Green Smarts Make World Of Difference
Newcastle Herald
Monday January 5, 2009
FROM a very early age, I was fascinated by the Australian bush. At age six I would be found in the creek catching tadpoles and frogs, and out late at night looking for owls and possums. I was focused from a young age to study the natural world and dedicate my life to protecting it.
My professional career has stemmed from being employed as an ecologist in an environmental consultancy, to the manager of a zoo in the Western Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea, working with conservation volunteers on bushland restoration projects, environmental officer at Newcastle City Council and manager of environmental health projects in Papua New Guinea, and I am now a sustainability project co-ordinator at Lake Macquarie City Council. How would you define "sustainability"?Sustainability is a balance between human essential needs and the needs of the natural world. We all need food, somewhere to live and transport, but there are many different ways we can live our lives to limit the impacts on the planet. If we don't live in a manner that protects our very existence then it makes you wonder how long our planet can sustain us. Describe the main duties in your job.My duties include monitoring current energy requirements through auditing, incorporating the latest sustainability ideas and technology into everyday situations, and liaison with business and community groups to achieve sustainable solutions. My work saves business owners money and reduces greenhouse impacts for the city at the same time. What are some of Lake Macquarie City Council's recent environmental achievements?The council recently secured two grants to reduce its own environmental impacts. The funds are being used to make council facilities more energy efficient. The council has been recognised for completing the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives "Cities for Climate Protection" process for increasing the energy efficiency of our building assets.What are the main difficulties in your job?The main challenge is to focus on one issue at a time for efficiency. There are a lot of new sustainable technologies and the council needs to stay updated with the latest advances so we can pass this knowledge onto the community. How will the council meet its target of reducing emissions by 30 per cent by 2018?Council adopted a policy to reduce citywide emissions by 3 per cent per annum per capita for the city on a 2008 baseline, and 3 per cent per annum for the council's own operations. We are using a multi-targeted approach to achieve this, and the key is involvement of the whole community of Lake Macquarie businesses, residents, industry everybody has a part to play in living sustainably. We will provide support and technical information for residents and businesses, and try to secure attractive deals to promote uptake of solar power, solar hot water systems, energy audits and energy efficient behaviours. In 2009 we will be launching a "Sustainable Neighbourhood" program to help Lake Macquarie residents. The council itself is involved in processes to reduce emissions, including seeking alternative waste technologies to reduce waste emissions, reducing the vehicle fleet size, introducing cleaner vehicles and hybrids, upgrading air-conditioning, installing LED floodlighting, and negotiating with green electricity suppliers to supply cleaner and greener energy to the council.How does the council help residents reduce their environmental impacts?Council actively works with community groups and provides advice to residents and business. We are working on a program to offer energy audits and seeking funds to develop our "Sustainable Neighbourhoods" programs. The council runs workshops on waste, water, energy, and gardening for residents, to teach how to live in a more sustainable way.The Herald is a proud supporter of Together Today.
© 2009 Newcastle Herald