The ACT Greens have called on the Government to extend the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) to include access for unit dwellers and other potential community groups who are currently excluded from investing in solar energy at their homes.

“The Greens fully endorse extending the FIT to include large and medium scale generators, but we also need to open the opportunity to unit title owners, people with unsuitable roof spaces and those that can’t afford the entire upfront cost, who have been prevented from investing in solar energy. What we want to achieve is investment by as many people as possible,” said Shane Rattenbury, Greens spokesperson energy and Climate Change.

Key points of the Greens submission to the FiT consultation:

- Unit Titles act should be amended to allow participation
- No Cap for systems under 30kW – small scale solar will not be a source of over-heating the scheme
- Production caps on medium and large-scale generators to protect ACT consumers

“There should be a cap on the amount of large scale solar installations in the ACT, but that the scheme should remain uncapped for systems under 30kW, which would include householders and small businesses.”

“When we expand the feed-in tariff to the big solar companies, it will be a competitive environment, and smaller players must still be included.”

“Householders and community groups not only get the benefits of the premium tariff rate, but also the opportunity to invest in something that they know is good for the ACT’s energy future, and good for the environment. It’s a win-win situation.”

“A scheme cap for large installers will be important to provide certainty to investors but also to protect ACT consumers from excessive increases in electricity prices,” Mr Rattenbury said.

The ACT Greens submission to the Feed in Tariff discussion paper is available here.

Caroline Le Couteur MLA, Greens spokesperson for Territory and Municipal Services, today introduced legislation into the Legislative Assembly to address the issue of abandoned trolleys. 
 
“These trolleys continue to be a problem in Canberra. They’re a type of litter that is unsafe, unattractive, costly to the territory and ratepayers, and often damaging to the environment,” Ms Le Couteur said today.

“The Government has spent over two years saying it would do something about this issue without action. As the Greens Territory and Municipal Services spokesperson, I’ve now introduced legislation to solve this problem.”

“Although this isn’t the highest environmental priority for the Territory, the Greens are also committed to addressing ‘local council’ issues that affect Canberrans and the amenity of our city.”

The bill will make retailers take more responsibility for trolleys. Territory authorities will be able to notify retailers of trolleys left on public land. If the retailer still doesn’t collect the trolley with 24 hours of notification, they can be fined, and the trolley can be impounded.

“Our bill encourages retailers to prevent trolleys from leaving their premises in the first place, by waiving fines if the retailer installs a trolley containment system – such as a coin lock system.”

“The bill also allows TAMS officers to direct people to return the trolley to the retailer and clarifies that individuals can be fined for leaving trolleys in public places.”

“In addition, the bill specifies that trolleys need to be recycled, and can’t be disposed of in our landfills,” Ms Le Couteur said.

The ACT Greens have called for a transformation of the Jerrabomberra Wetlands to build on environmental, recreational and commercial opportunities offered by the area.

Today is World Wetlands Day, and while the government is busy selling its proposals for urban wetlands in the Inner North, ACTPLA is proposing to build a large electrical substation between three ponds at Jerrabomberra and dig large trenches across the site for underground cables.

“The Jerrabomberra Wetlands have the potential to be a jewel in the Burley Griffin landscape, but right now it’s looking shabby and badly managed,’ said Mr Rattenbury, Greens spokesperson for the Environment.

“Jerrabomberra could be so much more. The area is well suited to play a role in improving the quality of water going into the Lake, and provide recreational opportunities to paddlers, walkers and bird watchers. A café or conference centre with educational facilities could provide an appropriate interface with the urban areas developing in East Lake.”

“But instead of articulating a clear vision for the site, the Government has sat on the Draft Management Plan for over three years, and is gradually letting the site fall into disrepair.

“Weeds and feral animals and a general air of neglect are the obvious problems; less obvious is that the water flows across the site are not being maximised.

 “Digging trenches for underground cables may affect those water flows further and until ACTPLA knows more, they shouldn’t be proceeding with their plans for underground cables,” said Mr Rattenbury.

“With today being World Wetlands Day, we need a commitment to transform Jerrabomberra Wetlands from a wasted opportunity in to an asset all Canberrans can be proud of,” Rattenbury concluded.

ACT Greens MLA Shane Rattenbury today supported calls by the Environment Commissioner for a grassland reserve in the Majura Valley.

“The Majura Valley is one of the large intact areas of grassland in the ACT, arguably one of the largest in southeast Australia, and yet has no reserve protection,” said Mr Rattenbury today.

“This is a great opportunity to protect one of the still intact native grasslands, home to a range of threatened species.”

The report finds that only 40% of the Territory’s native grasslands are in good condition.

“The ACT’s temperate grasslands are a threatened ecosystem. It’s pleasing that at last we have a comprehensive assessment of their value and the threats that need to managed to ensure their preservation”, said Mr Rattenbury.

The grasslands are home to endangered species, such as the Earless Dragon, the Golden Sun Moth and the Ginninderra Peppercress. Only 5% of the estimated 20,000 hectares that existed prior to European settlement are left.

“It’s been death by a thousand cuts for our grasslands – urban development has left us only fragmented areas, and now these are also at risk from overgrazing by rabbits and kangaroos, as well as weed infestations and inappropriate mowing regimes,” said Mr Rattenbury.

“Some of these threats are easier to manage than others, but we must take action on all areas, including further development threats such as that at the Canberra Airport.”

“We are lucky to live in the bush capital, but with that comes responsibility to look after the grasslands and the woodlands that are in and around our suburbs.”

“This is a comprehensive report and a step along the way to looking after these vulnerable ecosystems. We look forward to seeing the Government take action on the many recommendations”, said Mr Rattenbury.

“There should be an independent investigation into this
matter” – Hunter

The Defence Department must urgently reveal if the contaminated site of former Naval Transmission Station at Lawson poses any immediate health risks to Belconnen residents, Meredith Hunter, ACT Greens candidate for Ginninderra said today. (see page 1, today’s Canberra Times)

“Belconnen residents need to know if the toxic substances at the Lawson site, including heavy metals, as well as cancer-causing dioxins and asbestos are putting their health at risk,” Ms Hunter said.

“The reports indicate that both the soil and groundwater are contaminated and that there is unsecured asbestos at the site. Defence must immediately release all information relating to the contamination of the site to the public.

“There should be an independent investigation into why the Defence Department did not release this critical information to the public; how long it has known about the contamination at the site; what it told the ACT Government; and what exactly it has done to remediate the site.

“The ACT government should not accept the land from Defence until the site has been independently assessed as suitable for residential development. ACT residents should not bear the costs of the cleanup or any liability for problems caused by the contamination,” Ms Hunter said.

THE CONTEXT AND IMPORTANCE OF THIS INITIATIVE
· ACT Government activities and decisions have significant consequences for resource use and the environment, so the government has a significant part to play in making the ACT sustainable

· The Greens believe that for a government to ask citizens and businesses to become greener, the government must lead by example.

· Greening of government is necessary across the country, and the ACT government can accelerate the process by being an example for the rest of Australia to follow

THE AIM OF THIS INITIATIVE
To reduce the ecological footprint of the ACT Government in terms of:

o Reducing greenhouse gas emissions

o Reducing water usage

o Reducing other resource use, such as paper

o Reducing production of waste

THE KEY MEASURES OF THIS INITIATIVE

1. Purchasing 100% of ACT Government electricity from renewable sources such as wind and solar generation.

2. Retro-fitting energy and water efficiency technologies into buildings owned by the ACT Government, and working with landlords to retro-fit these technologies in buildings leased by ACT Government.

3. Strong sustainable procurement guidelines covering all ACT Government purchasing decisions.

ACT Greens MLA Deb Foskey expressed her concerns that the important messages in the Commissioner for the Environment’s State of the Environment report – released today – will be overwhelmed by glossy promotions of ACT Government programs that were a part of it.

“At a time when the Murray River is dying and nearby alpine habitat and local grasslands are threatened, I would hope for strong guidance from the independent Commissioner for the Environment.”

“I was most surprised to see this report almost overwhelmed by one-sided glossy promotions of Government programs that are perhaps steps in the right direction, but small ones.”

“The Commissioner makes the point that as a community with a giant footprint we need to face up to the urgent challenge of living on the planet sustainably. And that we all have a role to play in using less energy, wasting less food, managing our environment and our resources more carefully.”

“But I am yet to discover any calls for the ACT Government to set stronger and more immediate targets (such as intermediate CO2 emissions targets) in order to help us make the changes.

“Nor is there any mention of regulations to make houses more energy efficient, or community wide programs that can help us shift to solar energy or hot water.”

“As an easy to read guide on how we can all do more the report works well. Historically however, the State of the Environment report has been much more valuable as a tool to measure how far we have come and what we have needed to do next” Dr Foskey said.