Tag Archives: environment

Abbott/Turnbull Government record on environment and climate action

Posted on April 30, 2016 by | 7 comments
Environment Minister Greg Hunt achievements

Environment Minister Greg Hunt achievements

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has confirmed that he will call a double dissolution election for Saturday July 2. Time to review the Abbott/Turnbull record on the environment.

Climate Action Moreland reports on a recent public opinion survey that 57 per cent of Australians think the Australian Government is not doing enough on climate change and want to see more climate action.

The Australian Conservation Foundation have prepared a list of the Good, The bad, and the inconclusive achievements of the Government with Environment Minister Greg Hunt. You be the judge:

The Abbott/Turnbull Government environmental record

We’ve examined the Abbott/Turnbull Government’s environmental record and found much more bad than good.

As the federal election draws nearer, it’s worth remembering the world we hand on to future generations is the result of decisions our elected representatives make today.
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Election 2013 called on Threatened Species Day – September 7

Posted on August 7, 2013 by | 1 comment

The election has been called by Kevin Rudd at last for September 7th, one week before Julia Gillard’s announced date. The campaign is on. September 7 also happens to be Threatened Species Day. It is perhaps significant as action on climate change, the future of clean energy programs and investment, and conservation and biodiversity programs are at risk.

Matted Flax lilly

Matted Flax lilly

One tends to think in the city that biodiversity is not a great concern, but here in Fawkner we have the Matted Flax-lily (Dianella amoena) at Bababi Djinanang native grassland. The species is nationally endangered although only listed as vulnerable in Victoria. We sometimes have platypus in Merri Creek and kangaroos that follow the creek down into the Fawkner grasslands.

These are wondrous sights to see in our urban environment along our creek nature reserves. Once degraded and used as little more than drains, many people have put incredible effort into re-vegetation and restoration of our creek environments, including Friends of Merri Creek and Merri Creek Management Committee.
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Surveying the birds of the Merri in Winter Sunday 26 May

Posted on May 11, 2013 by | Leave a comment

IMG_1101_New_Holland_HoneyeaterAutumn is upon us and another bird survey is about to take place up and down Merri Creek. Bird surveys provide useful data for mapping the changing patterns and distribution of bird species. It is one small but significant way that anyone can contribute to science. (See Using Citizen Science in Urban Bird Studies)

In Fawkner the survey will be at Bababi Djinanang (Jukes Road grasslands), Fawkner. Meet on Merri Path at end of Jukes Road at 8.45am, Sunday 26 May 2013.
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Money for East west link, but no cash for surfacing Merlynston Station carpark

Posted on May 8, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Merlynston Station (Photo: Wiki Commons)

Merlynston Station (Photo: Wiki Commons)

The State Government has just handed down it’s 2013 budget. As expected, there is little for public transport, or meeting it’s own environmental election promises. Instead we see more support for brown coal which contributes to climate change, and to major road projects like initial funding for the east west link which will result in a public-private partnership and a privately managed tollroad which you and I will pay to travel on. The Metro rail tunnel and other badly needed rail network extensions have been effectively shelved by the current Government.

It hurts even more when the State Government ignores basic maintenaince and simple upgrades which benefit public transport commuters. Melbourne’s inner middle northern suburbs residents are calling out for existing station car parks to be resurfaced, at the cost of several thousand dollars, to avoid injuries such as broken ankles sustained from potholes in the gravel carpark surface.
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Cut the $10billion fossil fuel subsidies

Posted on April 20, 2013 by | Leave a comment

Climate Action Moreland stall

Climate Action Moreland stall

Climate Action Moreland will be outside the Mechanics Institute on Sydney Road in Brunswick canvassing for reduced fossil fuel subsidies and asking what you would like this money spent on. If your in the area, call in and have a chat.
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Moreland Council election 2012 North East Ward Questionnaire on sustainability and environment for candidates

Posted on October 14, 2012 by | 2 comments

Update: Election results – Moreland Council gets a shakeup
Update: Candidate responses as of Monday 22 October.

Moreland Council Wards

Moreland Council Wards

Moreland Council election is occurring with polling day on Saturday 27 October 2012. In North East ward of Moreland Council covering the suburbs of Coburg, Coburg North and Fawkner we get to elect 4 councillors from the 24 candidates standing. You can check the candidate contact details on the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC).

Representative democracy is a sham without the views of candidates being made available for voters to be informed. If your like some of us, you like to know who you are voting for. With very little public exposure of candidates views, Sustainable Fawkner wanted to canvas the opinions and policies by candidates on sustainability and environmental issues which we are concerned about. Replies will be collated and published on this page as a public service to electors for North East Ward.
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Posted in climate, community, cycling, events, Merri Creek, Moreland City Council, news, public transport

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No extension of Zone 1 to Gowrie Station in Baillieu 2012 budget

Posted on May 13, 2012 by | 2 comments
Time for Gowrie Station to become Zone 1

Upfield train approaching Gowrie Station

Gowrie Station remains as a zone 2 station after the State budget was handed down on May 1. Local residents of Fawkner and Hadfield have been pressing for Gowrie Station to be changed to Zone 1 status in a campaign over the last year.

In January Bronwyn Halfpenny, the local State member for Thomastown who represents Fawkner in State parliament, called on Transport Minister Mr Terry Mulder to tell Fawkner residents why “they must pay zone 2 public transport fares from a rail station that should clearly be in zone 1”. She explained in a news article in January 2012 in the Moreland Leader that Gowrie’s zoning is an anomaly and an inequity to local residents.
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Posted in community, cycling, Moreland City Council, news, public transport

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Earth Hour 2012 in Fawkner

Posted on March 18, 2012 by | 1 comment

Break out the candles for Earth hour 2012

Break out the candles for Earth hour 2012

Earth Hour 2012 has grown from one city – Sydney – in 2007 to a 5,251 city strong global movement, last year reaching 1.8 billion people in 135 countries across all seven continents.

And it is here in Fawkner in 2012:
When: Sat 31 March, 8.30pm – 9.30pm
Where: Your place, or why not bring a candle and meet your neighbours in CB Smith Reserve outside the Leisure Centre and enjoy a (hopefully) starry night for an hour.

Hundreds of millions of people around the world across borders of race, religion, culture, geography and society will unite in a single moment of contemplation for the planet and celebration of their year-round commitment to protect it. Register your support on the Earthhour Australia website or just do it and switch off your lights for an hour and think of ways you can continue to reduce energy, and become more sustainable.

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Victorians want Baillieu Government to act on climate change, clean energy

Posted on March 10, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Most Victorians want less coal-fired power, and more renewable energy

Most Victorians want more action on climate change and renewable energy from the Baillieu State Government according to a new public opinion survey commissioned by Environment Victoria.

The survey was conducted in late December 2011 and early January 2012 involving a series of questions to over 1000 people in Victoria conducted by Essential Media, a professional market survey company. The primary results show that 76 percent of Victorians expect the State Government to take action to reduce greenhouse pollution rather than leaving tackling climate change to the federal sphere of politics. There is also massive support for the implementation of renewable energy and energy efficiency programs, and just 22 per cent believe the 2km wind farm veto is fair.
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