Issue 11: 22 March 2005
Editor's note
Our Easter edition makes a splash by highlighting the need to conserve a precious resource – water. We detail Queensland Government steps to reduce water use and minimise wastewater entering our waterways. Find out the simple steps you can take to minimise water consumption in the Living sustainably section.
Main news
Water wastage not wise on World Water Day
responsibility to minimise the amount we use.
Photo EPA copyright
As a society, we need to be conscious of the amount of water we use and work together to conserve our resources for the future, because our quality of life is limited by the quality and availability of our water.
In Queensland over the past 20 years fresh water use has almost doubled and each day about 800 olympic-size swimming pools of treated wastewater is discharged into the state’s waterways.
The Queensland Government is working with local councils, industry and local communities to implement WaterWise strategies in homes and across industries, and improve waste treatment facilities across the state.
A number of key water initiatives include:
- The Towards Sustainable Housing In Queensland discussion paper, which aims to improve the energy and water efficiency of new housing. A second, more comprehensive package is currently being developed.
- New legislation to enable Queenslanders to use domestic greywater in sewered areas for irrigating gardens and lawns.
- The investment of about $183 million on sewerage plant projects since 1998.
- Key water recycling projects in major residential developments including Springfield and Pimpama Coomera.
- The adoption of water recycling and water-saving technologies by industry through WaterWise grants and the ecoBiz Queensland program.
Ipswich koala habitat conserved
A new nature refuge agreement between the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and an Ipswich environmental group will help conserve one of our most recognisable species, the koala.
The Moggill Koala Hospital Association has established the Gum Tips Nature Refuge, which will preserve 32.5ha of key habitat for the regionally vulnerable koala.
The Nature Refuge, 16km south-west of Ipswich, contains 74 species of native flora including regional ecosystems that are considered “endangered” and “of concern”.
The nature refuge forms part of a large corridor of remnant vegetation, servicing numerous other highly mobile fauna species.
More than 50 species of native birds and a significant number of other native wildlife are present on the nature refuge, including the red-necked wallaby, short-beaked echidna and white-striped freetail bat.
Water funding for Toowoomba
Toowoomba has moved one step closer to recycling its wastewater thanks to Queensland Government-funding of $11.5 million to upgrade the Wetalla Wastewater Treatment Plant.
New equipment will be installed to improve the quality of wastewater and a second inlet screen will be connected to the current treatment system to improve the plant's efficiency at removing solids from wastewater.
The upgrade will help the council progress its plans for reusing wastewater, which will involve installing a pipe to carry wastewater to Charlton Wellcamp Industrial Estate for re-use.
This work will improve the quality of the water going into the Gowrie Creek catchment and later reduce the amount of water released into the environment.
Effluent discharged into the creek will have lower levels of nitrogen and phosphorous, which should reduce outbreaks of blue-green algae further downstream in the Murray-Darling Basin.
Topical news
State heritage gains centre stage
The state’s cultural heritage is now in the
limelight with a shakeup of heritage laws.
Photo EPA copyright
The conservation of Queensland’s cultural heritage has been given a boost thanks to two new initiatives aimed at improving cultural heritage management within the state.
A review of heritage laws and statewide assessment of heritage places will ensure that Queensland develops a more responsive and relevant heritage system.
As part of the heritage laws review, Queenslanders are being asked to comment on a discussion paper, which details a complete review of the Queensland Heritage Act 1992.
The document seeks public views on listing and development assessment processes, processes for carrying out minor works, the introduction of a heritage strategy, enforcement and the principles for managing State-owned heritage places.
The review of heritage legislation will be complemented by a statewide heritage assessment, which will identify places of cultural heritage significance across Queensland.
This assessment will focus on urban development hot spots where heritage values are under threat from population growth including south-east Queensland and regional centres along the state’s coastline.
Online feedback can be submitted at www.getinvolved.qld.gov.au, or by contacting the EPA. Submissions close 21 May 2005.
Cuddly ambassador set to star
Queensland's koalas at the Riverbanks Zoo in South Carolina are already a big hit but their first joey, Karoo, is about to star.
Karoo is the progeny of Lottie, one of two female koalas from Queensland, and Mirai, a male koala from Japan.Riverbanks Zoo is one of only a few zoos in North America with koalas.
The emergence of its first joey from the pouch marks a major milestone in the development of the Rivberbanks Zoo koala colony, which was established as a result of a Queensland Government gift.
In September 2004, keepers first observed Karoo in Lottie's pouch.
Over the coming weeks, zoo visitors will see Karoo moving in and out of Lottie's pouch, increasing the amount of time spent outside until finally leaving the pouch completely and climbing onto Lottie's back.
Local industry get WaterWise
The demand for water and volume of wastewater entering our waterways was expected to rise as the state’s population increased about 40 percent over the next two decades.
The EPA is working with local industry on water recycling and reduction initiatives through its ecoBiz Program and WaterWise industry grants initiative.
Examples include:
Yandina: Buderim Ginger is spending $700,000 to install an on-site wastewater treatment facility so that water discharge is clean enough and safe enough to re-use as irrigation water, be re-used by another local industry or safely discharged into local waterways. Because of their participation in the ecoBiz Queensland program, Buderim Ginger are entitled to apply for a rebate from the EPA of up to $150,000.
Tully: Jackson Farming Co Pty Ltd previously discharged 58,500L of fresh drinking water a day from its banana wash-down and packing shed into nearby Woolcoo Creek (which feeds the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon). A grant of $15,000 enabled the company to install water pumps and filtration devices that remove organic matter and other waste from the water so it can be recycled.
Cape Tribulation: PK’s Jungle Village, located in the world’s oldest and Australia’s single largest block of tropical rainforest at Cape Tribulation, will use a $24,000 EPA grant to treat and recycle its effluent for re-use as toilet-flushing water. This will reduce its water demand by 30 percent and help further protect the environmentally significant freshwaters, estuaries and coastal waters of the Daintree.
In Brief
Toowoomba reduces waste line
Toowoomba residents will now be able to recycle all their plastic and glass containers, aluminium and steel cans, magazines, paper and cardboard thanks to a $66,000 grant from the Queensland Government.
The council has been awarded the money from the Queensland's Best Practice Kerbside Recycling Program.
Each and every Toowoomba home will soon receive a 240-litre wheelie bin for all recyclable household rubbish, and an additional bin for organic waste.
Regular news
Wildlife news
Purchase a bilby chocolate this Easter
Help the bilby by purchasing a bilby chocolate this
Easter.
Photo EPA copyright
Why not purchase bilby chocolates this Easter and contribute to funds to protect the endangered marsupial - an important Queensland icon?
A portion of funds from the sale of Darrell Lea chocolate bilbies and other bilby merchandise will go to the Save the Bilby Fund.
Since the fund was launched in March 1999, about $1 million has been collected to help recover the bilby population.
The fund has helped build a fenced enclosure at Currawinya National Park and progressed a breeding program in Charleville.
The EPA is establishing a new breeding and research facility at David Fleay Wildlife Park to ensure continuing supply for the reintroduction program.
The chocolate bilbies are available in two sizes from all Darrell Lea outlets. Fifty cents from each large bilby and thirty cents from each small bilby sold will go towards efforts to conserve the marsupials.
Camping news
Camping dos and don'ts
QPWS is urging families to take care in Queensland's national parks and protected areas during the busy Easter holiday period. Here are a few tips for staying safe:
Do's:
- Heed the signs
- Be prepared
- Watch your step
- Take care near water
- Stay on the track, whether walking or in vehicles
- Be sun-smart
- Boil water taken from streams and lakes for drinking
- Be careful with fire.
Don’ts:
- Never feed or play with animals
- Don't bring pets
- Don't litter or bury rubbish - take it home with you
- Don't cut down trees or destroy vegetation.
National park news
Great Sandy National Park - The QPWS is carrying out works to modify the Champagne pools access boardwalk from mid-March 2005 until the end of May 2005. Visitors are advised that during this time the boardwalk will be closed. Please observe the signage and do not enter this site.
Coming events
Suspicious spiders (children): 31 March, Thursday morning. Daisy Hill Forest Reserve, Daisy Hill Road, Daisy Hill. Call 1300 723 684 to book.
Focus on frogs: 6 April, Wednesday evening. Enjoy an evening of amazing amphibian antics. Brisbane Forest Park, Park Headquarters, 60 Mt Nebo Road, The Gap. Call 1300 723 684 to book.
Fascinating fungi: 9 April, Saturday morning. Learn about the amazing fungi of south-east Queensland. Brisbane Forest Park, Park Headquarters, 60 Mt Nebo Road, The Gap. Call 1300 723 684 to book.
The New Illustrated Burra Charter (Queensland Connections 2005 series): 6 April 2005, Peter Marquis-Kyle, Queensland Museum, South Bank Theatre, Level 2, 12:30–1:30pm.
Under the Boards: The historical archaeology of the commissariat store (Queensland Connections 2005 series): 1 June 2005, Karen Murphy, EPA, Queensland Museum, South Bank Theatre, Level 2, 12:30–1:30pm.
NPI reporting training: 6/7 June. For further details contact Peter Thorning (07) 3225 1020 or Michael Howes (07) 3875 7719.
Contacts
For further information about the EPA Bulletin or to submit story ideas or feedback please email Bulletin.feedback@epa.qld.gov.au
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Last updated: 23 March 2005
