Appendix 11 - Ecologically sustainable development and environmental performance

We are committed to identifying, implementing, and promoting best practice in environmental management, and to operating in an ecologically sustainable manner. We are also committed to providing an environmentally sound workplace that conforms to occupational health and safety requirements.

We aim to minimise the environmental impact of our operations and we have implemented an Environmental Management System that sets out the planning, operational, and management processes to achieve this in areas such as:

• energy consumption
• office consumables
• landfill waste
• transportation.

Following are examples of initiatives undertaken during 2005-06:

• We have purchased a new style waste recycling bin for new office accommodation that will help our staff recycle waste and result in a reduction of waste going to landfill.
• We have encouraged our SES staff and pool vehicle users to choose smaller four cylinder vehicles where operational requirements allow.
• We initiated a review of the Environmental Management System as a new ISO standard, ISO14001:2004 was introduced. The new standard takes into consideration the provisions of ISO 9001:2000 which focus on quality.

The implementation of environmental initiatives is progressing through the assistance of EnviroWatch, a staff volunteer network that receives senior management support. This group of environmental 'champions' was previously known as the Waste Watch Network.

The table below outlines our energy performance:

Three year summary of energy performance

Migration and the environment:

Increasing numbers of migrants are settling in areas outside of Sydney, Newcastle, Wollongong, Brisbane, the Gold Coast, and Perth as a result of state-specific and regional migration initiatives. These initiatives have helped state and territory governments to avoid increasing environmental pressures in chosen areas while allowing state and territory governments to address skill shortages and population needs in regional and low population growth areas.

The number of visas granted under these initiatives greatly increased in 2005-06.