179H 8 Environmental Innovations 0 in Australian Cities 0 May 1997 Metropolitan Environmental Improvement Program vironment and Natural Resources Division, Asia Technical Dept. 4,he World Bank, 1818 H Street, NW, Washington, DC 20433 USA MI el. (202) 458-2726, Fax. (202) 522-1664 UI) Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities MEIP City Working Paper Series This preliminary report focuses attention on urban environment management approaches that could assist planning decision makers in Asian cities and stimulate discussion through exchange programs and forums. May 1997 etropolitan Environmental Improvement Program nvironment and Natural Resources Division, Asia Technical Dept. . . he World Bank, 1818 H Street, NW, Washington, DC 20433 USA SE P rel. (202) 458-2726, Fax. (202) 522-1664 Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities The MEIP City Working Paper Series are informal reports by the Metropolitan Environmental Improvement Program (MEIP), in an effort to share and exchange experiences in urban environmental governance among metropolitan cities in the Asia-Pacific Region. This paper was prepared by a team of Australian experts under the coordination of Mr. Richard Searle. The paper offers experiences in urban environmental programs in Australian cities and provides a guide for a future workshop and city tour for Asian city planners and managers through MEIP. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this study are entirely those of the authors of this study and should not be attributed in any manner to the World Bank, to its affiliated organizations, or to members of its Board of Executive Directors or the countries they represent. The World Bank does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this publication and accepts no responsibility whatsoever for any consequence of its use. Any maps that accompany the text have been prepared solely for the convenience of the readers; the designations and presentation of material in them does not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the World Bank, its affiliates, or its Board or member countries concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city, or area or of the authorities thereof or concerning the delimitation or its national affiliation. Likewise, the material in this report should not be attributed in any manner whatsoever to governments, non-governmental organizations, any other institutions or individuals who participated in the studies and related workshops and meetings 11 Table of Contents REDUCING, REUSING AND RECYCLING ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............iv A PROGRAM SLOWDOWN ...................70 FOREWORD ................v..........v NEED TO MINIMIZE WASTE AT SOURCE.........71 PREFACE: MEIP AND THE AUSTRALIAN RECYCLING ECONOMICS ....................71 ENVIRONMENTAL EXPERIENCE ...............'v MAINTAINING THE PACE .................... 72 ENVIRONMENTAL INNOVATIONS IN SUCCESS STORIES .........................73 AUSTRALIAN CITIES ......................................1 PLANNING FOR SOUTH EAST POPULATION PROFILE...... ............1 QUEENSLAND: AUSTRALIA'S FASTEST PHASES OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT .............1 GROWING REGION ..................85 THE OUTWARD SPRAWL .....................1 POPULATION GROWTH .....................85 THE VILLAGE REVISITED ..................2 THE PATTERN OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT 85 INTEGRATED LAND USE AND TRANSPORT SYSTEMS 3 THE SEQ REGION .........................86 ECONOMIC AND EMPLOYMENT TRENDS...............3 ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES IN SEQ 86 ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES ....................5 THE SEQ2001 PROJECT 87 CONCLUSION ................... .......... 14 SEQ PROCESS ............................88 SYNOPSIS OF THE FIVE CASE STUDIES... 16 'THE PLAN' ..............................89 IMPLEMENTATION..................................... 90 1. INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION AND MELBOURNE'S CRITIQUE OF SEQ2001 .....................91 WEST .................... ............... 16 SUB-REGIONAL PLANNING - BRISBAVE 20]]. 92 2. URBAN ENVIRONMENT RESTORATION............... 16 3. CLEANER PRODUCTION IN VICTORIA ................ 17 APPENDICES........................99 4. REDUCING, REUSING AND RECYCLING WASTE .. 17 5. PLANNING FOR SOUTH EAST QUEENSLAND..... 18 INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION AND MELBOURNE'S WESTE................................... 21 INDUSTRY, POLLUTION AND COMMUNITY UNREST 22 THE ALTONA CLEAN AIR PROJECT ............24 THE HABITAT PROJECT WATEASU...................... 34 URBAN ENVIRONMENT RESTORATION TRANSFORMING A WASTELAND ECOOMII43 THE WETLANDS ..........................44 THE VIRGINIA PIPELINE AND WATER RE-USE . 48 NEW HAVEN VILLAGE IGR IN................................... 53 CLEANER PRODUCTION IN VICTORIA .... 59 FROM CONTROL TO PREVENTION URBA.DEVLOPMNT....859 FROM SMALL BEGINNINGS ............. 60 ECONOMIC BENEFITS ......................61 CUTENING OUT WASTE ......................61 A DEMONSTTATION PROGRAM ................62 A NATIONAL APPROACH ....................64 CONCLUSION ............................PP ENDCES 65 LESSONS LEARNED FROM COMPLETED DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS ...................... 66 THE ABITT PRJECT.......... 3 Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities The Australian Government's Agency for International Development, AusAID, has provided financial support to the Metropolitan Acknowledgments Environmental Improvement Program for its work in Asian cities. The Metropolitan Environmental Improvement Program wishes to acknowledge the individuals and organizations who participated in the production of this report. The report was coordinated, edited and researched by Richard Searle from Melbourne, Australia, with assistance from Kerry Cannon. Mr. Searle wrote the case study on Industrial Pollution and Melbourne's West. The introductory chapter was written by Michael Buxton who also contributed to the case study on Reducing, Reusing and Recycling Waste. Gib Wettenhall wrote the case study on Cleaner Production and assisted Mr. Searle on the case study on MFP Australia and Urban Environmental Restoration. The case study on Planning for South East Queensland was written by Mark Spiller, Michael Buxton and Gib Wettenhall. Preliminary layout and design was coordinated in Australia by Communications and Public Relations (CPR) Pty Ltd. The final editing and production management of this report was carried out by Sheldon I. Lippman. The following Australian agencies have provided assistance and financial support to this project: * The Commonwealth Environment Protection Agency * The former Department of Housing and Regional Development * The City of Brisbane; * MFP Australia * The Recycling and Resource Recovery Council in Victoria. 1V 'V community environmental actions, and links these growing environmental network efforts Foreword with government policy and investment initiatives. The World Bank's Metropolitan Environmental Furthermore, MEIP puts a high priority on the Improvement Program (MEIP) began work in exchange of experiences and sharing of 1990 with the assistance of the United National information among MEIP cities. This has been Development Programme to tack the rapidly carried out through intercountry workshops that growing environmental problems in Asian review the city work programs, exchange useful urban areas. The program has been active in six experience, and develop intercountry projects. cities: Beijing, Bombay, Colombo, Jakarta, MEIP has established the city programs, set in Kathmandu, and Metro Manila. motion a variety of city subprojects, and The MEIP approach emphasizes the cross- mobilized the intercountry exchange. MEIP sectoral nature of environmental problems and publications are intended to share insights and addresses the failure of traditional, sectoral experiences developed from the MEIP process development strategies to adequately address and its projects. The six MEIP city programs urban environmental deterioration or the linkage work independently, with each other, and with between industrial and urban development. international partners to reverse urban environmental degradation and provide useful The work program in each city is therefore and replicable lessons in urban environmental guided by steering committees and technical management. working groups that reflect the cross-sectoral, interagency nature of urban environmental issues. Each MEIP city, except Kathmandu David G. Williams which joined later than the other five, has developed an environmental management strategy for their metropolitan region. With guidance from the steering and technical committees, the cities also incorporate environmental considerations into the work of economic and planning agencies, contribute to the strengthening of environmental protection institutions, and identify high priority environmental investments. The MEIP city office services as secretariat to the steering committee and is managed by the national program coordinator (NPC). The NPC coordinates all MEIP activities and is responsible for developing the environmental network of government, private sectoral non- governmental organizations, research institutions, and communities. MEIP supports workshops, demonstration projects, and v Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities Preface: MEIP and the Australian Environmental Experience In the field of environmental management and pollution control, learning from developed countries and cities which have experienced problems and tried various solutions is particularly useful for developing countries which are now facing a similar crisis. MEIP is exploring with Australian cities how their experience in environmental management can benefit Asian cities that are undergoing rapid industrialization and urbanization. The case studies were chosen with a view to their relevance to cities in Asia and it is hoped that some useful conclusions concerning the applicability of this experience can be used. This study provides a look by MEIP at some of the successful initiatives in several Australian cities. A study tour of Australian cities and workshop for city managers and planners from developing countries is planned for the next phase of this study. A final report based on this study, the workshop and the city tour will complete the second phase of this intercountry effort. vi Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities Planning for South East Queensland Reducing, Reusing and Recycling Waste Urban Environment Restoration: Industrial Transforming a Pollution and Wasteland Melbourne's Cleaner West Production in Victoria eastern area of Queensland, where population is estimated to increase by more than a mnillion people between 1991 and 2011, with net ENVIRONMENTAL interstate rigration accounting for about 40,000 a year. About 25 percent of Australia's yearly INNOVATIONS IN population growth is occurring along the north- AUSTRALIANeastern non-metropolitan coastal fringe, AUST ALIN CIIESparticularly on the Queensland Gold Coast, Like most of the world's urban growth centers, Sunshine Coast, and coastal areas of northern Australian cities are facing major environmental New South Wales. In 1991 these areas problems. Their structure and car dependence contained only eight percent of the population. have contributed significantly to land and habitat degradation, adverse impacts on air and water quality, high energy use and greenhouse gas Phases of urban emissions. Case studies in this document show how some of the problems are being tackled development through cooperative ventures using ingenuity, Most Australian cities are characterized by three innovation and new technology to bring about different forms and phases of urban change. development. The first was the traditional neighborhood design in the inner areas developed in the nineteenth century and Population profile characterized by mixed uses, a housing density Australia's population of 18 million people is of 20-25 lots per hectare, extensive local predominantly urban. Forty percent of people employment and good access to public live in the two biggest cities, Sydney and transport. The second, which followed the post- Melbourne. Seventy-one percent live in the state World War Two population boom and increase and territory capitals and six other major cities in private car ownership, was further from the of 100,000 or more people. This concentration inner areas, generally with separated land uses of population is a continuing trend, with two and lower housing density of about 15 lots per thirds of population growth occurring in and hectare, but still with reasonable access to public around the five metropolitan capitals. transport. The third was the post 1960s urban form of 5-10 lots per hectare on the extending All major urban areas with the exception of the urban fringe which has become the conventional national capital, Canberra, adjoin the coast. form of suburban development. Most growth is projected to occur in the south- The present population (and percentage of The outward sprawl interstatepigrationoncountingeforjboutc40,00 stat's opultio) ofthemajo ciiesOuter urban residential development has created a Sydney 3.8 million (62 percent), cities dependent on motor vehicles, and this in p Melbourne 3.25 million (71 percent), turn is producing adverse socio-economic and e Brisbane 1.45 million (45 percent), environmental impacts. This conventional urban p Perth 1.25 million (72 percent), design has occurred typically in low-density housing estates of 10 or fewer dwellings per M Adelaide 1.08 million (73 percent). hectare in curvilinear street patterns and with difrn1om n hsso ra Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities little local employment. Residential, retail, for multi-dwelling residential units compared commercial and industrial uses are rigidly with detached houses, at over 50 percent of new separated. As cities have spread outward access dwellings. Melbourne, however, has managed to public transport has lessened. Even where to reduce significantly the proportion of housing development has generally followed heavy rail starts on the urban fringe from 80 percent of the corridors, as in North Adelaide or Melbourne, metropolitan housing total in 1991 to 60 percent or where rail service has been planned to in 1995. proceed with development such as to Cranbourne in Melbourne, the Beenleigh to Robina line in Queensland, and in Perth, most The village revisited housing is built far beyond walking distance - generally judged to be 800 meters or a 10 There is increasing interest, however, in the minute walk - from a public transport station. advantages of high quality medium density In these outer areas residents have to rely onand adoption of traditional motor vehicles for travel to work, to shop n neighborhood or 'urban village' principles both for recreational and social reasons. for new greenfields centers in finge areas and Consequently in Melbourne, for example, car are ee ea f of rban evopment, ownership rates are high at one car to 2.1 people thes vie he ay xtur of uin sops, and distances traveled are long at an average busisses a p fitie grouped aron, journey to work of 14 kilometers each way. public o p iriesgn prootes Travel within estates is similarly dependent on energy efficiency, pedestrian activity and social motor vehicles because of distances between interaction. housing and amenities such as schools and shops. Those without access to a car are There is also interest in linking water reuse and consequently disadvantaged and often socially stormwater management to traditional or urban isolated. village design. New Haven Village, near Port Some inner city renewal and infill development Adelaide, for example, integrates new energy and medium density suburban development is and water management technology, focusing on occurring, but most development in Australian eer in hhe desiy hoig adr cities is taking place on the urban fringe. About str water. 90 percent of urban population growth is expected to occur near or beyond the existing A major regional strategy planning process has boundaries of the major metropolitan areas up to been completed for South East Queensland, the the year 2011. Populations in the inner and SEQ2001 regional plan, to address and prevent middle ring suburbs have been declining since the planning and environmental problems the 1960s and this decline will continue potentially associated with major urban growth. primarily because of declining average Brisbane City Council has also demonstrated the household sizes. One half of all households now benefits of developing a comprehensive consist of only one or two people, yet four out Environmental Information Management System of five dwellings are detached houses, which are to assist its land use planning process. These often unsuitable for the needs of elderly couples matters are examined in the case study Planning and singles, sole-parent families or couples for South East Queensland. without children. Sydney has achieved the highest increase in the proportion of approvals 2 Integrated land use and Economic and transport systems employment trends No Australian government has developed a Australian cities have traditionally provided the comprehensive strategy designed to integrate majority ofjobs and employment growth in land use and transport planning. Brisbane City manufacturing and service industries. Council has adopted a Traffic Reduction Plan Manufacturing, based largely in the cities of based primarily on 46 kilometer of designated Sydney and Melbourne or nearby cities with bus lanes, and an expanded commuter rail resource-based industries, has provided most of network. This strategy aims to reduce the the country's exports. Job generation, proportion of car trips from 75 percent to 60 particularly in Sydney, Wollongong, Newcastle, percent and increase public transport use from Melbourne and Geelong, has depended heavily 8.5 percent to 17 percent of trips by 2011. The on the strength of the manufacturing sector, Victorian State Government has released a draft both for its contribution to employment and its Transport Strategy which contains public large share of net exports overseas and transport incentives but which also proposes interstate, which support the services sector as construction of an outer ring expressway, well as providing export income. improved road-based freight access, and New South Wales, specializing in basic metal development of expressway interchanges. This products and chemicals, and Victoria, will inevitably lead to increased road use and specializing in textiles, clothing, footwear and road-induced outer suburban development. transport equipment, dominate Australian Large expansions of expressway networks are manufacturing. Victorian manufacturing under way in. Sydney and Melbourne. Car travel contributes 18 percent of the state's employment dominates motorized travel and is increasing and still makes the largest contribution to gross faster than population growth. Even in state product at more than 18 percent, compared Melbourne, with its world class public transport with public administration, defense and facilities, public transport accounts for only 6.7 community services at about 17 percent and percent of motorized groups. wholesale and retail services at 14 percent. New The Commonwealth, Queensland and Victorian South Wales manufacturing employs 14 percent governments have shown interest in the use of of the work force compared with 15 percent for assessment procedures to consider all impacts the retail trade and nine percent for the property before proceeding with road projects. However, and business services sectors. Australian governments are not using a strong The efforts being made by these traditional mix of regulatory, pricing, investment, manufacturing industries to introduce cleaner organizational or marketing measures to reduce production methods, is outlined in the case road travel demand. Policy measures such as the study, Cleaner Production in Victoria. United States Intermodal Surface Transport Efficiency Act or the United Kingdom 'package approach,' which apply funding mechanisms to achieve transport, environmental, or land use The relative importance of manufacturing, outcomes, are not used. Even relatively simple however, is declining, losing 12.1 percent of its regulatory mechanisms such as effective controls jobs in New South Wales between 1988-1993. over central city car space provision are Its contribution to Gross Domestic Product generally not in place. (GDP) declined from 25.8 percent in 1964 to Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities 14.7 percent in 1992-93, and these figures have between 1981 and 1991, 338,000 were outside remained steady (Table 1). Between 1974 and the central cores of cities, often far from public 1996, Australia lost 400,000 manufacturing transport, while the city cores' increase was only jobs, 170,000 of these in Victoria; and 12,000. Jobs are tending to follow population manufacturing output grew by only 33 percent. distribution, occurring in major regional Job generation in Australia is now primarily in shopping centers, in strip retail and light the service sectors in the major capital cities. industrial developments along major arterial Financial, property and business services roads, in new industrial parks in developing contribution to GDP, for example, has almost areas and in small home-based industries. The doubled in that time to 13.6 percent. proportion ofjobs in city cores has fallen from In Queensland the same trend is evident, with 27.5 percent to 24.2 percent. Most of these new jobs have been in the social, producer and the cpersonal services, transport and 12500 J acommunication, accompanied by a loss of 115,000 trade and 100, 000 operator and driver jobs. The r s i ndecentralization of jobs is leading to an increase in car ownership, longer average trip lengths, a dramatic fall in public ftransport mode split with cross-tor ar 1964 1992-1journeys replacing (Percentage) The dominant design model of Australian manufacturing falling from 14.8 percent of gross cities is a network of state product to 1 2.2 percent in the 10 years suburbs fostering decentralized employment preceding 1992-93. Financial services made a dependent on private motor vehicles and long smaller contribution than in the south-eastern road-based home-to-work journeys. Yet there states, but the levels of tourism, community and ar Ctognwemrigepometadsca other services was high. The combined growth trends based on home-based, or part-time work ofjobs in Brisbane and Perth at 25 1,000 in the integrated with local neighborhoods and decade to 1991 comfortably exceeded that of especially suited to areas near public transport. Sydney and Melbourne's 221,000 new jobs. There is an obvious mismatch here which land trnuse planners are not acting upon. The trend to te pro retin h apart-time employment is related to the change in environmental impacts. Of new jobs created composition of the workforce, with women 4 gaining 80 percent of the net increase in new class one indicators (ozone, nitrogen dioxide, jobs and rising to 43 percent of workforce in carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, particles and 1991. The redesign of suburban centers as lead). Substantial freeway and arterial road higher density mixed use activity areas focused construction now occurring in Australian cities on accessible local employment linked to public will inevitably increase vehicle use, which has transport is more consistent with these emerging the potential to significantly affect air quality. trends. Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth either have or are establishing sophisticated air monitoring systems based on Environmental issues emissions inventories, modeling and airshed studies. The Bureau of Transport and Urban encroachment Communications Econom'cs estimates that improvements in new passenger vehicle and fleet Urban development has destroyed and modified average fuel economy will reduce passenger habitat over large areas, causing species vehicle emissions. Emissions from expected extinction and decline. In all cities only small growth in truck numbers, however, will increase remnant areas of original forest woodland and substantially. Road traffic is increasing by about grassland remain. In Sydney, for example, less two percent a year. than one percent of the original blue gum forest and less than five percent of native vegetation in While gree e o in CO e western Sydney remain. This loss has caused the equivant ar e peet decle extinction of at least seven species of terrestrial 1991 and 2015 by inerntile fauna and endangered most remaining species. e ae high by in tiona stadrs Wetlands and coastal vegetation such as Aeaefe cnm i o mrv ewe manrvs av coal begetin sveel actd 1971 and 1991. Australia's fuel consumption for mangroves have also been severely affected. new passenger vehicles at 8.9 liters per 100 About 40 percent ofkilometers is one of the worst of the OECD in south-eastern Queensland between 1974 and 1989. Urbanization has contributed significantly Untries and aabl Th the to the loss of more than 60 percent of coastal United Saes ermay and wapan. te aer vegetation in southern and eastern Australia.onrafulenmyatws123iespr vegeatin i sothen an eater Autraia.100 kilometers in 1991 and is expected to still Australian cities also exert constant pressure on be 10.6 liters per 100 kilometers in 2005, just valuable agricultural land. Some of the country's below the United States figure for the late 1980s richest agricultural soils are on the fringes of (Table 2). A 1991 Senate Standing Committee large cities, but they are constantly being lost to report recommended a minimum new passenger urban encroachment. In Melbourne, for instance, vehicle standard of 8 liters per 100 km by 1998. prime agricultural land in Werribee South and Estimates of 6.5 liters per 100 km by 2005 are the Dandenong Ranges is under renewed threat ical, but achievement of this target will of subdivision for housing, despite planning require a major change in approach by the policies aimed at their preservation which have Federal Government and intergovernmental been in place for more than 20 years. action. Air quality and transport Motor vehicles are the majwor source of air pollution in cities, as the main producers of most 5 Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities Car travel increased substantially in the 10 years exceeded fell from 120 in 1984 to 10 in 1990 to 1991. Per capita motor vehicle travel is about and declines in Brisbane and Melbourne are 20 percent higher than the OECD average. The greater. number of motor vehicle kilometers traveled in Lead emissions are also falling in major Perth, for instance, is projected to increase by 80 Australian cities because of the introduction of percent between 1991 and 2011. Carbon unleaded petrol. This trend will continue with monoxide and hydrocarbon emissions there are expected to decline but other emissions will rise. ead ons in V o or em e Particulate emissions are expected to increase by from 1988. up to 80 percent. Emission increases are also forecast for the Brisbane airshed. Major freeway Maximum ozone and airborne particles (API) building programs are under way in Melbourne levels are falling but are still high compared with and Sydney, and this emphasis on road transport acceptable levels. Both remain problems but with consequent increases in road use, have decreased in frequency and severity in congestion and fuel consumption will also add recent years in Melbourne, for which the most to urban greenhouse gas emissions. extensive data exists. There are frequent Motor vehicles account for 80-90 percent ofof the carbon monoxide emissions in Australian cities, ein ajoraAustancte (for exmp 23 40-50 percent of hydrocarbon and 50-80 oree in 1991 t her is afor lide percent of nitrogen oxides (Table 3). Carbon tretord e stringent.ozne poli monoxide levels, however, are stable or falling lel the pre ofrir ton suc because of the increasing use of catalytic bene e duene is als once b i converters and this trend will continue. The inon abutathei ls o but. number of days on which indicator levels were i nw bu hi eeso itiuin Based on diesel use trends particulate emissions could increase by . .... .between 17-30 12.5Asrlaciisbcu percent in the next 30 Maximum ozona years. Fine particles level arefallng bucarestil hihmaed deep havedecrasedinfequntolug anddsev re n recet yers n Meboure,or whcner thmos extnsie dta xiss. helare Tre e o breahes f poicyxpresedicy oersiofsthe eigt-hurvergestadarc(00peniv data for Mlboune i 199).aTeis fai oxinside trendtowads mres rinespirabne paricle levls.Thepreencofan thse idchator is knwn abut thirlee ot srbutionl Base on ieseusetren srlat eihon leeof sufreaeb diieteen 7e3 .~~eas Fine... particles.. can be inhaled deep 1991 .. 2into lungs and are a ... .....major concern to- 11.5 .. ...... .health. There are no Table 2. Australian average on-road fuel economy rate gnrlywl eo policy objectives or comprehensive data M*. i ?. 'Si' -'bases for air toxins or respirable particles 10.5 and these indicators are not routinely measured. Hfigh 10- levels of sulfur dioxide can be 9.5 recorded in industrial 19912005projctedareas but are gcenerally well below (liters per 100 kilometers) 6 greatly assisted by technological 90- improvements such as the increasing use 80. of unleaded petrol 70. and catalytic converters. Prevailing weather patterns also so0 often help maintain .. .acceptable air quality standards although 30- these patterns vary between cities. These are, however, 10- continuing breaches 0- of policy standards Carbon monoxide Hydrocarbons Nitrogen Oxides and significant emerging issues and Table 3. Motor vehicle contribution to atmospheric emissions gaps in information, in Australian cities, 1996 particularly for levels (Percentage) of air toxins and fine particles. Inevitable current one-hour and ten-minute goals. Levels increases in motor vehicle use in Australian of oxides of nitrogen may increase in the next cities pose further threats to air quality standards decade in common with other cities without major technological improvements. internationally where nitrogen dioxide is often emerging as a major pollutant. A community solution Australian cities record lower carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide levels than many United InVcoria, h elop comu i sto States, Canadian and Britishto environmental problems associated with different locations of monitoring stations near or emissions from industry, including air emissions.- away from major roads can affect results. Ozone Local government, residents' organizations and levels are comparable. For example, for the industry are participating in programs to achieve highest recorded one-hour ozone levels, Melbourne records higher peaks than Toronto ovmetsto ocl eir n T r and London. Melbourne and Sydney have more otelta C omplex Eigb rod extreme concentrations of ozone than most Co ve Group, compan Evr e United States cities, but compare favorably Improvemen plan licenen works when the comparison is based on the number of a ls, ou t p nti oAs, timesClean Air Project have all led to a major There have been improvements in air quality improvement in industry's environmental generally in Australian cities in recent years, performance. The way in which this was particularly in levels of lead, ozone and achieved is outlined in the case study Industrial visibility-reducing particles. This trend has been Pollution and Melbourne's West. 7 Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities Energy use using different means to achieve this target. The Australia has one of the world's highest per con ueyalrg vour appro person levels of energy and resource use and relying onenablingelaion. Victoach growth rates, and of greenhouse gas emissions. reynonnalglgiatn.Vcrahs growh rtes andof reehoue ga emssins. introduced a range of successful local initiatives These high levels are the result of a reliance on with a heavy emphasis on community education coal for electricity generation, high motor and small community grants. Brisbane City vehicle use and poor fuel economy, motor Council has introduced a more centralized and vehicle dependent urban structure, and low technologically advanced system, while Sydney levels of industrial, commercial and domestic relies more on differential fees and charges. energy efficiency. Australia's performance on Lack of progress in reducing garden waste, energy efficiency improvements is significantly which accounts for 16-18 percent of waste worse than its competitor countries, declining by disposed to landfill has slowed efforts to reduce about four percent from the mid 1980s to the waste disposal. Increasing mechanization of early 1990s. Industry has generally been curbside collection has generally incorporated reluctant to implement energy efficiency large rubbish bins. This has sent the wrong measures and the preferred urban form signals to householders, encouraging increased continues to promote private vehicle use. household disposal even where recycling has Despite some successful projects, governments been included in the collection system. The have not generally promoted demand capital costs of highly mechanized collection management successfully. National leadership systems are high and there is increasing concern has been lacking. The Auditor-General's reports that these systems are hampering efforts to in 1992 and 1993 and a report of the House of achieve waste reduction targets. Pay for use Representatives Standing Committee on programs by volume or weight are beginning to Environment, Recreation and the Arts in 1994 arouse greater interest. have criticized the performance of national There is slow progress in adopting effective development and implementation of energy regional waste disposal and industry waste efficiency programs. The same failure is also reduction agreements. Modest results are being apparent in national implementation of gained from recycling rates, such as diversion greenhouse gas reduction measures. A re strengthening of intergovernmental rated i brsa a 1 percent in implementation of the National Greenhouse Mern Response Strategy is needed. Much greater emphasis is needed on waste Soli wase, m nage entavoidance. There are no national or state targets Solidfor reduction at source or means of monitoring Australians are among the world's highest per the effectiveness of waste minimization person producers of waste. Victorians for strategies. As point source pollution from example, dispose of about one ton of waste per industry has gradually been regulated, attention capita a year, about the same rates as the United has turned to prevention through catchment States and Canada and well above those of management and cleaner production. The work European Union countries. of the Australia Centre for Cleaner Production, Australian governments have adopted a target of based in Melbourne shows how considerable halving the amount of waste disposed to landfill environmental and economic gains can be made by the year 2000, and have begun programs by industry through waste minimization plans. 8 Cleaner Production programs in some states cities and proliferating coastal developments, are have achieved limited results through voluntary placing serious strains on Australia's coastal industry promotion and incentive schemes. Little environments. The Resource Assessment progress is being made in small to medium Commission's Coastal Zone Inquiry reported enterprises which generally account for more that the main source of coastal problems in than 80 percent of industrial waste. Mandatory Australia was 'the continued sprawl of urban industry agreements and policies such as settlement'. The Commission estimated that at mandatory content requirements, end use pricing least 400,000 dwellings would be constructed in and differential pricing for virgin and reused the non-metropolitan coastal zone in the next materials are rarely used. Australia lags behind decade, requiring approximately 35,000 hectares best international practice on waste reduction at of land. source. It needs a national program based on The condition of bays and estuanes vanes. reduction, recycling and removal. Coastal wetlands continue to be drained and Reducing waste generation is closely linked to filled for resorts and other developments, adopting a more sustainable lifestyle, a broader leading to incremental impacts on marine life issue that has hardly begun to affect practical and fish breeding stocks. A major CSIRO study issues such as waste management. One success, into the condition of Port Phillip Bay adjacent to however, has been a major improvement in the Melbourne, a city of 3.5 million people, found in performance requirements of landfill sites. 1995 that the bay cleaned itself of large A major turnaround in the amount of concrete quantities of nutrient through the action of a sea going to landfill also illustrates the potential for bed ecosystem rich in bacteria, shellfish and improvement. In Victoria, for example, in 1991 invertebrate animals such as crustaceans. Water only 90,000 tons of concrete were recycled quality is better now than it was in the 1970s, compared to 500,000 tons sent to landfill. In due to tighter controls on discharges and better contrast, in 1995, 600,000 tons or 80 percent of waste treatment methods. Nevertheless even this the total concrete produced was recycled. bay, which remains in good condition, is finely balanced. Any additional pressure on natural These issues are developed further in the case systems could result in a sudden deterioration in study Reducing, Reusing and Recycling quality. There are large amounts of toxicants in Waste. This case study also examines the sediments in parts of the bay and introduced Melbourne curbside collection system, the work organisms threaten significant ecological change. of the Victorian Recycling and Resource Recovery Council, (RRRC) and several projects Impact of erosion and agricultural sponsored by the RRRC - a waste reduction project by Fletcher Construction, and concrete recycling; Brisbane's recycling and solid waste Agricultural practices and urban growth along management system; and new legislation for the coast or in the coastal hinterland are waste management in New South Wales. adversely affecting both terrestrial and aquatic environments. Clearing of native vegetation to Water resource management the edges of streams, and unrestricted stock access to wetlands and waterways result in large Urban areas have substantially affected the scale erosion. This was documented in the 1970s aquatic communities of their waterways and in the Victorian State of the Rivers report and its marine environments. The concentration and extent is being detailed further in State of the increase in size of urban settlements, both in Environment reports. The continued agricultural 9 Environmental innovations in Australian Cities reliance on pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers Contamination of beaches or waterways is a results in contaminated run-off which is flushed continuing problem for all Australian cities. into bays, estuaries and the ocean. These diffuse sources of pollution are largely unregulated and Inadequate sewerage systems are an increasing problem. For example, more than 85 percent of the biomass of the seagrass quality is oserea te n se.Th beds of Victoria's Westernport Bay has been ality ftmajor treams i s lost, probably due to the impact of more than afet by nsisaoy sewage tran 6.5 million cubic meters of eroded material. As Melbourne's outer south-eastern growth is areas. Melbourne's Yarra River, for example, is concentrated north of this bay, eroded material affected by E.coli levels of up to 900,000 from road and house construction will add maximum organisms per 100 ml from townships pressure. This situation is being repeated in situated on tributary streams many locations around the coast. The Great Sewerage systems can be a major source of Barrier Reef, the world's largest network of pollution. There are estimates, for example, that coral reefs, and Queensland's offshore waters up to 40 percent of sewage is lost from the have to withstand the annual impact of almost Sydney sewerage system before treatment. 15 million tons of sediment, 77,000 tons of Sewer overflows, discharges from treatment nitrogen and 11,000 tons of phosphorus. plants and breaks in old pipes significantly affect water quality. The aging of infrastructure is a Stormwater pollution serious problem in some cities which is only Many metropolitan waterways have been altered slowly being addressed. to concrete channels and others are little more The first Commonwealth State of the Marine than drains subject to periodic flooding from Environment report released in 1995 concluded hard urban surfaces. Stormwater is a continuing that coastal cities had significant effects on the major source of pollution to waterways and bays environmental quality of adjacent coastal waters. and coastal environments, due to nutrient The slow progress of many coastal towns in enrichment, sediment loads, litter, metals and adopting secondary or tertiary sewage treatment hydrocarbons from road run-off There has been or land disposal is continuing to affect many little use of improved technical methods such as coastal environments and recreation areas. gross pollution traps, settling ponds, absorbing Heavy metal pollution is an ongoing problem in surfaces and swales to reduce stormwater areas such as the Derwent River in Tasmania contamination, although some cities have used and Corio Bay in Victoria. land use zoning techniques to prevent ladus oin ehnqest reetIt is essential to incorporate measures for development on flood plains and to use them as reducing and reusing run-off in the design of retarding basins. Prevention and reuse of new areas, and to adopt best practice technical stormwater are rare. The impact of poor methods of reducing the impact of stormwater stormwater quality can be seen in the measure of and sewerage systems downstream. Some new beach contamination after heavy rain. In estates, such as Rouse Hill in Sydney, New Melbourne's 1992-93 summer season, for Haven near Adelaide (discussed in the case instance, at different times over 183 days 28 study Urban Environment Restoration), and beaches were not recommended for swimming beaces erenotrecmmened or wiming the planned new town of Gungahlin in Canberra because of high E coli levels due to are showing how these practices can be contaminated rn-off and sewage leaks incorporated into urban design. The same 10 prevention and treatment techniques need to be production of materials for urban infrastructure progressively incorporated into existing systems. are included almost one half of Australia's total greenhouse gas emissions and two thirds of Water quality improvements emissions from energy are generated in urban There have been other important successes in usr improving water quality. Canberra has reduced the impact of storm water on Lake Burley All state and territory governments and the Griffin. Sydney's Clean Waterways program Federal Government are parties to the National included a special environmental levy to help Greenhouse Response Strategy. This strategy is pay for an estimated $A6.25 billion' 20-year the key mechanism for fulfilling Australia's program to improve sewage treatment, effluent international obligations under the Framework disposal and stormwater management with Convention on Climate Change, but significant improvements already apparent. implementation is slow. Another important pilot project is the MFP Australia's greenhouse target is to stabilize Australia project involving restoration of 222 greenhouse gas emissions other than ozone hectares of wetlands in association with urban depleting substances based on 1988 levels by the development of a 2,843 hectare site. The project year 2000 and to reduce these emissions by 20 involves: percent by the year 2005. This is subject to Australian action having no net adverse * construction of a model town with increased economic or trade impacts in the absence of housing density, reduced energy and water similar action by other developed countries. The use, priority for pedestrians and cyclists and Interim Planning Target implies a 40 percent improved urban design: reduction by the year 2005 on Australia's * stormwater treatment through pollution 'business as usual' emission levels. traps and removal of pollution by wetlands The Framework Convention on Climate Change treatment, water quality management and re- also imposes commitments for emission use of water, protection of sea grass and fish reductions on Australia and other developed stocks and prevention of sea bed erosion; countries. The Convention's implied target is * diversion of 25,000 megaliters of water that developed countries will seek to stabilize annually from the Bolivar sewage treatment their emissions at 1990 levels by 2000. This works to irrigated market gardens at commitment differs from and is less stringent Virginia, substantially reducing use of than the national target in that it seeks groundwater for horticulture. stabilization at 1990 levels rather than 1988 These projects are described in the Urban levels. It is estimated that the Convention target Environment Restoration case study. would imply a 14 percent reduction by the year 2000 on business as usual emission levels. Greenouse asesAustralia is falling significantly behind progress Greenhouse gases C More than 25 percent of Australia's greenhouse required to meet these targets. The Australian gas emissions arise from urban non-transport Bureau of Agriculture and Resource Economics energy use and 10.5 percent from road transport use. When emissions from waste and some other consumption trends are extended to the year _____________________2005, Australian carbon dioxide emissions will be 53 percent higher than in 1988, not 20 aaAt start of 1997, $AUDre.0 equals US$0.79. grehuegseison1n w hrso Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities percent less, partly because Australia has one of establish a $A1 billion Conservation Trust, the world's highest per person levels of energy derived from the proceeds from the sale of one- and resource use and growth rates. third of the public telecommunication company, Australia's first national communication under Telestra. the Framework Convention showed that The Federal Government's Better Cities Australia would not meet the implied target of program has been a major attempt to coordinate stabilization. Without any abatement measures, and integrate improvements in the quality of emissions would grow by 14 percent from 1990 Australian cities. levels by the year 2000. The impact of measures The program was initiated in August 1991 contained in the National Greenhouse Response following a special Premiers' Conference on Strategy would cut that growth by half to an Federal-State Agreements to encourage urban estimated seven percent. The Federal consolidation and improve urban environments. Government estimates that additional measures The overall intergovernmental aim was to announced in its recent Greenhouse 21C improve the efficiency, equity and environmental package would further cut emissions by four sustainability of cities through better planning percent, bringing Australia to within three and management. This reform was to be percent of the implied international target. This achieved through model government, prvate would represent an estimated II percent sector and community partnerships. These reduction on the business as usual scenario. models have been demonstrated in strategic There is some uncertainty about these planning and capital funds for 26 area strategies calculations and an increasingly widespread view throughout Australia. that the estimated shortfall is significantly larger. In the first phase, the Federal Government Betterprovided $A816 million to Better Cities projects Bettr Ciiesover five years. These are scheduled to end in State governments in Australia have the 1996-97. State, territory and local government dominant legislative and administrative role in contributions brought the total public sector environmental protection. investment under the first phase Better Cities The Federal Government's environmental role agreements to about $A2.3 billion. This funding results from its constitutional powers to entersector resuts romits ons whuicha onesequ ently investment, and in the third year it was apparent into international treaties whichthat this involvement was growing. bind state governments, it power to regulate export licenses for products such as woodchips, The major objectives of the program have been and its principal role in taxation and funding to promote: matters. economic growth and micro-economic Nevertheless, state environment protection reform; authorities still tend to set the pace for * improved social justice, regulatory reform and even the recently established Federal Environment Protection Agency has been threatened with downgrading 0 ecologically sustainable development, and or abolition by the new conservative government 0 improved urban environments. in Canberra. This government has portrayed itself as being more pro-development than its predecessor, despite its move in 1996/97 to 12 The area strategic approach sought coordination total of $A200.6 million of capital funding was between urban planning and investment. made available over four years from 1995-96 Demonstration projects were intended to for the implementation of area strategies. This permanently change the way cities were planned included an allocation of $A120.0 million for and developed to integrate economic, social and area strategies in Queensland, of which $A 00 environmentally sustainable benefits. million will be used for investment in key rail- Better Cities was based on many of the based urban corridors. principles outlined earlier in this section. The An evaluation of the Better Cities program was program recognized that the nature of commissioned by the Federal Department of employment was changing, that it was Housing and Regional Development to assess increasingly urban-based and that the the program's performance, identify predominant type of urban development could improvements, and contribute the lessons critically affect Australia's ability to compete learned to the second phase. This was published internationally. For example, there is little sense in October 1995. in devoting a major effort to micro-economic reforms such as increasing transport efficiencies The 195e tioiasghamed byithe at ports if traffic congestion increases because of prgrmoij ectis oidingolm ance policies which promote rising private vehicle It showed that the program: use. Better Cities reports point to the Australian 0 in terms of its objectives was likely to Urban and Regional Development Review generate positive longer term impacts on studies which demonstrate the environmental gross national product and a modest increase costs of continued heavy reliance on road travel in employment; which low-density suburban development 0 had a mixed performance in achieving social creates. Better Cities sought improvements in justice objectives; the density, form and sequencing of urban 0 had hastened the process of institutional development for better environmental outcomes; reform and included reform objectives in better social justice outcomes; and reductions in four area strategies; the rapid pace of development at the fringes of 0 was likely to promote the adoption of cities and along the coast. The program was also environmentally sustainable development based on the principle that deteriorating environments could have adverse economic and renipes social consequences. ra inhibiting urban development in a number of In the 1995-96 budget, the Federal Government areas, particularly in reorienting urban funded a second phase of the program with an development towards public transport; initial $A247 million over six years. Projects came under three categories of national a p priorities: economic gateways; growth management in areas facing major population growth in south-east and far north Queensland, A central issue was whether the demonstration south and west Sydney, south-east Melbourne, nature of Better Cities area strategic projects and south Perth, especially urban fringe and would lead to wider applications. The evaluation coastal area; urban renewal; urban and coastal concluded that longer term benefits would environmental management; and urban design. A depend on success in encouraging a wider 1 ae3ra crios Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities application of lessons learned. It argued that population growth currently planned for the there were examples of wider application but urban fringe was accommodated in mixed also concluded that a greater marketing of activity redevelopments clustered around results was necessary and broad adoption would existing public transport routes. not occur without a change in the culture of key There have been significant environmental federal and state agencies. It proposed a successes in Australian cities over the last continuation of funding to assist this process. However, there is doubt that more funding will be available. The fact that most development in There have been significant recent improvements Australia continues as urban sprawl on the urban in most jurisdictions to environment protection fringe and along the coast poses a serious legislation. An intergovernmental agreement on challenge to the evaluation team's conclusion the environment, and other intergovernmental that the Better Cities program is an appropriate processes are in place for development of new and effective mechanism for the Commonwealth national design standards in the energy, to encourage integrated planning and transport, residential and commercial building infrastructure provision by other levels of areas; for environmental standards, in air quality, government. for example; and for broad policy development and implementation, such as for greenhouse emissions. These show promise, although Conclsionprogress to date has been slow. In general, Conclusion national environmental intergovernmental In the 30 years up to 1990, Melbourne's processes are not achieving the required results. population increased from 1.9 to 3.1 million An ongoing problem is the lack of integrated people and the size of the metropolitan area advice to government from government agencies from 1800 to 6130 square kilometers; in on environmental sustainability issues. Some general terms, a little over a 50 percent increase departments, for example, may pursue urban in population is using a three-fold increase in consolidation while others promote major land area. A similar conclusion can be drawn expansions to the road network. It is often from urban development elsewhere in Australia. difficult to gain an integrated approach to Australia cannot afford to continue this pattern transport planning let alone achieve integration environmentally, economically or socially. between transport and land use. Significant savings in energy use, greenhouse Lack of effective coordination and action at an gas emissions and infrastructure costs are intergovernmental level is perhaps the biggest possible through changes to urban form. The obstacle to achieving substantial change to the Victorian Greenhouse Neighbourhood Study environents of Australian cities. showed that savings of up to 57 percent of However, there are other constraints. Business transport energy use, 26 percent in household and industry interests maintain a strong influence heating and cooling and $A1 1,745 per dwelling on government and this often prevents the in infrastructure costs, could be saved by application of the most successful mix of policy adopting traditional neighborhood urban forms. measures. Australia's position as the recent The Victorian Urban Village Study showed Conference of the Parties to the Climate Change savings of up to 10 percent from the business as Convention, when only Australia and OPEC usual scenario in fuel consumption and in carbon countries opposed the final declaration, dioxide emissions from vehicle use and in household heating and cooling, provided 14 illustrated this influence, particularly that of the coal industry. The development industry maintains a strong influence over urban design and the continued use of energy-inefficient housing and large lots on the urban fringe dependent on motor vehicles. Government road agencies and private transport interests have successfully promoted further large scale road construction and helped prevent the introduction of best practice fuel efficiency standards. Australian industry lags behind many international competitor countries in energy efficiency and product design. Agricultural interests continue to successfully oppose an effective national policy to prevent broadscale native vegetation clearance. A number of recent reports, including the Australian State of the Environment 1996 report have shown that land and water degradation, particularly in the Murray Darling Basin, will worsen under the range of currently employed measures. The privatization or corporatization of key government enterprises, particularly the electrical industry, is in general proceeding without adequate environmental safeguards. The influence of non-government environment organizations on government decision making has continued to wane. Surveys of public attitudes generally continue to rate economic issues above environmental ones in the short term, but to reverse this order for the long term. There is an increasing emphasis on the use of voluntary measures and to a lesser extent funding powers to address urban and environmental problems in place of a broad policy mix. This is hampering the achievement of environmental outcomes. Nevertheless, although many environmental trends are worsening, some creative and pioneering initiatives have been undertaken to address environmental problems. Some of the most interesting of these initiatives are described in the following case studies. 15 Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities case study looks at three of these projects: NIFP's wetlands' restoration scheme - one of SYNOPSIS OF THE FIVE the largest urban wetlands' redevelopments CASEattempted anywhere in the world the piping of CASE S UDIEStreated wastewater 14 kilometers from Bolivar sewage plant to market gardens at Virginia; and urban development of a derelict site, where a 1. Industrial pollution and model village showcases new energy, water and Melbourne'swaste management technology that ensures Melbo rne'swestmaximum savings for residents and minimum This case study examines complementary impact on the environment. initiatives taken by local government, The projects attempt to create a model for community and resident organizations in the industrial suburb of Altona in Melbourne's west. ofteatuaine, reoure usecn These initiatives led to major improvements in urbar loen t the levels of pollution being emitted to air and water and the provision quality open space in The wetlands' restoration involves reclamation this industrial heartland. They illustrate very of coastal saltmarsh and mangrove forests in an successful examples of consultation and area which had largely acted as a city dump for cooperation between the community, industry more than a century. The wetlands are being and government to achieve improvements to the used to treat polluted stormwater so that less urban environment. waste is pumped into the Port Adelaide River Three projects are examined: the establishment ry of the Clean Air Project by the City of Altona; meent in Austra res o ce establishment of the Altona (Chemical) Complex restore t Arai once gain Oe Neighbourhood Consultative Group and trn hiara wide vai oilr a company-level Environment Improvement Plans; fauna and the development of a local environmental committee and network called Habitat. The Virginia pipeline, which will transfer treated Thewastewater from Bolivar sewage plant fourteen organizations and local councils canmmit kilometers to the Virginia market gardens, will nworganatin aloalncouncis cawnrvd also result in better resource use, especially as new coordinating arrangements between br ae upisaebigdpee ta different levels of government, industry and unsustinabeprae a Vrin Tepee will academic institutions, and develop their own localensure that less harmful nutrient levels prevail in development. the estuary, which will in turn assist the process deveopmnt,of making the urban redevelopment of adjacent sites more attractive and viable. 2.New Haven Village near Port Adelaide is a 2. Uran e viro mentmodel for future housing developments on the restoration very large MFP site, where building is now MFP Australia is undertaking major viable because of the environmental environmental improvement projects in rehabilitation projects. Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. This 16 3. Cleaner production in 4. Reducing, reusing and Victoria recycling waste This case study examines the work of the The Recycling and Resource Recovery Council Australia Centre for Cleaner Production, a in Victoria aims to reduce by half the amount of national body made up of representatives from solid waste going to landfill by the year 2000. industry, government and academia. It outlines The case study examines a range of successful the initiatives of the Victorian Environment local initiatives which have resulted in a world- Protection Authority and Department of Small class level of community participation in Business which preceded and complement the recycling programs, including the voluntary work of the Centre, and the move from control curbside collection system, company waste to prevention of pollution at source. It also minimization and recycling projects, and examines some cleaner production innovations community and consumer education programs. undertaken by participating Australian It shows that recycling schemes which are companies and records the benefits derived from largely voluntary and technologically them, showing how considerable gains can be unsophisticated, can achieve results comparable made by industry by improving production to more expensive or compulsory systems. methods and minimizing waste. The case study examines some of the major The study demonstrates how very modest policy issues that have arisen with recycling government programs with small loans, limited programs. Various financial schemes are financial assistance and limited time commitment examined, including the small landfill levy, from staff can have a big impact in promoting grants to community projects and financial cleaner production methods by industry. These incentives to local government to overhaul their modest efforts can grow into a national waste collection contracting systems. coordinating program and a national center, The largely voluntary approach in Victoria encouraging strong voluntary participation by which relies on enabling legislation, voluntary industry itself curbside collection and non-mandatory industry The study also shows that demonstration waste reduction targets, is compared with the projects alone are unlikely to lead to the more centralized and technologically advanced mainstream adoption of cleaner production system being implemented in Brisbane City, and methods by industry, even when cost savings the greater reliance on differential fees and may be available. Environment Improvement charges used in Sydney. Plans, which are examined in the case study on The study shows that largely voluntary recycling Industrial pollution and Melbourne's West, schemes, with a heavy emphasis on community and which involve both the community and the education and small-scale community grants, can EPA in a formal watchdog role, are proving a be very successful in increasing the rate of more effective framework for encouraging the recycling and reducing the level of solid waste adoption of cleaner production methods. going to landfill. The limitations of a non- mandatory approach are also made apparent. Some maor issues highlighted include getting correct price signals for collection and disposal of waste, and encouraging the development of markets for recovered resources. Certain 17 Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities industries, such as the construction industry, are major contributors to landfill waste, and the study shows how successful waste minimization programs can be implemented at an industry and company level. 5. Planning for South East Queensland This is a record of the process and outcome of designing a regional plan for South East Queensland, Australia's fastest growing region, and the specific initiatives of Brisbane City in protection of the urban environment. Local, city and State governments worked with communities and interest groups in designing a regional plan with a strong open space and environmental protection focus, to address a region where there is strong population growth and migration and where jurisdictional and legislative arrangements have been loose. The process has attempted to be cooperative and inclusive. The case study also looks at Brisbane City's approach to developing a sophisticated, comprehensive but user friendly Environmental Information Management System to help with land use planning. 18 éA MINDUSTRIAL POLLUTION AND MELBOURNE'S WEST ............~ xx ;. . . i pjon - %.,  INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION AND MELBOURNE'S WEST Complementary initiatives by local Can industry and community co-exist, not just government and residents in the reluctantly, but with enthusiasm and pride? industrial suburb of Altona in This question has been posed many times since Melbourne's West have achieved 1989 in the City of Altona (now part of the City of Hobsons Bay) in the western suburbs of major environmental Melbourne, Australia. improvements. The western suburbs have long been viewed as This case study shows how a local the 'wrong side of the river', an industrial governmentwasteland and home to factory workers, govlenmeth and vi co muit strugglers and newly arrived migrants. influenced the behavior of multinational chemical and Altona is situated on Port Phillip Bay in the petroleumsouth-western area of Greater Melbourne, which petrleu indstres,causng hemhas a population of about 2.5 million. Altona has to lift their environmental 38,000 residents living next to the largest performance and dramatically petrochemical complex in the southern reduce air and water pollution. It hemisphere. shows how residents, community During the 1980s the Altona municipality organizations and different levels received 800 resident complaints about the of government can work with environmental performance of the complex. The indutryand cadmicinsttutonsnumber of complaints peaked in 1989, when a industrysubstantial section of the community was to develop their own local and expressing dissatisfaction with perceived risks to regional plans for sustainable health from air, water and noise pollution, and development. outrage following several spectacular industrial accidents involving suspected carcinogens. It also looks at the development of It aso ooksat he dvelpmen ofFrom 1989, under intense pressure from the an unusual open space project in local residents, several initiatives were instigated an industrial heartland, which aims by industry, government and community groups. to change the image of These form the basis of this case study. They Melbourne's western suburbs. were aimed at improving dramatically the pollution performance of industry in Altona, while changing attitudes and developing commitment and trust through greater openness, better communication and the provision of more information. The initiatives included the Altona Clean Air Project, formation of the Altona Complex Neighbourhood Consultative Group, and the 21 Environmental innovations in Australian Cities Habitat Project. They mark a turning point in the complex. With the exception of one area with relationship between polluting industries and the about 300 residents, there are 1-2 kilometers of local community in Altona, and hold the promise open fields providing a buffer zone between of a far more harmonious approach to economic industrial plants and houses. development and environmental protection in Other industries sited in and around Altona this most unlikely showcase of environmental include meat processing, general metalworking performance. and engineering, and many small industries. Toyota recently established a large automotive manufacturing plant in Altona, producing cars Industry, pollution and for both local and export markets. community unrest The petrochemical[ complex was established in M Altona 30 years ago, following the building of an By 1989 relations between the local community, oil refinery in 1948 (now the Mobil Altona the petrochemical industry in Altona and the Refinery). This refinery supplies feedstock for the western suburbs generally were at boiling point. petrochemical industry, a carbon black factory and In October 1989, the Sunday Age newspaper ran about 13 percent of Australia's needs for gasoline, a full page feature article which declared the jet fuel and bitumen, using crude oil mostly from threat of accidents and made the Altona the Bass Strait offshore fields. petrochemical complex the State's 'Number One Major international companies with plants or interests in or near Altona include BASF, Other newspaper articles reported EPA Hoechst, Dow, ICI, Mobil, Exxon, Geon crackdowns at the complex, and chronicled the Australia (BF Goodrich), Huntsman Chemicals Diary of a Polluter, the violation record of (Chemplex), British Oxygen( CIG), Cabot and Petroleum Refineries Australia (PRA). The others. Some of these companies, namely Diary included the following entries: Kemcor, BASF Australia Ltd., Dow Chemical Penalty imposedfor Water Pollution. A separator (Aust.) Ltd., Auseon Ltd., and Hoechst pit used to separate oil and water overflowed Australia Ltd. are located on one large industrial causing oil to flow into Hobsons Bay. 26 estate known as the Altona Chemical Complex. January 1984 These companies and the Altona Chemical Penalty imposedfor Water Pollution of Complex are described in detail later in this case Williamstown Beach in May 1984 A leaking study. The complex makes a significant pipeline resulted in oil getting into the contribution to the Victorian and Australian stormwater system and ending up on the beach. economies, accounting for 44 percent of the 27March 1985 output of the basic chemicals sector in Victoria Penaltyfor Air Pollution. Offensive odors caused in the early 1990s. It provides 2000 jobs directly by the processing ofMiddle East crude which and a further 8000 indirectly in service has sulfur content 10 to 30 times greater than industries. local crude. 7April 1986 The Altona petrochemical industry has been Penaltyfor Water Pollution into Hobsons Bay. 3 developed over several decades, regulated by June 1986 planning controls of both state and municipal Penaltyfor Air Pollution. Offensive odors caused governments. At the same time considerable residential expansion has taken place around the 22 In May 1989, the Melbourne Age ran the following feature. MOTHER WORRIES FOR FAMILY IN THE PATH OF POLLUTION Mrs. Lyn Bjelan,. of Altona West, says she is afraid to open her windows because of the air outside. Even on summer nights when her family sleeps, the windows remain shut because odors from nearby petrochemical plants are worse at night. On still days Mrs. Bjelan said a choking chemical smell hangs under the verandah of her home in Hammond Street. It hangs over the suburb until south-westerly winds blow the smell over Footscray and on to central Melbourne. When the odors have become unbearable, Mrs. Bjelan has bundled her children into the family car and driven out of the area. Penalty for Air Pollution. Offensive odors caused Altona Environmental Action Group was by the release of unburnt gasses after flare formed and stormy meetings of residents in their pilots extinguished at the start up by excessive hundreds were taking place in the municipality. steam. 18 June 1987 The groups were also becoming more Penalty for unlicensed discharge into bay. 12 confrontational, disrupting shareholder and October 1989 council meetings. Penalty for pollution of Port Phillip Bay. Steel The environmental group Greenpeace chose the pipeline ruptured spraying distillate 12 meters into the air causing a 4.5 km slick. 12 penguins etrocheilole s t site tlun i later found dead along Bay Beaches. 14 December 1989 late 1989, three Greenpeace members broke into the Altona complex, scaled a 70-meter tower, During this period the media reported constantly Crse an ase tebding. Tis on the health dangers of environmental pollution atracted widee coveae an als in Altona and surrounding suburbs. Stories in atteion t e A o vronental Action the local newspapers quoted the Anti-Cancer Council as claiming Altona to be one of the top Group's agenda for the west: 10 cancer areas in the State. There were reports to oppose an impending amendment to the of a mysterious white dust falling on houses and Altona Planning Scheme which would allow residents. This led to a major asbestos scare and PRA to expand its operations; resulted in a serious industrial dispute at the to stop the chemical companies and others refinery. from polluting the Kororoit Creek; *to force action on the storage of dangerous Residents up in arms chemicals on Coode Island. Resident and environmental organizations The latter issue rose to prominence later in 1991 started to become more active in their when a series of spectacular explosions and fires campaigns against the complex and refinery. The at the storage facilities on Coode Island engulfed 23 Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities most of the western suburbs and the Central this mechanism proved to be the most influential Business District of Melbourne in black toxic and permanent development of this period, and fumes. This emergency underlined both the its work is described later in this case study. inadequacy of the facilities and their proximity The Altona Clean Air Project was premised on to residents, led to public inquiries and the the belief that community consultation and government decision to transfer the chemical liaison were the most effective way to approach storage facility at the cost of several hundred conflict resolution and sound environmental million dollars. decision making. The objectives of the project were fourfold: The Altona Clean Air . Better environmental performance, with The fewer incidents and greater progress in Project reducing emissions and odors. In 1989 the then City of Altona responded to the 2. More openness in provision of information growing environmental and health concerns of about performance and plans. residents by establishing the Altona Clean Air 3. More information to be published in media Project with funds provided by the Victorian accessible to the community, including more Health Promotion Foundation from a new levy air monitoring data and more information on on tobacco sales. emission sources. The city started by establishing a Project 4. Better communication between all parties Advisory Committee which was to meet 32 including industrial companies (on technical times over a three year period. The Committee matters), the community, the council and the had representatives from the city, from the major industries, fi-om the residents' groups and Through public meetings and a major household from the environment and health agencies. survey, the Project Committee established the These meetings were held publicly and major issues, pollutants and health effects which community members were encouraged to attend. worried the community. The pollution concerns Health and environment experts were also were about chemcal emissions from the invited to a series of forums which were complex, dust and black deposits, odors, noise, promoted widely within the community. potential explosions and toxic cloud leaks. Methods used by the Project Committee to The specific chemicals and pollutants were also communicate information to the community identified. These included vinyl chloride included regular forums, public release of study monomer, carbon black dust, polychlorinated reports, establishment of an Envirolink Column biphenyls, chlorofluorocarbons, mercaptans, in the local newspaper, distribution of magnetic sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. The major stickers advertising Environmental Complaint health effects which concerned the residents Lines, and the establishment of the Altona were asthma, cancer, birth defects and pollutants Residents Computer Access Databank at the in breast milk. Altona Library. At the same time, an Altona Complex Getting the facts Neighbourhood Consultative Group was Negbuho1osuttv=ru a Many of the specific improvements in industry's established to provide regular liaison between environmental performance were achieved industry and residents. Known as the ACNCG, through the efforts of the Atona Complex 24 Neighbourhood Consultative Group and are modeling study to assess the ground level reviewed in the next section. The achievements concentrations of four chemicals (acrylonitrile, of the Clean Air Project were in its provision of benzene, butadiene and styrene): preliminary reliable information to the public, and in findings indicated that concentrations were providing a forum for public debate on major within acceptable levels at all locations. environmental and health issues. One of the most interesting outcomes from the project was drawn to the issue of air quality in the western the extent to which many community fears and suburbs, and in a milestone for Australian anxieties proved to be exaggerated and could be allayed through effective communication. Adtr, he maj compe m public and For instance, a comprehensive Respiratory voluntary commitment to reduce their emissions Symptoms Survey relating to asthma was of volatile organic compounds to the air by 50 carried out in the project in 1992. It established percent over a five-year period. that asthma was no more a problem among At the end of the three-year Clean Air Project, children in Altona than in the rest of Melbourne. the project team assessed its success by A study of epidemiological information, reviewing the records of the well-established established a similar result for other health environmental complaints services from the City concerns, such as birth defects. of Altona (five years of records), the EPA (three A similar pattern emerged in the issue of overall years), the Altona Chemical Complex (four air quality. The EPA's Paisley air monitoring years) and the Mobil Refinery (two years). station in Altona provides hourly data for Environmental complaints had reached a peak nitrogen oxides, ozone, sulfur dioxide, non- 1988-89 (Table 4). By 1992, the number of methanic hydrocarbons and airborne particle resident complaints to various agencies and index. Careful examination of monitoring results companies was down by 70 percent (Altona since 1983, which were released to the public, Council), by 40 percent (EPA), by 30 percent disclosed that the Altona airshed was in (Altona Chemical Complex) and by 50 percent compliance with the objectives of the State (Mobil). Environment Protection Policy, except for ozone and visibility. As ozone and visibility reducing particles were the two main air Industry comes to the party pollutants throughout the whole of Melbourne, Towards the end of 1989 the petrochemical Altona was not exceptional. industry in Altona was under intense scrutiny. During the project's three-year period, ambient Under pressure from residents and the media, air quality did improve marginally, with a the Altona City Council was delaying statistically significant downward trend in the Amendment 404 to the Altona Planning Scheme frequency of visibility breaches. Trends in ozone which would allow the oil refinery to expand its were not so definite. However, there were operations. At the same time the Victorian significant improvements in the level of Environment Protection Authority was targeting emissions to air from individual companies in the industry over license arrangements. In this Altona, and their record is reviewed in the next climate, industry representatives from the Altona section. Chemical Complex seized on the The Altona Clean Air Project also commissionedfrom a report to the State Thesultants Cluerta e ir a aldspcomisioned Government prepared by a local parliamentarian. This suggested that the way through the impasse 25 Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities was to negotiate a formal consultative the auspices of elected council members, and arrangement between the chemical companies were characterized by suspicion and hostility and the local community, providing a forum for between residents and the companies. exchanging information and discussing future The ACNCG identified that the number one industry plans. priority for local residents was to reduce odors This proposal coincided with moves by the from the APC Wastewater Treatment Plant. major chemical companies in Canada and EPA records show that odor complaints from America to develop a Responsible Care Altona residents peaked at 76 for the second Program. This committed the companies to quarter of 1989. Environmental improvement becoming good corporate environmental citizens efforts by the company and the ACNCG over and preempted some of the harsh regulatory the next 18 months led to a dramatic turnaround. In the final 0 quart- quarter of 1990, the becomin good croaeevrnetlctzn efotbytecm nyndEACNC poltove Jlton ECty E vg nment Alt na M bil -10-- CoT 3Mt ate Chendi watchline registered Autt ority Cor plex only four community -20 complaints about odors from the plant. -30 - _40__ _Gaining -50-- -community so-confidence The ACNCG set out to -60- -gain the confidence of local residents. Apart -70 -from regular public meetings and elections Table 4. Change in environmental complaints of resident 1988/89 to 199111992 representatives, the (percentage) ACNCG set up a 24- hour environmental hotline at the Altona measures against them being advocated by Chemical Complex to handle resident complaints environmental and consumer groups. and requests for information. Open days and With the assistance of Altona City and the tree plantings at the complex became a regular Environment Protection Authority, the chemical occurrence, as did the publication of simple companies participated in several community newsletters publicizing the group's meetings which led to the election of local achievements. residents to the Altona Complex Neighbourhood Over the next five years the ACNCG developed Consultative Group. The ACNCG became a formal mechanism for communication between the companies, the EPA, the Altona City entity in Altona. The chemical companies Council and the local community. The first showed their commitment from the outset by meetings were held at the council offices under ensuring that their general managers attended 26 the monthly meetings, that detailed information was made available to the meetings and that community complaints were seriously addressed. The community representatives Durin , the typs of displayed their dedication by being willing to Aton, the type ofind familiarize themselves with complex and often relatively constant, despite mergers, technical issues, and to stay involved in the Consultative Group over lengthy periods. Both owrip a nmeangsTe the Environment Protection Authority and the Altona City Council came to use the ACNCG Auseon Limited is a subsidiary of the as their primary mechanism for dealing with Geon Company of the United States, environmental issues at the chemical complex. and it employs about 115 people at In February 1995 the ACNCG received an Altona manufacturing vinyl resin Achievement Award from the EPA to mark the (PVC). 25th anniversary of the Victorian Environment Hoechst Australia employs about 400 Protection Act. people at Altona (and 150,000 people in over 100 countries), and Environment improvementmanufactures polyethylene, Envionmet im rove entpolypropylene, organic pigments and plans masterbatch. In early 1993, Hoechst, BASF and Kemcor BASF employs about 70 people at began preparing Environment Improvement Altona (and 106,000 people in 170 Plans in conjunction with members of the countries), and produces polymer ACNCG. These plans outlined each company's dispersions and colorants. forward commitments for the next five years, Dow Australia (the world's fifth largest and became a formal and public contract chemical company) employs 200 between the companies, the community and the people at Altona, and manufactures EPA. An important aspect of the plans was that polystyrene resins, latex resins, the industry, community and EPA would reach polyols, propylene glycols and epoxy agreement on expansion of facilities in the resins. context of specific commitments to reduce Kemcor Australia, jointly owned by emissions to air and water. EPA licenses were Exxon and Mobil, operates three sites issued on the basis of commitments made in the in the complex. Kemcor Olefins Environment Improvement Plans. employs about 200 people and uses In 1994, the companies began making annual ethane gas from Bass Strait and gas reports to the community on progress of the oil from Mobil Altona Refinery to Environment Improvement Plans. These reports produce ethylene, propylene and illustrate both the public and regulatory employs 1 eolanpodes accountability, which is a feature of the Environment Improvement Plans. They provide synthetic rubber. Kemcor Plastics information on improved pollution performance, poy fro eedpoced as well as a record of environmental incidents from femcsrockepins. and accidents. They publish any community complaints over environmental performance, 27 Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities and record what action the company has taken to the thermal oxidizer, BASF had installed a in response to the complaints. new chiller and centrifuges which reduced the amount of pentane lost from the polystyrene BASF drying process, changed from pressure transfer Into pump transfer of dispersion products out of five years of sustained effort it had reduced the monoer ad tae unlo ings o emissions of volatile organic compounds inoded a Caner Prodin Pt which (VOCs) from the plant by 97 percent during a saved t latex dprion from goig period of 17 percent increase in plant output. into the sewer, with a benefit of $120,000 at a VOC emissions were nearly 38 tons in 1989, cost of $40,000 in new equipment and pipeline. and less than one ton in 1994 and 1995 (Table involving a ton of acrylic dispersion which was In 1993, BASF and the ACNCG launched the not registered as a hazardous or dangerous company's Environment Improvement Plan, material. The company received no community including future work plans and quarterly complaints in 1995, with plant odor being reviews of progress. The company's environmental guidelines committed the satal reducedtasivesu company 'not to give economic considerations precedence over environmental protection and safety'. BASF received the plaudits of the Hoechst Australia ACNCG for installing a thermal oxidizer at the The Hoechst five-year Environment cost of $1.6 million, rather than using less Improvement Plan committed the company to expensive and less effective methods. In addition reducing the plant's use of fresh water and its effluent by 75 percent, and reducing the 40 emission of VOCs by 50 percent, following a 60 40 percent reduction over the previous decade 35 (Table 6). 30- During the preparation of the Environment Improvement Plan Hoechst's Technical Safety 25- and Environmental Protection Manager, Dr. Ed 20____________ Jones, told the ACNCG that he had been 20 skeptical of the consultative approach when it 15 was first discussed: 'but the EIP is definitely a step along the route to decreasing our impact 10- on the environment.. the community came up with ideas we had not thought of previously'. 5 Hoechst and the ACNCG received the 1995 ORM M Im PACIA Environment Award for the Altona site 30 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 Environment Improvement Plan. Hoechst commissioned a seven million liter Table 5. Volatile organic compound emissions lagoon to contain the plant's stormwater. The from BASF lagoon was used to filter stormwater which went (tons) to Kayes Drain, and to replace fresh water 28 Hoechst also reduced its solid waste going - -to landfill by a third between 1991 and -lo- 1993. -20- .The Hoechst October 3-Z. -1995 Report to the Community listed a 4o- 0series of -5o/1 -environmental problems which had -60- .occurred at the plant -7o.4 during the year, Fresh water Volume of effluent including a major consumption going into the effluent level sewer involving the release Table 6. Change in environmental impacts at of 100,000 liters of Hoechst, 1993 to 1994 untreated water (Percentage) containing trace demand from the plant. Hoechst designed the chemicals into Kayes wastewater scheme in house using conventional Drain and downstream to the railway line. A treatment methods such as flocculation super-sucker was employed to clean up the sedimentation and filtration with state-of-the-art Hoechst site and Kayes Drain. reverse osmosis which eliminated odors and There were six community complaints in 1995, emissions. The lagoon was planted with native all relating to noise problems associated with grasses and bushes to attract native birds to the changes to the waste gas burner. area. The projects cost $A1.8 million. Problems had also been detected with low level In 1994 Hoechst won the EPA Clean Water soil contamination from (ensosulfan and Award for reducing its consumption of fresh diclfopmethyl) used in the manufacture of water by 50 percent and reducing the volume of insecticide and herbicide products. Groundwater effluent going to the sewer by 70 percent. analysis indicated a need for cleaning up the In 1994 Hoechst began design and construction contamination which resulted from past of new boilers as part of its commitment to cut VOC emissions to 500 tons by 1997 - a 60 The soil contamination was being successfully percent reduction on 1992 levels (Table 7). The curbed through treatment with hydrated lime. EIP committed the company to two projects. Five groundwater boreholes were drilled and Phase 1 involved capturing 880 tons of propane constantly monitored. Only one borehole on the and 11 tons of solvent, and burning it in boilers boundary with Auseon indicated unacceptable to produce steam. Phase 2 proposed that a concentrations of chlorinated organic further 220 tons of propane, ethylene, ethane compounds. and propylene and 17 tons of solvent be captured, depressurized and used for burning in the boilers. 29 Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities 3,000 NOx. The VOC reduction itself was from 1,296 tons in 2,50oo 1989 to 584 tons in 1994 (Table 8). 2,ooo- In 1994 the spent caustic plant was awarded the ,0-,co Environmental and Engineering Award by the 1000 Institute of Engineers and the development of the low NOx So burners on the furnaces won the Victorian EPA Clear Air Award for 1994. 1989 1991 1992 1993 1994 1997 Although the site had achieved Table 7. Volatile organic compound emissions major reductions in community from Hoechst complaints about odor, down (tons) from 165 in 1990 to 22 in 1993, the complaints rose again in 1994 to 54, because of Kemcor a series of incidents connected with a major Kemcor Olefins reduced all wastes and maintenance overhaul and persistent problems emissions from its site from 16,000 tons in 1989 with the effluent treatment system. Kemcor has to 7,279 tons in 1994. These reductions a major project near completion that is intended included VOCs, spent caustic, blue water and to resolve the effluent treatment odor problem. Kemcor released its 2,450 l Blue water Environmental Improvement 2,500 2,50 ~VoatiI orgnic Plan in 1994 which committed 2,092 EI Volatile organic - compounds the company to reducing 2,000-- M Benzene emissions of benzene and 1,558butadiene to the atmosphere 1,500 by 33 percent over three years 1,000and further reduce VOCs by 10- 722 348 646 20 percent by the end of 1997. 500 At Kemcor Elastomers overall 21wastes and emissions were 0 -- Lreduced from 1942 tons in 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1989 to 922 in 1994, despite a All wastes and emissions totaled 16,000 tons in 1989, prctinrmain down to 7,294 tons in 1994 tons of scrapped rubber now being collected and Table 8. Change in wastes and emissions from Kemcor Olefin reprocessed or sold. Benzene (tons) emissions were reduced from 30 I Volatile organic compands The Kemcor Report to the 250 ZU M Benzene Community in March 1996 N Butadiene recorded some mixed .UU.I. 190 200 results. Kemcor Elastomers ... had received accredited 150 -licensee status fr-omn the 119 115 115 119 989 EPA in December, and the All wspent caustic carbonation plant had received the 1 chemical industry's Plant of had. reeie accrdite 8 9the Year Award. But 0 operations performance, as 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 measured by accidents to All wastes and emissions totaled 1,942 tons in 1989, personnel, complaints from down to 870 tons in 1994 the community and incidents, had shown a deterioration in 1995 after Table 9. Change in wastes and emissions from Kemcor Elastomer years of steady (tons) improvement. 103 tons in 1989 to 7.5 tons in 1994, and overall VOC emissions reduced from 230 tons to 105 tons (Table 9). Kemcor Plastics, formerly Commercial Polymers, was not originally owned by Kemcor and not part of the 1990 commitment to reduce wastes and emissions by half Consequently only after 1993 did significant waste reduction begin. VOC emissions were 190 tons in 1994, down from 400 tons in 1989 (Table 10). This reduction was achieved through a leak detection and repair program (60 tons saved), upgrades of pump and compressor seals (55 tons saved) and connection of various vents to the flare system (38 tons saved). Serious problems persisted with elevated flares, smoke and odors and the company committed itself to rectifying the flare during a shutdown for maintenance. The company estimated that better hydrocarbon recovery systems and improved reliability would reduce the use of elevated flares and 125 tons of emissions each year. 31 Environmental innovations in Australian Cities The Kemcor sites recorded 32 community year by 1999. A $A1 million environmental complaints in 199:5, mainly involving concerns project to reduce odors from the Olefins with flares and odors. Most complaints related wastewater treatment plant was well advanced. to a three-day flaring incident caused by the It involved reducing volatile hydrocarbons by boilers being shut down and restarted. Kemcor recycling six streams within the process. reported to the ACNCG that its community In February 1995 Kemcor was the first survey of the community had shown that the individual company to sign an Industrial Waste purpose and impact of flares was Reduction Agreement with the Victorian EPA. misunderstood, and it committed itself to a The agreement committed Kemcor to achieving major community awareness program in 1996 to plastic milk bottle collection, recycling and allay community fears. recycled resin rates of 50 percent by the end of Odor complaints about the effluent treatment 1995. The company achieved a 53 percent plant and ponds were also significant in 1995. recycling rate. Kemcor's most important Environment Kemcor continued to manage the free Improvement Project is to eliminate these odors environmental action telephone line for the by 1996. Ironically, seven odor complaints resulted from efforts to reduce the buildup of complex, cnducd ant rfrhe odorous material in the stormwater ponds. The cmity andoschools a ris hd a cleaning procedures combined with the weather to produce unacceptable odors in the neighboring community. Auseon and Dow Australia In its March 1996 Report to the Community, The Auseon Company and Dow Australia, have Kemcor committed itself to achieving world best also been active on the Altona Complex practice of no more than five odor complaints a Neighborhood Consultative Group. Both companies were party to the earlier voluntary commitment to reduce RAdl Wastes and the emission of volatile emissions organic compounds by rEVolatie organic 50 percent, and both 1,400compundssucceeded (Table 11). 1,200 .. Auseon Ltd. was the 1,0001 first company to 800r otiud omintroduce the practice nih iof Annual Community 600A Reports, and has also been very effective in practic ofno mdeveloping a water 20nies were.party to recycling program, which has reduced 01 water usage from 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994aprxmtl102 kiloliters per ton of Table 10. Change in wastes and emissions vinyl resin to 3 from Kemcor Plastics kiloliters per ton. (tons) 32 the problem, which formed the basis of ISO both a public document and draft 160- management plan submitted to the EPA. 160 Auseon argued that expert risk 140- assessments indicated that there were 120- minimal risks to human health from the groundwater contamination. 100 80 A critical view so Pollution abatement, environmental 40- improvement and better community 20- relations are cited by many sources as major achievements of the Altona 0Complex Neighbourhood Consultative 1988 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 Group and the public Environment Table 11. Volatile organic compound emissions Ivie t ctzns. rersenatie who from o s have been elected to the Group over the . (tons) past five years, the companies themselves, the Environment Protection Authority and The Auseon Company and Dow Australia have the officers of the City of Hobson Bay. followed the other companies in the Complex in But this sanguine view is by no means universal. developing Environent Improvement Plans and Some environmental organizations continue to qualifying for new measures such as accredited argue that many of the improvements are not licensee status. Both companies embarked on substantial, that the companies have only acted these initiatives in 1995. when forced to do so by public embarrassment In 1994-95 strong community concern with and confrontation, and that fundamentally the Auseon and Dow emerged over the issue of chemical companies cannot be trusted. Two groundwater contamination and seepage. Both groups have continued to campaign vigorously companies undertook a range of studies and against the chemical companies and to be largely reports in 1995 for the EPA and the ACNCG, dismissive of the ACNCG. One of these is which established the existence of groundwater HAZMAG, a local action group which has been contamination on both sites. Dow closed two very influential in alerting the community to the surface impoundments in response to the audit. existing and potential dangers posed by chemical manufacture and storage in the western suburbs. Fruth ter s ndited th cnt,ainte The group gained widespread credibility in the g d wn community when its warnings were realized in company was negotiating with the EPA oha n ee o e u r pindustrial accidents and fires throughout the The contaminated groundwater problem was western suburbs. gTehe Auseon Company . te hany Greenpeace Australia has also continued to be a claimed that the problem resulted from e ats th n ad stron critic of the chemical companies and their gprnwtrnaiations antestebtend seepage8. th Auseon commissioned consultants' reports into environmental performance. The general views 3 3 Environmental innovations in Australian Cities expressed by these groups continue to find Minister for Conservation and the local member muted acceptance and support from broad for the seat of Williamstown. sections of the community, where the past The Premier invited interested parties, including record of neglect and ongoing environmental state and local government and industry incidents causes uneasiness and suspicion. representatives to discuss the project. The City However, residents who have been closely of Altona subsequently agreed to be the auspices involved in the processes of the ACNCG, body for the Habitat Open Space Project, a motivated by their own concerns about the small grant was made from the Victorian activities of the chemical companies, argue that Government, and a Steering Committee was the critics of the consultative process and its established. results are often grandstanding over ideological Habitat successfully involved other parties. differences, focusing exclusively on the Major industrial companies such as Toyota and negatives, or ignoring the facts. Kemcor made small grants and joined the Environmental officers employed by the Steering Committee, as did professors from both companies argue that the change in attitude and the School of Environmental Planning and behavior by the companies is not always Department of Architecture and Building at the appreciated by environmental activists. They University of Melbourne. Students of design contend that, although the companies may have prepared a detailed issues and opportunities required pressure to change their old ways and paper for the Habitat Project. may have resisted initially, good environmental The Melbourne University Study was prepared planning and practice has now become routine and institutionalized as a way of doing business, and that the company personnel are as engaged and efficient at accomplishing good environmental performance as they are with any other operational goals. good example of the new Theapproaches to economic The abitt Prjectgrowth and environmental The Habitat Project had modest in 1989 as a proposal by a community agency, the Memorial Park Trust, to set aside a small portion of its emerged in Melbourne's own land at the Altona Memorial Park western region, and a new Crematorium as open space. An enterprising consultant for the Trust began to promote the idea that the proposal should be just the start of has developed between a larger open space project embracing the entire sections of the community, valley of the Kororoit Creek from the Westgate industry, different levels of Freeway to Altona and Williamstown. After lengthy discussions with government departments and other parties, support was and educational institutions. enlisted from the Premier of Victoria, the Honorable Joan Kirner, herself a former 34 Environmental Planning. It reviewed a range of the Department of Planning and Development. earlier open space studies and identified the Kemcor Australia, one of the major companies broad physical, ecological, cultural, social and located in the Altona Chemical Complex, would scenic features of the study area and their later join the Committee. implications for planning the proposed open Habitat already had some major successes under space network. Students made detailed concept its belt. As well as the academic studies being drawings for the Kororoit Creek Valley south of undertaken by the University of Melbourne and Geelong Road and for the Altona coastline. The the Victorian University of Technology, concepts showed landscape units and other special features, and their relationships to each eloure Wte waseontbutn conidab other and the overall Habitat concept. Detailed Open Space Strategy, including efforts to designs were prepared for the Toyota site, the purchase and landscape a former quarry as part quarry site, Cherry Lake and the Altona Coastal of the development the Kororoit Creek valley, Park to illustrate the environmental, recreational and constructing a linear trail along the Kororoit and educational potential of these fragmented Creek which linked with bicycle trails along the sites. coast to Melbourne. TheMeanwhile Toyota Australia was spearheading The rojet exandsindustry support. As part of its new $420 million Habitat began to expand beyond the single focus car manufacturing plant, Toyota committed $2 on open space issues. million to landscape a buffer zone next to its When the Premier officially launched the plant to form part of the Kororoit Creek Valley expanded Habitat Project in mid-1992, it was Open Space development. already aspiring to become a regional Kemcor Australia, one of the major chemical partnership through which community, industry manufacturers in the Altona Chemical Complex, and government could participate in the matched a $100,000 contribution from the development of a city in the west which Melbourne Parks and Waterways Program to integrated open space and the environment with construct a trail around Cherry Lake. industry and urban growth. The regional focus Local community projects involved schools in now was on an area approximately 10 developing experimental wetland areas and kilometers by 22 kilometers, encompassing the seed-raising programs. These projects would municipalities of Williamstown, Altona, lead later to the development of Habitats own Werribee, Sunshine and Footscray. educational program, called Community Quality The City of Altona had provided $A100,000 to Circles, based on successful learning models the project, which was employing two used in industry. committed enthusiasts, the original consultant for the Memorial Park Trust and a former Deputy Town Clerk for Altona. The project was led by a Strategic Development Committee, chaired by the Chief Executive Officer of the City of Altona, and including representatives from Toyota, the University of Melbourne, VicRoads, Melbourne Water, the Western Region Commission, the City of Werribee and 35 Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities Champion for the West Two years after its official launch, Habitat had become a champion for the economic and Habitat had adopted its environmental development of the entire own official philosophy Western Region stretching down to the and philosopher. Much to provincial city of Geelong. his surprise, Geoffrey The Habitat members argued that the West's future was either 'Disaster'. or 'Showcase', and Kesteven, a retired former set a course to realize the latter. Sir Ninian scientist with the Stephen, former Governor-General of Australia, Commonwealth Scientific supported Habitat's attempt to demonstrate how to achieve both sustainable urban development and Industry Research and necessary economic growth, and accepted Organization and former the role of official patron. adviser to the United Habitat organized a bus tour of the region by Nation's Food and prominent Federal Government Ministers and politicians, promoting the area as Terra Agricultural Organization, Incognita, because of the supposed past failure found an article he had to recognize the region's rich resources and published in 1968 being economic importance. When the participation of publshedthe Federal NIinisters was announced so many reproduced by Habitat as state and local officials queued up to join the its guiding philosophy. inspection that one tour bus proved inadequate. This philosophy begins As part of this effort to alter perceptions, the with a recognition that tour party visited the Werribee Sewage Treatment Complex, renamed 'Jewel of the human development will West' by the Habitat members. They were inevitably change the informed that this complex, which treats 70 environment. It maintains percent of Melbourne's sewage, was the largest land-based biological sewage treatment system that the task is not to in the world, with some impressive examples of oppose development, but environmental sustainability, leading edge buil a rlatinshi oftechnology and smart biology. It was argued to build a relationship of c to that this complex offered vast wildlife, tourism, appreciation and aquaculture and agricultural benefits on an stew rdshp fo theinternational scale. lt also contained a major lost stewardship for the resource, since the treated water was finally environment and natural released into the Bay rather than being diverted resources on behalf of into the thirsty inland. future generations. The appropriate reuse of this large volume of water has become a major aspiration of the Habitat Projectm which is presently sponsoring some promising experiments in fast-growing 36 trees which thrive in high nutrient wastewater. If government working closely together on a these experiments and subsequent pilots fulfill locally initiated project is also a major their promise, Habitat and its industrial members accomplishment. Another strength of Habitat is are optimistic that a major new commercial the involvement of the major universities, their venture for the West will result. professors and students in carrying out free Habitat staff also became involved in transport research into a local region's environmental and issuestaff economic issues. It is an even greater coup to isuen Ring od the et.Thy ritatin the have the nation's leading scientific and industrial Western Ring Road, the modernization of the research organization undertaking sophisticated interstate rail line, the presence of the National eniomtasudsadecoicoelg Freight Centre and developments at the ports of eproet. the enhsasnorit of Melbourne and Geelong meant that the West deserved far more attention for its pivotal role in e t g i y thesubstantial involvement of the other sectors. thelecounmie atutreo.h iyo Academics are attracted to Habitat because it Melbourne. gives them access to industry, and vice versa. The new regional and developmental role being played by Habitat was recognized when one of the Habitat officers was appointed as the West's representative to the State Government's Habitat has taken an integrated approach to Melbourne Metropolitan Strategy Reference environmental protection in the West. It has Group. This appointment in particular avoided single issue or oppositional recognized the work being undertaken by environmentalism, and has promoted the Habitat to articulate a Transport Strategy for the economic growth of the region as well as Region. environmental sustainability. Habitat has emphasized the linkages - open What makes Habitat work? space with transport planning, water conservation and quality, wetland protection and Involving many groups and so on. specialists The Habitat Project is an impressive network bilding consensus which has attracted the involvement and commitment of many different mainstream philosophy and a long term vision for the region. groups and interests. The contributors are highly It h bnoeen an d n respected and influential people who represent diverse constituencies. The Project has in l overcome traditional demarcation lines and achievements. As its own members put it, its institutional barriers which have often proved ambitions seem so unlikely to succeed that no insurmountable in similar circumstances. The one's security is threatened and no one feels Habitat Project has provided a lateral approach their turf has been invaded. to some old, thorny issues. Habitat has not attempted to reproduce other The involvement of leading industrialists from people's work or generate vast new resources companies such as Toyota and Kemcor in a for the task, preferring to reorient agency community environment project is critical to priorities and rework existing budgets. Research Habitat's strategy. To have all three levels of is conducted by universities and scientific 37 Environmental innovations in Australian Cities organizations from their existing budgets and industrial wasteland where people live because funds obtained from industry have often been they have no other choice. redirected from existing corporate promotion Habitat has presented the West as a potential accounts. showcase for sustainable urban development, and an area with unrecognized natural assets. Changing the image Habitat has presented the choice for West as Habitat has had two dedicated project officers being a disaster waiting to happen or an arena with considerable entrepreneurial skills. These for a new level of cooperation between workers have become vital cogs in the network traditional opponents and the birthplace of a of agencies and projects operating in the new level of thinking about development. Western Region, acting as ambassadors for Habitat has combined concrete results in Habitat, for sustainable development, and most environmental improvements with a concerted importantly, for the industrial suburbs of attempt to change the way people think. This is Melbourne's West. Together with their Board a tricky balancing act, combining a broad view they have concentrated on bringing about a with fine practical details, vision and philosophy change in the way the community views the with tangible outcomes. This remains one of its western suburbs. The traditional view has been greatest challenges. that it is the rump of the city, across the river, an In 1994, Habitat organized the Altona Sustainable Development Congress, which attracted major national contributors from government, industry and academic institutions, as well as many representatives from the local communities. The Congress addressed the issue of how a change towards a sustainable urban industrial city could be managed by the stakeholders who comprised the Habitat Project. It also focused national attention on what would previously have been considered a most unlikely candidate for nomination as a model region for environmentally sustainable urban development. According to key members of Habitat, it was through the Congress that the vision and mission of Habitat itself began to crystallize. Geoffrey Kesteven who spoke at the Congress, later wrote: It is aot the role of Habitat to design or undertake any substantive developmental project, such as housing, or welfare or pollution abatement Habitat can promote and refine thinking about development and assist the community in its choice of the direction to be taken by each change. 38 Although the advocates for the Habitat Project argue that its greatest contribution is to change the way people think, its critics find the whole approach too fuzzy. Critics argue that the Habitat Project is not tangible enough, and that it should concentrate on specific outcomes and incremental improvements. Habitat members reply that although not every good idea has come to fruition, they have never stopped producing specific outcomes and incremental improvements. Five years after its inception, Habitat is planting an urban forest along Cherry Creek, in Altona; establishing a Friends Group at Cherry Lake, and establishing a wetland's walk to raise community funds for wetland's rehabilitation works; working with students from the University of Melbourne's Environmental planning Faculty in developing open space designs for Geelong Grammar School; lobbying for Avalon Airport to be built up as a Freight Hub for Clean Food Export; and working with a local youth unemployment program in gaining sponsorship from local service clubs to develop the Altona Miniature Railway. 39  URBAN ENVIRONMENT RESTORATION "....... Transforming A Wasteland Tonen; Island - Defence Science f - -and Technolog, b 0 : 3Garden (SalisburV> sland. ium7, S * unrueLsdcý sovi Crand iunction Rd City of, Adelaide NORTH Adelaide - International Aiport %cience Park Fl,nders Univrs, and .FL..÷ t1r, Medical Centre - d ;  URBAN ENVIRONMENT MFP Australia, a visionary business RESTORATION consortium established with funds Transforming a Wasteland and involvement from State and MFP Australia is transforming a large Federal governments, is environmentally degraded area to the north of undertaking a series of major Adelaide with innovative projects involving: environmental initiatives in reclamation of coastal saltmarsh and Adelaide, the capital of South mangrove forests, which have largely acted as a Australia. They involve large-scale city dump for more than a century, and the wetlands restoration, the piping of creation of stormwater treatment wetlands to treated wastewater 14 kilometers protect the marine environment; from Bolivar sewage plant to 0 a waste water re-use project which will markt gaden at irgnia,andsustain an export horticulture industry, recharge market gardens at Virginia, anddepleted aquifers and save further degradation urban development of a 2,843 of an important fish nursery; hectare site. hectre ste.construction of a village to serve as a These initiatives are noteworthy, model for its much larger urban development first, because of their ambitious site, in which improved design and some smart technology has increased housing density, scale; second, because of the integrated services, given preference to leading-edge technologies pedestrians and cyclists over the car, and incorporated in the projects, reduced energy and water use. including the computer modeling The site of these ambitious projects consists of of long-term tidal fluctuations and 2,843 undeveloped hectares next to the coastal the method of filtration and environment of Barker Inlet and the Port disinfection by ultraviolet radiation Adelaide River estuary, on MFP Australia's core usedto mke swag saf forusesite 9-12 kilometers north-west of Adelaide's used to make sewage safe for usedistrict. on market gardens; and third, This foreshore was once covered in thick because of the attempt to create a bushland and mangroves; seagrasses matted the model for an integrated, estuary floor, which acted as an important fish sustainable, cost-effective nursery. But the site fell victim to the approach to protecting the natural carelessness often characteristic of urban environment, resource use and development. Mangroves were cut down, the area was made barren and used as a dumping ground for industrial waste, old car bodies, tires and other rubbish. Untreated stormwater and discharges from two sewage treatment works containing nutrients, contaminants and heavy metals poured into the nearby sea. Tidal movements washed excessive nutrients back into 43 Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities the estuary, causing algae to blanket the water sewage treatment plant (see Map ). The result and the seagrass to die. of these elevated nutrient levels has been the Now, however, MIFP Australia is rehabilitating large-scale loss of seagrass off the metropolitan this blighted environment, and paving the way coast of Adelaide; increased frequency of for sustainable economic development. photoplankton blooms or red tides in the Port River estuary; and loss of mangroves in the St. Kilda-Port Gawler region due to the growth The wetlands and build up of nuisance seaweed. The treatment of the stormwater pollution will The Barker Inlet, Magazine Creek and Range reduce nutrient buildup in the estuary and the wetlands cover approximately 222 hectares of subsequent destruction of seagrasses and fish low-lying salt marsh and reclaimed land (see population. Stormwater management will also Map A). They stretch from behind landfill allow for the conservation and sale of the water operations at Wingfield to the tip of the Barker resource. The management of polluted surface Inlet, forming part of a scenic landscape water and flood protection will also make extending more than eight kilometers from the possible the proposed MFP urban development Port River across to the Greenfields wetlands discussed later in the case study. established by the City of Salisbury. MFP Australia is developing the wetlands to The design challenge treat stormwater, act as a flood detention basin In addition to the treatment of stormwater, the and a natural environmental filter that will design criteria for the Barker Inlet wetlands service eight stormwater systems carrying the restoration required the creation of a diverse urban and industrial surface runoff from h approximately 60 square kilometers of catchment area. When restored, the area will as well as making the area more attractive once again provide a thriving habitat for juvenile through landscaping and construction of walking fishanda wie vriey offloa an fana.and cycling trails. Balancing the engineering fish and a wide variety of flora and fauna. = elements of stormwater management with the achievement of environmental, recreational and The pollution legacy beautification targets in a saline environment For years stormwater systems discharged the was a er urban and industrial surface runoff from To achieve a world class design for the wetlands approximately 45 square kilometers of system, MFP Australia appointed a team of catchment area into the sea at Barker Inlet, an consultants incorporating ecologists, civil important wildlife haven and fish nursery, with engineers, hydrogeologists, environmental one of the world's southernmost stands of grey scientists, hydraulics and hydrological engineers, mangroves (Avicennia marina). and also landscapers and designers. The Stormwater contains a wide array of pollutants, including heavy metals, hydrocarbons, panel which included ornithologists, botanists, pticds:ebiie,ssene1ois marine ecology experts, hydraulic engineers, and pesticides, herbicides, suspended solids, ohrseilss omnt oslainas nutrients, pathogens and complex organics. This othersects. Conit onsion als pollution has been combining with the nitrogen and phosphorous nutrients caused by the project. discharge of treated sewage from the Bolivar 44 The design provides for a hydrodynamic system The desired stormwater quality is expected to be of water pollution control by trapping debris and achieved in two to four years as the ecology reducing concentrations of pollutants before establishes. Pelicans, ducks and numerous other discharge into the estuary. The stormwater has bird species are already flocking to the partially to pass through trash-collecting traps and is then filled wetlands. held for at least 10 days to allow sediments to settle and contaminants and heavy metals to be The costs removed from the water by the wetlands vegetation. The wetlands collect 26 percent of According to an Economic Evaluation of the the metropolitan area's runoff and will remove Barker Inlet, Magazine and Range wetlands 80 percent of the stormwater contaminants. The commissioned by MFP Australia, the capital natural cleansing processes enable the cost of the wetlands project has been set at stormwater to emerge as near-drinkable water SA10.2 million for Barker Inlet, and $A7.5 which is mixed with seawater in an intertidal million for Range and Magazine Creek., for a zone before discharge into the Barker Inlet. total of $A17.7 million. Conjunctive probability analysis was carried out Maintenance costs (clearing trash racks and so to ensure that the interaction between on) and administration have been set at stormwater inflows and tidal movements would $A80,000 a year. There was some expenditure avoid flooding in even the most extreme years. in this area before establishing the wetlands. This analysis by MFP Australia's selected scientists was aided by sophisticated computer The benefits and satellite modeling of rainfall and tidal movements over the past 100 years. MPAsrlablee htteBre ne moveent ove th pat 10 yers.wetlands design - first stage of the restoration Factors to be considered in the design included project - is of international standard. The physical constraints such as landfills, roads, development has won a South Australian pipelines and other services; surface runoff Engineering Excellence Award, and the concept volumes; groundwater inflow and outflow and design are proving exportable, with balance; detention basin volumes; flood expressions of interest already received from mitigation and tidal behavior; tidal gate, culvert several countries. As a result, the wetlands and weir design; and the development of a project will not only result in a significant landscape that promoted biological diversity and environmental and amenity improvement for ecologically sustainable development. Adelaide, but satisfy a key MFP objective of developing and promoting world best Restoration progress environmental practice and technology. The City of Salisbury is managing the wetlands Total benefits comprise items which can be project for MFP Australia. The massive quantified financially, either directly or earthworks and initial landscaping have already indirectly, and additional environmental benefits been completed, and a plant nursery of 100,000 which are not so easily quantified. The direct indigenous trees and shrubs grown from locally financial benefits from the project break down collected seed is being prepared. A management into three areas - the sale of water, cost plan will serve to recreate the natural habitat in recovery from future MFP urban development in as little time as possible and ensure that no one the area, and sale and application of new models species dominates over the others. and methodologies for wetlands design pioneered at the MFP site. 45 Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities There have already been expressions of interest creation of an educational facility. The present in buying the recycled water (stormwater value of these benefits over 30 years is estimated stripped of nutrients), as there is an over- to be $AO.2) million and $AO.05 million allocation of drawing rights from the aquifer, respectively. and the price for water presently charged by There are many other important benefits to be South Australian Water is 88 cents a kiloliter. derived from MFP's environmental projects that The mid-range quantity and price estimates for have not been costed or quantified. These sale of recycled water over a thirty-year period include the protection of nurseries, feeding and yields a present value of $A8.96 million. breeding grounds for commercial fishing in the The other major benefit from the wetlands' Barker Inlet area; protection of recreational restoration is that it enables the MFP urban fishing in the area; stormwater management; redevelopment to proceed and results in beautification of the area; and provision of a substantial cost recovery. Both MFP Australia buffer zone for residential development of and its independent economic analysts assume adjacent sites, especially at Garden Island. that the value of the site without the remediation All these benefits are clearly important and have works is, if anything, negative, and that no great value, although MFP has not attempted to residential development would be possible or place a dollar value on them. For those costs permissible without the environmental and benefits where a dollar value has been remediation. Similarly, substantial costs would estimated, the cost/benefit ratio derived from the have been incurred to manage the polluting stormwater by more conventional methods, but economic evaluation of the project estimates athat present costs will exceed present benefits by approaches has not been conducted. The present defic ioe a net benefith weihed value of the cost recovery from this urban againt the aluet benefits development varies from $A3.37 million to of the roje $A6.75 million, depending on a 10 or 20 year recovery period, and a 20 or 30 year discount The Barker Inlet, Magazine Creek and Range period. It is clear, however, that the urban wetlands are part of a planned network of redevelopment is a critical component in wetlands under development. They meet the justifying the environmental project on financial second goal of the Northern Adelaide Plan for grounds. environmental improvement, and fit into a MFP Australia also estimates that financial broader strategy which aims to deal with benefits will accrue to the project from the sale stormwater management within the whole of intellectual property. It argues that the design aeas atrm at onrol Is to be addeseb of the freshwater wetlands is unique and has involved a number of technical challenges, gl including high salinity soils, very shallow saline Government, drainage authorities and MFP groundwater, poor trafficability of soils, and low Australia. level of wetlands with respect to mean sea level. In the past, bipartisan support from the three The present value of this benefit is estimated to levels of government has proved fundamental to be $A1.6 million. achieving the wetlands restoration. Funding Two other benefits can be quantified indirectly: Cite Progra actedt t hot the the provision of recreational facilities for Staes straegc pla rol, c ined th walking, cycling and bird watching, and therent 46 the cooperation and technical support of local Government announced that it would continue government, nothing would have been achieved. its more substantial financial support for the Local councils have agreed to maintain the MFP development, and that its environmental wetlands following the completion of the and urban development projects would proceed. project. In late 1996, the South Australian Government In mid-1996, the new conservative Federal announced that a $A800 million urban Government abolished the Better Cities development project was to proceed at the Program, and the Department of Housing and restored MFP Austraiia urban site. The South Regional Development which administered the Australian Government was investing some program. As part of a major retreat from both AO million in the urban development, and regional and industry assistance, the Federal several major commercial property developers Government announced that it would no longer and residential builders were providing the provide funds to MFP Australia. At the same private capital for the join venture with MFP time, the conservative South Australian State Australia Better Cities Program objectives for the North West Sector Area, which includes the wetlands and urban redevelopment sites. a To improve the range and number of employment opportunities locally and within metropolitan Adelaide, by creating an urban environment conducive to private sector development and business investment. r To improve the utilization of urban land and utilize the spare capacity within existing social and physical infrastructure in the area. * To improve the environmental health in the area. $ To achieve better coordination across all agencies involved in the development of the North West Sector of Adelaide. i To remedy the environmental degradation caused by past urban development in the local area and region, as well as ensuring that future development is environmentally sustainable. 47 Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities Table 12 Summary of financial and benefit The Virginia pipeline and areas present values (Discounted rate of 7% used) water re-use Financial and Present value Present value Untreated stormwater is not the only pollutant benefit area over 20 yrs over 30 yrs entering the marine environment near the NIFP's AUDmillion AUDmilion Adelaide site. High nutrient effluent from the Financial Bolivar sewage treatment works is also a major Sale of water at 6.25 7.56 hazard. MFP has initiated another innovative 20 cents per environmental and economic project to build a kiloliter 14-kilometer pipeline to redirect wastewater Recovery from from the Bolivar sewage treatment works to MFP Urban irrigated market gardens at Virginia. Development 20-yr recovery The pipeline will move wasted water and period 1rov 6.75 6.75 nutrients from where they cause harm to where 10O-yr recovery period they are beneficial - it will reduce or eliminate Research 1.57 1.60 the discharge of effluent to the marine Benefit environment where it damages seagrasses and mangroves, and provide an alternative water Recreational .18 .23 resource to the horticultural industry at Virginia, values values ___ ______ _______ which is using groundwater at an unsustainable Education .04 .05 rate. This additional source of water offers Total opportunities for the industry to expand or No future MFP 8.04 9.44 develop, and enlarge the export market of urban development produce from Virginia. 20-yr recovery 11.41 14.31 The project also provides opportunities for period (MFP research into effluent treatment and aquifer urban) recharge which could be exported to other states 10-yr recovery 14.79 16.19 and countries. period (MFP urban) This complex project involving many layers of government has been suggested many times in Table 13 Net present value the past; it only became feasible when (Discounted rate of 7% used) championed and coordinated by an entity such AUDMilion AUDMilion as _MEP Australia, and supported by State and AUDMillion AUDMillion Fdrlgvrmns 20 years 30 years (1995 to 2015) (1995 to 2025) No MFP Effects of effluent development occurs on site Commissioned during the 1960s, the Bolivar MFP development sewage treatment works substantially reduces occurs, takes 20 ors, taoerst -6.44 -3.76 the organic pollution of the municipal waste yrswater flowing into it. Treated water then passes MFP development through 350 hectares of stabilization lagoons occurs, takes 10 yrs, taoerst -3.07 -1.89 before flowing along an outfall channel and discharging into St. Vincent Gulf north of St. 48 Kilda. Of the 50,000 megaliters of effluent years without material deterioration in water produced annually, most is discharged into the quality. sea, unfortunately at a stage when it still Concerns regarding over-exploitation of the contains a significant quantity of nitrogen and aquifer have resulted in several legislative phosphorous, and has a high algal content. attempts to redress the situation, beginning more Thirty years of discharging nutrient-rich waste than 25 years ago with the enactment of the water into the marine environment has resulted Underground Water Preservation Act 1959- in the cumulative destruction of more than 1,200 1966. None of the legislative measures have led hectares of seagrass meadows. Such an effect is to adequate management of the situation. serious enough, as it jeopardizes juvenile fish stocks which use the area as a nursery. Of farconsequence, the greater concern, however, is the susceptibility of groundwater has become increasingly saline. To the seabed to erosion and sand movement, avoid saline water, the irrigators have deepened which in turn is threatening the mangroves along their bores, increasing demand on the aquifer to the coastline and has already reduced their area the point where some can no longer pump water from 250 to 150 hectares. at the rate required during the peak irrigation Other consequences of waste pouring into the seasons. Gulf are damage to commercial and recreational This shortage of water is preventing growers fishing grounds and discouragement of tourism from maximizing crop yields, limiting expansion and recreation developments that rely on the of production even though there are very real environment of the St. Kilda area. The damage opportunities to export fresh and value added already done may be irreparable, and unless produce to south-east Asia. countermeasures are taken, the harm will continue to mount. A second water source Irrigation overload By providing an alternative source of water, the South Australia is Australia's driest state. At Virginia pipeline project will allow growers to Virginia, the horticultural industry drawsenable expansion groundwater to irrigate its produce, draws while avoiding permanent damage to the aquifer. groudwaer o irigae is prduc, wichThe pipeline will take half the present outflow comprises mostly vegetables, but includes tree crops and vineyards. The estimated annual value of production is $A40 million. The current level annully T, meted by 4,000 of water use to support this production is aegalyers undwate is vw ae l 18,000 megaliters a year. Annually, the natural incrs prountr more inteni recharge of the groundwater basin is approximately 6,000 megaliters - a third of of water on the land area. what is being currently extracted, clearly an Some Irrigators in the Virginia region are unsustainable situation. The South Australian already using a limited amount of the existing Government's Water Utility, which presently treated water from the Bolivar outfall channel to supplies water to the market gardens from the irrigate certain crops. In its existing state, aquifer, contests these estimates, however. It however, the water is not of sufficient quality claims that present withdrawal rates for for use on all crop types. A further problem is groundwater could be sustained for at least 1 caused by the high algal content of the water 49 Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities which can lead to operational difficulties with Rate of use irrgation systems. Occurring mainly during the summer months, It is proposed to introduce a three-stage process the use following the opening of the pipeline is to ensure the treated water can be confidently projected at: used on all crops and with all methods of irrigation. The first stage will involve improved 250ealitra yaror Vni sewage treatment; the second, filtration; and the third, disinfection, possibly by ultraviolet 0 2,000 megaliters a year for industry. irradiation, which is one of the latest A total of 6,000 megaliters a year will continue developments in waste water disinfection. to be drawn from the aquifer, 4,000 megaliters a Unlike chlorination, ultraviolet disinfection does not involve any residual or toxic by-products and 2,000 megaliters a year by other which may affect plant growth. horticultural users. This will allow the aquifer to The treated water will then be pressurized regain its balance with the natural recharge rate through a pump station and transported via a of 6,000 megaliters per year. pipeline to the Virginia area for distribution to irrigators. Additional use The final product will be clear, high quality Although the scheme more than halves the irrigation water that can be pumped through any amount of effluent discharged to the marine irrigation system without filtration. Compared environment from the Bolivar sewage treatment with irrigation water used for vegetables in other plant, there will still be the challenge of using the parts of Australia, Bolivar's treated water will offer added nutrients and be microbiologically ni menallyerson ann e safer than many surface water irrigation sources. The ultimate aim is total diversion of the At present, many irrigators pump bore water to discharge year round. Four options under the surface at a slow rate and store it in an earth consideration include: tank to balance the irrigation demand of their & storage of this water in the aquifer during crops. Irrigation water is applied by a pump which takes water from the earth tank and directs it through the irrigation system. It is 0 the increased planting of winter crops which proposed that these facilities remain in place. will require some irrigation The Virginia pipeline will provide each irrigator 0 the planting of wood lots with a metered water supply which will be discharged into on-farm storage. 0 the use of additional wetlands. As Bolivar's supply of treated water is relatively constant, the pipeline can be designed to carry Financing arrangements water at a steady rate with this becoming the Like the Barker Inlet wetlands, this project has base load for the irrigators. been made possible only with the cooperation of During peak demands in summer, the irrigators the three levels of government. The Federal will be able to use groundwater in conjunction Government's Better Cities Program once again with pipeline water to optimize their water use. acted as the catalyst by providing seed funds. The financing arrangements for the Virginia pipeline are still being finalized and it is 50 proposed to establish a management company Table 14 Summary of tangible and intangible costs and operated by the farmers' cooperative to benefits undertake the project. Capital grants of $A10 Direct Indirect million have been provided under the Better Tangible Intangible Cities Program, and it is proposed to raise $A30 Benefits million privately. These financing arrangements are treated as mere transfers between the Water supply Reduce Increased Use of for growers environ, commercial environ. farmers, the water utility and the government damage fishing resources agencies in the Economic Assessment of the Sales to local Tourism/ Increased project, but how the costs and benefits are salt producer recreation recreationa distributed clearly has a major impact on the development I fishing political feasibility and desirability of the project. Downstrea The financial forecasts assume that the vegetable competitive charge for the piped water will be processing set at approximately eight cents a megaliter to Costs encourage farmers to use it. Capital Increased salinity and ground water Costs and benefits quality The South Australian Centre for Economic Operating Studies at the University of Adelaide has undertaken an Economic Assessment of the Virginia Pipeline Scheme for MFP Australia. Table 15 Alternative estimates of costs ($A millions) This assessment uses data from a Kinhill CAPITAL COSTS commercial feasibility study and a technical From From EMS response prepared by the South Australian commercial response Government's Water Utility. feasibility study The economic assessment examines direct and Pipeline 31.0 26.5 indirect, tangible and intangible costs and Pumping station 29 3.4 benefits. These are summarized in Table 14. Treatment works 3.75 8.0 The major capital costs for undertaking the Project 0.75 0.85 project have been alternatively estimated as management $A38.4 million and $A39.65 million. Estimates UV disinfection 0.0 1.0 of major operating costs range from $A1.073 Total 38.4 39.65 million to $A1.95 million. These are summarized in Table 15.Tangible Intangible From From E&WS commercial response feasibility study Pipeline 0.325 0.475 Pumping station 0.2 0.35 Treatment works 0.55 1.05 UV disinfection 0.0 0.075 Total 1.075 1.95 51 Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities Some sources have argued that the Virginia Major economic benefits are derived from the pipeline will expose the sewer system to maintenance of water supply to the horticultural additional and substantial repair costs as a result industry at Virginia and a major extension of salinity problems associated with the intrusion project which has been negotiated with a local of groundwater. MFP Australia strongly producer. The existing growers of the Virginia contests that any additional repair costs will be area gain $A28 million and the flow-on effects incurred as a result of the project. to the broader community amount to an The University of Adelaide's Economic additional A4 million. Even if it is assumed Assessment concludes that, in general terms, the that the market gardens without the new water benefits of the project will substantially exceed supply could successfully convert to alternative the costs, in its base case by $A20 million. uses, such as sheep and what farming,, it is still estimated that the economic benefit from It conservatively estimates the economic benefit maintaining the higher use is more than $A4 that can be expected as a result of reducing the million. discharge of effluent to the marine environment The availability of reliable and low-cost water is to be $A4 million. It argues that the project the key to the expected commercial salt cannot be justified on these limited environmental grounds, and that its economic prdcion teniproet oceengda attractiveness relies on it being the best Virgnia a the iversy ofaeide tud alternative supply of water to the horticulture aue t industry at Virginia. However, it could be aval rom the Virginia pipeline. It estimates considered that this is a narrow definition of that the expansion project will achieve $A1 3 environmental benefit by the Centre for million of value-added gain, with the value- Economic Studies. The benefits which accrue from the sustainable use and reuse of a scarce natural resource - water - which can be The Economic Assessment undertaken by the measured by the maintenance and expansion of University of Adelaide concludes that the horticultural production at Virginia, could also Virginia Pipeline Project is sound and viable and be described more generally as environmental that its net present value is W9.5 million. benefits. benefts. .However, it also notes that the project is very It should also be noted that a range of other sensitive to a number or estimates and forecasts alternative projects have been suggested to made by MFP Australia and Kinhill. The achieve the 90 percent reduction target in scientific analysis of the long-term sustainable nutrient output at St. Vincent Gulf required by use of groundwater and the market research into the EPA and state government policy. The most the potential export market for increased likely alternative would seem to be to continue horticultural production are contested by other water disposal from the Bolivar sewage plant, authorities, and the value of the project is very but invest in a treatment plant which can remove sensitive to these two assumptions. The up to 80 percent of the nutrients before disposal. Economic Assessment notes that if the analysis This compares with the impact of the pipeline and assumptions do not hold, the net present project which will divert 50 percent of the water value of the project becomes a negative $A2-2 and therefore 50 percent of the nutrients million. directly. However, these alternative projects do The results of the Economic Assessment suggest not capture the horticultural benefits, which are c expected to be considerable.su l o t h hot icuta l 52 the Virginia pipeline, carry considerable risks The architectural firm Woods Bagot won from a and are unlikely to proceed without strong field of 85 competitors. Their stylish, medium- support from government. density housing incorporates awide range of innovative and energy-conscious urban design techniques aimed at making the most efficient New Haven Village use of the two hectare site; enhancing the living environment for residents; and promoting At New Haven Village near Port Adelaide new interaction within a village-style residential energy and water management technology development. ensures maximum savings for residents and minimum impact on the environment. This innovative development of 65 medium-density affordable dwellings on two hectares of land is a Pedestrians first showcase for future 'green' housing For the first time in a residential area in South developments on the very large MFP urban site Australia, a shared brick pavement gives priority where building is now viable because of the to pedestrians and cyclists. Strategic placement environmental remediation which MFP has of bollards, landscaping and street furniture, carried out. combined with narrow streets, ensure traffic is New Haven is five kilometers from Port slowed down. Cars are restricted to a speed of Adelaide and 20 kilometers from Adelaide's 10 kilometers per hour. central business district (see Map ). The village The number of cars per dwelling is expected to is part of an MFP Australia project in which be 20 percent down on the Le Fevre Peninsula previously degraded and unusable land is being average, with the number of daily trips on foot rehabilitated for gradual residential development or by bicycle increasing to 25 percent against the over the next decade. It incorporates urban current 10 percent average for Adelaide. design and engineering innovations developed largely in South Australia through the cooperative efforts of public and private sector Energy conservation organizations and individuals, including the Each home within the Village is constructed to South Australian Housing Trust, BHP, the City high energy-efficient standards, incorporating of Port Adelaide, and state service authorities. the latest in passive energy conservation The first of the homes are selling and more are features. being built by selected private builders. bein bult y sleced pivae bildrs.Dwellings are oriented to ensure living rooms and adjacent outdoor areas face north to make A winning design most use of the sun and reduce energy demand The Village is the product of an Australia-wide for domestic heating and cooling competition. In 1992, MFP Australia joined with Alternative energy systems - geothermal, solar BHP to organize and sponsor a National and reverse cycle - have been included for Housing and Urban Design Competition. The demonstration purposes in the first homes built. competition's purpose was to test, demonstrate Traditional air conditioners and heaters will be and evaluate new ideas for environmentally replaced by a geothermal system using the sustainable housing and urban design which constant temperature of the earth's crust (about eventually might be applied in a larger scale 17'C). A tiny electric motor circulates liquid MFP urban development, coolant through thin, deep pipes penetrating to a 53 Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities depth of 66 meters under the homes, then New Haven has been located to link up with transfers heat to or from the building via another existing infrastructure such as public transport, a pump. shopping center, schools, community services and recreational facilities Household savings (Map). Annual household energy for water heating, domestic heating and cooling is expected to be reduced by 30 percent resulting in a potential The higher density housing at New Haven was annual cost saving of up to $A400 per made possible through engineering concepts household for the same comfort levels. never seen before in South Australia or, in some 'Green mortgage' options - a first in Australia - cases, the world. allow homebuyers to marginally increase their One of the most significant engineering borrowing limits to finance the installation of breakthroughs is the creation of a much energy and water saving features in their home. narrower public utility street services corridor Some homes within the Village are built with for the installation of underground service 'sludge' bricks, comprising five percent treated mansis wil hve ao implcationshforith sewage sludge mixed with clay. If all the 100 y y A million bricks produced in Adelaide each year were made from five percent sewage sludge, it is Project participants from gas, water, electricity estimated that it would eliminate approximately and phone service authorities have worked half the city's solid sewage waste output. cooperatively with local government to rethink the way they provide basic services to homes. Design for a community As a result, they have been able to reduce the required street services corridor from an The mix of two and three bedroom, single and obligatory 12.4 meters to just 6.8 meters in double story dwellings has been designed to width. provide individuality, while at the same time ensuring a homogeneous character is maintained withn th Vilage.innovations which radically change the way within the Village. 4 water and waste water are managed. A waste Each household's mail box is located within the water treatment plant under the main reserve village tower overlooking the 'town square'. adjacent to the Village tackles sewage and storm Reintroduction of the village square concept and water runoff at source, ensuring it can be re- a reason to visit it are aimed at encouraging used in toilet cisterns and for irrigating gardens, greater communal interaction. grae omua.ntrcin road verges and reserves. It is expected this will An adjacent oval provides an opportunity for result in a significant 30 percent reduction of active recreation while two reserves within the average household water consumption, and offer Village are designed for passive recreation and far-reaching benefits for improving the quality of positioned to maximize views from homes. Adelaide's waterways and marine environment Innovative street lighting is not only more by reducing waste water discharge. energy efficient, but also less obtrusive, designed New Haven is testing an automatic remote to provide public safety and resist vandalism, metering system for electricity and water usage, developed by the Electricity Trust of South Australia (ETSA) in conjunction with Nilsen 54 Industries. Since direct access is no longer required by a meter reader, the electricity meter box can be installed within the household's Characterized as products of garage, and a new underground cast-iron water 'smart thinking,' projects such as meter box is planned to replace the conventional the three outlined in this case above-ground meters. Collaboration between the service authorities in stdy p ode oh eoand remote meter reading also means household electricity and water usage is transferred might live in the cities of the electronically into their billing systems, resulting future. They are an attempt to in less handling and a significant reduction in foster economic and urban monitoring costs. development in an environ- ETSA's distribution system throughout the mentally responsible and Village is completely underground. In another sustainable manner. innovation, ETSA has developed a service pit which can supply four houses instead of two. The MFP Projects have also The use of an enclosed, in-line fuse holder has experienced some serious set- allowed the installation of service fuses in this backs and attracted strong pit, rather than in an above-ground pillar. criticism from time to time. These A sealed telephone system requiring fewer pits setbacks and much of the and no future maintenance will provide two lines to each household for telephones, computer links, facsimiles and other communication grandiose, futuristic conception technology. of the original initiative (when it A sub-surface drip irrigation system will water was known as the multi-functional the Village reserves and household gardens. polis), and from the lengthy Residents will be able to control their household delays which did occur between irrigation systems from a small control unit formulation and development. located in their garage. This drip irrigation is far more efficient than conventional above-ground Despite these controversial sprinkler watering of lawns and gardens, which beginnings, the environmental forms the major proportion of the average urban Australian household's water consumption and medtioneandeurb n vlp results in wasteful evaporation and runoffm t projects hs case study, contain tangible lessons for the future manage- ment of the urban environment. 55  z 0 12. o - W0 ZC UJ E 0o 0zO 1i ' 4 CLEANER PRODUCTION The cleaner production case study examines the work of the Australia Centre for Cleaner Production and the programs and initiatives of the Victorian Environment Protection From control to prevention Authority and Department of Business Cleaner production programs in Victoria show and Employment (DBE) which preceded how pollution can be prevented, waste reduced it. It shows how a national promotion and profits increased in the industries adopting and organization evolved from a series them. Their success is the result of new of modest innovations and grants and technology and procedures, changing attitudes theof and, most importantly, co-operation between theuincresas indcoopratio environmental regulators and industry. regulators and industry. Until the 1980s, most efforts to control pollution Cleaner production programs aim to in Victoria were concentrated on measures such prevent pollution at its source and as air filters, noise buffers and chemical minimize waste in industrial procedures treatment of end waste products. Instead of by applying environmental criteria to attempting to modify poor practices inside every stage of production, from raw industrial plants regulators concentrated on 'end material extraction to disposal. They of pipe' engineering solutions, waiting before involve conserving energy and acting until industrial pollution had fouled air, resources, eliminating toxic raw land or sea. Operators were basically concerned materials and reducing the quantity and with gaining permits and meeting minimum mtritfal msin n at standards, rather than taking responsibility for toxicity of all emissions and waste teripc nteevrnet before they leave a process. From the 1 980s onwards, however, the The case study demonstrates how Victorian Environment Protection Authority these programs benefit both the (EPA) began thinking differently, developing a environment and the companies more innovative approach to pollution adopting them. management, based on prevention rather than The ustrlia ente fo Clenercontrol, and working with industry to achieve The Australia Centre for Cleaner cenrmtoso rdcin Production is a national body made up of representatives from industry, In 1992, to promote the new thinking both government and academia. In Victoria, locally and internationally, the EPA hosted an it cllaboraes iththe PA,theinternational conference on Cleaner Production, it collarborates with the EPA,te in conjunction with the United Nations' VictoriaEnvironment Program (UNEP). In 1993, in and Industry to introduce and promote collaboration with the Department of Business cleaner production projects. It also and Employment and several large industries it acts as a conduit for industry into Asia coordinated a series of demonstration projects Pacific markets. showing how cleaner production methods benefited both the environment and the industries concerned. In 1994 it helped to 59 Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities establish the independent national Australia The following examples show how. Centre for Cleaner Production. Heat treatment process The use of fluidized bed furnaces to replace From small beginnings cyanide and barium salt baths has eliminated The progress towards cleaner production in some major environmental problems at Quality Victoria began with modest government Heat Treatment Pty. Ltd., while at the same time programs, and limited financial assistance and providing technical improvements and time commitment from EPA staff. operational cost savings. It has also created a In 1988 the EPA introduced a scheme new market for this innovative equipment. providing small grants and technical assistance to companies that voluntarily implemented Tanning industry cleaner production projects. The aim was to give By using the CSIRO Sirolime process, Victorian industry a greater degree of responsibility for its Hide and Skin Producers Pty. Ltd. has environmental performance while allowing more introduced a faster dehairing process which both efficient allocation of public sector resources. leaves the hair intact and reduces chemical usage EPA's Cleaner Production Grants Program and wastes. The cost savings generated meaii made approximately $500,000 a year available in locally tanned hides have become competitive on interest-free loans to participating industries. the international market. Thirty-two industries benefited from these loans. Electroplating Chairman of the Victorian EPA, Gainsborough Hardware Industries Ltd. has Dr. Brian Robinson, believes waste replaced the conventional electroplating minimizatioprocesses with an electrophoretic lacquer miniizaton ad ceane prouc-system. These lacquers are applied directly on to tion will dominate the thinking of the metal surfaces via a high voltage and low environmental agencies in the cathodic current. The process halves water 1990s. He states that: usage and,waste water discharge, eliminates cyanide, and reduces the quantity of heavy metal a sustainable future can only be sludges to landfall. achieved with commitment from the whole community. No Dye works individual sector can bring it about By changing to a 'cold-pad' dyeing process, alone. Indeed, it will only happen Seymour Dyeworks Pty. Ltd. has eliminated the through collaboration and need for 10 tons of salt and 13,000 liters of cooperation - through a genuine water for each 100 tons of product. Together partnership between industry, with 80 percent, savings in water this new, cold government and the community at process has also led to a substantial reduction in large. energ costs. -Gib Wettenhall, 'The Toxic Avenger,' 21 C magazine, Spring 1992, pp. 78-79. 60 Economic benefits Demonstration models have shown that cleaner production not only benefits the environment, In Australia, the value of the but also improves economic competitiveness by environment management industry in providing industry with a means to increase 1990 was estimated by the OECD at profitability, and reducing the need for and costs $US2 billion. Annual growth in the of policing. market for environmental equipment and Advantages for industries adopting cleaner services is projected by the Australian production processes include: Bureau of Statistics at 4.4 percent for * reduced capital and operating costs, Australia to the year 2000. * improved yields, -ACF/ACTU Green Jobs in Industry Research * reduced storage and transport needs, Project, Green Jobs in Industfy, Australian * reduced liability/insurance, Conservation Foundation, 1994, pp. 30-31 * enhanced product quality, * improved occupational health and safety, opportunities for waste minimization " imrove emloye moale,and(eligible enterpnises receive a subsidy of 80 * improved employee morale, andpercent of the total cost, up to a maximum * community support. of $4,000); Conscious of the dual benefits of cleaner a detailed study examining site-specific production programs, the Victorian Department cleaner production issues (eligible of Business and Employment (DBE) also enterprises receive a subsidy of 50 percent of provided incentives for industry to adopt them. the total cost up to a maximum of $6,000); Adapting some of its enterprise improvement and programs for use in environmental projects, it provided subsidies for industries to commission a waste/environmental management plan private sector consultants to carry out: following or replacing a detailed study a waste/environmental diagnostic evaluatinga subsidy of 50 cuarwastenvraieant idinticevauat percent of the total cost up to a maximum of currnt racice andidetifing$7,500). Waste management and clean production are among the world's Cutting out waste fastest growing environment industries. Following the success of its early programs, in The OECD estimates global spending on 1990 the EPA adopted a broader Industrial waste management at $US200 billion in Waste Management Policy (Waste 1990, increasing to $US300 billion by Minimization) which encourages industry to work with the EPA to prevent problem odors, emissions, effluents, and mismanagement of -industry Commission, Environmental Waste waste by adopting comprehensive waste Management Equipment, Systems and Services, minimization plans. In some cases, as with the Report No. 33,p1993, p.27 chemical companies in Altona (examined at length in another case study), these become 61 Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities formal three-year agreements called concerning post-consumer and domestic waste, Environmental Improvement Plans, which but also providing a framework for industry- commit the companies to adopt specific new wide plans to reduce waste. This has achieved production methods and technologies, and set results in the building and construction industry, waste reduction targets. New licenses and which is a major source of solid waste going to permits for expansion are made contingent on municipal disposal sites (this is examined in these plans. While the policy contains some more detail in the case study on Reducing, statutory requirements, it also provides Reusing, and Recycling Waste). incentives through economic measures, information and education. In 1992 the Environment Protection Authority A demonstration program Act was further amended to include the In 1992-93 in partnership with local industry Resource Recovery and Recycling amendments, and universities the Victorian EPA established which introduced statutory requirements mainly the first small Australia Cleaner Production Centre, staffed by an EPA officer. With the Centre's support the EPA, the Department of At much the same time as the Business and Employment and several large EPA' adotio of he Wsteindustries undertook a joint venture to promote EPA's adoption ofthe, WasE the Waste Minimization policy through a Minimization policy, UNEPprogram. established a Cleaner Production The program was designed to demonstrate the Program. As an aid to the spread value of cleaner production processes and of cleaner production initiatives, technologies to each company involved and UNEP is supporting industry others within its industry sector, as well as the demonstration projects and the general community. Participating companies development of local information agreed that the best way to create enthusiastic centers.proponents of cleaner production was through centers.learning by experience, then demonstrating the In conjunction with the United value of what they had leart to their peers and Nations Industrial Development competitors. Organization, UNEP has launched a Throughout the demonstration program programexperienced professionals provided regular progatoa etbls approximately assistance with project planning and procedures 20 national centers for cleanerfor waste assessments. Each company prepared production in developing countries its own waste management plan. When over the next five years, including implemented, the successful waste management several in the Asia region. plans were published and promoted as examples for other companies to follow. Documenting successes and building up a library of local case - Dr. Fritz Balkau, UNEP Cleaner Production histories is an important part of any waste Programme, Conference Proceedings, Asia- minimization project. It does not require Pacific Cleaner Production Conference, disclosure of confidential data, but provides Melbourne, Australia, 1992, p.15. models for others to follow. 62 The EPA and DBE were responsible for Information and training training, facilitation and promotion in conjunction with the companies. The EPA tainingrin tontroduce he oet an developed the information technology and the progra inonex were hed forsf monitoring facilities, and the publications ta vr n required for promotion. The companies were responsible for committing the resources A meeting of team leaders from each of the necessary to undertake the work and initiate the participating companies was held in July 1993 to necessary changes. Companies taking part in review progress and discuss future steps, giving the demonstration projects are listed below. them each an opportunity to present their approach and appreciate the commonality of issues across different industries. Company Name Industry Type ACI, Spotswood Glass manufacturer Monitoring progress BASF Australia Ltd., Altona Styrene resins To assist the teams work through the process, Cadbury Schweppes Food manufacturer project management software using Microsoft Australia Ltd., Ringwood Project was developed and made available to Con Agra Wool Pty. Ltd., Wool processing the participating companies. The EPA Laverton maintains a master copy to help in monitoring Ford Motor Co. of Australia Motor vehicle manufacturer progress. Ltd., Broadmeadows W R Grace Australia Ltd., Printing and adhesives Campbellfield The EPA produced publications with a consistent design so they could be easily identified with the cleaner production Each project was the responsibility of the demonstration program. These included: company involved. Consequently, progress was booklet developed in conjunction with DBE directly related to: to provide an overview of both the concepts * prior knowledge of waste minimization, of cleaner production and the program " prducton pessues,generally for the participating companies and * production pressures,industries within these sectors * structure of team, poster featuring the cover of the booklet for * technical strengths of team members, use within the participating companies to * financial climate within the industry, and raise awareness of cleaner production and * continuing management commitment. for use in general production; *15-midnute video featuring the demonstration Each team had different requirements and levels of eperenceat he cmmecemet o th fact sheets to communicate outcomes of the of experience at the commencement of the program, and support from the Centre and DBE program and promote results within the was ailred s fr a posibl tothei neds.companies, designed to provide general information rather than technical details, and 63 Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities * case studies which included technical with the Victorian EPA to reconstitute the information. Australia Centre for Cleaner Production as an independent national body closely involving The outcome industry in management and staffing. Its stated A key outcome of the program has been the goal was: commitment to cleaner production by the To achieve the widespread adoption of participating companies, all of whom now have internationally-competitive cleaner production comprehensive and continuing cleaner philosophies andpractices in industry, production programs. The completed case study government and academic institutions in examples are detailed in Appendix 1. accordance with the principles of sustainable By late 1996, 25 case studies were being development. circulated on successful cleaner production The Australia Centre for Cleaner Production has programs in Victorian industry. It is noteworthy become the major focus for coordinating cleaner that many of the original participants in the 1992 production efforts nationally, although individual demonstration project had now developed state and federal agencies continue to play their comprehensive cleaner production programs. statutory roles and continue with their own For instance, at Cadbury Sweppes Pty Ltd, over cleaner production programs. the last two years period, trade waste generated The Centre is part of a technology transfer had been reduced from 600 kiloliters per day to network, providing a conduit for industry into 150 kiloliters per day and solid waste disposed Asia Pacific markets. to landfill had been reduced by 50 percent. It has an independent board consisting of Cadbury Sweppes was citing examples such as the installation of dedicated bins for recyclables representatives from industry, government and at a cost of $A20,000, and a benefit of academia. Board members come from ICI $A60,000, and the sale of solid food wastes to Australia, the Shell Company of Australia, Royal stockfeed agents for a net benefit of $A63,000. Melbourne Institute of Technology, Amcor, University of NSW, CSIRO, EPA Victoria, EPA Importantly, companies such as Cadbury New South Wales, and EPA Australia. Sweppes acknowledged the critical role that the 1992 demonstration project had played. In T public review of its record in 1996, it described international competitiveness and environmental its early cleaner production initiatives as fairly excellence through cleaner production, the unstructured, and credited the Victorian EPA's Centre concentrates on providing commercial demonstration program with providing a big services in support of the 'public good.' impetus in setting a clear direction for cleaner Services to Australian and international public production within the company. and private organizations include: 1 . Consultation 0assisting with waste minimization assessment A national approach and audits; While these demonstration projects were under * establishing and managing industry way, cleaner production methods were assistance schemes; attracting support nationally from both industry * establishing and participating in research and and the new Federal Environment Protection development projects; Authority. In 1994 these groups Joined forces 64 * assisting industry to solve specific waste successfully introduced into the statutory works problems; approvals and licensing of industry operations. 2. Education This integration into an existing regulatory *process has achieved important improvements in *lCtuii ollege couast rsres (VSecondary the major industries which are subject to EPA College to Masters Degree (Victoria's RMIT University has begun a Masters approval, at a relatively low cost. Similarly Degre i ClenerProdctin)-requirements for Environment Improvement DegreePlans are being introduced into the same * preparing, managing, and presenting statutory approvals processes. These approvals seminars; are suited especially to the larger companies * making presentations to conferences, which value a strong environmental record. workshops, associations and government; The same gradual state of success is not evident * preparing and presenting short or longer through the promotion of voluntary programs. term training programs; Industry has been slow to take up the Victorian * preparing articles for publication. EPA's accredited license system under which a 3. company can receive a performance-based T saboe,inrdcn e echnology Trasfe license providing operational freedom specifying * as a broker, introducing whole-of-plant performance. Few voluntary and from Australia;waste management plans covering all aspects of * establishing linkages to assist the spread of the reduction, management and disposal of technology; wastes have been prepared in Victoria over the * managing technology transfer networks, and past four years. * providing support and technology assistance The actions of larger companies are improving. to regulatory authorities. But small to medium enterprises produce most industry waste in Australia and must also be targeted if cleaner production techniques are to Conclusion achieve lasting improvements in industry's environmental performance. These programs Large funding programs by governments are not should also address the psychology of industry necessary for the progressive introduction of owners and managers who are often cleaner production throughout industry. preoccupied with immediate and short term Conversely, government funding of concerns and not long term economic savings demonstration projects, although valuable, is and the benefits of improved environmental unlikely to succeed in the widespread adoption performance. of waste minimization principles. The experience with the promotion of cleaner The Victorian Environmental Protection Authoritypolicy measures targeted at different sizes and measures to promote cleaner production. These types of industries will be most successful in include the introduction of legislation and promoting the adoption of cleaner production, statutory policy, the use of Environment and that these measures may incur relatively Improvement Plans, statutory assessment of little cost to government. industry, and demonstration projects. Legislation and policy provide the framework. Cleaner production principles have been 65 Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities Lessons learned from completed demonstration projects * Support from the top gives weight to a demonstration project and helps carry it through any skepticism in early stages. * Involvement of all levels of staff in the project team is essential if the strategies evolved are to gain wide acceptance and understanding. * Widespread training in basic environmental principles provides the knowledge leading to a wider identification of problems, a * necessary prerequisite before generating any solutions. * Opportunities for cost savings and increased profits need to be emphasized at the outset. In many businesses, the word 'environment' conjures up visions of regulatory control, high costs and radical greenies. * It is best to start with the easy problems, moving to the harder ones once the project has won acceptance. * Measuring results provides hard evidence of whether or not the changes made are proving successful. Where there are quantifiable cost savings, they act as an incentive for investigating further initiatives. * In business, provision of ongoing monitoring is the equivalent of implementing a continuous improvement or TQM process. A process of review provides the only real means of ensuring whether or not the changes put in place are working. 66 REDUCING, REUSING AND RECYCLING WASTE Brisbane Sydney Eaglehawk 4 Melbourne  National and state governments in REDUCING, REUSING AND Australia have set targets to halve the amount of solid waste now going RECYCLING WASTE to landfill by the year 2000. This case Australians are big wastemakers. Australian study examines some of the idustry Commission estimates showed that country's waste problems - the need municipal councils disposed of 776 kilograms of for reduction at source, particularly waste for each Australian in 1989. With the inaddition of waste going to private landfills the indtes uhdin aned conrctong total was close to one ton per person for the industries, the need to encourageyear. recycling and to find markets for This level of waste disposal is similar to the US recycled materials and products, and and Canada but very high by other international the need to change attitudes. It standards. Even when garden waste is excluded highlights the work of the Recycling from these figures, Australians produce twice as and Resource Recovery Council in much waste as Europeans. Victoria, and It shows how Factors contributing to these high rates include community education, a voluntary the low cost of waste disposal in Australia, few system of curbside collection and efforts to minimize waste at source, particulariy company waste minimization and in the building and construction industry, and recycling projects can help to lack of profitable markets for recycled product. achieve results, while noting the The siting and characteristics of landfill sites and limitations of a non-mandatory post-consumer liter clogging rivers and bays, approach. destroying ecosystems and reducing urban amenity are problems causing increasing concern It includes examples of financial to governments and communities alike. schemes, including landfill levies, National and state governments have adopted a grants for community projects and target of halving the amount of waste going to incentives to local government. landfill by the year 2000. The National Waste Victoria'sMinimization and Recycling Strategy adopted in relying on enabling legislation, 1992 sets this target in per capita terms, while relyng o enalin legslaton,some states have adopted it in absolute terms. curbside collection and non- In Victoria, for instance, the Environment mandatory industrial waste Protection Act was amended in 1992 to include reduction targets is compared with specific Recycling and Resource Recovery the more centralized and clauses. These amendments established a technologically advanced system statutory body, the Recycling and Resource being implemented in Queensland's Recovery Council (RRRC), which is funded capital city, and the greater reliance from a small levy on landfill disposal, and which on differential fees and charges in works with industry, the community and local Igovernment to coordinate efforts to reduce waste. 69 Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities These efforts have been successful. While only 3 which includes paper (newsprint, corrugated percent of waste disposed by councils in cardboard, liquid-paperboard, printing and Australia in 1989 was handled via recycling, in writing paper etc.) and various beverage and 1994 Victoria was diverting 17 percent of other containers (glass, aluminum, plastics such household waste for recycling, and Brisbane's as PET, HDPE and PVC). These materials are new curbside recycling program was achieving all candidates for curbside or drop off collection rates of about 14 percent. systems. The recovery rate of these materials In 1994 the RRRC estimated that one third of from curbside programs is about 48 percent in Victoria's potential waste stream (including Victoria at present, with the items concerned domestic, industrial, commercial, institutional, accounting for about 36 percent of the building and construction) was being diverted to household waste stream. reuse or recycling. This is high in international Brisbane, with its 240 liter mobile garbage bin terms, with the most successful US states (MGB) systems for recycling, can expect a achieving only about 40 percent. Victoria's higher capture rate once this system is well voluntary curbside collection system is one of established. the best in the world, reaching between 90 In Sydney, waste levels per person fell 23 percent and 95 percent of the state, with 68 percent in four years, from just over a ton in percent of households participating in 1994. 1990 to 780 kilograms in 1994. The record is similarly impressive for the recycling of post-consumer domestic waste, A program slowdown The Recycling and Resource However, these waste reduction levels are not as Recovery Council (RRRC) makes high as they could be, and the last two years funds available under its Waste have seen a slowdown in progress. Three key Minimization Grants Program to factors are involved in this decline: industry and community * the need for market development for organizations. The program's recovered materials, objective is to assist the * the slowness with which attention has establishment and expansion of focused on source reduction of waste, and recycling and other waste * conflicts about who should pay for waste minimization initiatives in Victoria. reduction programs and by what means. Projects can be justifiable in their Projcts an e jutifiblein teir Market development remains the central own right or serve as best practice challenge for maintaining and increasing models. About 30 organizations rep ranging from transnational cn m ate ta Tre are ome key companies to community groups resrain s tg mare eveomet. receive $1.5 million a year under the program. Non-metropolitan groups Low pricesfor virgin materials and high receive a fixed share of funds initial capital costsfor secondary under the RRRC's strategic plan production. When commodity prices are targeting different types of waste, low, it becomes difficult for secondary materials to compete and remain profitable. Old newsprint prices are a classic example of 70 these swings. However, in Australia there Australian examples of the way firms can benefit have been some major new investments in from initiating cleaner production programs are recycling facilities, including the expansion being used to promote the more widespread of the Australian Newsprint Mills facility adoption of this approach. Another case study, near Albury, Australian Paper's expansion in Cleaner Production in Victoria, examines Melbourne, and Tasman's new de-inking mill these initiatives in detail. in New Zealand using Australian feedstock, Other types of source reduction programs, which indicate an underlying price which are in their infancy in Australia, include competitiveness for secondary newsprint. reducing material intensity of production (such * Lack of legislation mandating secondary as product light-weighting), increasing product content requirements. Targets set by durability, and substituting reusable products for industry and governments for the recycling disposable ones (such as shopping baskets for and reuse of secondary materials is voluntary plastic bags). in Australia, and those targets which have been set at a national level are often lower Indquascostin aci of wste dos than what is already being achieved in some states. Lackof ual . t insuply.Contmintio of behavior. Studies by Stanley and Maunsell Pty. * Lack of quality in supply. Contamination of Ld 19a )freape niaeta materials has been a major problem during Vtoi as diposal inerally the developmental stages of the curbside and Vitrawsedspalsgnrly drop-off pm st underpriced by up to about $10-12 per ton. This dropoffsystms.shortcoming is probably less significant than the * Lack of information and consumer failure of most councils to introduce a user pays resistance. system for domestic waste services. Both pricing reforms are needed to remove disincentives to reducing waste. Need to minimize waste at source Recyclin economics Too little attention to the reduction of waste at source is also providing a constraint to achieving Beyond these pricing reforms is the even more overall targets. Ironically, the success of the complex issue of who should pay if recycling curbside collection systems and voluntary initiatives do not. In the post-consumer curbside recycling efforts may be proving a distraction recycling area - the most comprehensive for from the desired hierarchy of reducing, reusing waste reduction - the council's costs of and recycling. Even the method of measuring collecting and sorting products are often not the success of waste reduction initiatives in all even covered by sale of the recyclable materials. the government strategies is for levels of At the same time the financial cost to councils disposal rather than generation. None of the responsible for such programs has tended to national and state waste minimization plans set increase. targets for source reduction. In November 1994, the National Institute of The more widespread adoption of quality Economic and Industry Research prepared a management programs and cleaner production report for the Recycling and Resource Recovery programs by industry is beginning to focus Council, examining the economics of recycling attention on reduction of waste at source. in Victoria. 71 Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities The report found that in the absence of any mandatory requirements on industry to recycle There is increasing evidence that products, the costs associated with recycling larger garbage bins lead to greater were largely borne by local government and rate volumes of garbage for disposal payers. It also found that with low waste- and lower volumes of material disposal costs, and at current product prices, placed out for recycling. Linking broad range recycling collections were unlikely reduced bin sizes with volume- to be economic, whatever the yield - the only based waste charging systems will collections likely to be economic were those reinforce waste reduction efforts. limited to glass and aluminum cans. Paper was economic to collect and recycle, but this was More attention also needs to be given to the often done by separate contractors. efficient implementation and operation of waste The Institute reported that repurchase prices of reduction programs. Local government attitudes glass and aluminum more or less justified are proving to be central on this point. Where curbside collection, and repurchase prices of councils are prepared to enter long term PET, PVC and LPB were likely to justify their contracts for collection of recyclables, with inclusion in mixed collections in the typical rewards based on performance (tons or cubic municipality. But the repurchase prices of other meters of material collected rather than simply recyclables, such as HDPE and steel cans, were number of houses served), recovery rates can be likely to justify inclusion only where landfill high if the recycling services are reliable and of costs were high. good quality and are supported by a user pays Two main charging mechanisms are available to system. meet the residual costs of domestic recycling: council waste charges and product-specific charges (voluntary or otherwise). Market Maintaining the pace research conducted for the RRRC has indicated Several conclusions about maintaining the pace that people are willing to pay more for recycling, of waste reduction can be drawn from seeing it as an important service. Some local governments, such as Brisbane City and Knox City in Melbourne have recognized these Governments have an important coordinating resident preferences and are providing 240-liter role to play. They can undertake strategic MGB based curbside collection systems for analysis, bring various stakeholder groups recyclables. together, support local community initiatives, support key demonstration projects and remove The growing costs of curbside programs and the impediments to efficient waste reduction absence of an agreed framework within which to sort out who should pay and how this should be done has been a significant factor in slowing Charging for waste by volume or weight is progress in waste reduction. The reliance on a relatively new in Australia. Several councils are voluntary approach has worked well until the conducting trials of volume charging (Maroochy past two years, when these unresolved conflicts in Queensland, Darebin in Victoria and Manly in about relative responsibilities have become more Sydney) and the practice is expected to spread of a concern. over the rest of the decade. This has the potential to encourage reductions not just in 72 post-consumer waste but also green and food involved little capital expenditure or reliance on waste which can be home composted. new technology (such as mobile recycling bins Industry and Company Waste Minimization and mechanized separation facilities), and has Plans can be very successful in reducing waste. been coordinated by a large number of small Victorian Industry Waste Reduction Agreements local governents- show how this cooperative approach can work. The curbside collection system reaches all But the agreements also show that specific Melbourne households, and between 90 percent performance targets need to be included, and the and 95 percent of all households across the slow progress in delivering agreements indicates State. This can be compared with the famous the need for some legislative back-up. Canadian Blue Box system, which covers about In some countries, such as France and Germany, high rates of return have been required for province, Ontario. producers and levies invoked if these rates are Participation rates in Melbourne are also not achieved. If Australia's easier voluntary excellent. In 1989 they were 36 percent of approach does not deliver on industry waste households. In 1994 it was 68 percent, and it is reduction targets already agreed at a national expected to rise to 80 percent by 1997 as level, Australia will need to consider a tougher durable containers become the norm and other approach. The community is likely to expect initiatives are introduced to strengthen collection manufacturers of products which end in the infrastructure (Table 16). waste stream to accept a greater degree of In 1994, 56 percent of all recyclable material responsibility for those products throughout the product lifecycle. 82 percent for glass beverage containers, followed by 70 percent for newsprint, and 60 Succe s striespercent for PET soft drink bottles (Table 17). Success storiesA report prepared for the RRRC by Ian Despite the slowdown in progress towards Manning of the National Institute of Economic waste reduction targets, successful projects in and Industry Research revealed that widespread Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales use by local government of flat rate contracts show what can be achieved through different with recycling contractors was discouraging means. higher participation rates. Coupled with low prices paid by reprocessors for some secondary VICTORIA materials, flat rate contracts did not compensate for the higher handling costs of increased volumes. Melbourne's curbside collection system The Recycling and Resource Recovery Council claims that Melbourne's curbside collection system is one of best in the world. This success has been achieved even though the system is almost totally voluntary (there have been few pricing incentives or restrictions placed on the use of large volume waste bins), has 73 Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities crushing cardboard and plastic bottles; public education to reduce ..- -the levels of 6o - contaminant material; and integrating so- recycling and garbage contracts so that increased recycling 30A yields lead to waste disposal cost savings 20- for the council. Io- Late in 1995, the RRRC produced its own Model 1989 1994 1997 projected Performance Based Table 16. Melbourne households participating in curbside Curbside Recycling recycling programs, 1989, 1994 and 1997 Contract, which forms (Percentage) the basis for Because of these threats to the viability and negotiations between expansion of the curbside recycling system, the the RRRC and local governments. RRRC launched a. $A3.2 million Curbside Development Program in 1995. The program Waste minimization and recycling helps councils to adopt best practice in waste project management, by reducing expenditure while increasing yields and collection costs of tecntucti and emlition idsty recyclables. tecntuto n eoiinidsr recyclbles.accounts for 44 percent (by weight) of the Funding under the program depends on the demand for landfill disposal. The Recycling and introduction of performance based contracts of Resource Recovery Council in Victoria has three to five years duration. Contracts need to demonstrated how this can be changed in pilot include a mechanism for managing price project it sponsored with a $A40,000 grant to fluctuations of recyclables and the introduction Fletcher Construction Australia. of a durable recycling container. Councils Fletcher Construction had decided that current eligible for financial assistance are encouraged to adopt user pays waste pricing, a curbside garden waste collection service, recycling at public venues and events within the municipality, regular community promotion and education The waste reduction project, known as RECON, programs, and a purchasing policy to buy was conducted over 16 months during the recycled products themselves. construction of the Dandenong Police and Court Other methods of improving the economics of Complex, a $A14.5 million project with a floor the curbside collection system are also being area of 10,600 square meters. The project encouraged. These include increasing the density results were benchmarked against the very of materials collected through households 74 Results of the trial so- revealed substantial savings to the project, the environment and the whole 70 community. 60 50 How RECON got 40_ results 40 The site superintendent 30 - was responsible for the 20 development of the 10 - - program, and one leading All hand was responsible for 0- implementing the program All recyclable Glass beverage Newsprint PET soft drink in the prora materials containers bottles on the site. The project began with Table 17. Recovery rates for recyclable materials in Melbourne, 1994 als pofth b lem (percetage)analysis of the problem and examination of alternatives. An inventory similar Frankston Police and Court Complex of all wastes was carried being built at the same time. out on site, and a review made of the potential The results from the pilot project are impressive.ideal The resuflt frsom the pilot n projectarimesv, level of material consumption for each trade The landfill needs of the Dandenong project suywsmd fwihieswr were 43 percent lower than Frankston's. The package. A total level of waste produced by the RECON recyclable, the services available and costs and site was 15 percent less and 35 percent of the savings involved. Waste disposal costs were also examined. waste (by volume) was recycled. Waste removal costswas extremely simple. Receptacle bins were When Fletcher Construction Australia made its provided in appropriate numbers, and of project report to the RRRC, it concluded: practical size and type to ensure that trade RECON sets in place mechanisms for contractors could comply with the program. change in waste management practices in This incurred no new capital costs to Fletcher or the Australian construction industry the sub-contractors, because funds raised from which have remained virtually unchanged the sale of recyclable materials were used to for centuries. It also encourages new offset waste costs, with enough over for social environmentally conscious attitudes functions and contributions to charity. among construction personnel which will Fletcher Construction developed a positive heighten their general appreciation of the approach by workers and sub-contractors to need for care of the environment. waste minimization from the outset. Tenderers The company stated that in the past, practices were contracted to participate in the program, and attitudes have been disposal driven -fill and during their induction on site workers were the skip, empty the skip, fill the skip and so on.' briefed on the project and what was expected 75 Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities from them. Records were kept of all waste regulators to encourage more processing of types, volumes, costs and savings, and as results recyclable material. were produced they were posted on the site Concrete recycling is one of its success stories. notice boards. notie bords.In 1991, only 90,000 tons of concrete were Tenderers for waste removal from the site were recycled in Victoria, and the major processor asked to submit prices based on the waste was struggling to find markets. minimization program objectives. Scheduled Outdated quality specifications in government prices for recycled waste and waste destined for road building contracts meant that private landfill were requested. Because many recycling contractors were wary of using recycled depots were closer than the landfill and did not concrete. The Victorian EPA successfully charge fees, the removal costs for recycling lobbied to have the regulations altered to reflect material were 20 percent lower, and credit the higher standard and consistency being received from recycling merchants was returned achieved by the recyclers. As a result, private to Fletcher Construction. contractors were no longer reluctant to specify Separating recyclable material was not a its use for road base material. problem. No additional labor was used to By 1995, Victoria was recycling 650,000 tons of separate materials. Trades which caused the concrete, and it had become the State's second waste were responsible for placing it in bins, and most recycled material (Table 18). The major very little became mixed. concrete recycler had won the RRRC's award Recycling enterprises for some wastes are still for Recycler of the Year, and another major underdeveloped. Plasterboard, for instance, is company had entered the industry and invested one of the largest contributors to the waste in a purpose-built mobile concrete crushing stream, but there are no developed recycling facility. plants for the board in Victoria. However, the This was a great achievement in helping to RECON team worked with two small operators reduce waste in the building and construction who crush or decompose the board, and sell it as industry, which has been responsible for 44 a soil conditioner to farmers. percent of the demand on landfill space. Other initiatives in the waste reduction program A similar success was achieved with the reuse of included the demolition and excavation rubber tires. Victorians replace around four contractors' reuse and recycling of materials million vehicle tires every year. In the past, this from the old police complex which was potentially valuable resource was going straight demolished. The use of recycled material was into the waste stream, or at the margins, finding encouraged on site, and crushed concrete and low value reuse in gardens and on farms. bricks were used for temporary roads. Some useful cost savings were made and disbursed to Pacific Dunlop, a major manufacturer of rubber the social fund from these initiatives, but their tires, has established a number of subsidiaries to main achievement was to reinforce a mindset to collect and reprocess tires. At Somerton, north strive for waste minimization. of Melbourne, it invested $A1 5 million in a facility to shred, crumb and reprocess the discarded rubber tires. A subsidiary, Encore Rubber Technologies, has engineered a range of Processing recyclables high quality products from the recycled material. The Recycling and Resource Recovery Council works closely with industry and government 76 EPA approval because it does not result in any 700,000environmentally hazardous 700,000-emissions. 600,000- 500,000- Recovery and Sales 400,000- Yard 300,000The Eaglehawk Recovery 300,000-and Sales Yard is an 200,000- example of a new focus on reuse of waste. Hundreds 100,000- of companies are developing new recycled products in Australia. 1991 1995 However, reducing waste Table 18. Quantity of concrete recycled in Victoria at source and reuse of (tons) waste have been relatively ignsore.sterdcin In 1992, the problem facing the business was not rcligadu iiznreyld atereciaoide one of finding a market for discarded rubber opportunities re rs wahoish oles tires, but rather, finding a steady volume of tires opta uavntae fofprevioculys wste resh ou s to feed the recycling processors. The Victorian tk datg fpeiul atdrsucs EPA responded to the demand for disused tires .This project was established in April 1994 when by banning the disposal of all rubber tires to the Eaglehawk community realized that the local landfill, landfill facility would be filled in less than 10 ear ifwate as otreued waneste ud.reds Another Pacific Dunlop subsidiary, Tyre Cycle, yeasi at a o eue n esd h coul no colec 2. milio ofthee dscaded yard is operated by Future Employment coud nw ollct2.5milio o thsedisared pprtuites a npofi comunit ased tires. The crumbed rubber goes back into newn ed tire manufacture, road surfacing and adhesives Hw di ste manufacturing. A significant amount is also used The general aims of the operation are to provide to make paving surfaces in playgrounds, around a conservation-based alternative to traditional pools and in shopping plazas. landfill methods of waste disposal and to create The use of recycled rubber to produce water jobs for unemployed people. Specifically, the weeping hose is another excellent innovation, project aims to: This hose uses 70 percent less water than 0 provide an alternative to dumping unwanted conventional ones because there is no loss goods to landfill through evaporation. recover resources that would otherwise be A further 1.5 million tires are used as fuel at the lost to the community Blue Circle cement kiln outside Geelong. This give the community a practical way to saves a considerable amount of natural gas in a recycle goods very energy intensive industry, and was given 0 create new jobs at a time when there are insufficient jobs for local people 77 Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities * develop the yard to be self-supporting so and development of the landfill alone. The that it covers all operating costs including annual operating costs exceed $A19 million. wages, vehicles costs and other overheads. The city's waste management program is the The yard is self-supporting and employs five full largest local government run system in the time workers. The break even point of $1,400 a southern hemisphere and features in the world's week was exceeded very early in its operation top ten. The total service costs more than $A50 by $800, and cash sales soared to a total of Million a year. $15,397 in May 1996. Over 270,000 kg of scrap metal is being recycled every six months. A state-of-the-art landfill The project includes an extensive training Brsbane Landfill is an engineered system which program to help meet the needs ofjob seekers in catches all the polluted water that seeps out of central Victoria, and seeks to create the solid waste as well as the landfill gas. It opportunities in waste recovery projects in other protects the ground, waterways, atmosphere and locations. The Recovery and Sales Yard course the people. is conducted over 12 weeks with trainees attending for 30 hours a week. Mudstone is excavated on site, then layer by The project is also involved in an extensive and pacted it kay ler community education program about the need to ancopteitoa90unhcklylnr comiyeduc a a t iprogrmaottened toladi. for the base and sides of each cell of the landfill. reduceAbove the clay, a virtually impregnable HDPE layer is placed. When the cell is fuill of solid QUEENSLAND waste, the top is covered with 900 mm of clay, topsoil and grass to stop rain getting in and gas Brisbane's recycling and solid getting out. waste management .A percent slope on the base liner drains the Every day of the year Brisbane Council accepts leachate to a sump. From here it is pumped to Evryda o teyea treatment plant, then discharged to sewer. more than 2000 tons of solid waste into the refuse transfer stations and landfill facilities. Methane from the landfill gas is used to heat After extensive research, investigation and kilns at the brickworks. consultation, the council decided to build The system is highly mechanized and controlled. Australia's first and only fully engineered landfill For instance, only a small area is needed to bury for putrescible and other solid waste at the solid waste arriving in transfer trailers from Rochedale. The landfill is managed by Pacific the four transfer stations. The driver reverses his Waste Management, a subsidiary of the trailer, opens the back door, then pulls a multinational WMX Technologies. hydraulic lever. This starts the walking floor on The Rochedale landfill and four transfer stations thro o the dail is ro rsves use replace nine old traditional tip sites. The landfill g y s gr y ph covers more than 200 acres and has a capacity over the solid waste. of more than 10 million cubic meters for waste An Environmental Education Centre near the alone. The site and stations that feed it have cost landfill site teaches environmentally responsible the city more than $A65 million to develop - solid waste management. more than $22 million was spent on acquisition Brisbane people do not take their waste to the tip. They take it to one of the four modern, fully 78 enclosed transfer station buildings. These About 48 percent is domestic waste and 52 modem facilities are staffed by Pacific Waste percent industrial and commercial. Curbside Management, set in landscaped gardens, recycling has reduced domestic volume by about accessed via a computerized weighbridge and 20 percent and the next target is green waste, monitored to ensure that hazardous waste is not followed by putrescible waste. jumped illegally. Because of its unique position, Brisbane City In the enclosed building, general waste is was able to make a detailed analysis of the disposed into a central pit, and recyclables are composition of its total waste stream. placed in a special containers. There is a Initially, it undertook this survey to support its separate section for small quantities of case in getting Pratt Industries to establish a household wastes for special treatment, such as appliance batteries and containers of old paint re ccin ty in risba era and pesticides. reqre An open area is set aside for woody material to The survey also highlighted that packaging be shredded and old car bodies to be recycled. across the waste stream was about 30 percent - Each weekday 50 trailer loads of rubbish are far more than the 10 percent claimed by the hauled from the transfer stations to the Brisbane Packaging Industry. Landfill. All trucks leaving the landfill site are In the early 1980s rates for collection were more washed down so that roadways do not get than $A10 a cubic meter. Until 1990 there was a littered or contaminated. downward trend in charges, averaging less than $A7 a cubic meter, even though disposal of Collecting the waste waste averaged $A13 a ton. The current The city contracts to just two companies to collection rate is $AI 0 a cubic meter. collect refuse in the north and south of Brisbane Ralph predicted that because collection charges and operate a recycling service. Over 230,000 had been uncharacteristically low for such a long households are provided with an additional 240 period, and realistic disposal costs had increased liter wheelie bin with distinctive yellow top, and dramatically, rate payers could expect to be this is collected fortnightly. The collection paying two to three times the current collection system is highly mechanized - a robotic arm on costs shortly. the side of the truck picks up the wheelie bin and tips its contents into the truck. Five products are accepted for recycling; newspaper, plastic (PET, HDPE, PP), glass, cans (aluminum, steel and aerosol), and liquid paperboard. Before including any of these products in the collection scheme, the council entered into agreements with the respective industries to accept all products collected through the curbside recycling program for the full term of the contract. 79 Environmental innovations in Australian Cities ________ ____________________________ This reversal threatened 9,000 1,000the success of the 900- national target of 50 800- percent reduction in 700 waste going to landfill, 600- and the NSW target of a 500 60 percent reduction per 500- head. It was considered 400- 400 ~to -show the 300- 200 inadequacies of the 200 ______________________ ___________ national waste 100- 100 minimization and 0 -recycling scheme 1900 (total metric 1993 (total metric negotiated in 1992. The tons 3,400,000) tons = 2,700,000)th scoe ofccthisofchem was limited and its Table 19. Waste per person going to landfill in New South Wales, stucires loose. It 1990 and 1993 applied mainly to (kilograms per person) packaging, ignoring worse waste-generating industries. It placed too much emphasis on domestic waste even though this comprised less NEW SOUTH WALES thanm35 percent of the solid waste stream. It had unambitious reduction targets, and even these Legislating for waste management were voluntary. The targets largely related to Atee of9ecurbside recycling collection targets, rather than waste avoidance measures. The scheme Governmnent reformed the State's waste monitored performance against targets poorly. management legislation and tackled the gaps and weaknesses of the Council Recycling Rebate During the five years between 1990 and 1995, Scheme which had operated for the previous the State Government had provided Sydney five years. The Government set the ambitious councilstaeth $14.4 million, partly sourced from target of reducing by 60 percent per person the a levy at landfill, as a rebate for volume of amount of waste going to landfill. material recycled. The landfill levy was established under an amendment to the Waste These graphs show a steady decline from 1990 Disposal Act, 1970. Councils received a rebate to 1993, from approximately 3.4 million tons to of $A20 for each ton of recycled material 2.7 million tons, or from approximately 1,000+ collected. By mid 1995, 45 councils were kilograms of waste per person per year to less participating in the scheme, compared with 21 at than 800 kilograms (Table 19). its inception. In the second and third quarters of The total waste figure combined council and the year, 98,800 tons of material were recycled, commercial/industrial waste. An increase in including paper, cardboard, glass, PET and commercial and industrial waste began pushing other plastics, aluminum cans and steel cans the figures up again, and the amount of building This tonnage represented more than a 100 and demolition waste going to landfill in 1994 percent increase in collections since the same had grown by 21 percent. period in 1991. 80 The CRR Scheme was discontinued at the start legislation in Victoria, this Act established a of 1996, and replaced by a new scheme. In State Waste Advisory Council comprising local 1991, 21 of the then 41 councils in Sydney government, industry, the waste industry and operated regular weekly or fortnightly curbside consumer and environment groups. It also services on the same night or morning as their organized local government into regional waste garbage collections, and only four provided their management groups. The law superseded the residents with containers for storage of old council Recycling Rebate Scheme, and recyclables. At July 1995, all 42 councils replaced it with a new Waste Planning and provided these services, and only four did not Management Fund financed from consolidated provide containers. During this four-year period revenue. The State Government continued to recycling increased from 27 kilos to 62 kilos per collect a levy at the landfill sites, and committed head per year (Table 20). Domestic waste $35.8 million to the fund in the first three years. comprised 35 percent of the entire waste stream, The major difference in the NSW legislation is and 15 percent of this was being recycled, that the EPA is given greater powers, such as making Sydney one of the world's best recyclers. the opportunity in set circumstances for the But commercial and industrial waste was on the Minister to require individual companies or increase, and the domestic recycling gains industries to meet nominated waste reduction proved to be the easy yards. The Government . concluded that encouraging more recycling by tags,poutrselvsanfincl concude tha enouraingmorerecclin by support for community recycling efforts. This itself was no longer the easy answer to reducing power forms part of a Producer Responsibility waste and meeting the overall waste reduction Scheme involving the development of binding target. commitments on industry sectors in In December 1995, the Waste Minimization and comprehensive Industry Waste Reduction Plans. Management Act became law. Like similar Although, the new law envisages that these plans will be developed voluntarily between industry, the 60- ...........EPA and the Advisory Committee, 20- in line with nationally * agreed industry reduction targets 0 (ANZECC 1995), there is the opportunity for 20- mandating such plans c awhere cooperation breaks down. 0 The new fund was 1990 1995 established to Table 20. Per capita material recycled by municipal overcome perceived councils participating in New South Wales problems with the Government recycling rebate scheme existing waste (ikiltetgrams) disposal levy. It was 81 Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities considered that the old levy provided a financial disincentive to waste disposal and reflected the fact that landfill prices did not incorporate all of the environmental and social costs of waste disposal. It levied all metropolitan landfills the same, irrespective of whether they were conducting disposal or recycling activities. There was no power for the EPA to provide rebates for beneficial uses of waste. Disposal sites on the fringe of Sydney and in the rest of NSW were not covered by the same levy. The fines and penalty structure is the same as for air and water pollution offenses - a maximum penalty for breaches of license conditions of $A125,000 for a corporation (with a daily maximum of $A60,000), and a maximum penalty of $A60,000 for an individual (with daily maximum of $A30,000). In the case of poor performance, the new law also allows for product bans, 'take-back and utilize' requirements, and the imposition of a waste reduction bond as a financial guarantee for promised waste reduction commitments. 82 nis c>F 0 m O(n G) - oo> o>mo -i- 1 -ooz s PLANNING FOR SOUTH This case study examines the process EAST QUEENSLAND: and outcome of designing a regional AUSTRALIA'S FASTEST plan for South East Queensland, an area where strong population growth GROWING REGION and migration has placed great An integrated land use planning process was pressure on urban infrastructure and introduced in South East Queensland (SEQ) as a the natural environment. It is estimated response to serious environmental problems that growth in this region between arising from unplanned incremental growth. 1991 and 2011 will account for almost one third of Australia's total growth. Local, city and state governments Population growth worked cooperatively with SEQ has attracted growth suggestive of the communities and interest groups to 'sunbelt phenomenon' observed in the USA and design a comprehensive regional plan other advanced western economies. - the 1995 SEQ Regional Framework This is the fastest growing region in Australia. It for Growth Management - for an area is estimated that its population increase between where jurisdictional and legislative 1991 and 2011 will account for almost one third arrangements had been ill-defined. of the nation's total growth, more than the total The plan has a strong emphasis on growth in Sydney or the total population of open space and environmental Adelaide. protection. Over the past five years the population of SEQ Thehas grown by over a quarter of a million, The tudyalsoexainesplaningprimarily as a result of migration from interstate. initiatives of Brisbane City Council, By 2011 another one million people will have which has developed its own sectoral been added to the region since 1991 increasing strategy - Brisbane 2011 - and the total population to between 2.9 and 3.2 - embarked on a major corporate million (Table 21). development process for achieving its ambitious goals for the city. It also looks at some of the new information The pattern of urban systems, including a user-friendly Environment Management Information System that alerts decision makers to Most of the region's population growth has environmental issues affecting any been absorbed through outward urban property in the City of Brisbane. expansion. This is characterized by incremental, low density land subdivision scattered over numerous fronts on the fringes of established urban areas. 85 Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities .5 The SEQ Region The Pacific Ocean forms the eastern 2.5-z boundary of the South East 2-Z -Queensland (SEQ) Region, which stretches 260 kilometers from Noosa in the north to the Tweed Shire just north of the 0.s- New South Wales border, extending 130 kilometers 1991 1996 2001 inland to Table 21. Population of South East Queensland Toowoomba (millions) South East About 85 percent of new housing in these Queensland enjoys a favorable sub-tropical growth areas is constructed in 'urban residential' climate within a rich and varied natural setting subdivisions. These developments are primarily that includes fine beaches, broad rivers, for detached, single household dwellings. More extensive remnant rainforests and highly than 50 percent of newly created dwelling productive and attractive agricultural lands. allotments are more than 600 square meters in area. The land subdivision typically occurs as a The current population of the region is separate development from housing approximately 1.9 million with 1.45 million construction; subdividers offer fully serviced lots residents in the Brisbane Statistical Division (i.e. water, sewerage, drainage, on-site roads, (Grae Brisbane T esopulans spors power, telecommunications) to speculator wie age f dv ersonal adibusiess builders or end users. The remaining 15 percent of new housing construction on the urban fringe occurs in 'rural residential' subdivisions - acreage development Environmental challenges without sewerage. Again, these subdivisions are in SEQ usually undertaken in advance of, and separate from, housing construction. Land resources Population growth has been concentrated in those parts of the region which are either on the Attelbennin ofth Est ecad coast or have rapid access to dEa occupied 179,000 hectares with approximately 143,000 hectares in standard urban use and 86 36,000 in rural residential use. Growth in days with high pollution potential in Brisbane accordance with recent trends would see a need than in Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth or for a further 155,000 hectares (110,000 urban Newcastle. This is due to the higher and 45,000 rural residential). In many parts of temperatures, clearer days and lighter winds that the region, these demands would exceed stocks prevail in SEQ. of land deemed appropriate for urban development in local planning schemes. Water quality The result of such pressures would include the The region's wastewater treatment displacement of agricultural activities both infrastructure is substantially at or near capacity. directly through conversion of farm lands and Major new investment will be required over the indirectly through increases in local land values, next 20 years. subdivision of farms into uneconomic units and the introduction of incompatible land uses. Most existing wastewater plants provide for Pressure on the natural environment would also secondary treatment only (i.e. there is no increase, provision for removal of nutrients) and use river In te md seentes,44 prcet o thecoatal or near-shore sea outfalls. Little is known about In the mid seventies, 44 percent of the coastal teasmltv aaiyo hs qai part of the region (i.e. the areas east of a line eosstems case dete a y atic from Nambour to Beaudesert) was covered in colei oncate quals a reati rct remnant, pre-European vegetation. By 1990, practie. this proportion had dropped to 36 percent, indicating an annual clearing rate of 3,000 However, the indications are that the ecological hectares. values of the Brisbane River at least have been If current trends were to continue, a range of forested areas would be placed at risk. Some sewage discharges, untreated urban stormwater rainforest areas on the Sunshine Coast would be threatened, but the major impacts would be felt gravel mining) and flood mitigation measures in Eucalyptus and Melaleuca open forests andnatural woodlands. These are known to provide habitat reach ctitin of esig gowr for many rare and endangered species.rece.Cniutoofxsiggowhrnd for anyrar an endngeed peces.and servicing strategies would exacerbate these problems. Air quality Current urban development trends in the region also imply a continuing mismatch in outer urban The SEQ2001 Project areas between local jobs and resident workers. In the outer suburban areas of Greater Brisbane Origins only 43 percent of the resident workforce is employed locally. Rapid growth is not a recent phenomenon in TheseSEQ. The region has sustained rates of growth travel, particularly by private car. This, in turn, decae generates the potential for serious air quality problems in the region. The Air Pollution By the late 1980s there was a widespread view Potential (APP) index developed by the Bureau in South East Queensland that growth pressures of Meteorology indicates that there are more had increased beyond the community's 'comfort 87 Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities margin'. Through media commentary and other sector in Queensland was an important factor in forums, concerns were being expressed that this regard. relentless urban sprawl could bring about a 'Los The SEQ2001 Project was established to plan Angeles' scenario, threatening the environmental I quality and relaxed lifestyle of the region. fol the Dece 1990aconrncea During this time Brisbane City Council played a Regional Planning Advisory Group representing key part in generating a more coordinated, all levels of government and community sectors region-wide response to the growth pressures was established in July 1991. confronting South East Queensland. The brief for this group was to establish Notwithstanding the size of Brisbane City, it had principles to guide the management of growth to become clear that planning actions confined to achieve social, economic and environmental the council's boundaries could not guarantee objectives; identif gaps in current policies; and protection of Brisbane's high standard of to identifypriority tasks to protect livability. Extensive modeling work environmental values, integrate urban growth commissioned by the council had demonstrated and transport and achieve urban consolidation. that the central part of the region was under considerable pressure from commuter flows. This strategy came very close to failing. At a This would impact on residential amenity, the mid-term review of SEQ2001 in late 1992, a- viability of traditional commercial centers on number of councils, together with elements of major roads and, as noted, air quality. the business sector, argued strongly that the In December 1990, the State Government called project should not proceed to the production of a conference to discuss the implications of rapid Regional p lan e e onoao'bott u growth for the livability, ecological sustainability basisballon idivil on to rve and economic development potential of the region. The conference, attended by more than pol ic pins devloe the 300 people from a wide cross-section of the SEQ2001 Project. community, called for the establishment of a broad-based group to develop recommendations Again the influence of Brisbane City as a leading for growth management. council in the region (and Chair of the South East Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils) was important in averting this shift in SEQ prociess direction. Regional planning has had a checkered history in risan th eginl Faew and South East Queensland. A Federal Government reinaiOute P eon ci otend sponsored planning exercise covering much of deba Opsing laTie radil otns SEQ had been carried out in the early 1970s (the ocal aspsiof telan, suc as Moreton Regional Plan). This had a limited cmmimets t lansor a impact. The plan was a technically oriented least ene fo hiherdnsit acrs the undertaking with minimal resources being r egn deployed to build the coalitions of interest necessary to support its implementation. The The Regional Planning Advisory Group's draft relative autonomy of the local government recommendations (contained in the report Creating Our Future) were released for public comment in July 1993. The final 88 recommendations were published in April 1994 such as economic resources, air and water in the Regional Framework for Growth quality, urban growth and transport. Priority Management (RFGM). They received broad actions are identified in each section and lead endorsement by local, state and federal agencies nominated for each task. governments. Key policies are: In addition, policy papers were prepared on 15 Urban growth. Urban expansion will continue topics, as well as a two-volume report - The but will be located in four nominated areas - Preferred Patterns for Urban Development for Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, the Gold Coast, South East Queensland and Institutional and Toowomba. Detached housing on single lots Arrangements for Growth Management will continue to dominate. There will be some Following release of the RFGM infil development. The objective is to reduce recommendations, the SEQ2001 Project moved urban expansion to 60 percent less than current into the implementation phase. The Regional trends to the year 2011 using about 42,000 Planning Advisory Group was replaced by a hectares. high level Regional Coordination Committee, Integrated land use and transRort planning. comprising representatives from the three spheres of government and chaired by a Jntegration will aim to increase public transport Queensland Government Minister. This use by the year 2011. High density residential committee oversaw the preparation of sub- development will be concentrated around major regional structure plans by sub-regional regional centers linked to public transport. organizations of councils covering, respectively, Developments will be concentrated around Brisbane City and the northern, western and Coomera on the Brisbane to Robina Rail line southern segments of the region. The sub- and on the Sunshine Coast. regional structure plans tested and fleshed out a Protection of environmental assets. number of the recommendations contained in the RFGM. A number of key sectoral strategies on The four development areas will be separated by integrated transport planning, regional open open space and non urban areas. Specific space, water resources and infrastructure environmental assets will be protected. A coordination were also prepared. regional open space system will be based on nature conservation and recreation areas linked Taking into account the outcomes of the sub- by corridors of public land. regional planning process, the Regional Coordination Committee endorsed a revised and Wor centers expanded version of the Regional Framework in Seven key centers have been identified as major September 1995 - the South East Queensland retail commercial and cultural locations. These Regional Framework for Growth Management. will be supported by a network of major district The following summary is based on this centers, linked to public transport, and will bring document, which is referred to simply as the employment closer to residential areas. Together Regional Framework. with integrated land use-transport planning measures, the centers policy aims to reduce total vehicle travel by 10 percent and total vehicle 'The Plan' emissions by 20 percent over existing trends. The SEQ Regional Framework identified 100 planning principles grouped into 15 sections 89 Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities Implementation objective of ensuring that development is properly planned according to its principles is The Committee established to implement the recognized in the wording of the priority actions SEQ Regional Framework is responsible for its for key areas. The urban growth section review in response to trends and needs; for recognizes that urban expansion must be located monitoring progress and advising the Planning in suitable areas and that urban design and form and Infrastructure Coordination Committee of are critical elements of this planning. It identifies Cabinet each year on both implementation and a development pattern by mapping the four the results of monitoring; and for facilitating future growth areas, separates them by non- sub-regional and sectoral plans. It also has the urban areas, and stipulates that growth should crucial role of ensuring these plans are be excluded from areas of nature conservation consistent with the Regional Framework and and open space significance. It also requires that promoting the Framework's integration into this development pattern be implemented local government planning schemes. through local goverment planning schemes and The Queensland Government made it clear that that planning schemes and government decisions the SEQ2001 project was to be a cooperative be consistent with the Regional Framework. process involving all levels of government, In keeping with the consensus and voluntary business and community sectors. A new tier of nature of the regional planning model pursued in government or a planning authority to manage Queensland, councils are not under immediate the region was not intended. Instead, principles statutory obligation to amend their planning and policies to guide the future pattern of schemes. Many priority actions are qualified, as development were to be developed through in the requirement that the indicative growth consensus and implemented through existing pattern be implemented subject to ongoing state and local structures. refinement. Many actions are made the sole While the Regional Framework is not legislative responsibility of local government, such as the or prescriptive, there are some stipulations, and specification of maximum and minimum local councils are to have regard to its residential densities. Ultimately the effect of the provisions in carrying our their land use planning Regional Framework's implementation will responsibilities. Local government is particularly depend on the strength and clarity of its policies, important to the implementation process. It has how well these are implemented through the a powerful role in land use planning in priority actions, and whether the Queensland Queensland through its development and Government is ultimately prepared to intervene administration of planning schemes. If the if monitoring reveals that the plan is being SEQ2001 process and the Regional Framework ignored. are to have any impact on managing Successful implementation of SEQ2001 project development and growth in South East also depends on complementary reforms Queensland they must be implemented through concerning infrastructure funding and state and local government land use planning coordination, the regulation of activities decisions. It is intended that all spheres of impacting on the environment and the government will endorse the plan and sign a institutional machinery for planning in Memorandum of Agreement to commit all Queensland. These actions are outlined in parties to its implementation and monitoring. Appendix 2. The apparent tension between the cooperative nature of the Regional Framework and the 90 Critiquein average dwelling density of 15 lots per A number of aspects of the SEQ2001 hectare (a 50 percent increase on densities hav nubern ofuaspetsiofd Thes inue -rcs achieved in current conventional development) havealong with an increased residential density in Implementation and institutional existing areas through infill development. Even arrangements. Regional planning policies this moderate increase is unlikely to be achieved relying on voluntary implementation and matrix unless made mandatory, given consumer management models and institutional systems reaction and the domination of market including budget coordination have generally not preferences by the developer industry. The provided lasting plans for development and general trend in other Australian cities and protection of environmental assets elsewhere in similar cities in other countries is of substantial Australia. Even statutory regional planning population growth to the urban fringe despite controls have generally either not been fully increased dwelling density. implemented or have been substantially altered. Policy framework The Regional Framework's Regional centers. Designating a small number policies and priority actions are often general of hierarchical regional centers may be and conditional and many identify future incompatible with changes in economic and processes rather than outcomes. This makes it employment patterns, particularly the increase in difficult to monitor and evaluate the plan part-time work, establishment of home-based regardless of the effectiveness of implementation small businesses, the dynamic nature of procedures. economic restructuring, loss of traditional jobs Queensland's plannin Zystem. In Australia, and growth in new services. These emerging urban planning is the constitutional responsibility patterns may be more suited to greater dispersal of state governments: local governments are the and self-containment in a larger number of creatures of the state and do not have separate smaller mixed use activity areas based on public constitutional recognition. transport. Under Queensland's current laws, local Transport. Assuming an increase of 50 percent governments are empowered to make local in public transport usage may be unrealistic planning schemes. In SEQ at least, such schemes unless accompanied by major changes in urban generally have two elements. A strategic plan form away from separated residential, retail, describes the preferred pattern of settlement in office and service uses and detached housing on outline terms and provides the policy framework large lots, to mixed use activity centers and a for development control. This is supported by housing density of 25 lots per hectare based more detailed town plan provisions featurng around public transport. Although improved cadastrally based zonings and land use integration of public transport and land use is regulations. proposed, a continuation of conventional urban development characteristic of car-dependent Beas un er te the pannn Australian suburbs will continue to be the norm. As a result, the required increase in public rezonings and new or modified planning transport trips as a percentage of total trips is schemes must by approved by the State Minister unlikely to increase by the required 11 percent for Planning. from 7 percent in the SEQ region. Residential development The Regional Framework assumes a uniform regional increase 91 Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities In Queensland, unlike some other states, local The core of Queensland's planning legislation government has primarily responsibility for the dates back to the 193Os and draws heavily on provision of water supply, sewerage, local roads British town planning models. In May 1995, and other basic infrastructure. The State however, the Queensland Government released Government, on the other hand, has the draft of a new Planning Act. This is responsibility for supplying most social discussed later in this chapter. infrastructure, including primary and secondary schools, hospitals, community health centers, subsidized public transport and a range of family Sub-regional planning - and community facilities. These differing roles and responsibilities can lead to different Brisbane 2011 perspectives on the preferred pattern of development in particular areas. About Brisbane City The current legislation makes no explicit Queensland's capital and largest city, Brisbane, provision for regional planning, which in SEQ is situated on the Brisbane River in the South has been undertaken on a consensus basis led by East Region of the State (Figure 1). the State Government. Brisbane City Council is different from other SEQ200t implications for Asia's cities Many major Asian cities face growth challenges far greater than those of most rapidly expanding Australian cities. Such scale differences may limit the transferability of the voluntary and consensus driven models of regional planning which have been developed in Queensland. Nevertheless, the SEQ200 experience may offer some useful lessons for other cities in the Asia Pacific Region. The harmonization of infrastructure pricing and planning controls in pursuit of improved environmental outcomes is a lesson worth learning. Shaping settlement patterns through price signals assumes particular importance in the context of a state where there is long standing commitment to an essentially market-driven land release system. Another possible lesson concerns effective linking of planning processes and state budget processes without resort to major, centralized coordination bureaucracies. A key contribution of the SEQ200 process was the clear demonstration that medium term environmental outcomes are quite sensitive to changes in urban structure. In particular, it demonstrates the advantages of concentrated decentralization of employment in metropolitan areas. SEQ200 has also been important in developing advanced analytical tools for planning. The outstanding example of this is the regional GIS, which has been a valuable source of information for the Brisbane City Council's Environment Management Information System (EMIS). 92 city governments in Australia, in that it has future of both the city and the region of South responsibility for many functions carried out by East Queensland. state governments in other parts of the nation. The Environment Management Branch of The City of Brisbane Act 1924-1987 gives the Brisbane City is an example of its institutional council an extremely wide charter, largely capacity. It has approximately 50 staff, and its transferring 'home rule' to Brisbane - the only sole function is to engage in environmental city in Queensland to have its own separate research, policy and planning for the city. Policy statutory charter. This was an unprecedented implementation is carried out by other delegation of powers to a local government operational branches of the council. The authority in Australia. Environment Management Information System These powers were delegated in 1925 because described later in the case study is just one of Brisbane was then considered the most the many initiatives of the council's backward capital city in Australia. A new city Environment Branch. government was established by merging 20 councils and various boards administering Brisbane City planning hospitals, utilities, bridges and roads. As a result of these mergers, Brisbane City now covers a With a population of 763,000, Brisbane City is large area (1,220 square kilometers). In 1993 one of the largest local governments in the there were nearly 300,000 ratable properties and world. an estimated resident population of 776,000 Along with the three other sub-regional planning within the city boundaries. processes undertaken elsewhere in the region The Brisbane City Council is responsible for a during 1994-95, Brisbane 2011 was intended to wide range of undertakings and services, flesh out and test the recommendations put including town planning, distribution of water forward in the draft Regional Framework for supply, sewerage, municipal buses, ferries, Growth Management (April 1994). In particular, cemeteries, libraries and traffic improvement this planning process reviewed the achievability works. It has an annual budget of more than of the population and employment distribution $Al billion to maintain the large range of targets then proposed for Brisbane by the services and infrastructure, which includes over Regional Planning Advisory Group. 5,000 kilometers of roads and bridges, and Brisbane 2011 also forms the basis for a 7,000 hectares of parks. Almost every home in comprehensive review of the Brisbane Town Brisbane is sewered, involving 6,000 kilometers Plan. of sewer pipes and 11 treatment plants. The city also operates a fleet of 550 buses and 11 cross- Some ar feates of the se0 river ferries. The council uses six dams, four water treatment plants, 42 reservoirs and 70 pumping stations to supply water to the city. The Brisbane River makes a 19-kilometer journey through the city to Moreton Bay. Because of its size and complexity, Brisbane City has been a major player in planning the 93 Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities Population and housing will be located in the 'city core' district * A population target of 900,000 in 2011 is (which includes several major ifll proposed. This compares to medium series Seelway yar, South ak a forecasts of 855,000.Stetriwyad,ouhBnad foreast of 55,00.Highgate Hill) and in the inner north-eastern * Sixty percent of new dwelling requirements suburbs which feature a large stock of are to be met through outward urban obsolete factories and warehouses suitable expansion. About 4,500 hectares of raw land for redevelopment or conversion to are to be converted to urban development at residential uses. slightly higher densities than those evident in recent trends for Brisbane (11.5 dwellings per hectare compared with 10.5). Most of the growth is projected to occur in the suburbs on the southern fringe of the city. * Of the new dwellings to be provided in the established parts of the city, the lion's share An Environmental Vision All Brisbane's planning documents are prefaced by reference to the framework in which they have been prepared - the SEQ Regional Framework for Growth Management and the aims of the council's 1991 Environmental Vision. 1. Flora and fauna protection through the establishment of a well-designed open space network. 2. No net loss of wetlands and protection of forested foothills and waterways vegetation. 3. Water qualrity standards to ensure safe recreational use of the Brisbane River and its waterways. 4. No increase in 1991 levels of air pollutants by the year 2000. 5. Soil and tree retention and maximum efficiency in water use. 6. Minimization of solid and liquid waste creation and encouragement of recycling and reuse of materials. 7. Effective controls over road, aircraft and industrial noise levels. 8. A 20 percent targeted reduction in greenhouse gas emission levels. 9. The highest standard for the transport, storage and disposal of hazardous goods and the management of contaminated land. 10. The highest levels of environmental responsibility for business, the community and the Brisbane City Council. 94 integrate key employment locations in the central sector of the city, i.e. the airports, Employment and economic Fortitude Valley, C1D, South Bank and the development University of Queensland. * A key policy of Brisbane 2011 is to reduce Green space the extent of commuter flows through central city areas. According to the draft SBsbe 21 roposes a reen Spa plan, Brisbane is to accommodate 650,000 jobs by 2011 - approximately 66 percent of Open Space System. The Green Space the total job stock in the Brisbane Statistical System will comprise major reserves, parks Division compared with 78 percent in 1991. and sporting fields, public or private lands * More than 40 percent of the job additions in with ecological and/or environmental or Brisbane are expected to be in the CBD and an lan with r a ityvue ully in Gateway Ports Area (Brisbane's domestic ate oand curent ly in airport, international airport and seaport are dnity rsin ue co-located in areas around the mouth of the Brisbane River. This is a key resource for The Metropolitan Green Space System export-oriented industries and support would cover 55,000 hectares or 48 percent services). of Brisbane. The draft plan proposes that all * Two suburban commercial and retail centers designated as major district centers in the urban development. 1995 Regional Framework - Chermside and Another of Brisbane Council's environmental Upper Mount Gravatt - would be initiatives is a computer system that highlights strengthened as employment hubs. New environmental issues in planning matters. outer urban employment areas would be developed at Heathwood-Parkinson An Environment Management (industrial) and Brookside-Mitchelton Information System (retail), Toombul-Nundah (retail) and Sunnybank-Calamvale (retail) to further Introduction of an on-line Environment reduce commuter pressures on central Management Information System (EMIS) to Brisbane. staff computer terminals has boosted the Brisbane City Council's environent Tranportmanagement capacity and helped decision Transport makers become better informed and more * The focus is on travel demand management accountable for actions affecting natural features involving indirect pricing, direct pricing and systems. EMIS alerts council officers to the (pending cooperation and leadership from existence, type and significance of every the State Government) and reorienting job- environmental issue associated with any to-residence patterns as indicated above. property within the City of Brisbane before they Investment in new roads would be the make decisions about it. This helps to avoid any option of last resort. unforeseen detrimental effects these decisions * New public transport investment is to could have where, for instance, rare bushland or strengthen the roles of the Chermside and species are involved. It also provides a means of Upper Mount Gravatt centers and better mapping environmental change. 95 Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities EMIS was introduced as part of Brisbane City Environmental Status Report, which identifies Council's policy of integrating environmental the categories of environmental issue present, management with mainstream decision making. then describes each issue and its implications. It began as an in-house project to provide Spatial flags on Bimap draw attention to: accurate and up-to-date information for environment management practitioners and to o bushland (information provided by aerial make all decision-makers more aware of photos and on-ground knowledge about environmental issues. specific communities), Rather than introducing new, more sophisticated 0 forested foothills, GIS technology, the council decided to use 9 wetlands, existing systems, which were well understood by 0 waterway comdors (based on Department of the 3,500 council staff with access to computer Lands orthophotos), terminals. o vegetation Protection Orders (VPOs) Brisbane Council's Bimap Section, Information covering individual historic trees or Service Branch and Environment Management significant landscapes and requirements for Branch worked together to develop a system permits for clearing native grassland or bush which made the best use of existing information (VPOs are digitized to individual property and technology and presented data in a form that boundaries), was comprehensible and easily accessible to prescribed purpose sites, most council staff 0 zones with natural landscape and ecological Flag lertsvalues of city-wide and regional importance Flag alertswhich require special treatment, Brisbane's Integrated Map of Assets and 0 contaminated sites, and Properties (Bimap) project already provided a 'flag' system of spatial information to these terminals and to those of licensed external users, EMIS is a huge advance on past practices, alerting them to particular features. To this where there were few requirements for staff to EMIS added a set of flags noting the existence take environmental issues into account when of environmental issues related to any property making decisions such as bringing in a bulldozer under consideration. Information is displayed on for laying pipelines. Where there was concern a property by property basis, rather than relating over environmental issues, follow through was to the nature of an activity, such as inflows to slow and labor-intensive. An environment officer creeks. It includes the location of natural areas would have to go out with a plan and physically of Brisbane, such as bushland and wetlands, and inspect and check the situation. specific legislation or regulations that might Until environmental flagging through Bimaps apply, such as Vegetation Protection began, no mapping of waterways in Brisbane Ordinances. had ever taken place. Information about the rate Information is displayed graphically by way of of bushland clearing within the city of Brisbane an Environmental Status Theme showing was anecdotal. There was no agreed definition environmentally sensitive sites, and an and no base map. Environmental Status Map which displays The process of mapping the information in a environmentally significant locations. precise and uniform manner allows the rate of Supporting text is provided through an change to be charted for each defined 96 environmental issue. EMIS provides for sophisticated basis than devised under the spatial benchmarking and setting performance flags in Bimaps. indicators for future rates of bushland or EMIS has also developed a Geographic wetland clearance. Information System (GIS) capable of storing, retrieving and analyzing map-based data. The Spreading the message system is developed from an Environmental Brisbane Council has made Bimaps available for Resource Mapping System package, E-RMS, some time to licensed external users and plans to developed by the NSW National Parks and provide public access to EMI S in the near Wildlife Service which integrates a diverse range future. A customer survey showed that 92 of map layers from a variety of sources. percent of developers wanted direct access to EMIS takes mapping data from other sources, EMIS through modems and customer service such as SEQ2001, and reduces it to smaller grid centers. Access will also be given to community sizes, allowing more detailed calculations to take groups and interested individuals through place. For instance, E-RMS will allow overlays terminals in libraries. of zonings on vegetation types or comparisons More specialized systems have been devised to between the proportions of, say, heathland to help council officers where a higher level of banksias and their rates of loss. analysis is required. The Flora and Fauna The introduction of similarly accessible and Information System, for instance, charts the comprehensive on-line environmental distribution and characteristics of flora and fauna management information systems on a state, throughout Brisbane on a more national and international scale would not only benefit information flows, but also provide the base dataset for quanti)ing, and therefore measuring, the effect of human activities on the natural environment. 97  APPENDICES 99 Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities large volumes of fresh water through the drum filling lines and discharging the waste washings Appendix 1. produced to the sewer. Case Studies from Victoria Waste Minimization While this effectively cleaned the system, it demonstration program, as discussed in the resulted in a significant loss of the valuable chapter, Cleaner Production in Victoria material still retained in the pipe work and entai.led the use of high volumes of costly water. In effect, money was being washed down the BASF Australia Ltd. drain. This was an opportunity identified for priority Background action by the BASEs Cleaner Production cgro Program staff team. The Victorian-based firm BASF Australia Ltd. has a well established environmental program. The solution Working with local residents, council and the EPA, BASF has, since 1993, undertaken an The solution to the problem involved two simple Environment Improvement Plan (EIP). changes. The first Cleaner Production Demonstration The first was to the filling schedule. A survey project meeting was held in April 1993 involving found that many of the acrylic latex products a team of BASF employees (operators and manufactured at BASF were compatible. By management) and representatives from Business scheduling the production of compatible Victoria (DBE) and EPA. products in serial sequence, the number of line BASF manufacture a range of acrylic latex products which are pumped through drum filling The second change involved installing a lines into different sized containers for reversible pump in the filling process. transportation and sale. The aim of the Cleaner Production Demonstration Project was to Atog eesbepmswr nuei te Prodctin Deonsratin Pojec wa toareas of the plant, using them for waste recovery reduce product losses to effluent caused by line was a completely new idea. washings between different latex emulsion products. The installation of a reversible self priming pump In seeking to find a solution to this problem, the of the resuald the cleaner production team looked at several f liers. the reovere d t in sol approaches which had been suggested by BASF rtehn lst as a waste. employees. BASF expect to save more than $100,000 per Commercial benefits year by introducing a few clever innovations to thi oeatn poee.9 The value of lost product was about $140,000 theirper year. The capital cost of the pump and associated pipework was $40,000. The expected Problem identified payback period on the investment was about Between the product changes, the equipment four months. involved in the filling operations had to be Actual savings to BASF go beyond this simple thoroughly cleaned. This was done by pumping calculation of initial cost savings when 100 productivity increases are factored in as well. Removing the need for line flushing between compatible products and the introduction of air purging between incompatible products has substantially reduced down time between filling Cadbury Schweppes the containers, as well as increasing the yield Australia Ltd. from each product batch. Other significant commercial benefits to BASF Background include a reduction in the water costs and trade waste license fees. Before participating in the Cleaner Production Demonstration Project, the company already had an Environmental Policy and an Operational Environmental benefits Strategy. Cadbury Schweppes took part in the Sixty tons of latex that used to go down the Asia Pacific Cleaner Production Conference in sewer are now recovered, thus reducing the load Melbourne (February 1992). Incorporation of at the Werribee Treatment Plant. There has also the Europe Health Foods range complemented been a significant reduction in the quantity of the company's environmental push. fresh water used in the process. Cadbury Schweppes manufactures a huge range of food and confectionery products for the Future commitment Australian and overseas markets. They include In conjunction with all other companies in the and Re Tuli aser gTe Cpny Altona Chemical Complex, BASF made a aR ed in te en e con voluntary commitment to reduce VOC (Volatile demonstatin proje both ctiov Organic Compounds) emission by 50 percent peroran proft and to show o over a five-year period commencing in 1989. comane at cold e a hievedhin This target has already been exceeded by BASF, enientalan cost benei but efforts will continue to reduce VOC further. Most of the improvements have been achieved Reflecting the strong commitment by through waste minimization techniques. management, a waste minimization team was Fugiive(no-pant ourc) eissonsareestablished comprising the technical manager, Fugitive (non-paint source) emissions areeniom tcornar,wseaag et controlled by an ongoing leak detection and offirndeP constant.wThe maed repair program. ofcradEAcnutn.Teta are repai proram.out the identification and quantification of waste The Environment Improvement Program is streams with various production sectors of the annually updated and projects are scheduled company. beyond 1995. The company made the Cleaner Production project a priority. Participation of shop floor staff in the investigation was a key element in its approach. Staff were informed and invited to make suggestions for improvements in their specific work place areas. 101 Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities Problems identified Waste food wrappers (over 30 percent of the Moresolid waste at Cadbury) are converted into imoreditae1 ares eeidetfid.o durable plastic pallets by Australian Challenge immediate action. and are used in-house for product storage (30 Much of the project work concentrated in areas tons per year). related to packaging where reasonably quick Two recycling projects with little capital results could be obtained. Waste reduction in product manufacturing revealed some potential, wastes for sale as stockfeed, (savings of $63,000 but generally required equipment or technique per year), and an increase in cardboard recycling changes. to approximately 300 tons, saving $9,000 per Implementation of these initiatives was year. scheduled around the demands of the production program. Waste water The solutions Another simple project involved fittig electrically-operated valves to ensure that water Many of the projects achieved savings without sprays only operated when there was product on any capital expenditure. In one example, a the conveyor. Eleven kilometers of hot water is simple product substitution change is saving saved each day for a cost of $400, with the $14,500 per year by avoiding the wastage of ongoing benefit of $5,000 a year. 120 kilograms of gelatine each day. A further Recycling of vacuum pump sealing water for a evaluation of the use of gelatine has found that fll shift instead of continuous feeding of fresh the quantities can also be reduced, producing water conserves water in the bar cooking more savings without capital expenditure. section. Another $10,000 has been saved with a simple The installation of two new high-pressure change to a metal detection and aligning cleaners has greatly reduced cleaning water process, eliminating 150 kilograms of waste volumes. product per shift. It can be expected that the new technology Other introduced by Cadbury Schweppes will soon have a much broader application in the packaged Auto lights sensors from intelligent Lighting food industry. Systems, which sense the intensity of natural light available, enable dimming via controls Packaging down to 40 percent of designed capacity. The largest gains are being achieved by A Rotary Swirl Cyclone developed with CSIRO replacing wooden cases with re-usable steel will extract and reclaim dust from the Kibbling containers in the import of cocoa butter from roTedt, imd ork c odins overseas. bag-filter and washed down the drain. Polyethylene fill used for wrapping cocoa blocks is being mixed with other materials to make buide'svaorbarir ilm(3tnspeWyar.somerfod iwalpr boer efits ofth bIn the first year of its waste minimization program, and with a proposed capital outlay of 102 $1.25 million, the projected cost benefit to Cadbury Schweppes approximated $780,000 a year. The program is now entering the third year and Ford Motor Company a further $500,000 in total savings has been identified. Australia Ltd. Environmental benefits Background Before the changes were implemented, about 50 Ford has developed a comprehensive Waste tons a week of solid waste was going to landfill. Management Plan, and each of its plants and This has now been greatly reduced, and includes facilities is required to have a waste the saving of valuable product. minimization program. Ford has undertaken Waste use is down to about half of what it was reductio n te recycli e two years ago, and liquid trade wastes going to c tion aner rodcin. the sewer have similarly been reduced. Temperature is being lowered, pH levels are When approached by the EPA and Business better controlled, BOD is being cut, solids and Victoria, Ford decided to use the opportunity in suspended solids as well as fats and nitrogen one of their designated project areas - the levels are lower. caustic cleaning of paint off skids and booth The energy management program included the grates. installation of lighting controllers and the This led to the replacement of an inefficient and insulation of 1.5 kilometers of chocolate environmentally hazardous hot caustic stripping processing lines. The result is a significant process with high pressure water blasting at the reduction in the overall heat load with air Ford Broadmeadows Car Assembly Plant 1. conditioning costs down by 15 percent. Financial incentives for improvement in this area were very high with heating costs of $750,000 a Future commitment year and paint sludge disposal costs of The Cadbury Schweppes experience is approximately $1 million per year for the outstanding. It is a good example of the gains previous five years. which can be achieved through the adoption of a whole company philosophy in tackling waste Problems identified minimization and the introduction of cleaner The Caustic Cleaning Facility was installed in production processes. 1960 to remove paint and sealer buildup from Many of the ideas have come from the shop car body skids and also paint accumulation from floor and the company is committed to keeping spray booth floor grates and screens. workers up to date with progress. Recognition The Facility was an inefficient user of steam of staff contribution and participation is heating and the working environment was highlighted in internal newsletters. extremely corrosive. The process used As part of its environmental commitment, hazardous, hot caustic soda solution to strip and Cadbury Schweppes staff now undergo specific remove paint and sealer build up from car body training in the concepts of cleaner production. skids and also from floor grates and screens. 103 Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities Special protective equipment was required to to a further saving of more than $100,000 a meet the requirements of Occupational Health year. and Safety legislation. Large quantities of hazardous liquid were stored and hazardous Environmental benefits wastes had to be disposed of to landfill. Chemicals, especially caustic soda, have been eliminated from the processes and this also The solutions eliminates acid neutralization of the prescribed Six alternative technologies were investigated, wastes. 'Because there are no chemicals including shot blasting, sand blasting, fluidized involved, it is much safer for operators and the bed stripping and chemical stripping. waste generated is not hazardous to the One alternative, high pressure water blasting, environment' claims Grant Hoatson, the waon ob eyscesfl ehial Supervisor of Ford's Environmental Group. was found to be very successful. Technically quite simple, it involves blasting the paint off Energy reduction lowers the amount of with a high pressure jet of water which greenhouse gases produced from electricity undercuts and lifts the paint off the skid. generation. There are over 1,600 skids in the system and the The reduction in the number of paint job rejects paint can build up on them to about four micron also saves on chemicals and paint and has a a cycle. With approximately 400 cars a day, and corresponding positive effect on the allowing for some randomness in selection and environment. some repaints, each skid had to be stripped and cleaned about once every six days. Future commitment Ford claims it is now able to clean six times as Ford has committed funds for a new, totally many skids in one day using the new system. enclosed, sound-proof, purpose-built plant The old caustic cleaning facility was which will be modified to reduce water decommissioned in October 1993. consumption, improve drainage and automate the disassembly of skids for cleaning. Commercial benefits Ford hopes to apply the principles proven at This innovation is saving Ford approximately oaeaost $300,000 a year in reduced heating costs and disposal of caustic residues. Other opportunities to reduce paint waste in the The capital outlay for the water blast equipment assembly area are being investigated. was approximately $120,000, giving a direct payback in less than five months. Because the skids and other equipment are kept much cleaner on average than before, the amount of dirt particles in the paint plant is lower by approximately 3-5 percent. This equates to a 2-3 percent reduction in reprocessing of rejects via sanding, cleaning and respraying. Conservatively, this would amount 104 for catchment, riverine and coastal water resources'. This sets a long term and evolving agenda spanning all spheres of government and has both a sectoral and spatial dimension. The Appendix 2 Regional Framework is not a simple 'master plan' for the region.. The SEQ Regional Framework for Growth Form and distribution of Management urban growth The SEQ Regional Framework identifies 100 The regional policy envisages the development planning principles grouped under the following of four distinctive and self-contained urban goal areas: areas: * conservation of the natural environment, the Brisbane metropolitan area, wh *extends to Caboolture in the north, * ecnomc reoures,Beenleigh in the south, Ipswich in the west * water quality, and Redland Shire in the east, and includes * air quality, the area of North Beaudesert, * regional open space, the Sunshine Coast, * urban growth, the Gold Coast, and * residential development, Toowoomba. * major centers, It is intended that each of these areas will offer * employment location, residents diverse employment opportunities and a vibrant social and cultural lifestyle. An * social justice and human services, important objective is the reduction in * livability, environmental pressures caused by long-distance * cultural development, commuting. * transport, Urban expansion will continue in the four * water supply, and nominated areas, limited urban consolidation " wate mnageent.will occur through infill development, and low * waste management.density detached housing on single allotments These goal areas are accompanied by a list of will continue as the dominant urban form. priority actions, nominating lead agencies for Other requirements: each task. The priority actions deal with matters of process groth areas, and the institutional framework for planning as well as measures for development outcomes. An 0 the minimization of land takeup in the urban example of the former is ... 'Develop a growth process, Memorandum of Understanding between State 0 higher average densities, agencies and with Local Government to specify administrative and management responsibilities 105 Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities * an increase in densities around the key Integrated land use and centers and other areas with access to high quality public transport services, and transport * protection of areas suitable for urban growth The integration of land use and transport beyond 2011. planning will aim at increasing public transport Within the Brisbane metropolitan area, major use by 50 percent by the year 2011, new growth areas are expected to emerge in concentrating development around improved Fitzgibbon, Mango Hill, Caboolture, Ripley public transport on the Sunshine Coast and at Valley, Springfield, Rosewood, Forest Lake, Coomera on the Brisbane-Robina rail line, Calamvale and Algester. The character of the through improved bus links, and by achieving existing suburbs will generally remain higher density residential development around unchanged. major regional centers linked to public transport. Considerable infill development is expected to occur within the inner north-eastern suburbs of Brisbane and in and around the Ipswich city Environmental constraints core. The objective is to expand population to development numbers in the Brisbane CBD and frame areas. Urba grwthin te Snshne Castwil beAreas of open space and conservation value will Urban growth in the Sunshine Coast will bedevelopment areas concentrated in the coastal area between Noosa physically separated by non-urban areas. and Caloundra. InThe Regional Framework calls for protection of In te Gld Castsubregin gowthwil beSEQ's environmental assets, including nature mainly in consolidation areas. The Brisbane- conservation areas (national parks and reserves, Robina railway line may generate pressures for a other areas of broad and critical conservation new growth front at Coomera. value, scenic and habitat areas, marine parks and Toowoomba is expected to grow steadily catchment areas) and economic resource areas through incremental and consolidated urban (including good quality agricultural land, expansion. extractive and coal resources, state forests, and Overall, urban development is intended to be more compact and supportive of public The following environmental assets are transport. Total land requirements for urban specifically cited. expansion, including rural residential, will be 60 For the Brisbane metropolitan area: percent less compared with current trends. Excluding the rural residential component, land * Pumicestone Passage, requirements will be approximately 42,500 0 Moreton Bay and its islands, hectares to the year 2011 compared with the 0 the koala habitat areas, 110,000 hectares under current trends. Population planning targets for the various local 0 the upper reaches of the Brisbane River. government areas making up the region reflect higher order infrastructure capacities and the desired changes in the pattern of employment 9 forestry resources in the catchment of the locations. Pumicestone Passage, u the D'Aguilar Ranges, 106 * the Conondales, corridors, visual amenity, public access) with the * significant tracts of good quality agricultural rights of private owners. land for sugar cane and horticulture. For the Gold Coast: * Tamborine Mountain Distribution of * East Coomera employment and services * Southern Moreton Bay. Sub-regional self-containent is to be reinforced The Regional Framework embodies the first through a major centers policy. comprehensive review of development The Brisbane Central Business District (CBD) constraints in South East Queensland. This has and its frame area are to continue as the been undertaken with the assistance of an dominant center in theregion for the seat of advanced purpose-designed Geographic government, national and regional headquarters Information System (GIS). The GIS will be a of large private firms, and cultural, recreational valuable resource as local governments and sporting facilities of state importance. progressively review their planning schemes to Employment growth in the CBD and frame take environmental limits into account. which is not consistent with this role is to be discouraged. Seven key centers have been identified within Regional open space the urban areas as the preferred location for system higher order retailing, commercial, The Regional Open Space System will link areas w iec lto the Brian cBD in of:terms of future role and function. They will, in * high nature conservation significance, turn, be supported by a network of major district * designated water catchments, centers. * high scenic amenity, The designated key centers for the various urban * cultural heritage and social value, and sub-regions are: 0 Brisbane Caboolture/Morayfield * high recreational significance. metropolitan area Ipswich 'Core' areas based primarily on major elements Beenleigh of the existing public estate, such as national 0 Sunshine Coast Maroochydore parks, state forests and marine parks will be a Toowoomba Toowoomba connected by 'corridors' along rivers and steep 0 Gold Coast Robina ridges. Southport The system will permanently frame and help Key centers will be supported by the provide a distinctive character to the four major Government's infrastructure coordination urban sub-areas in the region. system. Host local governments will also A considerable proportion of the land identified receive special assistance for detailed structure in the Regional Open Space System is in private planning in these centers. ownership. A major challenge in implementation The redistribution ofjobs brought about mainly will the balancing of open space values (wildlife through the major centers policy will, together 107 Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities with measures to improve the competitiveness arterial road link between Brisbane and the Gold of public transport, significantly reduce potential Coast, duplicating the function of the existing environmental pressures in the region. Modeling Pacific Highway. (The apparent need for this carried out suggests that under the preferred link had arisen because of decades of ad hoc pattern of settlement for South East Queensland, planning and development decisions in this total vehicle travel in the region would be 9.3 corridor. No reservations for an additional link million kilometers (or 10 percent) less compared had been put in place despite the obvious with projected outcomes based on existing strategic significance of such a road. The trends. Total vehicle emissions (carbon consequential need to disrupt residential, monoxide, hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxides) farming and valuable koala habitat areas proved were estimated to be 20 percent less under the to be highly controversial. The Government's preferred pattern versus the trend pattern. (The decision to proceed with the new South Coast estimates quoted here relate to an early version Motorway despite public opposition in the of the preferred pattern of settlement prepared corridor cost it several seats in the July 1995 prior to the sub-regional planning process. state elections. The commitment to the road has Direct modeling has not been carried out for the since been abandoned). settlement pattern included in 1995 Regional The IRTP discussion paper indicated that: Framework, but this scenario is likely to generate impacts of a similar order to those 0 an extra 0.5 million vehicles would be cited.) registered in South East Queensland by 2011 (excluding commercial vehicles), * total daily vehicular trips would increase Supporting SEQ2001 from 5.7 million in 1995 to around 10.5 The EQ201 pojet ispar of he xtenivemillion in 2011, based on current trends, and The SEQ2001 project is part of the extensive planning and planning-related reforms 9 public transport's share of all trips in undertaken in Queensland over the past five metropolitan Brisbane could fall to 7.6 years. Complementary initiatives include the percent by 2011 compared with 40 percent following plans and projects. in 1960. The IRTP was proposed to build on earlier Interatd Tansprt lanmajor initiatives in the transport area, including: Integrated introduction of a more accountable service In April 1994 the Queensland Government contract system for the operation of began preparing an Integrated Regional Transport Plan (IRTP) for South East Queensland, as recommended in the draft Regional Framework for Growth Management between Brisbane and Robina in the Gold ReinlFamwr o Coast hinterland (this has been part funded (March 1994). by the Commonwealth's Better Cities A discussion paper issued early in 1995 Program and involves planning measures to highlighted the Government's intention to encourage transit-supportive development), 'reverse the trends towards car dependency and which have held sway for so many years'. the ill-fated decision to proceed with the The production of the discussion paper was also South Coast Motorway. prompted by adverse public reaction to the Government's decision to proceed with a new 108 The discussion paper canvasses views on a Better fit between transport and range of strategies to help bring about a more urban policy efficient, socially just and ecologically sustainable transport system. The key elements trfg regional pl y in of these strategies are: tu t a cep y Makig p blictraspor moe 0linking major centers with high quality public Making public transport moresevices competitive promotion of transit-oriented development * introduction of a seamless, single ticket (e.g., more compact suburbs designed system, around public transport and discouragement * greater use of busways, of excess parking provision); * investigation of new rail investments (e.g. 0 protection of key transport corridors from Sunshine Coast, Beaudesert, Redcliffe, urban encroachment, and Springfield and the Gold Coast/Tweed 0 location of major employers along public region and a rail extension to the domestic transport routes. and international Brisbane Airports), * provision of better pedestrian links to high Intergovemmental protocol on quality public transport corridors, and planning roles and * better co-ordination of transport modes. (The Government has since committed itself responsibltieS to establishing a separate statutory authority IncJulyo1993mthe StateiGovernmentuandsthe to integrate and manage the provision of Local Goernmentocatin o Quel public transport services in the region.) rmally aoted a rol in the ir Car travel demand management system. The protocol is important in that it affirms the efficacy of consensus-based regional * use of transit lane restrictions, car park planning processes. management, traffic calming in residential areas and restrictions on freeway on ramps to dscorag carusae-,effectively traded off the option of establishing to discourage car usage; regional authorities as an additional tier of * encouraging change in work patterns (., planning decision making (an approach which flexible ou, w rnfro hom e an has been commonplace in other states). In doing provision of public transport incentives ascommitment to 'meaningful part of enterprise bargaining agreements); cooperation' in regional planning exercises from and what has traditionally been a fiercely * direct and indirect road pricing (but only independent local government sector in after an extensive phase-in period and when Queensland. This commitment is clearly vital to adequate public transport alternatives are the success of SEQ2001. available). Reform of local gove ment A new Local Government Act was passed by the Queensland Parliament late in 1993. The Act 109 Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities establishes a framework for more accountable goal, objectives and guiding principles of the and forward-looking local councils. National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Considerable emphasis is placed on the Development'. preparation and regular revision of corporate These draft provisions give local communities plans and their attendant resource allocation. the power to 'keep their Councils and the State This institutionalized commitment to planning Government honest' on environmental issues. will facilitate constructive participation in the People participating in the planning system, voluntary regional planning exercises noted whether making submissions on proposed above. above. planning schemes, commen-rting on state planning Local government reform has extended further policies, objecting to particular developments or to the amalgamation of councils in key growth engaging in a court appeal, can invoke these areas of the State. In the south east, the Shire of principles in the legislation and require decision Moreton and the City of Ipswich have been makers to justify their actions accordingly. joined to form a municipality of 120,000 PEDA establishes the local planning scheme as covering virtually all of the western growth sector of the region. The southern corridor has the polie anrument of othdstate ad been treated similarly with the amalgamation of local governments which might impact on the the Albert Shire and Gold Coast City. This local living, working or natural environment. government area has a population of almost 200,000. In part these moves have been Planning schemes will be the product of a range prompted by the need for more integrated of inputs, including state policies, the planning particularly with respect to trunk recommendations of Regional Planning infrastructure and major retail, commercial, Advisory Forums such as SEQ2001, local administrative and cultural centers. policies and a thorough-going process of local consultation. New planning legislation Making the local planning scheme the The ovenmet's laning Envronentand centerpiece of an integrated planning system 'will The Government's Planning, Environment and have important implications for the way state Development Assessment (PEDA) Bill is aece oaotterplc eeomn scheduled for debate in Parliament early in 1996. wr.n effect theil bocedtoelooket The Bill has four main themes: their ideas from a local community perspective. promtio of colgica sutainbilty,Broad concepts and propositions which ignore * promotion of ecological sustainability, telcldti ilsrgl osrie * whole-of-government integration of policies and regulations impacting on land use and PEDA strengthens public access and development, accountability in the planning system. * accountability in decision making, and As well as being obliged to exhibit draft * micro-economic reform of development planning schemes as at present, local approval processes. governments will be required to consult on the A stated objective of PEDA is to 'safeguard the inldn idene mor ie at thee life supporting capacities of air, water, soil and srotaing prcsseState ang ecosystems for present and future generations'. s w he tong rough a slarly The Bill also requires all state and local exhausi l notcon a slatio government agencies to 'have regard for the seue.sue wh0ehe plnigshee,cmenigo0taepann The draft Bill seeks to strike a reasonable operation of development contributions and with balance between state and local interests in line several main features: with the planning protocol signed between the Local Government Association of Queensland and the State Government in 1993. Ministerial are a form of end user charge for call ins must be agreed by full Cabinet. Such call infrastructure, rather than a tax on developer ins will be required to follow the normal profits or the betterment margin in land notification and referral procedures, though development; appeals will not be possible. confinement of such charges to basic infrastructure (i.e. water supply, sewerage, The Bill introduces a range of important micro- local roads, and local community land) economic reforms including an integrated where consumer choice would have been development approval system. This would limited anyway for reasons of health and enable most development proponents to lodge a safety, or because of the prospect of major single application with a development manager savings in the long term cost of supplying in the relevant local government rather than dealing with a multitude of different approval agencies, each with their own information careuintatagce seekg to requirements and time frames.chrefrnratuuetrogte requremntsand imefraes,development contribution system justify the Other reforms include streamlined impact use of this mechanism in preference to assessment provisions, the concept of alternative user charging options (e.g. tolls, preliminary approvals for large scale projects or local government rates, volumetric charging projects undertaken over a long time frame, etc.), consolidation of appeal jurisdictions and private certification of compliance with building, careuire tat on infrastrutre plumbing and subdivision codes. forward plan for infrastructure provision and The Bill also provides a clearer legislative that such a plan should embody minimum context for new development contribution life cycle cost strategies for achieving the practices which have been initiated under the desired infrastructure service standards; and present Local Government (Planning and enforcement of the marginal cost pricing Environment) Act. principle (i.e. requiring that individual developers are not called upon to pay more Reform of infrastructure than their fair share of the cost of extending charging through the infrastructure, based on share of anticipated future use). development approvals These are important reforms in the context of process the SEQ2001 project. Under the new As is common with most planning systems development contribution arrangements, local across Australia, development proponents are governments will have a clear financial incentive often called on to contribute towards to undertake detailed structure planning for infrastructure. growth areas. In the past most growth has been Over the past three years, the Queensland aatin o rtitic deelopme Government has developed a framework for contribtion pr tic more accountable, efficient and equitablecont ar11omofedue1cag o Environmental Innovations in Australian Cities Moreover, the reforms will mean that type of infrastructure involved). They must be developers receive stronger price signals to endorsed by Cabinet and form the basis for the focus on urban consolidation and infill annual capital budget bid. opportunities, where infrastructure extension The PFS further requires agencies to consider costs are generally lower. In this way the adopted regional plans of Government when infrastructure pricing policy is harmonized with preparing their PASPs. Agencies must prepare a broader strategic planning objectives. self-assessment regarding the match between proposed infrastructure projects and regional Infrastructure coordination policies like SEQ2001. Certain classes of infrastructure investment, The congruence between PASPs and regional most notably major highways, rail freight links, planning policies is independently reviewed fixed rail public transport, airports, seaports, before these plans are submitted to the modal interchanges, universities and major Government for endorsement. This review role cultural and sporting facilities, have the potential is performed by the Infrastructure Coordination to reconfigure accessibility in urban and regional Group (ICG) which comprises senior officials settings. Changes in accessibility, in turn, from the Queensland Treasury, Office of the influence the locational and investment choices Cabinet, the Department of Housing, Local of businesses and residents alike. Thus major Government and Planning and one other agency infrastructure decisions help shape the pattern of on a rotational basis. settlement in ways which are, arguably, much The ICG provides an advisory and quality more powerful than zonings, policy statements and other statutory planning mechanisms. compiled by agencies. Agencies will determine Maximizing the overall economic return from the extent to which the advice of the ICG is public investment in major infrastructure is incorporated into their PASPs. But any therefore not just a matter of best value for divergences from the position advised by the money in the delivery of specific government ICG must be reported to Government at the services, like transport, health and education. It time PASPs are presented for endorsement. is also about capturing the added community Unlike metropolitan planning strategies benefits from more efficient and ecologically elsewhere in Australia, SEQ2001 is effectively sustainable patterns of settlement. linked into the State's budget process through The Queensland Government's Strategic Asset the PASP and ICG mechanisms. Management Program, and the Public Finance The infrastructure coordination model adopted Standard (PFS) for asset management in particular, recognize this dual source of benefits ieeandaso involves oati from major items of urban infrastructure. proposed new capacity in social infrastructure. The PFS requires all state agencies (including Studies commissioned in Queensland over the off-budget enterprises) to prepare forward past three years have confirmed that the cost of infrastructure investment plans on an annual supplying social (i.e. taxpayer-funded) basis, linked to the preparation of corporate infrastructure can vary significantly with the plans. These investment plans, known as pattern and sequencing of development. Physical Asset Strategic Plans, (PASPs) cover Fragmented development can trigger the need both near term (0-3 years) and longer term for new infrastructure investment before horizons (beyond 10 years, depending on the capacity in existing facilities and services is 112 efficiently utilized. It also means some services Environmental legislation have to bear the costs of 'dead running'. Since 1989, the Government has also pursued an Furthermore, opportunities for more efficient energetic program to revamp the State's laws provision of services through co-location dealing with the identification and conservation strategies may be lost. of environmental assets. Without this regulatory If the overall pool of funds available for social framework, many of the principles enunciated in infrastructure is limited, the extra costs implied the Regional Framework could not be put into by fragmented development will necessarily practice. mean longer waiting times for the delivery of these facilities in new communities. On the other therenare arean hand, if the Government commits to certain delivery standards, these extra costs must The Contaminated LandAct. This provides translate to a heavier burden on the general an integrated system for site identification, taxpayer. assessment, clean up, cost allocation and The approach adopted in Queensland involves general management of contaminated land in the designation of a 'benchmark' sequence of Queensland. development in planning schemes. Developers A Heritage Act to protect places which have are free to take on out-of-sequence projects aesthetic, historic, scientific, social or other provided they are prepared to make up any extra special significance. costs in social infrastructure provision. That is, The Nature Conservation Act. This is out-of-sequence development is required to arguably the most comprehensive and meet the cost of having to provide schools, innovative legislation of its type in Australia. health care facilities, bus services and other The Act recognizes that national parks alone social infrastructure in an area at a time sooner cannot ensure the survival of all species. It than would have occurred had development creates a number of classes of protected complied with the efficient pathway for growth. areas including national parks, conservation It is important to note that in an out-of-sequence parks, resources reserve, nature refuge, situation, responsibility for the substantive cost coordinated conservation area, wilderness of providing social infrastructure remains with area and international agreement area. the taxpayer. The developer merely meets the Amendments to the Water Resources Act to financial costs of bringing service provision protect the integrity of non-tidal water forward in time. courses. New provisions strengthen controls Benchmark sequences of development identified on the destruction of native vegetation along in regional plans and local planning schemes will pacem offillan the eas. form the basis for the forward planning of social infrastructure, thereby facilitating coordinated The Environment Protection Act which and timely provision of local services. provides Queensland's first comprehensive Importantly, the sequencing mechanism will also pollution control laws. The Act establishes provide clear financial signals in support of the an integrated licensing system which links consolidated development called for by fees and penalties directly to the scale of SE02001 and other regional policies. emissionsm 113 Metropolitan Environmental Improvement Program Environment and Natural Resources Division Asia Technical Department The World Bank 1818, H Street Washington D.C., N.W. 20433 USA Tel: 202-458-2726, 2729, 2747 Fax: 202-522-1664