install solar, water saving, and energy efficient products. The Green Loans Program will provide:
- detailed, quality Home Sustainability Assessments; and
- access to interest free Green Loans of up to $10,000 each to make the changes recommended in the assessment.
WATER, FUNDING: Incentives for stormwater harvesting and reuse projects
As part of the Water for the Future framework, the National Urban Water and Desalination Plan will provide investment of $1 billion for desalination, water recycling and stormwater harvesting projects to assist major towns and cities in securing their long term water supply. The Government has now decided to enhance the scope of the National Urban Water and Desalination Plan by providing greater incentives for urban stormwater harvesting projects in order to reduce the demand on potable water supplies.
WATER: CSIRO joins Water Footprint Network
CSIRO has joined a global network of private and public sector organisations which aims to promote the sustainable, fair and efficient use of the world’s fresh water. The Water Footprint Network seeks to advance the concept of ‘water footprinting’ as a means of understanding and addressing the negative impacts on freshwater systems of the production and consumption of goods and services. As a Network partner, CSIRO has conducted a range of water footprint case studies on various products – including food products manufactured by Mars Australia – and has been active in developing water footprint calculation methods. (Source: EnviroInfo - 7 May 2009).
WATER (NSW): $77m recovery package announced for Hawkesbury-Nepean River
Australian Government Parliamentary Secretary for Water, Dr Mike Kelly, has announced details of a $77.4 million funding package to help restore the health of the Hawkesbury-Nepean River in western Sydney. The package has been welcomed by the NSW Government.
