Welcome to Newsletter Number 64 Dear SENG Queensland members, contacts and friends, We hope you had a great Christmas break and are enjoying the new year. This year you will see a slightly different format for our events as Engineers Australia has requested that we reduce the number of CPD events to three or four a year and endeavour to make them larger with more content. The QLD committee is in the process of developing the 2017 program. Keep an eye on these newsletters, and on the SENG website and the Qld branch page for updates.
As always, we welcome input from members regarding topics or speakers of interest. Please contact one of the Qld committee members, or consider coming along to a committee meeting, held at Engineering House prior to each of our technical seminars.
Sustainable Engineering Society
Qld Branch
Engineers Australia
Connecting Climate Chaos
Steve Posselt is making the Climate Emergency Declaration and Mobilization petition (link is external)the focus of the final leg of his Connecting Climate Chaos kayak voyage from 1 January till 25 February 2017.
Steve thought his journey was over when he got to Paris but it's not. If everything promised at Paris is achieved we will limit global warming to three degrees. Three degrees means no Arctic or Antarctic ice, no glaciers and very likely no humans. This is real, happening at present and for people under 20 now the effects could be catastrophic, not just the wild weather we are experiencing with just one degree of warming. This is an emergency and we need the science to be taken seriously by all governments. On News Years Day 2017, Steve will bring out Old Yella for one last time. He will paddle from his home in Ballina where he recuperated from the gruelling Paris journey, to Canberra. The trip will be down the coast to Moruya, and then turn right and drag the kayak up to Canberra.
See our website for more information. Other Events National Sustainability in Business Conference 2017
Renewables, Markets, Innovation, Opportunities, Capital
With scary developments happening elsewhere around our planet, it is now more important than ever that you prepare yourself, and your business for the impending and unavoidable changes. Everyone will be impacted by the global changes now manifesting in our climate, our health, our economy, and our very wellbeing. Here is a line up of fantastic sustainability experts who will help you understand the seriousness of the issues, and how you can address them. An event not to be missed if you care about our global future, and your grandchildren. The conference itself will address the more practical matters, but if you really want an in-depth introduction to the science of our global “problematique”, and what you as a senior executive need to do, then join the Long Future Executive Briefing on the Wednesday afternoon. You will come away from the briefing with a new and purposeful approach to your business activities and life in general. The Executive Briefing will empower you to help create a Long Future for life on Earth.
David Hood.
22-24 March 2017
Early bird Registration (Save $100) Closes Tuesday 7th Feb
Registration
View the Progam
EcoCentre Forum - Is there a Doctor in the House?
Exploring the future of health and well-being in the age of climate change.
6-8pm Wednesday 8th Feb
Free Event
Griffith University Eco Centre
Building N68, 170 Kessels Rd Nathan
RSVP Essential - email [email protected]
The Paris Climate Agreement - Implications for Australian Lawyers.
9th March, 5:45pm, Refreshments Provided
Banco Court. Book Here
$30 Tickets / $15 Concession
Erosion and Sediment Control (ESC) Capacity Building Workshops
Click here for full list of workshop locations across QLD and corresponding dates.
Running between April 19 - 23 June.
Dam Breach Analysis Course Brisbane
The course provides theoretical background and practical, interactive workshops covering the latest advances in dam breach modeling. The course is designed to prepare attendees to build, run, troubleshoot, interpret and animate dam breach models from scratch using the free, newly released HEC-RAS software.
Krey Price - Surface Water Solutions
Mon 13th- Tues14 Feb
Access Registration Here
25% discount available for Engineers Australia Members.
Contact [email protected] to obtain discount.
Interesting Snippets
Care2
10/10 points for Indias capital city, New Dehli, for instigating a firm ban on all forms of disposable plastic for the sake of the environment and future generations health and safety. Hoorah for that ! Read more about it here.
A man living alone in one of the USA's coldest towns has recorded 40 years of important data on snow. Read more about this interesteing story here.
Carbon Capture breakthrough in India converts CO2 into Baking Powder. Read more about this game-changing project.
'Climate Change' now deleted from Wisoncin DNR Website, following state officials banning employees in 2015 from talking about it, conducting any work on it or even responding to emails about it. We are seriously going backwards!!! Read the article here.
Advice on recycling your clothes... The technologies just don't exist yet to manage large scale textile recycling, despite what large consumer fashion labels will try to have you believe in attempt to lessen your guilt for buying more than you really need!! Buy less, buy high quality. Read more here.
Worlds First Solar Road Opens in France! Talk about innovation... they call it Wattway. It has the potential to provide 8% of the French popultaion with electricity. I say wattaway to produce renewables!! Read more here.
Australian Ethical
Are you a self proclaimed foodie? Become an ethical foodie by following advice from some of the countries most sustainable and ethically minded chefs! Read their recipes here.
Australian Water Association
Extensive studies have shown that increasing fishing reserves will positively impact environmental diversities and local communities. Based on this research, a more ambitious protection treaty should be proposed by the Convention on Biological Diversity, increasing national marine protected areas from 10%-20-30%. Read more here.
Australian Marine Conservation Industry
The Turnball Government is backing a $100 billion investment target to expand the Australian Coal Industry, following the hottest year on record for our planet. Coal use in China has peaked and is on the decline. India is stepping away from coal and implementing plans for increased renewable energies instead. It's time for the government to WAKE UP. Email Prime Minister Turnbull now.
The Chronicle
Breaking News - 400 jobs created in the Western Downs region thanks to new approvals for the implementation of the largest solar farm in the country!! Read about it here.
Open Comment International Erosion Control Association
Revison to Appendix B of IECA(2008) and sediment basin factsheet is provided here in DRAFT form for industry feedback and use.
State Planning Policy (SPP) under review
Formal submissions of feedback accepted until Friday 10th Feb.
See here for more details.
David's Blog Keep up to date by reading David's Blog on the SENG website. Log in using your to post comments or questions. Join the conversation on our LinkedIn group page If you have an idea to share, an issue you would like feedback on, or just want to follow the conversation, click here to join the group. |
