Calling All Students...click on the image below!
National Campaign in the Pipeline (excuse the pun!)
A few reasons to STAY INVOLVED for YOUR home front and the national front!
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Be part of the 10 year "Celebration of the Coast" later this year
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Help Clean Ocean 'Chapters' hit the ground running on their local frontline with resources including, media packs, education kits, strategy help/advise, and YOUR voice.
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National Rewards Program, so your member keyring gets you discounds right across Australia
Do you know a potential 'frontline defender' friend, relative or loved one on another coast? Introduce them to the national campaign: frontline[at]cleaocean.org
Head HERE to renew or join!
Melbourne Water Officially Start ETP Upgrade
In two years, Gunnamatta will be the cleanest it has been since 1975. Clean Ocean Foundation is happy to have been involved in pushing for this outcome, and will welcome the day when we can all once again enjoy the ocean with a health risk that IS acceptable.
Alinta and South Australia EPA react to community concerns at Playford B Powerplant, Port Augusta.
Fly-Ash is a by-product of coal fired power plants. Normally, this fly-ash reused, or stored SAFELY where it cannot escape into the environment. However in Port Augusta this does not seem to be the case. Tonnes of fly-ash is being blown into the seas of Port Augusta, or flowing out of 'containment ponds' and into the local salt marshes and mangroves. See Below. Alinta is the owner of the Playford B Power Plant.
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The EPA has revealed an independent study of marine ecosystems in the Upper Spencer Gulf will be conducted, in a raft of measures to address community concerns about power station emissions. Clean Ocean Foundation, Environmental Defenders Office SA and the Port Augusta City Council will continue to push for improvement of the aging plant, including aerial surveys of the fly-ash problems, and tightening of the "exemptions" that Alinta have in the Licence.
National Green Jobs Corps
Planting the seeds of our future
 The National Green Jobs Corp is a government initiative that will assist us to put back into our local community by hosting a Cert 2 in Conservation and Land Management. This is a pro-active way to empower the youth aged 17 to 24 years in our community by; providing access to enviro education delivered by local professionals in the enviro/science field; establish links with enviro employers and learn about our rich and unique Peninsula Biodiversity.
A warm thanks to Rosebud Bunnings for sponsouring the equipment and tools needed to make this exciting project a success.
Interested?
Start by clicking here
or contacting us volunteer[at]cleanocean.org
Confusion on what's the matter at Gunnamatta - The Age 7th Feb 2010
'For your average surf lifesaver, many dangers lurk in the water. Sharks and jellyfish come to mind. But last year on Australia Day, 17-year-old lifesaver Jay Haig came across an almost invisible menace in the surf....'
> Click here to read the full story
The Clean Ocean model for a sustainable future
 < Click here for larger image
The Clean Ocean Foundation is developing a model for the sustainable urban water cycle. The model presents principles that must be met by growing cities in order to meet the demands of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.
The city of Los Angeles adopted such a model in 2008 by aiming to: 'Meet all new water demand through water conservation and recycling’.
To ensure a sustainable future for Australia, our cities must do the same.
If you represent an institution from any sector (academic, business, community, government, research, etc.), please contact our organisation (info@cleanocean.org) to sign on and signal your support of the Clean Ocean model.
Venus Bay outfall investigation
 < Click here for larger image Pic by T. Quinlan.
The Clean Ocean Foundation is currently investigating major delays to the upgrade of the controversial Venus Bay outfall that discharges dairy industry wastewater into Bass Strait. The outfall upgrade was announced by the Victorian Government in 2004. Yet the state EPA has allowed the project to be delayed many years as they wait for the Murray Goulburn Co-operative plant at Leongatha to upgrade onsite wastewater treatment.
A long term strategy for sustainable water use in the region and closure of the outfall is required.
Desalination - An ethical investment?
The National Australia Bank and Westpac's desalination funding will finance the industrialisation and pollution of Victoria's once pristine coastal environment. Yet the 'equator principles' have been adopted by both banks to ensure environmental and social considerations are made in their investment strategies.
Perth's far smaller desalination plant has already been forced to close at times due to negative environmental effects measured in the local marine environment. Any possible investors in desalination projects must be made aware of the reality of this energy intensive, polluting and ultimately unsustainable practice.
> Download more information & a letter to send to your bank here
Melbourne Water - Upgrade of the Eastern Treatment Plant
After many years of advocacy, awareness raising and education, Clean Ocean has won a major victory in the push for sustainable water management and environmental protection. Melbourne's Eastern Treatment Plant (ETP) will be upgraded to produce Class A water by 2012 without an extension of the existing outfall at Gunnamatta Beach. As a result up to 40 billion litres of recycled water will become available for use over the next 30 years.
This means:
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Breaches of the EPA license guidelines occuring every day since 1975 on colour and odour at the Gunnamatta Outfall will be stopped in 2012
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Melbourne Water acknowledges the current health risk for beach users with Class C water will be greatly reduced
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Smaller projects must now be investigated to reduce flow of waste water to Gunnamatta after the upgrade
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$400 million extension of the outfall at Gunnamatta by 2km has officially been scrapped
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The upgrade will result in a lower pollutant load, but there will still be ecosystem effects due to discharge of freshwater to a saltwater marine environment
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Mt Martha Treatment Plant will be upgraded once ETP work commences
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The upgrade can support future drinking water treatment, this should be chosen before desalination at 1/2 the cost to environment and society
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UPGRADE FANTASTIC!....... But total closure is not in the FORSEEABLE FUTURE , thus Victoria will not be 'Water Sustainable'
Read Melbourne Water's Submission Summary.... Here in PDF. Works Approval Submitted to EPA... Long read.... Short reads below
 Photo: bendifferding.com
Get Real on Climate Change!
Seen the ad on TV yet? Yep, the Clean Ocean Foundation authorised the screening for a new campaign. The joint project between the Bass Coast Boardriders and Clean Ocean has rounded up a few well known beach lovers and we want YOU to do something!
The basis being that if damaging projects like desalination go ahead, then the ocean we love will keep being polluted because the need to recycle waste water and close outfalls will go cold, desal will pollute the air and water, and North South pipeines will drain inland Australia. So...
It is pretty simple. Head to WWW.GETREALONCLIMATECHANGE.ORG, watch the ad and after being informed, make your pledge. It will take 3 minutes max. So off you troddle. Click away!
Gunnamatta Beach - Marine National Park
Do you think it should be protected? Sign the online petition now....
Victorian Water Forum
> Click here for The Facts on Purified Recycled Water
More news and information?
> Click here to go to the news archive |
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