An Australian Environmental Handbook

D. A. Charles-Edwards and M. S. O’Keeffe
ISBN 0-646-42508-0
 

Sci-Plan Pty Ltd
PO Box 199,
The Gap  Qld  Australia 4061

Tel 07 3366 5422
Fax 07 3366 4547
Email:.sciplan@optusnet.com.au

 Preface

We have been involved in assisting clients to address a wide variety of environmental issues over the past twelve years.  These have included the conduct of environmental assessments of the impacts of new urban developments in rural areas, identifying cost-effective options for the sustainable disposal and re-use of treated sewage effluent, identifying options for the management of saline production water from gas and oil wells, advising on the management of feral animals, assessing the environmental implications of aquaculture projects and the preparation and/or review of a number of disparate Environmental Impact Assessments.

Because of the dryness of the continent and the age of its weathered soils Australia’s environment is fragile.  In the relatively short time since European settlement there have been dramatic changes in the land use over much of the continent.  It is only in recent times that we have become aware that many of our agricultural practices, inherited by us from the moist, temperate  lands of Europe, are not appropriate here. 

This Handbook seeks to demonstrate how an holistic, multidisciplinary approach can be established to assist us in understanding and addressing environmental issues.

David Charles-Edwards
Scott O’Keeffe
July, 2003

We wish to acknowledge the invaluable assistance of Ms Judy Else in the preparation, editing and production of this Handbook. We also wish to thank Pine Rivers Shire Council for permission to reproduce the Planning Guidelines for the Management of Intensive Animal Enterprises, the Plaintiff Lawyers Association for permission to reproduce The Chemical Risk Trail and the Queensland Dairyfarmers’ Organisation for permission to reproduce Farm Notes Preparing for Global Warming.


Contents


 

Updated 28th Febuary '07