Jobs and Biz news: 65 declared disasters since 2019
The NSW government has released its first state disaster mitigation plan last week and it’s bleak and expensive picture.
The plan, developed by the NSW Reconstruction Authority, reveals that the cost of buildings and infrastructure damage from natural disasters could hit $9.1 billion annually by 2060 if mitigation steps are not taken.
The government estimates that the average annual cost of damage is currently $3.1 billion a year in NSW. Since 2019, NSW residents have endured over 65 declared disasters and “climate change is expected to increase the severity and frequency of natural disasters,” said the government.
The Committee for Sydney said its Defending Sydney report helped the government form its plan.
The committee’s resilience program director, Sam Kernaghan, said, “Sydney experienced 12 natural disasters in the past four years – so the time for action is now.
“This funded plan to mitigate future disasters is an excellent response from the NSW Reconstruction Authority.
“We are especially pleased to see a plan for managed relocation and steps to align insurance data with planning decisions to avoid future communities being uninsurable against flooding and other disasters.”
Greenbox Group acquires New Zealand RemarkIT
Greenbox Group, a sustainable technology lifecycle management provider, has acquired New Zealand RemarkIT. The acquisition allows cleantech innovations to be shared across the group and supports Australian and New Zealand companies in decarbonising. Both organisations manage a number of technology assets, including data centre equipment, laptops, audio visual equipment and smart devices.
The group calls the acquisition an “investment” and will allow it to expand its technology to meet growing corporate demand in the APAC.
SECOS Group
The SECOS Group, the parent company of the compostable packaging brand MyEcoBag, has received more than 10 years of funding from the federal government to start its own cooperative research centre (CRC) to solve the plastic waste problem.
The government has agreed to $40 million in funding, taking the total resources contributed from all partners to $140.6 million. The project is expected to disrupt the status quo and reduce plastic waste by turbocharging and fast-tracking its research and development investment.
Nylon becomes recyclable
Australian enviro-tech startup Samsara Eco has partnered with fashion brand lululemon to debut the world’s first infinitely recycled samples made from nylon 6,6.
Nylon 6,6 is the most commonly used plastic in the textile industry, and 4 million tonnes of fibre is created annually. The new patented technology extracts nylon 6,6 from old textiles to be reused infinitely. The material was previously regarded as unrecyclable plastic. Compared to virgin nylon 6,6, recycling can reduce emissions by up to 80 per cent.
- Read more on Samsara Eco and its accelerating plastic recycling in this TFE article.
Consult Australia and Engineers Australia sign agreement
Consult Australia and Engineers Australia have signed a formal collaboration agreement – a milestone for a relationship spanning almost 90 years. The agreement dictates the two organisations will share goals, values, and commitment to improving the culture of its sector.
By working together, the two aim to improve wellbeing, diversity, sustainability, and efficiency.
The Powerhouse as opened expressions of interest for its residency and associates programs. The program support and invest into organisations and individuals in creative industries, science, and technology sectors in NSW by providing subsidised spaces. The workspaces will be based at Powerhouse Ultimo. Selected applicants will be in residence over a 12 month period to develop and deliver a program or project that contributes to the renewal of the Powerhouse.
The Planning Institute of Australia in Victoria is calling on the Victorian government to establish a mechanism for social and affordable housing through the planning system. The statement comes as the government recently released its response to the parliamentary inquiry into homelessness.
The organisation said that safe and secure housing was a basic human right and urban and regional planning had an important role in addressing the issue.
PHIVE at Parramatta achieves 6 star Green Star
Parramatta’s council-owned PHIVE building has been recognised with a 6 Star Green Star rating by the Green Building Council of Australia.
City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Pierre Esber said the building was designed and constructed with the intention of leading other local councils to aspire for more.
The building includes roof façade system made of 548 individual skylight modules, solar collectors and water harvesting systems which allow the building to operate with net zero carbon. It also uses smart mixed mode ventilation linked to Bureau of Meteorology local weather sensors.
The council is committed to reducing carbon emissions by 60 per cent by 2038.
What we’re reading
The Aus has recently reported that
Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek has been urged by the National Waste and Recycling Industry Council to remove cardboard and paper from new regulations proposed for recyclables exporters from 1 July.
The body, which presents recycling contractors – responsible for servicing 80 per cent of Australian households, claims that the changes amounted to a “government imposed tax on the recycling industry in Australia.”
The proposed changes are expected to set a new quality standard that limits the prohibited content allowed in each shipment of recyclables down to 5 per cent before
reducing to 3 per cent over time. The limits can also no longer be negotiated between businesses.
Rick Ralph, the council’s chief executive, said that higher costs to the recycling industry would lead to “more landfilling and higher greenhouse gas emissions”. – The Australian