Environment and Resource Management

Sustainability: Response to the Issue

Southeast Queensland state of region sustainability indicators-baseline review 2006

Southeast Queensland is Australia's fastest-growing region. It has attracted, on average, 55 000 new residents each year for the past two decades. The region is also experiencing rapid employment growth and is emerging as a significant national and international economic hub. The SEQ Regional Plan will help to manage this growth and associated change in the most sustainable way, and will protect and enhance quality of life.

The South East Queensland Regional Plan 2005-26 (SEQ Regional Plan) requires the ongoing monitoring and regular reporting of sustainability indicators. A report on the state of the region will be produced as part of the five-yearly review of the SEQ Regional Plan (DLGPSR 2005). It will not be simply a collection of data and information on sustainability indicators, but will link environmental, economic and social indicators, and provide a snapshot of SEQ's ongoing sustainability. The inclusion of measures of sustainability is a relatively contemporary style of reporting. Developing this review is a necessary part of achieving informative and relevant regional reporting that will enable government and the community to make decisions based on principles of ecologically sustainable development (ESD).

The primary purpose of the South East Queensland Regional Plan: State of Region Baseline Review 2006 was to identify the current status of sustainability indicators so that the appropriateness of these indicators can be assessed and improved over time. Second, the review identified proposed sustainability indicators that are not currently used, as well as areas where there are significant gaps in regional reporting (CoG 2006).

Sustainability indicators are information and communication tools for decision makers. Information needs to be at the scale at which the decisions are to be made. The information in the baseline review includes only those indicators that the State Government had ready access to and could disaggregate to inform regional issues. The adequacy of such information continues to improve.

Programs and activities

A range of programs are in place to encourage and recognise the shift to sustainable practices. Saving energy, water, raw materials, waste, redesigning processes and products to use less material and be less energy-intensive, and building cleaner energy and greater water security all contribute directly to sustainability. Commitment to protection, restoration and/or recovery of natural systems is an enduring contribution to rebuilding natural capital. These initiatives are supported by both federal and local government programs. Some examples of relevant programs follow.

The ecoBiz program

Through this program, the EPA is working in partnership with businesses to implement eco-efficiency actions that help businesses achieve cost savings while improving environmental performance, including reduced energy and water consumption.

Sustainable Industries Awards

These awards recognise business leaders, companies and technologies that are setting best-practice standards in environmental performance. By showcasing and encouraging environmental leaders in all industry sectors, the EPA can assist the diffusion of innovation so necessary for sustainable development.

Sustainable housing program

Actions to improve the sustainability of housing have been implemented. On 1 March 2006, new laws came into effect requiring that all new houses be more sustainable. Requirements include installation of water-efficient AAA-rated shower roses, dual-flush toilets, energy-efficient lighting in at least 40% of the house, and greenhouse-efficient hot water systems, such as solar, heat pump or gas (DH 2005).

The 'smart and sustainable homes program' focuses on two key components: 'smart housing', which provides design guidelines for sustainable house construction, and 'sustainable homes', which is the practical demonstration of these principles. Display houses that incorporate principles of sustainable design and performance as minimum criteria are being built in communities throughout the state. The houses are unique because their design concepts suit the regional climatic conditions in which they are built, and aim to meet sustainability's triple bottom line of environmental, social and economic benefit. The State Government, local authorities and industry are collaborating in the program, which is managed by the Department of Public Works (DPW). Construction and display are funded by either local government or private developers in a joint venture.

Secure water supply

The SEQ water grid initiative, which includes new dam construction, interlinking pipelines, the Tugun seawater desalination plant and supply augmentation using recycled, purified water, provide a comprehensive approach to water supply security in SEQ (QWC 2007).

Nature refuge program

Since the last reporting period, the number of nature refuges has grown to 252 and their area increased from 33 209 ha to 561 871 ha. Each nature refuge is backed by a formal conservation agreement that sets out the values being protected and agreed management actions. The nature refuge program focuses on sustainable land management, targeting particular species and ecosystems for protection and, in some cases, enhancement. Through this mechanism, landholders actively pursue management for sustainability and the rebuilding of natural capital-biodiversity and healthy ecosystem processes.

Sustainability and climate change

The State Government has initiated programs to achieve ecologically sustainable development, particularly in regard to climate change. Some key initiatives follow.

ClimateSmart 2050

This is a $414 million investment by the state to ensure that Queensland plays its part in meeting a national target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 60% below its 2000 levels by 2050 (QG 2007). Its aims include joining national and international efforts to establish emissions trading, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by investing in clean coal technology and renewable energy sources, and helping to lower emissions and conserve water at home, at work and in the community. It increases the proportion of power generated from gas from 13% to 18% and establishes an RLEET of 10% by 2020, and invests $300 million in a Queensland Climate Change Fund which will provide at least $20 million per year for new climate change initiatives. ClimateSmart 2050 adds to the government's commitment of $300 million (with an industry contribution of $60 million) to develop clean coal technologies.

ClimateSmart Adaptation Action Plan 2007-12

The plan aims to enhance Queensland's resilience to the impacts of climate change (DNRW 2007). It is built on these principles: 'Actions contribute to sustainability'; 'Actions do not replace efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions'; 'Actions consider greenhouse gas emissions'; and 'Working partnerships are fundamental'. The outcomes sought by the action plan are that Queenslanders understand their climate change risks and vulnerabilities; consider climate change impacts in their decisions; and take practical steps to enhance their resilience to climate change. Priority actions are identified for seven vulnerable sectors: water planning and services; human settlements; natural environment and landscapes; tourism, business and industry; emergency services and human health; agriculture; and finance and insurance.

Ending broadscale tree clearing

Broadscale tree clearing ended on 31 December 2006. As well as improving sustainable management of regional ecosystems, this initiative contributes largely to the national effort to meet the Kyoto Protocol target for greenhouse gas reduction.

Queensland Greenhouse Strategy 2004

This aims to increase knowledge and understanding of greenhouse issues and climate change impacts, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and facilitate carbon sequestration, and lay the foundation for adaptation to climate change (EPA 2004).

Queensland Ethanol Industry Action Plan 2005-07

This plan supports creation of an economically viable state ethanol industry and raises public awareness of, and confidence in, ethanol blended fuels. Establishment of a thriving biofuels industry is another way in which the State Government is acting to lessen reliance on fossil fuels (SDI 2005).

Queensland Sustainable Energy Innovation Fund

The Queensland Sustainable Energy Innovation Fund (QSEIF) fund was set up to help organisations develop innovative technologies that reduce consumption of fossil fuels, greenhouse gas emissions and/or water consumption. Technologies eligible for QSEIF funding include those that are more energy-efficient and reduce energy use, use renewable energy sources, substitute biomass or waste for fossil fuels, and reduce greenhouse gas and other pollution emissions resulting from use of fossil fuels. QSEIF encourages collaboration between the applicant organisation and one or more project partners (EPA 1999).

Sustainability showcase examples

Uptake of sustainable practices across government, industry and the community is increasing. The following sections describe some excellent examples of the adoption of sustainability practices.

Queensland Environmentally Sustainable Schools Initiative

The Queensland Environmentally Sustainable Schools Initiative ( QESSI) is a concept that aims to fulfil one of the challenges issued by the General Assembly of the United Nations in the pursuit of a sustainable global society by 'encouraging Governments to consider the inclusion… of measures to implement a Decade of Education for Sustainable Development 2005-14 in their respective education systems and strategies' (UNESCO 2005).

The mission of QESSI is to establish a network of environmentally sustainable schools that demonstrate curricular connections and environmental action based on ecologically sustainable development principles. QESSI's vision is for all schools to be environmentally sustainable schools. The QESSI concept aims to integrate existing environmental education with sustainability programs for schools in a holistic process that has measurable environmental, economic, social and educational outcomes. QESSI is a member of the Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative (AuSSI) partnership. It supports implementation of efficiencies into a school's management of resources such as energy, waste, water and biodiversity by improving school grounds. This approach integrates QESSI into the existing curriculum and daily operations of the school. Twelve QESSI regional hubs are supporting clusters of schools as they work to become more environmentally sustainable.

Partnerships among community groups, industry and government agencies are at the heart of QESSI's success. Current key partners in the alliance are Education Queensland (lead agency), Commonwealth Department of Environment and Water Resources, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Environmental Protection Agency, Keep Australia Beautiful-Queensland, Queensland Transport, Department of Natural Resources and Water, Department of Mines and Energy, EnviroCom, Earth Charter Australia, Independent Schools Queensland, Queensland Catholic Education Commission, Science and Geography Teacher and Environmental Education Associations, QUT and Griffith University, Ergon Energy, and Origin Energy.

A total of 914 schools have participated in one or more QESSI alliance partner programs over the past four years. This equates to approximately half of all schools in the state. The alliance members contribute a significant financial investment, both cash and in-kind, to help schools become more environmentally efficient and aware. Local councils and regional natural resource management groups give financial support and Education Queensland helps with its network of 25 outdoor and environmental education centres.

Economic benefits are documented, and schools have saved hundreds of dollars through more efficient use of their resources. One school demonstrated a reduction of more than 40% in energy consumption through participation in an energy-efficiency program conducted by the QESSI regional hubs.

Water-efficiency initiatives have created significant savings for schools, particularly in drought-affected areas. The impact of Commonwealth water grants cannot be documented yet because the program is just beginning. Between the 2003-04 and 2004-05 financial years, water consumption in state schools reduced 8%. Between 2004-05 (7766 ML) and 2005-06 (6122 ML) consumption reduced again by more than 20%.

Schools have saved considerable money through sustainability initiatives such as these. They have also been rewarded with awards and grants for their environmentally sustainable initiatives. Reef Guardian Schools receive cash grants as an incentive and reward for good practice. Many schools also received community water grants to install conservation devices and water-efficient strategies in their schools. Several 'learnscaping' projects have resulted in biodiversity improvements: weeds are removed and endemic native species are planted. The resultant improvement in catchments and water quality are bonus benefits of these projects.

The QESSI concept has demonstrated best practice in showing schools how to improve their sustainability and eco-efficiency. Just as importantly, it highlights the education industry's potential to improve the environmental and economic performance of schools through the alliance approach.

Queensland Sustainable Energy Innovation Fund

The Queensland Sustainable Energy Innovation Fund (QSEIF) helps organisations develop innovative technology that reduces consumption of fossil fuels, greenhouse gas emissions or water consumption (EPA 1999). A description of two outstanding successes follows.

High-efficiency reservoir mixer

An ingenious reservoir aeration system that uses about one-twentieth of the energy of conventional systems while providing superior water quality has been developed by Water Engineering and Research Solutions (WEARS) with assistance from QSEIF.

Dams and deep lakes undergo a natural process of stratification. As the surface layer of water is warmed by sunlight, it becomes more buoyant than the colder water below, preventing the underlying water from reaching the surface. Trapped beneath the warm surface layer (2-3 m deep), the main body of water becomes depleted of oxygen. The resulting low concentration of dissolved oxygen causes iron, manganese and other metal salts to leach from sediments, which leads to discolouration, odour and bad taste. Stagnation of the water also encourages growth of algae in the surface layer.

Conventional methods of mixing reservoirs, by pumping compressed air through perforated pipes at the bottom of dams, require large amounts of electrical energy and are grossly inefficient.

Stephen Elliott, the founder of WEARS, studied stratification while undertaking a thesis for a Bachelor's degree in civil engineering at Griffith University, Gold Coast. He set out to develop an innovative new technology that would be more effective and energy-efficient in destratifying water supply dams around the world.

Stephen's technology uses a slowly rotating impeller (about 5 m diameter) that pushes warm, aerated surface water to the bottom of the reservoir and draws cold, deoxygenated water to the surface. QSEIF funded his company to develop several prototypes and assess their effectiveness by monitoring water temperature, oxygen levels, metal concentrations and water quality over a wide range of depths and area, and over extended periods of time.

Extensive field measurements showed that a single impeller unit can effectively maintain uniform water temperature and oxygen levels over an extended area.

Concentrations of dissolved oxygen were maintained at 2-4 mg/L (high enough to maintain fish life) down to a depth of 20 m. Without the reservoir mixer, dissolved oxygen levels generally declined to 1 mg/L at 6 m and were virtually zero below depths of 10 m. Dissolved phosphorus, iron and manganese were about one-tenth the concentrations that were measured during periods without mixing.

The potential for toxic blue-green algae is reduced by constantly skimming water from the sunlit surface layer and disrupting algal cells with the sudden change in pressure as water is pushed to the bottom. No blooms of blue-green algae have been observed in dams where WEARS reservoir mixers have been in continuous operation.

The low energy consumption of this technology makes the use of solar power a practical option, avoiding the need for water treatment chemicals in remote areas. The first solar-powered unit was installed at Cotter Dam in the ACT in late 2004.

WEARS has successfully translated its design expertise and field experience into a viable consulting and manufacturing business. By mid-2006, the company had installed 50 high-efficiency reservoir mixers, with a value of more than $5 million, throughout Australia.

The contribution made by WEARS founder Stephen Elliott in 'applying science and technology to create new business, advance industry and solve community problems' was recognised by a 2003 national science and technology award from the Clunies Ross Foundation (operated by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering).

This project is starting to realise its enormous potential benefits. It is providing large reductions in energy and chemical use for maintaining water quality in reservoirs and dams. For example, aeration for Little Nerang Dam is provided by a single 3 KW WEARS unit, replacing two 37 KW air compressors that were used previously. This constitutes a 95% reduction in energy use.

Additionally, the project has created a manufacturing sector within Queensland for technology that maintains and improves water quality. This contributes to developing a critical mass of expertise in water supply and treatment, which is increasingly recognised as a key environmental and social issue in Australia and around the world. The project has improved water quality for cities, towns, agricultural and industrial use, particularly in regard to avoiding blooms of toxic blue-green algae.

Antireflection coatings for solar reflectors

Solar power can be produced more cheaply and used more widely because of an extraordinarily simple, low-cost technology developed by two researchers from The University of Queensland. Adoption of the technology could save more than half a billion dollars each year, and could create new market opportunities for solar energy to provide cost-effective electricity for remote and grid-connected users. Further savings could be achieved by applying the technology to applications such as solar water heating.

Production of photovoltaic modules that convert sunlight directly into electricity has been growing by about 35% a year, with worldwide production reaching 12 000 MW in 2004. Although production of photovoltaic modules is now a $10 billion industry, solar energy still accounts for only a tiny fraction of the world's energy production. Wider use is limited by the relatively high cost of solar panels for each watt of power produced.

Over the past 20 years, researchers have explored a range of sophisticated technologies in attempts to increase the power output and reduce the cost of photovoltaic modules. This new technology promises a significant increase in the power produced by photovoltaic panels with minimal added cost.

Photovoltaic modules incorporate semiconductor solar cells, which are mounted behind a clear glass (or plastic) cover and encapsulated in a sealed panel to provide protection from the weather. Of all the incident sunlight shining on the panel, about 4-5% is reflected at the front surface of the glass cover.

This reflected light does not reach the solar cells, and does not contribute to the power produced by the module. If these reflections could be minimised or eliminated, more light would reach the solar cells and more power output would be produced.

Technology has been developed to apply antireflection coatings to the surface of lenses (used in cameras and eyeglasses), but the complexity and high cost of existing coating methods limit its application to small, high-quality optical equipment.

Recently, however, a simple process to apply antireflection coatings to glass and plastic surfaces was discovered by graduate student Michael Harvey. With financial support from QSEIF, Mr Harvey and Dr Paul Meredith developed and tested the process for increasing the power output from photovoltaic modules.

The project enabled the two researchers to show that their process, using well-proven dip coating techniques, could apply antireflection coatings to large areas. Mr Harvey and Dr Meredith were even able to apply antireflection coatings to the inside and outside surfaces of tubes and pipes, a capability offered by no other coating technology.

To form an antireflection coating, a layer of transparent material is deposited on the surface with a precisely controlled and uniform thickness (equal to one-quarter of the wavelength of light). The material must also have the desired index of refraction, intermediate between that of air and the glass (or plastic) sheet on which the coating is deposited. Until now, only very sophisticated and complex equipment could deposit antireflection layers of the precisely controlled thickness while using the very limited choice of materials that happen to have the required index of refraction.

Dr Meredith and Mr Harvey developed a technique to make coatings of porous silica containing tiny bubbles of air. By keeping the bubbles much smaller than the wavelength of light, the coating remains clear and transparent. The density of the bubbles can be tuned to achieve any desired index of refraction. Dr Meredith and Mr Harvey used dip coating equipment to form a thin film of solution wetting the glass or plastic sheet. Evaporation of a solvent causes a chemical reaction, leaving a layer of porous silica of uniform thickness bound to the surface.

The QSEIF funding allowed the project team to prepare and test a range of coatings on glass and plastic sheets up to 0.01 m² in area. The properties of the antireflection coatings were tuned to maximise transmission of those wavelengths of solar radiation that yield the greatest electrical output from solar cells. The coatings increased the proportion of light transmitted through plastic sheets by about 8% (from about 91% to 99% for most wavelengths of light that is absorbed by solar cells and converted to electricity), and increased the proportion of light transmitted through glass by 7-8%. Application of the coating to the top surface of a solar power module would enhance the electrical power output by 4-5%.

The outstanding technical achievement of this project has earned recognition in the science and business communities and the media. Mr Harvey was selected as one of sixteen of Australia's top young researchers who were invited to discuss their work as part of Australia's National Science Week in 2004, and Mr Harvey and Dr Meredith were finalists in the Yellow Pages Business Ideas Program. A new company, Xerocoat, has been established by The University of Queensland to develop the project into a commercial enterprise, and, in March 2006, a significant amount of pre-seed venture capital funds was raised.

EcoBiz

Through the ecoBiz program, the EPA is working in partnership with business to implement eco-efficiency actions to achieve cost savings while improving environmental performance, including reduced energy and water consumption. Descriptions of two of these partnerships follow.

SALA Homes, winner of the 2007 Minister's award for ClimateSmart leadership

To fulfil its mission of bringing sustainable homes to the mass market, SALA Homes has created a range of eco-efficient houses that are affordable and competitive. The company's dwellings are unique in the market because they combine the best of environmental efficiency with a price tag that is affordable to most buyers.

Each of SALA's 12 standard designs comes with a five-star energy rating, is built with low-embodied-energy materials (that is, materials that use less energy to produce), is capable of generating electricity in excess of its needs, captures and recycles its own water, and should never need air conditioning.

The houses use natural light, warmth and ventilation combined with insulation and a unique cavity wall system to stay comfortable year-round. They also feature evacuated-tube solar hot water heaters that are more than 40% more efficient than conventional flat-plate solar hot water systems.

SALA Homes uses an innovative Mega-Anchor footing system to construct its raised house, eliminating the use of slab-on-ground techniques that disturb the site and use high-embodied-energy concrete and steel reinforcing.

SALA Homes has also eliminated the use of plasterboard, instead opting for low-emission, low-pollution strawboard, which is made from waste wheat and rice straw and has one-eighth of the embodied energy of plasterboard.

Southport Steam Laundry

Southport Steam Laundry is a medium-sized commercial laundry processing 40 t of linen per week. Upon its success in winning a competitive ecoBiz grant, Southport Steam Laundry entered into a partnership with ecoBiz to adapt the technology of continuous-batch washing systems (traditionally used in large laundries) to suit smaller laundries.

The goal of this project was to reduce water, energy and materials consumption by installing a state-of-the-art continuous-batch washing system in a commercial laundry on the Gold Coast. To achieve this, the proprietor of the laundry assisted the manufacturer (Jensen-Senking) to modify the design, enabling the machine to be scaled down and modularised to suit his specific application.

The installation of this technology at Southport demonstrates the success of this design and sets a new benchmark in best practice within the industry. It is the first time that this technology has been deployed in the Southern Hemisphere. The first machine of this configuration was installed in Spain in November 2004, followed by a second shortly afterward in Denmark. The installation demonstrates that this technology is suitable for both small-to-medium and large commercial laundries.

By adopting this technology, the company estimates annual savings of $119 000 due to:

The results of this project show that this technology is applicable to more than 70% of the state's laundry industry, with 70 similar businesses in the Gold Coast region alone. To fully capitalise on the benefits of this project, the EPA will be producing a case study to promote the opportunities and the potential of the ecoBiz program to the laundry industry.

The key lessons from this project were:

Nature refuge program

The nature refuge program focuses on sustainable land management, targeting particular species and ecosystems for protection and, in some cases, enhancement. Through this mechanism, landholders manage for sustainability and the rebuilding of natural capital-biodiversity and healthy ecosystem processes.

A voluntary conservation agreement between a landholder and the Queensland Government has led to establishment of a nature refuge, which is a category of protected area under the Nature Conservation Act 1992 .

The Mulligan River Nature Refuge, an agreement between the North Australian Pastoral Company Pty Ltd (NAPCO) and the Queensland Government, comprises 215 454 ha of land and marks an important milestone for conservation in far western Queensland. Descriptions of this refuge and other sustainable projects carried out by NAPCO are provided below.

The North Australian Pastoral Company Pty Ltd: a sustainable investment

The North Australian Pastoral Company Pty Ltd (NAPCO) owns 14 properties across Queensland and the Northern Territory, encompassing more than six million hectares of land. Sustainability projects for the company include the installation of solar power and grey water recycling systems on cattle stations and at remote homesteads, and the declaration of Australia's largest nature refuge, Mulligan River Nature Refuge.

The Mulligan River Nature Refuge is 200 km south-west of Boulia, with the red sands of the Simpson Desert marking the western boundary. This remote land has been sustainably managed by NAPCO for beef production for more than 70 years, and demonstrates the potential for landholders to combine primary production with the protection of conservation values.

Mulligan River Nature Refuge protects a series of artesian mound springs and several regional ecosystems not presently conserved within the protected area estate. The area also provides habitat for threatened animals such as the freckled duck, grey grasswren, fierce snake and dusky hopping-mouse, and conserves important Aboriginal, Afghan and early settler history.

In another innovative sustainability project, NAPCO has introduced a soil-monitoring program at its feedlot farm to help reduce water consumption during irrigation. This is achieved through matching plant water requirements specifically to soil moisture levels. NAPCO continues to develop composite breed cattle that are adapted to the northern savannah environment to ensure maximum feed-efficiency conversion and to reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions.

At Wainui Feedlot and Farm, NAPCO is composting solid effluent with grain offal to produce a high-quality organic fertiliser used by the agricultural and horticultural industries. NAPCO properties also use surplus liquid effluent for irrigation purposes, and recycle waste oils, tyres, batteries and scrap metal.

In recognition of its leadership in development and adoption of sustainable land management practices, NAPCO was awarded the inaugural Corporate Sustainability Award at the first EPA Sustainable Industries Awards in 2006.

In December 2003, NAPCO achieved certification of Wainui Feedlot and Farm to ISO 14001, Specifications for Environmental Management Systems, one of the first to achieve this in Australia. Another property, Gordon Downs in central Queensland, was certified in March 2005; again, it is one of the first of its kind to be certified. The same management system is currently being implemented across all NAPCO pastoral holdings.

Return to State of the Environment Queensland 2007 content page

Last reviewed 17 May 2011
Last updated 5 February 2008

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