1
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY STAKEHOLDER/REFERENCE COMMITTEE
MINUTES OF MEETING 4/2015
Meeting 4/2015 of the Environmental Sustainability Stakeholder/Reference Committee was held at 10.00 am
on 20 October in Room G21, 15 Innovation Walk at the Clayton campus of Monash University
1.
PROCEDURAL MATTERS
1.1
APOLOGIES
Belinda Allison
Tony Hudson
Damon Rapke
1.2
1
Documents &
Action
Nikki Silbert
Jemma Southgate
Brett Walters
PRESENT
Those present were:
Paul Barton (Chair)
Nav Brah
Zachary Dorner
Ariel Liebman
Gujji Muthuswamy
Meg Ralph(Secretary)
In attendance:
Karen Freiden
1.3 WELCOME
Paul Barton (Chair) welcomed new members and introduced them.
1.4 CONFIRMATION OF MINUTES
The minutes of meeting 3/2015 of the Environmental Sustainability Stakeholder/Reference
Committee meeting held on 25 August were confirmed.
The Chair thanked Nav Brah for his presentation at Meeting 3 on the management of
environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors in investment, noting that the discussion
was timely as Monash is currently reviewing its own ESG investment policies.
2.
151006_ESSRCMinut
es 3_2015.doc
11/2015
Confirmed minutes to
be posted at the
Environmental
Sustainability web site
ENGAGING COMMUNITIES
2.1 ENGAGING WITH STAFF
The Chair reviewed Facilities and Services engagement with Monash University staff on
environmental sustainability programs. He introduced Karen Freiden, a relatively new
Sustainability Coordinator working on staff engagement. The Chair explained that Monash
engaged with staff via a range of modes that include:

The Green Program, the main staff engagement program, which Karen expanded on
later in the meeting. This Program, in place since 2000, began as a one page 10 point
plan and has progressively evolved over 15 years.

Articles, newsletters

Social media, e.g. Facebook page (facebook.com/monashgreen/)

Events, both national and state-based
151020_GP
Intro.pptx
12/2015

Sustainability representatives, volunteers who drive sustainability actions in their
departments/schools.
Karen Freiden presented the key features of the Monash Green Program. She commenced by
describing the development of the program over the years. A review in 2004 resulted in a
renewed focus on enhancing the professional skills of representatives in leadership and
change management as well as sustainability. In 2011, the focus moved to Green Labs and on
creating green networks within the University.
ESSRCMinutes 4_2015.doc
AUTHOR: Business Support, Facilities and Services
Date: 27/01/2016
2
The objectives of the Green Program include:

Improved staff environmental awareness

Environmentally responsible work habits

Reduced University environmental impact

Financial savings.
Currently, the Green Program has 5 levels, providing departments with the opportunity to
progress through a range of sustainability initiatives. There are 11 categories of activity to
select from and 58 activities included in these categories, some of which are core and some of
which are elective. Most areas have completed Level 1, with popular activities including turning
lights out, battery recycling, reducing bin sizes, cartridge recycling and using 100% recycled
paper. Each department receives a certificate on completing a level.
A Google site houses information on, and resources for, the activities at each level and an
online forum that enables sustainability representatives to share information and to solve
issues. The Program is managed by the Sustainability Co-ordinators. The Sustainability
Representatives are supported by a monthly meeting and a calendar of events that advertises
development opportunities, e.g. a tour to a recycling plant.
Karen reported that 34 or 6.5% of work areas have participated, which means that
approximately 552 staff has engaged with the Green Program. Departments are expected to
complete
a level of the Green Program in 12-18 months, with Sustainability Representatives
2
spending approximately 1 hour per month on the Program.
Improvements in 2016 will include:

Restructuring levels to ensure that they are achievable

Improving access
Representatives

Redesigning the look of the Google Site

Developing a video for instructional and promotional purposes to improve engagement

Improving the recognition and certification process

Increasing the number of Sustainability Representatives registered to participate in the
Green program.
to
information
and
communication
with
Sustainability
Members discussed a range of issues in relation to the Green Program, which included:

Karen explained to Nav Brah that no incentive was provided for Sustainability
Representatives other than the training received in the role as they were mostly
passionate about sustainability. Paul Barton added that the University needed to
determine how to engage areas without sustainability champions.

Karen and Paul explained to Nav that training was provided by specialist speakers,
utilising the Green Steps program at Monash Sustainability Institute. Approximately 1015 representatives currently attended the monthly meetings, which may be too frequent.

The Chair asked Nav whether the pool of professional staff available to undertake roles
such as these at the University of Sydney was also decreasing as has occurred at
Monash, resulting in the remaining staff having limited time. Nav explained that in the
past the University of Sydney had a sustainability workgroup. Limited resources have
meant that meetings have been held once per year. A new strategy for staff
engagement will be developed following a recent increase in resources.

Following a proposal by Gujji to involve representatives in research, the Chair
suggested that representatives might volunteer to participate in research projects, such
as the microgrid program being undertaken by Ariel, outside the Green Program.

Nav commented that staff engagement was worth exploring at a Group of Eight
Universities forum.

Ariel Liebman asked if the impact of the Green Program had been tracked. The Chair
replied that the impact at the local level could be seen with decreases in paper used,
increased use of recycled paper and choice of sustainable stationery but not with energy
and water. Karen commented that increases in battery and cartridge recycling were also
evident.

Zachary Dorner suggested that 'Greening up their Act' could be used to show the
importance of sustainability as promotional for departments. The Chair replied that some
departments use it in this way, but others don't see the advantages. For this reason, the
Sustainability Representative is required to obtain the commitment of the head of
ESSRCMinutes 4_2015.doc
AUTHOR: Business Support, Facilities and Services
Date: 27/01/2016
3
department/school in Level 1 of the Program.

Karen Freiden suggested that requiring departments of a certain size to participate in
the Green Program would increase the number of departments using the Program.
The Chair thanked Karen for the information presented to the Committee.
3.
MONITORING AND REVIEW
3.1 ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
The Chair explained that insufficient data was available at this time to enable drafting of the
environmental performance indicators for January to September 2015. The indicators would be
circulated when available.
151118_Env KPIs Q3
2015_P1-4.pdf
13/2015
4.
LEGISLATIVE IMPACTS
The Chair noted a range of legislative impacts, which included:
4.1
ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AMENDMENT
(STANDING) BILL 2015
The
3 Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Standing) Bill 2015
was introduced to Parliament on 20 August. The Bill repeals section 487 of the Environment
Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) (EPBC Act), which enables individuals
or organisations to seek judicial review, if, at any time in the two years immediately before the
(EPBC) decision, they have engaged in a series of environmental conservation or research
activities in Australia or an external territory.
4.2 EMISSIONS REDUCTION FUND SAFEGUARD MECHANISM
The draft emissions reduction fund safeguard mechanism, legislative instruments and
associated explanatory statements were released for comment by the Federal Department of
the Environment on 2 September. The instruments are expected to be finalised in late 2015
with the safeguard mechanism scheduled to commence on 1 July 2016.
4.3
THE NATIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN FOR ASBESTOS MANAGEMENT AND
AWARENESS 2014 – 18
The National Strategic Plan for Asbestos Management and Awareness 2014 – 18 was
released.
5.
NEXT MEETING
The Chair thanked members for their participation in the discussions during the year and
wished them a merry Christmas and relaxing break. Members were invited to provide
suggestions for topics of interest to be discussed next year. Notice of meetings for 2016 would
be circulated.
Distribution List:
Paul Barton (Chair)
Nav Brah
Director, Business Support, Facilities and Services, Monash University
Engineering & Sustainability Manager, Campus Infrastructure & Services,The University of Sydney
Zachary Dorner
Dr Tony Hudson
Jun Li
Postgraduate student representative, Monash University
Environmental Sustainability Manager, CSIRO
Acting Building Performance Analyst, Planning, Facilities and Services, Monash University
Meg Ralph (Secretary)
Jemma Southgate
Project Manager, Business Support, Facilities and Services, Monash University
Environmental Manager, Westpac Banking Corporation
ESSRCMinutes 4_2015.doc
AUTHOR: Business Support, Facilities and Services
Date: 27/01/2016