The EDO Bulletin is a free weekly bulletin that provides a listing of news, events, public notices and opportunities for public comment.
EDO News and Events
1. Acting Policy Director Position: EDO NSW
2. Greening the Office
3. Upcoming Northern Rivers Workshops
4. Student Writing Competition: ‘Overeating the environment?’
5. Locum Solicitor Position Vacancy: EDO Queensland
EDO in the Media
Environmental Law Notices – New South Wales
6. Major Project Proposals – Invitation to Comment
7. State Conservation Notices – Invitation to Comment
Environmental Law Notices – Commonwealth
8. EPBC Referrals – Invitation to Comment
Law and Policy Watch
9. Upcoming Policy Submissions
Community News
10. Australian Coastal and Tidal Councils: Responding to Sea Level Rise
11. New Environmental Pet Products
12. Legalwise Seminar- Acquisition, Disposal and Leasing of Contaminated Land
EDO News and Events
1. Acting Policy Director Position: EDO NSW
The EDO is a community legal centre specialising in public interest advocacy regarding environmental law and policy. We are seeking an Acting Policy Director to lead the Office's policy activities.
This is a maternity leave position in our Sydney office and is expected to be for 12 months.
Selection Criteria
Essential
An undergraduate degree in law
3 – 5 years experience in environmental policy development processes at a high level
Experience in managing and supervising people and projects
Excellent written and oral communication skills, including an ability to communicate clearly in plain English
Excellent research skills
An excellent understanding of NSW, national and international environmental legal issues
The ability to work with minimal supervision and to tight deadlines
Commitment to the protection of the environment and public interest environmental law
Desirable
A NSW practising certificate, or eligibility for admission to legal practice in NSW and other relevant tertiary qualifications
See http://www.edo.org.au/edonsw/site/jobs_volunteer.php for a full position description.
Salary Range
$65,630 - $71,597, plus superannuation.
For further information contact Jeff Smith on (02) 9262 6989
Applications close Friday 15th August 2008.
2. Greening the Office
As part of its ‘Green Office’ policy, the EDO is committed to offsetting all work- related travel. The EDO has now purchased offsets for all office travel for the 2007-2008 financial year from Climate Friendly.
The policy adopted by the office was based largely on the work of the EDO’s science team, the results of which can be found in the Technical Fact Sheet, ‘Measuring and reducing the greenhouse gas footprint of a small office.’
The fact sheet can be found on the EDO website at http://www.edo.org.au/edonsw/site/pdf/scifs/sfs_greenhouse_smalloffice071101.pdf and is a useful tool for small businesses and community organisations seeking to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
For more information regarding the Technical Fact Sheet, contact Tom Holden, Science Director on (02) 9262 6989.
3. Upcoming Northern Rivers Workshops
EDO’s Northern Rivers office has scheduled two workshops on changes to the planning laws in NSW. The first will be held in Coffs Harbour on 7 August, followed by Ballina on 21 August.
Further details will be provided in the coming weeks. For more information or to register your interest, contact EDO Northern Rivers Education Officer, Mark Byrne on 1300 369 791.
4. Student Writing Competition: Overeating the Environment?
In the event of the launch of its new national environmental law journal, IMPACT!, the EDO would like to invite tertiary students to participate in a student writing competition, with a chance to be published in the upcoming edition of IMPACT! and win $500, courtesy of Maddocks.
The topic of the next edition will be ‘Overeating the Environment?’ dealing with issues relating to food and sustainability.
The rules and guidelines for the competition are listed below:
The competition runs once a year (IMPACT! is a biannual publication)
The winning entry will receive $500 and be published in the upcoming edition of IMPACT!
Entrants must have been enrolled at an Australian tertiary institution in the previous 12 months
Entries must relate to the topic of the upcoming edition
Articles should focus on Australian law but use international examples where applicable
For more information and suggested essay topics for the upcoming edition, got to www.edo.org.au/edonsw and follow the student prize link.
5. Locum Solicitor Position Vacancy: EDO Queensland
The EDO Queensland is currently seeking a part time locum solicitor for its office located in Brisbane. The job description and selection criteria are provided below.
Selection Criteria
Law Degree
Admission or eligibility for admission as a solicitor in Queensland
Experience in environmental litigation preferred
Demonstrated knowledge of and interest in public interest planning and environmental law and environmental issues
Ability to communicate well with a variety of people both oral and written, high written literacy level
Typing skills, experience in Microsoft Word and computer skills
Job Description
The job will entail law reform, case work and educational work under the direction of the Principal Solicitor. It is as a locum solicitor for a solicitor who will be on maternity leave.
Other Duties
Contribute to a written report to the Management Committee at its monthly meetings.
Some administrative work (except accounts) as necessary for your role, including typing, photocopy, etc.
Pay and Conditions
5.1 to 6.3 Social and Community Services Award (Qld) pay rates, ($42,350 min -$52,339 min pro rata) depending on experience
Part time 22.5 hrs per week (i.e. 3 days @ 7.5 hrs) usual hours 9 to 5;
Plus Superannuation guarantee of 9%
Pro rata personal/sick leave and holiday leave
3 months probation period
Duration of Job
Early or mid August 2008 to 30 June 2009. Potential extension until 5 October 2009.
Please send your CV and a one or two page letter addressing the selection criteria by 5pm Monday 21 July to EDO Queensland’s Principal Solicitor, Jo-Anne Bragg.
EDO in the Media
There were no media items referring to the EDO and its work this week.
Law Notices – New South Wales
6. Major Project Proposals – Invitation to Comment
For a full listing of Major Project proposals currently available for public comment, visit the Department of Planning website at http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/asp/das.asp
There are no new notices since the last eBulletin.
7. State Conservation Notices – Invitation to Comment
The full listing of conservation plans is available for public comment on the National Parks and Wildlife website at http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/consult/DecPublicConsultation.htm
There are no new notices since the last eBulletin.
Environmental Law Notices – Commonwealth
8. EPBC Referrals – Invitation to Comment
Referrals under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 are available for comment on the Department of Environment and Water Resources website at: http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl
The following referrals have been listed within the last 7 days:
Queensland
Mark Entriken/Residential development/Lot 19 Chisholm Trail Oak Valley/QLD/Private House Construction
Plenary Environment (Barwon) Pty Ltd/Waste management (sewerage)/Black Rock Water Reclamation Plant, Black Rock Rd, Connewarre/VIC/Construction and operation of Barwon Water biosolids treatment facility
Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources/Transport – land/Between Brighton and Campania/TAS/Tea Tree Secondary Road Pavement Widening and Junction Improvements
The EDO policy team is currently preparing a response to the Federal Government Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme Green Paper. Submissions for the paper are due 10 September 2008.
Work is also being done on a response to the COAG (Council of Australian Governments) Working Group on Climate Change and Water, Design options of the expanded renewable energy target scheme. This response is due 30 July 2008.
A submission on reform of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, due 5 September, is also being prepared.
For more information on the EDO’s submissions, please contact the EDO office on (02) 9262 6989. Previous submissions are available on the EDO’s website at www.edo.org.au/edonsw/site/policy.php
Community News
10. Australian Coastal and Tidal Councils: Responding to Sea Level Rise
One of the key issues for coastal & tidal councils is the impact of sea level rise over the long term, and more immediately the impact of the combination of storm surges and high tides on a council’s coastal infrastructure.
This conference, hosted by the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australia, will provide the opportunity to bring together people who are facing the same climate change challenge. The aim is to share ideas and to learn how other council staff and consultants are innovating and developing adaptation responses to sea level rise.
Date: 3-5 August 2008
Venue: Novotel Pacific Bay Resort, Coffs Harbour
Cost: Full cost including meals is $895
Registration: Forms are available at http://www.ipwea.org.au/AM/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm?ContentFileID=1142&FusePreview=Yes and are to be submitted by 25 July 2008.
For more information visit the IPWEA website at http://www.ipwea.org.au/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Responding_to_Sea_Level_Rise&Template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=6769
11. New Environmental Pet Products
Most commercial pet shampoos contain a cocktail of chemicals that pollute our soils and waterways. But you can choose to keep your pets clean with Neco's Enviropet Coat Wash & Conditioner. It will leave your pet with a healthy and shiny coat. This product is based on natural ingredients, vegetable extracts and minerals.
For every purchase made from Neco, the company will also donate 15% to the Nature Conservation Council.
12. Legalwise Seminar- Acquisition, Disposal and Leasing of Contaminated Land
Legalwise Seminars is presenting a seminar dealing with the acquisition, disposal and leasing of contaminated land. Topics will include risk management, regulatory reform and practical impacts and implications.
When: 12 November 2008, 2:00pm-5:15pm, 3 CLE points
Where: Radisson Plaza Hotel, 27 O’Connell Street, Sydney
Cost: Usually $440.00- 10% discount for EDO members ($396.00)
RSVP: 02 9387 8133
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This bulletin is meant for your general information. Where possible, references are given so that readers can access original sources or find more information. Any information contained in this bulletin does not represent legal advice.
The EDO does not endorse and is not affiliated with events advertised in the Community News section.
