The Australian GovLink 2010 by Australian Publishing Resource Service

Australian GovLink

2010

Sustainable Solar Lighting Solutions

SOLAR BOLLARD

2400 SUPALUX

The EXlites Solar Bollard lighting system is standalone, vandal resistant and very cost effective.

The EXlites 2400 SupaLux solar lighting system enables outdoor lighting to be utilised almost anywhere.

Ideal for: • Walkways - Bikeways • Stairways • Markers & Gate Entries • Driveway Entries • Feature & Landscape Lighting

3500 SUPALUX The revolutionary EXlites 3500 SupaLux Solar Lighting enables outdoor lighting to be utilised almost anywhere.

Ideal for: • Pathways & Bike Ways • Laneways & Streets • Parks & recreational areas • Pontoons & jetties

4000B SUPALUX Ideal for: • Street, Road & Intersection Lighting • Car park Lighting • Bike & Pathway Lighting • Perimeter & Security Lighting • Pedestrian Crossings & Playgrounds

The EXlites 4000B SupaLux LVD solar billboard lighting offers low maintenance with long life lamp systems.

Ideal for: • Billboards • Signage • Flood Lighting • Pedestrian Crossings & Playgrounds • Emergency Lights

“Contact EXlites today to find out more about our exciting range of products.”

EXlites is the leading “Sustainable Solar Lighting” technology company based on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland designing and manufacturing products for domestic and international markets.

4800 SUPALUX The EXlites 4800 SupaLux solar lighting system enables covered area lighting to be utilised anywhere.

Ideal for: • Bus Shelters • Picnic Shelters • Public Toilet Amenities • Stairways • Covered Walk Ways • Viewing Platform Lighting • Information Board Lighting

With all design, assembly and most component manufacturing here in Queensland, gives EXlites the versatility to immediately adapt to the ever changing markets and client requirements ensuring EXlites products continue as market leaders globally as a truly “Australian” product. EXlites design solar lighting systems to cover all infrastructure requirements from:

• Street & Road Lighting

• Picnic Shelters

• Intersection Lighting

• Public Toilets

• Pathway & Bikeway Lighting

• Transit Shelters

• Car Park Lighting

• Temporary & Event Lighting

• Security Lighting

•Jetty & Pontoon Lighting

• Covered Area Lighting

• Mobile Lighting Towers

• Playground & Park Lighting

• & many more applications

MSLT35 Ideal for: • Road Work Lighting • Mine Lighting • Event Lighting • Emergency Lighting • Temporary Lighting • Rapid Deployment Lighting

We make our product, we understand our product advantages, so no matter what your application ... We

find a solution!!!

1/8 Dual Avenue Warana, Qld, Aust. 4575 P.O Box 1588 Buddina, Qld, Aust. 4575 Telephone: 1300 388 213 Fax: 07 5438 8977

www.exlites.com.au

CC16587

The EXlites MSLT35 Solar Lighting Tower is the latest product to come out of the EXlites stable.

Lucas. Unseen in all the right places. From tight urban situations to remote Australia, Lucas can meet the challenges of sustainable infrastructure engineering for local, state and national authorities.

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Our trenchless technology carried Sydney Water sewer lines 2,400 metres directly beneath Cascades Dam (above) in the Blue Mountains National Park, setting a world record. Lucas has built water and wastewater solutions in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Wollongong, Newcastle and is currently at work on Perth’s Southern Seawater Desalination Plant and the Gorgon Gas Project.

AJ Lucas Group Limited www.lucas.com.au Sydney (02) 9490 4000 Melbourne (03) 8615 7800 Perth (08) 6216 9800 Brisbane (07) 3235 8100

Other Lucas divisions install broadband infrastructure with minimal disruption in unique microtrenches, provide a range of water treatment and recycling solutions, and build water treatment plants, schools and public buildings.

2009 Sustainable Infrastructure Company of the Year

Lucas. Proud to be named Sustainable Infrastructure Company of the Year.

SUSTAINING AUSTRALIA

WATER TREATMENT & RECYCLING • PIPELINES • TRENCHLESS • CONSTRUCTION

Australian GovLink 2010

Contents Editor Kathryn Edwards Lead Designer Michael Griffiths Designers Kym Reichenbacher Bianca Fidge Marketing Co-ordinators Cheree Gordon Johnathon Dunstan Publisher Garth Wright

Foreword Chapter 1: Work Safety

> Worksafe Australia

> Work Safety: Master Builders Association

> Hickman & Morecraft Chapter 2: Security

> Security

Printer Newstyle Printing Co. Pty Ltd 41 Manchester Street Mile End, SA 5031 Phone: 08 8234 6155

> Internet Security

Advertising Renee Lambert 08 8113 9223

> Australian Green Infrastructure Council

> The Environment Council

> Australia and New Zealand Solar Energy Society

> Defence Environment

APRS Head OďŹ&#x192;ce Level 6, 38 Currie Street, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000 G.P.O Box 1746, Adelaide SA 5001 Phone: 08 8113 9200 Fax: 08 8113 9201 APRS Queensland OďŹ&#x192;ce Level 2, The Mansions 40 George Street, Brisbane, 4000 PO Box 15454 City East, Brisbane, Qld 4002 Phone: 07 3229 9766 Fax: 07 3229 3066

Chapter 3: Environment

Chapter 4: Water 96

> Water Secure

102

> Murray Darling Basin Commission

112

> Trenchless Australasia

Pre-Press: 08 8113 9206 Email: prepress@aprs.com.au Editor: 08 8113 9221 Email: kedwards@aprs.com.au

Chapter 5: Transport 120

> Fleet Management/Roadside safety

Disclaimer APRS is not committed to nor takes responsibility for the views expressed in articles or advertisements herein. The publishers could not possibly ensure that each advertisement published in this magazine complies with the Trade Practises Act and responsibility must therefore rest with the person, company or agency submitting the advertisement for publication.

Chapter 6: Disability/Access 144

> Disability Standards for Access to Premises

149

Chapter 7: Playground Safety

Australian GovLink 2010

>//There’s an answer to everything: Technology. That’s right. Everything. Technology is the solution. Whether it’s a leaking tap or an over~heated planet. That’s because technology isn’t just wires and flashing lights. It’s everything humanity has ever invented. Anything anyone thinks up to solve a problem using bits of the world around them. Everything has an answer, and the answer is technology. That’s why for more than 100 years, NEC has had a singular focus: <<Innovation>>. Because if technology is the answer, the question is, how do we make it better?

_We’re inventing the answers.

nec.com.au

Foreword from Geoff Lake

Geoff Lake

010 seems barely to have begun and yet it already has the feel of a year in which the foundations and directions for the next few years will be set. There are decisions to be made on possible major reforms to the taxation system (following release of the Henry Review), the future direction for climate change, implementation of the COAG health reforms and delivery of a national broadband network - and all this set against the backdrop of a Federal election. While these are major national issues, local government is also inextricably linked to each of these decisions, given its central role in delivering services and raising revenue at the local level. The important role that local government plays in the Australian federation is recognised by the Australian Local Government Association’s (ALGA) membership of the Council of Australian Governments, thirteen ministerial councils and numerous other intergovernmental bodies and forums. Local Government manages more than $210 billion of public infrastructure, employs more than 178,000 people and spends about $25 billion annually (about 2% of Australian annual GDP). These figures serve to underline the contribution local government makes to the daily

life of every Australian and also the importance of making sure that councils have the capacity to meet the needs of their local communities.

that is why ALGA continues to pursue a change to the Australian Constitution to provide for unfettered funding for local government.

The presence of local government in just about every local community across Australia was one of the strengths the Australian Government sought to take advantage of in providing more than $1 billion of community infrastructure funding direct to councils in 2009 and 2010 as part of the economic stimulus package. The impact of the crisis has been less severe in Australia then elsewhere, largely because of the speed and effectiveness of the stimulus measures, and councils have been pleased to have played their part. More than 3000 local projects have now been funded and completed, and this investment has gone to the heart of building and maintaining sustainable local communities.

The inclusion of local government in the Constitution is one of the key issues which ALGA is putting before the major political parties as part of the 2010 Election. Other key issues include: the inadequacy of overall funding for local government, the need to avoid cost shifting onto local government by the other levels of government, the need for targeted infrastructure support to maintain local roads and community infrastructure and the need for all levels of government to work collaboratively to address the climate change challenges facing Australia – challenges which will be felt most keenly at the local level.

The need for investment in community infrastructure was highlighted by ALGA in a report commissioned from PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) in 2006. The report showed that local government faced a funding gap for infrastructure renewals in the order of $14.5 billion and ALGA sought a a community infrastructure program from the Australian Government to help address this gap. While the stimulus funding has been eagerly welcomed by councils, ongoing funding in this area is still needed. The provision of the community infrastructure funding directly to councils also highlighted the desire of the Federal Government to work directly with local government, an arrangement which is threatened by uncertain constitutional arrangements. As it stands, there is no power in the Constitution for the Australian Government to directly fund local government. This is the conclusion that has been drawn by most constitutional law experts following the decision of the High Court last year in Pape v Federal Commissioner of Taxation. The implication of that decision for local government is that billions of dollars of direct federal funding – such as under the roads to recovery program – may be invalid and might need to be repaid. Clearly such a position is ludicrous in a modern federation and

Local government across Australia makes a major contribution to Australia’s federation. Councils play an important role in the everyday lives of all of us, whether its through using local government infrastructure such as roads, libraries, sporting ovals and swimming pools, through accessing services such as child care, youth and aged care services or through engaging in local government processes such as community planning and development assessment. Councils and their staff are committed to building happy, safe and vibrant communities. This is government at the level where is functions best - where people have a say in decisions and a stake in the outcome. It’s what distinguishes local government from the other levels of government and it’s why ALGA will continue to advocate strongly for local government interests at the national level to ensure that councils can continue to deliver for their communities.

ÂŠ Kodak copyright information will go here

Asset management legislation: turning compliance into business success by Kevin Atkins, Practice Leader – Asset Management, MWH

ollowing a 2005 PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) study for the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) on the financial sustainability of local government, a backlog of $14.5 billion in infrastructure renewals was identified. The federal government and a number of state governments have taken that study on board, recently undertaking reviews on the operating environments of local governments. Infrastructure assets exist to provide services to our communities and it is essential that assets be well maintained and renewed to ensure their useful life is optimised and service delivery is sustainable. Without established and robust asset management practices, organisations will have difficulty identifying and responding to reforms, population growth and changes in community needs/demands. The Commonwealth Government set a target to have all infrastructure asset classes managed by councils covered by asset management plans by December 2010. In his June 2009 ALGA address, Prime Minister Rudd stated that the “quality and transparency of financial management varies greatly across different local governments” and “we must improve asset management and financial management”. To support this, the Prime Minister established a $25 million Local Government Reform Fund to: •

assist councils in implementing new asset management and planning consistent with a national framework

•

fund the collection and analysis of robust data about councils’ infrastructure assets

•

support collaboration between councils on a regional basis for service delivery and planning.

meeting a set of criteria in financial forecasts and asset management plans. Similarly, the New South Wales Government developed an integrated planning and reporting framework for councils. The Local Government Amendment (Planning and Reporting) Act 2009 requires councils to support the development of Community Strategic Plans, Delivery Programs, Operational Plans and Annual Reporting. While some may see this as additional pressure on already strained resources, there are a number of opportunities for councils to improve their overall efficiency if managed at an organisational level. When similar legislation was introduced in New Zealand in 2002, councils learned that they must remain service or activity-focused. Whether an individual or department is responsible for maintaining water, roads or other services, they must strive to provide continuous and exemplary service to customers. Far from being a ‘tick and flick’ situation, councils should consider how to use this requirement to ensure financial sustainability for local communities. Through its introduction, senior council members will be in a stronger position to secure funding and plan for long-term financial sustainability. The development of asset management plans should now be well advanced to meet the Prime Minister’s requirements. The focus will shift to the integration of the asset management plans into the council corporate planning process to meet the requirements of legislation. In developing the asset management plans there are two key aspects that need to be highlighted: •

Asset management is a process; the development of a plan is documentary evidence of the outcomes of the process. Councils should ensure they have the asset management planning process well documented for repeatability.

•

The asset management plans (with a service focus) are a key component of the higher-level corporate plans. Establishing the linkages and integration with council corporate plans early will save time and effort in the future updates.

Since these announcements, some states have conducted reviews of their individual local government legislation. The Queensland Government’s assessment found the focus of efforts was largely short-term and that greater emphasis was required to plan for the sustained management of infrastructure. As a result, Queensland’s Local Government Act was amended to emphasise the importance of strategic planning. Under Queensland’s revised Local Government Act 2009, councils must demonstrate long-term financial sustainability by

It is most beneficial to identify an approach that complements what other supporting bodies are undertaking. By working in conjunction

with external providers and developing a clear link between a community plan and the more detailed delivery plans, councils are able to best manage limited resources. This helps councils identify the current state of affairs and provides them with a sound improvement plan to best manage their assets and services. By establishing early on which areas require greatest attention, and where the opportunities for improving efficiencies lie, councils will find that they will likely be in an even stronger position than they are today.

Kevin Atkins has more than 30 years of experience and is MWH’s Queenslandbased Asset Management Practice Leader. For further information, please contact him at: kevin.atkins@mwhglobal.com

T H E A W A R D W I N N I N G N H 6 0 0 0 I S N O W B R I L L I A N T LY A F F O R D A B L E .

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Whether illuminating a mine site, road works or a rock concert, the innovative NightShifter6000 mobile lighting tower is renowned for its versatile and highly functional design. And until June 30 2010, you can purchase this industryleading lighting tower at a massively reduced price. An industry crossbreed suited to both mining and civil applications, it features a unique space-saver mast for easy transport: up to eight towers can be transported in a 40â&#x20AC;&#x2122; container or ďŹ&#x201A;at-bed truck. To secure the exclusive price discount, you must act fast; a limited number of units are available.

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light

power

air

water

How can I see the future, right now?

Siemens Picture the Future: Australia It’s 2030. Australia’s population is 28 million. Issues from climate change, demographic change, urbanisation and globalisation have been addressed because the right technologies were implemented over the last 20 years. Water is now readily available in all urban and agricultural areas despite erratic rainfall. Our energy efficient buildings, industry and transportation are powered by electricity from low emission and renewable technologies. We export clean electricity to Asia and no longer have a water crisis. This is our picture of the future. What’s yours? Join our discussion about Australia’s future in water, energy, environment, healthcare, productivity, mobility, safety and security. www.siemens.com.au/ptf

Innovation for generations.

Picture the Future Siemens vision for a sustainable future How do you picture your future? Where do you see Australia by the year 2030?

iemens Australia sees opportunity amongst the many challenges that our country and our world face today.

Social trends in Australia and across the world indicate that we will be facing the most significant challenges we have ever confronted. These challenges are created by global megatrends such as Climate Change, Demographic Change, Urbanisation and Globalisation. Some of the local issues arising from these megatrends emerge in the areas of Water, Energy, Environment, Healthcare, Productivity, Mobility, Safety and Security. But the real test will be how we address these challenges and how a country like Australia adapts to significant changes. As these issues confront us it is human nature to stay firmly focused on the immense challenge before us, but at Siemens, the team sees these challenges as exciting opportunities. To develop a compelling vision on how to Picture Australia’s Future, Siemens commissioned an extensive and collaborative research project that involved over 22 validation partners, 85 research groups from around the country assessing over 150 existing reports to validate the findings. These validation partners developed a series of testing protocols to complete a full assessment of Australia’s two biggest challenges water and energy. These testing models assessed Australia’s potential to create a more viable and sustainable energy mix, deal with our increased energy demands, secure our water supply and cope with the demand of a larger population by 2030. Led by Albert Goller, Chairman and Managing Director of Siemens Australia, Albert sees the future of Australia’s growth firmly and strongly imbedded in our abilities to harness our natural resources that we have in abundance. “Australia has the potential to produce more renewable energy than many of the other superpowers of the world, including Russia, China and the US.” “To do this technology and innovation can play a pivotal role in Australia’s capacity to restore, secure and manage the availability of water and provide sustainable energy through growth.” Mr Goller said.

Australian GovLink 2010

But where have we come from? Australia is a growing nation, we are unique, a nation rich in reserves of natural resources; including coal, minerals, gas and uranium. These natural resources have made our energy costs inexpensive and readily accessible. This combined with the fact that these natural resources have historically provided Australia with significant financial and economic strength make it difficult for our business and industry experts to explore other competitive or more lucrative economic advantages. But Australia is also rich in other natural sources of energy. A country blessed with natural sunlight and wide open spaces, Siemens pictures a future where Australia leads the rest of the world in the generation of renewable power.

Siemens picture of the future In response to our unique situation, Siemens has created a technology blueprint which clearly defines how Australia can achieve water availability and sustainable energy by 2030. Using only the latest technology that is available today, Siemens has provided a blueprint to address some of Australia’s greatest challenges and transform them into opportunities for our future generations. This technology blueprint is steered by how Siemens sees the future of water and energy in Australia, which can be summarised by the following:

Picture the Future of energy... ––

where we provide sustainable energy to all Australians,

––

where we export clean electricity to South East Asia,

––

where energy efficiency becomes a way of life, and,

––

where Australia’s road transport fleet is fully electrified, powered by renewable energy.

Picture the Future of water... ––

where water is always available to support Australia’s growth,

––

where we continue to have the world’s highest quality water,

––

where Australia has the world’s best practice farming and irrigation, and,

––

where we can assist mother nature in restoring her natural inland water resources.

How do we get there? Siemens sees Australia making measurable changes over the next 20 years in the way that we source our energy, and further to this the potential we have to diversify our energy mix. The Siemens picture sees Australia sourcing 40 percent of their total energy supply from a mix of energy efficient and sustainable renewables Of this around 30 percent of this mix will be a combination of wind and solar energy produced comprehensively by our own natural resources. We no longer source the majority of our energy from fossil fuels but where we cleverly integrate our solar and gas supplies together and transition away from a reliance on coal towards renewable energy. Siemens proposes that the technology blueprint for Energy should include a high voltage DC transmission supply, capable of transmitting and exporting electricity to South-East Asia. It is Siemens vision to implement smart-grid technologies to allow the matching of demand to renewable generation thereby greatly increasing the precision of our energy grid. Given the immense potential that exists in this space, Siemens sees Australia as leading the world in energy and providing new and innovative solutions that will link up with vast distances from east to west and north to south. Critical to our success will be a reinvigoration of our supply-chain and a reinvention of a society dependent on cars. In the Siemens picture, our car fleet will be electrified and powered by renewable energy, reducing our carbon emissions and allowing us to meet or exceed our carbon emissions targets. In water the picture also has incredible potential for growth. The prediction that the Siemens research has uncovered suggests that by 2030 over 45 percent of our urban water supply will come from saltwater desalination. Like our potential to build growth in our energy sector Siemens also sees incredible potential in the capacity to convert our abundant supply of saltwater to clean, safe and chemical free drinking water. Technological advancements will see us

successfully producing water with 65 percent less energy – ensuring our environmental footprint is reduced by up to 80 percent. And by 2030, these advancements might secure an even higher efficiency level. In the future the reuse of wastewater will become commonplace. By 2030, 22 percent of urban water, that is currently unused, will be reused for irrigation both industrial and outdoor use – including school sporting fields and outdoor recreation areas. The wastewater plants will support themselves by producing their own power through the extraction of plant waste and effluent to be retreated and used as biogas. Extracting nitrogen and phosphorus from this wastewater could also provide the local agriculture industry with an alternative fertiliser source. Like energy, essential to our success in water availability will be to maximise our water reserves through the use of technological instrumentation available to support a fully integrated and connected smart water grid. Farmers would have the capacity to track and precisely monitor the use of their water giving us greater control on how much water we take from our natural streams and rivers. The vision however complex, in combination, has immense potential and ensures that Australia leads the world in the supply, distribution and preservation of water and energy for ourselves and neighbouring countries.

From left to right: Chris Davis (University of Technology Sydney); Ian Storie (Siemens Water Technologies); Albert Goller (Siemens Chief Executive Officer); Michael Bielinski (Siemens Energy Sector); and, Paul Graham (CSIRO Energy Economist) at the launch of Siemens Picture the Future: Australia - Water and Energy, in Melbourne.

of Newcastle, Monash University, Parsons Brinckerhoff, South East Water, and The Warren Centre for Advanced Engineering.

Our efforts to move in a sustainable direction over the next 20 years could provide Australia with a competitive advantage over the world. The Siemens Picture the Future blueprint positions us for this future, it is achievable and Siemens has the will to start today.

Commenting on the significance of the research, Paul Graham from the CSIRO said: “Siemens’ Picture the Future research provides valuable targets for using Australian-based greenhouse gas abatement options in the energy and transport sectors that simultaneously enhance our industrial base while addressing climate change. It helps us imagine how we can transform our electricity sector in a way that enhances its role in the economy as well as its contribution to greenhouse gas reduction.”

iemens Picture the Future: Australia – Energy and Water (PTF), is the first research in Australia focussing on technology as the enabler for a sustainable future. It is the culmination of work done in Australia and Germany involving numerous Siemens researchers and a validation process with 22 of Australia’s leading industry bodies including the CSIRO, ABARE, the Bureau of Meteorology, The Clean Energy Council, University Technology Sydney, The University

Chris Davis from University of Technology Sydney reflected on the findings of the research for Australia’s future in water supply saying; “Making urban water systems sustainable for the long haul is challenging and demands complex interventions. Companies like Siemens, which can produce everything from a membrane water purification plant to a washing machine and, crucially, can integrate and control all the components intelligently, are the way of the future.”

Albert Goller, Chairman and Managing Director for Siemens Australia Ltd started with Siemens in Germany in 1973 and moved through a successful career in executive positions. Since arriving in Australia, Albert and has seen Siemens grow into a technology solutions provider in water, energy, environment, healthcare, productivity, mobility, safety and security. Key findings from the Picture the Future: Australia - Water and Energy research has now been released. A research brief can be downloaded by visiting www.siemens.com.au/ptf

Stepping up a grade Wentworth Shire Council is considered the gateway to outback New South Wales. It sits on the junction of the Murray and Darling Rivers 585 kilometres north-west of Melbourne and, though it covers 26,000 square kilometres, it’s home to just 8,000 residents. In this arid and sometimes-harsh environment the shire manages 2,530 kilometres of local roads, 1,700 kilometres of which are unsealed. The shire undertakes the major reconstruction of eight to twelve kilometres of road each year.

ong-serving shire employee and current infrastructure manager, Ray Egan, is justifiably proud of the shire’s in-house construction team. They employ about a dozen field personal, as well as administration and design staff. ‘We control the lot, from design through to construction. The only work we need to subcontract is stabilising and sealing,’ said Ray. Every year the shire undertakes the major reconstruction of eight to twelve kilometres of road. These works include upgrading bare earth roads up to those properly formed with local limestone gravel sub-grade. This is on top of an extensive re-sheeting program. The remoteness of some works means the construction crew often travel for several days, making product support and machine reliability key priorities. So it’s little wonder that the comprehensive product support program at the William Adams branches in Mildura and Swan Hill were important factors for the shire when they purchased their very first Caterpillar 140M motor grader. ‘These days we simply don’t have the knowledge to do infield diagnosis of current machines and trucks. We rely on support from dealers,’ commented 17-year veteran and fleet supervisor, Greg Cooper. ‘The peace of mind that the William Adams’ product support package brings upfront – with its guaranteed back-up machine and the ability for us to monitor the machine remotely with Product Link – makes the

Australian GovLink 2010

Cat a stand-out purchasing decision for us.’ There’s no doubt that both the shire and operator Wayne Follett were keen to try out the new M-series, with its revolutionary joystick control system, after a couple of sessions on the Cat grader simulators. As part of their tender evaluation Wentworth Shire used a Cat M-series grader during actual construction work, with dealer operator/demonstrator, John Merlo, also in attendance. ‘A proper explanation of the M-series dispelled any myths about the new controls. I was very impressed with how quickly Wayne adapted to the 140M in his day-to-day activities,’ commended John.

Early to embrace guidance technology, the new Cat 140M delivered in April this year features Caterpillar’s Accugrade integrated cross-slope system, replacing a 12-year-old system on the 20,000+ hour Cat 140G grader the shire traded in. The benefit of the Cat integrated electronics means that the machine is designed to operate with the cross-slope system from the factory, ensuring the highest possible reliability and accuracy which improves the productivity in reallife operating situations. ‘We adopted cross-slope system many years ago. If you keep your crown in the middle with the cross-slope activated you know you’ve got the right height and even material on both sides,’ confirmed operator Wayne Follett. With over 30 years of operating experience, Wayne’s response to the new M-series was very positive. ‘The way I can operate several functions simultaneously – even under load – is impressive,’ he explained. ‘In our environment I could be following straight behind the dozer clearing trees, or I could be cutting the batters, trimming the final layer of gravel or forming the road surface. It’s tough going for a grader but the 140M is proving it’s up to the job.’ Brendan Elliott, territory manager in the William Adams Victorian north-west region, sums it up well. ‘William Adams offers a total package: extensive warranty, guaranteed back-up, turn-key technology, simplified maintenance and a grader design that has changed the industry for the better,’ he said.

The 140M motor grader is a welcome addition to the Wentworth Shire Council fleet.

CATERPILLAR & GOVERNMENT A REWARDING PARTNERSHIP At Caterpillar, we’re here to ensure you get the products, support, parts and solutions you need to keep your projects on track – and we’re here for the life of every machine you purchase. Plus with the help of Life Cycle Costing analysis, we can determine the whole-of-life owning and operating costs of each machine – to keep your budget on track too. To find out more about the extensive range of Caterpillar products and solutions, contact your local Cat® dealer today. www.cat.com.au/governmental

NSW/ACT - WesTrac: 1300 881 064 WA - WesTrac: 1300 881 064 VIC - William Adams: (03) 9566 0666 TAS - William Adams: (03) 6326 6366 QLD/NT - Hastings Deering: 131 228

SA - Cavpower: (08) 8343 1600 NZ - Goughs: (03) 983 2333 New Caledonia - Caltrac: 687 438 181 P.N.G. & Solomon Islands Hastings Deering: 675 300 8300

© 2010 Caterpillar. CAT, CATERPILLAR, their respective logos, “Caterpillar Yellow,” the “Power Edge” trade dress as well as corporate and product identity used herein, are trademarks of Caterpillar and may not be used without permission.

Security: it covers far more than you might think

overnment organisations, like any organisation that stores and process sensitive information, have an acute understanding of the need for security.

Analyst surveys routinely place security in the top 10 concerns and areas for investment among CIOs. The latest Gartner global list of CIO concerns in 2010 ranks security at number eight. However, lumping all government organisations together with the same concerns and considerations is obviously foolish – there are a huge range of differences depending on the department. Museums, schools and libraries have different security needs to the Tax office. Local council authorities need to protect against different threats than hospitals. The emergency services face more immediate threats on personal safety, requiring different considerations for security again and border security provides another challenge. The one common denominator is the role that IT can play in addressing these needs. To cover everything would require far more space than this piece allows, so instead, this article will take a look at some scenarios and examples where security is paramount and investigate the role that IT can play in addressing them.

Data centre security At present, many government departments run their own IT infrastructure, but there are moves towards a shared services approach. It’s a topic that comes up in all of our conversations and means that rather than each agency separately building, maintaining and securing its own systems, they each use a single centrally built infrastructure which can be leveraged by multiple agencies. It’s what’s known as the private cloud in which all the computing power and applications are accessed remotely. The benefits can be substantial in terms of reduced operating costs and maintenance. But just as you’re putting all your eggs in one basket, you need to be very sure that basket is safe. Securing a data centre isn’t a simple job, there is a lot to take into account and it’s something that is going to be critical for existing facilities and the proposed new government data centres. For private sector organisations there are commercial, brand and market value implications to face in the event of severe security breaches;

Australian GovLink 2010

for government there are potential national security implications. The first level is network security; making sure that the right protection is in place to stop unauthorised electronic access to information. A sophisticated barrier of firewalls, anti malware, and protection against Distributed Denial of Service attacks (DDoS) are obvious, but the key is to ensure they can operate at scale. Often security means a trade off on performance so ensuring that the right balance is struck is essential. Of course if you’re sharing a network infrastructure and storage, there is going to be a need to effectively partition information so that information is available to some and not to others. This is what’s called a multi-tenant approach, which allows common infrastructure to be used quite independently by different users. Think of an apartment block; the building itself, the stairs, lifts, lobby and entrance security are all shared infrastructure, but each apartment is itself partitioned and secured from others. And just like each tenant has their own keys allowing them to only access their apartment, different departments and even different users should have individual identities and access rights. Physical security is another consideration. It’s no good having the most sophisticated online security if someone can walk into the data centre and walk out with a USB key full of vital information. It’s unheard of to have this level of openness in a modern data centre, but what about protection against other types of sabotage or terrorist attack? Can the data centre continue to operate if the power lines are cut? What about if the water supply – essential for cooling – is stopped? Data centres are rated based on their performance in these areas and the higher rated data centres are designed to resist malicious attack. You wouldn’t all your operations in the highest rating data centre, because for local council websites as an example this is clearly overkill, but there are plenty of operations and types of information where the highest security is paramount. NEC operates two maximum security data centres in Australia – Polaris in Queensland, which represents Australia’s most advanced data centre and the Melbourne data centre.

Physical security We touched briefly on securing the physical and individual access to a data centre, but for

governments the issue of physical security can mean far more. Certainly the physical security requirements of government organisations are significant and vary widely. There are increasing requirements for security surveillance technology that enables government to protect critical data and infrastructure, as well as maintain national security and the safety of the Australian public. These days CCTV or security surveillance technology is incorporated as part of a company’s end-to-end IT strategy. Gone are the days where physical security means just two to three guards checking vehicles and wandering around company premises. Increasingly security surveillance is managed as part of the company’s IT infrastructure. Government demand for CCTV surveillance and video analytics as a total surveillance solution is growing. Government requires surveillance

technology to monitor activity at large public gathering areas, such as sporting arenas and city squares. It is also required to identify suspicious activity at major government utilities and national defence infrastructure, including airports, major sea ports, freeways and bridges, boarder control points, Defence sites, water storage plants and power stations. In high risk scenarios, it is critical that the delay from incident reporting to response is rapid. By combining physical security with CCTV surveillance and video analytics as a total surveillance solution, government bodies can identify unusual or suspicious behaviour in real time, 24 x7, and respond quickly. The Government’s National Gallery of Australia, for example, recently deployed NEC’s SmartCatch, an advanced video surveillance technology that identifies potential security breaches based on pre-programmed behaviours.

The Gallery uses the technology to track visitor numbers, increase security and gain greater control over its environmental systems – crucial to protecting priceless works of art. The gallery is home to over 100,000 works of art and employs a 20 strong conservation team to ensure they are kept in pristine condition. A key element is environmental control to ensure that the temperature, relative humidity, air quality, and light levels are optimum. These are all affected by the number of visitors in each room, which the gallery can now measure and control electronically with NEC Smartcatch technology, to ensure that overcrowding is minimised and the environment is kept at a manageable level.

Biometrics In addition to CCTV and monitoring technology, physical security controls are being extended to

identity and access management to ensure that access is given, both physically and electronically, to the right person. It is in this area that biometrics has steadily made the transition from Hollywood blockbuster to real life. Fingerprint recognition is now widely regarded and used in many security applications around the World, but retina scans and even facial recognition are emerging technologies which provide added levels of security. If users had fingerprint scanners on their desk – or built into their machines as some laptops now feature – then you add an even greater level of security beyond the ID and password combination, which is easily broken. Combine that with data being stored in highly secure data centres, accessed remotely, rather than on eminently losable laptops and the risk of embarrassing data leaks is significantly reduced. And try gaining unauthorised access to a data centre facility if you need to fool retina and facial scanners.

Assessing the risk The implications for government bodies not sufficiently addressing physical security threats to critical data, infrastructure and the public can be catastrophic. It is paramount that government organisations are aware of the latest developments in IT security to ensure the optimal safety of the people and the nation’s assets. One of the biggest inhibitors to deploying advanced security solutions is cost. Many organisations won’t deploy much-needed security solutions until after they have experienced a significant security breach. And many do not fully understand the significant cost and performance benefits associated with deploying a complete secure IT environment from the outset. Government security is not a topic that can be adequately explored in just 1400 words, but what this article has hopefully done is highlight some of the issues that need to be addressed. We all know that we need anti-virus technology, firewalls and a focus on patch management, but that’s often just the start. Thinking holistically about the level of threat government faces, where it’s coming from, where it is likely to be directed and the implications of a breach will take in far more than many realise.

How to unify your wireless architecture without limiting performance or flexibility So much is happening today to give you a chance to rethink your wireless architecture. The good news is the ROI in terms of lower IT management costs and increased productivity can more than pay for the effort.

he good news is the ROI in terms of lower IT management costs and increased productivity can more than pay for the effort.

“Unified wired and wireless offerings promise to reduce the time and effort required for network diagnostics, troubleshooting, and dayto-day network management and maintenance tasks,” according to a recent report from the analyst firm IDC. Given that those ongoing tasks make up approximately 70% of the total cost of ownership of a network, unification is obviously worth considering. We are witnessing the maturity of mobility, as it becomes increasingly controlled and managed as part of corporate architecture and strategy. However, it often requires a capital investment to save on operating costs. The availability of higher bandwidth offered by the 802.11n standard and the explosion of applications that need it may provide another push towards a new architecture that can handle the increase from 802.11g’s 54 Mbps to 300 Mbps for 11n. Voice over IP, eLearning, video conferencing, IP Surveillance and the increasing use of video on business websites demand 802.11n’s higher bandwidth are just some of the applications.

Stepping Up To A Wireless Switch Given that much management of enterprise networks revolves around the switching infrastructure, it makes sense to roll up sets of AP’s into switches that are similar to ordinary managed switches with additional wireless controller capabilities. Unified management of wireless switches and the APs connected to them is somewhat simpler than the master/slave AP hierarchies that lower the number of points you need to manage. Control over RF. Another wireless switch capability to look for is control over RF configuration, including channel selection and signal strength. Ideally, look for a wireless switch that automatically minimizes interference between APs and maximizes seamless coverage within a building or across a campus by selecting channels and setting signal strength.

Centralized Security. One of the important considerations is to tie into the security infrastructure and processes already in place for your wired infrastructure.

Seamless Roaming. Look for a solution to provide seamless wireless roaming across all the APs connected to it if

Here’s what to look for in wireless architecture

A Layer 3 stack of wireless switches adds the ability to roam among APs connected to a logical grouping of switches. From the end user point of view, not having to re-authenticate.

Unifying Management

D-Link’s Unified Wireless Approach

One guiding principle is to realize that wireless technology has moved from a convenience overlaid on a wired infrastructure and managed in an ad hoc fashion to a mission-critical service that needs to be secure, seamless and flawless in coverage, and managed efficiently.

D-Link’s wireless management capabilities allow you to control, configure and monitor all D-Link switches and Wireless APs from the same single pane of glass, significantly reducing operation overhead and total cost of ownership. D-Link’s unified management pulls wireless into the automated end-to-end security, configuration, monitoring, reporting and group firmware upgrades that distinguish D-Link’s overall network solutions.

If you are still living with an implementation of wireless that is layered on top of your wired infrastructure, you may find that you have to log into each Access Point (AP) to check its health and change configurations. As a first step, you need to move to an architecture that provides a single point of management control.

Australian GovLink 2010

Scalability. As many as 256 D-Link Access Points supporting as many as 2000 WLAN clients can be connected

by 8 logically stacked wireless switches to support seamless roaming throughout the largest of buildings and campuses

Ease of installation and operation. D-Link’s solutions adjust each AP’s wireless signal and channel to mitigate interference. If an AP drops, the wireless “hole” is closed by raising the signals of adjacent APs. In addition, the wireless and PoE compatibility of D-Link’s APs can eliminate the need to run Ethernet cable or electrical power, and D-Link’s plenum-rated business-class APs can be placed in air ducts without violating stringent fire regulations.

Professional Services. D-Link’s Wireless Site Survey is the starting point for a successful wireless LAN upgrade or initial implementation. D-Link’s wireless network expertise results in an accurate survey and documentation of the RF (Radio Frequency) characteristics of your facilities. An interview process takes it the next step to an equipment specification, site placement and configuration plan that optimizes coverage and can handle the wireless bandwidth, application and security demands of your business, now and in the future.

www.ironplanet.com 1300 799 774

RA & AR Young liquidate fleet

through IronPlanet’s auctions RA & AR online Young liquidate fleet

through IronPlanet’s online auctions

ronPlanet (www.ironplanet.com), the world’s leading online auction company for used construction and agricultural equipment recently conducted an auction helping Robert Young, director of RA & AR Young Pty Ltd., enter into(www.ironplanet. retirement equipment free. The online IronPlanet auction hosted by IronPlanet liquidated the com), the world’s leading online company’s remaining assets totalling $186,000.

RA & AR Young Pty Ltd

Having an IronPlanet inspector come to auction company for used New to the online auction experience, Young an IronPlanet inspector come to my yard to inspect the construction and agricultural my yard to Having inspect sold many large pieces of equipment such as a equipment recently conducted equipment made the whole sale process easy, hasslefree and Bitelli Vibratory Single Drum Compactor, 2004 the equipment made an auction helping Robert Young, eliminated all the additional transportation costs. Takeuchi Mini Excavator, 1995 Caterpillar Wheel director of RA & AR Young Pty Ltd., Loader and John Deere Motor Grader at an the whole sale The whole process was easy and I received far better results enterIronPlanet into retirement equipment auction. IronPlanet’s global market outreach and guaranteed free. The online auctioninspection hostedreports process easy, thanhassleI ever expected. generated significant interest in the auction and by IronPlanet liquidated the specific items, resulting in higher selling pricesfree and eliminated company’s remaining assets for Young’s equipment. all the additional totalling $186,000. ‘Prior to my first IronPlanet online auction, New Ito the online auction transportation costs. consistently incurred additional costs experience, Young soldfrom many transporting equipment auction to auction The whole process was to my location on the NSWsuch coast,’ said Robert largedue pieces of equipment Young, retired director Single of RA & AR Young Pty Ltd. as a Bitelli Vibratory easy and I received ‘Having an IronPlanet inspector come to my yard Drum Compactor, 2004 Takeuchi to inspect the equipment made the whole salefar better results than I Mini Excavator, 1995 Caterpillar process easy, hassle-free and eliminated all the Wheel Loader and Johncosts. Deere About IronPlanet additional transportation ever expected.

“

”

Motor Grader at an IronPlanet ‘Additionally, IronPlanet’s customer care auction. IronPlanet’s global ‘Additionally, IronPlanet’s associates walked me through the process, market outreach and guaranteed customer care associates walked answered all of my questions and kept me inspection reports generated me through the process, answered updated on my equipment’s bidding activity,’ said Young. ‘Since this wasin mythe first auction online auction, I all of my questions and kept significant interest didn’t knowitems, what to resulting expect. The whole and specific in processme updated on my equipment’s was easy and I received far better results higher selling prices for Young’s than Ibidding activity,’ said Young. ‘Since ever expected; even better than what I probably equipment. this was my first online auction, would have received from traditional auctions.’ I didn’t know what to expect. The ‘PriorAbout to myIronPlanet first IronPlanet online whole process was easy and I auction, I consistently incurred IronPlanet is the world’s leading online auctionreceived far better results than I additional transporting companycosts for used construction and agricultural ever expected; even better than equipment from auction to more auction equipment. Our sellers achieve profitable what I probably would have sales through lower transaction costs and better due to my location on the NSW price realisations through a global audience ofreceived from traditional auctions.’ coast,’ said Robert Young, retired buyers. Our guaranteed inspection reports and director of RA & AR Young Pty Ltd. exclusive IronClad Assurance enable buyers to bid ‘Having an IronPlanet inspector with a high degree of confidence. IronPlanet is comebacked to my to inspect byyard Accel Partners, Kleinerthe Perkins Cauflield equipment theKomatsu wholeand sale and Byers,made Caterpillar, Volvo. process easy, hassle-free and For more information about how IronPlanet can eliminated all the additional assist local government in the disposal of assets, transportation costs.or contact your IronPlanet go to ironplanet.com

IronPlanet is the world’s leading online auction company for used construction and agricultural equipment. Our sellers achieve more profitable sales through lower transaction costs and better price realisations through a global audience of buyers. Our guaranteed inspection reports and exclusive IronClad Assurance enable buyers to bid with a high degree of confidence. IronPlanet is backed by Accel Partners, Kleiner Perkins Cauflield and Byers, Caterpillar, Komatsu and Volvo.

www.ironplanet.com 1300 799 774 For more information about how IronPlanet can assist local government in the disposal of assets, go to ironplanet.com or contact your IronPlanet National Accounts Manager Chris Jackson at cjackson@ironplanet.com.

RA & AR Young liquidate fleet through IronPlanet’s online auctions

National Accounts Manager Chris Jackson at cjackson@ironplanet.com.

Australian GovLink 2010

IronPlanet (www.ironplanet.

RA & AR Young Pty Ltd

RA &

Kennards Hire

ennards Hire has an extensive range of equipment and ability to quickly mobilise that equipment means we can support large construction and mining projects anywhere in Australia. Knuckle booms, telehandlers, generators and extra high head pumps are a standard part of our inventory. So we’re fully geared up to partner with local councils, government agencies, utilities and civil contractors. We’re proud to have supplied equipment to many high profile projects The Lane Cove Tunnel is a key link in Sydney’s motorway network. Kennards Hire supplied lighting towers and barricades, essential for night work in the congested areas around the site which enabled rapid completion of the project. With work on the Sydney Desalination Plant progressing around the clock, Kennards has provided after hours delivery of lighting towers, air compressors, generators and welders to help the project stay on schedule. We have substantially expanded our fleet of

compaction equipment, especially articulated ride on rollers. These have been essential to the construction of the Heidelberg TAFE campus, due to their superb performance and manoeuvrability. Our earthmoving equipment was recently put to good use on the roof of Melbourne’s Crown Casino. Two 3.5 tonne excavators and a skid steer loader made light work of removing the rooftop garden. They met the roof’s weight rating but were powerful enough to get the job done fast. Kennards Hire regularly partners with local councils, and their repair crews rely on us to make their job easy. We supply 4 tonne tabletop trucks which are customised to suit their needs. These include lockable purpose built tool boxes, water receptacles and storage areas complete with hydraulic hammers, quick cut saws and rammers. We played an essential role in the redevelopment of the Townsville Correctional Centre by providing state-of-the art modular lightweight shoring. Kennard’s Trench Mate system not only protected the contractors who were installing new sewer lines, it also facilitated on the job efficiency.

In South Australia, Kennards provided a multitude of large generators, distribution boards, compressors, hoses, and welders for Geodynamic’s Innamincka Hot Rocks project. We’re also involved in the TransAdelaide Rail upgrade, in addition to supplying 30 light towers for the ABB Grain harvest. In remote regions like the Pilbara, our compaction equipment played a critical role in delivering rail infrastructure. Rio Tinto’s Mesa J Rail extension and BHP Billiton’s Yandi Mine Rail upgrade faced similar problems of narrow pipe and conduit trenches, which prevented contractor access and the use of standard compaction equipment. Kennards provided remote control rollers which easily compacted the trenches and also achieved significant dust suppression. As a result of our ongoing capital investment program, and thanks to the size, scale and reach of the Kennards Hire network, you have access to an extensive range of modern equipment regardless of where in Australia you’re working.

Power and Pump Allight delivers back-up pump system Allight responds to growing demand for combined standby power and water management with the launch of Godwin Dri-Prime Backup Systems in Australia.

system, on the other hand, provides a totally independent pumping solution in all emergency situations, including transfer switch malfunction, control panel and auto-control failures, and submersible pump failure.”

According to Paul Sowerby, Allight Director of Sales and Marketing, the shift to new back-up technology has been driven by calls from local councils and water authorities.

“The new system essentially makes the old style lift-station-plus-generator set-up redundant. There’s no longer any need to spend money on a back-up generator for a pump when a back-up pump can handle both jobs,” concluded Sowerby

anufactured in the UK and available in Australia exclusively through Allight, the Dri-Prime Back-up System combines the functions of a back-up generator and pump in one compact package.

“We recognised that there’s a pressing need for a dependable and unified power and pumping solution in local government and industries. The solution we’ve delivered meets those needs and easily extends to construction and mining applications,” said Sowerby. “The back-up system offers the peace-of-mind of a reliable contingency plan for lift stations and dewatering.” “In the event of power, switch gear or sewerage pump failure, the system continues to pump uninterrupted, and provides primary pumping during maintenance.” As Sowerby explained, a lift station generator can only handle loss of mains power. “The back-up

Australian GovLink 2010

Dri-Prime Backup Systems range from 76mm to 250mm in size, with flows of up to 350L per second, heads of up to 220m and solids handling of up to 95mm in diameter. Godwin has designed and manufactured pumps and supporting systems for over 100 years and, according to Allight, is the undisputed leader in the pumps industry. Allight supplies the Dri-Prime Backup Systems alongside Godwin pumps, Perkins diesel engines, FG Wilson generators, Rotair air compressors and its own range of mobile lighting towers.

The Godwin Dri-Prime Back-up Pump system is a compact unit that combines the functions of a back-up generator and pump.

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First class components Cummins Engines Thousands of part line items in stock We are commited to supporting customers with excellent construction equipment & services NSW LiuGong Machinery Australia (02) 9748 1200 VICTORIA WindmillAG (03) 5334 7555 QUEENSLAND Brisvegas (07) 3277 2276 WESTERN AUSTRALIA Niche Equipment (08) 9475 1659

114 BALLANDELLA RD PENDLE HILL, NSW 2145 CALL DANIEL 0434 576 678 www.robboattachments.com

SKIDSTEER | BACKHOE | MINI EXCAVATOR LOWEST PRICES | HIGHEST QUALITY | RAPID DELIVERY

North South East Quest

Your perfect travel companion.

Welcome to Quest Canberra. Developed within the heritage charm of the Melbourne Building, Quest Canberra offers a range of recently refurbished studio, one and two bedroom apartments, featuring spacious and comfortable living spaces, fully equipped kitchens and laundry facilities. The property’s CBD location provides convenient access to Canberra’s business and legal precincts with a variety of high-end restaurants and bars located within the Melbourne Building. Quest Canberra is also within walking distance to entertainment districts, shopping and tourist attractions, with Parliament House only two kilometres away. Quest Canberra is one of more than 125 Quest properties across Australasia, conveniently located where business takes place in CBD, suburban and key regional hubs. Consistent, familiar and reliable service ensures corporate and leisure guests have a home away from home experience.

Interior photographs

Quest Canberra For reservations call (02) 6243 2222 Melbourne Building, 28 West Row, Canberra City ACT 2601 www.questcanberra.com.au The Quest Serviced Apartment Group – over 125 properties throughout Australia, New Zealand & Fiji.

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Work Safety

Work Safety is everybody’s business The harmonisation of work health and safety laws across Australia aims to reduce the incidence of work related death, injury and disease.

afe Work Australia is the principal national organisation driving policy development in work health and safety with the aim to achieve the best possible approach to health and safety for all Australian workers. Safe Work Australia represents a partnership between the Commonwealth, state and territory governments, the Australian Council of Trade Unions, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Australian Industry Group.

for Regulatory and Operational Reform in Occupational Health and Safety (IGA), which commits the Commonwealth, state and territory governments to the harmonisation of work health and safety laws. An independent panel reviewed work health and safety laws in each jurisdiction and submitted the National Review into Model Occupational Health and Safety Laws, to the Workplace Relations Ministers’ Council (WRMC) in January 2009. Two comprehensive reports made recommendations on the optimal structure and content of a Model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act that could be adopted in all jurisdictions by December 2011.

Tragically, in 2007-08 there were 232 work-related fatalities in Australia and 131 110 people made workers’ compensation claims resulting in one week or more absence from work. The transport and storage industry had the highest incidence rate, followed by the agriculture, forestry and fishing industry.

Safe Work Australia developed an exposure draft of the Model WHS Act which was released for public comment in September 2009. In response to the exposure draft, Safe Work Australia received 480 submissions from individuals, unions, businesses, industry associations, governments, academics and community organisations.

Effectively managing work health and safety issues not only ensures a safer workplace for all Australians, but has a very significant effect on performance and productivity. The estimated total economic cost of work-related injuries and illnesses to Australia’s economy is $57.5 billion. This represents just less than six per cent of Australia’s Gross Domestic Product.

To ensure the model work health and safety laws will be relevant and applicable to all Australian workplaces, Safe Work Australia incorporated a number of proposals that were raised during the public consultation process into the re-drafted model WHS Act. WRMC endorsed the model WHS Act on 11 December 2009.

Currently all states, territories and the Commonwealth are responsible for making and enforcing their own work health and safety laws. Although these draw on a similar approach for regulating workplaces, there are some differences in the application and detail of the laws. It is the inconsistency of the laws that make regulating work health and safety standards across Australia difficult. This issue is now being addressed by the Council of Australian Governments through the signing of an Intergovernmental Agreement

Safe Work Australia is currently developing model WHS Regulations, model Codes of Practice and a national compliance and enforcement policy to support the model WHS Act. Businesses and individuals will have the opportunity to provide comments on the model WHS Regulations during a four month public consultation process, after they are approved by WRMC in late 2010. The Commonwealth, state and territory governments have agreed to enact the

model WHS Act and the model WHS Regulations by December 2011. Some model Codes of Practice may be developed and implemented at the same time as the model WHS Regulations. However, development and implementation of further model Codes of Practice and guidance material will continue beyond December 2011. When the harmonised work health and safety laws are in place across Australia, businesses and workers will be able to comply more easily with their work health and safety responsibilities because the requirements will largely be the same, regardless of how many states and territories they operate in. Harmonising work health and safety laws in this way will cut red tape, boost business efficiency and provide greater certainty and protections for everyone. For more information on the harmonisation of work health and safety laws, please visit www. safeworkaustralia.gov.au.

Post GFC risk management focus Looking back, 2009 was a year of continuing global recession, the swine flu pandemic, global financial fraud, and the threat of insolvency for many organisations throughout the world. Now, more than ever, organisations are looking for ways in which to mitigate risk and guidance on identifying the practices and approaches that could be utilised to improve the effectiveness of their own strategies. Risk concerns For the first time in many years there has been a slight decline in the risk ratings of half of the top 20 risk concerns, reflecting a more positive outlook for 2010 compared to 2009. Despite this, the remaining half displayed slightly increased ratings, indicative of the current cautious climate. ‘Brand and image’ remained the top risk concern for the third consecutive year and also the top risk concern for the public sector. Although not a causal risk, the effect of other risks on brand and image is increasingly seen to be potentially very damaging.

he findings from Aon’s 2009/10 Australasian Risk Management Benchmarking Survey sourced information from over 530 corporate and public sector organisations across Australia and New Zealand, one thing is crystal clear: the financial crisis called into question the risk management processes of many organisations. Pressure has since mounted on senior executives to effectively manage risk and preserve stakeholder value. A greater understanding and awareness of risk is on the rise with an increased number of respondents recognising the true benefits of investing in risk management. The survey identified an increasing emphasis on ‘business interruption’ risk as a key concern in 2009/10 with over 80% of respondents stating that they had undertaken a business interruption risk exposure review. “The survey is an invaluable tool,” says Vince Mamone, Aon’s Public Sector Industry Practice Leader. “It offers CEO’s, CFO’s, risk managers and business leaders valuable decision making insights, as well as an understanding of the value in calculating Total Cost of Insurable Risk (TCOIR) and the cost benefits of a structured risk management approach.”

Australian GovLink 2010

Interestingly, while there was a heavy political focus on climate change at the end of 2009, ‘natural disaster/climate change’ and ‘environmental issues’ continued to rank low on the list of risk concerns. However, on further investigation, participants expressed increasing concerns about the impact of regulation relating to climate change and the potential risk this poses to their organisation from a compliance, cost and competitive advantage perspective. The lessening pressure of the global financial crisis has led to ‘lack of innovation’ becoming a key concern, rising by four places for 2010. This suggests that thought leadership and innovative strategy may start to re-emerge.

The risk framework In recent years the number of organisations using a structured enterprise-wide or executive approach has risen dramatically. More respondents stated that their organisation is using a formal framework to approach risk identification. Risk management is also starting to permeate throughout organisations with respondents across the board indicating a move towards risk identification being integrated into all parts of their organisation. Similar to the trend in 2008/09, organisations with a dedicated risk management department

showed a median TCOIR 20% lower than those without. When organisations invest in developing and maintaining a risk management department they create a focus on eliminating risk and reducing claims. TCOIR results were lower when organisations were actively involved in selling their risks to the market. Organisations that proactively sell their risks are able to better illustrate their risk management program, explain how the program has been improved and the risks reduced, and enable insurers to gain a better understanding of what an organisation’s risks are. The median TCOIR across all organisations rose to $5.20 per $1,000 of revenue for the 2009/2010 survey, an increase of 15% from the previous year’s results. The increased TCOIR is thought to be the result of falling revenues for many organisations. Looking forward, Aon expects that TCOIR figures will remain flat in 2010 as revenue levels edge back up towards their pre-global financial crisis level and risk transfer costs remain stable. To discuss the findings of Aon’s 2009/10 Australasian Risk Management Benchmarking Survey or to obtain a copy of the survey please contact Vince Mamone, Aon’s Industry Practice Leader – Public Sector on 07 3223 7520 or vince.mamone@aon.com.au

BRINGING CHOICE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN AUSTRALIA Aon is the global leader in the provision of insurance and risk management advice. In Australia our specialised public sector practice group provides services to more than 100 council clients. We appreciate that government risk profiles are unique and we are well-equipped to apply our local and global knowledge to meet your needs. The services we provide include:  Insurance broking  Claims management  Insurable risk profiling  Occupational health & safety and workers compensation  Enterprise-wide risk profiling

 Risk management & risk engineering  Fraud risk  Contractor risk management  Building, plant and machinery valuations

We understand the complexities of operating within guidelines, maintaining transparency and achieving outcomes whilst under intense scrutiny. We provide the framework for risk retention and risk transfer decision making, which allows stakeholders to fully understand and be engaged in the process. The framework is fully transparent, delivers optimum outcomes and is supported by a full audit trail.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: MICHAEL CARR – NSW

VINCE MAMONE – QLD

Business Development Manager

National Practice Group Leader – Public Sector

02 9253 7107

ANDREW CLARKE – WA State Manager

08 9429 4751 TIM CONWAY – SA & NT Business Development Manager

03 9211 3351

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www.aon.com

07 3223 7520

DOUGLAS RUTTER – VIC & TAS Business Development Manager

03 9211 3606

Effective energy isolation programs Every year countless workers are killed or injured due to the unintentional release of hazardous energy sources. Numerous incidents could have been prevented with a clearly documented Lockout/Tagout procedure.

he foundation of an effective procedure begins with thorough documentation. Lockout PRO™ software can help make documenting and implementing maintenance procedures easy by allowing visual guidelines to be printed and posted to each maintenance point. Creating effective procedures is a four-step process: 1.

Hazard analysis to determine the type and magnitude of hazardous energy associated with each piece of equipment.

Identification of steps necessary to isolate that energy and lock out the relevant control points.

Documentation of the correct steps to isolate and lock out energy.

Employee training and periodic procedure review/updates.

Lockout software allows you to quickly create a Lockout procedure in as little as 3 minutes. Standardised templates and user-friendly prompts speed the process of creating, editing and managing procedures. The end result is compliant procedures that help prevent mistakes, increase maintenance efficiency and most importantly save lives. The key to writing effective procedures is to make them as easy as possible to follow. Standardised formats help meet this goal by increasing comprehension, and helping ensure that procedures are followed correctly. Standard formats also help workers who are responsible for locking out multiple machines, because they can quickly scan the procedure rather than having to search for information. Photos and pictograms also help workers understand the nature and location of specific energy points that must be locked out on a machine. This eliminates guesswork, speeds up the Lockout process, and ensures that the correct controls are locked out. Photos can be easily incorporated into your procedures using Lockout PRO™, with arrows added to indicate the exact locations of energy sources. Different colours

Australian GovLink 2010

and symbols are used for the various types of hazardous energy such as electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic. Effective Lockout procedures can dramatically increase your company’s productivity by making Lockout activities more efficient. Your procedures serve as a checklist that allows workers to quickly move through the steps without confusion or mistakes, reducing downtime and damage to machinery. Employees are an essential component of any operation and keeping them accident-free should be a priority of any workplace concerned about safety. OH&S regulations require that all employees be trained in accordance with their specific roles and responsibilities. As a guideline Authorised Employees who perform service or maintenance work and undertake the actual Lockout must be able to: •

Recognise hazardous energy sources.

•

Understand the types and extent of energy.

•

Know method for isolating and controlling hazardous energy.

•

Know methods for the safe application, use and removal of Lockout devices.

Lockout/Tagout complete training kits show participants how to recognise hazards and safe handling methods. Employee Handbooks are also supplied for ongoing familiarisation with safe response procedures for emergency situations. Lockout for Life helps viewers learn from other workers tragic mistakes. The format is suitable for training new and experience employees, allowing the instructor to ask participants - How would you have prevented this injury? Most importantly all employees should know how to protect themselves and others during servicing and equipment maintenance. Regular employee training sessions will ensure your authorised employees act responsibly when undertaking Lockout/Tagout procedures. Using correct Lockout tools and devices is also critical to the success of your program implementation. When selecting your devices two questions should be asked – How many

employees are involved in the procedure? What is the Energy source? Padlocks are used in a number of lockout applications as a means to secure lockout devices to equipment where energy is being controlled. Brady Safety Plus padlocks are designed specifically for Lockout applications. The rugged, yet lightweight construction makes them ideal for harsh industrial environments. The sparkresistant, non-conductive body enhances safety in electrical applications. For lockout situations where up to 6 employees are involved in the process Hasps are an effective device whereby all personnel can be occupied in maintenance activities simultaneously. Nonconductive, stainless steel and vinyl coated hasps are widely used in mining applications. Valve & Cable Lockout devices enable you to isolate various energy sources, when used in conjunction with padlocks. Brady’s extensive range of devices enables you to select and use the most appropriate tools for your procedure, in accordance with your specific application. In all Lockout procedures an employee or maintenance team doing the servicing must have exclusive control of the lockout devices and padlocks. Studies have shown that an effective Lockout/ Tagout program can reduce accidents by up to 30-50%, and some insurance companies even offer lower premiums to companies with demonstrated, effective Lockout programs. Brady’s selection of Lockout products help to facilitate an effective Energy Isolation Program that can prevent potentially fatal injuries in your workplace.

Are you liable for the safety of others? Then you have an obligation of Duty of Care.

Prevent accidents and injuries caused by hazardous energy sources with Bradyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s range of Lockout Tagout solutions. AMSJ2010

For more information or a free catalogue call Brady or your local distributor.

Freecall: 1800 620 816 Website: www.bradyaustralia.com.au

Corporate Express Purchasing workplace safety products from a single supplier has slashed water industry service company Tyco Water’s procurement costs by 20 per cent in the past year.

n 2009, Tyco appointed Corporate Express to supply personal protective equipment (PPE) and work safety products used at sites nationwide.

Tyco Water Supply Chain Manager Duncan Greeney said Corporate Express was engaged because of its strong value proposition and the comprehensive range of products on offer. “We needed work safety products that cover all of our sites – from foundries and welding sites to assembly plants – and we were looking for a supplier that could meet our vast list of needs,” Greeney said. “Corporate Express demonstrated that it could provide us with a comprehensive list of

products – all of which comply with Australian safety standards, which was a necessary must. In essence, Corporate Express offered us a onestop-shop for all of our product needs.”

Tyco Water has also benefitted from cost and head hour efficiencies since implementing online ordering with Corporate Express’ NetExpress ordering system.

Corporate Express supplies Tyco Water with a wide range of PPE and work safety products, from hard hats and protective eyewear to high-visibility clothing and boots. Products are supplied from well-known work safety brands and the Corporate Express Safechoice range.

“Since engaging Corporate Express, we have achieved cost savings of up to 20 per cent. This is largely due to the fact that we are able to consolidate the purchasing of products through just the one supplier. We no longer have to shop around to find all of the products we need. We have also benefited from the competitive prices Corporate Express has to offer,” Greeney said.

“Corporate Express understands the products that we order inside and out, and the professionalism of its staff has given me real confidence in the products that we buy,” Greeney said.

Keeping your workplace safe with one hit. From hard hats to first aid kits and everything in between, Corporate Express has your safety needs covered. We’ve got all the brands you know and trust as well as our exclusive brands that provide quality without compromise. Better still, we provide them all from one convenient source saving you time and money we both know you could use. So if you prefer a one-stop-shop to shopping all over town for your workplace safety gear, visit ce.com.au or call 13 26 44.

A better way to do business Corporate Express Australia Limited. A member of the Staples Group. ABN 94 000 728 398

Australian GovLink 2010

Work Safety

Improved Safety in the building and construction industry

ver the last two years there has rightly been considerable focus by stakeholders with an interest in OHS on the development of harmonised legislation. Master Builders supports the harmonisation process provided that it results in a regulatory framework that is fair and reasonable for employers, and which ensures that employers are clear about how to meet their OHS obligations. Whether the harmonisation process will achieve this goal remains to be seen as there is still considerable work to be done throughout the remainder of 2010 to develop regulations and codes of practice. While creating the right legislative framework is an important part of the OHS picture, it is the efforts by managers and workers to put in place practical safety strategies that are paying dividends when it comes to improved safety outcomes in the building and construction industry. Master Builders has recently updated the statistical analysis contained in Building a Safer Future: Master Builders Occupational Health and Safety Policy Blueprint 2009-2015. The most recent data show that there has been a significant reduction in both injuries and fatalities in the

building and construction industry in the five year period from 2003-04 to 2007-08: •

The incidence rate for serious claims per 1,000 employees is down 22 per cent.

•

The incidence rate for compensated fatalities is down 45 per cent.

•

The incidence rate for compensated fatalities related to traumatic injury only is down by 14 per cent.

The latest data also shows that the building and construction industry is on track to achieve the injury and fatality reduction targets in the National Occupational Health and Safety Strategy. The National OHS Strategy was agreed to by all Australian governments, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Australian Council of Trade Unions in 2002. It sets clear and ambitious goals for OHS, including targets for reductions in injury and fatalities. Master Builders is committed to the National OHS Strategy and to achieving the improvements in performance that it establishes. The construction industry performance against the targets is shown in the graph below.

Inci dence ra te per 1,000 empl oyees Fa ta l i ty ra te per 100,000 empl oyees

0 Base

2002‐03

2003‐04

2004‐05

2005‐06

2006‐07

2007‐08

Injury Incidence rate ‐ Construction Reduction required to meet 40% target Fatality rate ‐ Construction Reduction required to meet 20% target

2008‐09

2009‐10

2010‐11

2011‐12

KWS Solving workplace conflict

he ugly truth about organisations, including those in the public sector, is that they need to do more to respond to, reduce and manage their risk and obligations in terms of protecting employees from inappropriate or unlawful workplace behaviours, says Stuart King, managing director of Kings Workplace Solutions (KWS). “The convergence and harmonisation of OH&S laws will see increased emphasis on compliance particularly on the concept of fairness for employees and on the duty of care that employers and individual employees must demonstrate,” he says. “Effective risk management around workplace behaviours in all organisations is no longer just a worthy or mandatory requirement, but an imperative. Workplaces are a microcosm of the community. Bad people do things inside organisations as they do in the community, and we are naive to think otherwise”. A recent Work Pro survey demonstrated that 30 per cent of a sample 2140 employees had been bullied, 24 per cent had been discriminated against and 44 per cent had witnessed bullying. Bullying costs Australian business billions of dollars annually, and many stress and anxiety work cover claims are rooted in unfair treatment at work. The average claim for a stress and anxiety claim is $97, 032 according to the 2009 survey of Catholic schools in Victoria. Recent, well publicised cases of workplace bullying, victimisation and unfair treatment have brought ruin to employees, families, businesses and reputations, notably the work-related suicide of Melbourne waitress, Brodie Panlock and its impact on her family and friends, and indeed, the offending colleagues and business operator. Penalties for unfair and unlawful treatment can be significant. Alistair Nicholson, former Chief Justice of the Victorian Family Law Court and current Chair of the National Centre Against Bullying, called recently for workplace bullying to be classified as a criminal offence, reflecting on the fact that ‘repetitive denigration and bullying type behaviour toward an individual…is equally as damaging as a physical assault’. Current community expectation is that no organisation will allow workplace behaviour such as bullying to occur where a person is targeted, becomes ill and takes their life as a consequence. Certainly most organisations have generic policies prohibiting unlawful treatment of fellow

Australian GovLink 2010

workers. Why then does inappropriate, unlawful and unethical behaviour still occur? “Some people are simply bad and even toxic towards others,” Says Stuart. “ Workplace health and safety policy, process and education are insufficient to protect the victims, particularly, as is often the case, they are conducted at the minimum legal requirement level. Many organisations don’t even recognise their exposure to risk or where it lies. Contraction of the HR function into a more general approach together with a lack of effective leadership or focus on workplace behaviour means many organisations simply lack the capacity to respond to human behaviour risk. Current OH&S systems do not identify, measure or treat workplace behaviour risks, which tend to be harder to identify than physically based safety risks. “In my experience most organisations will try to deal with the problem reactively. Often managers lack the necessary skills and this can exacerbate conflict or protract it such that people and relationships become painfully damaged, and the matter descends into litigation involving external bodies and tribunals. At KWS we aim to support organisations and their people to prevent risk, to measure and resolve risk associated with behavioural complaints and to establish ways in which those involved in a complaint can continue working with each other in a sustainable way. “As a result of the harmonisation process organisations can expect a far greater emphasis on identifying organisational and individual safety risk associated with inappropriate or unlawful workplace behaviours. They will need to strive for authenticity in their fair treatment systems and programs and to provide clear leadership on the behaviours required to be exhibited. They will need to integrate workplace behaviour risk management into OH&S policies and systems, to measure workplace behaviour risk and to continue developing shared organisational values that support fair treatment for individuals. KWS supports many clients Australia-wide to reduce, respond to and manage safety risk associated with workplace behaviours. Our national telephone help lines offer an independent service for supporting employees, managers and HR staff; our people and culture practitioners respond to complaints and grievances. Our employee survey is an internationally renowned text-based narrative tool and our training is tailored to the client’s

specific circumstances. Over the last 10 years we have learned that specialist support and guidance are required long term so our service level agreements are flexible in this regard. We measure our success by how our clients talk about us and strive to ensure that is always positively.

Stuart King www.kingsworkplacesolutions.com.au stuart@kingsworkplacesolutions.com.au 03 95030117

Solving workplace conflict

Ecospill gives a holistic approach in environment and safety After 12 months of configuring their new course, Ecospill has produced nationally accredited environmental training; something that has been required for years.

Environmental Practices qualification, so participants have the option to take up the certificate IV course at a later date.

The Certificate IV level is a five day course, comprehensively covering aspects of safety and risk mitigation, environmental duty of care, compliance, administration and implementation of safety systems, practical environmental onsite management, spill containment and spill control measures.

“It is imperative for companies to ensure that a spill incident doesn’t escalate into a catastrophic event that compromises their ability to operate,” says Managing Director for Ecospill Kevan Goff. “Until now, there has been insufficient information and training available to business and industry to help them manage their sites environmentally. While safety training has been the forefront, accredited environmental spill response and management training just hasn’t been available.”

Ecospill conducts the courses throughout the year in central facilities in all major capital cities. At the request of individual companies, Ecospill can conduct these courses on-site at their premises.

he course is the first of its kind in Australia to combine the issues of safety management with that of environmental management, giving graduates the ability to better manage safety and environmental issues that may occur in the workplace.

Mr Goff recommends that the mining sector, power stations, railway industries, transport companies and port authorities should be motivated to take the course since it’s connected to their industries. “The course will assist businesses with meeting environmental and safety obligations and greatly help them maintain good compliance with the industry to minimise and prevent OHS incidents and spills.”

Previously, environmental complaints in industries have been made to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) organisations, but since they have no environmental section the complaints have not been able to be managed. “If the spill occurs inside the workshop and there is an ignition source for example, it is an OHS responsibility, but once there is a spill outside the workshop it is no longer simply OHS, but an environmental consideration. And, if not managed properly, the effects can be disastrous.” A perfect example of what this type of training can help prevent is what happened at a Golf Club in NSW when a pesticide spill went down the drain and caused the death of nearly 10,000 fish in the local creek. The company was fined approximately $250,000 and the supervisor was tried separately, found guilty, resulting in $220,000 of personal legal costs. At that time it was the highest fine for environmental damage ever ordered in NSW. “The lack of sufficient training and information for environmental concerns, has paved the way for our new nationally accredited Certificate IV in Management of Safety and Environmental Practices (30845QLD). It is a unique, practical, hands on approach into the day to day management of Environmental and OHS risks and concerns in the workplace.” With the course, Ecospill wants assist companies in understanding their environmental obligations

Australian GovLink 2010

Ecospill is offering a 25% Govlink discount, for a limited time. Anyone wishing to find out more about Ecospill’s courses can phone 1800 009 665 for more information and pricing. and to see better containment of spills and prevent catastrophic consequences at worksites. The course has been designed for team leaders, managers, depot supervisors as well as OHS & Environment Officers -everyone who have responsible for environment and safety. Ecospill offers two tiers of nationally accredited courses. A Short Course (one day) focussing on management of spill control, containment and emergency response, takes participants through the fundamentals of Environmental Legislation, through to practical application of spill response management. “It’s very hands-on. Participants get to physically co-ordinate emergency response to a simulated spill situation. It gives them the required confidence as well as competence, to know that they can effectively manage a spill event, before it becomes catastrophic”, Mr Goff says. Completion of the one day Short Course also counts as two accredited units towards the Certificate IV: Management of Safety and

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Work Safety

Safety Institute of Australia Charlie Morecraft and Shirley Hickman One man took a shortcut at work, nearly died and later lost his family and home. One woman’s son never came home from work. Both emerged from their tragedies desperate to tell their stories and spare others their pain. Charlie Morecraft and Shirley Hickman will share their inspirational journeys of recovery and advocacy with delegates at The Safety Conference this October.

he Safety Institute of Australia, which will present The Safety Conference from October 26 to 28, has invited the two international speakers to discuss how they have used their personal experiences to raise safety awareness. Ahead of her address to The Safety Conference, Ms Hickman said it was essential to challenge the belief that “it could never happen to me”. “Education is the key to the awareness and change,” she said. “Using personal testimony from ‘real’ people in health and safety campaigns and during health and safety training events is effective and powerful. When

Australian GovLink 2010

I stand before any audience – of any ages or demographics – everyone in the audience becomes aware that ‘if this could happen to me – it could happen to you’.” Charlie Morecraft knows the danger of complacency first-hand. Mr Morecraft was working a night shift at a New Jersey refinery, when he was asked to perform a routine maintenance task he had carried out many times in his 15 years as an operator. He knew all the safety regulations and the shortcuts around them that would allow him to fix the problem quickly. “I took one shortcut too many,” he said. “I had taken that shortcut for years and nothing ever went wrong until that night.”

The familiar shortcut changed his life forever. An explosion engulfed Charlie in a fireball that severely burned more than 50 per cent of his body. His injuries were horrific, and the pain so intense, he begged paramedics to allow him to die. But they would not, and the agonising days of treatment and operations slowly rolled into months and then years. Those years also cost Charlie his family. Ms Hickman said Mr Morecraft’s experience of family breakdown was common. “Consequences include psychiatric problems, stress-related physical health problems, substance abuse treatment, family stress, marital

have improved since 1980, when he was injured, but misconceptions remain.

breakdown, suicide, loss of productivity, loss of personal income, increased social welfare costs, and more. This is a substantial and costly burden for every citizen and taxpayer, but one that can be significantly reduced.”

“Today, we have realised that productivity and safety go hand in hand, and without one you don’t have the other,” he said. “People get confused about safety and they think it’s about money or regulations. Safety is about going home at the end of the day, kissing your wife and hugging your kids.”

“Threads of Life”, a charity co-founded by Ms Hickman helps Canadian families who have been affected by a workplace tragedy, life-altering injury or occupational disease. It provides a network of hope and healing to more than 1,200 family members through one-on-one peer support, links to other community support services and the opportunity to take action to help prevent similar tragedies to other families.

Asked for the three messages each of the two speakers would like to leave with OHS professionals attending The Safety Conference. For Mr Morecraft, they were: safety is personal; accidents don’t just happen to the other guy; and have the guts to speak up or intervene when you see someone doing something unsafe.

“Threads of Life’s vision is to lead and inspire a culture shift as a result of which work-related injuries and illnesses are morally, socially and economically unacceptable,” Ms Hickman said. “We are on our way to creating a culture shift in Canada. Is Australia on the same page?”

Ms Hickman instead nominated five: 1.

Workplace safety is everyone’s responsibility: employers must provide a safe workplace and workers need to work safely.”

Mr Morecraft believes attitudes towards safety

Co-workers: ensure that you are working safely and if you see someone not working safely speak up. It takes less than a minute for lives to be forever changed.

We all have the right that expect our family members come home at the end of the day safe and sound.

Family members living with the outcomes of workplace tragedies can be part of the prevention message.

Education has to start with the students in schools, the messages that we share in our home, modelling by parents and co-workers.”

Shirley Hickman and Charlie Morecraft will be among around 70 speakers at The Safety Conference, which will be presented by the Safety Institute of Australia at the Sydney Showground, Sydney Olympic Park, from October 26 to 28.

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Can you teach someone to have a better “safety attitude”? Let’s start with an old joke about psychologists that goes like this: How many psychologists does it take to change a light bulb? Answer: Only one, but it has to want to change. As funny as this may be (assuming you are not a psychologist) it’s not quite right, but it points us in the right direction. The real answer of course is: None, we can’t make someone else change, only they can change themselves.

nother question we may need to ask is: Does everyone have a safety attitude? One way of describing attitude could be to say that it is simply the way we think about things, our values and beliefs. So a safety attitude is the way we think about safety, and on top of that I believe it varies between individuals and that there are different aspects to our safety attitude that also varies between people. So yes, I believe that everyone does have a safety attitude. OK, back to the question then, can we teach people to have a higher safety attitude? Well, on the surface of it, no, because that question implies that we are changing them, but what if we could create a teaching experience that prompted people to change their own attitude towards safety? Would that equal teaching people to have a higher safety attitude? I reckon it would.

What are some of the safety attitudes? If we accept that people have a safety attitude and that it varies between individuals, have a think about some of these specific attitudes and whether workers you know may differ on (have different ways of thinking about) them: •

Safety control- to what extent do I believe I am in control of my own safety;

•

Risk avoidance- what level and types of risk will I accept for myself;

•

Driver attitude- how committed am I to being a safe and professional driver and/or operator of mobile plant;

•

Stress tolerance- my ability to handle and cope with daily stressors; and

•

Quality orientation- How willing am I to take responsibility for the work I do and to continuous improvement.

What is the link between attitude and behaviour? While this is all very interesting to think about attitudes, how does it relate to day to

Australian GovLink 2010

day occupational health and safety (OHS), or specifically our safety behaviours? Because it is really our behaviour that we are concerned with in that if workers behave in a safer manner we will have fewer (hopefully no) incidents.

gives us real time data about actual behaviours. It is often a much more realistic picture of safety performance than looking at LTIFR.

From a psychological view, the link is clear. Our behaviour is determined by our thinking (attitude). A higher safety attitude will lead to better safety behaviour. Better safety related choices. Fewer injuries, illnesses and fatalities.

Focussing on safety attitudes then further enhances the process. It deals with the fundamental decision making that underpins behaviour. When a worker has a higher safety attitude they behave safely because they want to, not because they are being told to. They adopt a commitment attitude, not a compliance attitude.

So the link between safety behaviour and OHS incidents has been recognised for a while now, and that is why we have so many behavioural safety programs not in place. However there can be some limitations to these efforts. Consider the road safety campaign. The government clearly states the accepted behaviour while driving (speeding, drinking, tail gaiting etc), and then they observe our behaviour and let us know if we are not following it.

So in answer to our first question, it is possible to provide a teaching process that allows a person to raise their safety attitude. These programs typically combine assessment, coaching, workshop and self directed learning strategies over a period of time. They are not as simple as attending a weekend workshop, because we are working at the level of values and beliefs, but they can be very effective in reducing OHS incidents in the workplace.

This is similar to most workplace based programs where desired behaviours are stated (eyes of hands, safe body movements etc), and then we are observed while working. The theory is that over time we will adopt the safe behaviours as the normal way of being. They will become part of our normal way of working. We will have the attitude that those safe behaviours are the right behaviours, and so we will choose to apply them. However there can be limitations when the observation component is removed before we have adopted the behaviour as our normal attitude. Imagine the roads if the government stopped monitoring how we drive? No doubt there are many people who would continue their safe driving habits. However there may be quite a few who would adopt their own version of safe driving behaviours.

We want a commitment attitude, not a compliance attitude So in the end what we want is a combination of approaches to improving OHS. Behavioural safety is an important part of the process because it

Baseline Training & Consulting

aseline Training & Consulting is a registered training organisation (RTO) that provides quality workplace health and safety training and assessment throughout Australia. Under the umbrella of the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) Baseline ensures that courses are in full compliance with all national and state legislative requirements and in accordance with relevant Australian Standards. We work closely with our customers to help them reduce risk in the workplace through providing knowledge and the necessary skills to work safely or to respond to any incidents that may occur. This is achieved by providing highly skilled trainers with industry specific qualifications and hands on experience. Baseline’s training facilities are well equipped and all courses are designed to provide participants with the maximum amount of practical experience possible under realistic conditions.

We have delivered training to the Government Sector for many years and over that time have run many successful courses for various commonwealth and state departments. We have also conducted courses such as height safety and safe working in confined spaces to many local councils around Australia. Baseline is currently the only RTO based in Queensland to be approved by APPEA (The Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association) to run the “Common Safety Training Program” which was launched on the 6th April. The course provides a benchmark for safety training and preparation in the Australian oil and gas industry. In addition to the above courses Baseline also offers consulting services to assist with promoting and enhancing Safety Culture and Safety Leadership within organisations.

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Next generation sustainability practice While use of established management system standards to meet minimum benchmarks in the government sector is nothing new, recent trends indicate that those systems are being refined and ramped up, to align the government sector more closely with the business improvement and management practices of their private sector counterparts – particularly in areas such as sustainability and governance.

he ‘next-gen’ disciplines and methodologies now in favour and yielding demonstrable results, include integrated systems that address critical risks and boost performance; and business improvement frameworks that help organisations meet defined goals, embed particular cultural values and ensure continual improvement. A February 2010 survey of councils conducted by the University of Technology on behalf of the Australian Centre for Excellence in Local Government (ACELG) provides just one example. This national survey canvassed 18 councils that have adopted one popular business improvement framework, the Business Excellence Framework (BEF). The survey assessed the benefits and issues associated with implementing the BEF in local government, then reported the findings to the broader local government community. Its findings will be used to further promote the adoption of excellence and assist in the design of future support for excellence in local government. Survey respondents were overwhelmingly positive about the BEF, with most of them using it primarily to promote whole-of-organisation involvement in continuous improvement and as a framework enabling them to compare their performance both against other local government organisations, and also, critically, against other industries, sectors and organisations. In an increasingly competitive environment, and when the government sector is under greater pressure than ever to perform in line with wider business benchmarks, any system that enables like-with-like comparison between organisations represents value in itself. Ravi Fernando is head of Improvement Solutions at SAI Global, which has the exclusive rights to offer training, consultancy and support for the implementation of the Business Excellence Framework in Australia.

Australian GovLink 2010

According to Mr Fernando, the BEF is frequently adopted by organisations which already have management systems in place, because it facilitates the further improvement and assurance of the benefits that they offer. These systems commonly include those which support critical compliance, such as the ISO 14000 Environmental Management System; the AS 4801 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems or, as is increasingly the case, a system which integrates the two, in line with the guidance provided by Standards Australia AS/NZS 4581. “An increasing number of BEF users have found that upon integration it creates opportunities to address sustainability, by embedding sustainable practices both at a strategic management level and in everyday operations,” says Mr Fernando. “Sustainability, by definition, involves all areas of an organisation and people at different levels throughout the organisation. It is multi-faceted and requires an approach that can draw together environmental, social, economic and governance dimensions,” says Mr Fernando. He says that there is an increasing focus on the role and importance of sustainability and good governance in government that echoes that of private sector organisations. “Many large corporations such as banks, airlines and hospitality groups have taken leadership and have already implemented sustainable practices,” he explains. “They see sustainability as giving them the edge on those who have not yet taken up the baton. Research shows that demonstrating a focus on sustainability provides improved stakeholder satisfaction and drives quantifiable results such as greater staff motivation, reduced attrition, increased customer and community perception of value – and that’s not to even mention the critical risk management role it plays.”

Mr Fernando says that a further benefit of using a common framework between government and non-government sectors is that it provides a common language and understanding between government and other major organisations, and with it, common points of reference and measurability. “Many organisations respond to sustainability issues in a fragmented and reactive manner. The Business Excellence Framework is one solution that provides a strategic umbrella to guide and integrate an organisation’s sustainability initiatives, improving performance and governance as relevant to the organisation, and in a manner that is well recognised and understood by peers from across all government and industry sectors.”

For more information on SAI Global Training and Improvement Solutions, including programs to support management systems and the implementation of the Business Excellence Framework, please visit: www.saiglobal.com/improve or call 1300 650 262.

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Security As a pioneer of CCTV and IP Video monitoring systems, Sony has constantly adopted an innovative approach to enhancing its surveillance equipment. Incorporating both the latest technologies and a number of unique features, these systems are recognized for providing high-quality images and improving the operational efficiency of both surveillance and general monitoring applications.

ony recently unveiled three new additions to its HD network camera lineup, the SNC-CH140 fixed camera, the SNC-DH140 mini dome camera and the SNC-DH180 mini dome camera. These are the first to incorporate the company’s new Exmor™ CMOS image sensor technology and also feature the latest View-DR Technology. “With various segments of the security industry adopting high definition video solutions, we incorporated the Exmor CMOS sensor in our new cameras for its ability to capture high resolution images in the most challenging environments, including high contrast lighting situations,” said Lagan. “Compared to many other sensor technologies in the industry that discard approximately half of the data collected during image capture, the newly developed View-DR algorithm makes it possible for the camera’s high-speed sensor to convert all of the electrons from the light captured by the sensor. As a result, View-DR nearly doubles the sensitivity of the new cameras making high quality HD images possible to capture in almost any lighting environment.” View-DR technology allows the camera to capture high quality images in harsh lighting conditions, by capturing multiple images to reproduce each frame. One image is taken using a standard exposure time and either one or three images are taken using short exposure times, depending on the camera type. Capturing images in low-light settings is critical to the security industry, thus Sony’s cameras offer users improved noise reduction performance, using Sony’s latest XDNR technology. Under low-light conditions, XDNR selectively uses 2D and 3D noise reduction methods to provide clear images for both moving objects and still sections of an image. The result is clear images while minimising unwanted motion-blur. To provide end-users with a wide number of options, the SNC-CH140, SNC-DH140 and the SNC-DH180 cameras support dual-streaming in H.264, MPEG-4, or JPEG compression formats.

Australian GovLink 2010

The cameras deliver superb picture quality in HD (1280 x 720p) resolution at 30 fps in 16:9 aspect radio. These cameras also come equipped with additional advanced features such as: •

DEPA Advanced architecture, which allows users to employ intelligent video and audio analytics features and intelligent motion detection

•

Power over Ethernet (PoE) capability for allin-one operation

•

CF slots for on-board recording and streaming using RTP/RTCP protocol

•

ONVIF (Open Network Video Interface Forum) compliance that supports open interoperability among many different manufacturer’s products

New High Definition Network Security Cameras To complement the SNC-CH140, SNC-DH140 and the SNC-DH180, Sony has also recently announced 13 new high definition (HD) network security cameras along with a full range of complementary HD video security products.

“

“We are constantly researching new technologies to improve the quality and ease of video security footage,” said Tony Lagan, National Business Manager, Sony Australia.

”

Incorporating the latest technological advancements such as View-DR and Distributed Enhanced Processing Architecture (DEPA) Advanced, the cameras offer integrators and end users the highest quality HD images even in the most challenging environments.

The new IPELA range of HD cameras comes in three series, catering to various surveillance needs. Sony’s flagship line, the V series, incorporates View-DR and Distributed Enhanced Processing Architecture (DEPA). The X Series offers cameras for unique surveillance installations. Sporting an ultra-compact housing and stylish design, the X series is used in environments that require high performance in a small footprint. The E Series includes entry-level models that combine high picture quality and robust features at a costeffective price.

The cameras include: V Series

SNC-CH240, SNC-CH280, SNC-DH240, SNC-DH240T, SNC-DH280, SNCDH140T, SNC-DH180

E Series

SNC-CH120, SNC-CH160, SNC-DH120, SNC-DH120T, SNC-DH160

X Series

SNC-CH210

“Sony continues to reinforce its market leading HD line-up of products and solutions with the latest security camera series, which incorporate top quality imaging technology to offer the highest quality images in all challenging security environments,” said Lagan. “To meet the increasing versatile demands in various surveillance applications, Sony will continue to enhance its video surveillance line-up with a wider range of HD products offering flexibility and ease of operation.”

for analogue, digital, HD and SD cameras. With storage capacity ranging from 500GB to 4TB, each recorder can support up to 20 cameras. These recorders utilise an open-platform design for easy setup and operation. They also work with equipment from other manufactures, including the selected Axis IP cameras. The NSR-1000 server includes monitoring and search modules that incorporate Sony’s DEPA technology to increase the accuracy of object detection capabilities.

The innovative technologies incorporated in several models include View-DR and Exmor™ sensors. View-DR technology incorporates the latest in Wide-D technology with Visibility Enhancer, and XDNR allows these cameras to provide quality HD images even in the most challenging backlit environments. Sony’s Exmor CMOS sensors ensure the capture of high definition images in low light environments. Many of the models also incorporate in-camera analytics offering system feedback and image analysis in real time. Most models are also available in weatherproof and vandal-proof versions for high traffic, outdoor installations.

SPOT EVERY LITTLE DETAIL WITH SONY HIGH DEFINITION Complementing Sony’s new series of HD security cameras are the SNT series encoders and NSRSECURITY SOLUTIONS 1000 series storage servers. The SNT-EX104 is a stand-alone, 4-channel video encoder designed Stay a step ahead of security threats with High Definition to meet a wide range of system requirements. andtoWide Coverage. This latest addition Sony’s comprehensive security monitoring, line of networkInvideo encoders is designed to Standard Definition has its limitations. facilitate the migration from analogue-based By providing total security solutions in High Definition, Sony video systemsensures to IP video surveillance. Unlike that every aspect of your security network delivers competitive encoder products, the SNT-EX104 high quality images in High Definition, offering unparalleled incorporates proprietary Sony technologies security coverage. including XDNR, Visibility Enhancer (VE) and Dynamic Frame Integration (DFI) that improve Benefits: the quality of the analogue video signal for clearer, brighter and sharper images. Additionally, 10x optical zoom and 360° pan for extremely detailed the SNT-EX104surveillance can stream 30fps•inideal D1 resolution for capturing moving images and detail in JPEG, MPEG-4 or H.264 and includes DEPA • advanced video processing using H.264 video compression Advanced analytics.

at 30 frames per second • HD Rapid Dome cameras, with

The NSR-1000 JPEG, series of network surveillance MPEG, and H.264, easily integrate with existing recording servers provides network storage systems. • an intelligent encoder for seamless migration from

analogue to an IP video security system. See more with Sony

For solutions that provide unmatched security and exceptional value, visit;

Galaxy Taking security to another Level!

…securing your future!

Australian Lock Company proudly stands behind the claim that Galaxy, our latest range of high security locking systems does in fact take security to another level.

alaxy restricted key systems can only be developed, built & maintained by authorised licensees. The integrity of your system during design, installation & when operational, is maintained at all times via the use of a Computerised Numerical Control (CNC). In addition the CNC machine increases production efficiency, reduces the likelihood of error & increases difficulty to duplicate. Manufactured using the very latest techniques & the highest quality materials, the Galaxy range provides a revolutionary approach to high security locking. With subtle technical improvements & considered design, Galaxy offers a host of previously unseen attributes to benefit end-user & locksmith alike.

Security -

Inbuilt security features are designed for anti picking, anti bumping & to ensure extreme resistance to malicious attack.

Galaxy’s additional locking pins & anti picking teeth on carriages prevent ‘code hunting’ while torque is applied.

Galaxy is designed to resist impressioning.

Stringent quality control & authentication procedures by factory technicians ensure manufacturing consistency of cylinders & keys.

Cylinders & keys are Patent protected until February 2024 ensuring protection for the end-user, locksmith & manufacturer.

Master Keying -

Galaxy’s uniqueness revolves around its ability to remove the centre core to change the programming of the lock & that its factory built systems do not require pinning.

Galaxy cylinders retrofit most new & existing applications.

Galaxy cylinders use programmed holes on the sidebar for coding.

Galaxy reduces the cost of replacing cylinders as only the codebar needs replacing.

Access to our computerised master key generated systems allows authorised Galaxy licensees to build complex & diverse master key systems.

Keys -

Galaxy keys come with a lifetime guarantee & exceed Australian Standards.

Cylinders & keys have been cycle tested to 500,000 cycles.

Distinctively designed Galaxy keys are available in 21 colours

Keys carry authorised Galaxy licence dealers’ details for easy identification.

All this & the product is Australian designed developed & manufactured!

Australian GovLink 2010

… taking security to another level!

Ph 1300 00 LOCK (1300 005 625) www.australianlock.com.au Australian Lock Company Pty Limited 17 Doyle Avenue, Unanderra NSW 2526 PO Box 479 Unanderra NSW 2526 Ph 02 4272 4922 • Fax 02 4272 4677 Email sales@australianlock.com.au Web www.australianlock.com.au

Security

Partners in crime

the local government sector and private corporations. Today, there are countless examples of where partnerships have helped to deliver a beneficial outcome to the community.

ver the last two decades, the role performed by Australia’s private security sector has grown significantly to include a broad range of services. Today the security industry impacts on the majority of Australians every day. Whether it is at the football, at our airports, transiting money from banks, shops and ATMs, monitoring and securing our work and public buildings, or securing the information systems that run our major institutions; the security industry plays a critical role in the daily lives of Australians. With approximately 90 per cent of the nation’s critical infrastructure and key resources owned or operated by the private sector, a strong and effective partnership that fosters integrated, collaborative engagement and interaction among public and private-sector organisations is essential. Much of the early impetus in recognising the opportunity for government and the private security industry to work together came from

One such example is Ipswich’s Safe City program. Widely recognised as one the best private/ police partnerships anywhere in Australia, the program is best known for its CCTV control room, which monitors 24/7 footage from 185 cameras placed around the city and which is capable of delivering images to the Ipswich police communication centre of a quality acceptable for use as evidence in court. The program utilises one of the country’s most sophisticated surveillance systems that as part of a wider program draws together police, state and federal government bodies, security providers, community groups and business. Perhaps the biggest challenge faced by Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale was to break down barriers between the various levels of government, the police and the community, all of which had their own positions (and inevitably, their own solutions). By removing these barriers, Pisasale was able to get stakeholders to forget about their own positions and responsibilities, and instead to focus on how they could contribute to developing a safer community where everyone played a role. By nurturing an environment of trust and belief among stakeholders that the council was heading in the right direction, a strong and effective partnership evolved. From being a city with the country’s highest crime and unemployment rates, over the past 15 years Ipswich’s crime rate has reduced by over 78 per cent and in some cases by 90 per cent. Another example, is the Market City Shopping complex, situated in the heart of Sydney that offers shoppers access to factory outlet shopping, restaurants, cinemas and a tavern. In late 2007 the NSW Police found that the complex was experiencing significantly more thefts than other recognised local ‘hot spots’. Through a partnership arrangement, police and private security contractors developed a closer working relationship based on the use of ‘banning orders’, the sharing of intelligence and the notion of security moving away from simply ‘security’ to risk

Security

management. As a result the level of theft and antisocial behaviour has decreased making the shopping centre a safer environment, attracting more patrons. In December 2008, the Federal Government’s National Security Statement expanded on the definition of national security to include threats that go beyond terrorism and maintaining territorial borders. It included serious and organised crime, electronic attack and natural disasters. It also acknowledged that climate change represented a fundamental national security challenge for the long-term future. To counter this suite of challenges, the National Security Statement promoted a strong partnership between Government and industry in order to safeguard Australia. Current arrangements for protecting Australia’s critical infrastructure, for example, are generally regarded as a significant improvement on past efforts, and highlight the success of this partnership approach.” With much of Australia’s public and private infrastructure protected by the private sector, it is important that there is a strong and robust private security industry. In 2008 the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to adopt a nationally consistent regulatory approach to the private security industry. A move welcomed by the industry’s peak body, the Australian Security Industry Association (ASIAL) which for over a decade has advocated such an approach. The reforms when implemented will focus on introducing a uniform approach to improving the competence and skills of security personnel and ultimately result in a national licensing system for the industry. Improvements in performance standards among security providers will require a paradigm shift for many users of security services. To many, security is viewed as an unwelcome cost on the bottom line, which is why it is often a marginalised part of an organisation’s business. One of the challenges for government security managers is aligning the security function with the organisation’s business objectives. For example, if an organisation invests in security with a view to making it safer,

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more competitive and establish a competitive advantage over others who are less safe, less secure, less competitive, then it needs to be recognised as an important investment in its successful operation. An issue of growing concern among many security providers and employees is the proliferation of lowest price competition that many believe is leading to a lowering of quality standards. Such an approach can pose a security risk (to the public as well as staff ) and has a detrimental effect on the reputation of the industry, at a time when private security contractors are increasingly required to become more specialised and improve quality. Awareness of the dangers of such practices can be slow to emerge. Where the price of a bid is very low, it can sometimes be found that the price being offered is too low even to cover salary and workers entitlements and is therefore an indication of the use of casual or even cash in hand labour. The Fair Work Ombudsman’s recent campaign targeting the security industry revealed that only 51 per cent of employers were complying with the Fair Work Act 2009, with the use of flat rates of pay by employers was widespread in an attempt to avoid

the application of penalty and loading provisions. Because of the inherent instability often found with lowest price contractors and the higher level of client intervention needed to keep services running satisfactorily, many companies are now reconsidering their lowest price tendering practices. It is imperative that in order to help drive performance standards higher within the industry, buyers of security services must reevaluate the priority given to the security function and include greater flexibility in contracts and provide incentives for providers to offer improvements. As more and more security functions once performed by government are contracted out, private security providers are becoming increasingly involved in ensuring public safety. Whether it is protecting sensitive sites such as airports, utilities, local council precincts or public buildings, private security providers are already partnering with government at a local, state and federal level. In order for this partnership to continue to evolve and grow there needs to be a philosophical shift for many users of security services to truly value the role performed by private security providers. >

> Selecting best value - issues to consider when choosing a security guarding company Quality criteria - guarding personnel The most important asset of any company is its staff. It is through their expertise and performance that the day-to-day daily delivery of a contract stands and falls. •

What industry specific experience do front line staff to be assigned to the contract have?

•

What level of initial and ongoing training will be provided to staff?

•

What is the level of staff turnover in the company?

•

Does the company offer a transparent career structure and meet all of its legal requirements under the Fair Work Act?

•

What recruitment and vetting processes does the company have in place to ensure that all staff recruited to work are suitably qualified?

Quality criteria - contract management and operations When contracting out security functions, contracting organisations are generally keen to ensure that a minimum of supervisory effort will be required on their part to ensure the smooth running of the service. The competence and organisation of the external management team is therefore critical. Channels of responsibility must therefore be clear and transparent and response times should be set and adhered to. From the client’s point of view the on-site contract manager is their most important port of call and they should be able to satisfy themselves that this individual has the right experience and characteristics to ensure a smooth working relationship. The operational plan presented in the tender must satisfy the client that the contractor has the required knowledge of the respective guarding environment to draw up a rostering methodology

which meets their security requirements and can act as a basis of contractually agreed levels of provision. The operational plan should also show evidence of sufficient back-up capacity and a transparent and objective process of performance monitoring. It is also important to assess the level of support services available to the contract management team at head quarter level, which allows them to concentrate on their operational functions. Quality criteria - contract infrastructure To ensure the safety of the locations to be guarded and members of public, it is crucial that all equipment and technological tools used in delivering the contract are appropriate, well maintained and used by appropriately skilled staff. This includes the use of communication tools and systems; IT hardware and software; technical support such as CCTV, access control systems, alarms and monitoring systems. Quality criteria relating to the company It may be necessary to look beyond the company selection criteria to obtain more detailed information on the company standard operating procedures; the company’s security and human resource philosophy and track record. Source: CoESS, Selecting Best Value (www.securebestvalue.org)

About ASIAL Since 1969, the largest industry body representing the security industry has been the Australian Security Industry Association – ASIAL. With a national membership representing approximately 85 per cent of the security sector, ASIAL has played a key role in driving Australian standards, developing codes of conduct and raising the level of professionalism within the industry. Visit www.asial. com.au for further information.

Royal Darwin Hospital Royal Darwin Hospital is the largest teaching hospital in the Northern Territory and is also recognised as Australia’s National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre. Its mission is to provide culturally appropriate client-centred care in an environment which values and supports staff. Its vision is to be recognised locally, nationally and internationally as a centre of excellence providing quality health services.

oyal Darwin Hospital is the largest teaching hospital in the Northern Territory and is also recognised as Australia’s National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre. Its mission is to provide culturally appropriate client-centred care in an environment which values and supports staff. Its vision is to be recognised locally, nationally and internationally as a centre of excellence providing quality health services. The hospital won international recognition for its role in the retrieval, treatment and transfer of victims of the 2002 Bali bombings. Within 62 hours of the blasts, medical staff had resuscitated 61 patients including 20 intensive care patients and evacuated 48 patients to burns centres around Australia. RDH services the Darwin urban and Darwin rural areas, covering an expanse of approximately 127,002 kilometres. The Top End population serviced by the hospital is approximately 150,000. In 2008 it provided 47,280 inpatient, 56,342 emergency department and 94,384 outpatient services. Key Personnel at RDH that were involved with this security project were: •

Mr Neil Bond, Engineering Services Manager, and

•

Mr Phil Bates, Security Manager.

Darwin based company Security & Technology Services were successfully awarded the project to supply and install the specified system. Managing Director George Rakkas explains “At the start of

Australian GovLink 2010

the project, the shift to IP based solutions was in its infancy. Existing solutions were typically based on point to point and analogue based video solutions. However we wanted to provide complete flexibility by having all components TCP/IP based including the alarm gathering system, CCTV solution and intercom systems.” STS evaluated the RDH requirements and came up with an innovative solution to suit the highprofile mission-critical facility. STS based their proposed solution around the Indigovision integrated solution. Although they could offer alternative systems, their experience had proven that the Indigovision product is exceptionally reliable, flexible and would meet the current and future requirements of RDH. STS utilised the services of Integrated Products to design and implement the finer details of the integration of the various systems. The CCTV component was solved using the IndigoVision IP based video technology. The Indigovision solution encompassed in excess of 100 cameras and three workstations across the RDH campus. To minimise the effects of a tropical climate with an abundance of lightning storms, Indigovision devices as well the access control system utilised a fibre IP network backbone. The use of the fibre network provided a level of redundancy and also allowed for further expansion of the system with minimal impact on future bandwidth requirements. The IndigoVision Control Centre software provides the capability of traditional style matrix switching of all images and the inclusion

of multiple PC monitors, increasing both the useability and flexibility. The images are then recorded on hardware based Network Video Recorders (NVRs) with sufficient drive capacity to record high quality images without compromising the required archiving time frame. The overall result is a highly reliable enterprise class solution which assists RDH to improve operational efficiency, enhance public safety and enable timely emergency response. As with all security system installations, it is always the operator who will make or break the effectiveness of a user based system. In this case everyone involved with the project has found the system to be intuitive and user friendly. The “drag and drop” environment of the virtual matrix and the high level integration to the Pacom Systems’ GMS that enables automated switching of cameras based on various alarm conditions has simplified the system operation. Whilst Security & Technology Services have gained significant experience from the project, they are quick to point out that support from their suppliers was critical to their success. “Both Integrated Products and Pacom Systems were pivotal in the design and delivery of the project. Integrated Products’ Managing Director, Stuart Fowler did everything in his power to provide information, assistance and support at all stages of the project” said George Rakkas. “Strength in these relationships is critical for the successful completion of any project and the RDH solution is a perfect example of the results that can be achieved when these principles are applied.”

Better Integration - Your Choice

Authorised Partner

Integrated Products provide sales, service and support for the complete range of

IndigoVision's enterprise IP security solutions.

For further information on the features and benefits an IndigoVision solution can provide, or to arrange a product demonstration, call us on 1300 055 164 or visit www.integratedproducts.com.au

Integrated Products Pty Ltd Office: 1300 055 164 www.integratedproducts.com.au

NSS Group Security division NSS Group focuses on providing successful solution rather than mere problem solving.

hat means starting with a clear understanding of clients risks and what they would like to achieve, says NSS Group Managing Director, Rod Bowman. This allows NSS to tailor security solutions for all environments that represent; value for money and are implemented with a strong sense of purpose.

NSS is Australian owned and operated; the company’s long operating history began in 1977.

‘Our fundamental mission,’ Bowman says, ‘is to make our client’s business safer. And that requires a productive partnership between us and our client.’

One aspect of his company’s operation Bowman is especially proud of, is their negligible attrition rate. ‘Once clients join us, he says,’ they don’t leave.’

He says taking the steps to remove or reduce that risk is very much a joint exercise between NSS Group and their clients. Perhaps the most difficult aspect of security planning, is risk assessment.

He attributes much of that loyalty to NSS Group’s loyalty to staff and suppliers which help optimise their client’s security investment.

‘There’s a saying,’ Bowman says, ‘that sums up the essence of effective security very neatly: Know risk. No risk.’ By providing personalised service, NSS are able to help clients understand their specific risks. And it allows them to assess precisely what clients need from a security solution. The more security savvy he can make his clients, the happier Rod Bowman is. ‘It’s a relationship that consistently produces excellent results for our clients,’ he says. NSS Group is well qualified to provide quality endorsed security advice and solutions for all kinds of businesses and organisations, large and small. They have a diverse national clientele that consists of work in government, corporate, residential, commercial and property and construction sectors. NSS is a full service security company providing electronic security, alarm & video monitoring, guard services, asset and vehicle tracking, technical support & document storage & management, with 24 hour national coverage 365 days of the year. NSS Group moved into document storage as it saw this as an area of natural progression for the company allowing it to use its asset protection knowledge and skill set to protect and manage documents within highly secure sites.

Australian GovLink 2010

‘We’re the smallest of the large privately owned full service security companies with a national presence in the market,’ Rod Bowman says. ‘Our directors own and run the business, which ensures our clients receive the highest level of service.’

NSS have a highly trained and experienced workforce, with 90% of staff having been with the company for at least 10 years. The company has a long-term relationship with major suppliers. NSS has enjoyed a direct relationship with Direct Alarm Supplies a Hills Industries company since 1977. NSS Group’s quality credentials conform to the very highest standards both nationally and internationally. The company is a fully accredited member of ASIAL (Australian Security Industry Association Ltd), and is also a quality endorse company to AS/NZS ISO 9001 by Lloyds Register of Quality Assurance (LRQA).

Both organisations are their respective peak national bodies that promote and foster the highest standards of efficiency, service, equipment and ethical behaviour. ISO 9001, is the internationally recognised quality management system standard covering over half a million organisations in 159 countries. NSS Group are audited by ASIAL and have achieved the national body’s highest grading issued - an A1 Grade monitoring centre. The highest quality standards possible underpin every aspect of NSS Group’s operation. It gives clients the confidence of certainty. The company’s outstanding track record and continuing growth and success is a measure of the power of partnership with clients that Rod Bowman and his team set so much store by. The NSS competitive advantage is being able to service clients better than larger competitors while also being big enough to tailor quality endorsed solutions for all business and environments. ‘Our mission is to ensure the safety of yourself and that of your employees and customers that is of paramount importance,’ Bowman says. ‘Eliminating risk and loss for our customers is our constant objective. At NSS Group we have the security solutions needed to help achieve that.’

Tailored security solutions

Electronic Security

Alarm & Video Monitoring

Guard Services

Asset & Vehicle Tracking

Technical Support

Document Storage & Management

Privately owned & operated since 1977 • National coverage • ASIAL certification & membership Operate a Grade A1 Monitoring Centre • Quality endorsed company to ISO 9001 NSS Group aims to create peace of mind for its customers by providing a complete security solution that has been tailored to meet each client’s circumstance. We take pride in providing the highest quality products and services, which is achieved through a culture of continuous improvement by listening to our clients, employees and customers. This allows us to ensure we continuously exceed our customer’s expectations helping us to create long standing customer relationships.

For complete security solutions

Phone: 1300 133 343 Email: sales@nssgroup.com.au Web: www.nssgroup.com.au

Security

Security holds the key to greater collaboration

By Paul Cooper, National Manager ANZ Security Solutions-Tivoli Software, IBM Australia

ccording to an IDC study, the digital universe, which refers to information created, captured or replicated in digital form, is expected to grow 10fold from 2006 to 2011. Much of this information resides inside organisations, representing the life blood and key intellectual property on which its success is based. More and more organisations are moving to protect this data, as it is often a critical source of competitive advantage and essential to the bottom line. Organisations also need to demonstrate they have effective control over data in order to meet diverse compliance requirements, such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), and to maintain trust amongst its stakeholders. Indeed data loss can be crippling; according to a GMC Insights study the mean estimated annual cost of security incidents per company in Asia Pacific is a staggering US $378,500. Furthermore the US Bureau of Statistics noted that 93 per cent of companies that suffer significant data loss go out of business within five years. Given these grim statistics it is tempting to lock away critical data to ensure the livelihood of the organisation, but this is a flawed and short sighted approach. Removing data for security reasons is merely likely to stifle collaboration and innovation among employees, which will be counter-productive over the long term. Employees need to be able to collaborate and access data more, not less. Today we need data security solutions which encourage collaboration, and enable organisations/ agencies to efficiently carry out its business

Australian GovLink 2010

functions, whilst at the same time mitigate the risks associated with data access. The traditional view of security focuses on threats flowing inward, from the perimeter towards valuable data inside your organisation. Therefore most security strategies focus on controlling the perimeter, but in addition to “keeping the bad guys out” via efficient perimeter controls, today’s organisations need to take a broader and more holistic approach. A more effective strategy incorporates solutions that prevent data loss at endpoints and over networks as well as the perimeter, protecting data from creation, through to modification to distribution and archiving. Data loss of this kind can occur both from malicious attacks by disgruntled insiders, as well as from unintentional harm, caused by careless employees. We need an approach which also prevents outward data leakage from staff laptops and other mobile devices. Rather than being locked away in centralised repositories, an awful lot of valuable data now resides on devices such as Blackberrys and iPhones, and can quickly travel beyond the walls of the organisation. Companies can introduce more effective endpoint protection by leveraging encryption technology and data loss prevention controls to help protect sensitive data stored on endpoints, when devices are powered down or in use. Similarly these kinds of technologies can also help to secure data stored on external attached storage media such as USB keys, as well as data transmitted by email. This can range from full-disk encryption that protects data even when it’s lost or stolen through to email and instant message encryption which prevents data leakage in case of a message

interception. Enforcement of endpoint data policies is also crucial to success. Data and its access can be classified to add further control; for instance a user may be able to view a file, but not copy or alter it. The final piece of effective data security management is monitoring and reporting on security policy compliance. Today’s regulatory compliance requirements are increasingly demanding, and are forcing more companies to demonstrate they have accountable security measures in place. Meeting these requirements can require significant manual effort to collect and protect information across heterogeneous resources. An organisation’s compliance posture can be significantly enhanced by implementing an automated monitoring solution which collects activity across all IT assets and gives real-time visibility and appropriate alerting when noncompliance activities occur, as well as a forensic audit trail in the event of a security investigation. In particular privileged users who have authority to handle business-critical information must be tracked, so you have the ability to know if they unintentionally or maliciously mishandle data. In essence, you need to make data available to your employees and partners, to support collaboration and help your organisation thrive. But this needs to be balanced holistically with effective security measures both at the perimeter and the endpoint, and everything in between. A strong compliance enforcement policy underpinned by automated monitoring and alerting tools, is the final piece of the jigsaw. Taking these measurements gets data security under control and frees you up to focus on day to day collaboration with confidence.

Now

for upcoming information security and risk management webinars on www.senseofsecurity.com.au/webinars

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Recognised as Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fastest growing information security and risk management consulting firm through the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 & BRW Fast 100 programs

Sydney: Level 3, 66 King St, Sydney, NSW 2000 Melbourne: Level 8, 350 Collins St, Melbourne, VIC 3000 Contact Number: 1300 922 923 www.senseofsecurity.com.au

Securing Virtualised Environments Focus on the Fundamentals Making tangible commercial gains through the use of technology can be a highly effective business strategy. Virtualisation of ICT infrastructure has been one of the more recent strategies to achieve solid gains from your technology spend. Organisations of all sizes are either evaluating it or using it. Virtualisation of IT server infrastructure is now commonplace. Ask an ICT Services Provider; you can be guaranteed they are using virtualisation to some extent to deliver services to their clients. recovery – High levels of IT service delivery & business continuity is arguably far easier to achieve using virtualised systems. •

Simplified Service Delivery - Software-asa-Service providers are using virtualised environments to deliver applications to multiple clients over the Internet. The service model employs a build-once, serve-many capability meaning you can acquire on-demand applications as your organisation requires. This is the basis of the cloud computing phenomenon; it can significantly reduce your procurement timeline.

What’s the catch?

•

he business benefits supporting virtualisation are numerous; they include:

Less Environmental Impact (Green IT) – The replacement of many physical systems (the traditional model) into fewer platforms running multiple virtualised systems minimises energy consumption and your carbon footprint. The impact on the environment is further reduced due to the relatively fewer computing systems that would require disposal, and or recycling, at the end of their usable life; Lowering your cost of ownership – Doing more with less; consolidating IT systems into a virtualised environment can help reduce the financial overheads associated with acquiring platforms (i.e. servers and data storage) and services (i.e. application service delivery). Cost gains can also be realised by the relatively lower cost of deployment, maintenance and management; Providing business continuity and disaster

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Put simply, the security of information assets is often overlooked during the planning and deployment stages of a virtualisation program. According to a report prepared by research company Gartner they believe in five years that virtualised systems likely will be more secure than their physical counterparts, but until then, it will be rough sledding for organisations transitioning to the new technology. Furthermore Gartner research indicates that, at YE09, only 18% of enterprise data centre workloads that could be virtualised had been virtualised, with the number growing to more than 50% by YE12. As more and more workloads are virtualised, as workloads of different trust levels are combined and as virtualised workloads become more mobile, the security issues associated with virtualisation become more critical to address. The question we should be asking ourselves at the conceptual stages of a virtualisation project is how I can deliver IT services, efficiently, cost effectively, and securely. Security within your virtualisation project can be achieved if you focus on the security fundamentals of confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

A game plan based on security fundamentals Confidentiality – A significant benefit of virtualised environments is that they consolidate services onto fewer systems than their physical counterparts. If this is not achieved in a secure manner and one virtual system is vulnerable to attack it may result in all virtualised systems on that platform also falling victim to malicious activity. This potential scenario needs to be thought through at the planning stages. Consider how to enforce segregation between various systems and between entities. It is not recommended to have a virtualised platform bridging two distinct zones of trust. For example, internet facing systems such as email gateways or remote access entry points (lower trust) should not be virtualised on the same system where internal systems are resident such as payroll or HR (higher trust). Similarly, if you have systems hosted at a service provider in a multi-tenant environment (multiple distinct entities on a single platform) your service provider must have the capability to keep the entities isolated which is not a trivial task in shared infrastructure. Policies and procedures need to be developed to not only govern what virtualised systems should cohabit on a given platform but they should also consider who should have the administrative access rights to the wealth of information maintained within the consolidated virtual environment. Do you have sound governance to address this matter? Can your internal IT team or third party service provider demonstrate how polices and procedures segregate systems and protect the confidently of your information assets? If your answer to the above question(s) is no then it is highly recommended that you consult with your information security advisor to prepare a set of standards designed to protect the confidentiality of your information assets. Integrity – Virtualised systems are no different from their physical counterparts in respect to ongoing security maintenance. Your enterprise wide patch management framework should also extend to your virtualised environment including the new technology that has been introduced the virtualisation layer. Virtualised systems that are not patched systematically are far more likely to fall victim to a security breach which could potentially lead to loss of data bringing into question the integrity of the entire virtualised

environment. The issue here is not a technology issue per se; the issue is caused by a lack of planning and implementing appropriate patch management practices. It is essential that your internal IT team or service provider demonstrate how their patch management practice will service your virtualisation environment. The notion of integrity also relates to the personnel that have administrative access rights to alter security controls and data on virtualised systems. By collapsing physical systems into virtualised environments many of the traditional administrative roles and responsibilities have become blurred. Virtualisation projects, if managed incorrectly, can introduce significant security blind spots; the administrative checks and balances may have dissolved due to the lack of defined demarcation points. Make sure that you have appropriate role based access controls (RBAC) to protect the integrity of systems and data in your virtualised environment. Defining and implementing a suitable RBAC framework needs to be complemented with appropriate audit procedures. If the virtualised systems are implemented by your internal IT team you will need to invest in tools that log all activity across all layers. Of course the procedures to undertake audits need to be defined, including assigning personnel to perform the task. Clearly the same personnel maintaining the systems should not also audit the systems; segregation of duties needs to be established. If you are using an ICT service provider they need to be able to demonstrate their own RBAC framework and audit procedures. It is recommended that service providers use third party auditors to assess their procedures and environment. Availability â&#x20AC;&#x201C; One of the great selling points for virtualised systems, regardless if they are delivered by your internal IT organisation or a service provider, is the redundancy capabilities inherent in the technology. That said, appropriate process and procedures are needed to ensure the availability of virtualised systems and services. Your patch management practices also have a role to play here; a breach of security caused by a lack of system maintenance could cause disruption to service availability and loss of data. The patch management program needs to extend to dormant systems to aid in the availability of service(s). It is critical that practices and procedures are defined to cater for planned and unplanned

system downtime; the potential implications for ignoring this can be devastating.

Summary Remember virtualisation is simply the platform enabler. It is not inherently insecure but it is often deployed and managed in an insecure manner due to lack of planning, skills, procedures, and tools. Establish your virtualisation plan well ahead of deployment and make sure the project includes stakeholders from your information security team who are fully conversant in the principles of information security. If you intend to outsource to an ICT service provider it is only reasonable that they can demonstrate that their infrastructure and delivery platforms have well defined information security measures and controls. It is essential that you have the ability to audit their service based on the agreed security principles and a frequency that meets your business needs. Build this into your service agreement before you sign the contract.

Sense of Security is a leading independent provider of IT security and risk management consulting services, with expertise in assessment and assurance, as well as strategy and architecture, through to deployment and ongoing management. Sense of Securityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s consultants are information security experts with a thorough knowledge and understanding of the technical, commercial, and regulatory requirements of information and communications technology (ICT) security. For more information on Sense of Security services visit www.senseofsecurity.com.au

Wilson Security - Rapid Wilson Security has recently transformed mobile patrol security services in Australia with its industry-first Rapid technology.

his ASIAL award-winning technology offers our clients the most transparent, accountable service in the industry by integrating unique cutting-edge software the best equipment and vehicles, and carefully selected staff trained to provide an elite service. Rapid sets Wilson Security apart from our competitors by raising the standard of service and compliance in the industry; this is achieved by automating and simplifying the delivery of alarm response and patrol services through technology. Each Wilson Security mobile patrol vehicle is installed with a Rapid terminal – patrol runs are entered into our custom-made database and assigned to the closest vehicle holding keys. Rapid optimises the best route to the location and most time efficient schedule, reducing unnecessary travel time. Alarm responses are automatically dispatched via Rapid directly to vehicles holding keys, and in close proximity to the site in alarm. All response reports are then completed on the Rapid terminal and automatically emailed to clients removing the requirement to leave a docket. Wilson Security Chief Executive Officer John McMellan has described Rapid as the new benchmark technology for the industry. “Rapid monitors the progress of the security response and through its GPS technology

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ensures a mobile patrol has attended the site”, Mr McMellan said.

to provide the most advanced mobile patrol and alarm response service in Australia.

Rapid provides complete transparency by allowing our clients to view the status of their alarm and patrol attendance in real-time, backed by real-time reporting.

Wilson Security currently provides mobile patrols and alarm responses to a range of clients nationally delivering these services locally from most Australian capital cities.

“During a scheduled patrol or alarm response, clients can monitor progress and view a status report”, he said.

Mobile Patrols are one of the most efficient and cost effective ways of protecting businesses and assets – they provide a highly visible presence and work to deter intrusion, theft and vandalism in addition to providing an agile response to break and enters and other incidents.

Mr McMellan said at any time, summaries of all patrols and jobs are accessible to Patrol Officers with Wilson Security’s 24-hour Operations Support Centre able to forward updates onto clients. “The system uses in-vehicle multi-function terminals to link mobile patrol vehicles with the Wilson Security Operations Support Centre”, he said. “The transfer of information is delivered in real time, making the whole process far more transparent. Clients are able to monitor the estimated time of arrival and update on-site details.” While GPS and mobile communication hardware has been available to the industry for the last five years there is no known integrated application that provides an end to end solution like Rapid. Rapid ensures the Wilson Security Operations Support Centre can maintain contact with Patrol Officers, providing extra protection for staff and clients. “When customers require a security response, the Rapid technology prioritises the threat automatically”, Mr McMellan said. Rapid was named the best integrated security solution by the Australian Security Industry Association Limited last year at their annual awards ceremony, in recognition of its capability

Wilson Security’s mobile patrols form an integral part of its suite of services and work to support a number of integrated security solutions. Our mobile patrols have the capability to respond to a range of activations from other integrated services including a variety of cameras, alarms sensors and detectors, incorporating a range of triggering and alert technologies. These technologies work to detect serious security incidents and distinguish false alarms from real events requiring a response. Wilson Security has a dedicated Project Management Team that assists in designing integrated security solutions that minimise security costs and achieve best-fit solutions. Our team works with clients to understand individual needs, assess risks and design a scope of work that meets specific requirements and risks. To discuss your individual security needs or for further information contact Wilson Security on 1300 WILSON or visit www.wilsonsecurity.com.au

SNP Security With wide-ranging services from manpowerbased security to advanced electronic solutions, SNP Security can draw on vast experience with city, suburban and regional councils.

The best policy

for integrated security

A ‘SafeCity’ with SNP In 1997, Melbourne City Council launched its SafeCity program based on a fibre optic network of CCTV cameras. When it was time to update the network, Council turned to SNP Security. SNP’s solution linked the original fibre optic path with modern PTZ cameras. A major challenge during installation was keeping two systems running side-by-side during commissioning. In doing so, SNP ensured no loss of footage and a seamless transition to new technology.

Taking care of visitors When Queensland’s Gold Coast City Council created Gold Coast Park, tourists and local resident safety was a prime consideration. SNP Security’s world-class solution incorporates PTZ cameras, fixed CCTV cameras, intercoms, PA systems, a duress help point system and access control, all linked to the Council’s main monitoring room. Also utilising SNP Security’s electronic security expertise is Sydney’s Rockdale Council. With Brighton Le Sands’ cafes, restaurants and retail outlets attracting increased visitor levels, Council decided to update an outdated system. SNP re-used some existing equipment and overlaid it with new technology, demonstrating that councils can build modern systems without discarding all their previous infrastructure investment.

The manpower Newcastle needs SNP Security remains a leader in the manpower security, with clients including Newcastle City Council. Australia’s sixth largest city relies on SNP to provide Security Officers for mobile patrol and general guarding duties. SNP Security Officers protect all Council buildings, recreational facilities and aquatic facilities, and are backed up by 24/7 alarm monitoring and response through SNP’s Grade A1 Monitoring Centre.

Flying High at Port Macquarie Building on experience at Sydney Airport, SNP Security is now providing security services at a number of regional airports. Among these is Port Macquarie Airport, operated by Port Macquarie-Hastings Council. When the airport needed to update security in line with new government regulations, SNP mobilised a new fully compliant security screening operation within a six-week timeframe! SNP Security welcomes enquiries from all local government organisations wishing to upgrade electronic or manpower-based security and can be contacted on 1300 30 31 32.

At SNP Security we provide integrated security solutions to an impressive portfolio of government clients who know they can rely on us to meet their exacting standards. Our reputation for highly trained security officers, quality assurance, electronic security and innovative ways to integrate a range of complementary security solutions is well established on a national level. We’re also leaders in highly specialised Type 1 Monitoring, designed specifically for Australian Commonwealth departments and agencies. The service is linked to our two Grade 1 Monitoring Centres, which provide alarm monitoring and response with total system redundancy. We also provide security screening at number of airports including Sydney Airport – Australia’s busiest – and a number of regional airports, making us Australia’s leading airport security provider.

Grade A1 Monitoring Electronic Security Security Officers Aviation Security Mobile Patrols

Master Licence NSW 40067 4602

To find out why SNP Security has become the largest integrated security company in Australia, visit www.snpsecurity.com.au and click on case studies.

1300 30 31 32 www.snpsecurity.com.au

Solar Lighting new alternative has arrived

ustainability now being a requirement for many private enterprises, public companies and government departments, created a necessity for sustainable technologies to evolve to a level of achieving consumer confidence immediately and became the challenge for sustainable design and manufacturing companies over the last 4 years, and most profoundly in the area of standalone solar lighting. In many cases where lighting is required, stand alone solar lighting systems have filled a gap not only in the reduction of the CO2 footprint but the reduction in infrastructure cost due to the diverse and isolated locations that lighting is required. Stand alone solar lighting has not had the easiest start into the market place historically. For many years prior to 2005 various companies, government departments and even private sector clients have tried various solar lighting systems and in many cases due to poor product design have not performed as expected mainly due to the fact there were no solar lighting systems designed specifically for this purpose. Realising the market required expertise in the stand alone solar lighting sector, a few companies have stood out amongst the group like EXlites an Australian owned, design and manufacturing company who implemented their design strategy early in 2003 realising that time was needed to be spent prior to going to market in late 2005 to design a complete package of components that were specifically suited to each other to create standalone solar lighting systems that would out perform all others in the market and offer a credibility back to the industry that had been lost. EXlites have a strong understanding of the various light sources available, from the proven H.I.D (high intensity discharge lamps), LED and finally the new Electrode less or LVD lamps which are still in their infancy compared to other light sources.

HID Lighting Systems EXlites focused on low wattage HID lamps for its 3500 SupaLux that have a smaller light source that could be matched with a specially designed reflector to focus the entire light source created from the lamp circumference out rather than using larger higher powered HID lamps that created massive spill light. This in turn created a effect of a 35watt light source producing a light output equivalent up 5 times its original wattage capability in Mercury Vapour standards which meant applications

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previously that were too costly due to the solar power system requirement. Not only does the 35watt lamp produce a superior light intensity but the availability of using a pure white light becomes available which offered better pupil lumen and more visual and safer effect in the area of security lighting and use of CCTV systems.

LED Lighting Systems EXlites low power LED technologies are used in the following systems: 2400 SupaLux Solar Lighting System for pathways, jetties, laneways and small lighting provides a low maintenance, compact and cost effective standalone solar lighting using only the highest quality lower power LEDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s from NICHIA one of the most respected LED manufacturers in the world. NEW 2010 GENII Vandal Resistant Solar Bollard uses only 3 or 6 LED chips which are sealed inside heavy duty polycarbonate designed housing offering the most cost effective commercial grade pathway and marker lighting in the market today. 4800 SupaLux Solar Lighting System using uses a variety of solar panel and framing designs depending on location and vandal/theft resistance required for shelter lighting, toilet lighting, covered walkway lighting and covered area lighting. Having a good lighting luminary is one piece of the total stand alone solar lighting package. The other crucial aspects that EXlites needed to consider were battery storage, solar charging control and the Solar panels that would collect this initial energy. The most crucial requirement for the diverse Australia climate was to find a battery design that works efficiently in lower temperatures below -0 and in higher ambient temperatures up to +40. EXlites has now a newer more efficient design Silicone Battery manufacturer for their own range of Silicone batteries to complement their individual luminaireâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and systems. EXlites being designed, mostly manufactured and assembled right here on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland understands what is required for the Australian market. EXlites can stand behind their product directly and are the only Australian company to offer a one stop sustainable and solar lighting package. For further information or application uses visit www.exlites.com.au.

Environment

Delivering infrastructure sustainably Setting the scene The Australian infrastructure industry is developing a Sustainability Rating Scheme for the design, construction and operation of new infrastructure projects and upgrades of existing assets.

he Sustainability Rating Scheme is being developed through the Australian Green Infrastructure Council (AGIC), a not for profit incorporated organisation.

More than 60 companies and government organisations from planning, design, construction, operation, finance and legal disciplines have joined AGIC since its inception in 2008. The scheme includes the AGIC Infrastructure Sustainability Rating Tool, Education and Training programs and Assessment and Verification of sustainability delivery in infrastructure projects. “AGIC members have committed $2.5M over the last two years through in-kind contributions (80%) and cash memberships (20%) to develop the scheme,” Professor David Hood, chairman, AGIC said. “AGIC is now seeking funding to develop the content of the rating tool and with our members having more than 45,000 staff will ensure sustainability is incorporated into all new infrastructure projects and upgrades,” he said. Australia is currently positioned to be the first nation to introduce a sustainability certification scheme for infrastructure. In late 2009, both the World Council of Civil Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers announced that they have identified the need for a sustainability certification scheme for major civil works. These groups are in the early stages of project establishment. “The AGIC rating tool can be completed and operational within 15 months of receiving funding support. It will take into account the draft ISO 26 000 guidelines for social responsibility for use by corporations, government and non-government organisations globally,” Professor Hood said. He explained the AGIC scheme will provide a single national framework for sustainability assessment. “It will eliminate the inconsistencies of the current range of emerging and diverse sustainability criteria being generated by

different government departments in all states for various tenders.

through documented case studies of innovative sustainability practices,” Prof Hood said.

“AGIC believes a single, national framework will lead to cost efficiencies and increased productivity in sustainability delivery through lower tendering costs and an improved ability to assess tenders more equitably,” he said.

The Infrastructure Sustainability Rating Scheme

The AGIC rating tool will be tested through pilot projects. “AGIC believes government, industry and non-government organisations will benefit

The AGIC Infrastructure Sustainability Rating Scheme framework comprises seven categories and 27 sub-categories identified and agreed upon by members to measure sustainability across social, economic, environmental and governance factors. The following table outlines the categories and sub-categories included in AGIC’s rating tool. >

Environment

Category

Sub-categories

1. Project Management & Governance

1.1 Purchase & Procurement 1.2 Reporting & Responsibilities 1.3 Climate Change Vulnerability 1.4 Making Decisions 1.5 Knowledge Sharing & Capacity Building

2. Economic Performance

2.1 Value for Money 2.2 Due Diligence 2.3 Economic Life

3. Using Resources

3.1 Energy Use 3.2 Water 3.3 Material Selection & Use

4. Emissions, Pollution & Waste

4.1 Greenhouse Gas Management 4.2 Discharges to Air, Water & Land 4.3 Land Management 4.4 Waste Management

5. Biodiversity

5.1 Functioning Ecosystems 5.2 Enhanced Biodiversity

6. People & Places

6.1 Health, Wellbeing, Safety 6.2 Natural & Cultural Heritage Values 6.3 Participatory Processes 6.4 Positive Legacy for Current & Future Generations 6.5 Enhanced Urban & Landscape Design & Aesthetics 6.6 Knowledge Sharing, Shared Intellectual Property

7. Workforce

7.1 Safety, Health & Wellbeing of Workforce 7.2 Capacity Building 7.3 Increased Knowledge of Applied Sustainability 7.4 Equity

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> AGIC category authors have recently been assigned through a national tendering process and once funding is secured will be responsible for developing the category content and measurement framework. For further information on the rating scheme visit: www.agic.net.au

Guiding the Scheme’s development As a not for profit organisation, AGIC is driven by a strong volunteer base including a board of directors and five working groups. AGIC’s board comprises 11 members and is led by chairman Professor David Hood. Professor Hood is also a consulting civil and environmental engineer and adjunct professor in the Faculty of the Built Environment and Engineering at Queensland University of Technology, immediate past chairman of the Australian College of Environmental Engineers, and past deputy president of the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC). Professor Hood is joined by Nick Apostolidis, director and general manager client development at GHD; Michael Kerry, regional director, QLD at Parsons Brinckerhoff; Peter Olsen, executive general manager human resources and sustainability at Leighton Contractors; Frank Vromans, director and Australian head of infrastructure, ARUP; Mark Rogers, asset manager infrastructure investment at Colonial First Global Asset Management; Anne Davis, senior lawyer at Clayton Utz and other industry members in overseeing the development of the rating scheme. Glenn Hedges, environment manager at Thiess, is also a director and company secretary of AGIC. Two working groups include the Client Need and Marketing (CNM) and the Product Design & Development (PDD) working groups. CNM focuses on the marketing and stakeholder management activities of AGIC and is led by director Penny Townley, communications specialist at SMEC Australia. PDD is headed by director Rick Walters, sustainability and climate change manager at Worley Parsons. PDD is responsible for defining and recommending to the board the boundaries, scope and framework of the AGIC scheme and composition of the AGIC rating tool. The group also works with the tool development project manager, Antony Sprigg of GHD to review the AGIC tool progress. Antony’s position is sponsored by GHD.

Driving the progress on behalf of AGIC members is Doug Harland, CEO. Harland joined AGIC after 12 years as executive general manager of Toowoomba Metal Technologies. He is Queensland past-president and pastnational vice-president of the Australian Industry Group, past national chairman of the National Cast Metals Council, and a fellow of Engineers Australia.

The table below outlines the development process.

“The forecast effects of climate change include more extreme weather events, rising sea levels and higher temperatures. “This tool will help to ensure that critical infrastructure like water and electricity supplies, communication networks and transport routes can withstand future impacts.” Details on the climate change criteria and measurement framework will be released at the end of May 2010 on the AGIC website.

Progress timeline for Rating Scheme implementation The AGIC Sustainability Rating Tool (SRT) can be developed and fully operational within 15 months of receiving the required funding. This funding will allow AGIC to progress the authorship, peer review process and pilot phase for each sub-category. AGIC has developed a comprehensive and robust process to produce a market-ready product that addresses industry needs and provides a standardised sustainability assessment scheme for infrastructure delivery and operation. The content of the rating scheme and the rating tool will be reviewed and updated annually.

Start date – month 3

Receipt of funding

Hold Category Author briefings Months 3 – 10

Category Authors develop category content Submit content for peer reviews

The Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water has provided funding for the climate change adaptation component of the AGIC’s Infrastructure Sustainability Rating Scheme.

“The climate change adaptation component of the tool will enable infrastructure designers, engineers and builders to measure and manage vulnerability to future climatic conditions,” NSW Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, Frank Sartor said.

Milestone

Commission Category Authors

Sub-category pilot testing complete

As part of the development of the tool it has been tested in the design and construction of the Department of Services, Technology and Administration (DSTA) Lithgow Sewerage Treatment Plant Augmentation project and retrospectively on DSTA’s award-winning Shannon Creek Dam construction.

Timeframe

Months 10 – 11

Submit & review final draft content Approve content

Months 11 – 14

Select projects for pilot trials Review trial results and refine tool

Months 14 – 15

Complete manual, scoresheet and case studies

Month 15

Review scheme and tool ready for launch

When fully operational, AGIC will be providing training packages to relevant professionals wanting to become accredited assessors or verifiers. An AGIC Assessor would rate projects according to the SRT and an AGIC Verifier would then evaluate their assessment before a final AGIC rating is awarded. The structure and content of these training packages and the selection criteria will be finalised during the 15 months of category development. Invitation to Government AGIC extends an invitation to all levels of government to become an AGIC member. Infrastructure delivery and operation encompasses a broad range of stakeholders such as planning, design, construction, legal and finance companies, non-government organisations and government departments and authorities. It is essential that the respective interests are considered and incorporated into the development of the AGIC Scheme. Government departments, agencies, government owned corporations and councils already involved include:

•

WA – Main Roads.

Through the collaboration of industry, government and non-government organisations AGIC is facilitating the establishment of a common and nationally recognised industry language, metrics and understanding based on the principles of economic, social and environmental sustainability. The scheme will drive continuous performance in the area of infrastructure sustainability and provide a stimulus for innovation and new ways of meeting current challenges. AGIC invites your organisation to consider membership or becoming a volunteer on one of the five working groups progressing the rating scheme. Visit: www.agic.net.au

For further information, please contact:

•

Queensland – Brisbane City Council, Queensland EPA, Queensland Rail

Doug Harland, CEO M: 0418 987 662 E: dharland@agic.net.au

•

NSW – Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation

•

VIC – Victorian EPA and Victoria “The Place To Be”

•

ACT – ACTEW

Penny Townley, Director Ph: 07 3029 6647 M: 0420 902 107 E: penny.townley@smec.com

Bladder surge tanks Charlatte bladder surge tanks are a simple solution to surge problems.

n time of severe drought, leaks and bursts in piping systems can undo our water conservation efforts. Approximately 10% of Sydney water supply is lost due to leaks (SMH).

Pressure surges in pipelines can result in leaking seals, burst pipes as well as component damage. Another less known effect of surge is pathogen intrusion. During negative pressure contaminants on the outside of the pipe can get past the seals and enter the system. This presents a sanitary issue in the case of drinking water. Environmental agencies in Europe and US are alert to potential risks due to pathogen intrusion during transients. EPA Paper is available on Olaer website. Pressure Surge is often called Water Hammer. Water Hammer can be defined as a rapid change in pressure. Rapid changes in pressure are caused by rapid changes in flow rate. Worst case scenario for surge is pump trip due to power failure at maximum flow. Pressure surge can cause overpressure and negative pressure. Many commercial software packages are available to analyze the effects of surge (Hammer, AFT Impulse, Flowmaster, KY Pipe, etc.). Surge analysis should always be performed at design stages of the pipeline. If you have a water hammer problem in your system, Charlatte bladder tank will protect you from overpressure and negative pressure. Charlatte have been manufacturing bladder surge tanks for over 40 years with sizes ranging

Australian GovLink 2010

from 100 to 100,000 litres. Charlatte is the preferred supplier for large surge tanks around the world. Charlatte bladder tanks offer many practical benefits to end users. A Bladder tank is a self regulating system which means that there is no need for electricity, compressors, air receivers, complicated controls, sensors and valves. This equates to savings in electricity, maintenance and equipment costs. Fluid is contained inside the Butyl bladder which means no corrosion which in turn ensures long life of the tank. Bladders are manufactured from heavy duty butyl Olaer BC 0707.indd 11 rubber which is suitable for drinking water. Installation and commissioning become very simple with a Charlatte bladder tank. After tank is connected to the pipeline and charged with nitrogen (or compressed gas) it is ready for use. Olaer can provide commissioning assistance and training. If you have any questions or enquiries about Charlatte product range contact

charlie@olaer.com.au Website: www.olaer.com.au Phone: 02 9981 6888

Technologies to protect the environment and your reputation from organic carbon.

ontrolling the amount of organic matter in our streams and waterways is critical for environmental protection. A high organic content in streams and waterways leads to an increase in microorganisms, such as algae, which depletes the oxygen levels in the water to the detriment of other inhabitants of that ecosystem. The organic matter is introduced on a daily basis. It comes from decaying natural organic sources such as plants, animals and the environment, and from synthetic sources such as insecticides, herbicides, pharmaceuticals, detergents and pesticides. Industrial plants and wastewater treatment facilities also contribute organic contaminants in various amounts. Total Organic Carbon (TOC) is a term that encompasses all these organic compounds and is the amount of carbon present in an organic compound. Analysing TOC provides a fast and convenient way to determine the amount of organic impurities in a water source. In particular, when it comes to processed and discharged effluent, controlling TOC is critical. Industrial, manufacturing and process plants need to be extremely careful before releasing water into the municipal system or into streams. The TOC levels must be carefully monitored and the wastewater adequately treated before being discharged into the municipal system. The consequences of pollution are financial as well as environmental as there are strict laws on tolerance limits for contaminants - and severe penalties for breaching these limits. Three common online methods exist for determining TOC. They are chemical oxidation, high temperature oxidation and UV absorption.

The selection of the method is dependant on the application and level of accuracy required

carbon chains, which need the high temperature oxidization to be broken down.

The first step in the process of the chemical and high temperature oxidation methods is to remove the inorganic carbon from the sample. This is done by adding acid to the sample to convert the inorganic carbon into carbon dioxide (CO2) gas. The stripped CO2 is then purged from the sample by a carrier.

The third TOC method uses a spectrometer and measures the UV absorption in the 190 to 400 nanometre wavelength range, to determine dissolved organic carbon (DOC). The spectrometer is calibrated according to the correlating TOC content of the calibration samples DOC value. This in-situ method is therefore low maintenance and doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t require chemicals. As this is an inferred measurement it does not provide the same accuracy as the oxidization methods, but it does provide repeatable, continuous and instantaneous measurements required for process control. UV absorption TOC measurement is typically used in sewerage treatment plants to measure incoming load of the inlet stream and aeration process control.

The next stage differentiates the chemical from the high temperature methods. After stripping out the inorganic carbon, the chemical method uses a power oxidant, sodium metabisulfite, in conjunction with a powerful UV lamp to oxidise the liquid sample and liberate the organic carbon as CO2. The CO2 concentration is then measured using an infra-red detector and is directly proportional to the concentration of TOC. This method is ideal for limit violation monitoring in water applications where high accuracy is paramount such as effluent streams feeding into rivers or oceans and water recycling plants. In the high temperature method, after the liquid sample has the inorganic carbon stripped out it is then combusted in an oxygen-rich atmosphere in a high temperature oven at 850Âş C. This causes the organic carbon to be liberated as CO2. The gas is cooled and the CO2 concentration is again measured using an infra-red detector and is directly proportional to the concentration of TOC. This method is ideal for limit violation monitoring in industrial wastewater applications, where accuracy is vital and there are complex

TOC measurement is not only important because of its effects on the environment - human health and manufacturing processes are affected by TOC content too. The measuring processes described above are now used in a variety of other applications including monitoring drinking water and detecting contaminants in water used in manufacturing and pharmaceutical industries. Endress+Hauser Australia focus on the supply, service and training of a complete range of water analysis measurement solutions. Encompassing more than just these three measurement methods the company are also specialists in pH, ORP, conductivity, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, chlorine, ammonium, nitrates, phosphates and BOD.

McConnell Dowell McConnell Dowell’s work on the landmark Bogong Power Development included the construction of a new underground hydro electric power station and a network of tunnels and shafts in the Alpine National Park near Falls Creek, in the Victorian ski fields.

s the largest hydro-power generation project in Australia for the past 25 years, Bogong Power Development forms part of AGL Southern Hydro’s strategic energy framework for the supply of green peak demand power. The project included: •

6.5 km of 5 m diameter hardrock tunnel constructed using a tunnel boring machine;

•

1.3 km of drill and blast tunnels;

•

250 m of 5 m diameter shafts;

•

5,000 t penstock liners; and

•

Underground power station construction and installation of two 70 MW turbines.

The excavation of the station box is a top-down excavation utilising secant pile walls, rock anchors and excavation in rock to 25 metres below the surface. Approximately 30,000 cubic metres of material were excavated and the power station foundations required more than 10,000 cubic metres of concrete. Effective community involvement and engagement was a critical success factor for the project. Bogong Village houses an Outdoor Education Centre and is a significant bush trekking area. McConnell Dowell was supportive in enhancing the services of both this centre with improved outdoor activities areas, and by providing upgraded walking tracks in the areas surrounding the project. Public and community interaction groups were regularly convened and awareness programmes kept stakeholders and local authorities fully informed. The sustainability focus of the project was also extended to the disposal of the tunnel rock spoil. The local Alpine Shire used this material to upgrade local roads in the area, particularly the high plains road to Omeo from Falls Creek. Being constructed in an alpine national park meant the project was highly scrutinised by AGL Southern Hydro and the EPA – and the results were exceptional. “The statutory authorities cannot speak highly enough about the work

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done by McConnell Dowell. The work they are doing is being used as a benchmark for future projects,” says John Arnold, AGL Southern Hydro’s project manager. The finished project was officially opened by Victorian Premier John Brumby on Friday, 20 November 2009. “The Bogong Hydro Power Station is a great example of how climate change can provide a climate of opportunity – with new investment, more jobs and a cleaner environment,” Premier Brumby said. “The design has ensured that this project has been great for the economy and great for the environment, producing zero emission energy while conserving our valuable water resources,” said the Premier. “The key to meeting Victoria’s future energy needs is to deliver new clean energy such as the Bogong Hydro Power Station. It forms part of a grid of cleaner energy including solar, gas-fired and wind power which are all driving up jobs and investment, particularly in regional Victoria.” “This project is unique because it delivers clean energy without the need for new dams or new water by reusing water already used by the McKay Creek Power Station,” he said. The most significant environmental challenge was to complete the project within the Alpine National Park and adjacent to pristine mountain streams, along with satisfying all environmental and local concerns. This was achieved with high satisfaction to all parties involved. Strict environmental procedures included sealing all created roads and car parks with bitumen to prevent transport of sediment via vehicles’ wheels; installation of an on-site water treatment plant installed to treat all site water prior to discharge; and intensive community consultation and notification both prior to and during the 11-month explosives blasting period. The big picture outcome for the project was that the surrounding waterways, community infrastructure and roadways were returned to the community in a “better than before” state – providing cleaner and healthier water, up-to-date community facilities and infrastructure, and sealed roads which provided safer and quieter travel. The Power Station itself now provides 140MW of ultra-fast-response peak electricity capacity, which is capable of meeting the sharp spikes in demand that characterises the Victorian electricity market.

MADE FOR THE JOB Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve worked hard to build an industry-recognised reputation for completing projects on time and on budget. But delivery is not only about how we finish things, but also how we manage projects. We look at each and every project from an holistic viewpoint, not just as a number of packages, to create engineering and construction solutions which exceed the expectations of our clients. This is what makes us stand out from the crowd, and thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why our work consistently wins engineering and environmental awards. www.mcconnelldowell.com

To find out how we can provide a creative solution for your project infrastructure challenge call our Australian Head Office on +61 3 9816 2400, email macdow@macdow.com.au or visit our website.

Why RE-USING is better

ustralia continues to be one of the highest producers of greenhouse gas emissions and waste per capita in the world. One area of opportunity for home and business to reduce the impact on the environment is through e-waste, in particular consumables such as printer cartridges. Each year over 1,500 tonnes of cartridges are needlessly thrown into landfill when in most cases those cartridges can be re-used, often many times over. Cartridge World, the world leader in ink and toner cartridge refilling, operates over 225 stores and agencies in Australia and 1,650 stores globally and has been recognised again as the Number 1 Toner Replacement Service in the world (Entrepreneur Magazine Franchise 500, issue 2008). Cartridge World’s quality control processes ensure that our product performs to your expectations in print quality, replication and yield and is backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Using a Cartridge World product does not void your printer warranty. Reusing your printer cartridge means that it goes back into your printer not into landfill, it also means that you experience big savings on the cost of a new one. Helping to save the environment and saving money at the same time – it couldn’t be easier. To start saving you and your business, contact your local Cartridge World store today.

Fast facts: •

It takes up to 450 years for a cartridge to decompose

•

A laser cartridge dumped contributes nearly half a kilogram of plastic to landfill

•

Over 1,500 tonnes of printer cartridges are dumped each year in Australia

1300 666 122 or www.cartridgeworld.com.au

The only thing better than recycling is reusing

www.cartridgeworld.com.au or 1300 666 122 for your nearest store

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CM1511

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Environment

Total Environment Centre The waste battle Australians are one of the top waste generators in the world. Local councils know this, as do environment groups â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and both of us are battling to bring down the rates of waste generation and landfill; and increase recycling.

ne of the biggest fractions is organics. Instead of dumping them they could be used to make composts or energy, replacing fossil fuels and enriching the soil of our farmlands. A few technologies do both. However diverting them from the kitchen and kerbside bins is a tough task. We are starting to see progress with some councils including Goulburn, Mulwaree and Lachlan Councilsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; City to Soil project and Leichhardt, Waverly and Woollahra Councilsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Kitchen to Compost Program. South Australia has also begun a number of trials. Prioritising organics recycling could halve our waste sent to landfill and give us a significant reduction in the greenhouse gases generated by landfills. TEC has also been working on electronic waste,

another waste bugbear for councils. After a five year campaign federal and state environment ministers decided to introduce a national recovery and recycling scheme. This will replace the ad hoc collection days that have helped to an extent but still millions of items of e-waste have been dumped into landfill each year. The situation is due to be worsened by the switch to digital TV. Councils supported the campaign and when the TV and computer industries came on board there was enough political momentum to convince all Australian governments. Work is now proceeding on the scheme which aims to eventually collect 80 per cent of e-waste. A key component will be to ban e-waste from landfills, an action that South Australia is already pioneering. We are also waiting for the umbrella

legislation for national product stewardship under which new schemes will be gazetted and have recently lobbied the Prime Minister to keep to the timetable so the scheme can start as promised in early 2011. Councils might like to also write to the PM as we believe the legislation is not being given sufficient priority. At the end of the supply chain, TEC is working with the e-waste recyclers to develop standards for recycling so that there is maximum recovery of resources and no contamination of the environment. Another project TEC has been working on is the introduction of container deposits. It appears most councils in Australia support CD but lobbying by big beverage companies such as Coke has stalled action. Nevertheless we are slowly moving towards a national decision and >

Environment

with a container deposit system and improve the economic of kerbside collection. One controversial area TEC has been promoting is higher waste levies. Key benefits of a levy include - resource recovery is competitive with landfill, thus encouraging investment and job creation and it raises revenue that can be invested in recycling programs and infrastructure. Queensland, NT and Tasmania still have no waste levies. They also have weak resource recovery rates. NSW has long had the highest levies but this does not directly correlate to high recycling rates for municipal waste. Victoria has had low levies until recently but had reasonable recycling rates. Levies work directly with the simpler, heavier waste such as construction and demolition waste but just charging the levy does not automatically improve municipal recycling – the revenue needs to be used in a targeted way. Environment groups welcomed the Victorian Government’s recent decision to increase the landfill levy and predicted that the improved pricing will make recycling competitive and lead to a green jobs bonanza. The added commitment to invest almost $54 million back into the sector, particularly $28 million for new recycling infrastructure is commendable. Levies used in this way can have far reaching effects. Some councils have reacted negatively to levy increases but they don’t adversely affect council budgets since they are passed onto ratepayers as small amounts due to the broad spread of the levy increase over thousands of households.

> a regulatory impact statement assessing the benefits and costs is expected in coming months. This is the last stage of the formal process before a final vote is taken by environment ministers. TEC is gearing up for a major campaign. The benefits of CD are substantial: •

a lot less litter;

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the rate of recycling is lifted to 80 per cent of the 12 billion beverage containers consumed each year;

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cleaner recyclate for industry; and

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most importantly the funds generated by CD support many new drop-off centres and convenient ‘reverse vending machines’. Both can take other problem products like mobile phones and batteries.

The myth that CD will harm kerbside has been propagated by some in industry, but this has been disproven by the last three government studies. The most recent economic report by BDA found that councils would make $75m a year

Improved waste levies are part of the package of economic and policy measures developed by the National Recycling Initiative, a coalition of recyclers and green groups. The NRI has outlined a plan to develop billions of dollars worth of new recycling infrastructure over the next few years and employ 2,000 extra staff. Councils are being invited to join. Together we can convince the government to get behind the industry, improve economic productivity, resource conservation and protect the environment.

The energy efficiency challenge Over the last two decades hundreds of local, state and federal government energy efficiency programs have been battling up-hill to slow

Australia’s spiralling energy consumption, but among OECD countries Australia still languishes at the bottom of the pile. This means it’s a long way between where we are now and Kevin Rudd’s promise to ensure Australia moves to the forefront of the OECD on saving energy. There are two key reasons for our lack of progress. First is the absence of Federal Government leadership. Without an overarching target and regulations to ensure it is met, little can be achieved. Secondly, the National Electricity Market (NEM), is travelling fast in the other direction. The NEM is a gargantuan, out-dated system that runs the power markets of NSW, Queensland, Victoria, ACT, South Australia and Tasmania. Overseen by Martin Ferguson and state energy ministers, it is regulated to produce the opposite of energy efficiency, increased sales of electricity. Over $40 billion is set to be spent in the next five years on ‘poles and wires’ alone, over a third of which is just to cater for new demand which could be avoided through energy efficiency. The NEM, not the proposed emissions trading scheme (ETS), is what is triggering steep rises in electricity prices. Councils are suffering from this splurge too with the increasing costs of street lighting. Electricity suppliers are resisting efficiency moves. The recent shelving of the ETS has cleared the way for energy efficiency as the only viable option to address climate change in the next few years. Last week industry, community and environment groups released the Energy Efficiency Roundtable Communique. The Communiqué is a Total Environment Centre initiated project, in collaboration with the Energy Efficiency Council, the Australian Alliance to Save Energy and other groups. Recent signatories include the ACTU, CHOICE, the Australian Council of Social Services (ACOSS), CVC Sustainable Investments, Norton Rose, the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) and WWF. The over 40 signatories are calling for mandatory national energy efficiency goals for 2020; NEM incentives to foster energy efficiency; stronger institutional support for the ‘smart grid’; the building of energy efficiency trade skills and workforce capabilities through national training programs; strong incentives and regulatory drivers for energy efficiency in industry, commercial buildings and households; mandatory stringent vehicle fuel consumption standards; recognition of the contribution from recycling and materials resource efficiency; and the requirement for best-practice energy efficiency in government operations. In its submission to the recently created Federal Energy Efficiency Taskforce, Total Environment Centre has called for a target of zero new demand growth by 2020 and annual reductions to 2030 and beyond. Effectively, this translates to a 25 per cent reduction on business as usual energy consumption by 2020. In order to capture the vast untapped potential of peak demand reductions, a National Energy Savings Scheme should also be expanded to include a specific mandate on electricity distribution networks to acquire or generate, and then surrender, peak demand savings. Demand Management Certificates would represent a verified amount of peak demand reduction. To ensure that the peak demand reductions were clawing back as much of the proposed $40 billion as possible, Demand Management Certificates could be targeted to constrained areas that have been ear-marked by the electricity networks for expensive augmentation within 5 to 10 years.

Then we’d all be saving money and the environment.

The University of Technology, Sydney committed to 11% greenhouse gas reductions by 2013.

Someone had to make the call. At the University of Technology, Sydney, energy efficiency is paramount. The institution has publicly committed to an 11% greenhouse gas reduction target by 2013. Lighting control technology from CTI Australia is playing a pivotal role in achieving this goal. With CTI Australia, the university can better manage its energy through a standardised system across the campus. To make your buildings â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;smarterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, for improved energy efficiency and cost savings, talk to CTI Australia.

Make the call. 1300 697 627 or visit www.ctia.net.au Australian GovLink 2010

Allight’s nightshifter shines as a finalist in Australian design awards Allight’s NIGHTSHIFTER Hydraulic 6000 mobile lighting tower has been named as a finalist in the Australian International Design Awards (AIDA), cementing its position as an industry-leading product.

ach year the AIDA, a division of Standards Australia, rewards the nation’s most innovative designs across a range of manufactured products, from consumer goods, to housing and building, to heavy machinery. Competing in the heavy machinery category, Allight’s NIGHTSHIFTER Hydraulic 6000 (NH6000) is a new concept in mobile lighting solutions. “We’re thrilled to have our newest lighting innovation shortlisted as a finalist alongside Australia’s best designs,” said Allight’s Director of Sales and Marketing, Paul Sowerby. To be deemed worthy of a spot in the finals, each entry must demonstrate innovation, visual/emotional appeal, functionality, quality and manufacture, human factors (ergonomics, semantics and safety) and environmental sustainability. According to Sowerby, the NH6000 shines in all criteria. “This mobile lighting tower is versatile and highly functional in its design, and environmentally sound thanks to its efficient diesel engine” “Its unique set of operational features provides a crossover between mining and civil applications, making it ideal for temporary lighting needs and situations where the light position needs to change regularly – whether it’s illuminating a mine site, road works or a rock concert.” Designed with easy transportation in mind, the lighting tower is compact, lightweight, shockresistant, and features a retractable drawbar, forklift pockets and lifting points. “The unit’s modular design and space-saving properties ensure more efficient transportation – in fact, eight units fit perfectly in a 40-foot cargo container” Sowerby added. “One of its most notable features is the unique mast design, with an internalised hydraulic cylinder – this set-up protects the hydraulics, boosts the mast’s strength and durability, and extends its reach.” Sowerby described the NH6000’s usability as effortless and user-friendly. “We put a lot of emphasis on the needs of the end user during

the design process, and that’s reflected in the tower’s hydraulic operation, integrated control panel and its technical components.” The NH600’s Perkins diesel engine meets or exceeds the latest European and US emissions legislation. “These standards are far more stringent than what we’ve got in Australia,” explained Sowerby. “Ultimately the cleaner engine and streamlined shipping translate into a reduced carbon footprint.” Since its Australian launch in October 2008, the NH6000 has been adopted by leading companies including BHP Billiton, Baulderstone, Omega Construction, rental companies such as Coates, and local councils. “Its largest market, however, is international – it’s another leading Australian design making its mark on a global scale,” concluded Sowerby. As well as providing lighting solutions, Allight is the official distributor of Perkins diesel engines, FG Wilson generators, Godwin pumps and Rotair air compressors. Design award winners will be announced on Friday 4 June at an awards presentation in Sydney. More information about the awards is available at www.designawards.com.au.

The NH6000 with its hydraulic mast extended

Weather monitoring supports natural sequence farming With salinity and drought an increasing feature throughout Australia, new methods need to be explored to manage Australia’s resources. Environdata Weather Stations have been playing a critical role in many research projects at Federal, State and Local Government level, including research into Natural Sequence Farming at Mulloon Creek in NSW.

ituated in the Southern tablelands of NSW, the Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority (SRCMA), Upper Shoalhaven Landcare Group, and Mulloon Creek Natural Farms owner Tony Coote are undertaking a series of state and federally funded projects to rehabilitate and restore many of the ecological functions of the Upper Shoalhaven catchment at “Mulloon Creek Natural Farms”. Stream hydrology is currently being modified using a system known as “Natural Sequence Farming” (NSF) as developed by Peter Andrews, a Hunter Valley farmer. Peter Andrews’ approach is based on the assumption that the key to sustainability of the landscape is in the effective coupling of biodiversity with the water cycle in a way that recycles water and nutrients, and minimises any matter losses. Peter Andrews believes that the health of floodplains and their streambeds can be significantly restored by slowing the rate of water flow, especially after rain events, by a series of physical interventions in the landscape. These leaky weirs and side channels facilitate ponding and de-energising of the water flow. This action also has the effect of hydrating the floodplain on either side of these ponds. In time during high flows water will be encouraged to spill onto the floodplain depositing sediment and nutrients, further hydrating the floodplain and re-activating ephemeral wetlands. This ensures moisture stays within the microenvironment. The monitoring of the project is designed to track changes in the biophysical system. The meterology of the micro-environment is a key element in the monitoring, with rainfall, evaporation, air temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation, wind speed and wind direction monitored using an Environdata WeatherMaster 2000 automatic weather station positioned adjacent to Mulloon Creek at the lower end of the floodplain. A second Environdata weather station is positioned at ‘Palerang’, 10 kilometres down stream, the control site. By comparing the weather and hydrological data between the two sites, in only four years the positive changes made within the microenvironment at Mulloon Creek are evident, lowering salinity levels, raising water levels, encouraging higher relative humidity which leads to heavier dewfalls and water cycling within the microenvironment. Thus monitoring the weather within the microenvironment has been key to demonstrating the success of the Natural Sequence Farming concepts on a scientific level. For more information please visit www.mcnf.com.au or www.environdata.com.au

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Thiess Services is one of Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most versatile, innovative and diverse environmental and utilities management companies operating in Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East.

We aim to deliver successful outcomes to our clients across the diversity of our operations in Environmental Services, Waste, Remediation, Utilities, Health, Infrastructure and Facilities Management.

Ausker group of companies AUSKER ENERGIES PTY LTD. A company committed to the development of wind farms. Currently developing a large wind farm for South Australia.

AUSKER POWER PTY LTD Investing in companies specializing in renewable energy, conventional energy.

AUSKER PACIFIC PTY LTD. Commodities trading house specialized in import, export and distribution of soft commodities.

AUSTRALIAN ENERGY RESOURCES A company specializing in water desalination technology and waste management. Specializing in Rapid installation jetty and Modular ports (floating and permanent)

ABAN AUSTRALIA PTY LTD Specializing in Bio Fuel projects.

Contact Us Ausker Group of Companies Suite 1/ 1401, Burke Road Kew East, Victoria - 3102 Phone: +61- (3)98598922 Facsimile: +61- (3)98599215 E Mail: ausker@auskergroup.com.au Website: www.auskergroup.com.au

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Environmental responsibilities increase demand for training As Environmental Management Systems (EMS) have now become an essential part of our standard operating procedures and thought processes, it is becoming increasingly necessary for field and operational staff in the industries of engineering, manufacturing, construction, and mining to take on the responsibilities of the supervision of on-site environmental compliance. best approach was to design a comprehensive nationally recognised course that developed environmental management skills on a practical level, covering the legislation, theory and practice of delivering positive environmental outcomes. Phil adds, “My philosophy has always been to provide practical environmental knowledge that allows participants to immediately apply new environmental awareness to their day to day work.”

Phil Abernethy Managing Director

hil Abernethy, Managing Director of Absorb Environmental Solutions points out, “Personnel such as OH&S Officers, Quality Assessors, and Production Managers have the appropriate experience and qualifications when it comes to their chosen field, the main issue that exists is how to tackle their new environmental management tasks. Many find they lack the knowledge of how to manage environmental impacts, including how to objectively complete an environmental site audit and to accurately measure the risk associated with each area.” “The objective of an EMS is not only to measure your site’s Environmental Compliance and manage risk, but to continually improve your site’s environmental performance. The successful result is to have confident, suitably trained staff with the right equipment and the correct site procedures to minimise potential harm to themselves, the environment, and the company.” Phil adds. Seeing this demand in the market, Phil responded by creating a Certificate IV in On-Site Environmental Management in 2007. After extensive industry consultation, he decided the

Significantly, this course has provided attendees with a practical foundation in the policies and principles to create and implement their own Site Environmental Management Plan. The course has now been running for over three years with more than 750 participants from a wide range of industries and occupations, with the success of the course leading Phil to establish Absorb Training as a National Registered Training Organisation in early 2009. “I wanted to able to create a training environment where trainers could inspire people and foster a motivation to commit to good environmental governance. Rather than reacting from fear of government penalties, the most powerful motivation to comply with environmental standards should be a sense of personal and professional pride in our standard of conduct, and a desire to meet wider community expectations of us and the organisations we work for.” The result is a course based heavily on class interaction, where trainers and participants share their own knowledge for the benefit of all. Phil, who leads most courses, says, “One of the most beneficial ways of learning is hearing other peoples environmental problems, and discussing the best approach to issues such as Erosion and Sediment Control and Spill Management, where definitive solutions are hard to find.” The definition of “Leading Practice” for Spill Management suffers from similar problems to those encountered with compliance to Dangerous Goods Regulations. The problem is a lack of specific detail on what is required to

meet “Leading Practice” and the result is a long list of areas that must be addressed. “Many people ask me what regulations govern the way a spill is dealt with,” Phil says, “All OH&S and Environmental Regulations require liquids spills to be cleaned up, but the frustrating part for the novice is none of them tell you how, however from my experience I can offer them clear guidance in this area.” Another aspect of the course attendees have found valuable is participating in an Environmental Audit on a working site. Phil continues, “The usual comment I receive while on-site is how hard it is for personnel such as OH&S Officers to take off their “OH&S hat” and purely concentrate on the environmental aspects of a site. This really drives home how hard it can be when you are out in the field to detect possible environmental hazards without the proper training and awareness. Phil has now launched an Advanced Diploma in Environmental Management. Designed for Environmental Managers, this course builds on the Certificate IV course and concentrates on the practical application of environmental management and developing a deeper understanding of the issues which Environmental Managers are required to handle. It is also anticipated that participants will select practical exercises in which they have a particular interest in, such as Storm Water Management, Erosion & Sediment Control, and Energy Audits. The course will be running in early 2010.

Environment

Renewable Energy and Local Government

he role of local government in the uptake of renewable energy technologies has recently manifested itself in the installation of solar (photovoltaic) panels. Nearly every capital city in Australia has instigated one or more projects that have seen the installation of panels on roofs. The Sydney City Council is one example where an iconic building, the Town Hall, has become the largest photovoltaic installation in the central business district. The plan is to provide 25 per cent of the council’s energy needs from renewable sources and a further $18 million is being invested improve energy efficiency through solar hot water, solar panels, sensor lighting and intelligent control systems.

fact that there are no PV panels of the roof does not mean that 60L does not have an impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Right in our centre, Alice Springs has not been slow to make major strides in solar. The town’s reputation as the solar centre of Australia will soon be evident to every person who arrives by air, when the Alice Springs airport becomes the first airport in Australia to be powered by a large scale solar power station. The second of five large scale iconic projects for Alice Solar City, the Alice Springs Airport Solar Power Station will deliver 600 Megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity to the Airport; approximately 28 per cent of its demand.

neighbours installing solar hot water systems. Perhaps the most cost effective way of reducing energy consumption, the solar hot water system has been with us for at least half a century, and now the technology being superior, represents a way that local shires can make a difference by making them compulsory. A shift in emphasis in building components and design features make them affordable. The question should be asked by all shires if they do not have planning controls that mandate solar hot water systems is - why not? Clearly, there is a need for a sympathetic approach to licensing building constructions – no solar technology will work to its full capacity of there is shade to the north, north east and north west.

Melbourne too has its iconic low energy buildings. The city’s council house -CH2- is a good example of excellence in low energy design. Melbourne, like Sydney has examples of new buildings as well as re-furbishments that stand as leaders. The 60L building in Carlton is a “new” structure created from two older buildings and close attention has been paid not merely to reducing energy consumption but also water is re-cycled on-site and aspects of human behaviour such as personal transport have been changed. Every possibility for energy consumption reduction has been exploited. The

But what of local governments around the country, in the suburbs, the bush? What can be done? One approach was that adopted by the Leichhardt Council in Sydney in the 1990s – the then Development Control Plan No 17, now part of the present Town Plan 2000. The DCP was essentially asking for designers of new buildings and renovations to show just cause why they wouldn’t install solar hot water systems and adopt practical measures to work with the local climate. Not only did this DCP create opportunities for solar hot water system installers, it had a “me too” effect that saw

And if town planning (especially street layouts) is within the control of the local shire, much better outcomes are possible by applying good passive solar design to new suburban layouts. Not only can more homes be built on the same space, but allowances can be made for local community centres and allotments for vegetable growing, in part obviating the need for car transport. Such suburb layouts create homes that get the maximum benefit from both solar hot water and solar electricity systems possible and may open up renewable energy possibilities such as geothermal energy for district heating and cooling. Most

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of Australia has been mapped for geothermal resources and many areas can take advantage of lower temperature hot water at shallower depths – this is not electricity production but direct heating and cooling. There is nothing new in this technology having been in use in many countries for many years. The zoo in Perth used to rely on geothermal heat as do a number of swimming pool operators at the present. It obviously makes sense to reduce a $200,000 gas bill to $20,000 by using the earth’s heat. So, if say a library and a swimming pool are being planned, why not put them in close proximity and reduce running costs and energy consumption significantly? Even the use of shallow ground heat in the environs of a building can be an effective means of fossil energy reduction. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has called ground source heat pumps the most energyefficient, environmentally clean and cost-effective space conditioning systems available. The wind turbine is not quite as amenable to the built environment since the output of smaller turbines is not great enough to justify placement of them on shire office roofs, and even less so on domestic residences. What strategies we adopt around the country are dependant on the local climates. The variation in climates and seasonal effects is significant. A house built for Canberra will not serve in Darwin not one in Alice Springs serve in Sydney. None of this was known to our forefathers settling in Sydney Cove and building in a style they brought with them. Nothing wrong with Georgian houses in London where the servants would stoke up

the coal fires in winter, and the summer was of no consequence for comfort. Translate that to a maritime environment and you have a bearable summer, but still need winter heat, so burn wood. Move inland and the “answer” to summer was a verandah. We still have the legacy of India with us and whilst, summer heat may be moderated by shade, no sun can penetrate in winter. Our most abundant (passive) renewable energy resource, the sun is denied to us. There are much more effective ways of controlling the sun’s ingress and access. It is very much in the purview of local governments to introduce change as was done in Leichhardt. To get the maximum use of renewable energy in buildings is more complex than substituting the solar panel to provide meet the energy demand. There are numerous projects around Australia that have taken the two main components of a sustainable energy future – energy conservation and renewable energy in its various forms - to create functional examples of the way forward. One of the ways we have seen some significant traction in our move to renewable energy and energy efficiency is the Solar Cities program, a federal government initiative. The cities are Adelaide, Alice Springs, Blacktown, Central Victoria, Moreland, Perth and Townsville. Solar cities are about as diverse as the locations themselves but all of them have very similar aims. Federal funding has enabled some imaginative projects to be commenced. The Townsville Solar City like most of the others has several projects, but the project at Magnetic Island, just off the coast is exemplary. Faced with the prospect of installing another under sea cable to meet the island’s power demands, a different approach

was taken. Now, the roof top solar PV system is a common sight. Ergon Energy own the panels rather than the residents. In an environment where demand is rising, the Magnetic Island project has seen a decline in demand due to solar. As well as household electricity demand being supplemented by solar PV, there has been an extensive marketing campaign to get residents to reduce consumption. “Beer is not allergic to veggies” was the slogan of a campaign to get the second fridge turned off. The use of roof top solar PV will grow, but another way of using the same technology is to integrate it into the building fabric and again, local shires have been exploring the possibilities. Courtesy of ANZSES John Grimes Chief Executive Australian Solar Energy Society E: ceo@anzses.org P: +61 400 102 396 W: www.anzses.org

Clearview Sustainability Clearview Sustainabiilty is a company based in south east Melbourne. We specialize in practical and cost effective measures that help our clients reduce their environmental footprint whilst lowering operating costs. There are many different ways that we can achieve this. Principally we focus our efforts around projects that offer real pay back periods or those which are neccessry for the betterment of the community.

ssentially our services consist of saving our clients money by saving the environment. Our main disciplines are solar PV installations, variable speed drive installations, automated control systems and rainwater harvesting systems. There is real advantage in having any one of these measures implemented in the workplace both financially and as a tool to heighten awareness of staff and the community to climate change. Our main line of work comes from schools around Victoria, and other similar commercial and local council projects. We have been involved in some exciting and challenging work to help our clients achieve their goals, a couple of which are outlined below. At a glance, some other projects that we have been proud to be involved in are: •

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Installing a PV system of just under 10 kW for St Brendan’s Primary School in Somerville, VIC Installing an automated rainwater harvesting system to feed irrigation at Menzies Malvern, of more than 100,000 litres

across 4 levels, more than 1,000m of pipe and at 5 separate locations on site. •

13 other schools around the state with a variety of PV and rainwater harvesting initiatives.

Some practical applications for the workplace include: •

Solar PV for council buildings to reduce energy costs

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Replacing diesel machinery (eg. street sweepers) with electric machinery and then using solar energy as a free fuel source forever. We find that the cost saving in diesel fuel alone over time generates a great payback period.

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Replacing petrol/diesel vehicles with electric vehicles and use solar energy as a free fuel source.

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Variable speed drives on pumps, refrigeration, fans, etc can reduce the power consumption of those appliances by up to 30%

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Automated control systems for air conditioning, lighting, alarms, ground watering etc can significantly reduce energy and water waste

In this editorial we have highlighted just a couple of projects that we have completed for our clients.

Project 1 – Mentone Girls Secondary College Overview Supply and install a 2 kW PV system with PV monitoring capabilities. Replace existing fluoro T8 lamps (lighting) with energy efficient T5 lamps.

Outcomes The PV system currently offsets around 2,724 kWh of power consumption on an annual basis. This information is available to view by students both at school and online from anywhere in the world. In states such as NSW and ACT where a gross feed in tariff is applicable, this power injected back into the electricity grid would amount to some $1,800 per annum. The lighting upgrade also has a direct effect on lowering power consumption, using up to 35% less energy to light the same floor space.

Project 2 – Hobson’s Bay City Council Overview Supply and install a 25,000 litre rainwater harvesting system to supply additional water for grounds at the Williamstown Croquet Club.

Outcomes Pursuant to the execution of the project the Williamstown Croquet Club has potential to harvest 155,000 litres of rainwater per annum. This is water that was not previously available to the Williamstown Croquet Club and safeguards the greens against severe weather conditions. This project not only protected the investment in the greens but also allows the community to feel confident that extreme weather conditions are a managed risk, and are less likely to affect their pastime and passion. Clearview Sustainability are passionate about the work that we immerse ourselves in and would relish the opportunity to see if our services could benefit your workplace. Please visit our website or contact our office on 1300 66 77 45. Kind regards,

Chris Fortnam Managing Director

Infrastructure asset management

he proper management of the processes of acquisition, operation and maintenance of infrastructure assets is critical to minimising whole of life cost of the assets, optimising asset performance in terms of productivity, the improvement of sustainability and minimisation of risks from the impact of climate change, and meeting societal concerns about functionality and safety. The Cooperative Research Centre for Integrated Engineering Asset Management (CIEAM) is Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading research centre developing new thinking and leading edge technologies to meet these requirements. CIEAM has been instrumental in raising the profile of asset management on the national agenda. CIEAMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s research outputs include advanced sensors monitoring the physical condition of specific assets, such as bridges and power

transformers, improved data management and information systems; computational models for predicting the health and performance of a wide range of assets; the integration of asset management systems both vertically and horizontally into the overall management structure, involving both technological innovation, and serious culture change at all levels of the organisation. On the technology front, advanced wireless enabled corrosion sensors have been installed on bridges in the United States as part of a cooperative project with the US Army. Advanced software systems are being developed to manage data from varied sources that integrate information into predictive decision support systems which provide a platform for both the ongoing maintenance of the asset and the decision making processes at higher levels of the organisation concerning budget, finance and planning.

At the organisational level, CIEAM research is developing strategic and organisational structures required to acquire and manage highvalue assets in a complex technical and sociopolitical environment, requiring both optimum investment and financial performance as well as meeting sustainability requirements driven by climate change. CIEAM has played a leading role in establishing national and international networks and organisations, including the Australian Asset Management Collaborative Group (AAMCoG), of which ALGA is a member, and the International Society for Engineering Asset Management (ISEAM), as well as initiating the World Congress on Engineering Asset Management (WCEAM). These networks are powerful mechanisms to facilitate the dissemination of knowledge and the uptake of new ideas and products by member organisations.

CLIMATE SMART SOLUTIONS offers a remarkable Heat Reflective Insulated Coating that utilises revolutionary Thermal Protection Technology which will reduce the temperature of your building as well as insulating and providing protection from the elements.

Heat Reflective Coatings reflect up to 90% of the UV rays and 80% of solar rays subject to colour and application. This means that it will be up to 40+°C cooler on the surface of your roof or wall and 10°C – 15+°C cooler inside the building!

When outside temperature increases, so do cooling costs. The emission of harmful UV rays and ultra violet light on a roof or wall, can over time take a tremendous toll. These emissions cause high cooling and air conditioning costs, damage to the roof or wall itself, and even underlying structural damage if left unaddressed.

Heat Reflective Coatings is a highly energy efficient coating that reduces summer cooling costs, reduces peak energy usage and helps reduce pollution, fossil fuel usage, land fill and also extends the building’s lifespan.

A hot roof or wall increases a building’s energy consumption. An immediate benefit of using Heat Reflective Coatings will be energy cost savings. It also has a guaranteed long lasting attractive appearance.

THE BENEFITS OF HEAT REFLECTIVE COATINGS AND HOW IT SAVES YOU MONEY; •

HEAT REFLECTIVE COATINGS CAN BE USED ON:Industrial and Commercial Buildings, Shopping Centre’s, Schools, Tafes, Clubs, Pubs, Mining Accommodation, Containers, Caravans, Trailers, Plant and Equipment, Water/Fuel Tanks, Storage Solo’s, Factories, Workshops and Residential.

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HOW IT WORKS The Nu-Technology reduces the amount of sunlight your roof absorbs, dramatically lowering its heat buildup. Conventional zincalume, colourbond roofs and buildings absorb up to approximately 95% of the suns infrared heat.

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Heat Reflective Coatings have a longer lifespan than traditional paints providing significant savings both short and long term and offer a 1015 year warranty. Reduced cooling costs (up to 40%) conserving energy and valuable resources. A cooler building means reduced chemicals and pollution for healthier cities. Reduced air conditioning maintenance and replacement costs. Prevents surface rust, roof deterioration or roof replacements. Access to Government grants/funding and carbon credits.

“GOVERNMENT GRANTS AND FUNDING AVAILABLE TO APPROVED APPLICANTS” The ‘Green Building Fund’ is an element of the Clean Businesses Australia initiative by the Australian Government. This aims to reduce the Greenhouse gas emissions impact of the built environment by decreasing energy consumed in the operation of commercial office buildings and industrial warehouses. Grants can be obtained from Federal, State and Territory Governments in order to help businesses reduce Greenhouse gas emissions with funding available for up to 50% of the total costs, ranging from $50,000 - $500,000. Energy Supply companies are also offering carbon credits and funding to large businesses with high power consumption. Climate Smart Solutions are fully licensed/insured sustainable builders (Australia Wide).

Some Of Our Recent Customers Include: • • • • • • • • • • • • •

News Limited – Chullora (NSW) Tupperware Warehousing – Brisbane (QLD) BHP Billiton – Mt Isa (QLD) Shoalhaven Heads Bowls & Rec. Club – Shoalhaven Heads (NSW) Albion Park RSL – Sydney (NSW) Public Trust Building (QLD Govt) – Toowoomba (QLD) Motorama Holden – Springwood (QLD) Sunshine Ford – Southport (QLD) Clarke Rubber – Sunshine Coast (QLD) Ray’s Resort – Southport (QLD) Peachy Constructions – Ormeau (QLD) Illawarra Yacht Club – Woolongong (NSW) Help Enterprises – Brisbane (QLD)

CLIMATE SMART SOLUTIONS CAN ALSO OFFER YOUR BUSINESS THE FOLLOWING SERVICES; • • • • •

Heat Reflective Roof and Wall Coatings Sustainable Homes & Mining Accommodation Industrial & Commercial Retrofit (Renovations & Fit Outs) Solar Hot Water/Power Water Tanks and Water Saving Fixtures

For Further Information and an obligation free quote please check out our websites www.climatesmartsolutions.com.au www.heatreflectivecoatings.com.au www.coolpaints.com.au Email admin@climatesmartsolutions.com.au Free call 1300 57 58 59

ZEN Solar Communities Program ZEN Home Energy Systems is leading the way in offering sustainable energy to entire communities. The ZEN Solar Communities Program has evolved from demand for a proven and effective solution which Councils’ could rely on to deliver results for their residents. ZEN have consistently been chosen to deliver these solutions, by providing the highest quality products, combined with a comprehensive management system and community benefi ts program. The ZEN Solar Communities Program

ZEN audits can include:

ZEN’s extensive experience in project managing community programs means not only an effi cient program implementation, but a multifaceted program of community involvement in the process and its success.

– Identify issues faced by all Councils

Creation of jobs, sense of community, climate change action, emission reductions and strong leadership on behalf of the LGA are just some of the benefi ts which we all share.

– Infrastructure and roof space audits

Customer Management System Council and Registered users will have full program visibility via the Online ZEN Customer Management System. This is an industry leading, proprietary Online Project Management System designed by the ZEN Management Team. Council will be provided a log-in and password for all installations related to the project and can monitor progress of all orders in the system complete with images and documentation. The system has been designed to interface with the Australian Greenhouse Offi ce and Power Utilities with the aim of providing an extremely high and consistent level of customer service over large projects involving many customers. This system is a World-leading technology, creating yet another signifi cant benefi t and driver of the success of the ZEN Solar Communities Program.

– Consumption analysis – Climate impact analysis – Electrical and wiring status reports – Potential solar energy generation analysis Our recommendations can include: – Identifi cation of opportunities – Return on investment reports – Federal and State Grant and Tariff reports – Budget Estimates for various scales of Solar System installations.

Major Project Installations C-PREP: Community Purchase of Renewable Energy Products (Initiated by the City of Victor Harbor) 2,000+ Residential Installations - 2009 This program has been endorsed by nine South Australian Councils and represents approximately 2,000 residential installations commencing in June 2009.

Quality Management Systems ZEN has implemented complete Quality Program for the documentation and process fl ow of all ZEN Installations. This structure is based on the ISO 9002 guidelines for Continuous Quality Improvement and ZEN will commence Quality Accreditation to gain this endorsement in 2010.

The ZEN Solar Councils Program, in conjunction with the participating Councils, was awarded the Victorian Local Government Association’s “Award for Excellence in Sustainability” and following on from that the National Local Governments Association’s Award.

ZEN Commercial division can also investigate the issues and opportunities for Councils to signifi cantly increase uptake of solar energy on Council infrastructure. ZEN undertake and manage audits and recommendations for integration of renewable energy systems within Councils.

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City of Victor Harbor Alexandrina Council Yankalilla Council Kangaroo Island Council Mount Barker Council Adelaide Hills Council Barossa Valley Council Light Regional Council Waikerie-Loxton Council

– Opportunities for bulk purchases

This program has followed on from the highly successful Towong Shire Council and Greater Hume Shire Council installations in NSW and Victoria.

ZEN Commercial Programs

C-PREP: Community Purchase of Renewable Energy Products Participating Councils include:

Council Testimonial Victor Harbor Council – C-PREP Program (200+ Installations - 2009) When Council tendered for a renewable energy partner we were entering new territory. In a world of change it is imperative that partners are dependable. Following the selection process ZEN proved almost immediately that our faith in them was justified. Their systems, attention to detail and thorough knowledge of the renewable energy area, has meant a trouble free program for Council and ratepayers alike. In fact so successful has the model been that other authorities are now emulating it. Their contribution to ongoing programs with Council has meant major achievements in both our economy and ecology. It is simple for me to recommend them. Don’t take my word for it, talk to their customers and see for yourself.

Roy Ramage Economic Development Manager Victor Harbor Council

This is Grant. Mechanic. Father. Energy Producer.

With ZEN Home Energy Systems it is now cheaper to produce your own power than it is to buy it. A ZEN Home Energy System not only pays for itself from day one, it can even help pay off your home loan faster. To ďŹ nd out how blue energy from ZEN can beneďŹ t you, visit the Live Free Solar Home Loan Calculator at www.livefree.com.au or phone 1300 ZEN HOME.

Environment

Department of Defence’s response to Climate Change As the largest land owner and a key consumer of energy in the Commonwealth, the Department of Defence is uniquely positioned to make a real difference in the key areas that contribute to climate change. Although Defence’s main priority must remain capability, there are many ways that Defence is attempting to lessen its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions across its broad range of activities. Energy As Defence is involved in a wide range of activities across Australia our carbon footprint reduction program has many facets, the priority being energy use. The largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions is the generation of energy via coal power and Defence is the biggest user of energy in the Commonwealth. Defence has updated its Energy Policy to reflect the Energy Efficiency in Government Operations (EEGO) Policy released by the Australian Government in 2006 and has reduced energy use across the nation, despite an increase in operational tempo and personnel. Defence has also invested in Regional Energy and Sustainability Managers who implement energy saving initiatives at the site level, as well as increase awareness of energy usage amongst site users.

Waste Waste that ends in landfill sites can also generate significant amounts of greenhouse gases. The diverse nature of Defence activities generates a significant amount of all types of waste from white office paper to food scraps in messes. The key goals of Defence’s waste policy is to avoid unnecessary and excessive consumption of materials in the first place, reusing where possible, and recycling all we can, with many sites around Defence recycling paper, plastic and other materials. Waste is also a potential resource and Defence has recently been capitalizing on this area in various ways. At various sites in Defence, on site recycling depots that separate, recycle and redistribute excess products and parts are

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being investigated, with a pilot site, at HMAS Cairns, showing excellent results. Another interesting area that some sites are looking at is the composting of organic waste to use on Defence landscaping projects and also to remediate training areas.

Green buildings The principle of Ecologically Sustainable Development is to provide healthy internal and external environments for humans while also reducing the whole of life environmental impacts of buildings on the environment. Intrinsic to those principles is the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Green buildings (when being built and when in use), use less energy, consume less water and generate less waste than other buildings. Defence is an award winning leader in Ecologically Sustainable Development and is a founding member of the Green Building Council of Australia, and our tools such as the Green Building Policy and Toolbox cover all aspects of development and redevelopment, and are used throughout each planning and development phase.

Car fleets Another producer of greenhouse gas emissions is Defence’s car fleet, and we are currently looking at ways to reduce the impacts of our car fleets in several ways. Defence seeks higher levels of fuel efficiency in our fleet cars, and is also looking at ways to change the makeup of our car fleets to aim at acquiring more efficient cars with fewer emissions as per governmental guidelines.

Defence’s people making a difference - the Combat Climate Change Initiative The greatest challenge and biggest opportunity for Defence to make a real difference to climate change is to reach out and encourage individuals to take action when at work, and in their home and community life. The Combat Climate Change initiative aims to give advice and information about ways Defence people can lessen their carbon footprint in the office and at home in easy and simple ways. Through the program, several initiatives have been undertaken at site levels to reduce energy and water consumption, and to reduce the production of waste and increase recycling. Sites in the ACT and Sydney have realised significant energy savings of up to 35 per cent from changing user behaviours and Defence is looking to further realise these opportunities across other Defence sites.

Working collaboratively Defence is no stranger to collaborative arrangements with many diverse sectors of industry and is keen to continue to pursue opportunities in this area with respect to reducing its carbon footprint. Due to its size and scope, Defence offers key opportunities for industry to pool resources and develop solutions to some of the key challenges presented to us by climate change. For more information on Defence’s comprehensive environmental agenda see www.defence.gov.au/environment

BSMART Bricks and Pavers Building today. Sustaining tomorrow.

SMART bricks and pavers are unlike any other product on the market. Made from around 80-90% recycled and waste materials, and using a unique low-energy consuming manufacturing process, BSMART products are natural looking, durable and affordable, and deliver fantastic environmental benefits to any project.. BSMART bricks and pavers are exceptionally low in ‘embodied energy’ – the total energy consumed over a product’s life-cycle – and for this reason have been used by environmentally aware councils, developers, builders and architects throughout South Australia in a wide range of applications including public parks and facilities, footpaths, gardens, schools and private dwellings.

footprint of their cutting edge sustainable housing development ‘Lochiel Park’ in Adelaide, South Australia. By locating our transportable plant on site BSMART turned waste soil from the development into high quality pavers for use in the development. BSMART bricks and pavers do not require kiln-firing and by avoiding the need to cart away waste soils and bring in bulky pavers from elsewhere, an enormous reduction in carbon emissions was achieved, and a huge amount of waste soil prevented going unnecessarily to landfill.

Visit our website at www.bsmartaustralia.com or contact us directly to see how BSMART products can be used to reduce the carbon footprint of your next project.

BSMART bricks and pavers are quality tested for strength and durability in accordance with test procedures set out in AS/NZS 4455/4456 and come in a variety of colours and sizes to suit any application.

BSMART recently worked with the South Australian Government’s Land Management Corporation to help them to reduce the carbon

BSMART bricks and pavers are a composite clay and concrete product. They are made from surplus clays removed from construction sites and building waste rubble. Both of these materials would otherwise go to landfill. BSMART bricks and pavers are independently verified low embodied-energy products. Made using our unique low energy consuming technology, BSMART products are highly cost competitive and sought after by green builders and architects seeking to boost the environmental credentials of their housing developments. See our bricks and pavers in extensive use at two of South Australia’s most sustainable housing developments - Lochiel Park at Campbelltown and Beyond at Hayborough - or visit our display at 94 James Street, Campbelltown. BSMART bricks and pavers are quality tested for strength and durability in accordance with AS/NZS 4456. High in density with a natural textured finish, BSMART bricks and pavers come in a variety of sizes and colours ranging from sandy gold to rich ochre red and charcoal, making them suitable for a wide a range of applications. BSMART Help to build a better future.

www.bsmartaustralia.com

Postal Address: PO Box 93 Balhannah SA 5242

Manufacturing Address: 94 James Street Campbelltown SA 5074

Phone: 08 8389 9499 Fax: 08 8389 9497 info@bsmartaustralia.com

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve successfully introduced many businesses to the sun. Solgen Energy is an industry leader in the design and installation of solar electric systems. We have installed hundreds of systems across the NSW Government, various Local Councils, TAFE and NSW Fire Brigade. All enjoy the real financial and environmental benefits solar energy offers. To learn more please contact us on 1300 660 704 or go to solgen.com.au

Randwick City Council enjoys the sun

andwick City Council has installed one of the largest rooftop solar electric systems of any local Council in Australia. Solgen Energy designed and installed the 36 kilowatts (kW) system bringing total installed capacity to 48kW on the roof of Council’s Works Depot in Sydney’s Eastern suburbs. The installation incorporates 216 photovoltaic (PV) modules, generating up to 58 megawatts (MW) of electricity annually, enough to power almost eight homes for 12 months and preventing 58 tonnes of CO2 from entering the atmosphere each year. Joint Director of Solgen Energy, Joe Coco, said the 36 kW system has added to the existing 12 kilowatts of solar panels at the Works Depot and will generate enough electricity to power the Depot for three months, or in other words produce 25 per cent of the Depot’s annual electricity demand. “We’re thrilled to have worked with Randwick City Council on this project, and hope that it will inspire other local councils, businesses and residents to recognise the long-term benefits of going solar, including lowering electricity bills and reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” Mr Coco said. Randwick City Council is an environmental leader in the local government sector having already installed 20 kilowatts of solar panels at Council sites, completing major water saving projects, introducing a community car share scheme for its residents that includes designated parking for car share and hybrid vehicles at popular shopping and beachside locations. The solar panel installation project is one of Randwick City Council’s many sustainability initiatives, aimed at reducing the ecological and carbon footprints for the City. The Council uses a special environmental levy to fund a comprehensive ‘Sustaining Our City’

program which incorporates a Local Greenhouse Action Plan and a range of community education initiatives such as the annual Eco Living Fair and Give us your Best Green Innovation (Best GRIN) awards for residents, schools and businesses. Comprehensive monitoring equipment has been installed as part of the solar project enabling Council staff to analyse and review the energy savings achieved from the new system. Council’s Depot installation utilised the highest quality SCHOTT solar modules, which are ideally suited to Australia’s harsh climate and have been proven to outlast competitors in terms of durability and efficiency. Solgen Energy is a locally owned company, committed to design, engineering and installation solutions tailored to government bodies, businesses, and community organisations.

The future is renewable energy have you secured a strong partnership?

he world is changing. Global warming is a scientific reality and ever more companies, governments and institutions are looking into the endless possibilities that renewable energy technology is opening up as an alternative to polluting fossil fuels. It seems that the marketplace surrounding renewables is swelling, with many providers entering particularly the solar space with products and solutions. Sometimes it can be difficult to navigate through the myriad of products and services on offer. Many renewable energy manufacturers, dealers and installers are only new on the market. Like many new businesses some are great and some will not last the distance. If you have decided to investigate the installation or sourcing of renewable energy technology, it’s a good idea to do your homework and make sure your partner will be there for you when you need them. Conergy has remained strongly committed to Australia since setting up its operations here in 2005. With state office distribution centres in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Darwin and Adelaide we are your partner of choice - from supply, to system design and project commissioning. Conergy’s Australian operations were established at the beginning of 2005 and its quality products and guaranteed performance warranties have seen the company fast become one of the leading manufacturers and wholesale distributors in the Australian industry. The company’s focus is solely on renewable energy technology, and it prides itself on a history of successful small to large scale projects. Whether for domestic use, remote area power generation or some of the world’s largest mutli-megawatt solar power farms – Conergy has a track record of successful implementation with high quality products and performance guarantees that are regularly exceeded. Among other projects, Conergy solar hot water products are currently being implemented in the Queensland Government’s solar hot water program. If you are seeking a strong global partner in renewable energy, contact your nearest Conergy state office on 1300 724 531 or visit www.conergy.com.au for more information on its world leading products and services.

Reference Project Asia’s Largest PV Plant - 24MW Solar Park on Single Axis Tracking System

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Through the perfect synergy of Conergy and Dongyang Engineering & Construction Corporation of Seoul, Asia’s largest PV plant with total capacity of 24MW was commissioned in 2008 in SinAn, Southwest of the Korean capital of Seoul. Dongyang, a pioneer in Korea with over four decades experience in realising outstanding building and construction projects, is one of the leaders in its industry. Together with the renewable energy technology expertise of Conergy, this record-breaking installation created a new era for Korea as Asia’s leader in clean energy. Conergy’s single axis sun-tracking PV system was installed on a vast field of 800,000 m² (equivalent to over 90 football fields). This state of the art technology boasts engineered algorithms that tracks the sun’s path and adjusts the system accordingly to minimise shading and maximise yield. The extended exposure to the sun ensures the system generates the optimum energy output possible. Its robust design, combined with zero field welds ensures superior strength and longevity of the system, even in the harshest weather conditions. The on-grid system will provide more than 25,000 MWh of electricity which will correspond to the annual consumption of more than 6,000 households and reduces carbon emissions of up to 27,000 tonnes a year.

Your global partner in renewable energy

Since the 1998 start up of the Conergy Group in Germany, our philosophy has always remained the same: to deliver the best renewable energy solution for every energy consumer worldwide. The first ten years have seen us follow through and grow, with many decades ahead to carry on this task.

As the importance of clean energy generation grows, ensuring you have a strong, experienced partner in the field has become more important than ever. Conergy stands for quality products, solid warranties and the lived experience of operating in the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s developing and mature renewable energy markets.

Our achievements speak for themselves: Conergyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commercial and industrial scale solar power, solar hot water and wind power solutions are delivering real results for our customers worldwide, using only the resources provided by mother nature.

Conergy has remained strongly committed to Australia since office setting up its operations here in 2005. With state offi ce in Sydney, Sydney, Melbourne, Melbourne, Brisbane, Brisbane, Perth, Perth distribution centres in and Darwin are your of partner choice -offrom supply, to Darwin and we Adelaide we partner are your choice - from system to design anddesign projectand commissioning. supply, system project commissioning.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to make a change. Contact us today:

Ph 1300 724 531 www.conergy.com.au

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Your one-stop environmental instrumentation shop

ocal councils and government departments across Australia have been major users of Campbell Scientific equipment for over a decade now. The brand itself has 35 years of proven field experience worldwide. Offering exceptional measurement quality even in the toughest of environments, CSA is a one-stop solution for your environmental monitoring needs.

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“Australia wide, Campbell Scientiﬁc are the leading supplier of weather stations, soil moisture measurement systems, stream gauging & water quality systems, as well as air & water quality monitoring equipment. “

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Weather Stations CSA can provide ready-to-use solutions for the simplest weather station projects through to highly complex customized applications. At the bottom end of the scale is the Weatherhawk, a world leader in small, portable, high quality weather stations – easy to install & cost effective. Then the ET107 weather station; manufactured under licence to Toro and Rain Bird and used throughout the world on golf courses, parks and gardens for irrigation scheduling and weather measurement. Fully customised weather stations can be as simple as a single rain gauge or as complex as a multi-sensored, full telemetry $100,000 station. CSA offers the largest range of telemetry options in the market, allowing you to collect data from anywhere in the world. Multiple weather stations can be networked and expanded to measure hundreds of unique sensors or modified to include soil moisture, evapotranspiration, lightning strikes, air, soil and water temperature, dust particle size, CO2 levels, and the list goes on. CSA custom stations offer ultimate flexibility allowing you to measure the parameters you want, at the level of accuracy demanded, at the price you can afford.

Soil Moisture Measurement, Irrigation Scheduling, Agricultural Applications Campbell Scientific’s Hydrosense® soil moisture measurement system is a hand-held unit that provides instantaneous measurement of soil water content. It is used extensively by councils throughout Australia for parks and gardens, nurseries, and golf courses to minimise water use. Want an automated system? Look no further. The ET107 evapotranspiration station calculates PET using the latest Penman-Monteith equation and provides you with a tool to understand and predict crop water use and maximise water use efficiency. Alternatively, custom soil moisture stations also measure PET and can be expanded to measure any commercial soil moisture sensor. Powerful wireless network capability allows hundred of soil moisture sensors over a wide area to be accessed over the internet, via cellphone, landline, radio, satellite or even to run

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autonomously. Other applications include spraydrift monitoring, odour control, noise pollution, disease prediction, tree and plant growth studies, nursery measurement & control, etc.

Hydrology, Water and Air Quality CSA are the leading suppliers of hydrological data loggers in Australia. Solar powered stations are used in every Australian state to measure dams and streams, warn of flood conditions, measure flow rates, rainfall variability, temperature profiles, evaporation rates, ph, turbidity, salinity, and many more parameters. Wide open spaces and lots of water mean high humidity, corrosion, lightning strikes, and high temperatures. These are difficult conditions in which to deploy electronic instrumentation successfully. Campbell Scientific products are therefore designed for long-term, unattended operation in the most extreme environments.

Data Accessibility Any data logger can measure data but you need a quality system to measure data accurately and reliably over the long term. Most systems store data, but increasingly consumers want data realtime. To accommodate this demand, Campbell Scientific offers the most comprehensive range

of communication options available. Products are fully programmable which means that not only can they be interrogated remotely, but they can initiate communications under any condition. For example, a system can receive, interpret and initiate SMS messages, by using a voice synthesised modem they can initiate and answer landline voice calls as well as transmit data over Ethernet, radio, satellite or telephone. With an inbuilt TCP/IP stack, most systems can be connected to the web – easily accessible using your PC web browser. For easy integration into industrial SCADA systems, Campbell loggers also support Modbus and DNP3 protocols.

Support When you purchase a Campbell Scientific product, you receive free technical support for life. “We still support products that are over 20 years old, and working as good as the day they were sold,” says CEO Steve Bailey. “Our goal is to provide the best customer service in the industry – and our customers regularly tell us that we do.” There’s a reason Campbell Scientific is the market leader in the field. Quite simply, it’s because the equipment just keeps working – day after day, year after year, decade after decade.

sensors

THE HYDROSENSE® Portable water content system Instant measurements 12 cm or 20 cm probe option

measure

MAXON MODMAX - Next G™ Module Robust , compact solution to provide 3G connectivity.

Full featured support software.

weather ET107 Weather Station No wiring required; uses sealed connectors for sensor hook-up.

OBS-3A Monitors suspended sediment, turbidity, salinity, temperature, depth & wave height & period.

data

CAMPBELL SCIENTIFIC DATA LOGGERS Versatile, stand-alone measurement & control. Rugged, reliable data acquisition systems.

your one-stop environmental instrumentation data loggers • sensors • weather stations monitoring systems • interfaces • software

t 07 4772 0444 f 07 4772 0555 www.campbellsci.com.au/govlink

Water

A new source of water for South East Queensland

outh East Queensland weather is nothing if unpredictable. After several abundant wet seasons, the region’s dams are almost full; but in 2005 South East Queensland (SEQ) was in the grip of the worst drought in the state’s recorded history, with the previous six years’ rainfall well below average. At the same time, the region continued to experience the fastest population growth in the country, placing an unprecedented demand on the already dwindling water supplies. In 2006, as dam levels continued to fall, the Queensland Government passed emergency legislation to fast track the South East Queensland Water Grid – the largest urban drought response in Australia. WaterSecure is the Queensland Government authority responsible for producing new, pure sources of water for SEQ through the Gold Coast Desalination Plant and Western Corridor Recycled Water Scheme. Purified and desalinated water are pure, safe, climate-resilient sources that will ensure water security for the region, as well as helping to sustain economic and population growth, and reducing environmental impact on our waterways. The supply network includes more than 200 kilometres of large-diameter underground pipeline, three advanced water treatment plants and a reverse osmosis desalination plant. Combined, the schemes have the capacity to supply up to 365 megalitres of water a day to the South East Queensland Water Grid, industry and agriculture – that’s equivalent to the water usage needs of more than 1.8 million people under Target 200. The $2.5 billion Western Corridor Recycled Water Scheme is the largest water recycling scheme to be constructed in Australia and one of the largest advanced water treatment projects in the world. Taking water that would otherwise have been discharged in to the Brisbane or Bremer River, the plants purify it to higher than drinking water quality to create a less climate-dependent water source for the region. The scheme includes more than 200 kilometres of pipeline and three advanced water treatment

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plants at Bundamba, Gibson Island and Luggage Point. It has the capacity to provide up to 232 megalitres of water a day to the region’s supply. The advanced water treatment plants use worldclass advanced water treatment technology incorporating microfiltration, reverse osmosis, advanced oxidation, remineralisation and chlorination to purify water. The Western Corridor Scheme provides water to power stations and in the future will supply industry and agriculture. If the combined level of the dams in South East Queensland falls below 40 per cent (the trigger point determined by the Queensland Government), water from the scheme will be used to supplement drinking supplies. The scheme began supplying water in August 2007 – when dam levels reached their lowest point at just 16.8 per cent – significantly easing pressures on drinking water supplies at the height of the drought and to date has supplied more than 34 billion litres of water. The scheme is also improving the health of our waterways and the environmentally significant Moreton Bay by reducing the amount of nutrients

that would otherwise have been released into rivers. Across the scheme a phosphorus reduction of 90 per cent has been achieved and a 35 per cent reduction in nitrogen at the Bundamba plant, with the potential to increase this to 50 per cent across the scheme. In 2009, WaterSecure received the Healthy Waterways Industry Award for the Western Corridor Scheme’s nutrient reduction program. WaterSecure recently strengthened its commitment to improving waterways by supporting the Bremer River Forum, an event that brought together government, industry, academia, environmentalists and the community to discuss problems and solutions for the river, and decide on actions that need to be taken. In addition, WaterSecure also provided funding to the Bremer River Fund Appeal, which funds restoration and improvement works for the Bremer River and surrounding catchments. The WCRW Scheme has been acknowledged globally as a leader in both water recycling technology and urban water planning, setting the benchmark for future projects in Australia and overseas.

The $1.2 billion Gold Coast Desalination Plant – the first large-scale plant on the eastern seaboard – is providing a safe, climate-independent source of water for South East Queensland. Located at Tugun at the southern end of the Gold Coast, the plant is able to supply up to 133 megalitres of water each day to homes and businesses on the Gold Coast and across Brisbane, and has supplied more than 27.5 billion litres since February 2009. Desalination produces safe drinking water by removing dissolved salts and other minerals from seawater through a high level of filtration. The heart of the desalination process is reverse osmosis, the most popular type of desalination used throughout the world. The desalination process also involves pre-treatment filtration, remineralisation and chlorination. Water from the Gold Coast Desalination Plant is also fluoridated to bring it in line with the drinking water supply. Desalination can be a highly energy intensive process, but modern plants use advanced technology and energy saving devices which result in them being far less energy intensive than traditional plants. The Tugun plant’s energy consumption is better than expected, resulting in significant carbon dioxide reductions a year, further reducing its carbon footprint as well as energy costs. WaterSecure has also purchased Renewable Energy Certificates to fully offset the plant’s energy use and combined with the use of energy saving devices—which recover up to 97 per cent of the unused energy from the brine—the Gold Coast plant is one of the best performers in terms of energy for desalination plants worldwide. As well as the 12 buildings on site, the plant includes inlet and outlet tunnels that stretch more than a kilometre out to sea and sit on the ocean floor. Water flows through the inlet tunnel to the plant under gravity with a lower current than the surrounding ocean, ensuring fish and marine life are not sucked into the tunnel. The outlet structure releases brine into the ocean through 14 diffusers nozzles along a 200 metre outlet that disperses and mixes the water back into the ocean.

Since they were constructed in 2008, the marine inlet and outlet structures have become artificial reefs and home to thousands of fish, as well as marine plants, small marine animals and soft corals. Small plants and animals that live on the ocean floor are key indicators of a healthy environment because they are longterm residents, rather than moving in and out as more mobile organisms as fish do. Results from marine monitoring show these small plants and animals to be thriving on and around the marine structures. When Channel 9’s Paul Burt dived there last year, he said: “The amount of fish congregating in that area is simply amazing! There’s thousands upon thousands of fish from bait fish up to big kingfish and I even saw some big groper, tailor, bream, the list goes on. It’s full of life; there’s even soft corals down there.” The Gold Coast Desalination Plant and Western Corridor Recycled Water Scheme are integral components of the South East Queensland Water Grid – the largest urban drought response in Australia. The South East Queensland Water Grid is an integrated water supply system that secures and efficiently manages the region’s water supplies. The Water Grid is diversifying SEQ’s water sources and allows the coordinated use of all major bulk water sources in the region through a network of pipelines that allows water to be moved from areas of abundance to areas that face a shortfall. The Water Grid includes dams and other natural storages, the desalination plant, three advanced water treatment plants and more than 450 kilometres of pipeline.

Four entities make up the Water Grid – WaterSecure, LinkWater, Seqwater and the Water Grid Manager. LinkWater manages, operates and maintains the Grid’s potable bulk water pipeline network and related infrastructures, moving an average of 600 million litres. Seqwater provides catchment management and bulk water storage and treatment services, as well as owning and operating the regions dams and water treatment plants. The Water Grid Manager manages the operation of the Water Grid to ensure water security and quality in a cost effective way. The Grid Manager also holds the urban water entitlements for SEQ and purchases services to store, treat, produce and transport bulk water from the other three entities to sell to councils, power stations, agricultural users and other industrial users. As part of the South East Queensland Water Grid, WaterSecure is helping to ensure a secure supply of water for the region now and in the future, as well as helping to maintain the region’s economic prosperity and lifestyle. For more information about WaterSecure and the desalination and purification processes, visit their website at www.watersecure.com.au.

submarines, frigates and the adding salt loadings to waste army and the new Air Warfare The water. WATER BOARDS DEFENCE Destroyer (AWD) program. gen EFS is working on an EFS in conjunction with ASCand Making Odour life easier control and janita exciting R&D project which and major prime contractors, involves break blue-green algae safer for all on board. through in esp blu developed an effective and inve control. A special formulation COUNCILS safe method for pickling Environmental Fluid of Systems bett interferesgreen with cellalgae treatm Increased pipe-work systems. prot is preferred supplier to The mechanism. Triple 7 readily bio-degrad “This is an exciting time for Iro Sustainability Department of Defence, The product is currently solutions are designed to EFS as it moves into new trad offering a full range of non- Triple 7 genuine ‘green’ being trialed and assessed assist in water/wastewate markets following extensive con for approval, before being hazardous organic organic cleaners and treatment. They destroy R&D programs. Most inclu released on the market. chemistries .The company degreasers are also odours and retard hydrog importantly, it highlights the out becoming a familiar name in supplies products to Triple 7 high performance solutions are free fact that ourperformance unique, non-toxic Triple 7 high solutions Tr sulphide formation withou DEFENCE WATER BOARDS of bleach, petroleum products, glycol ethers, submarines, frigates and are free of bleach, petroleum products, glycolthecouncils. and non-hazardous solu lauryl sulphates, d-limonene, caustics, salt and loadings wa Making Odouradding life easier and control a topetr Councils nationally are ethers, lauryl sulphates, d-limonene, caustics, ammoniates, phosphates and strong in-organic army and the new Air Warfare degreasers & descalers are water. ammoniates, phosphates and strong inorganic acids. safer break through for all ontraditional board. in bluejust as effective as Destroyer (AWD) program. reducing their inventory down ethe acids. EFS is working on an to only 3-6 products with Advantages include: dangerous chemicals limo EFS in conjunction with ASCbetter cleaning results, along greenexciting algaeR&D treatment Environmental Fluid Include: >Advantages Powerful cleaning action - useSystems less product. project whic currently used. Our products amm >> Reduced asthma riskaction - no hydrocarbons or major prime contractors, Powerful cleaning - to use The less product. isand preferred supplier with increased sustainability blue-green algae cleaning fumes. Triple 7involves readily bio-degradable reduce overall ‘through-life’ and Reduced health risks - no hydrocarbons or >> Easier maintenance and suitable for septics. developed effective and Department ofan Defence, and safe work practices. control. A special formulat solutions are designed to COUNCILS > Non-toxic, non-hazardous and non-corrosive. costs by being non-reactive acid cleaning fumes. offering aourfull range of waterways. non- of safe method for pickling > Protects eco-systems and Applications include: BBQ’s, assist in water/wastewater interferes with cell to >metal Easier surfaces.” maintenance and suitable for septics. Adv Increased hazardous organic pipe-work systems. Patch Trucks, Road Signs, treatment. They destroy mechanism. Defence > Non-toxic, non-hazardous and > Po chemistries .Theexciting company Floors, Vehicles, “This is an time forWorkshop odours and retard hydrogen non-corrosive. Sustainability S The product is currently us Making life products easier and safer for all on board. supplies to Garbage Trucks, Toilets, EFS as itourFluid moves new > Protects eco-systems and waterways. sulphide formation without Environmental Systemsinto is Preferred >S R being trialed and assesse Triple 7 genuine ‘green’ submarines, frigates and the Glass and Window Cleaning. Supplier to The Department of Defence, adding salt loadings to waste markets following extensive Defence hy for approval, before being offering a full the rangenew of non-hazardous organic army and Airall on Warfare organic cleaners and Th water. Making life easier and safer for board. chemistries. R&D programs. Most fu Schools Most importantly, it highlights the fact that our released on the market. Destroyer (AWD) program. ge degreasers are also Environmental Fluid Systems is a Preferred EFS is working on an > Ea importantly, it products highlights the unique, non-toxic and non-hazardous degreasers The company to all areas of Supplier to Thesupplies Department ofwith Defence, offering Safe & Sustainable. with better cleaning results, while protecting EFS in conjunction ASC ja Councils becoming a familiar in R&D project which & descalers are just as effective as traditionalname exciting Defence, including The Australian Submarine su fact that our unique, staff and students. a full range of non-hazardous organicnon-toxic chemistries. and majorNavy, prime Corporation, RAAFcontractors, and the new Air dangerous chemicals currently used. Our The new range Triple 7 genuinecleaning ‘green’ Ironically, most of other traditional councils. 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A special formulation Councils nationally are S2 an Triple 7 genuine ‘green’ organic cleaners and poisons...’keep of reach of children’.with Defence, including The Submarineare COUNCILS being non-reactive to metal surfaces. ” designed to reduce out inventory requirements degreasers &Australian descalers safe method pickling contractors, have for recently developedof an degreasers are also becoming a familiar name interferes with cell Corporation, Navy, RAAF and the new Air Warfare better cleaning results, while protecting staff > be Pr reducing their inventory down effective andeffective safe method for pickling of pipeCouncils Increased Environmental Fluid System’s National just as as traditional in councils. pipe-work systems. pr Destroyer (AWD) and students. work systems in program. the building of the new AWD’s. Councils mechanism. an to only 3-6 products with Team welcome your enquiries on 1800 777 nationally are reducing their inventory Increased Sustainability “This is an time for EFStime as it moves dangerous chemicals “This isexciting an exciting for Sustainability 580. down to only 3-6 products with better cleaning EFS in conjunction with ASC and major prime Ironically, other traditional cleaning Themost product is currently Env into new markets following extensive R&D better cleaning results, along results, along with increased Triple 7 genuine ‘green’ organicsustainability cleaners and and EFS as it moves into new tra contractors, have recently developed an effective currently used. Our products chemicals contain toxic ingredients including S2 programs. 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Environmental Environmental Fluid FluidSystems Systems

2010 (Editorial A4)

WATER BOARDS Odour control and a break through in bluegreen algae treatment

odours and retard SCHOOLS project whichhydrogen involves a natural blue-green algae Schools control. This special formulation interferes with sulphide formation without cell mechanism, without using typical copperSafe & Sustainable. > Safe & Sustainable based or toxic chemicals. adding salt loadings to waste The new range of Triplebeing 7 genuine The product is presently trialed‘green’ and The new range of Triple 7 > water. organic janitorial products are especially assessed for approval, before being released on designed to reduce inventory requirements genuine ‘green’ organic the market.on an EFS is working > janitorial products are exciting R&D project which Australian GovLink 2010 especially designed to reduceEn involves blue-green algae

Triple 7 Environmental Chemistries

reduce your inventory requirements with better cleaning results G

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Water Boards > Odour Control > Treatment Plants > Filters > Wet Wells > Holding Lagoons

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environmental chemistries

Automation helps secure Sydney’s water supply Along with water recycling and water efficiency, desalination is increasingly being considered where drinking water supply is under threat. Sydney Water’s new desalination plant at Kurnell in Sydney’s South-East is part of the NSW Government’s Sydney Metropolitan Water Plan to secure Sydney’s ongoing water supply into the future. are deployed throughout the entire desalination process. At the start, incoming seawater is continuously monitored for quality, temperature, pressure and the presence of hydrocarbons. After desalination, another important part of the process is adjusting the water so that it has the same qualities as the tap water that Sydney’s population is used to – ie, treated dam water.

he plant, which commenced operations in January this year, is the biggest water infrastructure project completed in NSW since Warragamba Dam was completed 50 years ago. It’s also currently the world’s second largest desalination plant, with the capacity to supply 250 million litres of drinking water per day, which is 15 per cent of Sydney’s daily water supply needs. If and when necessary, the plant has the capacity to quickly expand to deliver 500 million litres per day. At the heart of the Kurnell plant is a highly sophisticated automation and control system that continuously analyses what goes in, and what comes out of, the plant. As the Main Instrument Vendor for the desalination project, Endress+Hauser played a key role in the plant’s automation. Over 1400 instruments were supplied to carry out the necessary measuring and feedback of the processes. These instruments

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Critical process measurements covered by the Endress+Hauser instruments include water level, pressure, temperature, pH, ORP, turbidity, conductivity and special parameters such as SDI (silt density index), alkalinity, fluoride and monochloramines. The company was able to supply 70 per cent of the instruments from its own product range; the remaining 30 per cent were highly specialised and sourced from other vendors. Extensive testing of all the instruments was necessary to ensure full compatibility and Endress+Hauser was heavily involved in the crucial network engineering to link all the devices on a Profibus infrastructure. The safe supply of drinking water is dependent on the reliability and accuracy of the instrumentation and control system. The Kurnell system has been designed with two of each instrument at critical measuring points so that parameters are always measured, even if one instrument fails. Using Profibus allows two devices measuring the same thing to be directly compared – if there is any difference in the measurements, a fault is pinpointed. In the event of a fault, the technology automatically switches from the faulty device to the non-faulty device. In addition, all Endress+Hauser instruments have self-diagnostics and will alarm if something is not within specification. This is an additional safety check to ensure the quality of the water.

Endress+Hauser’s involvement goes beyond supplying the instruments to the Kurnell plant. Day-to-day maintenance is assisted by the company’s W@M Portal, which is a webbased asset management tool that handles all the documentation for the 1400 installed instruments. An operator can access all the relevant detailed data for that device including manuals, spare parts list, wiring diagrams, drawings, and calibration certificates – without even being on site. A tag or serial number for an instrument is simply entered into the portal to access the relevant data. If there are issues with an instrument, this allows a service engineer to arrive promptly at the site with exactly the right spare parts and equipment to solve the problem quickly. While Profibus is used as the information and instrument power supply technology, Endress+Hauser’s FieldCare plant asset management tool collects real time data from the instruments and other assets in the plant. This feeds through to the plant operator’s IBM Maximo ERP system, allowing the system to automatically schedule maintenance and manage spare part inventories. This keeps maintenance costs and resources to a minimum and reduces the likelihood of breakdowns. With this setup, it’s even possible to determine the cost of ownership of every single device connected to the Profibus network. The leading edge use of technology at the Kurnell plant is only possible due to the intelligent devices and their ability to communicate seamlessly across the various networks within the plant. In fact, the level of automation at the plant is such that it is being heralded as the ‘smartest’ and most sophisticated desalination plant in the world.

Partnering needs Teamwork!

We understand the basic requirements of a good partnership - teamwork. Working together with our customers to deliver low cost-of-ownership measurement solutions is our mission. Please contact us to discuss those aspects of your business where, together, we can find appropriate solutions - what about energy monitoring, what about inventory control, what about wastewater treatment? The possibilities are endless.

Endress+Hauser Australia Pty Ltd Unit 8, 277 Lane Cove Road North RydeLink Business Park NORTH RYDE NSW 2113

Phone +61 2 8877 7000 Fax +61 2 8877 7099 info@au.endress.com www.au.endress.com

Water

Re-shaping water resource management in the Murray–Darling Basin

For the first time in Australia’s history there is now a single body responsible for overseeing water resource planning in the Murray-Darling Basin.

his has come about through a number of significant water reform decisions and was motivated by the growing realisation that the health of the Murray-Darling Basin is in serious decline.

The Water Act 2007 (Water Act) introduced key reforms for water management in Australia. It established the Murray-Darling Basin Authority (MDBA) with the functions and powers, including enforcement powers, needed to ensure Basin water resources are managed in an integrated and sustainable way, and in the national interest. The Water Act requires MDBA to prepare the Basin Plan, a strategic plan for the integrated and sustainable management of water resources in the Basin. The Basin Plan will set legal limits (sustainable diversion limits) on the amount of water that can be taken from the Basin’s rivers and groundwater systems. It will also include an environmental watering plan to ensure that enough water is allocated to the environment for the maintenance of ecosystems. All signs are indicating that the new sustainable diversion limits will be lower than the current limit. Why was water reform needed? In less than a century, water extracted from the Murray-Darling Basin has increased five-fold, from 2,000 GL a year in the 1920s to over 10,000 GL a year today.

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A century of regulating the rivers for transport and irrigation has also had an impact by generally confining river flow to within the banks and reducing the frequency of flooding. The temporal pattern of flows has also been altered with peak flows now received in December to February each year, compared to pre-regulation peak flows, which were usually in spring. The average inflows into the Murray have shrunk from 24,000 GL a year to 1,300 GL and the system continues to suffer from the lowest three years of inflows in 108 years of records. The 2006-07 water year was the driest on record with an historic low inflow of 130 GL. This was followed in 2007-08 by the third driest, and in 2008-09 by the seventh driest years on record. The continued drought, the impacts of climate change and population growth have added to the pressures on the river systems and in 2002 the Murray stopped flowing to the sea. The first environmental report card on the ecological health of the Murray-Darling Basin, the Sustainable Rivers Audit (2004-2007) which covered 96,000 km of rivers and streams, found long-term degradation in most of the Basin’s valleys and that 20 of the Basin’s 23 river valleys were in poor or very poor health. A report for The Living Murray program found that 70% of river red gums in the Koondrook– Perricoota Forest (the second largest river red gum forest in the world) were stressed, dying or

At a glance The Murray–Darling Basin incorporates Australia’s three longest rivers and stretches from Queensland’s channel country through NSW to the Australian alps, Victoria’s north-east and the Riverina, and on into South Australia’s Riverland and the Coorong at the mouth of the Murray. It contains 30,000 wetlands including many internationally significant sites. The Basin covers an area of over 1 million square kilometres or 14% of Australia and is home to over 2 million people with a further 1 million people outside the Basin relying on its water. There are about 40 Aboriginal nation groups in the Basin. Export earnings are over $9 billion a year and the Basin supports 39% of Australia’s agricultural production, worth $15 billion.

The Mitta Mitta River where it flows into the drought affected Hume Dam. MDBA photo by Arthur Mostead

dead, largely due to the drought, combined with 12 years of no flooding. Salinity levels have increased and algal blooms have increased in frequency in line with the increased frequency of periods of low river flow. In 2007 the CSIRO’s first inventory of sustainable yields of all surface and groundwater systems within the Basin revealed that consumptive water use in the Basin had reduced the average annual stream flow at the Murray mouth by 61% and that water failed to reach the river mouth 40% of the time, compared to 1% prior to regulation of the river. CSIRO concluded that without changes to the water sharing arrangements in the Basin, climate change would likely lead to irreversible ecological degradation.

Planning for a future with less water? A proposed Basin Plan will be released in mid 2010 to allow for extensive consultation with stakeholders. The first Basin Plan will be completed in 2011 and approved by the Minister for Climate Change and Water, after which it will be regularly reviewed and updated. Basin states and the ACT will be consulted in the preparation of the Basin Plan including through the Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council and the Basin Officials Committee. To ensure a smooth transition for water users the Basin Plan will honour existing water plans for the life of those plans. The South Australian, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory and Queensland plans expire in 2014 and Victoria’s in 2019.

Dust storm at Meringur in Victoria. Climate changes is bringing more extreme weather events. MDBA photo by Arthur Mostead

The states and the ACT will continue to determine how water is allocated and used in their own jurisdictions through the development of water resource plans, but these must be consistent with the Basin Plan. The Australian Government has also funded a ten year plan Water for the Future, managed by the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, to secure water supplies to assist agriculture to adapt to changed weather patterns, as well as to improve river health. An important component of this program is buying back water from willing sellers and using it to meet core environmental needs. The program also includes funding infrastructure towards more efficient irrigation to help reduce the amount of water that is lost each year through leakage and evaporation. In the long term these new arrangements and the Basin Plan aim to address the historic overallocation of the river systems and secure the future of the Basin, and of the many communities which rely on it for social, cultural and economic survival. For further information or to find out how to comment on the proposed Basin Plan contact engagement@mdba.gov.au or phone our free number 1800 230 067.

Further reading CSIRO sustainable yields report - www.csiro.au/partnerships/MDBSY Murray–Darling Basin Authority factsheets - www.mdba.gov.au/services/publications Socio-economic context for the Murray– Darling Basin (ABS, ABARE and BRS) http://www.mdba.gov.au/ services/publications/moreinformation?publicationid=37 Murray–Darling Basin Authority stakeholder engagement strategy - www.mdba.gov.au/services/publications/ more-information?publicationid=35 Sustainable diversion limits issues paper - www.mdba.gov.au/services/publications/ more-information?publicationid=36 Sustainable rivers audit - www2.mdbc.gov.au/SRA/

Councils around Australia grow to love Hydrosmart

ouncils and government departments when looking to solve water problems like salinity, scale, iron or algae are increasingly adopting the environmentally friendly, sustainable, atomic resonance technology made by Adelaide company Hydrosmart International Pty Ltd. In use by many councils around Australia, solving diverse issues, the one compact easy to install and apply technology is leading by results. Installed by Goyder Council S.A. when mat algae had become a big issue back in 2004 for the pretty Flinders Ranges town’s recreational waterway ( white dogs were turning green from falling into the stream at that time) . Spending just $20 a year in power to run the computerised water treatment, the algae has been effectively managed ever since.

ALGAE Steven Kerrigan, Goyder Council’s CEO reported : Approximately two to three months after the installation the creek was practically algae free, giving tourists and residents almost crystal clear water as part of their creek views. These units have also prevented any further outbreaks of algae.” Rockhampton Council Qld. installed a unit to effectively treat its algae problems in a pond in its Japanese Gardens.

Exmouth Shire WA installed two units onto hard mains water used in treating its ablutions to prevent and manage scale and Geoff Wilkes, airport manager at Learmonth reports as follows :

SCALE After initial installation all the water outlets would run cloudy for a few seconds before becoming clear, I assume this was because there was years of calcium build up to remove We now use a lot less chemicals to remove scale from the toilets and urinals and before we were giving them an acid bath once a month we now do this once a year Electric kettles have gone from being encrusted with calcium to shiny stainless steel The electric hot water storage units are no longer continuously blowing elements The cold water drinking fountains no longer block up and the water tastes better (tasted slightly stale before) There has been no noticeable increase in power consumption Because all of the town’s water supply comes from bores through limestone everybody has problems with scale and calcium So we constantly recommend Hydrosmart as we are very happy with our purchase

Whereas Kimba Council SA use it to manage scale blockage in their ovals irrigation systems that prior to use were causing much expense and management of changing blocked sprinkler heads with this issue becoming a thing of the past. Quilpy Qld Shire’s applying one shortly to treat 100 degree sub- artesian water supplied to the whole community due to scaling issues faced. Tennant Creek NT and Streaky Bay SA Councils use to descale build ups from pipes and protect against build up.

IRON Pittwater Council on Sydney’s Nth Shore installed units to two of its bores a few years ago when realising iron levels were going to cause grief and staining of the fences and surrounds and were very pleased when build up /blockages and stains never became an issue and their grass has remained remarkably healthy . As result Woolarah Council plans to install onto an oval in East Sydney where it faces the same issues after visiting their North Shore neighbours.

SALINITY Rockhampton Qld, Geraldton WA, Walkerville SA, Ararat Council Vic. amongst other councils have used Hydrosmart to effectively and simply counter toxic effects of salty water used to irrigate their ovals.

Providing Water Solutions For:

Gardens Pools Farms Homes Lawns

Just letting you know how happy we are with the unit we installed to a Boundary riders cottage on the Dog Fence. Toona Cottage is about 30km east of Cameron Corner and only has access to bore water which is very salty. Grass would not grow, showering in the water was a chore and the evaporative cooler pads needed to be cleaned weekly. All the taps and shower roses were constantly blocking up and build-up on the outside of taps etc was unsightly. Since installing the Hydrosmart, all of this has been reversed. I don’t know how or why, but it works. It took approximately 3 weeks to flush build-up out of pipes etc and we had to replace some spouts and roses etc. Now lawn and vegetables grow, the cooler pads have not been cleaned yet this summer and a proper lather up is possible in the shower. We now intend ordering a larger unit to service 4 cottages at Smithville. Tony Mayo – Operations Manager Wild Dog Destruction Board

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1259557GRW25/3/10

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The systems use no chemicals, requires no mechanical assistance, minimum energy usage, enables extraordinary water savings and is virtually maintenance free. The system is adaptable to both domestic and commercial applications, eg: Urban Solutions, Home & Gardens, Sustainable Schools, Recreation & Sporting Facilities, Resorts & Caravan Parks, Commercial Buildings and Cooling Towers.

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holds H20 H20 PurePure PlusPlus holds the highest water the highest water quality classification quality classification with a revolutionary with a revolutionary natural treatment natural systemtreatment for advanced systemwastewater for advanced reuse. wastewater reuse.

The SAPS-GWT system (Greywater) has approval to connect into internal plumbing systems e.g. toilets and external hose tap. The water quality achieved also allows for the washing down of paths & external dwellings and car washing, both models have been approved for irrigation purposes.

Solutions for all Commercial Air Conditioning Systems Cooling towers use massive amounts of mains water and generate lethal bacteria such as Legionella. H2O Pure Plus® Health/ Bio-clean systems greatly improve water quality, lessen the need for expensive chemical treatment, enable extraordinary water savings and minimize contamination dangers to public health.

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Trailers that work for you

apid Spray manufactures a premium range of trailers designed for a range of applications including dust suppression, tree & garden watering, fire fighting – in fact anything to do with water & other liquids. Sizes range from 400 litres to 3000 litres in on-road or on-farm configurations to suit many needs and applications. These trailers are exceptionally well built to exacting standards and incorporate the following features: Tough but lightweight UV stabilized polyethylene tank (5 year guarantee), heavy duty hot dip galvanised chassis, 2” fire chief pump (5 year warranty) powered by a genuine 5.5HP Honda motor (3 year warranty), heavy duty 36 metre hose and reel, 15” wheels with Landcruiser hub pattern, new tyres, mud flaps, hydraulic or electric brakes…. The list goes on… when you need equipment built to last these trailers are essential. These trailers can be utilised for tree watering, low pressure cleaning, water cartage and diesel cartage, high pressure cleaning of earthmoving

equipment and vehicles and many other applications. We have many options available including dribble bars, deflector sprayers, overhead filler systems, diesel motor options and more……. An increasing need with road construction & maintenance teams is fuel reserves to keep equipment in action and many are proving the benefit of having a support trailer set up for diesel fuel supply. Rapid Spray manufacture a range of diesel trailers from 600 litre to 3000 litre capacities with a range of different pumping options to choose from. If you would rather have a truck mounted tank we can supply complete units with 12 volt pump kits from 200 litre through to 3000 litre including our new range with completely covered pump compartments in 200, 400 & 450 litre sizes – 600, 800 & 1000 litre coming soon check our website for updates www.rapidspray.net Also included in Rapid Spray’s extensive wash down trailer range is the specific built Aircraft

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wash down portable trailer units. These reliable and durable units are designed to wash aircraft using a 12V detergent applicator and using the 36M hose reel which is powered by a 5.5HP Honda motor and 2” Fire fighting pump for a low pressure wash down and rinse. The Wet / dry vac system is available to collect washings when used in conjunction with suitable bunding as required by EPA. We guarantee personal service, uncompromising quality and attention to detail as we work with you to satisfy your requirements. We have built trailers for councils, mining companies, construction companies, aircraft maintenance companies, Government Departments including Defence, National Parks and Wildlife etc. CALL RAPID SPRAY NOW – FREE CALL 1800 011 000 to request your free copy of our catalogue OR Visit our website www.rapidspray.net

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class reliability, guaranteed.

eliability is key for water treatment plants. It is of great importance that waste water is cleaned and disinfected before it is discharged into the environment. You need to be able to count on your system, which has to work correctly and perform up to standard. The new Philips DynaPower driver, operating 230W, 260W and 335W TUV Amalgam lamps, offers best-inclass reliability, guaranteed.

Safe for sure The tested and proven DynaPower driver is extremely reliable, with a maximum failure rate of only 0,1% after 1,000 hours. Moreover, it is extremely robust, as the unit is protected against excessive voltage peaks and vibrations, and it incorporates overvoltage protection against wrong installation. Thanks to the excellent heat management of the drivers, thermal problems in waste water sites during summer time can be minimized.

As a result, the Philips DynaPower driver helps to save significantly on maintenance costs and hassle. To underline its reliability, the DynaPower system comes with a guarantee.

for immediate energy savings of approximately 10% compared with similar systems on the market. And the driver can be dimmed down to 60% for additional energy savings. You can calculate your own savings on our web site www.philips.com/uvpurification.

Maximum performance, guaranteed Energy cost savings Next to its reliability, the electronic DynaPower system also allows for immediate energy savings of approximately 10% compared with similar systems on the market. And the driver can be dimmed down to 60% for additional energy savings. You can calculate your [advertorial] own savings on our web site www.philips.com/uvpurification.

Safe for sure The tested and proven DynaPower driver is extremely reliable, with a maximum failure rate of only 0,1% after 1,000 hours. Moreover, it is extremely robust, as the unit is protected eliability isagainst key forexcessive water treatment plants. It is of great importance voltage peaks and vibrations, Maintenance made easier that waste waterovervoltage is cleaned and disinfected before it is discharged and it incorporates Whereas other drivers on the into theagainst environment. be able to count on youroff the protection wrong You need to market automatically switch installation. Thankshas to the excellent second if one fails, the system, which to work correctly and lamp perform uplamp to standard. heat management of the drivers, Philips DynaPower allows single The new Philips DynaPower driver, operating 230W, 260W and 335W TUV thermal problems in waste water lamp operation. This means that Amalgam lamps, offers best-inclass reliability, guaranteed. sites during summer time can you can instantly detect which be minimized. lamps are not working anymore,

Maintenance made easier Whereas other drivers on the market automatically switch off the second lamp if one lamp fails, the Philips DynaPower allows single lamp operation. This means that you can instantly detect which lamps are not working anymore,

Philips DynaPower system for a simple switch in existing UV water purification installations

preventing you from testing them all individually or even replacing lamps that still work. Also installation is simplified thanks to the increased spacing between the drivers.

Safe for sure

The tested and proven DynaPower driver is extremely reliable, with a maximum failure rate of only 0,1% after 1,000 hours. Moreover, it is extremely robust, as the unit is protected against excessive voltage peaks and vibrations, and it incorporates overvoltage protection against wrong installation. Thanks to the excellent heat management of the drivers, thermal problems in waste water sites during summer time can be minimized.

Maximum performance, guaranteed Improve your green footprint

Improving your green footprint has never been easier. Philips DynaPower has been nominated official Green Product thanks to

Imp Imp has Dyn offic its maximum lifetime reliability in combination with energy savings, minimum substances, packaging and product weight. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a simple switch! For more information, please call Philips at +61 2 9947 0426, e-mail to Rachael.ash@philips.com or visit our website www.philips.com/uvpurification

Philips DynaPower system for a simple switch in existing UV water purification installations

As a result, the Philips DynaPower driver helps to save significantly on maintenance costs and hassle.

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To underline its reliability, the DynaPower system comes with a guarantee.

Energy cost savings Next to its reliability, the electronic DynaPower system also allows for immediate energy savings of approximately 10% compared 1885_00_112_EDIT_210X297.indd 1 with similar systems on the market.

4/29/10 2:15 PM

And the driver can be dimmed down to 60% for additional energy savings. You can calculate your own savings on our web site www.philips.com/uvpurification. eliability is key for water As a result, the Philips

treatment plants. is of DynaPower driver helps Maintenance madeIt easier great importance that waste to save significantly on Whereas other drivers on the market automatically switch off the second water is cleaned and disinfected maintenance costs and hassle. lamp if one lamp fails, the Philips DynaPower allows single lamp operation. before it is discharged into the To underline its reliability, the This means that you can instantly detect which lamps are not working environment. You need to be able DynaPower system comes anymore, preventing from testing them all individually or even to count on your system,you which with a guarantee. replacing lamps that stillperform work. Also installation is simplified thanks to the has to work correctly and spacing between the drivers. up toincreased standard. The new Philips DynaPower driver, operating Energy cost savings Improve your green footprint Improving your green footprint has never 230W, 260W and 335W TUV Nextnominated to its reliability, electronic been easier. Philips DynaPower has been official the Green Product Amalgam offers best-inDynaPower system also allows thankslamps, to its maximum lifetime reliability in combination with energy classsavings, reliability, guaranteed. for immediate minimum substances, packaging and productenergy weight.savings of approximately 10% compared simple switch! Safe Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s for asure with similar systems on the market. The tested and proven DynaPower And For more information, please call Philips at the driver can be dimmed driver is extremely reliable, with down to 60% for additional energy Philips Lighting Salesof Desk 404 a maximum failure rate only- 1300 304savings. You can calculate your 0,1%lightingsalesdesk@philips.com after 1,000 hours. Moreover, own savings on our web site it is extremely robust, as the unit www.philips.com/uvpurification. or visit our website is protected against excessive www.philips.com/uvpurification voltage peaks and vibrations, Maintenance made easier and it incorporates overvoltage Whereas other drivers on the protection against wrong market automatically switch off the installation. Thanks to the excellent second lamp if one lamp fails, the heat management of the drivers, Philips DynaPower allows single thermal problems in waste water lamp operation. This means that

prev all in lam inst to t the

preventing you from testing them all individually or even replacing

its maximum lifetime reliability in combination with energy

Rhino water tanks

hino Water Tanks is a privately owned and operated Australian company which has been involved in the water storage industry for over 20 years. Rhino now export to over 25 countries and is a world leader in manufacturing polyethylene-lined steel tanks from 26,000 Litres to over 2 Million Litres for commercial, agricultural and domestic applications. Over the past 4 years Rhino has installed tanks at over 500 sporting grounds, schools and scout halls in every state of Australia. They also specialise in projects for Councils, Water Authorities and mining companies, particularly providing water storage for Fire Protection and town water supplies. Below is a snapshot of some of the major projects Rhino Water Tanks has been involved in recently.

A) TOCUMWAL TOWN WATER SUPPLY – NSW This recently completed project involved the Rhino Tanks’ installation team dismantling 2 old 300,000 Litre town water supply tanks and replacing with 2 new 330,000 Litre Corrugated Commercial Tanks. One of the tanks is for town water supply and the other for back flush. The entire process from dismantling old tanks to commissioning new tanks was completed within 24 hours.

B) ETIHAD STADIUM – Melbourne Vic City West Water funded this project at the former Telstra Dome which involved the installation of 17 tanks of various sizes and in various sections of the stadium providing approximately 1 Megalitre of storage. The recycled water is being used to supplement mains water in the toilets and for irrigation. Due to the kit form of our Rhino tanks we were able to design and install 5 of the tanks in the underground carpark, 4 x 55,000L on the outer ledge of level 5 and 8 that were custom made for level 6 specifically for this project.

E) WESTGATE FREEWAY UPGRADE – Melbourne Vic

During this major infrastructure upgrade to Melbourne’s Westgate Freeway, Rhino Water Tanks installed a number of tanks of various sizes to capture the rainwater run-off from the Bolte Bridge road surface. This water is then used throughout the construction site for dust suppression.

F) ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY – Fitzroy Crossing, WA Rhino have installed many tanks throughout the Kimberly region and remote areas of Northern Territory and Western Australia. This particular project involved installing a number of water storage tanks for domestic use on 15 metre stands for use in the nearby Aboriginal Communities. This photo is of a 100,000 Litre tank installed on a stand at Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia.

G) WIMMERA MALLEE PIPELINE – Nullawil, Vic Rhino Tanks installed 2 Flat Panel Commercial tanks at Nullawil, Victoria for use as back-up water supply for the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline Project. Each of the tanks are 1 million litres effective capacity.

For any further information visit the website www.rhinotanks.com.au or call 1800 632 410

C) MONARTO ZOO – Monarto SA Monarto Zoo is a rapidly expanding Zoo near Murray Bridge and has installed 5 tanks for rainwater harvesting and for fire protection. This 37,000 Litre tank was donated to the Zoo and sits beside the Rhino enclosure. Rhino has also installed 7 tanks at the Melbourne and Werribee Zoos in Victoria.

D) QLD SPORTS & ATHLETIC CENTRE – Brisbane Qld One of two x 150,000 Litre Tanks have been installed under the stadium seating to capture rainwater to be re-used for irrigation on the nearby field.

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e g a r o t S r e t a W n i s r e d a e L World - Government -

Mining Commercial Sporting Schools 26,000 to 2,000,000Litres

RHINO R

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rhinotanks.com.au

Leading by example local action for global change

gendas and programs abound across the globe all aimed at achieving or working towards the greater good. Experts share their knowledge and research about the impacts of predicted climate change. Recommendations are then made as to how we best tackle the implications and impacts of climate change as we seek to mitigate against and adapt to it. This leads to the development of policies, frameworks, milestones and action plans as a global counterattack to the challenges we will face today and in the future. But it is in local action where we start to change things and in turn, see change. Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are influencing the climate and this is impacting local environments by exacerbating the existing risks to vulnerable systems, both natural and man-made. Energy and water management specialists have had to quickly adapt their thinking in response to these changing conditions. Energy demand is growing and government will continue to be challenged to minimise energy consumption and reduce GHG emissions. Local governments, as providers and managers of services and assets that impact heavily on energy and water consumption and stormwater quality, have a significant role to play in adapting to the local impacts of climate change. Consequently, this puts them in a strong position to lead by example and set the standard for businesses and communities in their municipalities. Through the provision of sustainable energy, carbon and water management services and advice, CPG can assist local governments in reducing GHG emissions from both their internal operations and wider communities. CPG’s knowledge in climate change, energy and GHG emissions management integrated with our water management, ecology, biodiversity, and other consulting expertise provides a well informed solution to on the ground adaptation strategies. The benefits of managing energy consumption and reducing GHG emissions include improved business performance and efficiency, cost reductions, new business opportunities and ensuring that our resource supplies, supply chains and markets remain viable and efficient through carbon management adaptation strategies. To achieve these benefits local governments need to establish the necessary skills, processes and systems to mitigate the risks, comply with legislation, and maximise the opportunities and benefits that emerge from developing

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carbon markets. CPG can assist in identifying and maximising current and emerging opportunities.

Climate Change, Energy and Greenhouse Gas Management The world is changing at an unprecedented rate and creating new challenges for local governments. CPG’s expertise in climate change, energy and greenhouse gas management can be incorporated into the delivery of our consulting capabilities in water management, ecology, biodiversity, urban design, landscape architecture, engineering and environmental planning. – – – – – –

Mandatory and Voluntary Reporting Support Greenhouse Gas Management and Abatement Programmes Energy Efficiency and Reduction Programmes Strategic Carbon Management Advice Independent Carbon Offsetting Advisory Services Strategic Climate Change Adaptation Services

Our specialised services extend to the water, energy, transport, urban development, resources, building, and agribusiness sectors.

T 61 3 9993 7888

cpg-global.com

At CPG, greenhouse gas management is treated as one part of the solution, just as important is adapting to the impacts of climate change, and water management becomes the focus of adaptation. Integrated sustainable water management is an emerging science and skill that needs to be realistic and relevant in its actions and targets as we learn more about the need to adapt to climate change. CPG is at the forefront of this change through our active involvement in research, government and industry programs. Innovation is the driving force for change as conventional urban water systems are no longer equipped to deal with the cumulative effects of climate change and the demands of a growing population. If we continue down the same path for the provision of water, wastewater and stormwater services, the health of our receiving waterways and catchments will decline and degrade, we will become more vulnerable to flooding and traditional supply sources will become uncertain due to lower than average rainfall and unpredictable patterns. Around Australia, many local governments have adopted international and national programs to assist them in their sustainable water management efforts by reducing consumption and improving quality. The next step is creating strategies specific to local environments and embedding these within existing policy. Climate change impacts can be dealt with efficiently through existing institutions, paving the way for local governments to be a critical part of any national reform agenda. CPG has a strong history as an innovator in managing the water cycle in urban areas through the integration of stormwater, wastewater, and water supply. Our knowledge encompasses the areas of demand management, recycling, potable substitution and water quality improvement. Managing the urban water cycle is axiomatic to sustainable water management, which has culminated in a movement towards the concept of a ‘Water Sensitive City’. CPG has a strong understanding of the ‘Water Sensitive City’ concept as an adaptation strategy in response to climate change, utilising it as a framework for creating Sustainable Water Management Strategies. CPG’s capability in the water sector extends from strategic consulting through to concept, functional and detailed design documentation. CPG has prepared Sustainable Water Management Plans for local government that provide strategic direction to enable initiatives and policy to be implemented to meet community expectations and demands. CPG is recognised as a leader in the water industry whose commitment to innovation and continued learning is recognised by selected participation in global water study tours. CPG’s technical expertise and experience has been engaged by Clearwater in the preparation of industry training courses in ‘Integrated Water Management’ and ‘Stormwater Harvesting’, and more recently in the Victorian Government initiative, ‘Alternative Urban Water Supplies – the Review, Framework and Guidelines’. CPG has been a member of the ‘Melbourne Water Stormwater Quality WSUD Consultant Panel’ for 4 years. Working closely with water authorities and local governments, CPG continues to identify and deliver integrated water

Tomorrow’s solutions for today’s challenges CPG is delivering projects at the forefront of Sustainable Urban Water Management. At CPG we effectively integrate our knowledge and expertise across our core consulting services providing our clients with totally integrated, well considered, innovative design solutions that meet today’s challenges. – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Integrated Water Management Stormwater Harvesting Water Sensitive Urban Design Wetland and Raingarden design and construction Water Resource Engineering Water and Wastewater Systems and Treatment Water Quality Monitoring Subdivision Water & Sewerage Design Flood Modelling and Management Hydrologic and Hydraulic Modelling Process evaluations and WaterMAP, REP, EEO Plans Financial modelling of options Regulatory approvals, audits and certification

T 61 3 9993 7888

cpg-global.com

management design opportunities and projects with the aim of ‘transferring knowledge and learning’ to local government. At CPG, the effective integration of our energy and water consulting services delivers integrated, well considered, innovative solutions that respond to global challenges for our local communities.

CPG is an award-winning multi-disciplinary consulting company providing high quality specialised services to the water, energy, buildings, urban development, transport, resources and agribusiness sectors, with an international network of over 3,500 professionals across Australia, New Zealand and Asia.

03 9993 7888 cpg-global.com

Water

Trenchless technology: Making pipe repair and installation easy Trenchless Technology is the simple and affordable solution for local councils undertaking pipe repair or installation works to avoid traffic congestion and to protect parks, gardens, waterways and heritage areas from the adverse affects of trenching. What is Trenchless Technology? Trenchless Technology refers to a variety of techniques used to install, repair or replace underground infrastructure while minimising surface disruption. Trenchless Technology has been used for water, wastewater, energy and communications systems in one form or another for decades. The techniques and methods now available are more sophisticated, more accurate and more reliable than ever before, and are used across a wide range of industries with considerable success. Trenchless Technology reduces traffic delays, and where road traffic is impacted, it is generally for a shorter period of time than with open-cut installation and rehabilitation. Trenchless Technology minimises environmental damage leaving trees and root systems unaffected. Environmentally sensitive areas are not disturbed and because there are less spoil heaps the likelihood of sediment washing into drains and waterways decreases dramatically. Trenchless Technology reduces the ultimate cost incurred by councils as less spoil means less costly disposal expenses. Trenchless Technology reduces OH&S risk due to less open excavation; less human entry into deep holes; furthermore the smaller work footprint which means it is easier to prevent public access to the work site.

individuals, families and businesses are not unnecessarily subjected to inconvenient and disruptive road works and their associated costs.

An industry of professionals

Trenchless Technology has greener credentials than open cut methods. The reduction in both excavation and traffic disruption translates to lower carbon dioxide emissions.

The use of Trenchless Technology in the installation and renewal of infrastructure is ever increasing â&#x20AC;&#x201C; what was once used only occasionally has now become commonplace. As a result, contractors in the industry are highly experienced and well resourced. In addition, they invest in research and new equipment to ensure this improvement continues.

There are also wider community benefits created by selecting trenchless installation or rehabilitation. Less time is wasted by road users stuck in traffic jams, reinstatement costs on private and public lands is decreased, and the loss/reduction of business due to limited access to business locations is minimal. By choosing Trenchless Technology for local infrastructure projects, councils ensure that their communityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Across Australia, the Trenchless Technology industry is continuing to expand. Ageing infrastructure, water restrictions, increasing urban build-up and environmental concerns have all provided the stimulus for more trenchless projects, while the increasing sophistication of the technology and companies involved means that the industry is able to deliver exceptional service across a wide variety of projects.

The sustainable choice

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Case study Located 160 kilometres north of Brisbane, Gympie is a popular tourist destination in South East Queensland. Gympie Regional Council covers an area of 6,790 sq km and manages approximately 330 km of water mains and 360 km of sewage mains. The Gympie water network is split up in a number of systems, with the water network in Gympie the main system is the second largest system located on the Cooloola coast. The remaining water mains under the management of Gympie Regional Council run throughout smaller towns in the region. The provision of water and wastewater services to the community is a priority for the council. General Manager of Works East Division Greg Ingham said that Trenchless

Local governments involved with the construction and rehabilitation of infrastructure and considering the trenchless option can take advantage of both the benefits of the technology and the experienced practitioners. To find best suppliers of products and services visit www. trenchless-australasia.com/directory The potential uses for Trenchless Technology are diverse â&#x20AC;&#x201C; whether infrastructure installation or rehabilitation crosses a local road, under an airport strip, a river, a front garden or past existing

Technology has played an important role in the water and wastewater networks in the Gympie region. The installation, rehabilitation and renewal works often involve the use of hydroboring, horizontal directional drilling and pipe jacking. One such example was the relocation and renewal work undertaken for the mains running under the 1,700 km Bruce Highway before the highwayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s upgrade, in which boring and jacking was used to lower and renew the sewer and water mains. Ingham has been working for Gympie Regional Council for two and a half years and considers the construction and maintenance, along with maintaining assets and interacting with the community, to be the most enjoyable parts of the role.

infrastructure, Trenchless Technology is the smart, desirable and economic choice. Before you sign the next contract to install, repair or renovate water, wastewater or storm water networks ask the question: what is the trenchless alternative? Visit www.trenchless-australasia.com to find out more.

Benefiting from trenchless technology

t is now becoming a common occurrence to see new or up graded underground infrastructure being installed by the use of Trenchless construction methods. As cities and towns grow and increase in size, so does their infrastructure requirements. More houses and businesses call for larger and longer water pipelines, sewer networks, increase in communication requirements, recycled water schemes, desalination and low pressure sewer systems as well as increased power and gas networks. The reasons for this increase in Trenchless construction can be contributed to numerous factors including the increased safety on and around the work site, minimal disturbance to all surface movements and structures during the construction period, environmental benefits including minimal excavation and no long open trenchers, costs (where correctly used) and the actual visual effect it has on the local communities. These have all contributed to the increase in Trenchless works now being undertaken throughout Australia, be it large cites or small country towns. Trenchless technology comes in a variety of different forms and techniques which are all usefully when used correctly and in the right environment. There are three main categories within the Trenchless industry, these being installation of new, rehabilitation of existing and up-grading of existing networks. The equipment used for these undertakings including pneumatic piercing tools, relining, pipe bursting, auger and micro-tunneling through to Horizontal Directional Drilling. Many government and private companies have now embraced Trenchless Technology

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Picture supplied by UEA

to assist them with the construction of their networks, repairs and up-grades. But, with every construction technique, comes issues which are unwanted and can confuse those looking at embracing this method. As much of Trenchless construction is undertaken underground and away from the prying eyes, it is extremely important to ensure the project has been correctly prepared. 90% of a Trenchless project is covered within its preparation. Unfortunately, too many clients have passed these important issues and undertakings directly to the contractor. Reasons for this can be contributed to the little or no knowledge available for designing and organizing these requirements along with finding experienced personnel. The last thing you want is to have a newly install pipeline that is not as per the original design or requirements. Area’s that should be completed and undertaken by the client should include:

Feasibility of the project – Is it actual achievable?

A detailed design which can actually be constructed by the chosen contractor and his equipment. This should be undertaken by the client to ensure the project is constructed to their requirements, not the contractors.

Documentation - Correct tender specifications compiled especially for the chosen Trenchless technique is a must. Too many projects become troublesome and problematic due to the existence of holes within documentation.

Product to be installed – Is it suitable for both client requirements and installation purposes?

Geotechnical information – Sometimes can be expensive to acquire for the size of the

project but some easy solutions can be sort. This information can be extremely useful if the contractor starts talking variations and other problems occur.

under waterways or creeks and also becoming popular when crossing railway lines, roads, congested areas, environmental sensitive areas as well as residential and industrial zones.

Understanding risks – both parties should be aware of all risks and share all risks. Can prevent issues arising during construction and can help in securing a more realistic costing.

Monitoring – All construction projects should be monitored by the client no mater what the technique. Correct alignment, depth, exist utility clearances and environmental protection should all be constantly checked.

If Trenchless is deemed a possibility for inclusion within the construction program, then sourcing an independent advisor could help ensure the projects success through assisting with some of the above requirements. Knowing the correct parameters and limitations when undertaking a Trenchless project, especially if HDD is to be incorporated, can help minimise any potential problems and allow the client to keep complete control of its construction. Undertaking a Horizontal Directional Drill on any project should never be seen as a simple “A” to “B” construction. The involvement of specialized companies goes a long way to mitigating the potential risks associated with Trenchless construction.

The above should not be seen as a negative when undertaking a Trenchless project but what is required to ensure a trouble free project. If all the above is correctly completed before a contractor is chosen and on site, then the chances of project success is increased ten fold.

Written by P. Brown (Trenchless Advisor Pty Ltd)

The most common Trenchless technique now being used for new installations is Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD). Having the ability to be surface launched (no large pits), accurately steered (depending on ground conditions), install multi conduits in one borehole, achievable in varying ground conditions and has the possibility of covering distances up to 2400 metres in one bore makes this method very appealing. HDD is now the preferred method for installing pipelines

TRENCHLESS ADVISOR PTY LTD The Independent Trenchless Advisor  Concept Design & Feasibility Studies  Electronic Bore Plans  Project Management  Methodologies  Specialised Documentation

 Project Assessments  Project Monitoring and Auditing  HDD Training  Specialising in Rail and Road crossings

PO Box 6633 Baulkham Hills Business Centre NSW 2153 Mob: 0422 028 849 Email: pbrown@trenchlessadvisor.com.au Website: www.trenchlessadvisor.com.au

Trenchless Advisor Pty LtdFP.indd 1

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Underground Services Australia The Western Australian State Underground Power Program (SUPP) initiative was in put in place in 1996 after severe storms caused serious damage to existing overhead mains, resulting in widespread supply outages. The SUPP is designed to replace existing overhead mains with the safer and more reliable underground system in selected residential areas.

nderground Services Australia is extensively involved with the State Underground Power Program and has successfully completed many projects since their first pilot project in 1996. The projects have been completed in a number of established suburbs, often with many obstacles to overcome, including existing live and abandoned services to work around. The projects require power cables to be installed using Horizontal Directional Drills and trenchless methods which delivers a less destructive and intrusive installation method, lowering risks of litigation and reducing construction costs. Underground Services Australia has been a preferred vendor to Western Power for the SUPP since 1996. The company’s methods of trenchless technology are favoured by Western Power and Local Government as it minimises disruption to property owners, businesses and traffic. Underground Services Australia executive general manager Tim Abrahams said the key to the company’s success in the SUPP projects is their delivery model.

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“

Through our extensive experience in working on the SUPP projects we have developed our processes and skills to such a level that we could complete works on similar projects anywhere around Australia,” Mr Abrahams said.

”

“We are committed to the SUPP and through using trenchless installation methods we are able to complete works in challenging environments, whilst minimising disruption and risk.

“Underground power is significantly more reliable than overhead power with fewer faults caused by pole top fires and other interruptions. “It truly is the future of power in Australia.”

Pipe & Cable Ploughing It’s by far the most productive and cost effective method of installation

Key benefits of ploughing technology • Minimal clearing required • Minimal top soil disturbance • No ground water (acid sulphate) issues • Reduced survey time and costs with GPS navigation Key functions of ploughing technology • Installation rates of up to 1,000 metres per hour • Diameter up to 355mm PE = (300PVC) • Depths of up to 2 metres • Ability to install sand bedding and cover • Ability to lay cables, polyethylene and steel pipes

AUSTRALIA

WIDE SERVICE

To discuss your next project’s needs contact us today P 08 9272 0100 F 08 9272 9100 E info@usa.com.au W www.usa.com.au

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Rootfoam速 WP Herbicide is the professionals choice for cost effective prevention of tree root re-growth in sewers following mechanical clearance.

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“One stop” shop for pipe repairs

embla Watertech P/L has been active in the pipeline rehabilitation market since 1993.

The company is Quality Accredited to ISO9001:2000 , OHS&R accredited to AS/NZS 4801:2001 and Environmentally accredited AS/ NZS ISO 14001:2004. Numerous projects have been completed for Councils and other authorities throughout Australia and the total length of linings installed by the company now exceeds 1500Kms.

•

PRELIMINARY WORKS: •

Engineering Assessment and Design.

•

CCTV Pipeline Surveys and Cleaning.

Ex method (‘fold and form’) PVC pipe lining: Involves the expansion of a continuous coil of specially formulated PVC

•

Enviroliner CIPP system: Renovation of pipelines using resin impregnated felt tubes which are cured in place to form a structural pipe within the pipe (Cured In Place Pipe).

WATER SERVICES:

Kembla DiaFit SWP: A spiral wound pipe (SWP) is installed from manhole access to be a close fit to the existing pipe diameter (DiaFit). FexiLiner: A small bore lining system capable of lining house service lines down to 100mm diameter including 90˚ bends.

•

Tiger T: A resin impregnated T section for structural repair and sealing of pipe connections.

•

Tiger Patch: A fibre reinforced plastic (FRP) patch is remotely positioned to structurally repair localised pipe defects.

SEWER AND GRAVITY PIPE SERVICES: •

pipe to form a tight fitting liner within the existing host pipe.

The experience and confidence to engineer a solution to any underground pipeline problem

1800 803 861 www.kemblawatertech.com.au

M Coating: Manhole cleaning and coating system.

We are one of very few contractors that offer a fully integrated service inclusive of: Design, Analysis, Trenchless Technologies and Traditional Construction Methods •

AMEX Seals: Internal joint sealing system for pressure pipes.

•

Watermain (and sewer) Pipe Bursting: Size for size or upsizing of existing pipes.

•

Pressure Relief Valve and Flow Meter Construction: Kembla’s in house crews are skilled in the construction of PRV & FM installations.

•

Spray Lining: in conjunction with an associated company we offer a semi structural spray-on lining suitable for pipe diameters 100mm to 1350mm.

Transport

An end to risky business The role of the fleet manager Fleet management has for some time been a neglected management discipline. It has been subject to many views as to its worth and a continuing array of ‘newly discovered’ methods of opinion as to the best way of managing this major organisational resource; usually the third highest outgoing for the organisation.

o a large extent the way fleet management is viewed by the organisation dictates the value the organisation places on the position of Fleet Manager. Often a Fleet Manager is seen as a lower level employee; the person who deals with such things as vehicle re-registration and replacement rather than an active member of management. In the past many organisations held a significant proportion of their capital in ownership of fleet. A number of years ago there was a drive to reorganise the organisation’s balance sheet through a push towards leasing. From this event an opportunity grew for the outsourced fleet management company to promote a range of service offerings in the management of the fleet. The services being offered grew to cover many of the individual tasks needed for the successful administration of the organisation’s fleet.

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While there are benefits available from outsourcing what is often forgotten is that there is a great difference between Fleet Administration and Fleet Management. It is possible to get others to do certain administrative functions such as provision of vehicles, re-registration, maintenance management, accident management etc however this is still ‘fleet administration’ rather than fleet management. Fleet management is concerned with the strategic management of the fleet and how the organisation’s transport needs will be met. More importantly, it is not possible to outsource the legal responsibilities which you hold in relation to your organisation’s transport activities. What is often overlooked is just how much the internal fleet manager can positively influence the utilisation of the organisation’s transport resources.

The in house ‘Fleet Manager’ performs these important tasks by providing a bridge between the strategic transport needs of the organisation and service suppliers. They analyse and reduce risk in the transport activities, provide proactive data analyses, recommend and implement change to optimise fleet operations as well as ensuring the organisation is fulfilling its legal obligations. The in-house Fleet Manager keeps the company’s interests foremost in their decision making by developing a cooperative working relationship with all internal corporate functions associated with fleet operations. Fleet managers view vehicle acquisition, replacement planning, funding alternatives, and sourcing alliances with manufacturers and suppliers as key decisions. Working with suppliers and other partners they optimise performance by using a variety of management techniques. continued on page 122 >

ONECARD ONE CARD 10,000 Possibilities OneCard is a multi-branded fuel card with low administration fees. Created by Procurement Australia, it is supported by the national Motorpass network, covering over 90% of all fuel retailers nationally. OneCard has been developed using Procurement Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ISO 9001 accredited process and is fully compliant with probity requirements under Local Government legislation. OneCard is a single card fuel solution that delivers choice, convenience and savings. OneCard One card and one card only! With acceptance at all major fuel retailers, you no longer need to carry multiple fuel cards. Choice and Convenience Accepted at over 90% of Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s major fuel outlets as well as most independents nationally, the choice is yours! Savings Shop across the fuel network for the cheapest fuel price any day of the week. Get discounts off the standard pump price with OneCard. Ease of Administration and Comprehensive Reporting Simplified consolidated invoicing, administration and enhanced reporting. Reduced Administration Fees Reduced card related costs with a single consolidated monthly invoice.

Compliance Full compliance with probity requirements under Local Government legislation including Section 55 in New South Wales and Section 186 in Victoria. Carbon Emissions Reporting Carbon emissions reporting and carbon offset program facilitated by Greenfleet. Find out how we can reduce your fuel costs! Contact Veronica Steinicke, National Sales and Marketing Manager, Procurement Australia, on 0409 189 551 or email vsteinicke@paltd.com.au

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Transport

> They bring suppliers together as a team to facilitate communication with each other to provide efficient, low-cost service to the fleet. They strive to reduce not only hard costs, but also soft costs. They link fleet to the corporation’s overall mission and then keep management informed as to how the fleet is helping to support the corporate mission. The myth that organisations can have a vehicle fleet without an internal fleet manager, regardless of whether the fleet is outsourced or not, was busted a long time ago. At an average cost of $35,000 a vehicle, you only need 30 vehicles in your fleet before it becomes a million dollar asset/liability. Controlling costs by implementing the right fleet policies and selecting the right vehicles and suppliers is the fleet manager’s objective. If a company operates at a 10 per cent net profit margin, then should the Fleet Manager be able to reduce annual fleet expenses by $100,000 they are in fact generating the equivalent of $1 million in sales.

Issues set to cause concern Every so often you get the urge to look over your shoulder to see the things that are catching up with you. There are a number of issues that should now be occupying executive’s thoughts at this time in relation to their transport activities. One issue that goes to the core is one of the rationale behind lease versus purchase. One of the drivers for leasing was that the liability was accounted for off balance sheet; it became a contract liability and not an asset. Due to the actions of companies such as Enron, who used off balance sheet mechanisms to hide large financial liabilities, a new set of international accounting regulations has been issued. We understand that they will contain the provision that all financial liabilities will be required to be clearly shown on the organisation’s balance sheet. By far the biggest challenge facing the organisation today is legal liability. We are now in a time where there is a greater legislative

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responsibility and liability placed on the organisation.

adopted an unsafe method of working, you may still be held vicariously responsible.

Many of the board rooms around Australia are not fully appreciative of the extent of their OH&S and Corporations law responsibility with regard to their transport activities to provide a safe workplace.

A relatively recent addition to the safety responsibility has been the introduction of the ‘Chain of Responsibility’ concept. The underpinning ‘Chain of Responsibility’ theme is that if you influence on-road behaviour you can be held liable for any and all related (negative) outcomes. It extends responsibility away from the individual driver and puts responsibility on all those involved in the transport chain.

Duty of Care by employers arises from both common law and statute law and as such it changes over time as actual case law develops. By its nature this presents some difficulty as organisations are always working with a moving target. However, the fact remains that every employer, from the largest to the smallest, has a Duty of Care to its employees and those performing work on its behalf. An organisation now has to ensure that the processes, procedures and systems that address workplace safety are sound and adequate to manage the potential risks associated with the company’s transport activities so that personnel, contractors and the general public alike are not put at risk. Under Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) legislation a workplace is defined to mean: ‘Any place, whether or not in a building or structure, where employees or self-employed persons work.’ The ‘duty of care’ requirement places a clear responsibility on the organisation. First of all, have you done a risk assessment and what are you doing to eliminate/mitigate the risks? If a risk cannot be eliminated they must be controlled by implementing a managed process even if an employee, contrary to your directions, has

Basically it comes down to a single proposition: ‘If you own the vehicle (whether owned or leased) or the task (that is it is being done on your behalf, whether you supply the vehicle or not) then you have the responsibility to ensure that it is carried our safely’. This includes ensuring that members of the public are not exposed to risks to their health and safety arising from the organisation’s business activities. The outcome of all this is that, in the broadest terms, if the organisation and its management facilitates, either by direct action or by inaction, any situation that results in a negative outcome, then the organisation and its managers can and will be held liable. Another issue of concern will be the cost and more importantly the availability of fuel. In the pre-global financial crisis world, China, India and America were sucking up most of the world’s production. Then along came the GFC and other issues occupied the minds of most people.

However, rather than the problem being resolved it had just slipped from our minds. As the world moves into financial recovery, the fundamentals around oil have not changed. The message for Fleet Managers is clear. In the not too distant future a range of things are likely to happen. At best, the price of fuel will rise and it could be by a substantial amount. At worst, any major disruption of oil supply, either by natural disaster or conflict, will most likely see the price go sky high but will also mean a restricted supply.

The future of the fleet manager So if Fleet Managers are so important where do they, or should they, sit in the organisationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s management hierarchy? It might come as a surprise that the Fleet Managerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brief bears striking similarities to that of the CFO. Each is charged with protecting the assets of the company while being expense conscious. However the Fleet Manager is always questioning and looking for ways to reduce the cost while maintaining service levels. Both are responsible for a considerable level of value of contract management. The fleet manager handles equipment and service contractors/suppliers, Fleet Management companies, vehicle remarketing, safety and legislative compliance and most importantly that the fleet moves inline with the organisations changing transport needs. To find out more about fleet management please contact the AfMA office on 03 9866 6056 or visit our website at www.afma.net.au

Looking for a total fleet solution? ‘i’ have it hands. The all new 2.4-litre Theta II GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) petrol four-cylinder engine is married to a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic with electronic sequential manual mode transmission offering performance and increased fuel efficiency. With three trim levels all offering a full suite of specification and features the i45 makes the perfect management vehicle for discerning executives.

f you’re looking for the total fleet solution, then here is the answer. Hyundai Motor Company Australia has a range of vehicles to meet all your business and fleet needs. The ’i-series’ includes cars perfect for city runs, long distance rep runs and ever important stock deliveries. All, from one manufacturer and one very solid reputation. Hyundai Motor Company Australia achieved phenomenal 2009 sales results in a year when most auto manufacturers have seen a downturn in business. Hyundai saw substantial growth of 39.2%. 2010 is seeing similar growth with a 65.4% increase on 2009 in the first four months of the year. Hyundai has been operating in Australia since 1986, and over this time has built its reputation on developing vehicles which have outstanding fuel economy, excellent features and solid reliability. The i30 and i30cw wagon offer your city and suburban fleet the total solution to fuel economy, comfort and reliability. With easy parking, flexible seating, stowage options and a raft of standard safety features, look no further than the i30 range for comfort and convenience. With features and benefits such as these it is no wonder the i30 SX CRDi turbo diesel has been named Australia’s ‘Best Mid-size Car Under $30,000’ for 2009 whilst the i30cw wagon CRDi has been named 2009 ‘ECO Car of the Year’ by ECO Car Magazine. When it comes to deliveries, the iLoad van range offers a broad range of standard features. Access to the stowage area is wide and open, allowing you to take control of your deliveries and cut back on outsourcing for larger jobs. Driver

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comfort and safety is paramount and both the three seat iLoad van and six seat iLoad crew van offer exceptional line of sight to the rear for easy loading dock parking. The iLoad warranty of 5 year / 160,000 km is very competitive for a commercial vehicle – this demonstrates Hyundai’s commitment to quality and reliability. On the back of the success of i30, i30cw and the iLoad too the honour of ‘Best Medium Van’ 2008 and ‘Best Van of the Year’ 2009 by Delivery Magazine, and the iMax CRDi turbo diesel was named Australia’s ‘Best People Mover’ 2009. In 2010, Hyundai will add three all-new models to the highly awarded and successful i-series. Launched in February, the ix35 offers a new style and sporty feel to the compact SUV segment. Refined, sporty and agile, this is practical vehicle for the perfect work and lifestyle combination. Available in three models ix35 brings smart technology to the table and delivers it in both petrol and a powerful yet economical new R-series turbo diesel. If you are looking for sophistication and class then the i45 is the answer. Launched in May 2010 this is an all-new mid-sized sedan continues Hyundai’s fluidic design philosophy and focuses on quality, safety and improved performance. Built with meticulous attention to quality this five-seat premium drive is perfect for any distance run or for urban touring. As always safety is paramount and with six-airbags, Traction Control System (TCS), four-channel, four-sensor Anti-skid Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) supported with BAS (Brake Assist System), and HAC (Hillstart Assist Control) and more you know you are in safe

Finally, July will see the introduction of the nimble all-new i20 premium small car. Available in three and five door options, in manual and automatic and with three trim levels this is the perfect car for quick and easy driving in urban centres. Offering outstanding fuel economy, excellent load space and interior flexibility with 60/40 split folding rear seats, whether is running errands, deliveries or just commuting i20 will not disappoint. Hyundai also has announced the all-new compact sedan, codenamed ‘MD’ will be launch to the Australian market sometime in 2011. This vehicle represents the latest incarnation of Hyundai’s signature ‘Fluidic Design’ philosophy, and showcasing the innovative Gamma GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) range of engines; the MD is sporty with elegant lines, and is likely to deliver class-leading fuel efficiency and eco-credentials. For the first time, Hyundai Motor Company has mated a GDI engine and a six-speed automatic transmission in a compact sedan, not only boosting power output, but importantly improving fuel economy while lowering emissions. All Hyundai’s offer exceptional fuel efficiency keeping your fuel costs low, but importantly have class leading low cost of ownership with extended service intervals which means your fleet is off the road less time, and your service costs are reduced. And for ultimate peace of mind, Hyundai offers customers an outstanding Five Year / Unlimited Kilometre Warranty for passenger vehicles. Hyundai’s priority on quality has resulted in recognition globally for outstanding excellence and reliability. When you are in the market for vehicles that deliver exceptional safety, flexibility in range, fuel efficiency, cost of ownership economies, low CO2 emissions and a raft of comfort and design features, the Hyundai i-series offers you the perfect total fleet solution.

THE RIGHT BALANCE FOR YOUR BUSINESS Fine-tune your fleet with reduced ‘whole of life’ costs, environmental impact and advanced safety features. Selecting the right vehicle for your business has never been easier with the Hyundai Fleet Advantage. Not only can you reduce your fleet’s ‘whole of life’ costs, including lower fuel consumption, servicing and repairs, but you can reduce your environmental impact and provide advanced safety features for your employees. What’s more, as the world’s fastest growing car company, we offer a wide range of award-winning vehicles to suit every purpose – so you’re sure to find the perfect fit for your business. For more information email fleetadvantage@hyundai.com.au or visit hyundai.com.au/fleetadvantage

IWAuHMCA1484/FP/GN

CFC Corporate Fleet Control

he processes provided by Corporate Fleeet Control (CFC), fulfill the requirements of the Risk Management Frameworks of Government Departments, FMOs, Insurance Companies and Corporations large and small. Services offered by Corporate Fleet Control contribute to the good governance of these organisations in the areas of OH&S and Finance. Accident, breakdown and repair costs of fleet vehicles, the safety of the driver and possible litigation costs associated with lack of attention to driver safety, has been characteristically overlooked in the past. This needs to change. The emerging complex business environments, regulatory landscapes, expectations of stakeholders and public awareness of ethical breaches, is driving the need for greater care and transparency. In response there is a worldwide trend towards ERM with a convergance of governance, risk and compliance initiatives. Compliance obligations in your organisation’s

OH&S Framework are assisted with the engagement of CFC’s services. Starting with the driver, CFC’s drivercare process assists in the mitigation of risks. CFC’s Toll free 24/7 Incident Hotline assists drivers Australia wide, ensuring the driver and passengers are in a position of safety. The CFC operator takes the driver through the process, organising supporting services where required. CFC clients can be assured they have had the safety of their drivers addressed. A replacement vehicle with suitable OH&S standards is provided through CFC. Repairs are carried out by a certified CFC network repairer, their workshop equipment and practices used having passed a compliance audit. CFC client Company directors will have the confidence they have done their best to ensure ongoing driver safety. Financial obligations are also supported by CFC’s processes. Claim forms are lodged by the drivers via CFC teleclaim. CFC monitors the repair process endeavouring to get the job completed according to their known time frame.

Pickup and delivery is provided as a free service. Driver downtime is minimized in all possible areas. Repair costs are monitored and recorded. Independent assessors are used with digital imaging supplied. Reports and driver history are available to your company. CFC clients have this centralized data collection available to them in real time, providing good quality data harnessed from all departments, in all states. CFC drivercare….fleet support™ clients do not suffer the effects of silos. They have an integrated management of fleet risks and costs, reduced chances of litigation and a comprehensive data bank for end of year financials. CFC clients are offered maximum benefits and minimum risks. For more information and to discuss your organisations requirements contact

Corporate Fleet Control P/L www.corporatefleetcontrol.com.au 02 9881 2152

driver care........fleet support Reduce average fleet repair costs, off road time, co ordinate your fleet nationally and ensure OHS and Financial Compliance.

maximum benefits .........minimum risks Leaders in accident management, risk management, finance management and roadside assistance. A.B.N. 97003651643

corporatefleetcontrol.com.au 126

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Phone 02 9881 2152

MOTORPASS More than a fuel card... 000000 0000000000 0 SAMPLE COMPANY SAM SAMPLE XXX123 ALL PRODUCTS

Expires End

00/00

Accepted at over 10,000 fuel and non-fuel outlets, Motorpass is Australia’s largest multi-branded fuel card. Motorpass has developed a range of tailored card programs for local and state government. Why Motorpass? Access to over 90% of all service stations in Australia don’t be limited to one fuel brand Acceptance and competitive rates at many of Australia’s leading service and repair outlets as well as other non- fuel partners including Cabcharge, Europcar and Best Western Comprehensive data for in-depth reporting Monitor and analyse expenditure and reduce unnecessary administration Save time, money and administration headaches outsource your card program to Motorpass Government experience - we were responsible for facilitating the Western Australian Country Age Pension Fuel Card (WA CAPS) program For more information contact Martin Cislo, Head of Sales, on +61 3 8508 9209 or email martin.cislo@retaildecisions.com.au

motorpass.com.au

Positive impact reduce vehicle collisions and related injuries with Lumley Insurance.

ational Occupational Health and Safety statistics suggest motor vehicle collisions are still the most common cause of work-related deaths, injuries and absenteeism in Australia. While other types of work related accidents are generally decreasing, injuries resulting from motor vehicle collisions remain a concern.

source. Some of it’s features include enabling a motor fleet client to access detailed information about their vehicles insured, claims statistics and causes by division, company and individual. They can also compare their claims information to the Lumley Insurance Benchmarks to inspire safety, that can lead to savings on future insurance premiums.”

If your organisation requires employees to drive, it also has an Occupational Health and Safety responsibility to prevent occupational injury arising from the use of company vehicles. Failure to provide a safe system of work and meet obligations under the OH&S Act can result in heavy fines, recorded convictions and jail sentences. Lumley Insurance’s dedicated Fleet Client Service Team can assist in safety and identification of risks for commercial motor fleets, helping your business to be safer, reduce costs and be in a better position to prevent litigation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

For over 100 years Australian insurance brokers and businesses, including motor fleets, have relied on Lumley Insurance to tailor products and services for their individual and corporate clients. Our specialist knowledge, established history and strong local relationships are the primary reasons more than 700 organisations around Australia choose to partner with Lumley Insurance.

With Lumley Insurance you can access regular claims reports, analyse crash trends and compare results against industry benchmarks. Brokers can also lodge and track claims, obtain reports and policy information online 24 hours a day seven days as week through the my.place@Lumley Motor Fleet portal. Steven Talbot, National Risk Manager, states “Our robust portal is a powerful information

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As one of the largest commercial motor insurers in Australia, Lumley Insurance is focused on assisting our clients in leading the way in Commercial Motor Risk Management. We can work with you to reduce vehicle claims and costs, reduce workplace injuries and promote a safe driving culture. Take your motor fleet business to a better place with Lumley Insurance, benchmark reporting and the my.place@Lumley portal. Speak to your insurance broker today.

the motor fleet specialists

Contact your insurance broker to find out how Lumley Insurance can help you: 

reduce claim incidence



minimise claim costs



reduce workplace injury



promote a safe driving culture



protect our environment.

www.lumley.com.au Lumley Insurance is a trading name of Wesfarmers General Insurance Limited ABN 24 000 036 279

EzyShield • Solid panels reflect and reduce road noise for excellent noise reduction • Ideal for visual screening and design definition • Can be painted, stained or left natural • Available preprimed • Manufactured to F14 for superior stiffness • Highly durable for Australian conditions • Manufactured from Australian Forestry Standard certified plantation resources, certified to AS4707-2006 • 40 or 50 year warranty depending on treatment

For more information phone free call 1800 773 596 or visit www.boralplywood.com.au

MOTORPASS More than a fuel card...

Find out how you can get up to 4 cents off per litre on diesel fuel with the NEW Motorpass Diesel card. Expires Expire End

For more information contact Martin Cislo, Head of Sales, on +61 3 8508 9209 or email martin.cislo@retaildecisions.com.au

motorpass.com.au

Brifen wire rope fence development In the days after Easter 2010 Brifen commenced Phase 2 of the Development Testing program for a wire rope safety fences to meet the new American MASH standard. After the original test program there were many months of finite element computer simulation to refine the fence component design. After Phase 2 more analysis is taking place to tweek the system before the final testing later in the year.

The severity of the American MASH TL4 test now exceeds the severity of the European EN1317 TB41 10,000kg truck test (at 75kph speed) by 44%. So the new MASH TL4 fences will require to be significantly better performing than the old NCHRP350 TL4 fences.

t may sound a simple path to market but this MASH standard fence is actually a fourth generation Brifen fence and the design in effect represents 40 years of development.

A wire rope safety fence has two key functions (a) safe containment and redirection of errant vehicles, and (b) small predictable deflection in standard impact scenarios. The first requirement is a no brainer and obvious, the second requirement is harder criteria to achieve if the deflection performance is critical, since deflection performance is governed by several criteria, including (but not exclusively) the fence length, the post spacing, the post design, the number of ropes, the tension of the ropes, and the interaction between the ropes and post. For the first time there is an assessment standard and the wire rope safety fence products now are to be are to tested under standard conditions of fence length and rope tension. The MASH standard of product assessment requires all fences be tested over a length of 600 feet (183 metres) and the ropes be tensioned at approximately 15kN (depends on the manufacturers recommendation for a 40°C day). There are some other standard requirements to try and get all products being assessed on a level playing field. There are other changes in the new MASH document that will bring in significant change.

It will be interesting to see the types of fences each manufacturer designs. By Christmas we should have some idea what the market leaders are looking for in their designs. However such is the increase in impact severity it may be 12 months before the new fences are available. It is important to look at the origins of the high tension wire rope fences systems. The Americans have been using low tensioned wire rope systems since the 1930’s. However these systems are now being replaced by the better performing high tension wire rope fences. Brifen was the first of the high tension WRSF systems.

These concern the weights of the vehicles. In Australia the specifications call for fence designs either to NCHRP350 TL3 or TL4. The standard NCHRP350 has now been superseded by MASH09. Refer the following table.

Variable

Test Level No.

NCHRP350

MASH09

Mass (kg)

TL3

2000

2270

Speed (km)

TL3

100

Angle (°)

TL3

Impact Severity kN

TL3

137.8

156.4

% increase in IS

TL3

Mass (kg)

TL4

Speed (km) Angle (°)

Brifen WRSF was developed by the UK Department of Transport for the motorway projects evolving in England in the 1960’s. Wire rope barriers were considered to be both an efficient use of material, and, a forgiving elastic product to cushion vehicle impact then safely redirect the vehicle. In the 1960’s some 48 full scale crash tests were carried out to assess critical aspects of WRSB design. These included Wire rope : Height and Tension and type of connectors Post : Shape, Size and Spacing Post foundation : Soil plates, concrete Anchor : Shape and interaction with wire rope

13.5%

Fence : Length

8,000

10,000

Vehicle : Impact geometry

TL4

Impact Severity kN

TL4

132.3

% increase in IS

TL4

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209.3 58.2%

The first Brifen fences were constructed in 1972 on the M62 Motorway in England. The Brifen fences at that time used just 2 straight ropes. These 2 rope fences are still constructed today in the Middle East and parts of Africa.

In the 1980â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the design of the Brifen system was revisited in an effort to reduce deflection to about 1.5 metres and to create a fence with predictable and reproducible deflections independent of fence length. Having settled on specific post details and a post spacing of 2.4 metres, and having settled on developing a barrier with 4 wire ropes, the Department of Transport engineers set to work to find the optimal use of the wire rope to meet their needs. A total of 17 full scale tests were carried out initially trying four straight ropes then trying a combination of weaves. All the testing was carried out 626 metre test lengths, the minimum test length required by the DOT. Ultimately the combination of two straight ropes and two inter-weaving ropes met the deflection requirement of 1.5 metres. This arrangement was further tested in non-standard tests such as the Verge Test (November 1994) and the 200 metre radius Convex test (conducted by the RTA in Sydney in September 2003). In 1995 the arrangement of wire ropes was subjected to further testing in both England and Sweden at 3.2 metre post spacing. However the European standards with testing based on the 1500kg sedan vehicle and an impact energy of 81.9kJ was hardly representative of the USA fleet where 40% of vehicles are 2000kg pick-up trucks with an impact energy of 137.8kJ. Not only did the standard American test represent a 60% increase in impacting energy but the test involved vehicles with higher centre-ofgravity and larger wheels. It was deemed that higher rope heights were required. This taller fence for the USA market was developed and tested in 1993. By the end of the 1990â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Highway Engineers focus was shifting again and looking at the truck issue. On both sides of the Atlantic (and in Australia) there were calls for wire rope fences tested to either the European standard EN1317 for a 10 tonne truck or the American standard NCHRP350 for am 8 tonne truck. This demand lead to the evolution of a new series of Brifen fences that meet both standards. Brifen looked to a Swedish fence that had been used for some years with considerable success along batters on 1V:3H slopes, known as the Swedish slope fence. This fence was crash tested to European standards. In November 2004 with some minor modifications the fence was successfully tested to the American standards and in 2005 to the European

standards. In 2006 it was further tested on batter slopes to assess the optimum location in cross median impacts in symmetrical V-shaped median situations. This Brifen TL4 fence is a highly successful fence and dominates the Brifen fence range in the USA and Canada. However when MASH09 was introduced with such large increases in impact severities, the Brifen management decided to go to first principles. They started with a blank sheet. They utilised computer modelling initially and then again after Phase 1 development testing and again after Phase 2 development testing. Fifty

years ago the developers had to crash test but they only tested cars. They had no finite element tools to plug in. Now the vehicles are trucks and very expensive. Indeed doing a test is very expensive with high speed camera gear, laser tools for measurement and a lack of old airports (abandoned airports are great of crash testing and very cheap to use). Now finite element simulations are a much to cut costs and time from concept to implementation. For further information on Brifen wire rope safety fences contact Paul Hansen of Brifen Australia (02) 9631 8833.

Australian Construction Products Pty Limited The X350 is the world’s first fully redirective, guardrail terminal end with the capability of redirecting an errant vehicle when struck anywhere along its length downstream from post #1 – Length of need is established at the start of the terminal.

ompared to existing, gating terminal ends, the X350 provides a longer length of redirective barrier that creates a safer edge of road environment. The X350 is a tangent terminal and provides the opportunity to minimise civil fill works when creating batter slopes and run out areas needed for conventional terminals. The X350 energy absorbing head also results in improved vehicular control during the impact as the resistance is at the X350 impact head rather than being transferred down the rail as in other terminal ends, which often results in the rail buckling, and terminal not functioning as intended.

The X350 is fully tested and compliant with NCHRP 350 guidelines for a non-gating redirective terminal end and therefore meets Australian Standard AS/NZS3845: 1999. The X350 is available through Australian Construction Products Pty Limited, an Australian manufacturer and supplier of guardrail and wire rope safety barrier systems. The X-350 will complement the range of energy absorbing tangent guardrail terminal ends - Flared Energy Absorbing Terminal (FLEAT 350) and Sequential Kinking Terminal (SKT) as well as the comprehensive range

For additional information on these products call Australian Construction Products Pty Limited on 02 9772 4172; 03 9213 5199 or 07 3271 9133

of conventional barriers and terminal ends available nationally through ACP.

W-Beam

TERMINAL

The X-350 is Australia’s first fully re-directive guardrail terminal end. It has exceptional vehicle-control and energyabsorbing capabilities in head-on and side impacts. The X-350 is a tangent terminal end with the length of need starting at post 1, rather than at post 3 as in all other terminals. Effectively the X-350 provides a greater length of protective barrier in every situation therefore reducing the length and cost of installations. The X-350 is a tangent terminal and provides the opportunity to minimise civil fill works behind the barrier as for more conventional terminals. The X-350 is simply a better-performing terminal end. Please call Australian Construction Products for more information on 1800 724 172 or email sales@acprod.com.au

road barriers you trust. ACP is a subsidiary of the Southern Steel Group Pty Ltd

21/9/07 3:22:51 PM

Australian GovLink 2010Contact Previous #s 23072 Job Title

23329

Client Ref #

X350 Half page Ad – Australian Govlink Journal

Trim Size

–

Finished Size

190mm W x 132mm H

Leigh Brown

Print Method

–

Stock

–

Colour

CMYK (from RGB via PDF)

Extra

tdesign.com.au

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hic Design site Design arketing

23329 ACP X-350 AGJ HP D1.indd 1

Boral Plywood: Over a Century of Experience Boral Plywood has a long history in the wood products industry beginning in the 1870s as the Hancock family’s timber business in the mountains of south east Queensland.

he Hancock brothers began manufacturing plywood in 1935 and the company has been doing so ever since. Today, Boral Plywood is the country’s largest manufacturer of plywood panels, proudly made in Australia. With well over a century of experience, Boral plywood is produced at the company’s dedicated mill in Ipswich, Queensland.

shielding home owners and pedestrians from road or rail noise nuisances. It can be built over 6 metres high and being light, compared to stone or concrete, can be installed in difficult terrain or sensitive sites. As a modular system the EzyShield Commercial fence solution can be easily modified at minimal cost should the requirements for noise abatement change in particular installations.

Boral is the biggest name in the Australian building products industry with operations encompassing bricks, roofing, masonry, windows, plasterboard, cement, concrete, asphalt and timber, as well as significant building products businesses in Asia and North America.

EzyShield

Boral Plywood has Australian Forestry Standard (AFS) Chain of Custody (CoC) certification, the only timber certification scheme that has an Australian Standard (AS 4707-2006). This provides additional assurance that Boral’s fibre and log stocks are drawn from sustainably managed forest resources. Chain of Custody tracks a forest or wood product from its origin in a certified forest through to its end use by the consumer. The Chain of Custody certification verifies that Boral Plywood products are produced from certified, legal and sustainable resources. As such, Chain of Custody is a tracking process that provides an environmental assurance standard for the sustainable use of Australia’s forest resources.

EzyShield Commercial EzyShield Commercial is used as a visual and noise barrier for freeways, commercial developments and housing estates. It is specifically designed for commercial applications, with a unique production process ensuring longterm durability. EzyShield Commercial is a robust panel machined with a weather-enduring profile and manufactured to AS/NZS 2269-2008. EzyShield Commercial has been pioneered and developed by Boral Plywood over the last 20 years and is part of some of the nation’s biggest infrastructure projects such as Melbourne’s Eastlink, the Pacific Highway from Brisbane to Surfers Paradise and many train corridors through Australia. The product is designed to meet the needs of

Features and benefits •

Lightweight and easy to install with a tongue and groove joining system

•

Very high acoustic performance: up to 30dB reduction, depending on sound generation conditions

•

Available in CoreTreat or CCA treatment against termites and fungus to H3 or H4 Hazard Level

•

Supplied with a 40 year warranty against glue failure

•

Offers a broad design scope and can be used in conjunction with other building materials

•

If train derailment occurs, emergence access is as simple and quick as cutting access holes in the EzyShield Commercial with chainsaws

•

Offers up to STC 24 for 24mm and STC 28 for 33mm (NAL Report AFT480 and AFT481 respectively)

Sheet Sizes EzyShield is available in the following sizes with other sizes available on request. •

Thickness: 24mm, 27mm and 33mm

•

Width: 1200mm (cut to size 600mm / 400mm)

•

Length: 2400mm and 2700mm

Boral Plywood recommends consulting a fencing installer or suitable engineer to determine the correct thickness to use. A suitable soil report should also be obtained before designing the fence.

Enduring Profile EzyShield is manufactured with a rippled profile designed to control climatic weathering that may occur over time. To increase the stability of the EzyShield Commercial fence, timber battens fixed in the middle of the sheets or bays are recommended. Sound Transmission Class (STC) The National Acoustic Laboratories measured the acoustic transmission loss of two thicknesses of EzyShield and obtained the ratings shown below • EzyShield 24mm 14kg/m² - STC24* • EzyShield 33mm 18kg/m² - STC28* *National Acoustic Laboratories Reports AFT480 and AFT481 respectively Jointing A tongue and groove joining system is used to couple panel edges, giving a strong, warp resistant structure. Design Freedom Steel, timber or concrete posts may be used. Panels are usually installed horizontally due to their cross dimensional stability therefore requiring fewer posts. It should be noted that fences over 2000mm in height should only be installed on steel posts (Galvanised UBs) using non-direct fixing method. Some popular design options combine glass or acrylic clear panels and steel, allowing highways, roads, pedestrian walkways and cycle ways to be safer with more light and less chance of vandalism.

Roadside Products Manufacturers of Durapost Roadside Products Pty Ltd is Australia’s leading manufacturer of Guide and Marker Post Systems and is now moving into supplying a wider range of roadside furniture, delineation and construction products.

ur specialty product range is Guide and Marker Post Systems, starting with our Premier Product the Flexi360 Guide and Marker Post System. The Flexi360 is the most versatile Guide or Marker post system available in the world. This product comes in five standard colours, White, Orange, Yellow, Blue and Green other colours made to order. The Dura-Post Flexi360 Guide Post System, is a fully 360o flexible post with an installation option to suit all situations. The Dura-Post Flexi360 Flexible Guide Post is a system within its self. A drivable anchor, connecting flexible joint and the HDPe – High Density Poly ethylene post top are individual products forming the complete post. After initial installation the post top can be replaced at any time without the need to dig another hole or drive another post in its place. This design ensures that the post will self align to the vertical position after sustaining several severe impacts from a vehicle in any direction. The post is supplied in two assemblies, the anchor and the post. The Flexi360 can be installed with the use of a manual driver, jackhammer or air driver for the drivable anchor, a surface mount plate for attaching to concrete or bridge surfaces, there is a poly surface mount base for high corrosion areas and a temporary/ portable base for temporary purposes. Flexi360 Pro, same components as previously described with the difference of being a One Part installation method. With this option there is no separate drivable anchor. The Flexi360 Pro has the drivable picket anchor (350mm length)

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Australian GovLink 2010

attached to the flexible joint ready for installation with the use of a manual driver or Jackhammer attachment. With over one million Flexi360 Guide and marker posts sold in Australia, they really stand the test of time. Lightning Fast Installation, Ground Breaking Design! The “Dura” in Dura-Post stands for Durability, that’s what you get when you chose Dura-Post Guide and Marker Posts from Roadside Products and there’s nothing more durable than our Steel Guide and Marker Post System. Our proven Premium grade steel guide post and driving system is of the highest quality and manufactured from premium mild tensile steel. This product has the capability of withstanding multiple impacts and allows exceptional re-straightening capabilities. Premium Steel Guide Posts are manufactured from 2.0mm Steel and are available in three lengths 1350mm for normal situations, and for softer soil types or for shoulders where extra length is required, 1500mm and 1650mm lengths are available, and all three are suited to be driven into soft, medium and hard soil types including chip seal and bitumen with the use of the Patented Dura-Post Manual Driver with removal rod. Also available in the steel range is the Asset Management Marker Posts, available in four lengths. 900mm, 1350mm, 1500mm and 1650mm in a variety of colours. Other lengths can be made to order upon request. Information is easily fastened to the post for accurate road reporting functions. Dura-Post supply markers

such as fire plugs, stop valves, water mains, sewer mains and culvert markers Australia wide. Dura-Post markers have already proven to be excellent in rural roadside addressing schemes. Posts can be powder coated in authorities’ choice of colours with any combination of letters and numbering (matt or reflective). Specialty marker posts and marker plates are made to order for Pipelines, Buried Cables and any other asset that requires a durable marking system. Setting us apart from our opposition is our range and solutions for all installation requirements and the necessary equipment to carry out installations of our products. Our highly experienced sales team provides onsite installation and safety training to road and plant crews, local councils and traffic authority engineers, overseers and any other user of our products. Roadside products now offer a larger range of traffic and road construction products including Hylyte Guard Rail Delineators, Raised Pavement Markers, Work Zone Barriers, Traffic Cones & Bollards and Car Park Speed Humps and Parking Markers. Roadside Products Head Office and Manufacturing is located in Launceston, Tasmania Australia. We have experienced sales staff based in all states of Australia and have recently opened our new National Distribution & Sales Centre in Brisbane, Queensland Australia.

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Job No: 5765 Date: 23.10.2008

Client: Roadside Products Version: Final

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Job Description: Steel Colours: CMYK

Designer: Ken McLennan

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462 Wellington Street Launceston TAS 7250 | p. 03 6341 1800 | f. 03 6341 1899 | info@walkerdesigns.com.au | www.walkerdesigns.com.au

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Phone 1300 794 397 Fax 1300 794 511 7318

Underground Services Australia WA State Underground Power Program For many years councils around Australia have enjoyed operating some of the most innovative machines in the world. From the world’s number one backhoe to one of the most versatile wheeled loaders, JCB machines have proven their reliability again and again.

CB has been at the forefront of innovation for over 60 years. In 1949 Joseph Cyril Bamford had an idea. Why not add hydraulic arms, which can be fitted with attachments such as shovels, forks, dozer blades, to the front of a tractor thus creating a machine that was ideal for both the construction and agricultural industries. Several years later he added hydraulic rams directly to the rear of the tractor giving the machine nearly circular reach. From this the backhoe was born. In January 1993 one of the most convenient and safest skid steer loaders was launched with JCB’s unique side-entry machine design. The unique single loader arm ensures that the operator doesn’t need to clamber over the front attachment.

Operator safety is a key consideration in the design of all JCB machines. JCB’s wheeled loaders are designed with simple entry and exit, superb all-round visibility, ground-level servicing for reduced risk of falling and an electronic monitoring system (EMS) to monitor machine conditions. With a strong culture of innovation and customer driven improvement JCB’s backhoe has continued to evolve. In recent years JCB has introduced new backhoe models featuring innovations as Powerslide, Torquelock and the ‘Advanced Precision Control’ (APC) servo control system. According to Glenn McLeod, Product Manager for JCB Backhoes in Australia, the APC system gives operators the unique combination of having the right hand servo lever being multi functional for

both loader and backhoe operation eliminating the need for two separate levers. JCB was the first manufacturer to offer seat mounted hydraulic over hydraulic servo controls in a backhoe loader. This feature allows a user to operate the backhoe in the standard rear facing position in addition to allowing the operator to dig at 90 degrees offset from centre, allowing unprecedented vision over his working area; a feature that is particularly useful for ditch work over road shoulders. This key feature, combined with the benefits of reduced operator fatigue as a result of no more neck and back twisting which should delight OH&S administrators, and excavator-like productivity has been further enhanced with the APC system. One of the defining features of the APC machine is the 100hp JCB DieselMax engine coupled to JCB’s own 6 speed automatic transmission with lock up torque convertor. This allows the machine to travel at 45kph plus and also hold gears even up inclines reducing travel times by up to 20% and fuel consumption by 15% making the JCB fastest in class. Another innovation that JCB pioneered in 1999 was the hydraulic side shift known as ‘Powerslide’. This reduces cycle times significantly as sliding the backhoe is effortlessly done with the flick of a switch. Also as the system is designed and manufactured on the production line its is an integral part of the chassis unlike some competitive designs which fit an aftermarket third party system that is not only unsightly and disruptive to the operators line of sight but inefficient in implementation. Critcal to JCB’s success in Australia has been the development of JCB Construction Equipment Australia’s aftermarket support network. “Customer support is available from over 56 outlets around Australia. With factory trained technicians and one of the most efficient spare parts networks in the country, JCB machines are always backed by the best,” said Glenn.

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PARTNERING FOR THE FUTURE A trusted partner of Australian Councils for over 35 years.

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Managing non-standard fleets Ashley Sowerby, Managing Director, Chevin Fleet Solutions Chevin Fleet Solutions is unique in its approach and product offering and, through its 20 years of experience, can offer tailored systems and expert consultancy to match your individual business process needs.

here are a number of ‘off the shelf’ packages available, with many software providers claiming that their solutions are multi-vehicle faceted. But when it comes to the crunch, this is rarely the case.

For example, FleetWave® from Chevin Fleet Solutions is a highly sophisticated enterprise asset management system that is extensively used to manage all types of assets across a multitude of global market sectors. From lawnmowers to Waste Trucks, Ambulances including defribulators and stretchers to Plant Hire, Portable Site accommodation to Containers on Ships, mobile phones and telematic black

boxes to safety equipment and chainsaw and chains. You name it, FleetWave® can and does handle it. With non-standard fleets, a one size fits all software solution will yield few benefits. To reduce cost, whilst improving efficiencies, make sure you select a provider who will be able to understand your needs and add real value to your offering. For software to generate a genuine return, it must be shaped around your business. Trying to fit your business processes around a static system will end in disaster.

When choosing a system you need to consider what flexibility software suppliers can offer you and do your research before signing on the dotted line. Talking to existing customers to find out if the software you’re investing in has demonstrated a tangible ROI in a similar setting is a good starting point. Keeping a savvy hat on from the outset, asking yourself the question ‘do they know and understand my business?’ will give you a good indication of the vender’s ability to streamline processes within your non-standard fleet. If a software provider isn’t prepared to think like you, work like you and challenge your business processes then walk away and don’t look back! A software system should add value to your business not equal more costs and complications.

The big name in fleeT managemenT sofTware

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Our Solutions empowers businesses to manage their assets effectively, improving the efficiency and visibility of your allow businesses to manage their assets moremore effectively, improving the effi ciency and visibility of your fleet fleet operation regardless of size, complexity or geographical spread. An Enterprise Fleet Management software solution from Chevin, allows you to quickly realize improvements in the following areas: • Fleet costs: with visibility comes control Costs: • Environment: Reduce your environmental footprint • Increased Fleet Utilisation: Improve the productivity of your assets • Data Automation: Let the software do the hard work, giving you freedom to manage For your free system review, call Matthew Frost 02 8019 0223, email sales@chevinfleet.com.au or visit www.chevinfleet.com.au

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APRS subscriptions APRS is proud to publish a varied selection of specialist titles offering a variety of focused articles and features covering lifestyle, health, government and mining. With many of our magazines published on a quarterly basis, we ensure you are kept up to date with topics of interest and key developments within each industry. Subscribing to our magazines couldn’t be easier. Simply complete the form below and send it by either fax, post or email. All APRS titles are produced with the highest possible production-quality. Content is always aimed at the discerning reader who is interested in quality, style and informative editorial.

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Disability/Access

Disability Standards for access to premises Belt drive systems are no exception to the technology development process, but how often are they given more than a cursory thought in the design stage of a new process plant?

ocal government welcomed the Australian Government decision to launch the Disability Standards (Access to Premises – Buildings) in March this year. The Disability Standards, when they come into force next year, will provide more consistent, systemic and widespread improvements in nondiscriminatory access for people with disability to publicly accessible buildings. The Standards cover features such as accessible lifts, stairs, ramps, toilets and corridors and include buildings such as office blocks, shops, hotels, motels, and common areas of new apartment buildings. By requiring better access to buildings, the Standards will ensure that people with a disability can access employment, services and the community on an equal basis with other Australians. Local Government fully supports any initiative that is designed to promote and strengthen ‘inclusive and diverse communities’. Importantly, the Standards will also provide greater certainty for business and local governments by providing for national consistency and reducing different regulatory arrangements. They will provide the basis for improved arrangements for disability access in the Building Code of Australia, and hence reduce the confusion that surrounds the operation of the National Disability Discrimination Act 1992 in this area. Local government has requested the Australian Government work closely with industry, and in particular local councils to ensure they have all the necessary information prior to the implementation of the Standards. The Premises Standards are the product of extensive consultation with stakeholders, culminating in the release of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs report, ‘Access All Areas’, in June 2009. The Premises Standards will commence operation on 1 May 2011, in line with the adoption of the Building Code of Australia in each State and

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Territory. This will allow States and Territories time to adopt the Premises Standards within their building law frameworks.

The Disability Standards for Access to Premises and related documentation is available at: www.ag.gov.au

Accessibility Healthcare Announcement:

Background:

Accessibility Healthcare’s unique and leading Business Portal software for hospitals, retirement villages and aged care facilities to utilise for quoting, purchase or hire of nursing, rehab and mobility equipment has been launched . Procurement Managers, Therapists, Nurses and Case Managers are being bombarded with a growing array of hospital, nursing, mobility or rehabilitation products like never before, and so there has never been a better time to join a premium online resource like accessibility.com.au.

•

Accessibility is a term which is synonymous with being able to overcome physical difficulties, whether it is coping with a decline associated with ageing or managing with a long term disability.

•

The Accessibility Healthcare website ==> http://www.accessibility.com.au website was first established in 1999 in conjunction with the Sydney Olympics and Paralympics with a focus on providing information to people with disabilities, their family and carers. The website was re-built in early 2006 to leverage the previous website’s traffic and branding and to build a mobility and rehabilitation products business supporting both the aged care community and people with disabilities.

It is free to join Accessibility Healthcare and receive your own customised Business portal. The portal can have just a couple of products or many hundreds depending on your organisations needs. Request a consultation for a Business Portal by going to this link http://www/accessibility. com.au/portal and filling out the online form , or telephone us on 1300 ACCESS ( 1300 222 377).

•

Accessibility Online, www.accessibility.com.au is now regarded as one of the best and most trafficked websites in the Australian healthcare market with an extensive range of independent living and hospital products for this market. It averages over 25,000 visitors per month.

Accessibility Healthcare has invested in unique industry leading technology using the platform of online systems for the detailed presentation, sale, hire and support of hospital, mobility, rehabilitation and home-care products. At no cost to you organisation you can benefit from this online system as a valued customer of Accessibility Healthcare. Contact Us:  1300 ACCESS (1300 222 377)  sales@accessibility.com.au

@ your fingertips

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Welcome to Accessibility Online’s Business Portal As an approved Corporate Customer you now have maximum “Choice and Control at your Fingertips” via our highly customized technology and online ordering system. As a valued Corporate customer your now have access to our network of expert professionals, online telephone ordering, prompt supply of products and an efficient referral service for all technical, maintenance and assembly assistance that may be required. To login as a Corporate Customer simply enter your Username and Password. If you don’t yet have a corporate account with us then please click on “Apply for a corporate account” and send us your details. Once you have logged in, this section allows you to: + Access the secure online shopping system easily + Review the approved contract(s) for your organisation + Source our Practical and efficient system for the Reservation, Ordering, Quoting, Hiring and Purchase of products + Access full Product information including, specifications, photographs and videos for over 3000 products + Reference our FAQs + Search for products, review and print brochures for clients or colleagues + Check your account and track your quotes, reservations and orders + Request assistance from our customer service team.

Freedom Motors Australia Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles Freedom Motors Australia Pty Ltd is a company based in Sydney Australia and was founded in 1997. Since that year, we have prided ourselves on bringing the most innovative and reliable solutions for physically and intellectually challenged persons needing to be transported in a vehicle modified for wheelchair accessibility with our FREEDOMVAN conversion.

reedom Motors Australia Pty Ltd is a company based in Sydney Australia and was founded in 1997. Since that year, we have prided ourselves on bringing the most innovative and reliable solutions for physically and intellectually challenged persons needing to be transported in a vehicle modified for wheelchair accessibility with our FREEDOMVAN conversion. Over the years we have developed specialised modifications for use in the Community transport sector, the taxi industry and the private sector for the disabled community. We have extensive experience in the design and manufacture of modified vehicles with an easy up assist ramp system with a lowered floor manufactured in the rear compartment of specific vehicles. We also modify vehicles with an electric / hydraulic hoist system for specific needs in larger commercial vehicles and we can even manufacture any specially modified vehicles for different uses other than for wheelchair accessibility. Freedom Motors Australia is division of “The Van Mullekom Group Of Companies” who have for many years been involved in Engineering design and manufacture, as well as Toolmaking and Medical Engineering worldwide. FMA has a range of different designs to accommodate one or two wheelchair occupants and we also have a range of options to make it easier for the parent or carer to secure the wheelchair in the vehicle for transportation

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wether in a family situation or in a community transport situation. The FMA “FREEDOMVAN” conversions bring you the ultimate in wheelchair transportation today and into the future. Imagine a design so advanced that it makes total freedom a reality. Our conversions do just that as we have you and the wheelchair occupant in mind when we say that we have the most cost effective & unique conversion of its kind in the market today. The easy opening of the rear door and gently sloping ramp to the rear entry configuration provides a straight path in and out of the vehicle in a low floor that gives the wheelchair occupant a panoramic vision out of the vehicle from their wheelchair ( they are not in a situation where they can only see the roadway when travelling in some other modified vehicles) The rear entry conversion also gives you the greatest amount of seating configurations possible. All vehicles converted by FMA comply with all relevant ADR,s ( Australian Design Rules) and we are members of the MTA ( Motor Traders Association) and the MVRIA( Motor Vehicle Repairers Association) All FMA modified vehicles are approved and certified to the relevant state’s road and traffic regulations. When you purchase a wheelchair accessible modification and or vehicle from Freedom Motors Australia you will be taking delivery of the most

reliable , safe and practical plus good looking wheelchair accessible vehicle manufactured in Australia today which is backed by the best customer service available and by our 3 year or 60,000klm warranty Australia wide (conditions do apply) Contact:

Garry J.Dale National Sales Manager Freedom Motors Australia Pty Ltd 17 Plasser Crescent St Mary’s NSW 2760 Phone: 1800672437

Addressing Access Issues in the Built Environment Training in Access

he need to provide appropriate access to all areas of the built environment is a fundamental requirement for all users of buildings, facilities, and outdoor spaces. It is also mandatory in many areas covered by the new Disability Access to Premises Standards 2010. These Standards were tabled in Federal Parliament on 15th March 2010. It is expected that they will be introduced in line with the Building Code of Australia on 1st May 2011. This will mean significant change in the requirements for access for new and upgraded buildings in Australia. What do the Standards mean? What will they cover? How will they work? What will professionals need to know? What changes

will occur? These are important questions that are addressed in IATA training programs relating to Addressing Access Issues in the Built Environment.

or maintaining buildings, as well as those who are required to provide advice to others regarding access issues in the built environment.

The Institute of Access Training Australia (IATA) was established to provide professional development and training in ‘Access for All’. IATA is a leader in developing and delivering training and barrier free access consultancy to support organisations in addressing their particular access requirements.

IATA team members have extensive knowledge and experience working with government, community and business sectors and have been recognised for their contribution. IATA training programs are highly sought after by many professionals and provide up to date information in an enjoyable, practical and relevant way to all participants. Testimonials from IATA students can be found at www.accessinstituteaustralia. com.au along with details of all IATA training programs.

IATA offers education and support to people who are responsible for identifying access barriers and ensuring compliance with legislative and practical access requirements. This includes people who have responsibility for reviewing, planning, designing, managing

Joe Manton – Director IATA

Accredited Access Consultants Certificate in Access Appraisal – 2 day Courses Disability (Access to Premises – Buildings) Standards 2010 Seminars Addressing Access in Parks and Outdoor Spaces – 1 day Courses Addressing Access in Streetscapes – 1 day Courses Disability Access Awareness Seminars Courses delivered Australia wide and ‘in house’ 2010 Training Calendar available at www.accessinstituteaustralia.com.au

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Playgrounds

Playground equipment certification and compliance By David Eager

Background In my capacity as the chair of several Australian standards committees I am frequently approached to provide guidance and interpretation of play and adventure standards. One commonly asked question relates to compliance and certification of playground equipment. Certification refers to the confirmation of certain characteristics of a product, person, or organisation. This confirmation is often, but not always, provided by some form of external review or training and/or assessment. One of the most common types of certification is professional certification, where a person is certified as being able to competently complete a job or task, usually by passing an examination for example, a certified professional engineer must successfully complete a Bachelor of Engineering degree followed by several years of supervised professional practice.

The other most common type of certification is product certification. This refers to processes intended to determine if a product meets minimum standards. Product certification is the process of certifying that a certain product has passed performance and quality assurance tests stipulated in regulations such as a building code and standards, or that it complies with quality and minimum performance requirements. Product certification is the certification that is required for playground equipment. This short article discusses how certification and compliance relate to the manufacture, supply and installation of playground equipment.

Product labelling The AS 4685:2004 mandates that all equipment shall be marked legibly and permanently with the name and address of the manufacturer and the number of the standard ie: AS 4685:2004. It also warns that manufacturers making a statement

of compliance with this Australian standard on a product, packaging or promotional material related to that product are advised to ensure that compliance is capable of being verified. Verification is demonstrated by documentation confirming appropriate design and testing has been performed to AS 4685:2004. If the manufacturers and/or suppliers do not label the playground equipment, then by definition, they cannot comply with the standard as they have not labelled the equipment in accordance with a mandatory clause within the standard.

Structural integrity The Australian Standard AS4685:2004 Playground equipment specifies the method for determining the loads on playground equipment and structural integrity of playground equipment. The standard uses a loading system that considers both permanent and variable loads. >

Playgrounds

> The permanent loads include: the mass of the playground structure and components; any prestressing loads such as those associated with the flying fox main cable or a large space net structure; and the mass of water or sand if permanent or semi-permanent water or sand storage are incorporated within the play structure. The variable loads include: user loads both static and dynamic; snow and hail loads; wind loads; temperature loads such as those on the main cable of a flying fox; and other specific loads such as swinging and rotating loads.

Independent testing and certification of conformity The Australian Standard AS4685:2004 Playground equipment states that manufacturers and/or suppliers shall provide certification of conformity with this standard. They shall also supply copies of test reports upon request. In the first instance it is recommended that you start by requesting copies of the certification of conformity and the supporting test reports. The standard states that the manufacturers and/or suppliers must provide this so you are not asking for anything extraordinary by making this request. Should the manufacturers and/or suppliers be unable or unwilling, by definition they are no longer complying with the playground equipment standard.

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Why does the playground designer (and owner) need to obtain a copy of the manufacturers and/ or suppliers pre-information and certification of conformity? Among other things, playground designers need this documentation to enable them to design the playground in accordance with the standard. It is also important to have an independent appraisal before you purchase or install the equipment to ensure that the equipment you are about to specify or purchase is fit to be used for its intended purpose. The playground designer needs to know that the playground equipment will be manufactured consistently within dimensional tolerances to a minimum standard. The playground designer also needs to know that the equipment has been assessed for the target user group and indirectly answers the question does the play equipment have sufficient play value for the intended age range? Have all the hazards been removed, particularly the hazards that are not obvious to children at play. Have all the whole body, head, neck, torso, hair, clothing strangulation, leg, foot, hand and finger entrapments been removed? Is the free space sufficient? Is there any unintended access? What is the free height of fall and extent of the falling surface? Are all the hazard reduction mechanisms sufficient? Is the structural integrity of the playground equipment adequate? What is the availability of spare parts? What are the finished levels of the various components of the

equipment? How can the playground designer determine the placement and configuration of fencing, gates, trees, shade structures, landscaping, benches, tables, water features and other services; ensure the equipment footings suit ground conditions; the choice of a suitable and adequate impact attenuating surface; ensure that the equipment will fit within the space provided and that the equipment is suitable for the site topography.

Warranties When you purchase playground equipment you are generally protected by two types of warranties, namely: expressed warranties; and statutory warranties. Express warranties are offered by the supplier and should be in writing. Some are given unconditionally while others may be subject to time limits or conditions such as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;regular maintenanceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Suppliers must stand by their warranties or guarantees, whether the product is sold directly or through an agent. If they do not, then you may seek redress. Manufacturers must also ensure a reasonable supply of spare parts and repair facilities. However, they do not have to do so if they take reasonable action to advise at the time of sale that parts or facilities will not be available at all after a specified time.

Statutory warranties are provided by two Australian laws, namely: the Trade Practices Act; and the Sale of Goods Act. These operate in addition to any express warranty.

Independent verification of the ‘as installed’ playground Prior to opening the playground to the public when the playground installation is complete and the manufacturers and/or suppliers have commissioned all the playground elements, an independent inspection is performed to verify compliance against the relevant Australian playground standards. AS/NZS 4486.1:1997 calls this process the post-installation inspection. This standard states that the manufacturers and/or suppliers shall supply an inspection checklist for the post-installation inspection. This is important to check that no non-conformities have been inadvertently introduced during the assembly of the equipment and also to verify the manufacturer’s certification. For reasons of impartiality it is also important to ensure that the post-installation inspection is at arms length from the equipment manufacturers and/or suppliers. This is commonly referred to as ‘third party’ or ‘independent certification’. Using an independent post-installation inspector reduces the likelihood of any conflict of interest. As a general rule you should never use a postinstallation inspector who has a relationship with the equipment manufacturers and/or suppliers or installer as there will always be a conflict of interest whether real or perceived. An equipment inspector who has issued the certificate of conformity should not be signing off any playground that contains equipment previously certified by this inspector on behalf of the equipment supplier. To obtain and maintain confidence, it is essential that the decisions of persons or organisations conducting the certification are based on objective evidence of conformity (or nonconformity) obtained by the certifying person or organisation, and that these decisions are not influenced by other interests or by other parties. Familiarity by equipment inspectors with the equipment or the manufacturers and/ or suppliers can also result in their impartiality being compromised.

Resolving conflict between supplier and independent verifier The most commonly reported conflict is where suppliers and/or manufacturers claim that onsite verification is not necessary as they have a certificate of conformity to the European

Standard for playground equipment EN 1176, that this certificate is from a large and respected European testing authority, and that they have a letter stating that it also complies with AS4685:2004. They insist that on-site testing and/or inspection is not necessary although an independent site inspection has reported one or more non-conformities. If you have not experienced this problem it is only a matter of time before you do. In an attempt to resolved this circular argument I contacted my colleagues in Europe requesting clarification. To my surprise I was advised that this is also a problem in Europe even where the equipment is tested and installed to EN 1176:2008. In France there is a statutory requirement for certification if the manufacturer deviates from EN 1176. Nevertheless on-site inspectors still experience problems with certificates from a large and respected European testing authority and complain about the additional work involved with clarification. In other European countries where, as in Australia, there is no statutory requirement to comply with the playground standard, the problem is similar but more complex. I have been advised that non-conformity to EN 1176 happens because the manufactured product deviates from the certified product or the certificate is not correct – on-site inspectors experience both. They also advised that this is why the post-installation inspection and not the certificate of conformity is relevant for the compliance. They advise the best way to resolve this difficulty is to address the problem in advance and disseminate information of known deviations to importers, designers and owners of playground equipment.

Conclusions The Australian Standard for Playground Equipment requires playground manufacturers and/or suppliers to label all playground equipment. If manufacturers and/or suppliers are unprepared or unwilling to do this you should ask the question ‘why are they unwilling to perform what on the surface is a very simple task?’ You should be asking for a copy of the manufacturer’s certificate of conformity and copies of the test reports to AS 4685:2004. If they unable or unwilling do provide this documentation you should be asking the question ‘why are they unwilling to provide this documentation?’

You should never employ the same person or organisation to conduct the equipment certification and the onsite verification. There will always be a conflict of interest whether this conflict is real or perceived. By using the same person or organisation there will no independent check of the final installation – a pair of clean eyes is what is required. Finally being impartial, and being perceived to be impartial, are necessary for a certifying organisation to deliver certification that provides confidence to the playground owner.

REFERENCES [1]

Australian Standard AS 4865:2004, Playground equipment Parts 1-6, Standards Australia, Australia, Sydney, 2004.

Dr David Eager is an associate professor in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Technology Sydney and the chair of several Australian standards committees.

Moduplay Now you can specify Fitness Equipment that actually complements its surroundings!

The new fitness equipment from Moduplay is based on a simple Danish design. Each piece is visually enhanced with beautiful lines of curvature and balance. The system offers four types of activity â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Strength, Flexibility, Cardiovascular and Balance. The equipment has a unique colour coding system with a band of colour that designates the type of exercise offered by each piece of equipment. Inside the colour band is descriptive signage showing the correct use of that piece. A complete descriptive sign installed separately depicts the correct use of each piece with simple symbols and instructions.

Fits any landscape The uniquely shaped Norwell Fitness Stations are equally at home in Natural or Urban surroundings creating visual points of attraction. Norwell is indeed urban art with a purpose! Beautiful form is matched with rewarding function in each piece.

Built for a tough environment

he result is a range of equipment that really complements the surroundings wherever it is installed. Communities in many parts of the world have benefited from the installation of Norwell Fitness Parks in their public spaces.

Catering for every muscle group Norwell caters for every muscle group as well as cardiovascular exercise and warming up and cooling down before and after training.

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The durability of the materials and the superior manufacturing processes also add to the logic behind using Norwell for your next project requiring Fitness Equipment. Exhaustive work and testing has been done to ensure the materials, manufacture techniques, fittings used and coatings applied will ensure the best outcome possible. Many unique fittings and engineered pieces go into the Norwell range to offer superior performance and longevity. Norwell carries a 10 Year Warranty.

Backed by Moduplay With 23 years in the industry Moduplay offers Norwell confident it will meet the demands

of the Australian market. Moduplay has been manufacturing premium play products for many years and continues to grow its manufacturing division year after year. Moduplay decided to offer the Norwell range to provide a complete Fitness Park package when combined with their extensive recreation project experience. Moduplay is a dedicated play equipment manufacturer and is able to provide backing from their industry experienced team along with other products such as a full range of play equipment, shade and soft-fall material.

Getting it all together Why not visit www.moduplay.com.au to see the full range? You can see what other clients have done with Norwell as well as their Australian made Moduplay ranges. You can download any specifications and drawings you require, obtain valuable information on soft-fall materials and a lot more.

Have a look at this fitness equipment that actually complements its surroundings! You know the problem… fitness equipment for the public domain is usually so unattractive you don't want to even see it in your open space plans. Most of us agree with the idea of opportunities for healthy communities… but many can't find a solution that does justice to the hard work you put into your open space designs. Introducing Norwell… with beautiful form and rewarding function.

Twister

Norwell was started less than 3 years ago by Lars Barkholt of Faaborg, Denmark, and is already making an impact globally with Norwell Fitness Parks being installed in Europe, UK and Australia.

It's been a “work in progress” with plenty of progressive product improvements along the way. Many have been at the suggestion of Moduplay's experienced team of Consultants and Designers and through that we have been able to ensure the Norwell range is perfectly suited to the Australian climate. Direct input from Moduplay has resulted in design improvements, upgraded material selection and enhanced coating systems based on our extensive experience in the playground industry. Norwell offers a complete workout for all muscle groups of the body as well as critical warm up and stretching and also cardiovascular training with the innovative Cross Trainer and Air Walker.

Norwell is covered by a generous warranty system for your peace-ofmind.

Cross T Trainer

Linked with Moduplay's extensive experience with project management, softfall, shade and other ancillaries you are offered a proven package to create the ultimate Fitness Park. Norwell is available in all parts of Australia and New Zealand through Moduplay. Call now for your copy of the 28 page Product Guide and we look forward to helping you with fitness gear that is truly a step up!

With extensive experience in the outdoor recreation fields Lars saw a need for fitness equipment that truly complemented its surroundings. 16 Fitness Stations available

Freecall: 1800 806 145

Moduplay Group Pty Ltd 17-19 Waverley Drive, Unanderra NSW 2526 info@moduplay.com.au www.moduplay.com.au

Just Add Water! A new movement in playgrounds arrives in Australia

s Australia emerges from one of the most challenging economic times in history, parks and recreation departments are increasingly searching for playground solutions which are not only cost effective, but also offer something unique and highly sustainable to local communities. A new development in the playground industry has swept the United States, made a significant impression in Europe and is making its way to Australia. Vortex spraygrounds are a new and exciting development, offering more than the traditional playground experience through safe, interactive play and one main ingredient – water. “The sprayground phenomenon has taken hold internationally,” said Graeme Gilson, CEO of Playrope, a leading Australian provider of playground solutions to councils and developers.

more in this exciting environment. The value also extends to councils who are benefiting from the cost savings,” he said. As well as the financial savings, research demonstrates that there is also a significant environmental impact, with a typical sprayground requiring fifty times less the amount of water to operate than a traditional commercial swimming pool. “The sprayground is proving to be a unique water play experience which adds real value to local communities,” said Graeme. Vortex products are specifically designed to address different age groups and abilities, encouraging cross generational play and family interaction. By incorporating unique design solutions and using high quality materials, the emphasis is on easy upkeep and long term use.

“The sprayground offers so much more than the typical playground and is much less expensive than a traditional swimming pool,” he said.

Spraygrounds fall into three main families which can be adapted to suit any space:

Playrope, who are taking the Vortex sprayground model to the Australian market, are playing a major role in driving a new movement which could transform the way many local councils implement playground design.

Spraypoint is designed to offer a water experience that allows participants to come into contact with water in their street clothes. Light mists and small directed water streams allow everyone to enjoy the fun, cool down and stay relatively dry.

Vortex Spraypoint

Built for tough areas, all splash pad products are made from the most durable materials, with New York City alone hosting more than eighty sprayground installations. With over 200 standard products containing aquatic play adventure experiences, specifiers can make every design completely unique and site specific.

Vortex Poolplay Designed to maintain the sophistication of surrounding architecture and design, while ensuring a fun and welcoming atmosphere for an aquatic facility. No longer just about laned competitive swimming pools, aquatic facilities have turned their focus to the whole family – ensuring that fun, interactive water play addresses the needs for all users. “Everyone from toddlers to teens can use a Vortex sprayground. The equipment is specifically designed for all ages to promote teamwork, friendly competitive play and opportunities for greater interaction than a standard playground,” said Graeme. “Observations show adults also love the equipment and are kept occupied for hours in an environment which gets them off the sidelines and right into the action.”

“Trends in recreation are changing – children and parents alike want a point of difference which heightens the social and play experience,” said Graeme.

Using minimal resource and with no need for a water quality management system, Spraypoint is the sustainable water play solution for any environment, rural or urban.

To discover more about how a sprayground can benefit your local community, contact:

“Equally, councils want something different too. Swimming pools are proving to be costly to run, bound by increasingly tight safety regulations and comparatively harder to operate.”

Vortex Splashpad

Playrope Pty Ltd

A zero depth aquatic solution that takes its cue from nature by combining the sensations of different natural water movements and adding them into a safe environment requiring no life guards!

Call:

“Evidence shows the value of a sprayground is higher for the users, who are playing for hours

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(02) 9654 2377

E-mail: www.info@playrope.com.au Web: www.playrope.com.au www.vortex-intl.com

PlayRope Play equipment for life

PlayRope Australia PO Box 185 Kenthurst, NSW 2156 T: +61 (0) 2 9654 2377 F: +61 (0) 2 9654 2388 PlayRope New Zealand PO Box 790 Wanganui 4540 T: +64 (0) 6 347 2881 F: +64 (0) 6 345 9078

Lakelands Golf Club is the ideal venue for conference and incentive groups, located just 15 minutes south of Surfers Paradise. Our diverse range of first class facilities are yours to enjoy for your next meeting. We have multifunctional conference rooms including; the exclusive Members Dining Room; The Augusta Room with large wrap around terrace; and two smaller breakout rooms; Nicklaus and The Boardroom. Lakelands offers state of the art conference facilities with it’s own golf course exclusively designed by Jack Nicklaus great for an outdoor team building activity. We pride ourselves on our high standard of service and our ability to contribute to the success of your next event. The conference centre has; Function rooms wih a capacity of up to 150 delegates, Great Natural Light with the option of blinds Rooms have an outdoor terrace with golf course view helping to refresh and recharge delegates. Large pre function areas, Air conditioning, State of the Art technical and Audio Visual Equipment. Half Day Conference packages start from $30.00 per person. Enquire today on (07) 5510 6513 or email functions@lakelandsgolfclub.com.au Although well established amongst Australia’s leading courses, the Jack Nicklaus Signature layout can be adjusted an any given day to accommodate the specific needs of your group. Many corporate golfers play golf only on a limited basis and we recognise such. Lakelands event coordinators will assist you in identifying the best set up for the course to allow every participant maximum enjoyment. Lakelands enjoys the reputation of queenslands finest conditioned public golf course having been voted as such for the past ten years. The course is available to groups of 50 or more on Monday or Friday’s with availability to smaller groups from Monday through Friday also. For your next corporate event or maybe your next game of golf while on holidays contact us on (07) 5579 8700 for available tee times.

www.lakelandsgolfclub.com.au

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TRANSFORMING MOBILE SECURITY SERVICES

Wilson Security takes great pride in presenting an award-winning technological product that will fundamentally transform the delivery of alarm responses and mobile patrols.

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To provide our clients with the optimum mobile patrol service we have developed a customised web-based system that facilitates a faster more accurate transfer of information, resulting in improved response times. Being real time it also offers complete transparency and accountability.

Wilson Security’s mobile patrol service is supported by a decentralised, networked national infrastructure with more Operations Support Centres than our competitors. Our local knowledge and understanding of clients’ requirements ensures an unparalleled level of service

• Alarm responses can be automatically dispatched to the closest vehicle

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