Last stand of the Karaaf wetland?

The Karaaf Wetlands on Victoria’s Surf Coast looks like an untouched oasis with its kangaroos, wallabies, and birds that migrate to it from Japan and China, however it is under threat as the town of Torquay grapples with a population boom and our endless hunger for development.

What kind of voice to Parliament?

The government’s pledge to hold a referendum on an indigenous ‘voice to Parliament’ has been well received, but a number of issues remain to be resolved before the vote takes place.

Thank you Queen Elizabeth

The passing of Queen Elizabeth has reignited republican calls for Australia to sever links with the crown, and although the monarchy remains a bulwark against ambitious politicians, there are possibilities for reform.

Storm in a brickworks

Strategies to deal with storm water runoff need careful planning, exemplified by the furore around the Burwood brickworks development stormwater system.

Gas flows under pressure

The Australian Greens don’t yet seem to grasp that effective environmental stewardship depends on corresponding progress in justice, public health, education, trade, security, indigenous and international relations, social and economic wellbeing.

Not all power resides in the ACT

The ACT is suffering from the same energy problems as New South Wales and Victoria, and proper planning is required to ensure security of supply in the future.

Is the Murray River flowing back to the future?

The South Australian Department of Environment and Water is reportedly excited that the Lower Lakes and the Coorong are “heading back towards their natural best”.

Batteries not included?

The silence from green technological optimists concerning the ‘Big Battery’ fire at Moorabool near Geelong is deafening, and inquiries into the accident should raise wider questions about the use of large lithium batteries in energy management.

Not cooking with gas

Is natural gas making us sick? According to the Climate Council it contributes up to 12 per cent of the childhood asthma burden in Australia. So, should gas appliances including heaters, hot water services and cooktops be phased out?

A fishy tale…

Fish farms, such as those which produce salmon in Tasmania, may appear more environmentally friendly than the wild fishing industry, but cause environmental problems of their own.

Is the cure worse than the disease?

The dangers of lead in the environment are well understood, but unleaded petrol can cause problems of its own.

The answer is blowin’ in the wind

Proposals for a new wind turbine site on Robbins Island raise questions about the environmental trade-offs involved even in renewable energy production.