Describe two major initiatives you learned at the conferences. How can they be used to benefit ratepayers?

At “The Darling, the Drought & the Dust” conference at Bourke, I learnt that for every two drops of water that runs off the SA part of the basin we draw eleven from the river. We pump Murray water to Whyalla, Adelaide, Onkaparinga, Stockwell and Keith.

In the Eastern States part of the basin, each shire council and farmer carries out a “water benefit analysis” to determine the best use of the resource available. The Bourke shire is removing athel pines and the Cobar shire lemon scented gums to conserve water. Farmers know 1megalitre will net $450 growing cotton, or $850 growing table grapes.
Marion council is planning a review of its tree policy.

At “The Waste Avoidance & Recovery Conference” at Coffs Harbour, I learnt that the energy locked up in household rubbish is greater than the total greenhouse gas released by generators producing electricity for that household.

 Marion’s 3 bin collection system ensures; aerobic digestion of “green” material to produce compost and natural carbon dioxide, the recycling of “yellow” materials into up to 10 reuse streams, and, the “red” waste goes to landfill. Much landfill material digests in an anaerobic process to produce the unwanted greenhouses gas methane. At our site at Pedlars Creek much of this CH4 is recovered and burned to produce electricity and carbon dioxide.

Marion council is planning improvements to the “red” processing to virtually eliminate the production methane from our waste.