 |
 |
| Home | About Us | Water | Energy | Sustainability | Publications | Contact Us | DWE Home |
|
| News | Print this Page | Sitemap | Help |
March
Water Savings Fund Round 3 Sydney – projects announced
(23/03/07) Thirty new projects have been given the backing of more than $15 million in Round 3 of the NSW Government’s Water Savings Fund, saving an estimated 1.5 billion litres of water a year. They include water recycling in high rise apartments and industry sewer mining and stormwater harvesting projects. Project summaries>>
Waterless wok project extended on world water day
(22/03/07) Thai and Vietnamese restaurants will be able to save precious drinking water thanks to the expansion of a project to replace water-guzzling woks with air-cooled models.The NSW Government announced $743,780 funding for the Ethnic Communities Council project and five others on World Water Day (22/3). The wok stove is the biggest water guzzling appliance in many Asian-style restaurants, accounting for almost half the daily water use. The new water efficient stoves are cooled using air and feature tap fixtures that turn off automatically when not in use, saving water consumption by about 5,000 litres a day for each stove. Other projects to receive funding are: $773,760 for Sydney Turf Club to tap into the sewers under the Canterbury Racecourse under an innovative recycling project that will save more than 83 million litres of water every year; $270,000 for a stormwater and rain harvesting project in Vaucluse that will save more than 14 million litres of water a year; $260,500 for Sydney Lakeside Caravan Park at Narrabeen that will save 14 million litres of precious drinking water a year; $150,000 for a stormwater harvesting project to take water from the roof of Enerserve's Homebush Park Business Centre site and reuse it on the playing fields of neighbouring Mason Park in Strathfield; and $274,000 for a water harvesting project that will keep the athletic fields at Greenway Park at Cherrybrook in pristine condition and save around 19 million litres of drinking water a year. More about the NSW Government’s $135 million Water Savings Fund >>
Simple guidelines for reusing greywater at home
(20/03/07) The NSW Government has released new guidelines to make it easier for householders to install greywater diversion devices and save water. Greywater is waste water from washing machines, kitchens, laundry tubs, showers, hand basins and baths. It does not include waste water from toilets, urinals or bidets. Reusing greywater can replace the need to use drinking water for watering gardens or lawns and, if treated appropriately, can be used in toilets and washing machines. By using greywater for watering gardens and lawns, a household has the potential to save between 50,000 and 100,000 litres of drinking water a year. These new regulations mean that council approval is no longer required for greywater diversions to be installed in homes, provided certain conditions are met. The guidelines relate to single, detached households only and do not include premises comprising of more than one dwelling. More about the new greywater guidelines >>
Investa achieves highest star rating for water efficiency
(19/03/07) Investa Property Group is the first company to achieve a five star rating in water efficiency through Sydney Water’s Every Drop Counts Business Program. The program is a good example of how organisations can use water more efficiently, providing free assistance to high water using businesses and government organisations to identify and implement water saving opportunities. The result is given in star ratings from one to five and Investa’s five star rating confirms it is achieving best practice water efficiency. Since joining the program Investa has implemented a range of measures, saving 470,000 litres a day since 2002-03. These measures have included installing dual flush toilets, installing flow restrictors, identifying and fixing leaks, and capturing and reusing rainwater. More about Sydney’s Metropolitan Water Plan >>
Recycling highway provides life for North Sydney playing fields
(14/03/07) A stormwater harvesting project will capture runoff from the Warringah Expressway in a massive recycling program backed by $1.2 million from the NSW Government’s Water Savings Fund. The recycled stormwater will be treated and then piped to nine parks and playing fields. This three year project is the final stage of North Sydney Council’s Stormwater Reuse Project, and will deliver savings of 99 million litres of drinking water a year. Under the project: stormwater will be collected from a stormwater drain that empties to Willoughby Bay via the Cammeray Golf Course; an open dam will be constructed to also capture runoff from the Warringah Expressway and surrounding urban areas; and pipework and tanks will be built to transport and store water at the facilities: Cammeray Golf Course, Cammeray Oval, St Leonards Park, North Sydney Oval, Bon Andrews (No2) Oval, North Sydney Bowling Club, Primrose Park, Tunks Park and Forsyth Park. More about the NSW Government’s $135 million Water Savings Fund >>
Water Savings Fund Central Coast Round 2 open
(08/03/07) Round 2 of the Central Coast Water Savings Fund is open for applications for projects to save or recycle water on the Central Coast. Building on the success of Round 1, which allocated almost $2 million to 17 projects, saving 355 million litres of drinking water a year, priorities for funding in Round 2 are water recycling and stormwater harvesting. An information session is being held on Thursday, March 29, 2007, at the Ourimbah Lisarow RSL Club, Pacific Highway, Ourimbah. Applications close on April 24, 2007. Full details about Round 2 of the Central Coast Water Savings Fund>>
Orica Australia site recycles to save 80 per cent of water usage
(02/03/07) The NSW Government’s Water Savings Fund is providing $345,000 support for Orica Australia’s project to save 53 million litres of drinking water a year. Orica will treat and reuse wastewater from its Spent Acid Regeneration Plant in the Illawarra, to save more than 80 per cent of the site’s current water use. The recycling process will remove solids in the wastewater to make it suitable for reuse at the plant. The solids removed from the water will provide a carbon-rich by-product which can be used by other industries across the Illawarra region. More about the NSW Government’s $135 million Water Savings Fund >>
Smart watering system for city parks
(02/03/07) The NSW government has announced $100, 000 funding for a smart system for watering landscaped gardens that will save 30 million litres of drinking water a year. The ‘intelligent’ method of water scheduling will be introduced in 40 parks across the City of Sydney, calculating watering needs based on plant type, foot traffic, climate and soil conditions, and integrates this with irrigation technology to use water efficiently. The new system was developed by leading engineering and environmental professional services provider URS, and Sydney Water for the City of Sydney. More about the NSW Government’s $135 million Water Savings Fund >>
Energy Savings Fund supports 29 new energy savings projects
(01/03/07) The NSW Government has announced more than $13 million for 29 renewable energy, efficiency and education projects under Round 2 of the Energy Savings Fund. A further $1.5 million was also allocated to three projects under the Public Facilities Program. Together they will save 64,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions a year, and 68826 MWh of electricity. More details on Energy Savings Fund projects>>
February
Stormwater project brings local parks and sporting fields to life
(27/02/07) Nine parks, playing fields and golf courses in the Concord area will be given a new lease of life with a major recycling project that will use old tyres to help store treated wastewater. $1.2 million for the Canada Bay Council Sewer Mining for Irrigation project is from the NSW Government’s $135 million Water Savings Fund. The project will provide a permanent alternative water supply for the parks and playing fields, while saving almost 153 million litres of drinking water a year. The council will construct a water treatment plant within Cintra Park at Concord to treat and supply enough water from the sewer to irrigate Concord Oval, Cintra Park, Massey Park Golf Course, Barnwell Park Golf Course, Edwards Park, Queen Elizabeth Park, Rothwell Oval, Goddard Oval and St Lukes Oval through a network of new pipes three parks, four ovals and two golf courses. The treated water will be stored in an underground ‘aquifer’ built from recycled truck and car tyres. More about the NSW Government’s $135 million Water Savings Fund >>
Sydney Water investing $45 million in renewable energy
(27/02/07) Sydney Water is embarking on a $45 million program to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by more than 50,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year. The savings will be achieved by installing nine hydro-generation and biogas cogeneration facilities at pipelines and sewage treatment plants, which require significant amounts of electricity. Three of the nine projects will receive $3.67 million in support from the NSW Government’s $200 million Energy Savings Fund. The projects include two types of energy generation. Hydro-electricity generators use the flow of water and wastewater to generate electricity, via turbine engines along high-flow pipes. Cogeneration harnesses biogas, a waste product of the wastewater treatment process. The biogas is converted into electricity through state-of-the-art combustion technology using engines much the same way as occurs in a car. The greenhouse gas emissions saved equate to taking 12,000 cars off the road. More about the NSW Government’s Energy Savings Fund >>
Rebate for installing the latest dual flush toilets
(26/02/07) The NSW Government has allocated $400,000 under the Water Savings Fund towards a rebate program to replace old toilets with the latest 4-A rated dual flush model. Once the program is up and running, households taking up the offer will receive a rebate of half the cost of the new toilet, up to $300. The project will save more than 58 million litres of water a year. Fieldforce Services will join with Caroma to offer the discount on the A4 rated Smartflush toilet range. People wishing to take up the rebate can call 1800 755 895 or visit the website www.envirosaver.com.au.
More about the NSW Government’s $135 million Water Savings Fund >>
New nursery technology to save 300 million litres of water
(21/02/07) The NSW Government will provide $1.5 million to a new project to help nurseries across the greater Sydney region cut their water use by up to 90 per cent. This innovative project by Irrigation and Water Technologies will invite nurseries to adopt the ‘ebb and flow’ irrigation matting technology which directs water to roots, slashing water use. Replacing traditional overhead sprinklers with the matting and also controlling the flow of waste water and reducing run-off into sensitive local waterways, the system will save up to 300 million litres of drinking water a year. This is the latest of 76 storm-water harvesting, efficiency, groundwater and recycling projects funded by the Government’s highly successful $135 million Water Savings Fund. More about the Water Savings Fund >>
Environmentally friendly power plant for the Hunter
(14/02/07) A potent greenhouse gas will be captured, turned into electricity and sold to NSW households under an $80 million deal between an environmentally-friendly generator and EnergyAustralia. The agreement will help prevent more than 340,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from entering the atmosphere each year, the equivalent of taking 76,000 cars off the road. A new 10 mega-watt power plant will be built at the Glennies Creek Coal Mine near Singleton to turn waste gas from the mine into enough electricity to power 10,000 homes. Energy Australia will purchase about 80,000 MWh of electricity annually and sell that to customers. The NSW Government has set a target of slashing greenhouse emissions by 60% by 2050 and has signed on to introducing a national carbon trading scheme by the end of 2010. More about greenhouse >>
Newcastle apprentices boost energy industry
(14/02/07) Forty new apprentices have started work with State-owned electricity EnergyAustralia. The recruitment of these apprentices is part of the NSW Government’s sustained $9.1 billion investment in the electricity industry and supports the next generation of electricity workers. The NSW electricity reliability rate is 99.96 per cent and our electricity prices are the second-lowest in Australia – actually, amongst the lowest in the world. More about electricity in NSW >>
Basement recycling plant brings new life to local parks
(12/02/07) The basement of a residential apartment block in Sydney’s new Discovery Point development at Wolli Creek will be turned into a recycled water plant – just the second of its type in the world – thanks to $2.27 million from the NSW Government’s $135 million Water Savings Fund. In an Australian first, the basement plant will pump treated waste water to residents for non-drinking use as well as irrigating nearby parks and playing fields. The showcase recycling plant will save 98 million litres of water a year and benefit thousands of commercial and residential tenants and surrounding parks, picnic grounds and golf courses. Discovery Point is a joint venture between Landcom and Australand and represents an investment of more than $800 million. The development comprises nine buildings with 1,200 apartments and 54,000 square metres of retail and commercial space including a supermarket and other specialty stores. To date, seventy-five projects have now shared in more than $43 million delivered from the Water Savings Fund. More about the NSW Government’s $135 million Water Savings Fund >>
Aquifer project a study in innovative water saving
(11/02/07) A University of NSW project to use bore water from the Botany aquifer for non-drinking purposes will receive $747,000 from the NSW Government. The project builds on the University’s existing use of the Botany aquifer bore water for irrigation, by boosting the water quality to use more of the water indoors. Under the project, the University will build a treatment plant to enable bore water from the Botany aquifer to be used in the air-conditioning system, toilets and laboratories at the Kensington campus. The innovative project would save more than 110 million litres of precious drinking water each year thanks to the Government’s $135 million Water Savings Fund. The aquifer would be replenished with stormwater harvested from the roofs of the university buildings and percolated back through a filtering system. More about the NSW Government’s Water Savings Fund >>
Golf courses take up the water recycling challenge
(10/02/07) The NSW Government has offered Roseville Golf Club more than $370,000 for a recycling project that will save more than 83 million litres of drinking water a year. Golf courses are highly intensive water users and Roseville is the latest of 18 golf courses to receive finance for storm-water harvesting, recycling or efficiency projects under the NSW Government’s Water Savings Fund. Roseville Club is planning to construct a 25-million litre storage dam at the course to provide an alternative water supply for tees, greens and fairways. The dam will extract stormwater from Moore’s Creek which flows through the course. Other golf courses working on recycling projects backed by the Water Savings Fund include the Beverley Park Golf Course, Lane Cove Golf Course, Cammeray Golf Club, Pennant Hills Golf Course, Northbridge Golf Club, Cumberland Country Golf Club and Manly Golf Course. More about the NSW Government’s $135 million Water Savings Fund >>
Amcor plant saves 200 million litres of water
(07/02/07) Amcor Fibre Packaging $13.5 million steam raising Botany plant will save 200 million litres of water a year and continue the paper mill company’s impressive water saving efforts. The NSW Government granted Amcor $1.66 million from its Water Savings Fund towards construction of the plant. Historically, paper production processes uses vast amounts of water and Amcor has been very proactive in working to reduce water use. The company has implemented a number of water saving strategies, such as using lower quality water to dissolve and dilute chemicals, identifying leaks and undertaking regular maintenance as well as replacing drinking water with lower quality water for cooling. Over the past three and a half years Amcor has reduced its water use by 530,000 litres of water each day. The NSW Government has provided more than $40 million to 72 separate initiatives which will save more than 10 billion litres of water under the Water Savings Fund. These include stormwater harvesting, efficiency, groundwater and recycling projects, which together will save enough water to supply more than 40,000 homes. More about the NSW Government’s $135 million Water Savings Fund >>
Request for tender called for Sydney’s desalination plant
(06/02/07) The NSW Government has issued a Request for Tender for the construction of a 125 megalitre per day desalination plant at Kurnell. The Premier said the contract would not be ready to be signed until after the 24 March election and that the Independent Review Panel of water experts, led by Peter Cullen, have endorsed the move. The desalination plant will be 100 per cent powered by green energy, which means it will have no greenhouse impact. It will be capable of producing 125 million litres of water a day and could be quickly scaled up to 500 million litres a day if necessary. The short listed consortia are Blue Water (Veolia, John Holland, SKM and Maunsell) and DMT (Degremont, Multiplex Engineering and Theiss). More about Sydney’s Metropolitan Water Plan >>
NSW Parliament House water saving plan linked to historic rail tunnels
(04/02/07) NSW Parliament House will become a showpiece for storm-water harvesting and recycling initiatives under a new project that uses historic disused rail tunnels under Macquarie Street. The project, backed by $110,000 from the NSW Government’s highly successful $135 million Water Savings Fund, will save more than 17.8 million litres of water a year. It will harvest water from the roofs of Parliament House, Sydney Hospital and the State Library into St James Lake, an underground lake in the disused rail tunnels under Macquarie Street. From the underground lake it will be recycled for use in Parliament House for air conditioning, toilet flushing, watering gardens and testing the fire system. More about the NSW Government’s $135 million Water Savings Fund >>
January
Desalination plant to be 100% Green Powered
(28/01/07) Sydney’s proposed desalination plant will be powered 100 per cent by green energy, accredited by the National GreenPower Accreditation Program. If constructed, a plant producing 125 mega litres of water per day would require 30 megawatts of power per day. This would equate to only 0.2 per cent of peak electricity demand in NSW - the equivalent of running a large city office block. The desalination plant will only be built if dam levels drop to about 30 per cent. More about GreenPower >>
Rainsavers help residents save water and money
(23/01/07)Householders in the Sutherland Shire can receive a $300 rebate from the NSW Government for installing a clever new Australian-made guttering system that collects rain off their roofs, saving precious drinking water and reducing household water bills. Two thousand householders in the Sutherland Shire, Wollongong, Ryde and Hornsby areas will be offered the opportunity to install the Rainsaver device for the cost of an ordinary guttering system. The $800,000 rebate program funded under the NSW Government’s Water Savings Fund provides a $300 individual cash rebate to householders and will save 154 million litres of water per year. More about the Water Savings Fund >>
December
Hunter Water starts transferring water to Central Coast
(14/12/06) Hunter Water has started transferring water to the Central Coast to help ease the pressure on the region’s rapidly depleting dams. The $33 million water grid will deliver up to 27 million litres of water a day to the Central Coast, where dam levels have dropped to just over 14 per cent. It will provide more than a third of the region’s current daily water use – extending the supply in the local dams. The Iemma Government, through Hunter Water is already moving ahead with the next 7 kilometres of the grid, as announced by the Premier in November, so that even more water can be delivered to the Central Coast. It is just one element of the Government’s $342 million drought-proofing package which includes:
- The new 450 billion-litre dam at Tillegra;
- Four new pumps at Balickera to extract an additional 650 million litres of flood flows a day from the Williams River; and
- Increasing the capacity of the pipeline between Newcastle and the Central Coast from 27 to 35 million litres a day – about half of the Central Coast’s current daily use. More about Hunter Water
Sydney’s Water Plans on track says Independent Review Panel
(12/12/06) The Independent Review Panel established to provide advice on the Government’s Metropolitan Water Plan has released its report. Chaired by National Water Commissioner Professor Peter Cullen, the six-member panel has given the Government’s Metropolitan Water Plan the ‘tick of approval’. The Panel warned that rainfall patterns of the past 15 years indicate that eastern Australia may be experiencing a significant climate shift even earlier than previously forecast. The Metropolitan Water Plan includes:
- Massive recycling schemes for industry, agriculture, the environment and for dual reticulation in homes taking recycled water use to 70 billion litres a year by 2015;
- Accessing deep water in our existing dams to provide an extra 40 billion litres of water a year;
- Using new groundwater sources to provide up to 45 billion litres a year for at least the next three years; and
- Being ready to build a desalination plant if our dam storage system falls to around 30%.
Contracts will be signed next year for recycling schemes that will take re-use of effluent from 15 billion litres a year to 70 billion litres a year by 2015.
The deep water pumps are already working at Nepean Dam securing the water supply for the 270,000 residents of the Illawarra and the pumps at Warragamba Dam are ready to start pumping if its level falls to around 20% (currently it stands at 36%).
Ground water is ready to be added to the supply system in the Southern Highlands and will soon be ready at Leonay, while a new source at Wallacia looks promising.
Since February 2006 dam levels have fallen from 44% to 37.5%. As detailed in the Plan, the NSW Government intends to build a desalination plant in the event dam levels drop to about 30%. So far Sydney Water has taken the following steps to be ready to build the desalination plant if it is needed:
- Acquired the site at Kurnell.
- Constructed a pilot plant to test the concept.
- Conducted an extensive environmental assessment.
- Received planning approval.
- Finalised the blueprint for construction.
The Independent Review Panel said the Plan provides a robust approach to planning for Sydney’s water needs, and advises the Government that it must be ready to build the desalination plant at the trigger point of around 30% of dam storage levels. The Panel says this is “because we have concluded that Sydney’s water security could be significantly eroded if the Plan is not implemented completely and in the way it has been designed”.
It will take 26 months from start to finish to build a desalination plant, and at 30% dam storage levels we may have less than three years supply. The Premier says he is not prepared to take the risk that Sydneysiders and the industries they depend on won’t have water because we didn’t act on the advice of our expert Panel to see our own Plan through.
To read the read the Review Panel’s letter, go to Water for Life – Independent Review Panel
To keep up-to-date on Metropolitan Water Plan activities, subscribe to the ‘Water for Life’ e-newsletter.
Water Savings Fund Round 1 Central Coast Projects Announced
Round 1 of the Central Coast Water Savings Fund was held from August to October 2006. Almost $2 million was allocated to 17 projects, saving 355 million litres of water a year. More about the Central Coast Water Savings Fund >>
Wollondilly Shire Council receives $75,000 for water saving projects
(12/12/06) The NSW Government is providing $75,000 to two Wollondilly Shire Council projects which will save 14 million litres of water per year. The funding has been provided under Round 2 of the Government’s $135 million Water Savings Fund. Project details are:
Tahmoor Sportsground Groundwater Bore - $45,000
A groundwater bore at Tahmoor Sportsground that will provide enough quality water to irrigate three sports fields. This project will involve installing pumps, a storage tank and additional piping to bring the water to the soccer fields and cricket pitch during periods of low rainfall. This project will save 5 million litres of drinking water a year.
Water Savings at Wollondilly Pools - $30,000
Wollondilly Shire Council's Water Savings Action Plan identified unaccounted water use at Wollondilly Community Leisure Centre and significant opportunities for savings at Warragamba Pool. This funding will enable Council to undertake detailed logging and sub metering of the sites to identify the water loss and take steps to fix it. The data will also help identify other water saving opportunities at the pools. It has potential savings of 9 million litres a year.
More than $40 million has now been allocated through the NSW Government’s Water Savings Fund to 71 harvesting, efficiency, groundwater and recycling projects, saving more than 10 billion litres of water. More about the Water Savings Fund >>
Premier switches on Sydney’s largest industrial water recycling project
(12/12/06) NSW Premier Morris Iemma today switched on Sydney’s largest industrial water recycling project which could save up to five billion litres of precious drinking water each year by recycling water for industrial use. The NSW Government provided $1.4 million to three of Sydney’s major manufacturing companies, Orica, Qenos and Solvay Interox, to get the groundbreaking project up and running.
Orica’s recycling project at Botany involves piping highly treated groundwater to major companies and other customers around the area. The Premier and Minister for Water Utilities David Campbell joined representatives of the companies in turning the valves on the pipelines to let the recycled water flow to Qenos and Orica’s ChlorAlkali plant. Solvay Interox will start receiving recycled water at its plant in 2007.
The NSW Government assistance comes from its Water Savings Fund. More than $40 million has now been allocated through the Water Savings Fund to 71 stormwater harvesting, efficiency, groundwater and recycling projects, saving more than 10 billion litres of water a year. More about the Water Savings Fund >>
Water for life education partnership launched
(12/12/06) The NSW Government has launched four innovative education partnership projects working with the community and business in a new direction to save water. As part of the Government’s Water for Life Education Program around $300,000 is being invested in partnerships with the Ethnic Communities Council of NSW, the Australian Conservation Foundation, the Property Council of Australia and the NSW Science & Geography Teachers Associations. Meeting Sydney's water needs depends on a continuing partnership between the community, industry, businesses, farmers and the Government to use water wisely. Under the NSW Government’s Metropolitan Water Plan we are undertaking a range of initiatives to secure our water supplies. More about Water for Life >>
Washing machine rebates reach 20,000
(7/12/06) Sydney households receiving a rebate for purchasing a water efficient washing machine have reached 20,000 and together they are saving 420 million litres of water a year. Customers can receive a $150 rebate from Sydney Water for purchasing a 5A water efficiency rating washing machine before 31 July 2008. More about Sydney Water’s washing machine rebate >>
$320 million investment in electricity grid announced
(30/11/06) A $320 million electricity capital works program to ensure the continued supply of reliable power to the growing populations of Newcastle, Sydney and Wollongong has been announced. The Western Line investment represents the first stage of the multi-billion dollar investment program which will ultimately see a ring of upgraded transmission lines from Newcastle to the Illawarra by 2020. This investment in the transmission network will upgrade the existing power lines to 500 kilovolts from 330 kilovolts, a 50 per cent increase in capacity and means an extra 7,000 megawatts of capacity to be supplied to the Newcastle, Sydney and Wollongong area by 2020. The Western Line program will see TransGrid spending $320 million to upgrade the electricity transmission network from Bannaby in southern NSW to the Bayswater/Liddell power stations in the Hunter Valley. TransGrid owns substations and 12,000 kilometres of high voltage transmission lines in NSW enabling it to transport electricity from power plants to electricity distributors. This project is a part of the $1.2 billion that the NSW Government is spending between 2004 and 2009 on TransGrid’s transmission assets to meet the energy needs of the State. More > TransGrid
2006 Energy and Water Green Globe Awards - winners
(28/11/06) The eighth annual Energy and Water Green Globe Awards were held at State Parliament in front of a crowd of more than 500 business, industry and government leaders last night. Energy Minister Joe Tripodi and Water Utilities Minister David Campbell hosted the awards with NSW Premier Morris Iemma sending a video message to announce the inaugural Premier’s Sustainability Excellence Award to Mirvac. The top individual energy award was presented to Dr Matthew Nott, an orthopedic surgeon from Bega who has formed the Clean Energy for Eternity group. The top individual water award was shared by two people – Andrzej Listwoski, the senior water and energy manager at the Sydney Olympic Park Authority, and Grahame Pepper, the water and energy manager at the University of Sydney. Winners of the 2006 Energy and Water Green Globe Awards
Design our Christmas card competition
(20/11/06)The Department thanks all those New South Wales school students who submitted entries in our Christmas card competition. We had an overwhelming response, receiving over 250 colourful entries from the following schools. View the winning entries …
Greenhouse Leadership Awards
(20/11/06) NSW Premier’s Greenhouse Leadership Awards close on 30 November 2006. Do you know someone working to help save the planet from the effects of climate change? The NSW Premier, the Hon Morris Iemma MP, has established these annual Awards to recognise the efforts of people and organisations addressing the challenges of climate change and adapting to its impacts. To find out more, go to the NSW Greenhouse Office website at http://www.greenhouseinfo.nsw.gov.au.
Water market opens to competition
(17/11/06) NSW Parliament last night passed the Water Industry Competition Bill giving the opportunity for private industry to deliver recycling and reuse projects. View the legislation here
Central Coast Water Corporation bill passed
(17/11/06) NSW Parliament last night passed the Central Coast Water Corporation Bill. More …
Development consent for Kurnell desalination plant
(17/11/06) Development approval for the Kurnell desalination plant has been received, however, construction has been deferred until it is absolutely necessary. Desalination is the NSW Government’s insurance policy to ensure a secure water supply for Sydney. By doing design and testing work, and having the development approval ready, Sydney Water has the capacity to build a desalination plant quickly if extreme drought conditions emerge and dam levels drop to below 30 per cent. These measures mean actual construction can be deferred and the plant will not be built unless it is absolutely necessary.
NSW State Plan released
(14/11/06) Premier Morris Iemma has launched the NSW State Plan, which will guide the delivery of government services in NSW over the next 10 years. The State Plan is a statement of what the Government stands for and spells out explicitly our goals, our priorities and our targets, including those related to “Securing our supply of water and energy” and “Practical environmental solutions”. More than 4,000 groups and individuals contributed ideas, proposals, feedback and important. Download the State Plan at www.nsw.gov.au/stateplan
$342 million for new dam and Hunter/Central Coast Water Grid
(13/11/06) NSW Premier Morris Iemma has announced a $342 million plan to build the first major dam in the Hunter-Greater Sydney region since Tallowa dam was finished thirty years ago. The new 450 billion litre dam and water grid will help drought-proof the Hunter and Central Coast region for the next 60 years. The Premier said the new dam and water grid will deliver that in the Hunter and Central Coast for generations to come. The water plan includes short, medium and long-term measures involving fast-tracking the new Tillegra dam, a massive industrial recycling scheme in Newcastle and a new water grid to boost supplies to the Central Coast. The Dam and Water Grid plan includes:
- A new 450 billion-litre dam at Tillegra (north of Dungog) to be constructed on cleared grazing land on the upper Williams River;
- Four new pumps at Balickera (north of Newcastle) to extract an additional 650 million litres of flood flows a day from the Williams River;
- A $25 million recycled water plant for Kooragang Island to reuse 3 billion litres of treated effluent a year in heavy industry around Newcastle Harbour; and
- Increasing the capacity of the pipeline between Newcastle and the Central Coast from 27 to to 35 million litres a day – about half of the Central Coast’s current daily use.
“The Tillegra Dam – to be built at a cost of $300 million – will more than double the Hunter’s current water storage capacity,” Mr Iemma said.
“This will not only secure supply for Hunter families, but will ensure that the crisis which exists on the Central Coast will not happen again.
“With the Central Coast’s dams standing at only 15 per cent full and no long-term recovery in sight, now is the time for bold and far-sighted action.
“The Dam and Water Grid are an investment in infrastructure to ensure that as our population grows we will have ample water for families, industry and businesses,” Mr Iemma concluded. More > Hunter Water
NSW renewable energy target announced
(09/11/06) NSW Premier Morris Iemma today announced the NSW Renewable Energy Target – a new policy that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and boost the renewable energy sector creating more investment and jobs, particularly in rural and regional NSW. The renewable energy target levels will be 10 per cent by 2010 and 15 per cent by 2020. Download the NSW Renewable Energy Targets – Explanatory Paper (PDF)
Commercial office buildings become water wise
(07/11/06) Australian technology company EP&T received $950,000 from the NSW Government’s $130 million Water Savings Fund toward a $1.9 million project to improve the water efficiency of the Colonial First State Property portfolio. Improvements to twenty-two commercial office buildings in the Parramatta, Sydney and North Sydney CBDs are expected to save 200 million litres a year. Applications to Round 3 of the Water Savings Fund close on 7 December. More > Water Savings Fund
Western Sydney recycling project consultation
(03/11/06)The environmental assessment for the massive Western Sydney Recycled Water Initiative is now on display for community comment until 2 December 2006. By 2015, the Western Sydney Recycled Water Initiative will provide billions of litres of recycled water to new homes, industry and irrigation and will replace water released from Warragamba Dam for environmental flows. The first stage of the initiative will be the implementation of the Replacement Flows Project. This will see up to 18 billion litres of recycled water replace flows currently released from Warragamba Dam into the Hawkesbury-Nepean River to maintain its health. The project will involve connecting three sewage treatment plants at Penrith, St Marys and Quakers Hill and the transfer of wastewater to a new advanced water treatment plant. The new plant will treat the wastewater to a very high standard and reduce the nutrient levels in the Hawkesbury-Nepean River. The Environmental Assessment details plans to construct pipelines to connect the three sewage treatment plants, a wastewater pipeline from Seven Hills to Dundas and the construction of the advanced water treatment plant at St Marys. To find out more and to view the environment assessment, go to www.planning.nsw.gov.au and www.sydneywater.com.au.
October
Service and installation rules for electricians updated
(31/10/06) The Service and Installation Rules for NSW has been revised after extensive consultation with stakeholders. These rules are the code of practice used by electricians and accredited service providers for connection of installations to the electricity distribution network. A working group will regularly review the rules and approve amendments where necessary. Any future amendments will be published on this website and incorporated into later publications of the document. The Rules are available from electrical wholesalers or the National Electrical and Communications Association. If you have further questions regarding the Rules please contact us.
Sydney businesses contribute to water savings efforts
(30/10/06)Sydney’s top water using businesses are playing their part in the water conservation effort with 45 of the top 50 high water users joining Sydney Water’s Every Drop Counts business program. The program assists business to improve water management and adopt water saving practices. Water consumption for the top 50 water users has fallen almost 500 million litres a year over the past three years. The Minister for Water Utilities David Campbell has approved the first 20 Water Savings Action Plans which demonstrate what water conservation high water using businesses and councils plan to achieve to reduce their consumption. Together, these plans when implement will alone save more than 4.2 billion litres of water a year and up to $2 million on their annual water bills. More > Water Savings Action Plans
Moree effluent reuse scheme opens
(30/10/06) The $1.5 million Moree Effluent Reuse Scheme has been opened. It was the final project to complete the larger $6.26 million Moree Sewerage Scheme, and involved installing a pumping station and pipeline to carry treated effluent to local farms for irrigation of crops. Previously, the majority of the town’s effluent was discharged into the river resulting in environmental degradation and the loss of a valuable resource to the Moree community. The NSW Government, through the Country Towns Water Supply and Sewerage Program, provided a total of $3.3 million toward the cost of the project. More > Country Towns Water Supply and Sewerage Program.
Ashley sewerage scheme opens
(30/10/06) The Ashley Sewerage Scheme has been opened. The $2.1 million sewerage scheme includes an innovative vacuum sewerage network to collect wastewater from individual homes and low maintenance ponds to treat and dispose of the effluent by evaporation. The NSW Government provided $1.3 million in financial assistance towards construction costs of the scheme, this being 61% of the total cost from its Country Towns Water Supply and Sewerage Program. More> Country Towns Water Supply and Sewerage Program.
Graduate program open until 24 November 2006
(25/10/06) Applications are invited for the Department of Energy, Utilities and Sustainability Graduate Program - 2007. We offer graduate recruits the opportunity to work in the critical areas of energy and water research, analysis and policy or supporting the organisation in this work. The Department recruits graduates for up to two years with an option to offer a third year to top performers. The program would be ideal for someone with a keen interest in energy and water issues and/or an interest in working in Government. If you have completed your undergraduate degree in 2005 or will complete your degree this year we encourage you to apply. More> Graduate Program
Positive forecast for NSW electricity supply
(25/10/06)The National Electricity Market Management Company (NEMMCO) has released its annual report showing NSW’s electricity supply is strong into the future. NEMMCO reviews electricity supply and demand in all states and territories. The report says the new $350 million gas-fired plant being built at Tallawarra in the Illawarra would push back the need for further generation capacity to satisfy extreme peaks in electricity use until 2010-11. Additional capacity is currently being built at Mount Piper and Eraring power stations and planning is underway for other gas-fired power stations at Tomago, Uranquinty, Bamarang, Marulan, Bega and Cobar.
Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme extended
(25/10/06)The highly successful NSW Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme has been extended a further nine years and stopping 86 million tones of greenhouse gas entering the atmosphere - the equivalent of taking a million cars off the road. Extending the scheme – which began in 2003 – provides greater incentive for business to invest in new greenhouse-friendly generation, particularly gas. More > Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme
Water Competition Bill introduced into Parliament
(25/10/06) The NSW Government introduced the Water Industry Competition Bill into Parliament on 24 October, which sets new rules allowing private businesses to sell drinking, recycled and waste water services. The would break the monopoly hold water utilities have over metropolitan water infrastructure and gives the private sector the chance to bring innovation to the water industry and open up new doors to recycling, technology and investment. The bill also ensures important protection for public health, consumers and the environment while retaining public infrastructure in public ownership. More > NSW Parliament – Water Industry Competition Bill second reading
Central Coast Water Corporation Bill introduced into Parliament
(25/10/06) The NSW Government introduced the Central Coast Water Corporation Bill into Parliament on 24 October, which provides for the establishment of the Central Coast Water Corporation to supply water and sewerage services on the Central Coast. As is currently the case, the responsibility for water supply will remain with the councils. The Central Coast Water Corporation would be a statutory body wholly owned by Gosford and Wyong councils with revenues raised by the corporation remaining in the region. The corporation model has been developed following a request from Gosford and Wyong Councils for a new legal entity to enable improved governance and streamlined decision-making. Both councils have been extensively consulted during the development of the proposed model. More > NSW Parliament – Central Coast Water Corporation Industry Competition Bill second reading
Funding for Goulburn Sewage Treatment Plant
(23/10/06) The NSW Government has approved $3.1 million in funding for the next stage of the upgrade of Goulburn’s sewage treatment plant. The funding will help Goulburn Mulwaree Council complete the $5.9 million project which includes pump station upgrade, new distribution lines for reclaimed water, irrigation systems and associated works. One key feature of the upgrade is that recycled water will be used more widely for irrigation on Council-owned land and sporting fields. Funding is provided from the Country Towns Water Supply and Sewerage Program.
Major recycling plant to be built on Central Coast
(23/10/06) The NSW Government owned power generator Delta Electricity will build a large-scale recycling plant at its Vales Point power station, which will slash its town water consumption by 464 million litres per year. The new recycling plant will take effluent from the nearby Mannering Park Sewerage Treatment Plant and treat it to a very high quality for use in the power station. Delta’s recycling plant, and its other water saving measures, will save the equivalent water use of 2,500 Central Coast homes. Although 99 percent of the water used at Vales Point is sea-water, this plant will reduce its town water use annual town water consumption from 721 million litres to 257 million litres. Tenders will be called to build the plant before the end of the year.
Water Savings Fund assists aged care industry
(20/10/06) The Aged Care Association of NSW has received $545,000 under round two of the Water Savings Fund to help it make 10 aged care facilities more water-efficient. The average aged care facility uses 18 million litres of water a year in its laundry. The project aims to save 70 million litres of water a year – or the equivalent of 70 Olympic swimming pools.
Households heed water saving message
(21/10/06) Households in Sydney, the Illawarra and Blue Mountains have cut their annual water consumption by an average of 63,000 litres a year since 2002-03. The average household consumption has fallen from 255,000 litres per year in 2003-04 to 237,000 litres in 2005-06 – a saving of 18,000 litres per year per household. The average consumption in 2002-03, before water restrictions were introduced, was 300,000 litres per household. The most water efficient residents are Kiama, Blue Mountains, Leichhardt, Wollongong and Sydney. The high water users are Woollahra, Hunters Hill, Mosman, Ku-ring-gai and Strathfield. More > Saving water
Drought funding for Bourke
(19/10/06) The NSW Government is contributing $70,000 in emergency drought funding to the Bourke Shire Council to assist them investigate groundwater options to maintain supply of water to the town of Bourke. The continuing drought has seen flows in the Barwon Darling River fall to record low levels.The funding is provided from the Country Towns Water Supply and Sewerage Program. More > Country Town Water Supply and Sewerage Program.
Rainwater tank and washing machine rebates boosted
(19/10/06) The NSW Government has extended and increased two successful water saving rebates offered in the Greater Sydney area. The $150 washing machine rebate has been extended until 31 July, 2008. The rainwater tank rebate has been increased by $150, to a maximum of $800 when customers connect the tanks to their home’s internal fittings, such as toilets or washing machines. Both rebates have proven highly successful incentives to encourage customers to buy water efficient products. Sydney Water has already issued more than 16,000 rebates worth around $2.4 million, which are expected to save more than 347 million litres of water each year. More > Sydney Water’s website.
Water Savings Fund Round 3 - Sydney region open
(18/10/06) Round 3 of the $130 million NSW Water Savings Fund is now open and applications are invited for projects which save or recycle water in Sydney Water’s area of operations - Sydney, Blue Mountains and Illawarra. Round 3 builds on the previous two rounds which have allocated more than $33 million to 68 recycling, harvesting, efficiency and groundwater projects. The priorities for funding in Round 3 are recycling, stormwater harvesting and projects by high users. More > Round 3 Water Savings Fund- Sydney region.
Funding for Boggabilla Sewerage Scheme
(17/10/06) The NSW Government is contributing $531,268 in funding to the Moree Plains Shire council to assist with the construction of the first stage of the Boggabilla sewage scheme. The funding is provided from our Country Towns Water Supply and Sewerage Program. More > Country Town Water Supply and Sewerage Program.
Drought funding for Yeoval in Cabonne Shire
(17/10/06) The NSW government is contributing $175,000 to Cabonne Shire Council to assist in funding of emergency drought works to maintain essential water supplies for the residents of Yeoval in central western NSW. Cabonne Council has commenced carting of water to Yeoval, and with the assistance of our Department, will be investigating alternative groundwater sources to improve the drought security for the village.
Water competition to open floodgates to recycling
(09/10/06) The Minister for Water Utilities David Campbell has announced he will introduce the Water Industry Competition Bill into Parliament next week. The Minister says the Government’s water industry competition reforms will open the floodgates for private industry recycling projects while providing safeguards for consumers. The Bill will set out new rules for enabling the licensing of private businesses to sell drinking, recycled and waste water services.
Under the reforms, newcomers to the market will not be subject to price regulation, except where they are monopoly providers. Monopoly providers will have their prices set by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal, as it currently does for Sydney Water and Hunter Water. Sydney Water and Hunter Water will become ‘suppliers of last resort’; ready to step in to provide essential water and sewerage services if business fails.
To stimulate private sector investment in recycling and innovation, the NSW Government’s $130 million Water Savings Fund provides financial support for new projects that will save or recycle water. So far, the Fund has allocated more than $33 million to 68 projects which will save 6.5 billion litres of water a year. More > NSW Government Water Savings Fund
Design our Christmas card competition
(28/09/06) Are you a New South Wales school child in either years K – 6 or 7 -12? Do you like drawing? If so, we are keen to receive your entry in the Department of Energy, Utilities and Sustainability’s Christmas card design competition.
Affordable Water & Energy Efficiency Project
The Department is working with the Council of Social Service of NSW (NCOSS) on a training program, titled the “Affordable Water & Energy Efficiency Project”, for community service providers to low income households. The project aims to reduce water and energy use and help low income households save money. Supported accommodation and crisis accommodation providers will assist build the capacity of accommodation managers to identify free and low cost opportunities to reduce energy and water use at their premises. A limited number of fully funded audits and retrofits are being offered. More > Affordable Water & Energy Efficiency Project
NSW Government supports regions during drought
(26/09/06) With 92 per cent of the State drought affected, the State Government’s Business Drought Assistance program is providing practical help to small businesses to continue to operate. Since 2002, payroll tax relief to regional companies has helped retain more than 1,200 skilled workers in country jobs. To date more than 137 companies have received up to $3,000 each to implement credit or business management strategies. This is in addition to the $13 million the Government has provided to local water utilities to assist them during the current drought. More > Drought
Funding for Tumut Council sewerage scheme
(21/09/06) The Minister for Water Utilities David Campbell has announced funding of up to $755,000 from the NSW Government to Tumut Shire Council for a new sewerage scheme for the village of Brungle Shire. The funding is provided from the Country Towns Water Supply and Sewerage Program and is almost 50 per cent of the $1.54 million total construction cost. More > Country Towns Water Supply and Sewerage Program
IPART price changes bring water reform to country NSW
(20/09/06) In order to comply with the Federal Government’s National Water Initiative which requires a move towards full cost recovery, the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal has released its determination on maximum prices for bulk water. The price changes will allow for the continued provision of high-quality services to country water users. IPART had undertaken extensive public consultation with bulk water users before making its decision and found that State Water and the Department of Natural Resources were not recovering the costs of providing bulk water services. The price changes better reflect the cost of supplying water in each valley in NSW. Customers’ bills will vary depending on how much water they use and in which valley they are located. More > IPART website
$1.7 million for water harvesting projects
(20/09/06) A total of $1.7 million will be provided for eight new rain water harvesting projects under round two of the $130 million Water Savings Fund. These projects will save a combined 360 million litres of water each year and are among 41 innovative ideas funded under round two of the Water Savings Fund. Round two will provide more than $24 million and will save 4.5 billion litres of water per year. More > Round Two Water Savings Fund
Central Coast water corporation to be established
(19/09/06) The Minister for Water Utilities David Campbell has announced he will introduce legislation into Parliament for the establishment of a Central Coast Water Corporation. The Central Cost Water Corporation will be a statutory body, modeled on the State Owned Corporations Act, except that it will be wholly owned by Gosford and Wyong Councils. It will be a commercial entity with a Board of Directors, share capital, shares, a constitution, a shareholders’ agreement and a statement of corporate intent. The sole shareholders will be Gosford and Wyong Councils. The proposed model is a robust structure which will facilitate the effective delivery of water services to Central Coast consumers by a commercially focussed corporate entity. More > Gosford Wyong Councils’ Water Authority
Energy Savings Fund – Round Two – now open
(08/09/06) Round Two of the NSW Government’s Energy Savings Fund is now open. The aim of the Energy Savings Fund is to reduce peak demand, electricity consumption and related greenhouse gas emissions. The first round of the Energy Savings Fund allocated $19 million to 28 projects saving 130,000 megawatt-hours of electricity a year and an estimated 60 megawatts in peak demand. Round 2 is open for applications until Wednesday, November 1, 2006. More > Energy Savings Fund – Round Two
Energy Savings Fund Public Facilities Program – now open
(08/09/06) The Public Facilities Program has been introduced as part of the NSW Energy Savings Fund to support energy savings in public and educational facilities. As well as delivering practical energy savings in public facilities and demonstrating how energy savings can work, this program will help reduce the electricity bills of local councils, schools, government agencies and other operators of public facilities. Applications to the program can be made at any time. More > Energy Savings Fund Public Facilities Program.
Water Savings Fund Projects - Round Two - Sydney announced
(30/08/06) Round Two of the NSW Government’s Water Savings Fund for Sydney has awarded $24 million in funding to 41 innovative water savings projects. When implemented, the projects will save 4.5 billion litres of water each year. More > Water Savings Fund Projects – Round Two - Sydney
Draft Greywater Reuse Guideline open for comment
(29/08/06) The Department has prepared a Draft NSW Guideline for Sewered Residential Premises (Single Households) Greywater Reuse which are open for comment until 29 September 2006. The Guideline is designed to facilitate the reuse of greywater at sewered residential premises (single households), while protecting public health and the environment. More > Greywater Reuse Guideline
Kempsey to receive emergency drought funding
(25/8/06) NSW Government is contributing $21,600 in emergency funding to assist Kempsey Shire Council cart water to the residents of Bellbrook township. The funding is provided from the Country Towns Water Supply and Sewerage Program, which is managed Department. More > Country Town Water Supply and Sewerage Program.
Energy & Water Green Globe Awards now open for nomination
(25/8/06) Nominations are now open for Energy and Water Green Globe Awards, which rewards achievements in sustainable energy and urban water use. The Awards recognise outstanding contributions by members of our community and provide a unique platform for rewarding people committed to managing our energy resources more efficiently. More > 2006 Energy & Water Green Globe Awards
$2 million Water Savings Fund for Central Coast
(18/8/06) Central Coast businesses, industry and government organisations with innovative water saving projects can now apply for the NSW Government’s Water Savings Fund. The highly successful Water Savings Fund has been extended to the drought-gripped Central Coast as one of a series of measures the Government has introduced to help the region. The Water Savings Fund will provide $2 million a year for projects that will save water in Gosford and Wyong. It builds on the success of Sydney’s Water Savings Fund. Round One is open from Friday 18 August until Thursday 5 October. More > Central Coast Water Savings Fund
National emissions trading scheme proposed
(16/8/06) State and Territory Governments in Australia recognise the importance of addressing climate change, and are considering a range of effective policy responses to ensure a flexible way of achieving greenhouse gas abatement in the transition to a carbon constrained future. A Discussion Paper has been issued on "Possible Design for a National Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme". The Discussion Paper sets out a potential scheme design for comment, including considerations of how impacts on regional areas and trade-exposed, energy-intensive industries can potentially be minimised. Stakeholder views on the effectiveness of the proposed measures are sought. You can download the Discussion Paper at www.emissionstrading.net.au
Water rating labels for products
(1/7/06) On 1 July 2006, a new era in product labelling will begin when new water rating labelling will be introduced nationally. The new labelling will help consumers choose the most water-efficient products, save money and conserve water. The new labelling requirements will affect manufacturers and importers as well as retailers. Manufacturers and their agents must ensure all water-using products are correctly registered, labelled and comply with Australian standards. Retailers must ensure products offered for sale are appropriated labelled with the “WELS” standard. Penalties apply for non-compliance. More > WELS
New plumbing code
(1/7/06) A new code of practice for plumbing and drainage will come into effect on 1 July which furthers water conservation efforts whilst ensuring safe drinking water. The NSW Code of Practice for Plumbing and Drainage had been updated because of the increasing popularity of water conservation devices such as rainwater tanks, grey water re-use and recycling systems. The Code outlines new requirements to help plumbers, builders and householders choose the safest, most cost-effective and efficient method to install water saving devices. The Code reflects the Australian Standard AS/NZS 3500 but allows for variations that still meet requirements of water utilities in Sydney and country areas of New South Wales. The NSW Plumbing and Drainage Code can be downloaded from our website.
Interest sought for western Sydney recycling project
(30/06/06) Expressions of Interest have been called by the Minister for Water Utilities David Campbell for the first stage of a major new water recycling project in Western Sydney. The Western Sydney Recycled Water Initiative, as outlined in the Metropolitan Water Plan, will provide up to 27 billion litres of recycled water each year by 2015 for use in new homes, agriculture and to replace water released from Warragamba Dam. The first stage of the initiative will be the implementation of the Replacement Flows Project, which will see recycled water used to replace water currently released from Warragamba Dam “Under the proposal, three sewage treatment plants at Penrith, St Mary’s and Quakers Hill will be connected. The Expressions of Interest will close on August 3 and a short list is expected to be announced in October 2006.
NSW State Plan: a new direction
(30/06/06) NSW Premier Morris Iemma has announced the development of a NSW State Plan that will set the priorities and goals for the NSW Government for the next 10 years. This Plan will unite all of work in individual agencies under a single guiding direction. The State Plan will improve the way the NSW Government delivers services and will:
• set out the Government’s vision for the next 10 years;
• outline the major challenges and how we will address them; and
• define the measures we will use to determine how well our strategies are working
The Premier said one of the most important aspects of the State Plan is that as we plan for the future we will ensure that the community has an opportunity to be heard. A consultation process will harness the views of communities across NSW and ensure their views and priorities are represented in the final state plan. This will include face to face consultations with the public, community groups and civic leaders.
A final State Plan will be released later in the year. Members of the public are invited to contribute their views at www.nsw.gov.au/stateplan/
Cashback for blackouts
(26/06/06) Electricity customers in metropolitan Sydney areas can now receive $80 in compensation from their energy supplier if they suffer more than four 4-hour outages in a year or any outage of longer than 12 hours. Non-metropolitan customers can receive $80 from their energy supplier if they suffer more than four 5-hour outages in a year or any outage of longer than 18 hours. The rebates are capped at $320 a year and become effective from 1 July 2006.
BASIX new rules for alterations & additions to homes
(09/06/06) The BASIX for Alterations and Additions scheme for homes will become mandatory, across NSW, on 1 October 2006. These new requirements will only apply to the section of the home that is being renovated and ensure that practical measures, e.g. insulation, glazing, shading, hot water systems and any relevant water and lighting fixtures, are included when renovation work is planned. The aim is to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions and potable water consumption, as well as improve the thermal comfort of existing homes. More > BASIX alterations and additions
BASIX energy targets for new homes changed
(09/06/06) From 1 July 2006, the BASIX Energy target will vary according to building type and location across NSW. However, new high-rise units will be exempted from more stringent energy-efficiency targets. These target variations ensure BASIX remains balanced, cost-effective and delivers effective greenhouse and potable water reductions for the NSW community. More > BASIX energy targets
NSW Budget 2006/07 – massive boost to water spending
(06/06/06) The NSW Government’s 2006-07 Budget has committed to invest $645 million on water, wastewater, recycled water and stormwater infrastructure for the greater Sydney region. Minister for Water Utilities David Campbell said this year’s spending on water would be boosted by almost $130 million, with recycling projects a key focus. More than 100 individual capital projects will be undertaken in the next financial year at a forecast total of $645 million – a significant increase from the $517 milllion spent in 2005-06.
NSW country towns and villages will receive $70.1 million funding to upgrade their local water supply and sewerage systems. Funding has been committed from the $915 million Country Towns Water Supply and Sewerage funding program which helped rural and regional water utilities across NSW provide modern services to their local communities.
Government to fund historic Busby’s Bore project
(31/05/06) The NSW Government will provide $430,000 to restore the historic Busby’s Bore as a source of recycled water for Hyde Park and Cook and Phillip Park. The project is a collaborative effort between the NSW Government, Sydney Water, Clean Up Australia and the City of Sydney Council. The project will save up to 110,000 litres of Sydney’s drinking water every day. Construction of the recycling scheme is expected to begin by the end of the year.
Faster and easier gas pipeline approvals announced
(11/05/06) The NSW Government has announced it will speed up proposals for new gas-fired power stations by simplifying licensing approvals for gas pipelines. Planned amendments will cut approval time from one year to between four and six months.
The Pipelines Amendment Bill was tabled in Parliament on 11 May 2006 and proposes amendments to the Pipelines Act that will reduce the red tape, cost and complexity of approval processes. At the same time it will improve the environmental assessment of major pipeline projects. The bill does not reduce the responsibility of the pipeline applicant to undertake fair and reasonable negotiations with landowners. The Energy Minister, the Hon. Joe Tripodi, said the amendments will streamline planning for eight gas-fired power stations and an 800 kilometre pipeline from Queensland to Newcastle.
Massive industrial water recycling plant for Kurnell unveiled
(11/05/06) The NSW Government will invest $5.18 million into a large-scale industrial water recycling scheme at Kurnell. Funding from the Water Savings Fund will be used to retrofit the Caltex and Continental Carbon plants so they can utilise the recycled water produced by a new recycling plant.
The privately operated water recycling plant will be built and operated by the United Utilities Australia and Burns & Roe Worley consortium and produce recycled water at a cheaper rate than drinking water. The plant will save six million litres of drinking water each day by diverting millions of litres of sewage effluent to local industry.
Water reforms to open market to competition
(09/05/06) The NSW Water Utilities Minister, the Hon. David Campbell MP, has released new draft rules to boost recycling and innovation by opening the metropolitan water industry to competition. The changes mean Sydney Water and Hunter Water will no longer have a monopoly on supplying water and treating wastewater.
For the first time private competitors will be able to get access to pipes, mains and sewers to treat and supply recycled water," Mr Campbell said. "The Government believes competition will promote innovative solutions to Sydney's water needs, especially for large industrial water users.
"We're giving water customers a choice for better service. That will be good for Sydney Water, good for business and good for the customer. This reform is important to helping the NSW Government reach its target for a four-fold boost to recycling to 70 billion litres of water by 2015."
The new rules pave the way for inventive new recycling projects such as localised sewer-mining - where industries tap into wastewater then treat and recycle it for use on site. They will also make it easier for businesses to undertake more recycling projects whilst at the same time safeguarding public health, consumers and the environment.
The discussion paper `Creating a Dynamic and Competitive Metropolitan Water Industry' is available from www.waterforlife.nsw.gov.au.
New Metropolitan Water Plan unveiled
(08/05/06) The Premier of NSW, the Hon. Morris Iemma MP, unveiled the NSW Government's Metropolitan Water Plan for 2006 on 8 May detailing massive recycling schemes for industry, business and homes. The plan outlines how Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the Illawarra will withstand drought and ensure the city has sufficient water supply to meet demand until at least 2015.
Mr Iemma says the Metropolitan Water Plan confirms we have sufficient water to meet our needs for the next decade and strong longer-term options to accommodate population growth beyond 2015.
Sydney generally consumes about 600 gigalitres of water per year and currently recycles 15 billion litres of water a year, but this is planned to reach 70 billion litres by 2015.
"By 2015, with the programs now under way, Sydneysiders will be saving 145 billion litres of precious drinking water every year," Mr Iemma said.
A notable inclusion in the plan is the Western Sydney Recycling Initiative which was announced in February. When finished in 2015, it will supply 27 billion litres of recycled water a year to 160,000 new homes in the North West and South West of Sydney for grey water use - not drinking - and become the largest recycling scheme of its kind in Australia.
More > www.waterforlife.nsw.gov.au
Metropolitan Water Independent Review Panel established
(08/05/06) The NSW Government has established an independent panel to provide expert advice and monitor progress of the Metropolitan Water Plan.
The Panel will be chaired by Professor Peter Cullen, a Commissioner of the National Water Commission, member of the Wentworth Group of Scientists and Professor Emeritus at the University of Canberra. Other members of the Panel include:
- Professor John Langford - the former Executive Director of the Water Services Association of Australia.
- Mr Chris Davis - the CEO of Australian Water Association and Australia's representative to the World Water Forum.
- Mr Ross Chapman - economist formerly with the Centre of International Economics
- Ms Blair Nancarrow - an expert in social attitudes research and current Director of the Australian Research Centre for Water in Society at the CSIRO.
The Premier has asked the Panel to consider how community views on water saving, recycling, supply and river health can be best integrated into ongoing planning to secure Sydney's water future.
DEUS launches national water rating system
(3/4/06) A new water rating system which encourages office building owners and tenants to improve their water use was launched on 3 April 2006 by the Minister for Water Utilities David Campbell. The National Australian Built Environment Rating Systems (NABERS) OFFICE Water rating tool measures the sustainability of water use in office buildings and enables owners to benchmark their water consumption performance as a first step to saving water.
Commercial office buildings are high energy and water users. About 10 per cent of Sydney's water is consumed in office buildings. If every office building in Australia improved their water rating by just one star, we would cut 5,800 megalitres of water use - enough to fill 2,300 Olympic swimming pools.
Enthusiastic supporters of the NABERS OFFICE Water rating tool at the launch included some of the nation's biggest commercial property owners - Investa Property Group, Colonial First State, Stockland and AMP, who all said they would use it to rate the buildings in their portfolios.
The Australian Government awarded the NSW Department of Energy, Utilities and Sustainability the task of commercialising NABERS nationally in 2005.
To find out more, visit www.nabers.com.au
$185m wind farm for Taralga
The NSW Government has given the green light to construction of a $185 million wind farm by RES Southern Cross at Taralga, near Goulburn. On announcing his approval for the wind farm, the Minister for Planning, the Hon. Frank Sartor, said the 50-turbine project is a major investment in Goulburn and the State’s energy network, as well as the environment. It will provide enough green power to run 38,000 homes and prevent greenhouse gas emissions of up to 257,000 tonnes each year. The project will also create up to 40 construction jobs, boosting employment opportunities in the local region.
For more information visit www.planning.nsw.gov.au
Climate Action Grants offer by NSW Greenhouse Office
As part of its Greenhouse Plan, the NSW Government is offering up to $9.7 million in funding over four years for projects that help minimise greenhouse gas emissions or assist the adaptation to climate change impacts in the areas of waste, transport, forestry, agriculture, industry processes or land use (but not including energy generation and use).
The $7.7 million Technology Action Grants program provides funding for projects that support the development of adaptation or abatement technologies.
The $2 million Community Action Grants program provides funding for projects that help increase the capacity of NSW industry, business, government and community and promote products, processes, practices and programs.
Grants of up to $250,000 per project per year for 1 to 3 years duration are available.
Guidelines and application forms are available at www.greenhouseinfo.nsw.gov.au/climate_action_grants.
2004-05 DEUS Annual Report published
DEUS has published its 2004-05 Annual Report and is now available online. Highlights of the report include two new energy and water savings funds being established to promote conservation and efficiency, release of the green paper NSW Energy Direction and development of a national framework to implement a new water efficiency labeling scheme.
2004-05 Annual Report
New NSW Public Lighting Code
DEUS has introduced a state-wide code of practice for a range of street lighting services for the first time in New South Wales. The voluntary code establishes minimum standards for public lighting maintenance and minor capital works, providing NSW councils with a much-needed comprehensive set of benchmarks. It also provides guidance on the types of lighting that may be supported, effectively expanding the range of choices available to councils. The development of the code began in 2004 and involved collaboration between representatives of state and local government as well as power companies. The code also sets out benchmarks for council public lighting management plans as well as the development of inventories of public lighting assets. More>>NSW Public Lighting Code (pdf).
|
|
|
| Copyright | Disclaimer | Privacy | Feedback | |