[ANUgreen.announce] ANUgreen Autumn Newsletter

[Clare Lawlor]

New Cleaning and Recycling Coordinator<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />


ANUgreen would like to formally introduce Mr Barry Hughes to the campus community as the new Cleaning and Recycling Coordinator. John Sullivan, who formerly managed waste and recycling, and who has been responsible for the installation of the many waste management and recycling systems we now have at ANU, has moved in to the much needed role of Energy Systems Manager. With this change in roles, we ask that you please address any matters relating to energy, waste and cleaning to the relevant person from now on. 


Write to  <mailto:recycle at anu.edu.au> recycle at anu.edu.au with queries regarding recycling, waste management or cleaning issues or contact Barry Hughes on 6125 0111. 


 

Write to  <mailto:energy at anu.edu.au> energy at anu.edu.au with queries regarding energy consumption, or contact John Sullivan on 6125 6605


 


Timely Tredlies


 ANUgreen has recently launched its Timely Tredlies Program, an initiative which aims to reduce the number of intra-campus trips made by motor vehicles.

An initial fleet of twenty bicycles makes this the largest bicycle fleet of its kind in Australia, and we don't plan on stopping until we achieve a fleet of sixty!

Bikes are currently located in twenty different areas and are available for staff and postgraduate use. They are equipped with panniers, locks, lights, helmets, pumps, puncture repair kits, cycle computers, and trouser clips.

Bikes can be booked in the same way ANU pool vehicles are currently accessed.

Cycling is a fun, healthy, and timely way to travel around campus so talk to your local Timely Tredlies Coordinator (contact details located in the pool vehicle booking area) and get riding!

 

 

Green Office Program 2006

This year the Green Office Program will seek to expand its reach to all departments on campus, to build on the 25 campus departments participating from 2005.  With more departments participating, we can look forward to offering initiatives for "Rethink, Reduce, Re-use and Recycle" across the realms of water use, energy use, waste disposal and sustainable transport to the whole campus. The Program's aim is to improve the environmental performance and efficiency of campus workplaces through simple changes in individual employees' daily work practices, as outlined in tips on the Green Office 10 point plan (  <http://www.anu.edu.au/facilities/anugreen/office/> http://www.anu.edu.au/facilities/anugreen/office/).  At the heart of the Program lie the volunteer Green Office Representatives who promote these initiatives and help facilitate change in their workplaces, with support and resources from the Green Office Program, and endorsement from their management. The program will focus this semester on engaging areas in energy conservation, sustainable transport and paper conservation, but is also able to assist areas in more focussed projects if desired, extending to recycling and green purchasing as well. Stay tuned also this semester for the release of new cartoon posters depicting green office actions - these will be made available on the aformentioned website once completed. If you are interested in being a volunteer Green Office Representative in your workplace, then get in touch with Clare Lawlor, your ANU Green Office Program Coordinator by emailing  <mailto:gop at anu.edu.au> gop at anu.edu.au or call 6125 2311.

 

 

 

Biodiversity

 

'Keep your BUTT out of the Environment' 

 

Cigarette butts are toxic bullets containing thousands of chemicals harmful to our wildlife. 

 

Flicked casually from the balcony at the bar, stubbed at the foot of the table at your favourite café or in the garden bed outside a lecture hall, these toxic packages leach chemicals including cadium, lead and arsenic into our soil and waterways. These chemicals can damage the health of plants and animals, just as inhaling the smoke can damage the health of humans. Discarded cigarette butts also pose a fire risk. 

 

A startling 1 in 3 cigarette butts end up as litter, making cigarette butts the worlds leading environmental litter concern.

 

If you are a smoker, protect biodiversity and keep your butt out of the environment. 

 

Collect a free butt bin from the ANUgreen office or grab a free postcard from the Avant card racks on campus to give a friend. For more information see  <http://www.planetark.com/campaignspage.cfm/newsid/137/story.htm> http://www.planetark.com/campaignspage.cfm/newsid/137/story.htm

 <http://www.cleanup.com.au/main.asp?RequestType=Doc&DocID=80&CatID=2> http://www.cleanup.com.au/main.asp?RequestType=Doc&DocID=80&CatID=2

 

Urban Habitat projects

The ANUgreen program is currently developing proposals to rehabilitate the corner of Clunies Ross Road and Dickson Road. The project proposals seek to address weed management issues, enhance the habitat values of the site and promote effective flow of stormwater through to the existing Dickson Road Wetland (below the carpark) and on to Sullivans Creek. 

 

The project is part of a wider collaboration between the ANU, CSIRO, the Australian Botanic Gardens, ACT & SE NSW Greening Australia Inc., ACTPLA, Environment ACT, and the Molonglo Catchment Group. The ANUgreen Biodiversity Projects Manager, Beth Mitchell is preparing funding proposals to undertake the works and is also endeavouring to engage students in the development of plans for the site through the Sustainability Learning Communities initiative.

 

Catchment Ecological Survey

Between 2002 and 2004 a series of ecological assessments took place within the lower Sullivans Creek Catchment. With the assistance of National Heritage Trust Funding, the data collected during the surveys is currently being analysed and preparations made for the production of a community friendly report to publicise findings. It is anticipated that the survey results will be available mid year, with an Ecological Resource Kit outlining methodologies and providing guidelines for creating urban habitat available by the end of the year.


Nundera Point Midden Preservation Project


 

In January of this year, funding was granted to the Bateman's Bay Local Aboriginal Land Council to address the issue of land degradation on culturally significant shell middens.  The plan that was formulated involves the laying of brush over exposed midden areas with these areas being reseeded with native species to prevent further erosion.  Further to this a formal access track running north to south across Nundera Point will be established.  The construction of a fence along portions of Nundera Point will prevent informal access tracks from further degrading middens located at the eastern end of Nundera Point.

 

These works are an essential step in protecting these sites that have extensive cultural and scientific significance.  The cooperation between the ANU, Bateman's bay Local Aboriginal Land Council, Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority and Department of Environment and Conservation is due to the recognition that these sites represent one of the most significant midden complexes on the New South Wales south coast.

 


 


 


 

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