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NEWS

Pedal PowerBetter bike facilities and services are planned for JCU

Issue 3 January - March 2012

Issue 3 January - March 2012

Some of the projects and areas we will

focus on this year include:

fertiliser for application on JCU

grounds.

Staff and student sustainability related

competitions such as the Green Office

Program and Green Colleges

Program.

Development of community garden

sites on the Cairns and Townsville

Campuses and assisting Rotary

students with the existing Sunshine

Edible Garden.

TropEco will continue to support the Editor: Adam Connell student Green Team in their

sustainability and environmental Sub Editor: Suzy Keys campaigns and activities.

Building on our relationships with 3. What’s happening?

community groups to attract high

profile guest speakers and hold events

and workshops that promote sustain-6. Renewable Energy by 2020 by

able behaviors within our commu-Sue-Ann Watson Installing drinking water fountains in nity.

public areas and discouraging the 7. The TropEco Awards 2011 by purchasing of bottled water. TropEco Working with organisations such as the Adam Connellwill be providing stainless steel drink JCU Bicycle Users Group (BUG) and

10. ACTing Sustainably by Lania bottles to promote this program. Sunbus to promote sustainable

transport options for staff and students.Installing six energy use displays in

building foyers to highlight energy use, To all the new students and staff at JCU and promote energy conservation by this year, TropEco would like to extend staff and students. a warm welcome and we hope to work

with you in the coming year and Installing a free bike share program at beyond.

Do you have a sustainability related the Townsville Campus colleges to story or event you want to tell people promote use of sustainable transport about? on campus. This will be rolled out to all

campus users later in the year if Please send it into tropeco@jcu.edu.au

successful.with any relevant pictures and we may

put it up on the TropEco Facebook Revegetation of Goondaloo Creek page or publish it in TropEco News. upstream of Solander Rd, through

funding provided by the Dahl Trust and

TropEco.

Installation of a Bio-Regen food

digesting unit at Uni Halls kitchen, to

recycle all food waste into a liquid bio-

Contents

Contribute to TropEco News

Adam Connell

Welcome to a new year at JCU and one

that promises to be an exciting one for

TropEco. There is a lot planned for

2012, with the sustainability agenda

high on everyone's priority list.

4. Pedal Power by Craig McDonald

Lynch

11. How to use JCU’s Recycling

System by Adam Connell

Manager, Environment

Division of Finance and Resource

Planning,

James Cook University,

Angus Smith Drive, Douglas, Qld

4811

P: +61 7 4781 5060

Mobile: 0459 097 253

E:adam.connell@jcu.edu.au

Editorial

TropEco2 , James Cook University, Tropical Queensland, Australia

Letter from the Editor

JCU student and cyclist Sandy Perkins

was a lucky winner of the TropEco

$400 voucher on Ride to Work Day

2011. Photo: Suzy Keys.

TropEco, James Cook University, Tropical Queensland, Australia 3

JCU named in “Top 10 Promoting Beyond Zero

Greenest Universities” Emissions

Green Office Challenge Bike Share Program Winners

Green Links

Ethical Consumer Guide

Local Harvest

Overall paper use for November 2011

was 5% lower than in November 2010,

resulting in over $5000 in savings for

the month.In a recent article in The Australian, Matthew Wright, Executive Director of

JCU was ranked 9th in Australia's 10 Zero Carbon Australia and 2010 Young For the results of your Office or School greenest universities. This is a great Environmentalist of the Year, will be and the various prizes allocated go to: result and something we can improve visiting JCUs Townsville and Cairns

on in future years with the roll out of Campuses in mid April. Prizes will be distributed to winning sustainable initiatives through TropEco http:// Matthew will be doing a series of linked with our strength in environmen-

presentations and guest lectures while tal and sustainability related teaching,

here and will work with the participants learning and research.: Offices or Schools in early 2012. of the recent workshop to further http://

promote the Beyond Zero Emissions Well done to everyone who competed program.and all prize winners for reducing their

paper consumption. To be kept up to date with this and

other TropEco News, sign up to the

TropEco mailing list by emailing

or find us on The TropEco Green Office Challenge Students living on campus in one of the Facebook - TropEco James Cook saw JCU Schools and Offices compet- JCU owned colleges now have a new, Uniing to reduce their paper usage during environmentally friendly way to get to

November with the chance of winning lectures. TropEco is trialing a new bike

some great prizes. share program that allows residents to

hire a bike for free day use to get

The major prize winners this year around campus.

were:Will help you make everyday choices to

With bike parking located outside all help you change your world.

major buildings on campus, cycling to Corporate Planning & Performance classes provides a fast, hassle-free way for the greatest reduction in paper use There is a supermarket shopping guide to get around campus.compared to November 2010. They and if you like seafood you can buy a

made an 80% reduction in their paper guide to sustainable seafood to help There are four bikes located at Rotary use and were the clear winners in this you make the right choices. International House, University Halls category. http://and George Roberts Halls and these

can be hired by residents through the Information & Technology Resources relevant office. All students need to won the major prize for the lowest bring is a helmet and a $20 deposit, number of impressions per staff Local Harvest is a website being which will be refunded on safe return of member, displaying their use of green launched at the Sustainable Living the bike.technology to reduce paper use. ITR Festival on February 17-19 in

narrowly pipped Corporate Planning & Melbourne. the aim of the site is to A bike lock and key are supplied with Performance for the second major assist people to find sources of local each bike so students can secure the prize, with an average number of food and how to grow their own.bike at their destination.impressions per staff of just 150 for the http://

month.

www.jcu.edu.au/tropeco/sustaina

tjcu/recyclingwaste/JCU_094804.html

www.theaustralian.com.au/higher

-education/australias-10-greenest-

universities/story-e6frgcjx-

1226215407489

tropeco@jcu.edu.au

www.ethical.org.au/shop/

www.localharvest.org.au/

What’s Happening? Adam Connell

TropEco4 , James Cook University, Tropical Queensland, Australia

Pedal Power

As part of the Ride to Work Day festivities

in October 2011, TropEco gave away a

$400 bike voucher to one lucky cyclist

on each campus to encourage them to

continue their daily cycling commute.

The winner for the Townsville Campus

was Margaret Smith, from the Faculty of

Arts and Social Science. The Cairns

Campus winner was Sandy Perkins, a

JCU student who donated her voucher

to a friend. Sandy rides to JCU regulalry

and is an experienced rider who has

cycled across Europe on her bike.

Sandy (pictured ) decided to use her

$400 voucher to get another rider on the

road.

Craig McDonald Reports on the Ride to

Work Day Day in Townsville

, James Cook University, Tropical Queensland, Australia 5 TropEco

Townsville commuters put the pedal to At the breakfast there was plenty of

a different type of metal today as Ride socialising, comparing of bikes and

To Work day pushed off and pedalled sharing of stories - from nearly being

its way around the 'Ville. run over to how far people had come -

everyone was in good spirits. With a flat landscape, great weather The day saw over 200 registered and abundant bike paths, JCU is a cyclists from James Cook University One JCU cyclist rode all the way from great place for riding your bike to Uni. and the Townsville General Hospital hit Jensen for the first time, going on an PLUS you don't have to worry about the streets to promote sustainable off-road adventure and encountering finding a car park or paying for a commuting in Townsville. Meanwhile, barbed wire fences and other challeng-parking permit as you can park right over 20 riders made the commute to ing obstacles on the way.outside your lecture theatre for free.the JCU Cairns Campus in hot, humid

conditions. However she made it through This year TropEco is teaming up with unscathed and her experience raised the JCU BUG to bring even better A healthy and much deserved breakfast some relevant questions about the services to JCU's bicycle users. In 2012 was provided to those that made the provision of adequate bicycle access to the JCU BUG will be utilising its effort on both campuses, with the the northern beaches. This applies to workshop located at the Library's hospital putting on an impressive array Cairns as well as Townsville.Secure Bike Facility. The BUG plans to of food in Townsville, while in Cairns help bike users maintain their bikes and TropEco and the JCU BUG helped feed For many others they were just will also fix up abandoned bikes to be the hungry commuters. following their normal routine of riding resold to students.to work or uni, although today they

In Townsville it was an unusually foggy were rewarded for their efforts.In January this year the JCU colleges start to the day, making the ride quite donated over 50 abandoned bicycles to eerie for those that got up early. It made Several groups were involved in the BUG. Bikes that are in good for cool, damp conditions, and meant organising the day including the JCU condition will be repaired by BUG bike lights were a must until the sun BUG, Townsville General Hospital and volunteers and re-sold to students burnt away the clouds, uncovering a TropEco. Senior Deputy Vice-during O-week and bikes in poor spectacular morning. Chancellor, Professor Andy Vann was condition will be used for parts.also a key contributor, providing funds

Over 150 staff and students from JCU toward the day and also attending the There are also plans to hold regular registered for the day with over 80 from breakfast in support of cycling.bike maintenance training workshops the hospital, showing that there is a big out of the BUG workshop during the supporter base for cycling in Townsville http://year to teach staff and students how to and Cairnskeep their bikes in top shape.

The secure bike facility at the library

was installed last year and provides

staff and students with undercover,

swipe card access controlled bike

parking and lockers and also includes

a chilled drinking water fountain,

clothes line and tyre pump.

To gain access to the facility, fill out a

form from the BUG website and take it

to JCU security along with your staff or

student card.

Check out the BUG website for more

information on cycling at JCU -

http://

Better Bike Facilities

and Services at JCU

Video interview:

Link to form

vzaar.tv/848289

www.jcu.edu.au/soc/bug/

www.jcu.edu.au/tropeco/public/gr

oups/everyone/documents/information

_about/jcuprd1_071583.pdf

Townsville put pedal power on the agenda for Ride To Work Day

reports Craig McDonald

Lania Lynch and Eric Wilson (far right) welcomed riders with breakfast after the

Ride to Work at Cairns Campus. Photo: Belinda Parkes

from http:// /)townsvillenewsonline.com

6 , James Cook University, Tropical Queensland, Australia TropEco

Last November, JCU Townsville hosted the role of BZE and how to present the feasibility of the ZCA. At the end of the

a Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE) ZCA plan. Developed methodically by course, after being unable to pick any

presenter training course thanks to the scientists and engineers, this plan sets holes in the well-researched ZCA plan,

support of TropEco. Beyond Zero out real solutions to power Australia the 16 excited, newly-trained present-

Emissions Inc. is a not-for-profit entirely with renewable energy sources ers formed a North Queensland

research and education organisation and, best of all, the technology is branch of BZE in Townsville to

working in partnership with the already available commercially. coordinate talks about the ZCA plan.

University of Melbourne Energy

Research Institute. Each stage of the ZCA plan tackles We were pleased to learn that

one component of Australia's energy Australia is one of the best-placed

The primary outcome of this collabora- needs. Presenters learned about the countries in the world to convert

tion is the award-winning Zero Carbon 'Stationary Energy Plan', which entirely to renewable energy, thanks to

Australia (ZCA) 2020 Project, which describes how all the energy gener- low population densities and a reliably

provides fully-costed transition plans to ated by power stations in Australia can sunny climate.

transform Australia from a 19th century be completely replaced by renewable

fossil fuel based economy to a 21st sources, primarily solar thermal, within To find out how to get Australia to zero

century renewable powered clean tech ten years. emissions and beyond or to book a

economy in just ten years. The good BZE ZCA talk, please contact the

news is: it can be done and we were The plan also factors in population addresses below.

there to find out how. growth and changes in energy usage.

Future plans, again based on existing

North Queenslanders from as far as technology, will cover the other 5

Ingham and Cairns attended the sectors: buildings, transport, land use,

training course. The first course of its industrial processes and coal exports.

kind in North Queens-land, several

members of JCU were fortunate There was a lot to learn and partici-

enough to attend thanks again to the pants eagerly grilled BZE trainers

funds and training space provided by James Bramwell and Emma Carton

TropEco. During the course we learnt with a multitude of questions about the

http://beyondzeroemissions.org to

download free copies of the ZCA plan

or email the QLD talks coordinator

or

the NQ/Townsville coordinator

to get

involved or to answer any questions

not covered in the FAQ section on the

emma@beyondzeroemissions.org

gail@beyondzeroemissions.org

website.

Renewable energy by 2020

Australia can run entirely on renewable energy by 2020 Beyond Zero Emission’s presenter training showed how it work, writes Sue-Ann Watson.

TropEco, James Cook University, Tropical Queensland, Australia 7

The TropEco Excellence Award

Janet Dearden

University Services Division

Janet was instrumental in developing

the Environmental Sustainability Action

Plan 2012-2014 for the University

Services Division, which has also been

used as the template for the Division of

Finance and Resource Planning

Environmental Sustainability Action Plan

2012-2014.

This plan maps out actions to be taken

over the next three years to reduce

JCU's environmental footprint for its two

operational divisions.

As part of her studies, completing a

Graduate Certificate in Sustainability at

Swinburne, Janet and her study group

developed a comprehensive change

management plan for the implementa-

tion of the Bio-Regen unit, soon to be

installed in Uni Hall's kitchen.

This unit will divert up to half a tonne of

food waste from landfill each week,

which will then be converted to a bio-

fertiliser to be used on JCU grounds to

improve soil and plant health and water-

holding capacity.

Janet also worked on implementing a

scheme for staff to be able to donate

through salary sacrifice to charity

organisations, specifically the

Cassowary Fund through the Rainforest

Foundation.

Janet has been influential in asking JCU

to move to recycled content paper and

has provided information on how we

could go about implementing this..

TropEco held its first Awards and TropEco would like to congratulate all

Recognition night recently to recognise award winners and thank those who

those who have contributed toward a have contributed this year to its Mathew Townsend (Uni Halls) - for his

more sustainable JCU through the successes. volunteer efforts as a green rep in

TropEco program. educating residents in sustainable

The awards winners are listed below: behaviours at Uni Halls

Staff and students on the Townsville

and Cairns Campuses were thanked for Adella Edwards – Bicycle Users Group their efforts this year with several taking President - for Ride to Work Day

Janet Dearden – University Services out awards for their outstanding

Division- See previous page.contributions in 2011.

1st semester – Western Courts for the

There were several awards presented Low Carbon Diet Challenge

with the major award being the

TropEco Excellence Award. This award 2nd semester – St Mark College for the Troy Morris – (pictured below) is presented to the staff member or Recycling Challenge and Suitcase Facilities Management Office - for his student who has made the most Rummage Market work with reducing energy consump-outstanding contribution to JCU's tion through the Building Management sustainability for 2011. System.

Outstanding Contribution Award –

Student

Best Initiative – Staff or student

The TropEco Excellence Award

TropEco Shield – College sustainability

competition

Townsville AwardsOutstanding Contribution Award – Staff

Photos pp.7-8: Adam Connell

TropEco Awards 2011Members of the James Cook University Community who contributed to

the success of TropEco in 2011 were recognised at ceremonies in

Cairns and Townsville writes Adam Connell

8 TropEco, James Cook University, Tropical Queensland, Australia

Above: Award winners Eric Wilson left, and Emma Baker

(second from the right) received their awards in Cairns from JCU

Vice Chancellor, Professor Sandra Harding (far right, while Lania

Lynch, Cairns Environment Officer( second from left) was MC.

Top Right: Environmental lawyer, Polly Higgins with Janet

Millington who was recognised for her outstanding

contributions. Photos by Suzy Keys

TropEco, James Cook University, Tropical Queensland, Australia 9

Tokens of appreciation were also Cairns Awardsawarded to several people who

Outstanding Contribution Awardhave contributed to TropEco this

year. These include:

Outstanding Contribution Award –

Student

Best Initiative – Staff or student

efforts toward promoting sustainability

to the JCU student community.

Leon Van Wyk for running the Rotary Janet Millington – Student and Community Garden event and assisting President of the Cairns Permaculture with permaculture and community

Nola Alloway for developing a formal Club for her success in hosting garden design advice

partnership between FAESS and international lawyer, Polly Higgins in Dilki Wannairachchi for her work in

TropEcoCairns and partnering in Polly's public mapping the significant trees on

Deborah Cavanagh for her significant lecture at JCU Cairns. campus

efforts as a Sustainability Champion for Tricia Brand for her support of TropEco

SASSand embedding sustainability in Senior

·Lorna Hempstead for her involvement Management thinking.

in promoting sustainability and Emma Baker (Cairns Student Ross Honniball, Manger Cairns

securing funding for the Trees After Yasi Association) - for promotion of the Bookshop for his support of TropEco

projectEnvirobank and troubleshooting and throughout the year, particularly in

Russell Rankin for linking SOCA's giving general advice on operation. sellingPolly Higgins “Eradicating

curriculum with TropEcoEcocide” book at her JCU public

Damien Watson & Maria lecture.

Edmondstone for developing the Eric Wilson – Cairns Bicycle Users Suzy Keys, Communications Officer

Entertainment Book program and Group President - for Ride to Work Day TropEco for her professionalism, quick

putting the proceeds toward building and support of TropEco at Cairns response to deadlines and great editing

Energy Management Displayscampus. style.

Laura Dunstan from NQ Dry Tropics for Jonathon Lemon, Manager Cairns

linking TropEco with community Student Association for support of

volunteersTropEco events throughout the year.

Jayne Chugg for getting the JCU

Green Team started and her ongoing

Awards made by artist Sue Tilley from recycled materials.

10 TropEco, James Cook University, Tropical Queensland, Australia

Hosted by the University of Adelaide, As part of the new international Management Tool overview. Some

the 11th ACTS annual conference took collaboration efforts, Leanne Denby delegates chose to kick off the long

place at the National Wine Centre in (ACTS President) facilitated an open weekend by attending one of two

Adelaide, 28-30 September 2011. session to draw input into the national conference field trips ‚ a sustainability

and international tertiary education tour of Adelaide or a biodynamic winery

The event was a huge success with response for Rio + 20. tour in Norton Summit.

record numbers of attendees and

sponsors from across Australia, New Jimmy Brannigan, a representative All in all it was a successful, fun-filled

Zealand and internationally. from ACTS international sister organisa- and inspiring conference through which

tion Environmental Association for delegates created and strengthened

The theme for the conference: Universities and Colleges (EAUC) networks, and gained insights,

“Sustainability as Core Business - hosted a productive session on how to motivation, and ideas to further embed

Building the Case for Change”, aptly create Net Positive Leadership in your sustainability into the core business of

addressed this challenge faced by the organisation. their respective institutions.

tertiary education sector.

From tips on using social media to The next ACTS Conference which will

The conference explored how create change for sustainability right be in Brisbane, Queensland 26-28

sustainability fits into core business and through to practical ideas on how to September 2012, so save the date and

provided tools and techniques to build sustainability into the core check out the conference scholarships

enable the required change. business of Learning and Teaching, the on the ACTS website.

11th International ACTS conference

With a panel of distinguished keynote was as diverse as it was inspiring.

speakers, the conference was attended

by over 120 delegates, who engaged A highlight of the conference was the

with presentations on a wide variety of Conference Dinner, where delegates Did you know that ACTS membership

topics which addressed campus enjoyed a hard-earned night of is free for all JCU staff and students?

sustainability and education for celebration. The food and wines were a

sustainability. delicious accompaniment to celebrat- Why not join today and access the

ing the achievements of the Green member benefits?

The conference brought together Gown Awards Australasia Award

leaders, academics, sustainability- winners. Find out the latest in sustainability

focused decision makers, environmen- across the Australasian tertiary sector

tal managers, engineering and The Retro Photo Booth was a hit and by subscribing to the bimonthly enACT,

technical staff, as well as delegates danced the night away at the ACTivate and member spotlights.

beautiful National Wine Centre.

students from the tertiary education Why not ‘like’ ACTS on facebook to

sector, business and government The conference wrapped up with a keep up to date?

throughout Australia and New Zealand. sector update and a LiFE Performance

ACTS Membership Free for all JCU

staff and students.

ACTing SustainablyThe 11th ACTS International Conference in Adelaide was a big hit

with attendees and sponsors. Lania Lynch was also inspired.

TropEco, James Cook University, Tropical Queensland, Australia 11

How to use JCU’s recycling system

However, there are a few things you This bin can be used for anything Boxes must be flattened and any

need to remember to ensure your that is not recyclable, such as: plastic wrap or polystyrene removed.

waste ends up in the right place. Packaging tape can be left on the Food scraps (try to compost them or

boxes.use a Bokashi bin if you can)

Before you throw it away, first remem- Plastic bags and wrapping (avoid

ber to single use plastic bags where possible)

before you Recycle, and try to always Coffee cups (they cant be recycled as

avoid landfill waste. they have a plastic lining to stop them

leaking - get a TropEco KeepCup

instead)

Polystyrene

Broken glass

Confidential waste can be disposed of

in the orange Shred-X bins. Please be

aware that this waste will not be

recycled and ends up in landfill. If its This is just like your household recycle not confidential, please use the blue bin and is identified by the yellow lid office paper bins.and Recycle Here sticker.

Items that can be recycled here This is a blue bin with a paper recycling include: sticker on the front. Only office paper Aluminium and steel cans should be recycled in these bins.Hard plastic bottles and containers with

the recycle symbol, numbers 1 -6. Cardboard, magazines, newspapers, Glass bottles and jars books and phone books should go in Paper, newspapers and magazines, the yellow general recycle bins.Cardboard

TropEco has handed out 700 red

desktop waste and blue desk side

paper recycle bins. These have

become very popular and help staff to

minimize the waste they send to landfill

and separate their paper waste.

There are currently none in stock but if Cardboard skips are located outside you would like these bins for your major buildings on campus. These are office please contact for recycling of large cardboard boxes. and we will let you

know when some are available.

Avoid, Reduce and Reuse Confidential Waste

General Recycling Bin

Office Paper

Office Eco Bins

Cardboard General Waste Bin

tropeco@jcu.edu.au

TropEco has implemented an easy to use recy-

cling system at the Townsville Campus and a

similar system will be rolled out in 2012 in Cairns.

The system is colour coordinated and uses the

Queensland Government’s public place recycling signage

for ease of use writes Adam Connell.

Photos: Adam Connell

the ‘Student Green Team’

Be part of the positive change happening at JCU

Join

Social meetings every fortnight

Share and discuss ideas

Movie nights every month

Link with other green groups

Get involved with volunteering

Campus clean - up days

Recycled markets days

Meet like-minded people

Contacts to get involved

Kate Nairn

or Jane Chugg

kate.nairn@jcu.edu.au

jane.chugg@my.jcu.edu.au