INTERVIEW WITH THE 

CHAIRMAN OF N.R.E. IN VICTORIA

TAUFIK FETAH &

SIDDHARTH PALERI.

    Mrs.------------- (WE WILL SAY IT IN CLASS) is the Chairman of the N.R.E. (Natural Resources and Environment) in Victoria. She is very skilled in the field of water pollution and has worked with the Victorian and Federal governments in projects to improve Victoria's waterways and water  supply.

    Here is a transcript of the our exclusive interview with a well known representative of the N.R.E.:

WHAT POSITION DO YOU HOLD IN THE N.R.E.? 

    I am the Chair of the Central Coastal Board (CBB) and a member of the Victorian Coastal Council (VCC). The VCC gives advice to the Government on the policy and management of Victoria's Coast- including the coastal catchments and marine environment. The CBB facilitates, integrates and co-ordinates actions of government agencies, Department, coastal managers and Local Government from Breamlea to Inverloch. I.e. mainly Port Phillip and Westernport.

WHAT DOES THE N.R.E. DO?

    N.R.E. is a 'MEGA' department that is responsible for primary industries such as fisheries, forests and agriculture, and also for the conservation of our National Parks and reserves, and other Crown land- such as Wilson's Promontory, alpine areas and Albert Park. Often Parks Victoria is contracted to manage these areas.

    N.R.E. also has a key role in water through catchment management. Authorities and supply companies and groups like the EPA, ECORECYCLE and MAFRI are part of N.R.E.

HOW DO PEOPLE GET INVOLVED IN HELPING IN A COMMUNITY GROUP?

    Most community groups in environmental areas are 'friends of' groups, like friends of Merri Creek, friends of St.Kilda Gardens, Earthcare, etc. The Local council is also a useful contact point. There are organised programs like Coastcare, Landcare, Waterwatch and the Australian Conservation Volunteers which the N.R.E. can give contacts for your area.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN CAUSES OF POLLUTION IN OUR RIVERS AND BAYS?

    Nutrient usually from agricultural and land uses, sediment from stream banks and riparian zones and usually as a result of inappropriate clearing causing erosion, or poor building site management, as well as heavy metals which predominantly comes from the lead in our cars, as well s litter that you see that is dropped and flows down the drainage system into creeks and the bays.

WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD FOR TREATING WATER POLLUTION?

    Water will increasingly be seen as a resource, similar to the way in which over the last ten years the separation of domestic waste (recyclable and non- recyclable) has become 'normal' and used paper and glass/ plastics are a raw material.

    In the Urban environment, environment engineering practices previously concerned with moving water away from sites quickly are being turned on their head and on-site detention (to allow settlement of pollutants) will soon be mandatory. Water sensitive urban design will be utilised to 'retro- fit' our established suburbs, with increasing numbers of rainwater tanks on site to catch rainwater as a resource, and a move towards grey water re- use will become common-place. Bio- Mass and biological treatments of effluent will take the product to a higher grade and discharges to bays will (HOPEFULLY) no longer be tolerated, replaced with inland discharge for intensive agricultural use.

NATURE...
How long will it be before these beautiful creatures are gone because of polluted rivers...

THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT...
If you want to make a difference to our planet save our most precious commodity...water