With Melbourne's dam levels getting down to below 30 percent at time this year, the search for sustainable sources of drinking water has been a key priority for the Victorian Government. The result was the decision to build a desalination plant using a Public Private Partnership delivery method.

Minister Penny Wong's announcement yesterday that the Commonwealth Government will invest $56 million in a national water market system demonstrates the Federal and State Governments' commitment to making water markets work more effectively across Australia.

The Commonwealth Government has announced the introduction of a national scheme to encourage office building energy efficiency. The scheme is designed to help combat Australia's ever-increasing greenhouse gas emissions of which the commercial building sector is responsible for approximately 10 per cent. It is expected that the scheme will affect approximately 2,170 buildings throughout the country.

IP Australia yesterday issued a clarification of practice in relation to the classification of retailing and wholesaling of utilities in trade mark application specifications.

As I said last October in ‘A Technological Answer to Global Climate Change’, ". . the likelihood is that we will shortly be debating (the use on nuclear energy)". And so it has transpired. With what seems a sudden realisation that global warming is a massive problem that will not await Australia’s dawdling approach, the government has set up, with unbelievable haste, the inevitable inquiry to precede a "debate".

The investment, technology upgrades and infrastructure needed for a truly sustainable global economy are not yet ready.

The Beattie Government has announced that it is keeping a firm grip on the physical assets and is looking to sell the riskier retail arms of ENERGEX and Ergon before the introduction of full retail contestability in July 2007.

How this framework will apply to BESS projects and what developers and local governments need to be aware of.

Achieving sustainability in the use of water resources is a significant issue facing legislators. Federal and State Governments in Australia have enacted comprehensive water legislation in an endeavour to ensure that limited water resources are being used sustainably.

In 2003, the Victorian Government helped elevate the topic of water quality in Australia by introducing the Safe Drinking Water Act.

If Australia fails to resolve the power equation, we risk slowing AI adoption, delaying cloud migration and pushing investment offshore.

In the face of growing demand for water and declining rainfall, the industrial use of recycled wastewater in Western Australia is likely to increase.

As recognised leaders in water and environmental consulting, MWH recently commissioned a piece of independent research of Australian households to explore attitudes and behaviours toward water. In particular, we explored whether the prolonged drought, and years of water restrictions, have had a lasting impact. Or, now that the drought is easing in many parts of the country, are we reverting to old habits? What are the drivers of household water usage? Will increasing the price of water motivate

Formulating a regulatory roadmap for how a nuclear energy program might function in Australia would help decision making

Changes to regulatory framework regarding exemptions which apply to the generation, supply or sale of electricity in Victoria. .

The Supreme Court of NSW has given an expansive interpretation to the powers of carriers under the Telecommunications Act.

The Murray-Darling Basin Authority has released a draft of the proposed Basin Plan to better manage water resources.

Significant urban water sector reform program expected to commence at all levels of government during 2012.

The case confirms that engineering designers are required to check previous designs and make corrections where required.

The Supreme Court has just issued its second decision in the Rozen matter and has once again confirmed that the precautionary principle should be applied not only where there is a risk of irreversible damage, but also where there is a risk of serious damage to the environment. The decision also provides a very clear endorsement of the force of the "Guidelines for development in open potable water supply catchments" in decision making on new development and the circumstances that must be in pl