TheSustainability Advocates Forumwasheld on Thursday10December2015from10.00am– 11.00am atGraduateHouse.

Minutes

Items:

  1. Welcome

1.1Attendance and Apologies

Attendance (RSVPs from invite)

June McBeth, Ben Neville, Bonnie Hermawan, Charlene Edwards, Craig Prebble, Dianne Chambers, Danielle Rostan-Herbert, Elizabeth Carter, Franca Casagranda, Hans Baer, Helen Duckham, Judith Alcorn, Rohan Meddings, Monique Edwards, Megan Price, Michelle Mackay, Nick Swan, Pippa French, Rebecca Cullen, Sally Hayes, Sarah Timms, Steven Damen, Victor Iwanov, Clare Walker, Arnaud Gallois

Apologies (via invite/Outlook)

Charlene Hue-Ming Edwards, Claire Denby, Jean-Luc Garlick,Rupert Christie, Nathan Grills, David Waterworth, David Threlfall, Claire Greenhill, Harry Troedel, Matt Stewart, Bryan Mcgowan, Cathy Alizzi, Claudia Gasch, Christopher Jensen, Christine McIntyre, Cathy Simpson, Dimitra Stathopoulos, David Keizer, Harry Georgiou, Katherine O’Brien, Kathryn Williams, Haley Lambert, Libby Maunder, Lisa Mifsud, Lynn Grey, Margot Eden, Michelle Livett, Nora Li, Nick Williams, Paul Durrant, Rachel Sore, Steven Elefteriadis, Tim Thornton, Vanessa Ho, Veronica Borrett

Judith Alcorn (Waste and Recycling Coordinator) had to leave the forum early; she informed the group of the decrease in recycling rates for 2015. Judith attributed this decrease to new cleaning contracts that did not meet the University’s requirements for recycling.

In 2016, Judith will be working on the University’s first biodiversity management plan.

Nathan Grills (Nossal Institute for Global Health) was unable to attend, but provided an evaluation he and a research assistant conducted on the University’s smoke free campus initiative. Please see here.

  1. New Terms of Reference D. Rostan-Herbert

Danielle introduced the new terms of reference for the Sustainability Advocates Forum, which provides an explanation of the former Staff Environment Advocates meetings combined with the Sustainability Forum to form the Sustainability Advocates Forum. Please see attached.

  1. Sustainability Charter and Plan Update C. Walker/All

Clare discussed how the Sustainability Charter is an opportunity for the University to lead and act on sustainability and establish consistent principles across research, teaching, operations and governance. Following the charter will be the Sustainability Plan, in which Global Reporting Initiative will be used as a framework for reporting.

Some comments and suggestions brought about by the group:

  • The Draft Charter doesn’t have a sense that the environment had a clear role and no sense of urgency. Please find here a link to the alternative Sustainability Charter put together by Arnaud and Hans Baer.
  • GSA held a consultation meeting with students and council members in November; some of the issues of concern that were raised included social inclusion, custodianship, and biodiversity. Jill Bunnell (Arts Liaison Officer, GSA) said there will be more consultation meetings on charter/plan with graduate students in 2016. Click here to see the GSA’s submission in response to the Charter
  • The Charter is a step in the right direction for the University.
  • The Charter is attempting to be a balance between being succinct and being inclusive.
  • There is lots of wriggle room in the charter regarding fossil fuels and investments
  • Swinburne University is planning a Charter to look at their investments
  • Building works, renovations and other campus operations don’t seem to have a transparent strategy (Arts West going through another reno, etc)
  • Air travel by staff/academics should be consideredin Charter
  • Sustainability should be included throughout the University’s curriculum.
  1. MU Community Garden P. French

Pippa French talked about how the University’s Community Garden, off Monash Rd, how they are interested in getting more people involved. The garden has veggies and herbs year round, and also has a composting station used by staff/students. It’s open to staff, students, local businesses and residents.

More info on the Community Garden here:

Meetingdatesfor2015

Sustainability Advocates(SA)isaforumforthecommunicationofSustainabilityissues,andforAdvocatestoraiseSustainabilityissues.Interestedstaffmembersarealsowelcometoattend.

Month / Date / Time / Venue
March / Tuesday 1st / 10.00am-11.00am / GraduateHouse,220LeicesterSt
May / Monday 9th / 10.00am-11.00am / GraduateHouse,220LeicesterSt
September / Monday 5th / 10.00am-11.00am / GraduateHouse,220LeicesterSt
December / Thursday10th / 10.00am-11.00am / GraduateHouse,220LeicesterSt