Page 3237 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 21 September 1994
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The report analyses the pressures which are affecting or causing those resources to be in that condition - usually human impact - and then considers the responses being made by government, business, community groups and the public to those pressures; that is, what those groups are doing about the pressures which affect the condition of the environment and what effect those actions are having. In order to comment on the "condition, pressures and responses", a set of environmental indicators were developed, again with wide consultation. These indicators have provided a framework against which the report has been written. They have provided a guideline of what people consider to be important aspects of the environment and important effects on the environment. These indicators are expected to change over time, as better information becomes available and as environmental circumstances change. Dr Baker convened expert reference groups to develop each of the resource chapters, each of which used equally valid but different ways of approaching the task at hand. Members should note, therefore, that the report's chapter format varies. The challenge for future reports is to decide on a consistent approach and achieve a uniform document which maximises its usefulness.
Mr Deputy Speaker, the Government will be providing a comprehensive response to the commissioner's report in due course. However, I would like to inform the Assembly of the broader scope of the report, noting areas of particular significance. The commissioner's overview of the report provides a summary of the main deliberations of the expert reference groups and the commissioner's assessment of those deliberations. It points out areas where the ACT is at the forefront of international developments, as well as highlighting areas for further work, both of which are important aspects in fully understanding the real state of the ACT's environment.
It is pleasing to note the commissioner's recognition of the outstanding performance now achieved by ACTEW at the Lower Molonglo Water Quality Control Centre. The Government is delighted that our water utility is recognised for its sewage treatment process, which is at the very cutting edge of development in international terms. Also, the ACT's management and development of urban stormwater systems, including the use of lakes, water pollution control ponds, temporary sediment control ponds, gross pollutant traps and floodways, is providing international leadership in terms of protecting downstream water quality.
In addition, the ACT public transport system, ACTION, is currently using new Renault buses which comply with the new European Community vehicle emission standards. These standards are a significant improvement on the current Australian standard. Small scale trials of alternative fuels such as diesohol and compressed natural gas are also being carried out by ACTION, and ACTEW is testing an electric car. Ethanol and liquefied natural gas initiatives are being monitored by ACTION.
Some important issues raised by the commissioner in this section of the report are that there are no legally binding national standards for measuring air quality, that there are no national standards for other environmental management practices and that Australia as a whole has yet to see ecological considerations assume appropriate priority with economic considerations in major development proposals. The question of appropriate standards will continue to be addressed by the ACT Government within the relevant national forums such as in the soon to be established National Environment Protection Council.
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