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Single-Column Responsive Email Template SENG QLD Newsletter - May 2019 Welcome to Newsletter Number 78 Dear SENG Qld members and friends, There are two exciting SENG Qld events planned for the very near future. The Energy Storage, Marine Permaculture, Food and Border Security, Ecosystem Regeneration, Ocean Carbon Sinks event will be held on Tuesday the 7th of May. Dr Brian Von Herzen, founder of the Climate Foundation, will discuss many fascinating topics including ocean sink and energy storage applications and their potential impacts upon Australian and global energy systems. Also, the Future of Infrastructure Sustainability event is on the 11th of June, where industry leaders will share their experiences driving sustainable outcomes across Queensland's infrastructure projects. Both events will be held at Hawken Auditorium, Engineering House, 447 Upper Edward St in Spring Hill, Brisbane. These events will be very informative, great fun, and fantastic for networking and professional development. Further details are available below. We look forward to them and hope to see you there! . This month's newsletter includes: Upcoming SENG Events Other Events Interesting Snippets Open for comment David's Blog As always, we welcome input from members regarding topics or speakers of interest. Please contact one of the Qld committee members or consider coming along to a committee meeting, held at Engineering House prior to each of our technical seminars. Kind regards, Sustainable Engineering Society Qld Branch Engineers Australia. Upcoming SENG Events Energy Storage, Marine Permaculture, Food and Border Security, Ecosystem Regeneration, Ocean Carbon Sinks Date: Tuesday 7th May, 2019 Time: 5:30 for 6:00 - 7:30 pm Presenter: Dr. Brian Von Herzen Venue: Hawken Auditorium, Engineering House, 447 Upper Edward St, Spring Hill, BRISBANE Cost: Members:$15 // Society Members:$45 // Non-members:$45 // Student Members:Free Brian Von Herzen, Ph.D will be speaking on the topic of needing affordable energy storage globally to allow for greater penetration of renewables, particularly photovoltaic, and then describe underwater compressed energy storage (UWCAES) and pumped thermal energy storage (PTES), how it relates to the 50% renewable energy usage commitment Queensland has committed to by 2030. Brian Von Herzen, PhD obtained his A.B. in Physics, Magna Cum Laude, from Princeton University and his Ph.D. in Computer and Planetary Science from Caltech where he was the recipient of the prestigious Hertz Fellowship (http://www.hertzfoundation.org). While at Princeton, Brian spent four years working closely with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. At Princeton, his dissertation on global climate models demonstrated how changes in the Earth's orbit affects climate. During his Caltech years Brian worked on models of the overabundance of carbon in Jupiter's atmosphere. Little did he know that a decade later we would have to address this problem for the Earth's atmosphere. From these experiences, he acquired a detailed understanding of the Earth’s carbon cycle and has envisioned sustainable approaches to restoring carbon balance in our atmosphere. Nature does a great job of fixing carbon. Primary production on the Earth has been fixing carbon for billions of years. By filling nutrient value-chain gaps and restoring natural carbon cycles, we can restore food productivity of Earth while concurrently balancing carbon. Once we reduce the carbon intensity of our own lifestyles, natural biogeochemical processes can take our civilization carbon negative using technologies comprising marine permaculture to withdraw gigatons of carbon from the atmosphere for millennia. The Climate Foundation is dedicated to educating and empowering people to balance carbon on land and sea on a global basis. We have developed several sustainable approaches to balancing carbon in the environment. Once society adopts sustainable practices and substantially reduces carbon emissions in our lifetimes, we believe it is still possible to reverse the man-made factors leading to climate disruption. Read more about this fantastic event, and register here. The Sustainable Hydrogen/Ammonia Economy Date: Tuesday 7th May, 2019 Time: Starts at 17:30 Presenter: Dr. Patrick Hartley and Mr Tom Campey Venue: Engineers Australia, Level 31, 600 Bourke St Melbourne Cost: Members:$10 // Society Members:$40 // Non-members:$40 // Student Members:$10 This seminar will discuss the the engineering profession's role in influencing rapid tranisition to an economically sustainable domestic and export Hydrogen energy system. The presenters wil focus upon the National Hydrogen Roadmap and discuss the Hydrogen Strategy Group's brief (Hydrogen for Australia's Future) for the COAG Energy Council. Find out more and register here. The Future of Infrastructure Sustainability in Queensland Date: Tuesday 11th June, 2019 Time: 5:00 for 5:30 - 7:00 pm Presenter: Panel Speakers Venue: Hawken Auditorium, Engineering House, 447 Upper Edward St, Spring Hill, BRISBANE Cost: TBA An increasing number of Queensland projects are pursuing infrastructure sustainability outcomes and ratings through the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia's (ISCA) Infrastructure Sustainability (IS) Rating. This session draws a selection of industry practitioners and leaders together, to share their experiences driving sustainable outcomes across infrastructure projects. Other Events IAIA19 - EVOLUTION or Revolution: Where Next for Impact Assessment? 29 April - 2 May 2019 Brisbane Convention Centre Suite 3 Tonella Commercial Centre This event is hosted by the International Association for Impact Assessment and will address some of the challenges facing impact assessments in the 21st century. These challenges include attacks from project and policy proponents for impeding the development of projects, and also from environmental and community groups criticising impact assessments for failing to meaningfully influence project decision-making processes and protect environmental and social values. Both groups criticise impact assessments for being costly, overly procedural and political, and question the value it adds to development and environmental outcomes. Find out more about the event here. Waste Expo Australia 23 - 24 October 2019 Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre 1 Convention Centre Place, South Wharf, VIC This event comprises a waste summit conference, a wastewater summit and waste evolution seminars. The waste summit conference will include case study presentations, ministerial addresses, panel discussion and a keynote presentation. The wastewater summit will confront the challenges and opportunities in wastewater treatment through technology, strategy and compliance. The waste evolution seminars showcase new technologies, products and processes predicted to change waste management and resource recovery in the near future. Find out more and register here. World Engineering Conference 2019 20 - 22 November 2019 Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre 1 Convention Centre Place, South Wharf, VIC This event is co-hosted by the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) and Engineers Australia, who are celebrating their centenary in 2019. The theme, "Engineering a Sustainable World: The Next 100 Years", combines engineering innovation and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals to create positive impact. Early bird registration finishes 10 May. More event information and registration details can be found here. Interesting Snippets For your interest, horror and amusement. SENG makes no claims regarding the accuracy or currency of these items, but always refers to authoritative sources. Climate Code Red This website presents reports, videos, news and social media posts about climate action, including new science research, policy-making processes, and the increasing gap between science and politics that regulatory science strives to bridge. The website's main contributor is David Spratt, Research Coordinator for the Breakthrough National Centre for Climate Restoration in Melbourne, who is well-published regarding the climate emergency and the urgenct need for action. Follow this link to the website and read about the consequences of "bright-siding" - maintaining optimism whilst tackling and discussing climate challenges. Urgent Action Needed to Save Koalas EDO Qld lawyers and key conservation groups have developed a plan calling for an immediate moratorium on development and tree clearing in koala habitats across Queensland. This plan has been presented to the Queensland Government and proposes that the moratorium be in all new legislation until laws are strengthened to protect koalas across the state. The Koala Expert Panel has advised that urgent action is needed to prevent habitat destruction and protect koalas from disease, starvation, car strike, and dog attack. Read more here. Tesla Electric Car Tows Electric Plane Australian technology entrepreneur, Simon Hackett, has rebuked statements made by Tony Abbott regarding the towing capacity of electric cars by towing his electric plane with his Tesla Model X electric car. Hackett's public statement further derided unresearched and false attempts to derail the electric vehicle industry for political purposes, regardless of your voting preference. Read more about this story here. New Research Critical to the Sustainable Recycling of PET Plastics The molecular structure of the enzyme MHETase has recently been solved providing new information in the effort to recycle PET plastics. The discovery was made by a research team from the university of Greifswald and Helmholtz-Zentrum-Berlin and allows for the production of a MHETase variant with optimum activity. This Enzyme along with PETase acts to specifically breakdown PET and represents a promising solution to the sustainable recycling of the plastic. These findings have been published in the research journal Nature Communications and can be accessed here. Breakthrough Increases Battery Performance Advances in recent research have allowed for quicker charging and greater performance from Lithium-ion batteries. Nikhil Koratkar, engineering professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, explains that the results were produced by substituting cobalt oxide with vanadium disulfide in lithium-ion anodes. Find out more details here. California's Struggle to Prevent Groundwater Storage Reduction Gains New Tool Parts of the Central Valley in California have dropped by as much as 28 feet during the first half of the 20th century as a result of extraction of water from aquafers. This overdrawing of water results in consolidation of the soil, permanently reducing the groundwater storage capacity, with some areas dropping by nearly 8 inches per year. However, new research from Stanford University suggests a way to map the usage and recharge of aquifers to stop the sinking. Geophysicist and professor at Stanford's School of earth, energy and environmental science Rosemary Knight has spoken on the topic stating that the only way to stop the sinking is to be strategic about what is done with the available recharge water. To read more, visit the Stanford news page here. Free Tickets to the World Engineering Convention 2019 To celebrate their centenary, Engineers Australia are giving away tickets, including flights and accommodation, to the World Engineering Convention in Melbourne, November 20-22 2019. This event will include over 580 presentations, bringing engineers and related professionals from more than 70 countries together. If you are a non-student member of Engineers Australia and would like to attend the fantastic WEC2019 event, follow this link to find instructions to enter the competition. Entries close 3rd May. Green Roofs Could Reduce Indoor Air Pollution Green roofs are already known to reduce carbon dioxide, stormwater runoff and urban heat. However, new research from PSU's department of mechanical and Materials Engineering suggests that Green Roofs may also reduce the amount of ozone entering the building. The study was conducted over a two-day period at a retail store in North Portland containing half green roof and half conventional white membrane roof. Authors of the study have stated that the findings warrant a longer-term study which may involve the measuring of other pollutants in addition to ozone. Follow the link to find out more. Awards and Open for Comment Sign the Climate Emergency Declaration Act now and sign the Climate Emergency Declaration. The Climate Emergency Declaration will call on national, state, and local governments to declare a climate emergency. Read and sign the Climate Emergency Declaration here. Please sign this three-level of government petition even if you have already signed the earlier petition with actions data to the federal parliament. Moment for Action Sign the petition David's Blog Keep up to date by reading David's Blog on the SENG website. Log in to post your comments or ask questions. Join the conversation on our LinkedIn group page If you have an idea to share, an issue you would like feedback on, or just want to follow the conversation, click here to join the group. If you can't view this email click here to view online Click here to unsubscribe from this newsletter

Single-Column Responsive Email Template SENG QLD Newsletter - April 2019 Welcome to Newsletter Number 77 Dear SENG Qld members and friends, Our upcoming Ocean Sink and Energy Storage event is on Tuesday 7th May at Hawken Auditorium, Engineering House, 447 Upper Edward St in Spring Hill, Brisbane. The speaker is Dr Brian Von Herzen, founder of the Climate Foundation who develop sustainable approaches for balancing environmental carbon cycling. Brian will discuss ocean sink and energy storage applications, and their potential impacts upon Australian and global energy. This will be an enjoyable and informative social event, we hope you can join us. Find more details below. This month's newsletter includes: Upcoming SENG Events Other Events Interesting Snippets Open for comment David's Blog As always, we welcome input from members regarding topics or speakers of interest. Please contact one of the Qld committee members or consider coming along to a committee meeting, held at Engineering House prior to each of our technical seminars. We hope to see you there! Kind regards, Sustainable Engineering Society Qld Branch Engineers Australia. Upcoming SENG Events Climate and Carbon Challenges Date: Thursday 11 April, 2019 Time: 17:30 - 20:15 Presenter: Assoc. Prof. Malte Meinshausen and Mr Tom Yankos Venue: Engineers Australia, Level 31, 600 Bourke St Melbourne Cost: $30 (Free for SENG members and students) This SENG VIC event will examine Australia's challenges and opportunities when meeting the goals of the Paris Climate Accord 2015. Presented by Assoc. Prof. Malte Meinshausen and Mr Tom Yankos, the evening will address topics including current scientific climate findings and emmission trends, engineering difficulties reducing carbon dependence, possible consequences, and adaption strategies. To find out more and register, click here. Ocean Sink and Energy Storage Date: Tuesday 7th May, 2019 Time: 5:30 for 6:00 - 7:30 pm Presenter: Dr. Brian Von Herzen Venue: Hawken Auditorium, Engineering House, 447 Upper Edward St, Spting Hill, BRISBANE Cost: TBA Brian Von Herzen, Ph.D will be speaking on the topic of ocean sink and energy storage. A method which enables affordable energy transition and low cost of storage as well as high energy efficiency. Von Herzen will discuss ocean sink and energy storage applications in Australia, and how it will influence the future of energy and electricity globally. Brian Von Herzen is the founder of the Climate Foundation. The Climate Foundation is dedicated to educating and empowering people to balance carbon on land and sea on a global basis. They have developed several sustainable approaches to balancing carbon in the environment. Once society adopts sustainable practices and substantially reduces carbon emissions in our lifetimes, the Climate Foundation believe it is still possible to reverse the man-made factors leading to climate disruption. The Sustainable Hydrogen/Ammonia Economy Date: Tuesday 7th May, 2019 Time: Starts at 17:30 Presenter: Dr. Patrick Hartley and Mr Tom Campey Venue: Engineers Australia, Level 31, 600 Bourke St Melbourne Cost: TBA This seminar will discuss the the engineering profession's role in influencing rapid tranisition to an economically sustainable domestic and export Hydrogen energy system. The presenters wil focus upon the National Hydrogen Roadmap and discuss the Hydrogen Strategy Group's brief (Hydrogen for Australia's Future) for the COAG Energy Council. Find out more and register here. The Future of Infrastructure Sustaonability on Queenmsland Date: Tuesday 11th June, 2019 Time: 5:00 for 5:30 - 7:00 pm Presenter: Panel Speakers Venue: Hawken Auditorium, Engineering House, 447 Upper Edward St, Spring Hill, BRISBANE Cost: TBA An increasing number of Queensland projects are pursuing infrastructure sustainability outcomes and ratings through the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA) Infrastructure Sustainability (IS) Rating, This session draws a selection of industry practitioners and leaders together, to share their experiences driving sustainable outcomes across infrastructure projects. Other Events EcoCentre Forum: Introduction to the Sustainable Development Goals 3rd April 2019 Griffith University EcoCentre N68 Nathan Campus This free event is a great introduction to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's) set by the United Nations in 2015. These goals have been agreed on by 193 countries and set the agenda for protecting the planet, ending poverty, and growing peace and prosperity. Principle speaker Ms Delwyn Langdon and speaker Ms Mary-lou Kelly will be discussing the SDG's from an international level as well as the challenges and opportunities in localising these goals. Held between 5.30 pm and 8.00 pm this event is well worth the time. Find out more about the event here. IAIA19 - EVOLUTION or Revolution: Where Next for Impact Assessment? 29 April - 2 May 2019 Brisbane Convention Centre Suite 3 Tonella Commercial Centre This event is hosted by the International Association for Impact Assessment and will address some of the challenges facing Impact Assessments in the 21st Century. These include attacks from project and policy proponents for impeding the development of projects, and also from environmental and community criticising impact assessments for failing to meaningfully influence project decision-making processes and protect environmental and social values. Both groups criticise impact assessments for being costly, overly procedural and political, and question the value it adds to development and environmental outcomes. Find out more about the event here. World Engineers Convention Australia 2019 20 - 22 November 2019 Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre 1 Convention Centre Place, South Wharf, VIC Co-hosted by Engineers Australia and the World Fderation of Engineering Organizations, this event comprises a waste summit conference, a wastewater summit and waste evolution seminars. The waste summit conference will include case study presentations, ministerial addresses, panel discussion and keynote presentation. The wastewater summit will confront the challenges and opportunities in wastewater treatment through technology, strategy and compliance. The waste evolution seminars showcase new technologies, products and processes touted to change waste management and resource recovery in the near future. Find out more and register here. Interesting Snippets For your interest, horror and amusement. SENG makes no claims regarding the accuracy or currency of these items, but always refer to authoritative sources. EDO Speaks Before Queensland Parliament On the 4th of March, the principle solicitor of the Environmental Defenders Office Qld Sean Ryan spoke before Queensland Parliament in support of the Mineral Resources (Galilee Basin) Amendment Bill 2018. Key aspects of the bill include the termination of existing coal mining leases for land in the Galilee Basin as well as prohibiting the granting of new coal mining leases for this area. Sean Ryan informed the parliament that while the Environmental Defenders Office Qld supports the bill they believe it does not go far enough, noting that in order to save 10% to 30% of the Great Barrier Reef global warming must be kept below 1.5 degrees. Read more here. Time for Honesty on Climate and Energy Policy With feedback loops such as the instability of arctic weather conditions beginning to take effect the need to transition away from coal has never been more critical. The social disruption and economic consequences of climate change are already resulting in extensive forced migration and economic collapse. Read the full article by former international oil, gas and coal executive Ian Dunlop here. Earth Hour 2019 Earth Hour will be held on the 30th of March 2019 with millions of people around the world switching of their lights in support of stronger climate change action. Sign up to switch off at 8.30pm on Saturday the 30th of March 2019 here. China's Import Waste Ban The impacts of China's ban from importing foreign recyclable waste is causing many challenges and opportunities for waste systems in Australia and around the sorld. Approximately 620,000 tonnes of Australian waste will need to be processed onshore in 2019. However it is expected that this decision will encourage stronger recycling systems to emerge within Australia. Read more here about the impacts of China's import waste ban. Awards and Open for Comment National Hydrogen Strategy Call for Submissions - The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Energy Council requests your input to inform the National Hydrogen Strategy. Your submissions will inform the thinking of the COAG Energy Council Working Group, headed by Australia's Chief Scientist, and will influence the direction of the strategy. To access the relevant documents and make a submission follow this link. Submissions open now and close on the 28th of March 2019. Review of Queensland's Environmental Offsets Framework Discussion Paper - The Department of Environment and Science have released the "Review of Queensland's Environmental Offsets Framework Discussion Paper" for comment. While the primary focus of the review is on the offsets and how they relate to the current environmental offsets framework the Queensland Government continues to examine the potential for a new water-quality offsets framework as recommended by the Great Barrier Reef Water Science Taskforce. Follow this link to read more and learn how to make a submission. Submissions are due by 5pm 15th of April 2019. Sign the Climate Emergency Declaration Act now and sign the Climate Emergency Declaration. The Climate Emergency Declaration will call on national, state, and local governments to declare a climate emergency. Read and sign the Climate Emergency Declaration here. Please sign this three-level of government petition even if you have already signed the earlier petition with actions data to the federal parliament. Moment for Action Sign the petition David's Blog Keep up to date by reading David's Blog on the SENG website. Log in to post your comments or ask questions. Join the conversation on our LinkedIn group page If you have an idea to share, an issue you would like feedback on, or just want to follow the conversation, click here to join the group. If you can't view this email click here to view online Click here to unsubscribe from this newsletter

Single-Column Responsive Email Template SENG QLD Newsletter - February 2019 Welcome to Newsletter Number 76 Dear SENG Qld members and friends, Happy New Year! We wish you all the best for 2019. There is a lot of work to be done regarding sustainable engineering due to the increasingly urgent need to protect the natural environment, by optimising and adapting current engineering practice. Let's think, roll our sleeves up and collaborate, to see what positive impacts we can have upon the monumental problems we are collectively facing. If you are interested in becoming a member of the committee, or just want to get more involved, come along to the free 2019 SENG season launch social event on February 20th and connect with other like-minded professionals. Find more details below. If you are a member of the committee, we hope to see you at the next meeting on the 12th February. This month's newsletter includes: Upcoming SENG Events Other Events Interesting Snippets Open for comment David's Blog As always, we welcome input from members regarding topics or speakers of interest. Please contact one of the Qld committee members or consider coming along to a committee meeting, held at Engineering House prior to each of our technical seminars. We hope to see you there! Kind regards, Sustainable Engineering Society Qld Branch Engineers Australia. Upcoming SENG Events SENG 2019 Launch Date: Wednesday 20th February, 2019 Time: 6:00 - 7:30pm Presenter: SENG QLD committee Venue: Green Beacon, 26 Helen St, TENERIFFE Cost: Free This social event will include drinks and networking where we will discuss the future direction of SENG and plan new actions. There will be a presentation by a current member and we will also be inviting people to join the committee. Purchase your own drinks, nibbles will be provided. Sustainable Infrastructure Supporting Resilience Date: Wednesday 13th March Time: 6:00 - 7:30pm Presenter: Panel Discussion Venue: Engineering House, 447 Edward St, SPRING HILL Cost: Free This technical event will include a panel discussion addressing recent innovations and best practice tips for engineering sustainable infrastructure to encourage more resilient systems. Other Events IAIA19 - EVOLUTION or Revolution: Where Next for Impact Assessment? 29 April - 2 May 2019 Brisbane Convention Centre Suite 3 Tonella Commercial Centre This event is hosted by the International Association for Impact Assessment and will address some of the challenges facing Impact Assessments in the 21st Century. These include attacks from project and policy proponents for impeding the development of projects, and also from environmental and community criticising impact assessments for failing to meaningfully influence project decision-making processes and protect environmental and social values. Both groups criticise impact assessments for being costly, overly procedural and political, and question the value it adds to development and environmental outcomes. Find out more about the event here. World Engineers Convention Australia 2019 20 - 22 November 2019 Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre 1 Convention Centre Place, South Wharf, VIC Co-hosted by Engineers Australia and the World Fderation of Engineering Organizations, this event comprises a waste summit conference, a wastewater summit and waste evolution seminars. The waste summit conference will include case study presentations, ministerial addresses, panel discussion and keynote presentation. The wastewater summit will confront the challenges and opportunities in wastewater treatment through technology, strategy and compliance. The waste evolution seminars showcase new technologies, products and processes touted to change waste management and resource recovery in the near future. Find out more and register here. . Interesting Snippets For your interest, horror and amusement. SENG makes no claims regarding the accuracy or currency of these items, but always refer to authoritative sources. The Story of Stuff Project Neighborhoods in Manila, Phillipines, suffering from the impacts of plastic pollution are implementing zero waste programs that collect waste for recycling and organics for compost production. They are also collecitvely seeking to hold the corporations manufacturing the waste products accountable for the adverse impacts of their product. Click here to watch a short introductory video. New Facility to Massively Reduce Domestic Waste Landfill Bioelektra have signed a long-term deal with Shoalhaven City Council, NSW to build and manage a waste processing facility capable of reducing domestic household waste, normally destined for landfill, by up to 90%. The technology treats waste thrown in the red bin and salvages mixed recyclables and extracts heavily reduced quantities os waste for landfill. Find out more here. Structural Bricks from Biosolids Waste Researchers at RMIT have developed bricks made with biosolids, offering a sustainable alternative approach for addressing the environmental impacts of biosolids management and brick manufacturing. Find out more about this exciting new research here. Return and Earn Scheme breaks Recycling Records The Return and Earn Scheme, which uses automated technology to collect recyclable containers in exchange for a refund, has broken records over the Christmas period in NSW. Read more about this great initiative and its success here. Australia's Record-Breaking Solar Investment 2018 Australia has undergone a massive shift toward investment in Solar PV technology in 2018, with many records being soundly beaten, repeatedly. Read more here about this exciting divestment toward a more sustainable source of energy. Awards and Open for Comment Petition to enact legislation to ban new investments in coal - Sign the petition here for the Queensland Government to enact legislation banning all new investment in coal, oil and gas projects within Queensland, that contribute to global warming. Moment for Action Sign the petition David's Blog Keep up to date by reading David's Blog on the SENG website. Log in to post your comments or ask questions. Join the conversation on our LinkedIn group page If you have an idea to share, an issue you would like feedback on, or just want to follow the conversation, click here to join the group. If you can't view this email click here to view online Click here to unsubscribe from this newsletter

Single-Column Responsive Email Template SENG QLD Newsletter - December 2018 Welcome to Newsletter Number 75 Dear SENG Qld members and friends, Summer is upon us and the festive season is here. We wish you all a safe and happy holiday and look forward to coming together again in 2019. As professional engineers and members of communities and society - who plan, design, construct and manage public and private infrastructure - we are very well-placed to influence society to reduce its environmental impacts by applying scientific understanding and innovation. Particularly if we collaborate. The Sustainable Engineering Society Qld Branch would like to thank all of its members and supporters for working together to maintain SENG's mission and help achieve its honourable objectives. If you would like to join the committee, or just get more involved, come along to the 2019 SENG season launch in February and connect with other like-minded professionals. Or else get in touch with us via the details below. This month's newsletter includes: 2018 Qld Environmental Student Award Night Upcoming SENG Events Other Events Sustainable Christmas Ideas Interesting Snippets Open for comment David's Blog As always, we welcome input from members regarding topics or speakers of interest. Please contact one of the Qld committee members or consider coming along to a committee meeting, held at Engineering House prior to each of our technical seminars. We hope to see you there! ensla Kind regards, Sustainable Engineering Society Qld Branch Engineers Australia. 18 Qld Environmental Student Award Night The 19th Annual SENG Student Award evening was held at the Griffith University EcoCentre in mid-October of this year. The event was won by Mr Jordan Maultby of the Central Queensland University for his final student Undergraduate Report detailing an understanding and appreciation of the hydrogeomorphic processes within the Moores Creek Catchment of Rockhampton, Queensland. Moores Creek is a dynamic system with a stream length of about 17km which collects runoff from its 30.6km2 catchment. Much of the catchment fall within Mt Archer National Park with the lower segment of the creek meandering through the Rockhampton suburbs of Norman Gardens, Frenchville, Park Avenue and Berserker before eventually discharging into the Fitzroy River. The Rockhampton region has been heavily impacted by notable flood events with more recent events resulting from Ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald in 2013, Tropical Cyclone Marcia in 2015 and Ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie in 2017. Such defined rainfall events advanced the interdisciplinary science of Hydrogeomorphology through the study of various hydrologic and geomorphic processes to better understand the surrounding watercourses and their catchments. This enables better comprehension of the anthropogenic impacts within such catchments and how these impacts may be mitigated. With assistance from the Central Queensland University and utilising existing LiDAR aerial imagery, Mr Maultby was able to estimate the key grain size for various soil profiles utilising photosieving as well as calibrate the existing Moores Creek TUFLOW flood model to the TC Marcia flood event to an average difference of +60mm and -20mm during the Ex-TC Debbie flood event. The resulting detailed model enabled the quantification of the change in volume over time (Sediment Flux) of the sediment profile of the channel (both erosion and deposition). As a result, the Study found that Moores Creek lost over 80,000m3 of soil sediment across the Ex-TC Oswald and TC Marcia rainfall events. More than 60% of this soil loss occurred within the urbanised section of the catchment, which eroded approximately 4.5 times faster than the upstream segment (within the Mt Archer National Park). The largest change correlated with areas of high weed infestation and stream velocity. Further, flow competence analysis was used to predict when stream bed material will begin to erode. Various methods such as stream velocity, stream power etc are utilised for this analysis. This Report looked at 8 of the leading models in this field and identified that a particular bed shear stress model provided just over an 80% correlation with field observations whilst other models only achieved precisions of 65% or lower. Flow competence thresholds were then tested at 26 locations throughout the creek, revealing that in the vast majority of instances, event magnitudes with as low a frequency as 1 in 10 years was able to mobilise the entire bedload fraction. The total energy of a stream along with the average stream power serve as a tool for evaluating a rainfall event’s geomorphic effectiveness in changing the form of the waterway channel. Specific stream power trends calculated using the modified TUFLOW model were integrated over time above the widely- adopted alluvial erosion threshold of 300W/m2. Assessment of the Ex-TC Oswald and TC Marcia flood events revealed that the longer Ex-TC Oswald event had 20MJ more energy available to effect geomorphic change despite TC Marcia having the higher recorded flood heights and a higher average stream power. As such, EX-TC Oswald was more likely responsible for the majority of sediment flux in Moores Creek between 2009 and 2016. The Report demonstrated the practical application of existing, inexpensive data capture techniques to existing hydrological models to enable a better understanding of anthropogenic impacts upon Moores Creek within a tropical environment. The Report enables the quantification of sediment and vegetation loss and the future risk caused to the community and its infrastructure. The practical applications identified in the report are recommended for all areas where anthropogenic impacts may lead to degradation of receiving natural environments. The presentation of this report by Mr Maultby was of high standard and well received by the audience. SENG looks forward to encouraging fantastic new research during the 20th Annual Environmental Student Award Night to be held in 2019. Upcoming SENG Events SENG 2019 Launch Date: Tuesday 19th February Time: 6:00 - 7:30pm Presenter: SENG QLD committee Venue: Green Beacon, 26 Helen St, TENERIFFE Cost: Free This social event will include drinks and networking where we will discuss the future direction of SENG. There will be a presentation by a current member and we will also be inviting people to join the committee. Purchase your own drinks, nibbles will be provided. Sustainable Infrastructure Supporting Resilience Date: Wednesday 13th March Time: 6:00 - 7:30pm Presenter: Panel Discussion Venue: Engineering House, 447 Edward St, BRISBANE Cost: Free This technical event will include a panel discussion addressing recent innovations and best practice tips for engineering sustainable infrastructure to encourage more resilient systems. More details soon. Other Events World Engineers Convention Australia 2019 20 - 22 November 2019 Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre 1 Convention Centre PlaceSouth Wharf, VIC 3006 Co-hosted by Engineers Australia and the World Fderation of Engineering Organizations, this event comprises a waste summit conference, a wastewater summit and waste evolution seminars. The waste summit conference will include case study presentations, ministerial addresses, panel discussion and keynote presentation. The wastewater summit will confront the challenges and opportunities in wastewater treatment through technology, strategy and compliance. The waste evolution seminars showcase new technologies, products and processes touted to change waste management and resource recovery in the near future. Find out more and register here. IAIA19 - EVOLUTION or Revolution: Where Next for Impact Assessment? 29 April - 2 May 2019 Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre Suite 3 Tonella Commercial Centre This event is hosted by the International Association for Impact Assessment and will address some of the challenges facing Impact Assessments in the 21st Century. These include attacks from project and policy proponents for impeding the development of projects, and also from environmental and community criticising impact assessments for failing to meaningfully influence project decision-making processes and protect environmental and social values. Both groups criticise impact assessments for being costly, overly procedural and political, and question the value it adds to development and environmental outcomes. Find out more about the event here. . Sustainable Christmas Ideas Not done your Christmas shopping yet!? That's good! Before you hit the shops please consider - do your loved ones really need more stuff!? Get things in perspective by watching the Story of Stuff (youtube)video or reading more on the Story of Stuff website. If you're a long term member of SENG, you probably remember these "Green" christmas hints from last year and the year before. We like them - so here they are for you again. 1. Buy practical gifts that will last or give an "activity" gift rather than a "thing" Gifts that are useful, serve a purpose, and will last a long time are ideal. An activity based gift, like a day out at a theme park, or a night out at a concert, are also usually well received. 2. Save trees by viewing catalogues on-line instead Put up a "no junk mail" sticker on your letter box and instead check the catalogues on-line. 3. Recycle everything you can Wrapping paper, Christmas cards, jars, plastic drink bottles, cans and glass bottles… remember to put everything that can be recycled into your recycling bin or in the 'Planet Ark' bins (for cards) at supermarkets. Put all your salad and veggie scraps into a compost bin or worm farm and get free fertilizer! - Op shop dining table ideas to reduce consumption. - Christmas Presents with a conscience - Do it yourself christmas decorations 4. Crank the fan instead of the air conditioner When it's hot use a fan instead of an air conditioner to save power and CO2 emissions. A pedestal or ceiling fan might use 90 watts on high, whereas a wall mounted reverse cycle air conditioner may use 2,000 watts and a big ducted system may use 5,000 watts! 5. Buy locally produced fresh food Locally produced fresh food usually has lower carbon miles and is often better for you. 6. Eat fish, native meats, and veggies instead of beef and lamb The production of beef and lamb results in large amounts of greenhouse gas. Choose veggies, native meats, chicken or seafood instead. 7. Choose sustainably caught or farmed fish Ocean fish stocks of many species are under significant threat. Choose species such as: • Whiting • Australian Sardine • Mussels • Calamari, and • Blue Swimmer Crab Do not choose: • Orange roughy (deep sea perch) • Swordfish • Gemfish/Hake • Bigeye Tuna, or • Shark/Flake For a complete list of species have a look at the Australian Marine Conservation Society Australia’s Sustainable Seafood Guide 8. Now is the time to use the beer fridge If needed, plug in the second fridge over the Christmas period, then once all the family have left, all the beer is gone, and you really don't need a second fridge, unplug it and save yourself $50 to $140 a year in electricity costs. 9. Drinking alcohol? Choose a Green Beer or Green Wine! The two big brewers in Australia both produce a carbon neutral beer; Lion Nathan produce Bare Cove Radler (beer with a twist of lemon) while Fosters are responsible for Cascade Green (premium beer with low carbohydrates). For exampleTaylor's Eighty Acres wine is 100% carbon neutral. 10. Use the microwave or BBQ instead of the oven Ovens use a large amount of electricity and they pump out waste heat (making your house even hotter and more difficult to keep cool). Cook using the microwave or barbie where possible. 11. Buy gifts on-line The lack of a retail outlet means on-line shopping results in lower CO2 emissions. Legally downloaded music and film is even better as there is also no packaging. 12. Don't buy foil wrapping paper It may look nice, but it isn't recyclable. Stick with the paper. 13. Plant a native or fruit tree If you have room in your yard, why not plant another tree? A native tree will suck up CO2, provide habitat for native wildlife, and provide you with shade. Bigger trees like eucalypts are better but if you don't have the room go for a smaller native like a grevillea, wattle, bottlebrush or lily pilly. Or plant a fruit tree, that'll provide some of the same benefits but also give you free food. 14. Buy green energy to power the Christmas lights If you have lots of Christmas lights, consider purchasing Green Power to power all the lights. Some energy retailers can supply a proportion of green power for no additional cost (it may even be cheaper than your current deal). Compare your current electricity retail deal with others here: https://www.energymadeeasy.gov.au/ 15. Switch off the Christmas lights overnight Save money on the power bill and minimise CO2 emissions by turning off the Christmas lights before you go to bed. Going away for Christmas? Don't forget to ... 1. Kill the standby power Remember to turn all non essential appliances off at the power point before you go. Things like computers, TV's, DVD players, microwaves, stereos, washing machines, and plug-in clocks. 2. Don't heat water while you're away If going away for a fortnight or more, turn off your electric hot water system. For everyday its on yet no water is getting used it'll still use an extra 20 cents worth of electricity and 1.4 kg's of CO2. Flick the hot water switch in your power box to turn it off. 3. Offset your air travel If you forgot to offset your air travel for these holidays it's probably too late to now, but for next time, remember to buy a carbon offset with your plane ticket. It'll render your flights carbon neutral and will probably only cost $5 extra. 4. Drive safely and efficiently Drive to anticipate conditions. Brake and accelerate the least amount possible. An aggressive driver uses up to 30% more fuel than a moderate driver! Check that your tyres are inflated to the correct and equal pressure, and remove any needless items to reduce weight and drag. These will all save fuel. 5. Ask a neighbour to water your veggie patch Don't have a veggie patch? Plant one! They're rewarding, get you out exercising in the back yard, the food produced is "low carbon", the food is very healthy, and if you get it working well the food is very cheap. Sustainable Christmas Ideas https://shop.wateraidaustralia.org/Default.aspx https://caregifts.org.au/about/ http://www.worldvision.com.au/Smiles/GiftCatalogue/Default.aspx http://usefulgifts.org http://www.redcross.org.au/default.aspx http://www.oxfamunwrapped.com.au/ http://www.hollows.org.au/ http://www.karmacurrency.com.au http://www.charitygifts.com.au Are you looking to make a Christmas donation or two? Find a cause that you believe in. www.acfonline.org.au/bethesolution/index.html www.amnesty.org.au www.angelwish.org www.anglicare.org.au www.actionaid.org.au www.brisbanebasketbrigade.org www.canteen.org.au www.childfund.org.au www.climatecouncil.org.au www.cysticfibrosis.org.au www.greenpeace.org/australia/en/ www.hollows.org.au www.leukaemia.org.au www.makeawish.org.au www.msf.org.au/donate.html www.plan.org.au/ www.redcross.org.au www.rspca.org.au www.savethechildren.org.au www.simplygiving.com.au www.starlight.org.au www.tear.org.au www.thesmithfamily.com.au www.unicef.org.au www.wesleymission.org.au www.WorldVision.com.au www.wspa.org.au http://www.wwf.org.au/ www.youngcare.com.au Of course there are many many more worthy charities. Please accept our apologies if your preferred charity has not been included on the list. (Send it to us for next time!) Interesting Snippets For your interest, horror and amusement. SENG makes no claims regarding the accuracy or currency of these items, but always refer to authoritative sources. The Christmas Day Recycling Guide Live For Less Brisbane empower the Brisbane community with tools & knowledge to make affordable, valuable choices that reduce environmental impact. Click here to find some great tips and easy steps for living lightly this Christmas, and afterwards. Federal Approval for Snowy Hydro 2.0 The Snowy 2.0 scheme, which plans to create 2000MW of “on-demand” generation and 350,000MWh of storage, has been approved by the Australian Government and is pending only Shareholder Approval. Read more about the proposed project here. The World's Most Efficient Solar Powered Car A multi-disciplinary team of University of NSW students have made the Guiness World Records by from Perth to Sydney on just 3.25 kWh/100 km, around 17 times less than the average Australian car. Find out mopre details here. QLD Container Refund Scheme Has Begun From November 1st 2018, participating container refund points in Queensland will pay 10 cents per eligible 150 mL to 3 L container. Find more details about the scheme here. Awards and Open for Comment Petition to enact legistlation to ban new investments in coal - Sign the petition here for the Queensland Government to enact legislation banning all new investment in coal, oil, and gas projects within Queensland, that contribute to global warming. Moment for Action Sign the petition David's Blog Keep up to date by reading David's Blog on the SENG website. Log in using your to post comments or questions. Join the conversation on our LinkedIn group page If you have an idea to share, an issue you would like feedback on, or just want to follow the conversation, click here to join the group. If you can't view this email click here to view online Click here to unsubscribe from this newsletter

Single-Column Responsive Email Template SENG QLD Newsletter - October 2018 Welcome to Newsletter Number 74 Dear SENG Qld members and friends, Spring has sprung for 2018 and we hope the coming warmer seasons will bring blossoms that flower to bear nourishing fruit for us all. Let's continue to do all that we can to ensure the climate and environmental health remain stable so we can all continue enjoying such vital natural cycles indefinitely. The 19th Annual Queensland Environmental Student Awards night is to be held on the 17th October at EcoHouse Griffith University, the event's formal co-sponsor. The evening is an opportunity for Qld engineering and science undergraduate students to showcase their thesis projects among industry professionals and leaders. Besides keeping abreast of exciting new research and maintaining connections among industry and academia, supporting this event with your attendance and/or sponsorship strengthens the connections between those of us committed to applying science in a manner that ensures society's developments are engineered in harmony with ecology. Please read more about how you can support this fantastic event below. This month's newsletter includes: 2018 Qld Environmental Student Award Night Other Events Interesting Snippets Open for comment David's Blog As always, we welcome input from members regarding topics or speakers of interest. Please contact one of the Qld committee members or consider coming along to a committee meeting, held at Engineering House prior to each of our technical seminars. We hope to see you there! Kind regards, Sustainable Engineering Society Qld Branch Engineers Australia. 2018 Qld Environmental Student Award Night Date: Wednesday, 17 October July 2018 Time: 5:30pm to 8:30 pm Venue: Griffith University EcoHouse - 170 Kessels Road, Building N68, NATHAN QLD 4111 Cost: Free Hosts: Griffith University EcoHouse Register: For further information about attending and/or sponsoring the event, please contact Mr Wayne Hickey at Jabiru01@bigpond.com. The purpose for the evening is to recognise theses and project works undertaken by engineering and science undergraduate students from Queensland universities in fields including resource management, environment, sustainability, liquid and solid waste management. It also allows a demonstration of the directions in current environmental research and displays the diversity and quality of content in thesis studies from all over Queensland. Final year engineering and science students from the following universities are being invited submit their research or project work: Griffith University University of Queensland Queensland University of Technology University of Southern Queensland James Cook University Central Queensland University Sunshine Coast University Benefits of attendance include the opportunity to meet engineering undergraduates with an active interest in environmental and sustainable outcomes, who will soon be entering the workforce. You will have the opportunity to promote your organisation and possibly gain a quality new staff member or work experience student. You will also be able to network with industry colleagues, gain CPD time and hear about current environmental engineering research underway in Queensland universities. This event requires strong support to maintain it and opportunities are currently available for Gold, Silver and Bronze sponsorship packages. If you wish to actively support this great initiative and be formally recognised for doing so, please contact Mr Wayne Hickey on the contact details listed above for information regarding current sponsorship packages on offer. It is our pleasure to invite your cooperation in supporting the next generation of Environmental Professionals in Queensland. We hope to see you there! Other Events Waste EXPO Australia 3 - 4 October 2018 Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre This free-to-attend event comprises a waste summit conference, a wastewater summit and waste evolution seminars. The waste summit conference will include case study presentations, ministerial addresses, panel discussion and keynote presentation. The wastewater summit will confront the challenges and opportunities in wastewater treatment through technology, strategy and compliance. The waste evolution seminars showcase new technologies, products and processes touted to change waste management and resource recovery in the near future. Find out more and register here. ELECTRIC CARS: The VoltAge 4 October 2018 Griffith Universtiy EcoCentre This free-to-attend is part of the Community Forum series held at the Griffith University EcoCentre and addresses the emergence of electric vehicle on Australian roads. Common questions are answered, such as regarding the range of options, the benefits of each and what role do they play in reducing our transport emissions. Email your RSVP to the ecocentre@griffith.edu.au or visit their website here for more information about EcoCentre events. IAIA19 - EVOLUTION or Revolution: Where Next for Impact Assessment? 29 April - 2 May 2019 Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre Suite 3 Tonella Commercial Centre This event is hosted by the International Association for Impact Assessment and will address some of the challenges facing Impact Assessments in the 21st Century. These include attacks from project and policy proponents for impeding the development of projects, and also from environmental and community criticising impact assessments for failing to meaningfully influence project decision-making processes and protect environmental and social values. Both groups criticise impact assessments for being costly, overly procedural and political, and question the value it adds to development and environmental outcomes. Find out more about the event here. . Interesting Snippets For your interest, horror and amusement. SENG makes no claims regarding the accuracy or currency of these items, but always refer to authoritative sources. Senate Report of Climate Change Impacts The Environment and Communications References Committee has released a report outlining the findings of their inquiry into climate change impacts on housing, buildings and infrastructure, accounting for the full range of climate scenarios. Download the report from the Analysis and Policy Observatory website here. New Tech en route to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch A device has been built to address the massive pile of plastic waste, almost the size of Queensland, in the Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and the USA. A 600 m floating boom, created by The Ocean Cleanup, is currently being towed to the site from San Franscisco. Read more here. The War on Waste Click here to access the ABC’s War on Waste podcasts, sign up to the email newsletter (for great waste-saving tips), and do what’s Good for your ‘Hood by downloading the Action Toolkit to fight the war on waste in your ‘hood. Thanks Auntie! Sawmill Waste to Biofuel A feasibility study is currently underway to evaluate the world's first biorefinery facility proposed to be built near Port Macqurie, NSW. Australian building materials company Boral is evaluating the potential for converting sawmill residues into renewable diesel and bitumen. Find out more about this emerging, innovative technology from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency website here. International Zero Waste Movement Grows Sydney has joined 24 other cities in taking a step closer step towards zero waste. The latest declaration to cut waste sent to landfill and incineration by 50 per cent, which will avoid disposal of at least 87 million tonnes of waste by 2030. Reads more here. QLD Container Refund Scheme Starting Soon From November 1st 2018, participating container refund points in Queensland will pay 10 cents per eligible 150 mL to 3 L container. Find more details about the scheme here. Awards and Open for Comment Annual Qld Environmental Engineering Student Awards Night - October 2018 SENG and WMAA have been hosting the annual Environmental Student Award in Queensland since 1999. The event allows Environmental Engineering and Science undergraduate students from Queensland universities to showcase their thesis work to an audience of industry professionals and fellow students. This night also allows a demonstration of the directions in current environmental research and to show the diversity and quality of content in thesis studies from all over Queensland. Find out more about this fantastic honorary event here. Petition to enact legistlation to ban new investments in coal - Sign the petition here for the Queensland Government to enact legislation banning all new investment in coal, oil, and gas projects within Queensland, that contribute to global warming. Moment for Action Sign the petition David's Blog Keep up to date by reading David's Blog on the SENG website. Log in using your to post comments or questions. Join the conversation on our LinkedIn group page If you have an idea to share, an issue you would like feedback on, or just want to follow the conversation, click here to join the group. If you can't view this email click here to view online Click here to unsubscribe from this newsletter

Single-Column Responsive Email Template SENG QLD Newsletter - August 2018 Welcome to Newsletter Number 73 Dear SENG Qld members and friends, The fantastic War on Waste event was recently held in Hawken Auditorium. Four outstanding presenters delivered authoritative insights regarding the waste cycle and exciting new developments for managing it. The Sustainable Engineering Society Qld Branch wish to thank our presenters and attendees for creating an inspiring, informative and enjoyable evening. It is exciting to gather, apply our skills and systematically tackle urgent issues such as waste. It is the only way big challenges have been successfully met in the past. This month's newsletter includes: War on Waste - closing the cycle Other Events Interesting Snippets Open for comment David's Blog As always, we welcome input from members regarding topics or speakers of interest. Please contact one of the Qld committee members, or consider coming along to a committee meeting, held at Engineering House prior to each of our technical seminars. We hope to see you there! Sustainable Engineering Society Qld Branch Engineers Australia. WAR ON WASTE - Closing the Cycle, A Zero Waste Economy This fantastic event was held in Hawken Auditorium, early evening Tuesday July 3. Four outstanding presenters each delivered insightful aspects of the waste cycle and exciting new options for managing it. - Richard Denniss, chief economist at the Australia Institute, delivered an entertaining discussion on how to reduce waste by distinguishing between consumerism, the love of buying things and materialism, the love of things, and the benefits from making the distinction. - Kali Martin discussed the waste streams currently processed by NuGrow and how they are recycled into beneficial products such as compost and soil conditioners. Case studies will be presented demonstrating NuGrow’s innovative approach to closing the loop between waste and resources to achieve their vision of healthier environments supporting healthier communities. - Georgina Davis (Doctor of Engineering, Chartered Waste Manager and Chartered Environmentalist) discussed the facts behind the new waste levy in Queensland and what a new waste strategy should contain and look like. He also discussed the current state of the recycling industry after China’s ban on receiving recyclable waste, and what is needed to secure a sustainable future recycling industry. - Dr Gareth Forde , principal engineer at All Energy Pty Ltd, presented about generating energy from waste organics and how anaerobic digestion compares to other waste to energy (W2E) options. The implications of the proposed landfill levy were also considered. :: A recording of these presentations is available here !! :: The presenter's slides have been made available here !! Once again, the SENG Qld Branch wish to thank the presenters for their generous and inspiring contribution to sustainable engineering practice. Other Events Industrial Environmental Compliance Workshop 16 August 2018, 6pm - 7pm CQU Gladstone, Marina Lecture Theatre The workshop will discuss the function, structure, legislation and administration of Qld Government’s Department of Environment and Science. This includes departmental initiatives, current CQ compliance trends and systems for accessing regulatory and enforcement guidelines. Register here. Carbon Fibre from Coal 15 August 2018, 5:30pm - 7pm Engineers Australia Newcastle Suite 3 Tonella Commercial Centre Dr Stanger from University of Newcastle discusses research of key technology aspects for making carbon fibres from coal as a much cheaper alternative. Find out more and register here. . Interesting Snippets For your interest, horror and amusement. SENG makes no claims regarding the accuracy or currency of these items, but always refer to authoritative sources. Qld Paying Refunds for Containers From November 1st 2018, participating container refund points will pay 10 cents per eligible 150 mL to 3 L container. Find more details about the scheme here. The War on Waste Click here to access the ABC’s War on Waste podcasts, sign up to the email newsletter (for great waste-saving tips), and do what’s Good for your ‘Hood by downloading the Action Toolkit to fight the war on waste in your ‘hood. Thanks Auntie! Engineers Australia Report on the National Energy Plan Read here about the Finkel Report’s major shortcomings, as identified by the Chair of Engineers Australia’s Electrical College. Read about the Engineers Australia's recently released submission for the Australian Government's final draft of the NEG Detailed Design Consultancy Paper here. Linc Energy directors face criminal charges Five directors of the now-liquidated Linc Energy have been criminally charged and face up to 5 years jail for actions that may be summarised as ecological vandalism undertaken for commercial reasons. Read more about the prosecution’s outcomes regarding Linc’s failure to acknowledge the damage and attempts to hide it from the regulator, here. Weak Australian climate policy losing billions in health benefits Professor Capon of the University of Sydney explains how the implementation of less-polluting modes of transport and energy sources would significantly reduce the associated health costs, benefitting Australia's budget bottom line. Find out more here. Green economy reaches 6% of global listed equity market The chief executive of FTSE Russell has declared the green economy now holds a share of the global equity market that is equivalent to the oil and gas economy, as they increase and decrease, respectively. Find more authoritative details regarding the world’s transition to sustainable industries here. California is Exceeding its Emissions Targets Greenhouse gas pollution levels have been reduced to 1990 levels ahead of its 2020 deadline and its Carbon Intensity is down 38% from 2001 levels. Read more details here. Scotland Breaking Renewables Records According to WWF Scotland, energy harvested from wind turbines over 6 months in 2017 produced enough electricity to fulfil the entire nation’s power demands for six days. Find more encouraging statistics about Scotland’s successful transition process here. Two huge solar farms for NSW German renewable energy giant Innogy will soon begin construction of two solar farms in NSW expected to contribute 460MW to the power grid. Find out more here. Awards and Open for Comment Annual Qld Environmental Engineering Student Awards Night - October 2018 SENG and WMAA have been hosting the annual Environmental Student Award in Queensland since 1999. The event allows Environmental Engineering and Science undergraduate students from Queensland universities to showcase their thesis work to an audience of industry professionals and fellow students. This night also allows a demonstration of the directions in current environmental research and to show the diversity and quality of content in thesis studies from all over Queensland. Find out more about this fantastic honorary event here. Petition to enact legistlation to ban new investments in coal - Sign the petition here for the Queensland Government to enact legislation banning all new investment in coal, oil, and gas projects within Queensland, that contribute to global warming. Moment for Action Sign the petition David's Blog Keep up to date by reading David's Blog on the SENG website. Log in using your to post comments or questions. Join the conversation on our LinkedIn group page If you have an idea to share, an issue you would like feedback on, or just want to follow the conversation, click here to join the group. If you can't view this email click here to view online Click here to unsubscribe from this newsletter

Single-Column Responsive Email Template Event Reminder - War on Waste - Closing the cycle Australians currently produce about 50 million tonnes of waste per year, averaging over 2 tonnes per person and it is continually increasing. This session will look at the waste cycle, the current state of the industry and how we can all help reduce the volume of waste produced. It will also provide insight into the new waste levy in QLD and the impact China's ban on receiving recyclables is likely to have. Waste Reduction – Richard Denniss Richard will deliver an entertaining discussion on how we can reduce waste by distinguishing between consumerism, the love of buying things, which is undeniably harmful to us and the planet, and materialism, the love of things, which can in fact be beneficial. Reuse – Kali Martin Kali will discuss the waste streams that are currently being processed by NuGrow and how they are recycled into beneficial products such as compost and soil conditioners. Case studies will be presented demonstrating NuGrow’s innovative approach to closing the loop between waste and resources to achieve their vision of healthier environments supporting healthier communities. Recycling – Rick Ralph Rick will discuss the facts behind the new waste levy in Queensland and what a new waste strategy should contain and look like. He will also discuss the current state of the recycling industry after China’s ban on receiving recyclable waste and what is needed to secure a sustainable future recycling industry. Is it as bad as it sounds? Anaerobic digestion (AD) for energy recovery from organics – Dr. Gareth Forde and Max Barnes Gareth will talk about how we can generate energy from waste organics and how AD compares to other waste to energy (W2E) options. Implications of the proposed landfill levy will be considered. See the event website for more information. Moment for Action Sign the petition David's Blog Keep up to date by reading David's Blog on the SENG website. Log in using your to post comments or questions. Join the conversation on our LinkedIn group page If you have an idea to share, an issue you would like feedback on, or just want to follow the conversation, click here to join the group. If you can't view this email click here to view online Click here to unsubscribe from this newsletter

Single-Column Responsive Email Template SENG QLD Newsletter - June 2018 Welcome to Newsletter Number 72 Dear SENG Qld members and friends, Our next event will be about the state of waste in QLD, including looking at the new waste levy and the current state of the recycling industry after China’s ban on receiving recyclable waste. Australians currently produce about 50 million tonnes of waste per year, averaging over 2 tonnes per person and it is continually increasing. The session will also look at how we can reduce waste by changing our thinking. This month’s newsletter includes: War on Waste - closing the cycle Other Events Interesting Snippets Open for comment David's Blog As always, we welcome input from members regarding topics or speakers of interest. Please contact one of the Qld committee members, or consider coming along to a committee meeting, held at Engineering House prior to each of our technical seminars. We hope to see you there! Sustainable Engineering Society Qld Branch Engineers Australia. WAR ON WASTE - Closing the Cycle, A Zero Waste Economy Australians currently produce about 50 million tonnes of waste per year, averaging over 2 tonnes per person and it is continually increasing. This session will look at the waste cycle, the current state of the industry and how we can all help reduce the volume of waste produced. It will also provide insight into the new waste levy in QLD and the impact China's ban on receiving recyclables is likely to have. Waste Reduction – Richard Denniss Richard will deliver an entertaining discussion on how we can reduce waste by distinguishing between consumerism, the love of buying things, which is undeniably harmful to us and the planet, and materialism, the love of things, which can in fact be beneficial. Reuse – Kali Martin Kali will discuss the waste streams that are currently being processed by NuGrow and how they are recycled into beneficial products such as compost and soil conditioners. Case studies will be presented demonstrating NuGrow’s innovative approach to closing the loop between waste and resources to achieve their vision of healthier environments supporting healthier communities. Recycling – Rick Ralph Rick will discuss the facts behind the new waste levy in Queensland and what a new waste strategy should contain and look like. He will also discuss the current state of the recycling industry after China’s ban on receiving recyclable waste and what is needed to secure a sustainable future recycling industry. Is it as bad as it sounds? Anaerobic digestion (AD) for energy recovery from organics – Dr. Gareth Forde and Max Barnes Gareth will talk about how we can generate energy from waste organics and how AD compares to other waste to energy (W2E) options. Implications of the proposed landfill levy will be considered. See the event website for more information. Other Events EcoCentre Forum: Solar Power to the People, 24 June 2018, 10 am - 1pm, Griffith University EcoCentre, Building N68, 170 Kessels Rd, Nathan Free - RSVP essential (bring your most recent power bill) The event will be featuring great speakers who have years of experience installing solar in residential, commercial and educational settings, hear from Dalia Mikhail who started the amazing Solar Schools movement and Phil Livingstone the Managing Director and Founder of Redback Technologies who will be showcasing Redbacks's innovative power management solution and answering questions about their exciting plans for the Australian energy sector. RSVP here. Interesting Snippets For your interest, horror and amusement. SENG makes no claims regarding the accuracy or currency of these items, but always refer to authoritative sources. Linc Energy fined record $4.5million Linc Energy has been issued with a record fine of $4.5 million for causing serious environmental harm as a result of its underground coal gassification project near Chinchilla. Read more here. MDBA amps up strategy to protect environmental water The Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) is trialling remote sensing data to track environmental flow through the Barwon-Darling Rivers in a bid to monitor and protect environmental water in the region. Read more here. Turning rubbish into roads to cut down on plastic waste Plastic waste is a growing problem, but some are taking action to repurpose single-use bottles and bags into something more useful. Read more here. Australia's top 10 solar postcodes FROM the ground it may be difficult to notice how quickly solar is being embraced by homeowners across Australia, but from the air it’s a very different story. Aerial photos have emerged showing the enthusiastic uptake of solar in many parts of the country. Read more here. Narangba company fined $130,000 for mishandling oily waste Hahn Group Pty Ltd (Hahn), was fined $130,000 and ordered to pay costs of $32,123 for multiple offences, including regular unlawful releases of contaminated water. Read more here. T4 scrapped: Controversial multi-billion dollar coal loader in Newcastle won't go ahead Plans for a $5 billion coal terminal in the world's biggest coal port in Newcastle have been scrapped. Read more here. Increase in the value of a penalty unit The value of a penalty unit for offences under state legislation will increase from 1 July 2018. Read more here. Awards and Open for Comment Annual Qld Environmental Engineering Student Awards Night - October 2018 SENG and WMAA have been hosting the annual Environmental Student Award in Queensland since 1999. The event allows Environmental Engineering and Science undergraduate students from Queensland universities to showcase their thesis work to an audience of industry professionals and fellow students. This night also allows a demonstration of the directions in current environmental research and to show the diversity and quality of content in thesis studies from all over Queensland. Find out more about this fantastic honorary event here. Queensland's new resource recovery and waste strategy Submissions are due by 5pm, Friday, 29 June 2018. A new strategy will provide the resource recovery and waste sector with the policy certainty that has been lacking, leading to significant underinvestment in new and expanded resource recovery infrastructure in Queensland. Your input into the development of the new strategy and levy will ensure opportunities and challenges can be identified to ensure the transformation and growth of Queensland’s recycling and waste management industry. More information is available from the QLD Governments Website. Petition to enact legistlation to ban new investments in coal - Sign the petition here for the Queensland Government to enact legislation banning all new investment in coal, oil, and gas projects within Queensland, that contribute to global warming. Moment for Action Sign the petition David's Blog Keep up to date by reading David's Blog on the SENG website. Log in using your to post comments or questions. Join the conversation on our LinkedIn group page If you have an idea to share, an issue you would like feedback on, or just want to follow the conversation, click here to join the group. If you can't view this email click here to view online Click here to unsubscribe from this newsletter

Single-Column Responsive Email Template SENG QLD Newsletter - April 2018 Welcome to Newsletter Number 71 Dear SENG Qld members and friends, On the 20th February, the 2018 SENG launch was held at the Green Beacon Brewing Co. This event provided the opportunity for new and existing members to network and discover what we each, individually and collectively, hope to deliver as SENG outcomes from this year's event program. Information was presented about the committee and the nomination process for available positions as SENG hopes to increase attendance, broaden input at meetings, and welcome new commitee members. The event very successfully provided members with the opportunity to learn from each other's industry experiences while making new connections with like-minded engineers from all disciplines. Following the evening's success, SENG plans to host similar networking presentations througout 2018. This month’s newsletter includes: Upcoming SENG Events Other Events Interesting Snippets Open for comment David's Blog As always, we welcome input from members regarding topics or speakers of interest. Please contact one of the Qld committee members, or consider coming along to a committee meeting, held at Engineering House prior to each of our technical seminars. We hope to see you there! Sustainable Engineering Society Qld Branch Engineers Australia. UPCOMING SENG EVENTS IN 2018 Our proposed event schedule is below, note that this may change due to the availability of speakers. . April/May - Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, what does it mean to deliver a 'Sustainable Event". July - WASTE - Closing the cycle - zero waste economy, this session will look at what is currently happening and how we can best manage our waste using the four R's as the basis. Confirmed speakers include: - Reduce - Richard Denniss - Curing Affluenza - Reuse - Nu Grow - Recycing and reuse opportunities - Recycle - to be confirmed - Recover - All Energy - Anaerobic digestion for energy recovery from organics September - Australians Renewable energy landscape An overview of the current renewable energy landscape in Australia and the direction it is heading. October - Annual Qld Environmental Engineering Student Awards Night SENG and WMAA have been hosting the annual Environmental Student Award in Queensland since 1999. The event allows Environmental Engineering and Science undergraduate students from Queensland universities to showcase their thesis work to an audience of industry professionals and fellow students. This night also allows a demonstration of the directions in current environmental research and to show the diversity and quality of content in thesis studies from all over Queensland Note that these might change due to the availability of speakers and venue. Information on past events is available from our website. November - Standards and Sustainability How are changing standards affecting sustainability outcomes in the engineering/construction industry? Other Events Building A Wind-Farm: The Australian Context, held 11 April 2018 Large scale wind farms have been in operation within the country for over a decade, providing a reliable renewable energy source for Australia. This presentation aims to discuss the key project stages associated with building a wind farm in the Australian landscape. Read more or register here. Registration closes Tuesday 10th April, 16:00 OZWATER '18 is the the largest Australian gathering of water enthusiasts, held from 8 - 10 May 2018 at the Brisbane Convention Centre. The event is run for water professionals, policy-makers, students, scientists and researchers, and will display the latest water industry science, innovation, technology, products and services. Find out more here. Interesting Snippets For your interest, horror and amusement. SENG makes no claims regarding the accuracy or currency of these items, but always refer to authoritative sources. Thirsty Energy - Integrated Water and Energy Planning Aurecon Group Global Services Leader for Water Dr James Cullis, will present onthe outcomes of the World Bank’s Thirsty Energy Initiative during Ozwater '18. Using the recent water crisis in Capetown, South Africa to support the urgency for sustainable water management, Dr Cullis addresses the increasing importance of integrated water and energy planning as resources become more constrained. Read more here, or select the link to register for Ozwater '18. Record-Breaking Global Renewable Energy Divestment! The global energy sector is breaking records as it transitions steadily towards renewable energy dominance. Wind and solar power are at record low cost, somewhat explaining why 155 gigawatts (GW) of new wind and solar projects were installed globally last year. For some persepctive, 75GW is greater than Australia's total electricity power capacity. Find more uplifting facts from this great article here. No More Bad Investments - Presentation Recording Available A recording of Ian Dunlop's presentation on 'The Case for Emergency Action on Climate Change' from November 23rd's forum last year is now available here. The forum explored climate risk and examined the proposed No More Bad Investments (NMBI) model legislation drafted by Environment Justice Australia and Philip Sutton. The legislation’s purpose is to facilitate a transition to a ‘safe climate economy’ through the prevention of activities with adverse climate impacts, and through driving a transition to activities without these impacts. The NMBI Q&A document can be downloaded here. City by City – Climate Emergency Mobilisation Plans The Climate Mobilisation organisation have drafted implementation plans, uniquely targeting specific cities, to provide clear guidelines for shifting key sectors of the economy toward zero fossil fuel consumption. Read about the plans or register your own city to be considered for the next climate mobilisation plan here. New PFAS National Environmental Management Plan A National Environmental Management Plan addressing Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) has been endorsed by Australia's Environment Ministers and released to the public. These substances were recently used in firefighting foams, cloth material treatments, paper products and electroplating, but have now been recognised as high risk to huan and environmental health. Find a copy of the PFAS NEMP here, as well as guidelines, a consultation summary report, and much more. EDO Win - New Acland Mine Expansion Rejected The Qld Environmental Defenders Office recently celebrated a cautious victory in one of Australia's highest environmental public interest case. In February 2018, the Environment Department in Queensland upheld an historic May 2017 Land Court decision refusing the New Acland Mine coal expansion, situated in fertile agricultural land in the Darling Downs. However, a judicial review application, to be heard 19 March 2018, may render the Land Court’s decision invalid. Stay tuned, read more here. Community Virtual Power Stations Lendlease have developed a new housing project with its own virtual power station (VPS). The solar and battery storage and energy monitoring system connects 67 homes into one power supply. the energy is monitored and managed, then dispatched to all. This allows neighbourhoods and communities to use electricity more intelligently and become more power-independent, by optimising supply and shifting demand patterns. Find more details here. Clean Energy Regulator's National Greenhouse and Energy Report The Clean Energy Regulator have released their 2016/2017 report regarding National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting data. Visit the website here to find factsheets outlining key findings regarding Australia's 10 highest greenhouse gas emitters, State and Territory emissions, changes in the Energy sector and much more. Household Wastewater May Disrupt Aquatic Ecology A range of evidence-based links within a study published in Elements, indicate that Pharmaeutical and Personal Care Pollution (PPCP) is harmful and potentially ecologically disruptive to aquatic life. These findings support the urgent need for investment and innovation in wastewater infrastructure and treatment facilities. Find out more here. Global Resources Company Shuns Coal Projects South32, a global resources company, are diverting their interests from thermal coal due to increase demand for renwables. Four coal mines in South Africa are to be sold. CEO Graham Kerr was quoted, saying that South32 and he "believe in climate change and that over time the world does need to de­carbonise". "Thermal coal is not for us". The tide is turning, read more here. Innovatively Greening Melbourne's West The Stony Creek project in Melbourne's West, known as Greening the West, aims to create a community green space by applying stormwater harvesting and tree planting principles. They plan to measure the project's success with a range of social and ecological crieteria. Find out more details of this innovative project here. Germany - Clean Energy Superpower Over the past three decades, Germany has cemented its role as a trendsetter for clean energy. See why. Prosecution: Individual Fined $45,000 for Illegal Waste Activities. A Mount Morgan land owner has been convicted and fined $45 000 in the Rockhampton Magistrates Court, on charges relating to the illegal storage and handling of regulated waste on his property. Read more here. Prosecution: $36,000 Fines and Costs for Unlawfully Transporting Asbestos. The Ipswich Magistrates Court imposed a $36 000 fine on an individual for unlawfully transporting asbestos and for failing to record the proper information about the transport in a waste transport certificate. The transport of asbestos is regulated because asbestos has the potential to release contaminants into the environment and cause harm to human health. Prosecution: $30,000 Fines and Costs for Contravening a Condition of Approval. The Beenleigh Magistrates Court imposed a $30 000 fine on a composting company for not managing dam water levels to prevent overflow, especially at a time of year when extreme weather events are common. The dam posed a risk of environmental harm to the catchment and nearby waterways. How many Children should you have if you Care About the Planet? How do you balance your desire to have kids with concerns about their impact on the environment? We get a range of perspectives on this thorny question. Read the full story. Queensland Waste Levy introduced to Curb Interstate Waste. A proposed new tax is targetting unscrupulous businesses transporting waste into Queensland to take advantage of the cheaper dumping fees. Read more here. introduced How do you balance your desire to have kids with concerns about their impact on the environment? We get a range of perspectives on this thorny question. Read the full story. Awards and Open for Comment Annual Qld Environmental Engineering Student Awards Night - October 2018 SENG and WMAA have been hosting the annual Environmental Student Award in Queensland since 1999. The event allows Environmental Engineering and Science undergraduate students from Queensland universities to showcase their thesis work to an audience of industry professionals and fellow students. This night also allows a demonstration of the directions in current environmental research and to show the diversity and quality of content in thesis studies from all over Queensland. Find out more about this fantastic honorary event here. 2018 Young Environmental Engineer of the Year Award nominations are now open. Read about eligibilty requirements and judging criteria here. Nominations close 5pm Tuesday, 1 May 2018. Apply for the Award here. Drawdown EcoChallenge is a 21-day engagement program focused on carbon reduction, from April 4 - 25. Following actions highlighted in the book Drawdown, participants track and share their progress online in a spirit of comaraderie, friendly competition and fun, while promoting collective action. It's free for everyone to join a team, register a team, or join their community team. Find out more here Petition to enact legistlation to ban new investments in coal - Sign the petition here for the Queensland Government to enact legislation banning all new investment in coal, oil, and gas projects within Queensland, that contribute to global warming. Moment for Action Sign the petition David's Blog Keep up to date by reading David's Blog on the SENG website. Log in using your to post comments or questions. Join the conversation on our LinkedIn group page If you have an idea to share, an issue you would like feedback on, or just want to follow the conversation, click here to join the group. If you can't view this email click here to view online Click here to unsubscribe from this newsletter

Single-Column Responsive Email Template SENG QLD Newsletter - February 2018 Welcome to Newsletter Number 70 Dear SENG Qld members and friends, We hope that you enjoyed a safe and merry Christmas and wish you all the best for this exciting new year. We plan to begin the year well with the SENG 2018 Season Launch, a social event held at a boutique bar, Green Beacon in Teneriffe, on the 20th February from 6pm. Please come along and join the SENG committee members and friends, as we plan the Society's year ahead and enjoy each other's company. This month’s newsletter includes: 2018 SENG Networking Event Other Events Interesting Snippets Open for comment David's Blog As always, we welcome input from members regarding topics or speakers of interest. Please contact one of the Qld committee members, or consider coming along to a committee meeting, held at Engineering House prior to each of our technical seminars. We hope to see you there! Sustainable Engineering Society Qld Branch Engineers Australia. SENG 2018 Season Launch Date: Tuesday 20th February Time: 6:00 - 7:30pm Presenter: SENG QLD committee Venue: Green Beacon, 26 Helen St, TENERIFFE Cost: Free This social event will include drinks and networking where we will discuss the future direction of SENG. There will be a presentation by a current member and we will also be inviting people to join the committee. Purchase your own drinks, nibbles will be provided. Please find more details and register your attendance here. Other Events Paul Hawken - Solutions to Reverse Global Warming - 15th February 2018 A public forum is being hosted by the University of Queensland's Global Change Institute (GCI), at 6:15pm on the 15th February at the Global Change Institute, UQ. Paul Hawken, author and activist, has founded successful, ecologically-conscious businesses, and consulted with heads of state and CEOs on economic development, industrial ecology, and environmental policy. Paul will open the forum, presenting from his latest book , Drawdown, which maps, measures, models and describes the most substantive current solutions to global warming, while describing each solution's history, carbon impact, economics, mechanics and more. After the presentation, Paul Hawken will be joined by GCI's Prof. Ove Hoegh-Guldberg on stage for a 20-minute Q&A session with audience members. Register your attendance here. We hope to see you there. The 10th International Conference on Water Sensitive Urban Design & Hydropolis 2018 being held in Perth next month, focussing upon creating water sensitive communities. This event aims to challenge delegates’ thinking and knowledge, and expand their views on what represents urban water management best practice and its vital role in developing our future communities. The program includes three days of technical presentations with a number of excellent keynote speakers and range of oral sessions covering both peer reviewed and non-peer reviewed papers. A formal conference dinner will be held on 14 February 2018 where Engineers Australia and Stormwater WA Industry Awards winners will be announced, alongside some light entertainment. Ticket sales close 11 February. National Power Network presentation - 3:00 - 4:30pm on 14th February, the Qld Chapter of Engineers Australia's Electric Energy Society of Australia (EESA) will be hosting a presentation by their National President, Robert Barr AM. Robert will discuss the National Power Network (NPN), give an expert summary of the Finkel Plan, analyse market changes from power plant closures, and discuss Finkel Plan adjustments to encourage despatchable energy generation whilst integrating future renewables. Register here for a fascinating and insightful presentation. Interesting Snippets For your interest, horror and amusement. SENG makes no claims regarding the accuracy or currency of these items, but always seeks authoritative sources. - Ecosia is an internet search engine that plants trees when your brows. It is a free browser extension. It is also a certified benefit corporation, CO2-neutral, financially transparent social business that donates 80% of its profits to non-profit conservation groups, particularly targeting tree planting. - Volunteering for Clean Up Australia Day 2018 is a great event not to be missed. You can volunteer for a cleanup site near you, register your own site, or become a business supporter, sponsor or make a donation to help keep Australia clean with community spirit. - Utilities can now deploy an amazing Smart Water Meter system with unrestricted access using Telstra’s Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) Network. The NB-IoT network uses innovative ultrasonic, intelligent water meters to provide remote online meter readings that will not only save millions of dollars in manual water meter reading costs, but also save many millions of litres of precious town water by identifying leaks immediately. Great stuff! - Local government climate change survey results now available - A collaboration between Beyond Zero Emissions, ICLEI Oceania, and Ironbark Sustainability has released a preliminary report outlining findings from " the most comprehensive local government and climate change survey in Australian history". It presents interesting findings about Australian Councils' culture and practice regarding carbon emission targets. It also investigates Councils' intent, policies, monitoring and actions for climate change response, within their operations as well as the communities they govern. Read the Preliminary Report here. - Click here for an interesting quick article myth-busting five common negative accussations against renewable energy. Make sure you view the links to some fantastic and authoritative renewable energy initiatives. - Phosphorous pollution is a global issue - Global human activity emitted 1.47 million tons of phosphorus per year into the world's major freshwater basins. Studies have found that this loading exceeds the capacity of freshwater bodies utilised by 90% of the population, and there's usually not enough water to assimilate the excess phospohorous, or there's too much pollution to assimilate. Sustainably-engineered solutions for addressing phosphorous pollution are needed urgently. Read more about this recent research here. - Rain gardens, vertical landscapes and hybrid systems - Respected academic and engineer, Ana Demetic, has utilised her urban water management expertise to engineer vegetated water filters used within rain gardens, vertical landscapes and hybrid systems. These filters are designed to utilise nitrogen, phosphorous and other nutrients from grey water during dry spells, to better reduce, reuse and recycle water throughout the year. More details. - Plastic clean up - #Breakfreefromplastic are a global NGO who recently organised a series of coastal cleanups around the world. They determined the greatest polluters by analysing the waste they found and have started a class action lawsuit against to hold the perpetrating corporations accountable for the environmental damage their products are causing. Nestle were #1. Watch a short video here and find out more details here. - Energy effecient recycling process - Nanoengineers have created an energy-efficient recycling process that restores used lithum ion baterry cathodes, capable of equal charge time, battery lifetime and storage capacity. Get more details here. - BHP may leave the MIneral Counsil of Australia due to climate change policies - BHP has given the Minerals Council of Australia notice to acknowledge climate change and prioritise emission-reduction from coal-fired power plants over short-term profit gains, or lose their annual $2m lobby fund. The times they are a-changing.. Read the full article here. - Electricity from sun light - UK researchers have made exciting developments with microbial biophotovoltaics (BPV), which uses the photosyntheitic processes of cyanobacteria and algae, to produce electricity from sunlight. Using ink containing live cyanobacteria in an inkjet printer on paper with carbon nanotubes, this process has strongly increased the new technology's economic viability. Possible applications include biodegradable wallpaper that is a solar cell, bio-battery and environmental sensor. - Wastewater treatment break through - Singapore National University scientists have developed a method that can remove up to 99% of organic compounds found in various types of industrial wastewater, with other applications in electronics, pharmaceutical, agricultural, and heavy manufacturing industries. This normally difficult, expensive and waste-producing process, can now be performed using minimal electricity as a reagent for purification, generating no secondary waste. Active electrodes generate hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals that react with the complex organic compounds in the water and work to continuously break them down, eventually producing water and carbon dioxide. Find out more here. Awards and Open for Comment - QLD DEHP ask for comment on end of waste codes - The Qld Government's Department of Environment and Heriatage Protection are inviting submissions for waste producers to register waste that may be used as a sustainable and environmentally-safe resource, to apply to develop an end of waste code. Notice inviting comment for end of waste codes regarding fertiliser wash water, and oyster shells have recently been released. Press the hyperlinks to read the draft codes and see here for more details. - Greenfield open cut coal mine project EIS open for comment. The project is 170 kilometres (km) west of Rockhampton and 100km east of Emerald in Central Queensland, has been formally proposed. Walton Coal Pty Ltd plan to extract between 1.9 – 2.2 million tonnes of exported metallurgical coal each year for eight years. The draft Terms of Reference for the Environmental Impact Statement is available for public review and comment until 26th February 2018. Press here to find out how to send comments to the The EIS Coordinator (Walton Coal Project), care of the Chief Executive Department of Environment and Science. - Petition to enact legistlation to ban new investments in coal - Sign the petition here for the Queensland Government to enact legislation banning all new investment in coal, oil, and gas projects within Queensland, that contribute to global warming. Moment for Action Sign the petition David's Blog Keep up to date by reading David's Blog on the SENG website. Log in using your to post comments or questions. Join the conversation on our LinkedIn group page If you have an idea to share, an issue you would like feedback on, or just want to follow the conversation, click here to join the group. If you can't view this email click here to view online Click here to unsubscribe from this newsletter

Single-Column Responsive Email Template SENG QLD Newsletter - December 2017 Welcome to Newsletter Number 69 Dear SENG Qld members and friends, We hope that you have had a great year and we are looking forward to seeing you all again next year! Have a safe and happy festive season. This month’s newsletter includes: 2018 SENG Networking Event Other Events Sustainable Christmas Ideas Interesting Snippets Open for comment David's Blog As always, we welcome input from members regarding topics or speakers of interest. Please contact one of the Qld committee members, or consider coming along to a committee meeting, held at Engineering House prior to each of our technical seminars. We hope to see you there! Sustainable Engineering Society Qld Branch Engineers Australia. 2018 SENG Networking Event Date: Fourth Week of February Time: 5:30 for 6:00 Presenter: SENG QLD committee Venue: Botique Brewery - To be advised Cost: Free This will be a social event where we do a brewery tour and have a discussion on the future direction of SENG. We will also be inviting people to join the committee. Purchase your own drinks, nibbles will be provided. More information will be available early in the new year. Other Events 10th International Conference on Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) & Hydropolis 2018 (Feb 12 - 15) The program for WSUD / Hydropolis 2018 has recently been released and the focus is “Creating Water Sensitive Communities". This event aims to challenge delegates’ thinking and knowledge, and expand their views on what represents urban water management best practice and its vital role in developing our future communities. The program includes three days of technical presentations with a number of excellent keynote speakers and range of oral sessions covering both peer reviewed and non-peer reviewed papers. A formal conference dinner will be held on 14 February 2018 where Engineers Australia and Stormwater WA Industry Awards winners will be announced, alongside some light entertainment. Register before Tuesday 7 November to secure the early-bird rate. Executive Education for Sustainability Leadership Program - Griffith University The four-day intensive course will be offered at the Griffith University EcoCentre from March 6th to March 9th 2018. Information about cost, program content and an overview of what to expect can be found via the Executive Education for Sustainability Leadership website or via the button above. Sustainable Christmas Ideas Not done your Christmas shopping yet!? That's good! Before you hit the shops please consider - do your loved ones really need more stuff!? Get things in perspective by watching the Story of Stuff (youtube)video or reading more on the Story of Stuff website. If you're a long term member of SENG, you probably remember these "Green" christmas hints from last year and the year before. We like them - so here they are for you again. 1. Buy practical gifts that will last or give an "activity" gift rather than a "thing" Gifts that are useful, serve a purpose, and will last a long time are ideal. An activity based gift, like a day out at a theme park, or a night out at a concert, are also usually well received. 2. Save trees by viewing catalogues on-line instead Put up a "no junk mail" sticker on your letter box and instead check the catalogues on-line. 3. Recycle everything you can Wrapping paper, Christmas cards, jars, plastic drink bottles, cans and glass bottles… remember to put everything that can be recycled into your recycling bin or in the 'Planet Ark' bins (for cards) at supermarkets. Put all your salad and veggie scraps into a compost bin or worm farm and get free fertilizer! - Op shop dining table ideas to reduce consumption. - Christmas Presents with a conscience - Do it yourself christmas decorations 4. Crank the fan instead of the air conditioner When it's hot use a fan instead of an air conditioner to save power and CO2 emissions. A pedestal or ceiling fan might use 90 watts on high, whereas a wall mounted reverse cycle air conditioner may use 2,000 watts and a big ducted system may use 5,000 watts! 5. Buy locally produced fresh food Locally produced fresh food usually has lower carbon miles and is often better for you. 6. Eat fish, native meats, and veggies instead of beef and lamb The production of beef and lamb results in large amounts of greenhouse gas. Choose veggies, native meats, chicken or seafood instead. 7. Choose sustainably caught or farmed fish Ocean fish stocks of many species are under significant threat. Choose species such as: • Whiting • Australian Sardine • Mussels • Calamari, and • Blue Swimmer Crab Do not choose: • Orange roughy (deep sea perch) • Swordfish • Gemfish/Hake • Bigeye Tuna, or • Shark/Flake For a complete list of species have a look at the Australian Marine Conservation Society Australia’s Sustainable Seafood Guide 8. Now is the time to use the beer fridge If needed, plug in the second fridge over the Christmas period, then once all the family have left, all the beer is gone, and you really don't need a second fridge, unplug it and save yourself $50 to $140 a year in electricity costs. 9. Drinking alcohol? Choose a Green Beer or Green Wine! The two big brewers in Australia both produce a carbon neutral beer; Lion Nathan produce Bare Cove Radler (beer with a twist of lemon) while Fosters are responsible for Cascade Green (premium beer with low carbohydrates). For exampleTaylor's Eighty Acres wine is 100% carbon neutral. 10. Use the microwave or BBQ instead of the oven Ovens use a large amount of electricity and they pump out waste heat (making your house even hotter and more difficult to keep cool). Cook using the microwave or barbie where possible. 11. Buy gifts on-line The lack of a retail outlet means on-line shopping results in lower CO2 emissions. Legally downloaded music and film is even better as there is also no packaging. 12. Don't buy foil wrapping paper It may look nice, but it isn't recyclable. Stick with the paper. 13. Plant a native or fruit tree If you have room in your yard, why not plant another tree? A native tree will suck up CO2, provide habitat for native wildlife, and provide you with shade. Bigger trees like eucalypts are better but if you don't have the room go for a smaller native like a grevillea, wattle, bottlebrush or lily pilly. Or plant a fruit tree, that'll provide some of the same benefits but also give you free food. 14. Buy green energy to power the Christmas lights If you have lots of Christmas lights, consider purchasing Green Power to power all the lights. Some energy retailers can supply a proportion of green power for no additional cost (it may even be cheaper than your current deal). Compare your current electricity retail deal with others here: https://www.energymadeeasy.gov.au/ 15. Switch off the Christmas lights overnight Save money on the power bill and minimise CO2 emissions by turning off the Christmas lights before you go to bed. Going away for Christmas? Don't forget to ... 1. Kill the standby power Remember to turn all non essential appliances off at the power point before you go. Things like computers, TV's, DVD players, microwaves, stereos, washing machines, and plug-in clocks. 2. Don't heat water while you're away If going away for a fortnight or more, turn off your electric hot water system. For everyday its on yet no water is getting used it'll still use an extra 20 cents worth of electricity and 1.4 kg's of CO2. Flick the hot water switch in your power box to turn it off. 3. Offset your air travel If you forgot to offset your air travel for these holidays it's probably too late to now, but for next time, remember to buy a carbon offset with your plane ticket. It'll render your flights carbon neutral and will probably only cost $5 extra. 4. Drive safely and efficiently Drive to anticipate conditions. Brake and accelerate the least amount possible. An aggressive driver uses up to 30% more fuel than a moderate driver! Check that your tyres are inflated to the correct and equal pressure, and remove any needless items to reduce weight and drag. These will all save fuel. 5. Ask a neighbour to water your veggie patch Don't have a veggie patch? Plant one! They're rewarding, get you out exercising in the back yard, the food produced is "low carbon", the food is very healthy, and if you get it working well the food is very cheap. Sustainable Christmas Ideas https://shop.wateraidaustralia.org/Default.aspx https://caregifts.org.au/about/ http://www.worldvision.com.au/Smiles/GiftCatalogue/Default.aspx http://usefulgifts.org http://www.redcross.org.au/default.aspx http://www.oxfamunwrapped.com.au/ http://www.hollows.org.au/ http://www.karmacurrency.com.au http://www.charitygifts.com.au Are you looking to make a Christmas donation or two? Find a cause that you believe in. www.acfonline.org.au/bethesolution/index.html www.amnesty.org.au www.angelwish.org www.anglicare.org.au www.actionaid.org.au www.brisbanebasketbrigade.org www.canteen.org.au www.childfund.org.au www.climatecouncil.org.au www.cysticfibrosis.org.au www.greenpeace.org/australia/en/ www.hollows.org.au www.leukaemia.org.au www.makeawish.org.au www.msf.org.au/donate.html www.plan.org.au/ www.redcross.org.au www.rspca.org.au www.savethechildren.org.au www.simplygiving.com.au www.starlight.org.au www.tear.org.au www.thesmithfamily.com.au www.unicef.org.au www.wesleymission.org.au www.WorldVision.com.au www.wspa.org.au http://www.wwf.org.au/ www.youngcare.com.au Of course there are many many more worthy charities. Please accept our apologies if your preferred charity has not been included on the list. (Send it to us for next time!) Interesting Snippets For your interest, horror and amusement. SENG makes no claims regarding the accuracy or currency of these items. - War on Waste survey results are out now. - Successful new technology using hybrid silica gels to remove pharmaceutical and micro-plastic pollutants are now being tested for their ability to be retrofitted to existing wastewater infrastructure. Find out more here. - Creativity is need to produce flexible international treaty laws that are necessary to govern the predicted conflicts arising from climate change impacts upon water’s transboundary nature, as arid areas get drier and wet areas get wetter. Click here for more info. - Investment campaign group, Share Action, have found that Shell and BP are deceiving their shareholders and the public regarding the corporate financial risks associated with climate change and the companies' actual carbon emission targets for addressing the issues. More details here. - The amount of organic matter washed into water bodies after storms and floods can prevent pathogen-killing UV rays from penetrating the water’s surface, thereby increasing the occurrence of pathogens. This is expected to increase the occurence of pathogens as the impacts of climate change bring more extreme rainfall events and thaw the permafrost. Find out more here. - On average, over 21 million people are displaced each year due to extreme weather events and this number is expected to rise due to climate change impacts. Read more about Oxfam's report here. - The Environmental Defenders Office in Queensland urges the major political parties to enact strong laws regarding the Great Barrier Reef, climate change and excessive tree clearing and reviews their current related policies. Find more information here. - Although Australia’s land is very prosperous, actions such as increasing our food productivity, reducing our food wastage and changing our eating patterns are needed to ensure a strong and sustainable future that promotes the interconnections between food, health and environment. Find out more here. - Esteemed global scientists’ consensus, including the majority of Nobel prize laureates, issues a second warning to humanity about the coming catastrophic conflict with nature, on the recent 25th Anniversary of the first warning. Read more here. - Investment in Green infrastructure is shown to produce significant financial benefits in exemplar cities by NSW Masters of Urban Policy. Read more here. - Medical waste from dialysis has been found to improve the durability of concrete. Read more here. - New recycling systems maximise resource recovery from electronic waste. Find out more here. - A recent international survey or 26,000 participants from 13 countries has found that the general global population want to move away from coal toward renewable energy sources as quickly as possible, particularly the Chinese. More details available here. Awards and Open for Comment Sign the petition here for the Queensland Government to enact legislation banning all new investment in coal, oil, and gas projects within Queensland, that contribute to global warming. Moment for Action Sign the petition David's Blog Keep up to date by reading David's Blog on the SENG website. Log in using your to post comments or questions. Join the conversation on our LinkedIn group page If you have an idea to share, an issue you would like feedback on, or just want to follow the conversation, click here to join the group. If you can't view this email click here to view online Click here to unsubscribe from this newsletter

Single-Column Responsive Email Template SENG QLD Newsletter - November 2017 Welcome to Newsletter Number 68 Dear SENG Qld members and friends, Apologies for the ghoulish short notice, but early Halloween evening (Tue 31st Oct) will be the Brisbane launch of Rethinking Cement by Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE), a pathway for modernising cement presented as part of the Zero Carbon Industry Plan by Zero Carbon Australia. Held in Engineering House, the event includes refreshments and registration at 6:15pm, a presentation by Michael Lord (BZE Project Director), a Q&A panel discussion and then networking opportunities with industry, academia and government professionals also committed to sustainable infrastructural development. Please register as soon as possible. This month’s newsletter includes: Rethinking Cement Other Events Interesting Snippets Open for comment David's Blog As always, we welcome input from members regarding topics or speakers of interest. Please contact one of the Qld committee members, or consider coming along to a committee meeting, held at Engineering House prior to each of our technical seminars. We hope to see you there! Sustainable Engineering Society Qld Branch Engineers Australia. Rethinking Concrete Date: Tuesday 31st October, 2017 Time: 6:15 to 8:15pm AEST Presenter: Michael Lord, BZE Project Director Venue: Hawken Auditorium, Engineering House 447 Upper Edward St, Brisbane Cost: Free with registration Produced by Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE), Rethinking Cement sets out a pathway for modernising cement by eliminating carbon emissions whilst still building strong and durable infrastructure. Cement-making is responsible for 8% of all global emissions and if we don’t rethink cement, we won’t achieve our crucial Paris Climate Summit targets. Modernising cement is achievable and affordable, and Rethinking Cement shows how Australia can lead the world with zero carbon cement. We have the technology to wipe out emissions from cement in ten years, and with smart thinking, we can even turn cement into a carbon sink of the future. The event will include refreshments with registration at 6.15 PM, followed by a research presentation from BZE Project Director Michael Lord, a Q&A discussion panel, then opportunities to network with industry, academic and government figures who share the same interest in sustainable infrastructure and development. We hope you can join us. Seats are limited and time is short so please register soon. Beyond Zero Emissions is one of Australia's most respected climate change think-tanks. They produce independent research demonstrating that zero emissions is achieveable and affordable now. Their work is carried out by a small staff of experts, with the help of academic institutions and a large network of volunteer scientists, engineers and economists, funded by private foundations and concerned individuals. You can be part of our audacious vision for a Zero Carbon Australia by making a donation to fund their research. Eighty-five per cent of BZE's researchers are volunteers, making your donation go a long way. To find out how visit http://bze.org.au This event is supported by Engineers Australia. Register now. Other Events Centre for Environmental Training (cet) Erosion and Sediment Control workshops (14 – 17 Nov) Four consecutive workshops address the fundamentals of erosion and sediment control, the International Erosion Control Association (IECA) guidelines, construction site water management, and control plans. Engineers Australia Renewables' impact on Qld Transmission Network / Qld Electrical College AGM (15 Nov) The evening will commence with the Queensland Electrical Branch's Annual Group Meeting followed by guest speaker Mr Kevin Kehl, Powerlink's current Executive General Manager Strategy and Business Development. Mt Kehl’s presentation will focus on the impact of renewables on Queensland's transmission grid and the development of the North Queensland Clean Energy Hub. Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy and Smart Grid Research at Virginia Tech (22 Nov) Professor Saifur Rahman, Director of the Virginia Tech Advanced Research Institute, USA, will discuss renewable energy integration and storage, demand response, energy efficiency and smart grid/smart cities, focussing upon on the interactions between students, faculty, university and industry sponsors on research projects. General 10th International Conference on Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) & Hydropolis 2018 (Feb 12 - 15) The program for WSUD / Hydropolis 2018 has recently been released and the focus is “Creating Water Sensitive Communities". This event aims to challenge delegates’ thinking and knowledge, and expand their views on what represents urban water management best practice and its vital role in developing our future communities. The program includes three days of technical presentations with a number of excellent keynote speakers and range of oral sessions covering both peer reviewed and non-peer reviewed papers. A formal conference dinner will be held on 14 February 2018 where Engineers Australia and Stormwater WA Industry Awards winners will be announced, alongside some light entertainment. Register before Tuesday 7 November to secure the early-bird rate. Interesting Snippets For your interest, horror and amusement. SENG makes no claims regarding the accuracy or currency of these items. - The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) are suffering uncertain direction as climate change adaption impacts upon the coal industry, including MCA’s major lobbyists. After a recent and unexpected leadership departure, and waning feasibility for new and old coal-fired power plants, the old ways are coming under scrutiny. Do MCA embrace the emerging renewable energy technology revolution now, or ignore increasing public pressure to continue promoting coal to appease the concerns of their major supporters, BHP and Rio Tinto. Read more here. - The Australian Institute’s Climate and Energy Program have released their first major report, indicating that energy-generation is the cheapest way for Australia to address greenhouse gas emission targets set by the Paris Climate Summit Agreement. This requires 66 – 75% emission-free renewable energy sources by 2030 to stay on target. Find out more here. - The outcomes from Australian National University’s (ANU) recent research of the nation’s pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) options are extremely positive. It is predicted that only a fraction of a percent of these options are necessary to fill Australia’s energy demands with this renewable, emission-free resource. Read more exciting PHES information here. - Collaboration between OPEC Systems and the Australian Department of Defence have applied ‘Green Chemistry’ to develop breakthrough technology, Downhole Foam Fractionation, for remediating soil previously contaminated by now-discontinued fire-fighting foam containing PFAS pollutants. More details here. - TechCollect, an Australian technology (e-waste) recycling company, have conducted a survey seeking answers to why most technology is not being recycled once disused, citing data-security fears, hoarding and unawareness of recycling options as the main reasons. TechCollect are responding by aiming to increase awareness of their technology recycling options and drop-off centres. Click here to find out more. - China halts progress on the development of over 150 new coal-fired power plants but still falls well short of necessary targets. Read more here. - Canada and the United Kingdom have joined forces to phase out all coal-fired power generation by 2030 and 2025, respectively, to improve community health and benefit future generations. They urge other countries to follow their lead. Full article here. Awards and Open Comment The Qld Government's Department of Environment and Heritage Protection and Department of the Environment and Energy require feedback regarding an independent Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) they have financed. The RIS aims to determine any necessary amendments to current reef protection legislation. More information about helping to broaden and enhance reef regulations is available here. Moment for Action Sign the petition David's Blog Keep up to date by reading David's Blog on the SENG website. Log in using your to post comments or questions. Join the conversation on our LinkedIn group page If you have an idea to share, an issue you would like feedback on, or just want to follow the conversation, click here to join the group. If you can't view this email click here to view online Click here to unsubscribe from this newsletter

Single-Column Responsive Email Template SENG QLD Newsletter - September 2017 Welcome to Newsletter Number 67 Dear SENG QLD members, contacts and friends, The Sustainable Transport: Reality or Pipe Dream technical session is planned for 10 October at Hawken Auditorium, Engineering House. Our guest speakers will address sustainable transport issues and innovations regarding congestion, fuel vs electricity, public transport, pedal power and urban planning. This month’s newsletter includes: Sustainable Transport: Reality or Pipe Dream Other Events Interesting Snippets Open for comment David's Blog As always, we welcome input from members regarding topics or speakers of interest. Please contact one of the Qld committee members, or consider coming along to a committee meeting, held at Engineering House prior to each of our technical seminars. We hope to see you there! Sustainable Engineering Society Qld Branch Engineers Australia. Sustainable Transport: Reality or Pipe Dream? Date: Tuesday 10 October, 2017 Time: 5:30pm for 6:00 Presenters: Rachel Smith, Gerard Reardon Venue: Hawken Auditorium, Engineering House 447 Upper Edward St, Brisbane Networking: Rachel Smith, Gerard Reardon Cost: Students - $15 Members (EA, SENG, TAs) - $15 Non-Members* - $45 *Those without an EA log in will need to create an EA account to register. This is a simple process and will only take a minute. Speakers: Rachel Smith – Author, Decongestion Rachel’s transport career spans 18 years across the public and private sectors in the UK and Australia. She has two TEDx talks, is the Author of Decongestion, has spoken in London’s Palace of Westminster’s House of Lords, is on the Smart Cities Task Force, is a Sourceable columnist, was part of the BMW Guggenheim Lab in New York, Berlin and Mumbai (nominated by Enrique Penalosa), created Cycling Super Highways, was retained by the UK Government for 6 years as an expert advisor and was awarded the BP International Road Safety Award. Rachel will discuss why the Australian Dream has become our biggest nightmare, 5 mistakes society makes and the 7 ‘sticking points’ or factors preventing change. The diversity of traveller choice now being sought is placing immense pressure on the currency and flexibility of transport policies and the priorities within infrastructure supply programs Gerard Reardon - Director, McCormick Rankin Cagney Gerard has experience in transportation planning, traffic engineering, road and highway design, and urban development within the public and private sectors in Australia. Since joining MRCagney, Gerard has been involved in many high profile planning and transport projects including the South Brisbane Riverside Renewal Strategy, Boggo Road Urban Village, Edmonton Business and Industry Park, and the Flagstone Master Plan. He has also provided traffic engineering advice on signature projects including the Queensland Children’s Hospital, the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, and the Gold Coast Light Rail. Gerard will discuss policy and program changes that need to be considered and the challenges and opportunities facing transport planners and traffic engineers. In Australia, the transport sector is responsible for over a quarter of our energy consumption, and almost a sixth of greenhouse gas emissions. Globally, transportation contributes around a seventh of greenhouse gas emissions. Of this approximately two thirds are due to passenger travel and one third is due to freight. This is an area in which engineers should be leading the way. Are we doing enough? What more can we do? Our speakers will address aspects of transport such as congestion, fuel vs electricity, public transport, pedal power and urban planning and the session will conclude with a panel discussion which will allow us all to consider and discuss our current progress and plans. What is the status quo in transport engineering? How is travel choice influenced by technology and climate change policies? How are transport policies and infrastructure supply affected? What does the future hold?. Please join us after the session for networking at the OBar, 52 Astor Tce, Spring Hill. Register Now Register on-line or for more information see the attached flyer. Member rates for SENG and ACF members. Other Events Engineers Australia The Design Rainfall Revision Project – 4 Oct The Bureau of Meteorology is finalising the Design Rainfall Revision Project which will provide users with new design rainfalls. This presentation will provide information on the new design rainfalls for Queensland and demonstrate the functionalities of the new design rainfall webpage. Clean Air Society of Australia and New Zealand (CASANZ17) Clean Air and Environment Conference: The Critical Atmosphere (15 - 18 Oct) Over 300 highly influential global industry experts, policy and decision makers, and key equipment suppliers of the environmental sector gather to understand more about the physical and chemical processes underlying air quality, their effects on human health and welfare, and our capacity to effectively control and regulate air pollution. CASANZ17 hopes to stimulate new ideas and tools that can be applied across the air quality and climate change fields by coming together for this event. Long Future, Sustain Ability and SENG Reframing the Future and Adapting to Change (25 - 26 Oct) This 2-day workshop, run by world-recognised experts in sustainability, will harness participants' ability to keep abreast of organisational, social, global and biospheric trends, identify and correct road blocks to sustainable solutions, investigate opportunities and plan activities to reframe the future of your organisation and/or project. The workshop aims to develop participants' adaptive approach to working life that will deliver sustainability outcomes. Centre for Environmental Training (cet) Erosion and Sediment Control workshops (14 – 17 Nov) Four consecutive workshops address the fundamentals of erosion and sediment control, the International Erosion Control Association (IECA) guidelines, construction site water management, and control plans. Interesting Snippets For your interest, horror and amusement. SENG makes no claims regarding the accuracy or currency of these items. Qld Gov. The Queensland Government announces a new incentive to address excess waste and increase recycling. A ten-cent refund for eligible drink containers will be paid at authorised outlets. Click the link for more details. Qld Government has also introduced a ban on light single use plastic bags to begin 1 July 2018. Find out more. A project to build the world’s longest electric super highway has been unveiled by the Qld Government. Regular electric car recharge stations will be available from Coolangatta with motorists able to recharge with green electricity that will initially be provided free. Find out more. General Aurora Solar Energy Project The Aurora Solar Energy Project is an emission-free 150-megawatt solar thermal power plant that has recently been approved for construction in Port Augusta. It is expected to supply all of the South Australian Government's electrical demands. Read more here. Optimsed battery power Collaboration between researchers from Australia and Singapore has resulted in new methods for optimising battery power. By developing alternative electro-catalysts that increase the capabilities of zinc-air batteries, the lithium-ion battery may be replaced by a ‘greener’ alternative that is more readily-available with greater capabilities. Win-win. Estimates that man made emissions higher than previously estimated Methods for constraining natural geologic methane emissions to determine its mole fraction of the global methane source have allowed for man-made emissions to be estimated, however these methods are well-known to be uncertain and imprecise. New analyses of ice-core samples, that assume constant geological methane output, indicate that man-made emissions are likely very much higher than previously estimated. Full journal article available here. Promising Pumped hydro storage ANU researchers model Australia’s potential off-river pumped hydro power storage sites, finding very promising results.. Read more about these exciting energy opportunities for Australia’s renewable energy future here. Department of Environment and Heritage Protection - Regulatory Updates Criminal ex-manager receives extended jailtime, charged under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 with two counts of operating a quarry without an Environmental Authority (EA). All EAs are now available in a spreadsheet form that can be downloaded from the Queensland Government website. Awards and Open Comment Draft 'Contaminated Sites Environment Protection' policy As part of regular Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reviews of environment protection policies, the Draft 'Contaminated Sites Environment Protection' policy is now available for public comment. Consultation closes on Wednesday 27 September 2017. Find more details here. Protecting Queensland Environment EHP is currently seeking community feedback on its role as Queensland's environmental regulator. They are encouraging Queenslanders to complete a short survey on the environmental issues. Moment for Action Sign the petition David's Blog Keep up to date by reading David's Blog on the SENG website. Log in using your to post comments or questions. Join the conversation on our LinkedIn group page If you have an idea to share, an issue you would like feedback on, or just want to follow the conversation, click here to join the group. If you can't view this email click here to view online Click here to unsubscribe from this newsletter

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