Your Landfill Levy at Work
The Victorian Government
Sustainability Fund Activities Report 2012 to 13
The report is a public document and is available online www.sustainability.vic.gov.au.
Hard copies are also available by contacting the Sustainability Fund on 1300 36 37 44
or sustainabilityfund@sustainability.vic.gov.au
Contents
Minister's Foreword
1. Purpose
2. Introduction
3. About the Sustainability Fund
4. Victoria's landfill levy at work
5. Case studies
Appendix
Sustainability Fund allocations 2012 to 13
Minister's Foreword
It's a pleasure to present the 2012 to 13 Activities Report for the Victorian Government
Sustainability Fund: Your landfill levy at work.
Unique to Victoria, the Fund plays a vital role in driving our sustainability agenda and
has evolved into a major catalyst for change. Its legacy is evident in hundreds of
projects statewide that have emerged as a result of funding towards building a strong
and thriving economy and improving liveability for all Victorians.
One of our key initiatives through the Fund is the Conserve, Invest and Save strategy
- a $38 million package to support programs that maximise the value of our resources
and help to create new and sustainable employment across Victoria.
A number of our leading programs are already scoring runs on the board.
The Driving Investment for New Recycling program has leveraged more than $11
million in co-investment from private industry. In addition, it will create up to 70 new
jobs and recover almost 2 million tonnes of valuable resources in the next 10 years.
This is a well-designed, highly targeted initiative that will see Victorians reaping the
benefits of our investment for years to come.
Seventeen small to medium-sized businesses are expected to save a combined
$390,000 a year in materials and energy use through the first round of the Smarter
Resources, Smarter Business - Energy and Materials program (SRSB). In 2012 to 13
six materials and energy assessments were also undertaken across the state. These
are the first step in helping these businesses to identify opportunities to improve
efficiency and boost productivity. The program continues to grow, with 61 round two
grantees announced in January 2014 expected to save a combined $2.1 million a year
in materials and energy use. Round three of the program opened at the same time.
Building Victoria's Organic Recovery has resulted in 160 tonnes of household food
waste in Mildura being diverted from landfill during a trial supported by the Victorian
Government. Mildura Rural City Council is now investigating the provision of a regular
organics collection service which has the potential for significant environmental,
financial and social benefits for that region.
At a grassroots level, Victorian children are learning the value of our resources through
ResourceSmart Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative Victoria (AuSSI Vic). Almost
half of all Victorian primary and secondary school students are now involved in this
program. More than 1000 schools have now saved over $5.2 million in energy costs in
the past six years (2008 to 2013) - averaging $1.3 million in savings every year.
Victoria's waste and resource recovery industry is worth $2.2 billion annually to our
economy and employs more than 8,000 people. These projects and others highlighted
inside this report demonstrate how we are translating words and policies into practical
action and partnering with industry, community and local government to deliver real
outcomes for Victoria.
The release of Getting full value: the Victorian Waste and Resource Recovery Policy in
April 2013 will complement and help to guide investments from the Fund in future
years.
The Honourable Ryan Smith MP
Minister for the Environment and Climate Change
1. Purpose
This Activities Report provides an overview of the support provided from the Victorian
Government Sustainability Fund (the Fund), outlining the major allocations and
distributions from the Fund in 2012 to 13.
The report is published annually and is part of Sustainability Victoria's commitment to
operating transparently and demonstrating how the Victorian Landfill Levy is being
invested in projects statewide.
2. Introduction
Since its establishment in 2005, the Fund has reinvested the landfill levy into hundreds
of projects supporting business, local government and community, to support
sustainable living.
Funds have been used to support projects that enhance Victoria's liveability and
prosperity. The legacy of this investment is evident across the state, with numerous
funding recipients able to leverage the outcomes of programs to build further success
by reducing their costs, improving the environment and creating job opportunities.
They have done so by engaging more people through better planning, new
infrastructure, increased employment, education, and business innovation.
In 2012 to 13 the Fund continued to play a key role in supporting innovation, practical
action and positive outcomes in Victoria's sustainability landscape - with particular
focus on strategic waste management and resource efficiency. The continued rollout
of programs in the $38 million Conserve, Invest and Save strategy is just one example
of this.
The release of Getting full value: the Victorian Waste and Resource Recovery Policy in
April 2013 will complement and help to guide investments from the Sustainability Fund
in future years.
The development of the draft Statewide Waste and Resource Recovery Infrastructure
Plan (SWRRIP) provides the background and evidence to support planning - at a
statewide level - to create the environment in which industry can invest with certainty.
It will also help to inform Sustainability Fund investments.
When finalised, the SWRRIP will provide a 30-year horizon of opportunities for
government investment in waste management and resource recovery infrastructure to
effectively manage the expected mix and increase in waste generated by Victorian
households, businesses and industry. This will provide a pipeline of strategic
investment opportunities for the Fund, allowing the government to partner with
industry and community to nurture the health of the environment while securing a
competitive and flourishing economy.
3. About the Sustainability Fund
Overview
The Victorian Government Sustainability Fund is a perpetual fund sourced from the
Victorian landfill levy that is applied on a per tonne basis to municipal and industrial
solid waste deposited in landfills.
The Fund receives a portion of the levy (after distributions to agencies responsible for
Victoria's waste management system) to support programs and initiatives that
facilitate resource efficiency and waste reduction, as well as assisting communities to
improve the environment and respond to climate change. These purposes are further
refined in the Fund's Priority Statement.
Governance
The Victorian Premier and the Minister for Environment and Climate Change are joint
administrators of the Fund and approve all allocations.
The governance arrangements for the Sustainability Fund are guided by three key
elements:
• The Sustainability Fund Priority Statement
• The Sustainability Fund Guidelines, and
• The Sustainability Fund Advisory Panel.
The requirement for these is prescribed in the Environment Protection Act 1970, which
sets the framework for operation of the Sustainability Fund.
Sustainability Victoria is the responsible authority for the Sustainability Fund and
maintains the Sustainability Fund Secretariat to manage the distribution of funds in
accordance with the allocations approved by the Premier and Minister.
Sustainability Victoria is supported in this role by the Environment Protection Authority
Victoria (EPA) and the Department of Environment and Primary Industries (D E P I).
The Sustainability Fund Priority Statement and Guidelines
The Priority Statement and Guidelines for the Sustainability Fund are critical to the
management of the Fund.
The Priority Statement details how allocations from the Fund will be prioritised, and the
Guidelines provide guidance to the Premier and Minister for Environment and Climate
Change regarding how funding will be applied.
The Priority Statement of the Victorian Government Sustainability Fund
February 2012
Objectives
The Victorian Government recognises the importance of partnering with business,
local government and the broader Victorian community to improve our environment
and use our resources efficiently.
The Sustainability Fund is a perpetual fund that receives money collected from
Victorian landfill levies. The purpose of the Sustainability Fund is to support programs
and initiatives that facilitate resource efficiency and waste reduction, as well as
assisting communities to improve the environment and respond to climate change.
For the period of this Priority Statement, the Sustainability Fund will prioritise initiatives
that address the following:
1. As a first priority, the Sustainability Fund will provide funding to:
a) support Victorians to reduce waste and dispose less waste to landfill;
b) support innovators in the waste management and recycling industry and local
government who are willing to invest early in better technologies, facilities and
services; and/or
c) remove logistical and systemic obstacles to recovering commercial value from
otherwise abandoned material.
2. As a second priority, funding will be provided for initiatives to assist all sectors of the
community to improve our environment, respond to climate change, use our resources
efficiently and to support sustainability to advance the social and economic
development of Victoria.
The Honourable Ted Baillieu MP
Premier
The Honourable Ryan Smith MP
Minister for Environment and Climate Change
Sustainability Fund Advisory Panel
The Sustainability Fund Advisory Panel (SFAP) is appointed by the Minister for
Environment and Climate Change. Its role is prescribed by the Environment Protection
Act 1970 and includes:
• Providing recommendations for funding to the Premier and Minister,
• Monitoring the progress of projects supported by the Fund, and
• Providing general advice on the operation of the Fund and other matters.
Sustainability Fund Advisory Panel membership
Expiry of current term
Mick Murphy O A M (Chair)
11 February 2015
Doctor Sarah Ewing
11 February 2015
Jan Boynton
11 February 2015
Anne Dalton
8 July 2015
Joanne Anderson
8 July 2015
How funds are allocated
The Victorian Premier and Minister for Environment and Climate Change approve
allocations in accordance with the purposes of the Fund as prescribed by the
Environment Protection Act 1970. In addition, the Premier and Minister for
Environment and Climate Change may seek advice on programs from the
Sustainability Fund Advisory Panel.
Managing the Fund's investment for a prosperous resource efficient future
The Sustainability Fund Secretariat assists the SFAP by monitoring and reporting on
the performance of programs supported by the Fund. Grantees and Victorian
Government departments and agencies regularly report on the progress of programs.
The Secretariat also manages the distribution of funds and payments based on
performance milestones.
In 2012 to 13, a number of projects to which funding was allocated in previous years
were completed. The Sustainability Fund Secretariat has continued to work with
grantees supported in previous years to ensure that lessons learnt and outcomes are
shared, and to better understand the long term impacts of projects.
In 2012 to 13, an evaluation of 23 funded projects demonstrated that Fund
investments have resulted in discernible long term outcomes, including:
• continued waste, water, energy and C O2 emissions savings,
• ongoing viability of the projects beyond the life of the Sustainability Fund grant, and
• the projects' influence on policy and program development at state and federal
government level.
In many cases, projects attributed their success to the Fund's support (financial and
in-kind), which allowed them to continue to operate, or to develop spin off projects and
programs.
A new vision for waste and resource recovery
The recovery of valuable resources from waste for environmental, economic and
social benefits is the key objective of the Victorian Government's new 30-year waste
and resource recovery policy, Getting full value: the Victorian Waste and Resource
Recovery Policy (Getting full value).
Released in April 2013, Getting full value sets the government's vision for waste
management in Victoria. It states that:
• Victoria has an integrated, statewide waste management and resource recovery
system that provides an essential community service by protecting the environment
and public health, maximising the productive value of resources, and minimising long
term costs to households, industry and government.
• The growing volume and changing mix of different waste materials in Victoria means
that managing environmental and public health risks is even more important. But, if
managed effectively, also provides significant opportunities across all sectors.
Getting full value sets a vision for building on past successes and moving waste
management in Victoria to an advanced system focused on resource recovery that
protects the environment and public health, while getting the most out of materials. For
Victorians, this will also translate to cost saving at home, work, and in their
communities.
It's these opportunities that the Fund will be in a position to support. This strategic
reinvestment of the landfill levy in activities to enhance the state's liveability and
prosperity is also in keeping with the Fund's current Priority Statement.
Proposed changes to Sustainability Fund administration
In April 2013, the Minister for Environment and Climate Change appointed a
Ministerial Advisory Committee to provide advice on the best institutional and
governance arrangements to deliver on the objectives of Getting full value: the
Victorian Waste and Resource Recovery Policy. The Victorian Government has
accepted the majority of recommendations made by the Committee, including:
• appointing D E P I to undertake the lead role of advising the Minister for Environment
and Climate Change on expenditure from the Fund
• transferring the financial management of the Fund to D E P I, and
• repealing the current provisions in the Environment Protection Act 1970 relating to
the Sustainability Fund Advisory Panel.
The committee also made recommendations relating to the distribution of the landfill
levy.
In April 2014, the Environment Protection and Sustainability Victoria Amendment Act
2014 was passed. This will transfer Sustainability Victoria's responsibility to manage
the Fund to the D E P I on 1 July 2015.
For further details on these recommendations, including the committee's full report
and the Victorian Government's response visit www.depi.vic.gov.au/waste
4. Victoria's landfill levy at work
Conserve, Invest and Save
Conserve, Invest and Save is a major Victorian Government investment to deliver
better environmental outcomes by helping business and households to manage waste
and resources more efficiently.
The Victorian Government announced more than $38 million funding for this package,
most of which is provided through the Sustainability Fund.
In 2012 to 13 $6.9 million was distributed to support programs that maximise the value
of our resources and help to create new and sustainable employment across Victoria.
The programs support investment in new recycling and waste processing
infrastructure, the development of new and expanded markets for recycled products
and assist households and businesses to make smarter use of resources. Successful
outcomes from these programs are already being reported. They include:
• Driving Investment for New Recycling ($1.2 million in 2012 to 13) - The program has
leveraged more than $11 million in co-investment from private industry. In addition, it
will create up to 70 new jobs and recover almost 2 million tonnes of valuable resources
in the next 10 years.
• Building Victoria's Organics Recovery ($200,000 in 2012 to 13) - Through just one of
the funded projects, 160 tonnes of household food waste was diverted from landfill in
Mildura. As a result of this trial, Mildura Rural City Council is investigating the provision
of a regular organics collection service.
• Smarter Resources, Smarter Business (Energy and materials) ($2.7 million in 2012
to 13) - Seventeen businesses received grants under round one. They are expected to
save a combined $390,000 a year in materials and efficiency use.
While the allocations are made to Victorian Government agencies and departments to
deliver the Conserve, Invest and Save programs, most of the funding goes directly to
recipients in industry, local government and community through various grant
programs.
Grants programs
Grants programs supported through the reinvestment of the landfill levy have made
significant contributions to Victoria's economy and environment in 2012 to 13.
This financial year saw the completion of two EcoLiving projects administered by the
Sustainability Fund. Eleven projects across the state shared in $3 million during this
successful program.
The last two centres to open their doors to the public - Mildura and Albion - provide
valuable information, support and education on sustainable living for their local
communities. The Mildura centre, a purpose-built facility, has also earned a number of
awards for its environmentally sustainable design.
The centres incorporate sustainable design features that can be replicated in the
construction of new homes or during renovations and retrofits. They also highlight
resource efficiency and the resulting cost saving and environmental benefits through a
range of features - from draught-proofing to hydronic heating to composting.
The centres operate differently according to community needs - some specifically as
purpose-built education centres (Mildura), others (Albion) are established and popular
community centres where a range of groups regularly meet and learn about
sustainable living by seeing and feeling the building improvements that enhance
useability and comfort - and reduce running costs!
Also supporting community to improve the environment is the $20 million Communities
for Nature grants program. Round two of the program saw 80 groups receive up to
$10,000 each (totalling $700,000) for small projects focusing on practical actions to
achieve environmental outcomes in their local areas.
Businesses were supported to improve their resource efficiency through the first round
of capital funding grants under Sustainability Victoria's $14 million Smarter Resources,
Smarter Business program (SRSB). In 2012 to 13, 17 businesses were awarded a
total of $380,000 to implement materials and energy efficiency projects. The
successful businesses are expected to save a combined $390,000 a year in their
materials and energy use. Projects funded include heating, lighting and cooling
upgrades, insulation of storage tanks, packaging redesign and more efficient cutting
equipment.
Of the total $14 million allocation for this program, $9 million was provided from the
Sustainability Fund, and the remainder from Sustainability Victoria.
Other grants programs supported by the Fund in 2012 to 2013 (through new
allocations or distribution of funding allocated in previous years) include:
• Victorian Litter Strategy - Prevention of Roadside Litter grants
• Regional Waste Management Groups support package
• Driving Investment for New Recycling
• Smarter Resources, Smarter Business
5. Case studies
Driving Investment for New Recycling
Driving Investment for New Recycling (DINR) is a $5 million fund, leveraging more
than $11 million in co-investment from private industry, to increase the recovery of
materials that are a valuable resource or pose a threat to our environment.
DINR will create up to 70 new jobs and recover almost 2 million tonnes of valuable
resources in the next 10 years.
In 2013, Sustainability Victoria funded seven organisations through the second round
of the DINR grants program. The projects to receive funding include:
• $500,000 to Action Recovery and Recycling to establish a new facility to recover
commercial and industrial waste currently being sent directly to landfill, including
cardboard, paper, timber, glass and plastics
• $54,845 to Alex Fraser Group to increase the use of recycling glass sand in a larger
range of products such as road base and pavement mix
• $265,000 to Sita Australia to recover valuable recyclables from the Barwon region by
purchasing new recycling equipment
• $500,000 to Tyrecycle to double its capacity to recycle tyres into rubber granules
• $500,000 to Visy Recycling to open a new facility to handle its own and others' waste,
recovering valuable materials that can be recycled such as cardboard, polyethylene
terephthalate (PET) and timber
• $174,600 to Waste Composting Technology to purchase equipment to
decontaminate and grade organic material and produce two grades of finished
material, either compost or mulch.
Building Victoria's Organics Recovery
In 2012, the Victorian Government announced $2.5 million in funding towards organics
recovery in Victoria, as part of the Building Victoria's Organics Recovery (BVOR)
Fund, under the Conserve, Invest and Save strategy.
The program consisted of a $2 million targeted funding round, working with the four
major regional provincial areas of Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong and Gippsland on the
development of large scale infrastructure, and $500,000 for an open funding round
which offered grants of up to $100,000 for small scale projects in regional areas
outside the targeted areas.
As part of the open round for BVOR, Corangamite, East Gippsland and Southern
Grampians shire councils were granted funding to deliver projects to divert garden and
food organics from landfill, educate householders about the benefits of organics
recycling and turn household waste into valuable products.
In Mildura, a successful weekly organics trial was completed, resulting in 160 tonnes
of household food waste and garden organic material being diverted from landfill. The
project was collaboration between the Mildura Waste Management Group, Mildura
Rural City Council (MRCC) and TPI Cleanaway. MRCC is now in the process of
developing a Request for Information with respect to the provision of an organics
collection service.
In 2013, Sustainability Victoria engaged consultants to work with Ballarat, Greater
Bendigo and Greater Geelong city councils and the Gippsland Regional Waste
Management Group (GRWMG) to develop feasibility studies and business plan
proposals for funding. They aim to improve organics collection treatment and disposal
in key regional centres.
Geelong City Council and GRWMG completed business cases for their proposed
projects to manage and expand existing collection services. Bendigo has explored
their options for introducing a third bin kerbside organics collection through the
development of a feasibility study which considered the procurement of collection and
processing of garden and food organics. These projects will continue throughout 2013
to 14.
Beyond Waste Fund
The Beyond Waste Fund, launched in 2012, and delivered by Sustainability Victoria
has been designed to assist commercial and industrial and construction and
demolition businesses reduce the amount of operational waste sent to landfill by
supporting innovations that reduce, reuse or avoid overall waste generation.
Through the Beyond Waste Fund, more than 100 businesses will be assisted to
identify opportunities to reduce waste from their operations.
In 2012 to 13, the fund supported a range of activities to reduce waste generation and
encourage innovation in materials use.
One highlight in 2012 to 13 was the launch of a number of business programs
delivered by organisations including VECCI, the Plenty Food Group and the Geelong
Manufacturing Council. Activities included material assessments and workshops for
Victorian businesses keen to better understand opportunities to use materials more
efficiently and reduce waste from their operations.
In the construction and demolition sector projects were led by Metricon, Burbank
Australia and RMIT.
Burbank Australia began construction of what is expected to be the first zero waste
home in Victoria. Located in Melton's new Atherstone Estate, the home will be built
using innovative construction processes that are expected to reduce waste to landfill
by at least 80 per cent.
The average amount of waste from residential construction is 5.8 tonnes per house.
Reducing this by at least 80 per cent or 4.5 tonnes of waste per house, not only
represents positive environmental outcomes, it also makes economic sense.
The reduction will be achieved through a focus on design strategy to minimise waste,
working with suppliers to select the most efficient building materials and applying lean
principles to estimating and supply.
The Beyond Waste Fund will distribute $1.3 million across three years to projects
contributing to waste reduction. This will be provided through the Victorian
Government Sustainability Fund.
Illegal Dumping Strike Force
The Illegal Dumping Strike Force (IDSF) is a $6 million Victorian Government program
run by EPA Victoria to combat the environmental problem of large-scale illegal
dumping of industrial waste - a problem estimated to cost local councils more than $13
million a year to clean up.
The four year program, which started in 2010, targets both those individuals and
operators that break the law due to lack of education or often through the deliberate
and calculated dumping of materials such as construction and demolition waste,
asbestos and contaminated soil.
In 2012 to 13, EPA issued 65 notices and more than 235 inspections for illegal
dumping related incidents. EPA's strike force also partnered with Victoria Police to
execute a joint operation in East Gippsland after many months of sophisticated
intelligence gathering. Three arrests were made during the operation with charges
currently pending.
Since the program began, there have been 13 prosecutions of individuals and
companies for illegal dumping related activities, which can attract a maximum court
penalty of $610,700 or seven years imprisonment for an individual, and more than
$1.2 million for a corporation.
Central to the program's success has been the use of covert intelligence gathering
techniques including the use of surveillance tools such as undercover cameras and
soil x-ray guns to help EPA's Strike Force officers quickly determine whether dumped
soil is contaminated with things like hydro carbons (petrols), metals and asbestos.
Now, more than ever there are more ways to watch and catch people doing the wrong
thing.
In September 2013, the strike force team finalised a partnership with D E P I to share
EPA intelligence with D E P I's Compliance Support Group to identify links and trends
and ultimately identify the "big fish" operators who undertake illegal dumping activities.
For 2013 to 14, EPA's strike force is looking very closely at generators of construction
and demolition waste and construction companies, to make sure they are being
responsible for the disposal of the waste they are generating; transporters through
surveillance to make sure they are disposing of it at the correct places; and receivers
of clean fill - to make sure they are complying and not accepting industrial waste and
contaminated soil.
Additional funding has been allocated to the strike force for 2014 to 15.
Roadside Litter Prevention grants program
The Victorian Government's Roadside Litter Prevention grants program is managed
by Sustainability Victoria with funding from the Sustainability Fund. The $600,000
program, delivered alongside the Public Place Recycling Grants program, makes up
$1.6 million in litter prevention grants programs delivered through the Victorian
Government's Victorian Litter Strategy 2012 to 14.
The Roadside Litter Prevention grants program is enabling local governments, waste
management groups and Victorian Government agencies with community
infrastructure and planning responsibilities to undertake a range of activities including
education and awareness programs, litter measurement, monitoring and evaluation.
In January 2013 Roadside Litter Prevention grants were announced for:
• Peninsula Zero Waste (Mornington Peninsula Regional Waste Management Group)
• City of Greater Dandenong
• Wyndham City Council
• Bass Coast Shire Council and South Gippsland Shire Council (joint application)
• VicRoads
• Barwon Regional Waste Management Group
• Central Murray Regional Waste Management Group
• Waste Reduction Group (South West Regional Waste Management Group)
Research indicates that seasonal road use variations affect litter volumes and that the
best time to run roadside litter education and awareness programs is during summer the peak time for road use. The 17-month Roadside Litter Prevention grants program
allows for consecutive year data collection.
The projects are complemented by using creative of the 2013 summer litter campaign
- a joint Sustainability Victoria and EPA initiative. The trial campaign aimed to educate
Victorians about the consequences of litter and encourage the reporting of litterers to
EPA.
Grant recipients were also given a refreshed Victorian Litter Action Alliance Roadside
Litter Prevention Kit and access to quarterly EPA statistics to track the success of their
project. A Local Litter Measurement Tool is currently being developed and will be
provided to recipients in 2014. This tool will help grant recipients collect a consistent
and easy to use approach to monitor and record litter.
More than 30 million units of plastic bags and packaging diverted from landfill
More than 122 tonnes of soft plastic (figure from December 2013) - or about 30 million
units of plastic bags and packaging - has been diverted from landfill nationally through
the successful REDcycle Program.
The program was trialled in Victoria using Coles supermarkets as drop off points for
soft plastics. Following its success, it was expanded nationally with 480 stores now
involved.
A problem waste stream not collected through kerbside recycling services, the soft
plastic is recovered and pre-processed by RED Group and then upcycled by Victorian
business REPLAS into a range of functional items. These include sturdy outdoor
furniture, signage and traffic control products for school and community use.
REDcycle was born from the lessons learnt from the RED Project, an innovative
education project supported by the Sustainability Fund through a $89,264 grant.
The RED Project was based on the collection of soft plastics from schools. In addition,
students learnt about the importance of recycling and how it allows waste to be turned
into something useful.
In nine months, schools involved diverted 6.6 tonnes of soft plastic from landfill. That's
enough to wrap around the perimeter of the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) 1,463
times!
Learn more about RED group's work through its website: www.redcycle.net.au
Smarter Resources, Smarter Business
With businesses under increasing pressure from rising energy and materials costs,
finding ways to create efficiencies and improve productivity is a major challenge.
The Smarter Resources Smarter Business - Energy and Materials Program, helps
small to medium sized businesses improve their energy and materials efficiency.
The program provides practical, onsite support for businesses to identify energy and
materials cost saving opportunities, implement resource efficiency projects, and build
business capability. It also provides funding for capital upgrades.
Under the first round of capital funding in 2012, 17 businesses were awarded a total of
$380,000 to implement materials and energy efficiency projects. The successful
businesses are expected to save a combined $390,000 a year in their materials and
energy use. Projects funded include heating, lighting and cooling upgrades, insulation
of storage tanks, packaging redesign and more efficient cutting equipment.
Materials and energy efficiency assessments have also been carried out with a wide
range of businesses across Victoria. The assessments are the first step in helping
businesses to identify opportunities to improve efficiencies and boost productivity.
Businesses from industry sectors including manufacturing, food and beverage, retail,
and cool stores have been assisted to review their operations and identify cost saving
opportunities. For example, with the assistance of the Smarter Resources Smarter
Business Building Business Capability Program, a manufacturer was able to identify
annual savings of around $280,000 through improved batch monitoring, scheduling
and waste minimisation processes.
To help build business capability and know-how, the program is partnering with a
range of industry associations and business networks, including the Ai Group and
VECCI. In 2013/14 Building Business Capability will offer businesses onsite advice,
site visits, workshops and training in resource efficiency.
For more information visit www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/srsb
National success for Victorian sustainability project
The City of Melbourne's Smart Blocks program was established following the success
of the Fund-supported Higher Density Residential Efficiency Solutions (Hi-RES)
project - an 18-month initiative that sought to identify and develop solutions to the
barriers preventing sustainability improvements in higher density residential buildings.
The City of Melbourne partnered with the Cities of Yarra and Port Phillip, Strata
Community Australia (Vic), Moreland Energy Foundation and Yarra Energy
Foundation and received a $133,470 grant from the Fund in 2010 to deliver Hi-RES.
"I think Smart Blocks is something that the Sustainability Fund can be very, very proud
of. A relatively small amount of money has been leveraged to achieve some significant
solutions. Smart Blocks has instigated a transformational movement for this sector
and the program has successfully rolled out nationally which I think is probably its
biggest legacy."
Councillor Arron Wood, City of Melbourne
The Victorian Adaptation and Sustainability Partnership
The Victorian Adaptation and Sustainability Partnership (V A S Partnership)
strengthens the cooperation between the State Government and Victoria's local
governments to work together on climate adaptation and environmental sustainability
issues that affect all Victorians. All 79 Victorian councils have joined the V A S
Partnership, together with the Municipal Association of Victoria, the Victorian Local
Governance Association and Local Government Professionals.
In March 2013, the Minister for Environment and Climate Change announced $6
million in funding to the V A S Partnership, to support local action through grants and
partnership projects. This will build on the success of the Victorian Local Sustainability
Accord, which has helped Victorian communities better protect and respond to their
environments since 2005. These initiatives are being delivered by councils throughout
the state.
Recent practical initiatives from previous grants range from new Styrofoam recycling
programs, to making council and community facilities better for the environment
through energy and waste saving plans and installing new technologies such as water
saving systems and energy efficient lighting or solar panels.
Regions have also worked together through the V A S partnership to create better
plans and develop decision making strategies across local government areas to
support effective management of climate risks, such as drought, sea level rise or
bushfire.
From the recently allocated $6 million, the V A S Partnership will also run a new,
two-year, statewide mentoring initiative providing skilled adaptation mentors to work
together with councils, supported by a training package and an interactive adaptation
knowledge hub.
ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic
More than 1,000 primary and secondary schools (and almost 400,000, or half of all
Victorian students) are now involved in ResourceSmart Australian Sustainable
Schools Initiative Victoria (AuSSI Vic).
Collectively, the schools have saved more than $5.2 million in energy costs in six
years (2008 to 2013) - averaging $1.3 million in savings every year.
Managed by Sustainability Victoria with $8.3 million funding from the Sustainability
Fund, the program is a Victorian Government initiative and an integration of state and
federal programs delivered by sustainability organisations and educators.
The initiative supports schools to create a culture of sustainability by minimising waste,
reducing energy and water costs, and improving biodiversity. It also recognises and
rewards the great work of schools through the ResourceSmart Schools Awards and
Sustainability Certification.
To encourage more Victorian schools to join ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic, the Victorian
Government introduced the Energy Efficiency Grants Program in 2013.
In September 2013 almost 200 Victorian schools received grants of up to $10,000 to
reduce energy use and promote sustainable practices.
A total of 400 grants of up to $10,000 will be awarded in 2013 and 2014.
ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic now provides an online data management system to help
schools track their sustainability achievements, identify savings made and get formally
certified and recognised for their efforts.
To find out more go to www.resourcesmartschools.vic.gov.au
Appendix
Sustainability Fund allocations 2012 to 13
Organisation
New Commitments from the Sustainability Fund
Project
Sustainability Victoria
Towong Shire Council
FirstRate5®
Tallangatta Eco-education Hub
Funding
Support $
862,800
500,000
New allocations made under existing Sustainability Fund supported programs
Projects overseen by the Department of Environment and Primary Industries
Funding Program: Communities for Nature Grants Program - Round 2
Organisation
Project
Funding
Amount $
Mid-Loddon Sub-Catchment
Protection and enhancement of
5,576
Management Group
mid-Loddon woodland
ecosystems-filling in the gaps
Ashbourne Landcare Group
Upper Campaspe River Riparian
9,962
Zone Restoration
Wedderburn Conservation
Conserving Malleefowl at Wychitella
10,000
Management Network
NCR
Friends of the Box-Ironbark
Promoting natural regeneration
4,200
Forest Inc. (Mount Alexander
through Forest Creek catchment by
Region)
stopping the spread of St John's
wort
Baynton Sidonia Landcare Group Prendergasts Lane Gorse
Eradication Extension Project
Sutton Grange Landcare Group Weed Control in the headwaters of
Inc.
Axe Creek
Johns Hill Landcare Group Inc. Emerald's latest bushland reserve
Australasian Native Orchid
Plains Grassy Woodland
Society (Geelong Group)
maintenance, Caladenia pumila
propagation and restoration
Wedderburn P to 12 college
Wedderburn College Indigenous
Ecosystem Project.
Bendigo Mountain Bike Club
Rationalisation and redevelopment
of Mountain Bike Cross-Country
trails in Bendigo Regional Park.
Barongarook Landcare Group
Joining Forces Cleaning Up
Barongarook Water Courses
Balcombe and Moorooduc
Balcombe Nature Trail: Habitat
Landcare Group
enhancement along Balcombe
Creek, Mount Martha.
Alvie Tree Planters
Lake Purdigulac revegetation
Mornington Railway Preservation Protection of Diuris Punctata Orchid
Society Inc.
and Snow Gum Grassy Woodland,
Mornington Tourist Railway, 2013
Port Fairy Consolidated School Latham's Snipe Habitat Protection
and Community Education Program
Victorian Mobile Landcare Group Parks Vic/Fintona/VMLCG Willows
Inc. (VMLCG)
Programme 2013
Euroa Arboretum
Restoring wetlands at the Euroa
Arboretum
Ultima Lions Club
Bird Habitat Nesting Project
Jawbone Marine Sanctuary Care Community Protecting Jawbone
Group (JMSC)
Marine Sanctuary
McKenzie's Hill Action and
Old Diamond Hill Community
Landcare Group
Parklands - The first step
Christmas Hills Landcare Group Nest boxes for Tuans in Christmas
Hills
Turtle Bend Committee of
Native Hut Creek - "Turtle Bend"
Management
Restoration
Kulkyne Way Landcare Group
The Kulkyne Way Landcare Group:
Inc.
Vertebrate Pest Control Action &
Turtle Nest Site Protection Project
Northern Plains Conservation
Patho Plains Fox Control Program
Management Network
(PPFCP)
East Loddon Landcare Group
Calivil Recreation Reserve
Restoration
Bullengarook Landcare Group
Nest boxes for Arboreal Native
Animals at Bullengarook
9,980
9,200
9,925
9,204
10,000
10,000
9,944
10,000
8,950
7,198
9,910
6,132
10,000
6,944
5,794
10,000
9,830
9,262
10,000
10,000
9,980
9,280
Wangaratta Sustainability
Restoring Our Waterways Carp
Network
Muster
Friends of Flinders Coastline Inc. Coastal Flinders Restoration Project
- Mornington Peninsula National
Park
Newstead Landcare Group Inc. Riparian Protection and Restoration
in the Newstead Area Stage 4
Manton & Stony Creeks
Red Hill South Landcare Biolink
Landcare Group
project
Manangatang Landcare Group Racing after Rabbits in
Manangatang
Birchip Landcare Group
Mahoods Corner to Goulds Reserve
Biolink
Leitchville Landcare Group
Treecare
Conservation Ecology Centre
Revegetating and Restoring Manna
Gum Reserve
Wonthaggi Seed Bank Inc.
Construction of South Dudley
Wetland Stage 1
Benambra Dinner Plain Omeo
Habitat improvement to protect
Landcare group
sub-alpine wet heathland within the
Dinner Plain village
Breamlea Coastcare
Moonah Woodland Conservation
Project, Breamlea
Barengi Gadjin Land Council
Restoring Country
Friends of Paddock Creek
Restoration of Native Habitat of the
Reserve and Moorabool
Paddock Creek Reserve, Gordon
Catchment Landcare Group
Friends of Williams Road Beach Communities consolidating retention
habitat (Friends of Williams Road
Beach)
Gippsland Plains Conservation Saving the Peregrine Falcon
Management Network
Friends of Iramoo Incorporated Cairnlea Grasslands Community
2013 to 2014
Burke Road Billabong Committee Burke Road Billabong Reserve of Management Inc.
woodland management and
rehabilitation
Merricks Beach Foreshore
Weed Control and Revegetation
Reserve Committee of
Management Blocks 1 and 2
Management
Merricks Beach Foreshore
Warragul & District Landcare
Warragul Community Rabbit Control
Group
Program
Edward Hunter Heritage Bush
Edward Hunter Heritage Bush
Reserve Committee of
Reserve Restoration Works:
Management
Rehabilitation of weed infested site,
fora enhancement and learning
project, stage 1
8,920
6,530
10,000
10,000
9,900
9,659
8,472
8,385
10,000
10,000
10,000
10,000
6,667
7,722
9,900
9,950
6,930
6,800
10,000
10,000
Friends of Swipers Gully
Lalbert Landcare Group
Culgoa Landcare Group
Friends of Dandenong Valley
Parklands Inc.
Lancefield Park Recreation
Reserve
Restoration of Swipers Gully
Coordinated rabbit baiting at Lalbert
Culgoa's Bait-a-Bunny Program
Habitat improvement for Powerful
Owls and Growling Grass Frog
Community initiated weed removal
and enhancement of Lancefield
Swap Area
Biodiversity Enhancement on the
upper Yarrowee River (Phase 2)
Protecting and reveging Yatmerone
10,000
9,996
9,985
9,950
Nesting Boxes Along Darebin Creek
3,180
Woodland Species Habitat
Assessment, Enhancement and
Protection Scoping Study
Rowsley Landcare Group
New Reserve on Old Rowsley Gun
Club Site
Friends of the Maribyrnong Valley Tea Gardens Boxthorn removal
Incorporated
Ripplebrook Landcare Group
Ripplebrook Integrated Rabbit
Control
Conservation Volunteers
Protecting the Eastern Barred
Bandicoot in Hamilton
Nature Glenelg Trust
Reducing the impact of artificial
drainage on Gooseneck Swamp,
Grampians National Park
Phillip Island Nature Park
Short-tailed Shearwater habitat
rehabilitation at Ventnor West
Ross Creek Landcare Group
Revitalising Ross Creek's creekside
habitats
10,000
Wattle Flat-Pootilla Landcare
Group
Friends of Yatmerone auspiced
under Advance Penshurst
Incorporated
Darebin Creek Management
Committee Inc.
Indigo Environment Advisory
Committee
9,690
9,675
6,590
9,970
9,937
4,736
9,510
10,000
6,380
5,200
Funding Program: Roadside Litter grants (Victorian Litter Strategy)
Organisation
Project
Funding
Amount $
Peninsula Zero Waste
A Cleaner Mornington Peninsula is
21,000
(Mornington Peninsula Regional in Your Hands
Waste Management Group)
City of Greater Dandenong
Roadside Litter Campaign
48,000
Wyndham City Council
Litter Busters Wyndham
45,283
Bass Coast Shire Council and
Councils unite to fight roadside litter
35,000
South Gippsland Shire Council
(joint project)
VicRoads
South Gippsland Highway Roadside
28,500
Litter Prevention Project
Barwon Regional Waste
Litter prevention is everyone's
Management Group
responsibility! Building capacity for
roadside litter prevention beyond
councils in the Barwon region
Central Murray Regional Waste Sunraysia Highway and Beyond
Management Group
Litter Project
Waste Reduction Group
Secure Your Load
(South West Regional Waste
Management Group)
48,500
33,500
49,320
Funding Program: Smarter Resources, Smarter Business Program - Capital Funding
Round 1 Grants
Organisation
Project
Funding
Support $
Longwarry Food Park
Milk Powder Storage and Transport
50,000
Optimisation
John Devilee Refrigeration
Devilee's Sustainable
25,000
Manufacturing Project
Dennison Food Manufacturing Dennison Foods Bulker Bag
50,000
Unloader Units
Multicultural Aged Care Services Energy Efficiency Upgrade at MACS
6,600
Geelong Inc.
The Good Guys Maribyrnong
Good Guys Energy Efficiency
25,000
Project - Maribyrnong
The Good Guys Bayswater
Good Guys Energy Efficiency
25,000
Project - Bayswater
The Good Guys Narre Warren Good Guys Energy Efficiency
23,557
Project - Narre Warren
The Good Guys Bendigo
Good Guys Energy Efficiency
21,374
Project - Bendigo
Blue Pyrenees Estate Winery
Blue Pyrenees Tank Insulation
23,780
Altro Engineering
Altro Energy Efficiency Project
8,930
I C S Industries
I C S Industries Energy Efficiency
12,640
Project
Sparkling Beverages
Project Chiller
25,000
Bright Licensed Supermarket
Bright I G A Energy Reduction
25,000
Project
Mount Martha Village Self
Mount Martha Energy Reduction
18,819
Service
Project
Rydyn Supermarket
Store Relighting Program
8,800
Flavourfull Hydroponics
Greenhouse Climate Control
14,500
System Upgrade
Haymes Paints
Improving Heating and Cooling
16,800
Efficiency
Funding Program: Smarter Resources, Smarter Business Program - Funding
Application Support
Organisation
Project
Funding
Support $
Barfell Industries Pty Ltd
Clean Technology Investment
1,500
Program and
Clean Technology Food and
Foundries Investment program
Rollspack Pty Ltd
Clean Technology Investment
1,500
Program and
Clean Technology Food and
Foundries Investment program
GBP Products Pty Ltd
GBP Products Funding Application
1,500
Support
Woods Furniture Pty Ltd
SRSB Woods Furniture Funding
1,500
Application Support
MiTek Australia Ltd
MiTek Australia Funding Application
1,500
Support SRSB
Icatron Pty Ltd
SRSB Application Form Funding
1,500
Application Support
Visy Board (Wodonga) Pty Ltd SRSB Application Form Funding
1,500
Application Support
Funding Program: Smarter Resources, Smarter Business Program - Assessment and
Implementation Application Support
Organisation
Project
Funding
Support $
Premara Pty Ltd
Premara Labels Resource
17,700
Assessment
Welvic Australia Pty Ltd
Welvic Materials Assessment
18,000
Gisborne Supermarket Unit
Williamson's Foodworks
4,320
Trust
E D M I Gas Pty Ltd
E D M I Materials Assessment
16,789
GBP Products Pty Ltd
GBP Products Energy Assessment
16,332
Nightingale Bros Pty Ltd
Energy Assessment
9,666
Murray Human Resources Inc. Murray Human Services Energy
5,000
Assessment
Funding Program: Driving Investment for New Recycling (DINR) - Round 2
Organisation
Project
Funding
Support $
Action Recovery and Recycling Action Recovery and Recycling
500,000
Brooklyn Material Recovery Facility
Alex Fraser Group
Increasing the use of recycled glass
54,845
in civil construction materials
Sita Australia
SITA Geelong Heales Road
265,000
Tyrecycle
Visy Recycling
Waste Convertors
Western Composting
Technology
Resource Recovery Facility
Tyrecycle Capacity Expansion
Program (TCEP)
Coolaroo MRF - C&I Waste Project
Upgrade of Waste Converters
Recycling Facility
WCT Contaminant Removal &
Product Refinement
Funding Program: Building Victoria’s Organics Recovery
Organisation
Project
Cleanaway Transpacific
Industries
Corangamite Shire Council
East Gippsland Shire Council
Southern Grampians Council
Mildura Weekly Organics Waste
(WOW) Trial
Increasing organics recovery and
composting capacity at Corangamite
Regional Landfill
Far East Gippsland Kitchen to
Compost Organics Diversion
Organics recovery in the Southern
Grampians Shire
500,000
500,000
500,000
174,600
Funding
Support $
100,000
60,000
89,450
51,940
Funding Program: Regional Waste Management Groups Support Package
Regional Waste Management Project
Funding
Group - RWMG
Support $
Barwon
Organics Processing at Alvie Landfill
45,000
Colac Using GOSIP Concept
Barwon
Regional Timber Market
40,000
Development Strategy
Barwon
Regional Transfer Station Strategy
40,000
Calder
Organics Management Strategy
60,000
Calder
Green Organics on Farm
40,000
Management Trial
Calder
Get It Right On Bin Night Campaign
25,000
Central Murray
Kerbside Pride Organics (Organics
30,000
Diversion)
Central Murray
Landfill and transfer station
95,000
assessment
Desert Fringe
Transfer Station redesign
125,000
Gippsland
Regional Landfill Rehabilitation Plan
100,000
(closed & soon to be closed landfills
in Gippsland)
Gippsland
Regional Landfill Business Case
20,000
Workshop
Gippsland
Silage wrap diversion from landfill
5,000
Goulburn Valley
Goulburn Valley
Goulburn Valley
Goulburn Valley
Goulburn Valley
Goulburn Valley
Goulburn Valley
Goulburn Valley
Goulburn Valley
Grampians
Grampians
Grampians
Grampians
Highlands
Highlands
Mildura
Mildura
Mildura
Mildura
Mildura
Mildura
Mildura
Mildura
Mornington Peninsula
North East
North East
North East
South Western
Dieldrin Contamination in Compost
Investigation
Compost use in broad acre cropping
regimes
Waste Plasterboard Management
Plan
Constraint mapping in the Mitchell
Shire
Conflict management training for
transfer station staff
Certificate IV Asset maintenance
(Waste Management) Delivery in the
GV
Kerbside organics trial collection for
the Campaspe & Mitchell Shires
Regional Attitudinal Survey for
Goulburn Valley
Regional Kerbside advertising
campaign
2nd Hand Saturday
CROP (Cross Regional Organics
Processing) Project In Highlands and
Grampians Regions
GRASP (Glass Recycling And
market development Solutions for the
end Product)
Kerbside Audit Program (KAP)
Kerbside Community Education
Program
Greenwaste Chipper Blender
Sharps and Medical Waste
Education Kit Upgrade
Kerbside Organics Trial
Polystyrene Compactor
Home Recycling Eco Bin
Dog Pouches
Food Waste Avoidance
Kerbside Pride for Business
Get It Right On Bin Night (Supporting
Project)
360L Recycling Bin Trial
NevRwaste Kerbside Recycling and
MSW Bin Audit
Onsite Alpine Organics
Improved Data Collection
4,000
4,000
3,000
15,000
15,000
9,500
26,500
40,000
8,000
10,000
50,000
15,000
50,000
35,685
65,000
2,500
28,000
25,000
25,000
28,500
1,000
10,000
5,000
125,000
50,000
50,000
25,000
10,000
South Western
South Western
South Western
Organics Practical Technologies and
Market Development Opportunities
Waste Facility Infrastructure
Investment and Services
Kerbside Pride
30,000
50,000
35,000
Published by Sustainability Victoria.
This e-text version was produced by Vision Australia.
Ph: 1300 84 74 66
Email: printaccess@visionaustralia.org
Although every effort was made during the transcription process to ensure an accurate
representation of the original document, Vision Australia does not accept responsibility
for any errors or omissions, nor for the results of specific action taken on the basis of
this transcription. The original document should always remain the point of reference
for content accuracy.