The section below is republished with permission from the Going Solar Transport Newsletter #74, 26 August 2008, compiled by Stephen Ingrouille. Going Solar, www.goingsolar.com.au/transport. This newsletter provides an excellent commentary on local sustainable transport issues in Melbourne.

Victorian Monorail Proposal
“German company ThyssenKrupp Transrapid has proposed the construction of a maglev monorail between Geelong and Frankston, with connections to Melbourne and Avalon airports, that would travel at an average speed of 275km/h and possibly up to 500km/h in rural areas. Its proponents say the monorail would reduce the Geelong-Melbourne commute to just 20 minutes.”
Ref: F R Perry & Associates, July Newsletter, 2008

Ref and Submission to Eddington:
http://210.15.220.118/ewlna_submissions/EastWestResponse_100708_ThyssenKruppTransrapidAustralia.pdf

“The consortium’s submission said the monorail would: Hover above the track using magnetic levitation; Reach speeds of 500km/h in rural areas; Silently cruise at 250km/h in urban areas; and, Operate safer and cleaner than normal rail transport. But the submission also revealed considerable cost - calculated to be about $4 billion per 100km of double rail lines.”
Ref: Martin Watters, Herald Sun, 30/7/08

“For half the price of the planned rail tunnel Transrapid can build a high-speed monorail from Geelong to the Airport to Frankston - more than 100km. However, maglev track takes up far more space than a conventional ALWEG monorail so should only be routed down existing freeway easements. The CBD - Frankston section of a Maglev could only run down St. Kilda Road and Nepean Highway which is likely to be unacceptable.”
Ref: New Australia www.newaustralia.net/significant_subs.html

Community gardening is now recognised in the Green Star building ratings (see http://www.gbca.org.au/) in the new pilot program for multi-residential buildings. Hopefully this will encourage more people to incorporate community gardens into urban design and planning! You can see the original document at http://www.gbca.org.au/green-star/rating-tools/green-star-multi-unit-residential-pilot/1620.htm

The details are:

“Credit summary for Communal Garden Facilities

Aim of Credit:
To encourage and recognise the provision of communal outdoor amenities as a way of reducing demand for separate gardens or facilities and thus reduce the ecological impact of the residential sector.

Credit Criteria Summary:
- Up to three points are awarded where a minimum 25% of the site area is developed as a communal garden and provides a range of facilities: active and passive spaces for both adults and children,
individual and communal activities, hard and soft landscaping.
- One credit point is awarded where the minimum communal garden area is provided and at least 3 of the following facilities are provided;
- Two credit point are awarded where the minimum communal garden area is provided and 6 or more of the following facilities are provided; and
- Three credit points are awarded where the minimum communal garden area is provided and 9 of the following facilities are provided.

The features/ facilities are:
-compost facilities
-garden plots that can be tendered by residents
-communal or individual vegetable gardens
-in-ground deep soil planting capable of supporting large trees
-landscaped areas for quiet contemplation
-landscaped areas for active play
-natural clothes drying facilities
-playground area
-outdoor entertainment area with integrated BBQ facilities.”

Please find a note below from Dean Steele-Bennett and Carly Philips about the next Melbourne Sustainability Drinks.

At the next Melbourne Sustainability Drinks Eric Bottomley, of CERES (Community Environment Park) will be discussing his vision for how we as a society can impart sustainability into our schools, communities and the education sector, Wednesday 3rd September.

Eric’s personal interest in sustainability has lead to a passion for educating our youth. Eric has designed much of the CERES Educational programs and is currently implementing the Victorian Sustainable Schools Program.

This is not a sponsored event; i.e. you buy your own drinks. We choose to come together in the spirit of a shared interest. So come and join us at the next “Melbourne Sustainability Drinks” held on Wednesday September 3rd from 6 – 8pm.
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Alternative Technology Association Seminar: Could carbon become a new currency? - Are personal carbon allowances, reminiscent of wartime rations, the way forward?

When: Thursday, 4th September, 2008
Time: 6:15pm onwards for a 6:30pm start
Where: The Banking Chamber theatrette, Ground Floor, KPMG, 147 Collins St, Melbourne. Disabled access via 161 Collins St.
Costs: $15, $10 for ATA members (ATA couples $15). Refreshments provided after the presentation
RSVPs required: Email Wendy Clarke on wendy@ata.org.au or ph:(03) 9631 5407

ATA’s seminar will explore carbon rationing, which has been examined by the UK Government in their report “A Rough Guide to Individual Carbon Trading” and also supported by George Monbiot in “Heat”. David Spratt, co-author of Climate Code Red, advocates personal carbon allowances as the most fair and equitable means of rapidly reducing carbon emissions. David will look at the science relating to global warming and why greenhouse emissions would be best controlled by personal carbon allowances.
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Title: Transition to a Zero Carbon Future Discussion Group

Topic: Forests as a solution to climate change

Description: Monthly discussion group hosted by Beyond Zero Emissions focusing on solutions to climate change. This month, we will be joined by world leading ecologist & research scientist, Professor Brendan Mackey.

A new ANU study has found wild untouched forests store 60% more carbon than plantation forests. The ‘Green Carbon’ report says untouched forests store three times more carbon dioxide than previously estimated by the IPCC and the Kyoto Protocol. This makes forests all the more critical in the fight against climate change. Co-author of the report, Professor Brendan Mackey, will speak about the role of forests on climate change. Professor Mackey is the Director of the Wild Country Research and Policy Hub at ANU.

“Protecting the carbon in Australia’s and the world’s natural forests is no longer an option – it is a necessity. If natural forests continue to be cleared and degraded then the C02 released will significantly increase concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The carbon stored in natural forests is a larger and more reliable stock than the carbon stored in commercially logged forests and plantations.” - Professor Mackey

Event location: 2nd Floor, Kindness House, 288 Brunswick St, Fitzroy
Time: 6.30 - 8:30 pm, Monday 1st September 2008

If you arrive late and have trouble getting in, please call 0421 272 884, and we will come down and meet you
Cost and payment methods: Gold coin Donation
For more information contact mark@beyondzeroemissions.org

Link: http://www.beyondzeroemissions.org/discussiongroup

Wheelchair access: 2 flights of stairs, happy to assist with access

Another SSA Village SnapShot - The Sustainability Street Approach – Walton Ave - Sustainability Street Party

Sustainability Street has always been about reaching out into the community and celebrating our achievements. What better way to do this than a street party where everyone is invited. While Sammy Star kept the kids happy, the adults swapped over their old showerheads for new efficient ones, made soap, had their homes audited, free cycled, met the neighbours and talked about the things they have done and the things they can do. A great time was had by all.

Thanks to the folks of Walton Ave for organising the party and Darebin Council for supplying the marquees and Stuart Nesbitt for the auditing.

David Holmgren, well-known permaculturalist, has developed his global scenario planning into a website called Future Scenarios, www.FutureScenarios.org.

As stated by Holmgren on the site:
“FutureScenarios.org presents an integrated approach to understanding the potential interaction between Climate Change and Peak Oil using a scenario planning model. In the process I introduce permaculture as a design system specifically evolved over the last 30 years to creatively respond to futures that involve progressively less and less available energy.”

A press release about this new website can be found at: http://www.eatthesuburbs.org/2008/05/futurescenarios/.

Please find some information about Environment Victoria’s upcoming free community workshop on Effective Negotiation and Influencing Skills.

“The workshop is specifically designed for people who are actively seeking to improve environmental and river health, EV individual and group members, Waterkeeper members, Landcare members and anyone who is involved in working groups or stakeholder committees, especially on water issues.”

When: Thursday 18th September, 9am -5pm
Where: Meeting Room. 60L Green Building, 60 Leicester St, Carlton 3053
Cost: FREE! Lunch provided.
For more information and bookings: contact Juliet Le Feuvre T: 9341 8106, E: juliet.lefeuvre @envict.org.au. Bookings close Monday 15 September.

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Now this a competition I want to enter! See news below from the latest Alternative Technology Association newsletter.

The search is on for Australia and New Zealand’s best sustainable shed! ReNew magazine is looking for a shed that excels in sustainability. Are you building an electric car in your shed? Have you built a water-saving device? Is your shed solar powered? Does it have its own wind turbine? Or did you build your own wind turbine in your shed? Is your shed made from recycled materials?

Competition closes 16 January 2009. The winning shed will be featured in ReNew 107 (out mid-March 2009). The competition will be judged by acclaimed shed researcher Mark Thomson, author of “Makers, Breakers & Fixers: Inside Australia’s Most Resourceful Sheds” and ReNew editors Jacinta Cleary and Lance Turner. The best four entries receive copies of this book.

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Avoiding Catastrophic Climate Change: Presentation by Tim Forcey, Al Gore trained speaker

When: Sunday August 31, 7:30pm-8:45pm
Where: Hercus Theatre, Physics Building, University of Melbourne, Parkville, (near the corner of Swanston and Elgin Streets)
Cost: Free event
Reservation: Seats are limited. To book yours, contact Shannon on 9439 1012 or
flowinglikeariver @gmail.com

Tim Forcey, a chemical engineer in the petrochemical, oil and gas industry, is a passionate volunteer advocate for doing all we can to halt humanity’s slide into globally dangerous feedback loops. Tim studied under Al Gore, Nobel Prize winner and creator of the move ‘An Inconvenient Truth’. He also helped organise the 5th July human sign spelling ‘climate emergency’ in the Alexandra Gardens. He will speak about the past, present and likely future of climate change, and what we can do about it.