NEWSLETTER

April 2012Issue 19

DIARY DATES1 Daylight Savings Finishes

6-10 Easter Break - TFI /Uni Closed14-22 Australian Heritage Week

18 World Heritage Day22 Earth Day22 uTwitch Training Session25 ANZAC Day / Admin Professionals

Day27 Arbor Day

InSIDE ThIS ISSuEPage Topic

2 Director’s Welcome2 Environmental and Sustainability Pro-

grams3 Hunter Wetlands4 Conrad Martens’ Sketches of the

Hunter Region Brought to Life4 Belfield Climate Archive Expands with

New Find5 Doyles Creek Mining Assisting Univer-

sity of Newcastle in Promoting Sustain-able Energy

6-10 Highlight on Research Expertise of the Academic Staff in the Discipline of Envi-ronmental Science and Management

10 Conservation Volunteers Australia, Con-servation and Threatened Species

11 Bid to Safeguard Biodiversity12 Bridging the gap between end user

needs and science capability: dealing with uncertainty in future scenarios

12 uTwitch Training Session: Chasing Birds on Campus, Sunday 22nd April

WhAT IS bIoDIvERSITY?Biodiversity is the variety of all living things; the different plants, animals and micro organisms, the genetic information they contain and the ecosystems they form. Biodiversity is usually explored at three levels - genetic diversity, species diversity and ecosystem diversity. These three levels work together to create the complexity of life on Earth.

2

Carpooling ServiceThe University provides an on-line carpooling service which is an effective, safe and convenient way of establishing car-pools for regular, daily commuters but also allows carpool-ing for more casual and one-off arrangements. Carpooling has the potential to reduce carbon emissions, reduce traffic congestion and is an important component of a holistic transport strategy. For further information or to register go to http://newcastle.mycarpools.com.au/ . As a way of pro-moting the service and to provide an incentive to carpool, everyone who registers at the site will shortly go into a draw to win a carparking space for a semester. A total of four carparking spaces will be available.

vegetation offset strategy – Callaghan CampusA vegetation off-set strategy is currently being developed for the Callaghan Campus in conjunction with the Land-scape Management Plan. The purpose of an off-set strat-egy is to provide guidance on how impacts on vegetation as a result of development which cannot be avoided will be managed and compensated for. The backbone of the strat-egy is the identification of areas suitable for off-setting and that will be protected in perpetuity. For this purpose, the riparian corridor and the freshwater wetland will be included in the strategy as areas to be protected.

RecyclingBins for commingled recyclables have been introduced in 2011 and are now available in many locations throughout the Campus including Student Residences and offices. In 2011, this service has diverted approximately 130 tonnes of

Environmental and Sustainability programsby Elfi blackburn Environmental Manager university of newcastle

recyclables and paper from landfill at the Callaghan Cam-pus and about 31 tonnes at the Ourimbah Campus.

It is less well known, however, that the University is also engaged in other recycling initiatives including the collec-tion of electronic waste (e-waste) and fluorescent tubes and bulbs. During 2011, approximately 22 tonnes of outdat-ed and superfluous e-waste and 2.4 tonnes of fluorescent tubes and bulbs were collected for recycling.

E-waste in particular is of concern because it constitutes one of the fastest growing waste types. Every year, Austral-ians purchase over 2.4 million new personal computers and currently only around 1.5% of computers are recycled. In addition, electronics contain a variety of substances that can be highly detrimental to human health and the environ-ment such as lead, nickel, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury if disposed of inappropriately. Most importantly, however, recycling allows the recovery of finite resources such as copper, gold, silver, bauxite, lead and tin that would other-wise be lost and the associated reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and pollution.

bush regeneration – ourimbah campusIn late 2010 a bush regeneration project was completed at the Ourimbah Campus. A team of professional bush regenerators removed and controlled weeds within approxi-mately 3 ha of the riparian zone. The bush regenerators have returned to undertake a secondary weeding program in this area. This is a critical, yet often neglected compo-nent in the bush regeneration process as it will eliminate the re-establishment of weeds and also target weeds not removed during the primary control.

Director’s WelcomeEarlier this month, at very short notice everyone in the office dropped everything and put together a stand for the Newcastle Show under the “Skills on Show” banner. We successfully manned it for the three long days, with greatly appreciated assistance from four student volunteers, and received strong and positive feedback from the public.

Then this week I was cced into this email to Gary Ellem: “I’d like to thank you for addressing the group of NSW TAFE Managers and Environmental Officers during our visit to UoN/NIER as part of the 2012 TEOG Forum hosted by Hunter TAFE. A number of delegates commented how useful the TFI approach and the Carbon Val-ley 2050 framework you shared was in terms of building sustainability capacity of the Region. It very much helped to set the scene for the day’s visits and gave us useful insight into building TAFE’s role in vocational education and training for sustainability, and developing essential partner-ships along the way. Again, my sincere thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to spend time with delegates, it certainly added much value to the group’s visit to the Hunter. Neale Farmer | Coordinator Major Environmental Initiatives”

There are only six (Belinda, Dani, Gary, Liz, Pete, & Steve) in our office, none employed full-time and yet the newslet-

ters, seminars, workshops, articles for the Herald, grant applications and much more are produced excellently, will-ingly and with humour by my dedicated crew. Directing TFI is such fun when one has a good team.

Tim Roberts, Director

3

UoN was recently advised that a further application for funding to extend the bush regeneration of the riparian cor-ridor by another 2 ha was successful. This project will not only restore functionality of the riparian zone and enhance habitat but also ensure that the transport of weed seeds into the regenerated riparian area downstream is disrupted and the risk of reinfestation minimised

Energy Management PlanFacility Management is currently in the process of develop-ing a brief for the engagement of Consultants to conduct an energy audit at the Callaghan Campus and to subsequently develop an energy management plan with the objectives of devising initiatives that will reduce the Universities energy and carbon footprint.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service is preparing a plan of management for Hunter Wetlands National Park. This web page has been developed to provide infor-mation about the national park specific to the development of the plan of manage-ment.

We value your opinion and welcome your participation in the community consulta-tion forums which will be open until the end of April 2012. We also encourage you to complete the Ash Island Visitor Survey at http://hunterwetlandsnationalpark.com.au/.

The Hunter Wetlands National Park has been a place for those who are environmentally minded, for those who care about what is going on in their own backyard, and for the years of school children, including myself, who have walked the area, learning much more about the environ-ment than they ever could sitting in a classroom.

Although many Novocastrians have experienced what this park has to offer, including threatened species and endan-gered ecological communities, there is still a long way to go in the search for a perfect sustainable sanctuary that can house a range of plant and animal species.

Management is key to help secure a lasting environmental future for the park, but the Wetlands cannot do this alone. It may not be as large as Kakadu, but individual as well as group interest is needed for a more tailored and efficient plan. If you have not visited the Park in a while, don’t fret, because their facilities such as boardwalks, walking and cycle trails will allow you to see all the important features. This will help you make an informed decision about how you want the Park to grow.

The Hunter Wetlands National Park has provided a survey online for interested parties to share their input about what lies ahead. Visit http://hunterwetlandsnationalpark.com.au/ now to complete the Ash Island Visitor Survey, as well as contributing to valuable forums beginning March 2012. You can also email them at hunter.wetlands@environment.nsw.gov.au, or call 49464100.

hunter Wetlands – A Part of newcastle, A Part of Youby Leah Henkel, TFI Intern WIN

The Tom Farrell Institute for the Environment has as its Vision statement: “Regional solutions for a sustainable future”. We are seeking a cartoon that encapsulates that vision.

Draw a cartoon that represents “sustainability”, and send it in by email as a pdf to or send as a hard copy by post and you will have the chance to win an iPad 3. The entry must be in black and white, on A4 paper, and be signed by the originator.

Entries close on 31st May 2012.

Email entries should be addressed to belinda.mcnab@newcastle.edu.au or by post to IDC220, First Floor, Industry Development Centre, University Drive Callaghan NSW 2308

All entries submitted become the property of TFI.

An iPad 3!

4

The State Library of New South Wales has digitised a selection of Conrad Martens‘ drawings. Among them are drawings that document his travels though the Hunter in the years 1841 and 1855.

Conrad Martens (1801-1878), artist, was born in London England. In 1832 he joined the scientific team aboard the Beagle with Charles Darwin, replacing Augustus Earle as artist. He left the Beagle in October 1834 making his way eventually to Sydney in 1835. There he made his living selling water colour paintings among the Sydney elite. But the 1840s brought hard times and he was forced to travel to find a new market for his works among the settlers and squatters of New South Wales and Queensland. This economic downturn thankfully brought him to the Hunter Region in 1841 and again in 1852 where he was com-missioned by a number of local landowners to paint their homesteads and environs. These land owners included Edward Charles Close Esq (Morpeth), Mrs Dumaresq (Port Stephens and Tahlee), Captain P.P. King (Tahlee, Lady Parry’s Seat, Buchan Mountain and Stroud), Alexander Walter Scott Esq (Burwood, Ash Island, Newcastle, Morri-set’s Baths, Christ Church), H. Scott (Glendon), J. W. White Esq (Stroud, Tahlee), Captain Marcus Freeman Brownrigg, R.N. (Carrington, Port Stephens and Stroud) and C Kemp (Stroud) [Thanks to Conrad Martens “Account of Pictures Painted in N.S. Wales” Name Index to Patrons 1835-1878

Compiled by Michael Organ (1989)]

We have selected those drawings relating to Newcastle and the Hunter Region, and have re-arranged them in chronological order. The original sketches themselves are included across a variety of sketchbooks and are not in date order. The item number, title and link to the source album’s entry on the State Library’s site is included below each image. This allows us to course Marten’s journey through the region in a methodical manner. We are de-lighted that the State Library has digitised these works, and hope they continue making these treasures accessible. The drawings were obviously done before the paintings them-selves, so it would be an interesting exercise to track down where the paintings of the scenes are now located. An ex-hibition of these selected drawings and their accompanying paintings would make a great attraction for art lovers and historians of the Hunter Region if it were to ever be assem-bled and curated.

http://coalriver.wordpress.com/2012/01/23/conrad-martens-in-newcastle-and-the-hunter/

Conrad Martens’ Sketches of the hunter Region brought to Life

Late last year a old register containing a further treasure trove of scientific climate data was unearthed.

The register, belonging to leading New England pastoral-ist, meteorologist and astronomer Algernon Henry Belfield (1838-1922), brings to a conclusion the climate records meticulously collected at his observatory and weather recording facilities at Eversleigh Station over a period of 45 years.

The work is a testament to Algernon Belfield’s dedication to the collection of scientific climate data, and his love for the elements, the final record was taken on the 2 July 1922, only weeks before he died on the Saturday 5th August 1922.

Richard, his grandson, relates that on the Wednesday prior to his death, he had collected his mail, which was a buggy trip to Dumaresq Railway Station with his fox terrier, com-ing home he complained to one of his boys that he was feeling a little weary and retired to his room at Eversleigh. He passed away early Saturday morning, buried on the Sunday, therefore not disrupting the working week. An ef-ficient man to the end.

The Register was digitised by William Oates at the Univer-sity of New England, and uploaded into a single PDF file by the University of Newcastle’s Cultural Collections. You can download the entire Register as a single PDF here:

Register of Meteorological Observations taken at Ever-sleigh 1908-1922 (63 MB PDF File)

belfield Climate Archive Expands with new Findby Gionni DiGravio, University Archivist

To access the full climate archive click the following post relating to the original deposit of climate data records from 1877-1907: http://uoncc.wordpress.com/2011/03/09/climate-ar-chive-to-help-predict-extreme-weather-events/

The Alternative Futures Conference 2012 will be held in Newcas-tle, NSW on May 21-24 and will provide an innovative platform for representatives from councils, government agencies, research, business, nongovernment, community, and technology sectors interested in exploring emerging trends, progressive leadership, and new pathways towards sustainability for regions across Australia.

The conference will feature some of the leading thinkers and innovators including our Gary Ellem, from around the country and overseas addressing many of the challenges facing regional Australia’s future planning and development.

The conference will commence with a Welcome Reception on Monday 21 May and finish with Village Markets and optional field trips on Thursday afternoon 24 May.

5

Doyles Creek Mining Assisting university of newcastle in Promoting Sustainable EnergyThe Doyles Creek Mining Foundation has presented the Tom Farrell Institute with a $10,000 grant to continue its important work developing regional solutions for a sustain-able future.

As part of our ‘Diamonds from Coal Project’ we have identi-fied the technology development of Electric Vehicles (EV) as a key cleantech industry of the future and one that is well suited to the Hunter manufacturing chain and associ-ated R&D.

The Hunter Valley Electric Vehicle Festival (HVEVF) was lauched in November 2011 to help focus regional develop-ment on this sector. The inaugural HVEVF received broad acclaim from the public, industry, and government sectors and is being staged again in August 2012.

A key component of the HVEVF is the EV Prize Schools Competition. This Competition is promoted into second-ary schools where students are encouraged to develop an electric vehicle using a battery costing not more than $200.

The $10,000 grant from the Doyles Creek Mining Founda-tion will be applied specifically to the EV Prize Schools Competition.

“This generous grant from the Doyles Creek Mining will be used to promote participation in our EV Prize Schools Competition. We will be using the funding specifically to

encourage schools in the Upper Hunter region to take part”, Professor Tim Roberts, Tom Farrell Institute said.

“We will use the funding in a variety of ways. These include for the promo-tion of the Competition, to encour-age other mining companies in the region to take part, as a prize for the ultimate winner as well as to subsidize the costs incurred by schools in taking part”, Professor Tim Roberts said.

Community Foundation spokeswoman Maree Roberts is pleased that Doyles Creek Mining are able to support such a worthwhile cause.

“The Tom Farrell Institute is a significant contributor to research into sustainable development in the local region. We hope that with this funding assistance, Professor Roberts can continue to grow the profile of the Hunter Val-ley Electric Vehicle Festival and stage another successful event in 2012”, Maree Roberts said.

“I am especially pleased that the funding will be used to promote education and training outcomes which is both a passion of mine as well as an important part of what makes the Doyles Creek Training Mine Project different from other underground mining operations”, Maree Roberts said.

Following a very successful conference in Singleton in Sep-tember 2011 and EPA has asked the Tom Farrell Institute to organize a followup meeting to be held on 5-6 September this year.

Some 190 persons attended the 2011 event which was an outstanding success.

The format for this year is research, policy, future planning, and practical example presentations for the whole day, supplemented by posters to increase the possible range of topics to be covered. Supporting exhibition of booths from commercial and other interests wishing to display their wares and skills in the mine-site rehabilitation industry will also be on show.

We wish to ascertain your interest and comments and sug-gestions for our 2012 conference. Would you be:

• interested in presenting your research either orally or via poster display?

• interested in attending?

• interested in displaying your products?

• Interested in being a co-sponsor, partner through finan-cial contribution?

If you attended the 2011 conference we would welcome your feedback and suggestions for how we might make the program better, who we might ask to present a seminar etc.

We live in exciting times:

• The government should be releasing the Strategic Regional Land Use Plan for the Upper Hunter soon, and we hope to present some discussion around both agriculture vs mining, and the environment and mining;

• The NSW and Australian Governments are proposing to undertake a strategic assessment for coal mining in the Upper Hunter and some of the key issues for debate will be;

� the scale of impacts

� the role restoration and rehabilitation play, and

� biodiversity offsets and the perceived impact off-sets have on social and economic fabric etc.

• The need to deliver biodiversity outcomes in production landscapes

Don't forget to SAvE ThE DATE: 5-6 September 2012.

CALL FoR ExPRESSIonS oF InTEREST for the 2nd Annual best Practice Rehabilitation of Mined Lands Conference

Further details or enquiries should be made to Prof Tim Roberts, on 02 49217037 or Tim.Roberts@newcastle.edu.au

6

Professor Joe bidwellSchool of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Australia

QualificationsPhD (Zoology), Virginia Polytechnic and State University - USA, 1993

Master of Science (Zoology), Virginia Polytechnic and State University - USA, 1988

Research Expertise• Aquatic ecotoxicology

• Heavy metal toxicity

• Water quality assessment

• Wetland restoration

Joe Bidwell’s research is focused in the general areas of aquatic ecology and ecotoxicology. Specific interests include biochemical and physiological stress responses due to contaminant exposure with emphasis on energetics, response of benthic invertebrate communities to perturbation, amphibian toxicology, development of toxicity tests, and landscape level assessments of aquatic habitat quality using GIS.

highlight on Research Expertise of the Academic Staff in the Discipline of Environmental Science and Management

Dr Anita ChalmersLecturer, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Ourim-bah Campus

QualificationsPhD, University of New England, 1998

Bachelor of Science (Honours), University of Newcastle, 1992

Bachelor of Science, University of Newcastle, 1991

Research Expertise• River and wetland restoration

• Environmental flows

• Threatened riverine species & endangered ecological communities

• Long-stem planting technique

Anita’s research interests focus on the ecology of plants and aims to improve the management of vegetation by under-standing its response to natural and human disturbances.

In collaboration with University of Newcastle geomorphologist, Professor Wayne Erskine, and researchers at Southern Cross University she has recently completed research on the vegetation at Widden Brook in the Hunter Valley of NSW. This research showed the important role that Casuarina cunninghamiana (River Oak) plays in river restoration (by en-hancing the formation of in-channel benches) and that grazing by livestock reduces the recruitment of River Oaks. She also established the flow regimes typically experienced by River Oaks at Widden Brook. Anita is currently working on the riparian vegetation of Wollembi Brook, and its tributaries, with Professor Erskine.

More research on the the links between vegetation, fluvial processes and sediment dynamics is needed if we are to ef-fectively manage and restore riverine vegetation. Understanding how riparian and floodplain plant species respond to wet and dry climatic periods will also help us predict the impacts of climate change and determine environmental flow require-ments.

Ever wondered who is researching what in Environmental Science and Management? This month we highlight our researchers and their achievements.

Dr. John Clulow Lecturer, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan

Research Expertise• Amphibian conservation

• Wetland restoration

John Clulow’s research expertise is at the interface of two primary areas: Conservation Biology and

7

Dr Craig EvansAssociate Lecturer, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Information Technology

Research Expertise• Faecal source tracking

• Wastewater treatment

• Sustainable water use

Dr Troy GastonLecturer, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Information Technology, Ourimbah

Research Expertise• Estuarine ecology

• Wastewater tracking with stable isotopes

• By-catch reduction

Assoc Prof Phillip GearyAssistant Dean (International), Discipline of Environmental Science and Management, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Information Technology

Research Expertise• Constructed wetlands

• Water quality assessment

• Stormwater quality

• Groundwater assessment

• Soil quality assessment

• Environmental impacts associated with the on-site treatment and disposal of domestic and agricultural wastewaters, and stormwaters

• Movement and fate of contaminants in soils and groundwaters

• Performance of small-scale treatment systems such as sand filters and constructed wetland systems

• Effluent transport through vadose zone and tracer applications

• Microbial/pathogen source tracking in catchments

Phillip’s research field deals with the environmental impacts associated with the treatment and disposal of domestic and agricultural wastewaters. Over the last 17 years he has undertaken research which deals with the movement and fate of contaminants in soils and groundwaters and has also been involved in research into the performance of small-scale treatment systems such as sand filters and constructed wetland systems. During this period he has developed a national and international profile as one of the few researchers involved in this increasingly important field. Phillip has presented research results at National and International conferences.

Reproductive Biology. John’s original background was in the area of reproductive physiology where he pursued interests in the physiology of the testis and the epididymis (the duct that drains sperm and fluid from the testis, and stores sperm until ejaculation).

Since the early 1990s, John has developed an interest in Conservation Biology which is an outgrowth of his research expertise in reproductive biology. Since the 1980s, it was becoming more obvious to herpetologists that there was an extinction crisis developing amongst the worlds amphibians (Australia was not spared, with around 10 extinctions from unknown causes, later shown to be due to a new global amphibian fungal pandemic, and many more species in decline). John recognised early in the 1990s that there were few tools to conserve amphibians when conservation actions in the wild were not successful, including a lack of reproduction tools such as assisted reproduction techniques, and especially a lack of cryopreservation procedures to retrievably store amphibians in the form of viable sperm, eggs and embryos. He formed a collaboration with Assoc Prof M Mahony from the early 1990s to use his expertise in reproduction to develop procedures to cryopreserve amphibian sperm, eggs and embryos, and has been continuing this research ever since. It has led to a number of papers published since 1998 in this area, particularly relating to the development of procedures for the successful cryopreservation of amphibian sperm (papers continue to be published in this area, including in press, 2007). The aim of this research is ultimately to contribute the required technologies to allow the establishment and func-tioning of an amphibian genome storage bank, that can act as a conservation management tool, and be used to insure amphibian species against extinction in the wild.

8

Dr Geoff MacFarlaneSenior Lecturer, School of Environmental and Life Sciences

Research Expertise• Estuarine and marine ecotoxicology

• Animal behaviour

Prof Michael MahonyProfessor, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Information Technology

Research Expertise• Amphibian conservation

• Wetland restoration

Assoc Prof natalie MoltschaniwskyjAssociate Professor, Environmental Science & Management, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Faculty of Sci-ence and Informa tion Technology

Research Expertise• Marine ecology

• Marine fisheries

Dr Salim Momtaz Senior Lecturer, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Information Technology

Research Expertise• Development and Environment in developing Countries

• Environmental and social impact assessment

• Poverty and Development

Dr Momtaz started his academic career in Australia in 1995 as a Lecturer in Geography at Central Queensland University. He continued to maintain his research on development and environment and social sustainability issues in two geographic regions, namely, Australia and Bangladesh. During his term at CQU he received a major ARC infrastructure grant ($100000) with Prof. Geoff Lawrence. During this time he was also involved in two major funded research. The first one was funded by Premier’s Department, Queensland Government, to conduct a social impact assessment study of a proposed dam near Gladstone. The other one was funded by a non-governmental organization in Bangladesh to review their program. He was able to publish a number of journal articles and two books. Dr Momtaz moved to Ourimbah Campus of University of Newcastle in 1999. He continued his research on Bangladesh and also developed new research on issues related to local areas with global significance (community participation; climate change adaptation, EIA and SIA). He has publised four books and many peer reviewed journal articles in the last few years. He has supervised six research higher degree students from Australia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, The Philippines and Vietnam (AusAid Scholars) to successful completion.

Prof John RodgerProfessor, School of Environmental and Life Sciences

Research Expertise• Wildlife biology & biotechnology

The broad area of research is mammalian reproduction and development. The major emphasis has been marsupials and their use as model species to examine basic phenomena in developmen-tal biology and the application of this basic biology for marsupial management. Involvement with marsupial reproduction dates from the late 1960s and has led to 89 refereed publications in journals and books of international standing. Early work dealt mainly with the male marsupial, the compara-tive anatomy of the reproductive tract and the biochemistry and physiology of semen. During his post doctoral years in the USA the focus shifted to a current major interest marsupial fertilization and the critical maturation events which lead to gamete interaction. At ANU he began a second major research area early mammalian development and the immunology of reproduction.

At the University of Newcastle, John initiated a research program which moved into a very new area of marsupial biology

9

practical manipulation of breeding. This applied task was initiated because it is an essential first step in his long term goal of studying the developmental biology of marsupials at the cellular and molecular level. In addition the ability to manipulate fertility and productivity has application in the conservation and management of marsupials.

This growing expertise is being recognised for its contribution to basic science and in the practical assessment of fertil-ity and the manipulation of marsupial breeding. This work led to major collaborations and funding from New Zealand and formed the basis for a large component of the successful application for a Cooperative Research Centre for the Conserva-tion and Management of Marsupials of which John was Director.

This role lead to a major interest in the management of science and its integration in interdisciplinary applied programs for environmental and conservation outcomes.He has published in the area, chaired the committee overseeing the redevelop-ment of the Bachelor of Environmental Science degree at the University of Newcastle in line with this experience and have advised government agencies and commercial organisations on these issues. From 2005 he was Project Director leading the establishment of an Environmental Institute at the University of Newcastle.

Dr. Maria SchreiderLecturer, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Information Technology

Research Expertise• Estuarine ecology

• Seagrass ecology

• Invasive species

Dr Richard YuLecturer, Environmental Water Science Group, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Information Technology

Research Expertise• Aquatic ecotoxicology

• Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs)

• Molecular Toxicology

Dr Richard Yu received his PhD from City University of Hong Kong in 2002. After his postdoctoral training with Prof. Rudolf Wu, Dr Yu continued to work in the same institution as a Lecturer until joining the University of Newcastle in 2009.

Richard is now an academic in the Discipline of Biological Sciences in the School of Environmental & Life Sciences.

Dr. Ken ZimmermanLecturer, Marine Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Infor-mation Technology

Research Expertise• Marine benthic monitoring

• Marine fisheries

Dr Liz Date-huxtableCasual Academic, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Infor-mation Technology

QualificationsB Sc (Hons), University of Queensland, 1983

PhD, McGill University, Canada, 1988

Research ExpertiseLiz has expertise in academic research in ecology and environmental science, university teaching of ecology, environmen-tal science and environmental management, consulting on wildlife conservation and management, and administration in a small consultancy and a university unit. Her early research was on the behavioural ecology of songbirds. Her postdoctoral projects investigated the impacts of human agricultural and forestry activities on bird diversity and behaviour in a range of Australian ecosystems. She applied these research experiences as a consultant to State Forest of NSW in advising on management of Box-Ironbark forests in northwestern NSW. While at University of Newcastle, Liz has become increasingly involved in education for sustainability and sustainability research, currently assisting Tom Farrell Institute with projects ranging from fauna management on mined and wetlands to embedding sustainability learning in curriculum at primary and tertiary education levels.

10

Dr Steven LucasResearch Associate, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Informa-tion Technology

Qualifications• PhD (Sc) Effluent irrigation and sodium dynamics, The University of Newcastle (2006)• BSc Hons (The influence of diurnal temperatures on the hydrochemistry of a tufa-depositing

stream), The University of Newcastle (2001)• BSc (Chemistry & Physical Geography), The University of Newcastle (1998)

Research ExpertiseSteven has over 10 years of experience in sustainable water (and soil) management and has contributed to the development of water systems understanding. Dr Lucas has been involved in (with the aim of optimis-ing systems):• Analysis of centralised and decentralised water supply systems (sources, treatment, delivery to users and disposal)• Analysis of centralised and decentralised wastewater treatment systems (conveyance, treatment and disposal/reuse)• Analysis of centralised and decentralised stormwater systems (retention, detention, discharge peaks and volumes);

including WSUD principles aimed at promoting infiltration to soil storage and groundwater• Developing sustainable approaches to sourcing fit-for-purpose water at the point-of-use and integration of available

mains water, rainwater, stormwater and wastewater systems, and• Water quality, irrigation practices and soil/water dynamics

Conservation volunteers Australia, Conservation and Threatened Species Action!Wild Futures is Conservation Volunteers’ national wildlife conservation program which seeks to make a measurable difference to the future of many of Australia's most treasured threatened species. By examining official Recovery Plans developed by National and State authorities for a range of threatened species, we have identified many recovery actions that are easily achievable with volunteer effort, and provide the most urgent support for Australian wildlife.

Recovery plans set out the research and management actions necessary to stop the decline of, and support the recovery of, listed threatened species or threatened ecological communities.

The aim of a recovery plan is to maximise the long term survival in the wild of a threatened species or ecological com-munity. Recovery actions suitable for volunteers include planting trees to restore habitat, biodiversity and conservation corridors, removal of noxious weeds to enhance native revegetation and building fences for captive breeding programs to ensure protection from predators.

Tasmanian Devil: These iconic Tasmanian natives have sustained a significant amount of pressure since European settlement. An important part of the natural eco-system, this fearless carnivore is sadly diminishing in numbers. The iconic marsupial is at serious risk of extinction from the highly contagious devil facial tumour disease (DFTD).

A decade after the first reports of DFTD from north-eastern Tasmania, it was esti-mated that the total wild population had dropped from 250,000 devils to 150,000. By 2011, the population had crashed to 50,000 – just 9% of the pre-disease population – with no end to the decline in sight!

In 2011, Conservation Volunteers partnered with Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary in Tasmania to assist establish managed captive groups of Tasmanian Devils, namely ‘insurance populations’, which was identified in The Recovery Plan as an effective means to ensure survival for the Tasmanian Devil.

Teams of Conservation Volunteers prepared the ground for fence and enclosure installation and for the introduction of Devils into existing enclosures. The fencing and enclosures will keep healthy Devils separated from wild populations. To create a native habitat for the Devils, native trees and shrubs have been planted and weeds removed.

The Tasmanian Devil in the hunter: Devil Ark Program

In the Hunter Region, Conservation Volunteers has forged a partnership with Devil Ark which has established the largest ‘insurance population’ conservation breeding program for the Tasmanian devil on mainland Australia.

At an altitude of 1,350 metres, in the Barrington Tops, Devil Ark provides the perfect breeding environment for devils. The Tasmanian-like vegetation and cool, wet and snowy conditions means the devils feel right at home!

11

The dream of establishing a $40 million national biodiversity research centre, led from the University of Newcastle, is one step closer with the official bid to be submitted in the coming months.

The Safeguarding Biodiversity Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) is hoping to secure long-term federal funding and will bring together organisations from Australia and New Zealand, to work on safe-guarding biodiversity for the future.

Bid Director, Professor John Roger, says the CRC would address the urgent need for long-term stud-ies into threats to biodiversity and how to restore damaged ecosystems.

“We are only just beginning to understand how to rebuild wildlife populations and restore function to damaged ecosystems. Often these attempts to restore, rebuild and relocate wildlife populations fail, so we need to know more to ensure the resources invested in conservation will make a difference,” explained Professor Rodger.

The loss of genetic diversity in some wildlife populations is an ‘invisible’ threat slowly eating away at a species ability to respond to challenges. A major reduction in the numbers and size of many populations means we are losing, or have lost, our genetic library. Wildlife disease is also a problem and, like genetic diversity, we have virtually no tools to respond to the threat.

“We know a lot about what’s wrong with biodiversity, loss of habitat, fragmentation of habitat for example, but we don’t really know how to put it right. That’s essentially what this CRC bid is about, developing the skills and tools to put things right,” he said.

Professor Rodger says the CRC would coordinate research into some of the country’s most endangered species including the numbat, the dibbler, the yellow-footed rock wallaby, the green and golden bell frog and three species of black cockatoo.

A number of research groups, scientists, NGO’s, zoos, land managers, universities and community groups are already working to tackle biodiversity threats.

“The Safeguarding Biodiversity CRC will bring together all this expertise, particularly in areas where we feel there’s a real weakness, so we can pool our skills and knowl-edge to ensure some animals are not lost forever,” he explained.

The Federal Government has released the National Wildlife Corridors strategy to focus efforts to make a difference on a national scale and have allocated $946million over the next 6 years for projects to safeguard biodiversity.

The Safeguarding Biodiversity CRC will provide new tools and knowledge needed to make this strategy a reality.

With the United Nations declaring 2011-2020 the Decade for Biodiversity, there is a global recognition of the need for urgent action, with animal species being threatened or already lost.

The Safeguarding Biodiversity CRC is also planning research into understanding com-munity attitudes and behaviours towards biodiversity.

“The problems with biodiversity won’t be solved by just leaving it all to the scientists and experts. We all have a responsibility for safeguarding our local environment and the biodiversity legacy we leave for future generations.

“Safeguarding biodiversity is critical, you can’t see something once it’s gone,” said Professor Rodger.

The CRC bid submission will be made in June with a final decision expected by Christ-mas.

bid to Safeguard biodiversity

Devil Ark is very different to a zoo where small enclosures mean loss of natural behaviour. Devils at Devil Ark are kept in a natural environment to maintain their wild behaviour and the keepers intervene as little as possible.

The Devil Ark program was launched in January 2011 with 43 Tasmanian devils and is now home to 94 Devils. Due to a very successful breeding year and importing additional devils - this number will have doubled by the end of 2012 to close to 200 devils and the goal is to have 360 devils by 2016.

To accommodate the Devils there is an immediate need to build Devil enclosures of a specific height and design. The fences are 1.8m high and the top has a climb-proof devil guard to prevent escape, the fences are buried 900mm below ground so the devils can’t dig their way out.

how you can help:

1) The Fences for Devils Campaign, 2) Donate a 4WD Vehicle, 3) Donate to the Conservation Volunteers’ Wild Futures program and ensure a devilish future for Tassie Devils!, 4) Payroll Giving, 5) Employee Volunteering

12

The Tom Farrell Institute for the Environment c/o The University of Newcastle, IDC220, First Floor, Industry Development Centre, University Drive, CALLAGHAN NSW 2308 Australia Phone +61 2 4921 5700 Fax +61 2 4921 5033 Email Farrell@newcastle.edu.au Web www.newcastle.edu.au/tfi CRICOS Provider 00109J Editing, Design and Production by Belinda McNab

With Thanks to our Sponsors

Do you want to be involved in exciting innovative ideas starting in the Hunter Region?

Do you want to be proactive in driving change?

Do you want to join other forward thinking and progressive companies in something worthwhile?

Do you want to be involved in a fun initiative that reaches thousands of businesses and households?

Then pledge to become a sponsor of the Hunter Valley Electric Vehicle Festival.

Some of our Packages include

Naming Sponsor starting at $50,000

Festival Sponsor - $5,000

Event Sponsor - $1,000

Named EV Prize - $2,000

School EV Prize - $1,000

Contact Gary or Dani for further info on 49216214www.hunterevfestival.net

16-26 August 2012

uTwitch Training Session:

Chasing birds on Campus, Sunday 22nd April

by Elizabeth huxtable, TFI

Just a reminder that Tom Farrell Institute will run its own twitchathon on 13th October and we are running several bird identification training sessions, the first being on Sunday 22nd April (see TFI March 2012 newsletter). We will start at 7am at the beginning of the Don Morris Walk opposite the Chancellery.

Please wear sturdy clothing and shoes and bring binoculars, if possible, water and a snack, and insect repellent.

If you are interested in attending the training session on Sunday 22nd April, please contact

Liz Huxtable on 49216654 or elizabeth.huxtable@newcastle.edu.au or see you there!

We would like to invite you to complete a survey that is a component of the project Bridging the gap between end user needs and science capability: dealing with uncertain-ty in future scenarios. This project is being conducted by researchers from the Environmental and Climate Change Research Group within the Faculty of Science and IT (at the University of Newcastle) as part of the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF) Synthesis and Integrative Research Program – Stage 3a. The project team is: Danielle Verdon-Kidd (Principal Investigator), Anthony Kiem (Co-Investigator) and Emma Austin (Research Assistant/Project Administration).

The project aims to bridge the gap between user needs and science capability by engaging both end users and climate information providers in an effort to improve un-derstanding about:

• what climate information is required; • what information climate science can currently pro-

vide; and • what information can be expected to be provided

bridging the gap between end user needs and science capability: dealing with uncertainty in future scenarios

over the next five to ten years. For more information about the project please visit http://www.nccarf.edu.au/node/770.

We would greatly appreciate you taking the time to complete the survey which can be found at the link provided below. The survey should take less than 15 minutes to complete. We would appreciate if you could forward this email to col-leagues who you think might be interested in participating in the survey. We apologise for any cross postings.

ALL SURVEY RESPONSES ARE CONFIDENTIAL. YOUR NAME AND ORGANISATION WILL NOT BE USED IN ANY PUBLICATIONS RESULTING FROM THE SURVEY.

If you have any further enquiries in relation to the survey or your participation please do not hesitate to contact Emma Austin at Emma.Austin@newcastle.edu.au or on 02 4921 5411.

To complete the survey please go to https://www.surveymon-key.com/s/bridgingthegapbetweenendusersandsciencecapa-bility

CALL FoR SPEAKERS

2012 Government Sustainability Conference September 18 & 19

The Sebel Albert Park, Melbourne

Visit www.governmentsustainability.com.au

Australia's peak environmental conference for the Public Sector

call for speakers to close on April 18