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Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Environmental management Australia'

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Published: 10 December 2022
Last updated: 29 January 2023

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1

Morrison-Saunders, Angus Neil. "The influence of EIA on environmental management in Western Australia." Thesis, Morrison-Saunders, Angus Neil (1997) The influence of EIA on environmental management in Western Australia. PhD thesis, Murdoch University, 1997. https://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/3306/.

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An important measure of the effectiveness of environmental impact assessment (EIA) is the extent to which it achieves its goals for environmental protection and management. To determine this requires an examination of environmental outcomes for projects that have undergone EIA. The utility of the pre-decision stages of EIA in influencing environmental management outcomes has been well documented by others. It is argued that EIA can also play a useful role in providing for ongoing adaptive environmental management. A theoretical model of the EIA/environmental management relationship is proposed which identifies three stages based on the principal approval decision point; pre-decision, post-decision and transitional; in which the influence of EIA may be realised. Consideration was also given to how environmental management activities came about based on the influence of rational processes, external pressures and internal reform. A methodology for EIA auditing to explore this model is presented. The audit uses a computerised database whose design reflects four distinct EIA components: impact prediction, occurrence of impacts, environmental management activities and environmental monitoring. The database structure enables predecision, post-decision and transitional stage EIA influences on project outcomes to be differentiated. The audit methodology is applied to six case studies in Western Australia. During project assessment, strong emphasis was placed on the need for ongoing monitoring and management programmes. The implementation of these programmes was found to be central to successful achievement of project and environmental performance objectives. The results indicate that EIA practitioners have focussed environmental management actions on issues of greatest significance. Some predicted impacts were avoided by management activities. Most impacts were identified in impact predictions although predictive accuracy had little bearing on environmental management response. Many impacts were responded to by EIA managers irrespective of whether they were predicted accurately or even considered in predictions. Most significant impacts had ongoing monitoring. Most environmental management activities originated from the pre-decision stage of EIA, although the transitional and post-decision stages were also important. There was considerable evidence of the influence of external pressures on environmental management outcomes as well as rational processes and to a lesser extent internal reforms. Overall, the case studies demonstrate that a strong relationship exists between EIA and ongoing environmental management performance in Western Australia.
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2

Economou, Nicholas. "Greening the Commonwealth : the Australian Labor Party government's management of national environmental politics, 1983-1996 /." Connect to thesis, 1998. http://eprints.unimelb.edu.au/archive/00000333.

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3

Kupke, Valerie. "Local Agenda 21 : integrated environmental management by local government in South Australia /." Title page, table of contents and abstract only, 1995. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09ENV/09envk96.pdf.

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4

Mokoena, Karabo. "Decentralisation of water resource management : a comparative review of catchment management authorities in South Africa and Victoria, Australia." Master's thesis, University of Cape Town, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/19783.

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By the adoption of Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM), South Africa has significantly changed its water management regime and the institutions governing water in this country. These changes were first introduced by the National White Policy Paper on Water in South Africa in 1997 and subsequently the National Water Act in 1998. One of the key components of IWRM is the decentralisation of water management to a regional or catchment level and the introduction of public participation in the water management sector. With the enactment of the NWA South Africa incorporated IWRM in its legal system and a decade on, authorities are now turning to its implementation. The NWA introduces Catchment Management Agencies (CMAs) in water management and gives them authority over water management at a catchment level. Initially there were nineteen (19) and this number has since been reduced to nine (9) due to a number of factors. South African authorities are now seeking ways in which they can effectively decentralise water to a catchment level, including delegating and assigning some of the functions currently held by the Minster to CMAs. Using Victoria, Australia as a comparative study, this study investigates how water management can best be decentralised to a catchment level; it starts off by investigating the theory of decentralisation and its pros and cons; then sets off to investigate water management has been decentralised in Australia from the national level, to state level and catchment level; it then investigates the role of Rural Water Authorities in Victoria and compares them to Catchment Management Agencies in South Africa. Finally the work highlights the water management regime and the various stakeholders in water management South Africa from a national level to a catchment level and the challenges facing South Africa in term of WRM; and then makes recommendations and a conclusion based on its research findings and the South African socio-economic and political context.
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5

au, Pendoley@newton dialix com, and Kellie Lee Pendoley. "Sea Turtles and the Environmental Management of Industrial Activities in North West Western Australia." Murdoch University, 2005. http://wwwlib.murdoch.edu.au/adt/browse/view/adt-MU20060612.120104.

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The nesting demographics of sea turtles using beaches within the Barrow, Lowendal, Montebello (B-L-M) island complex on the North West Shelf of Western Australia were examined in the context of their spatial and temporal distribution and potential for exposure to industrially based artificial light sources. The distribution of overnight turtle tracks throughout the island complex confirmed high density nesting of Chelonia mydas (green turtles) on deep, sandy and high energy beaches and Natator depressus (flatback turtles) on deep, sandy and low energy beaches, while Eretmochelys imbricata (hawksbill turtle) tracks were most visible on shallow, sandy beaches adjacent to near shore coral reef habitat. The three species exhibited a summer nesting peak. Hawksbill turtles commenced nesting in September and continued through to January, green turtles commenced in November and decreased in March. Flatback turtles displayed the most constrained nesting season reported to date in Australia with 86% of the animals visits recorded in December and January only. Nesting population sizes estimated for the three species suggest that on a national scale the B-L-M complex is a moderately large green turtle and a large flatback rookery site. The hawksbill rookery is large on an international scale. While none of the green turtle nesting beaches fell within a 1.5 km radius of industrially based artificial light sources an estimated 42% of nesting flatback turtles and 12% of nesting hawksbill turtles were potentially exposed to these light sources. Testing of green turtle and hawksbill hatchling response to different wavelengths of light indicate that hatchlings from the B-L-M region respond to low wavelength much like hatchlings tested in North America (Witherington 1992a). Flatback hatchlings displayed a similar preference for low wavelength light however their responses to discrete light wavelengths between 400 nm and 700 nm suggest that this species may not discriminate well between wavelengths that lie between 450 nm and 550 nm. This response may be related to the rapid attenuation of visible light that occurs in the turbid near shore habitats favoured by this species. Field based arena studies carried out to investigate hatchling behaviour on nesting beaches with light types commonly used in industrial settings found green turtle and flatback hatchlings are significantly attracted to these lights compared to controls. Lights that emit strongly in the low wavelength range (i.e. metal halide and fluorescent) caused hatchling misorientation at lower intensities than the test light that emitted relatively poorly in this range (high pressure sodium vapour). Hawksbill hatchlings tested in situ under the influence of actual oil and gas onshore and offshore facility based lighting were disrupted from the most direct line to the ocean by these light emissions. Emergence fan mapping methods that measure hatchling orientation on nesting beaches were refined and are proposed as an alternative monitoring tool for use on beaches that are logistically difficult to access for large scale experimental orientation studies. The hatchling behaviour was clearly complicated by beach topography and moon phase. Satellite tracking of post nesting female green and hawksbill turtles from North West Shelf rookeries has identified the Western Australian location of migratory corridors and foraging grounds for these species while Scott Reef turtles migrate from their south Timor Sea rookery to Northern Territory waters. Green turtle nesting on Barrow Island and Sandy Island (Scott Reef) forage at feeding grounds 200 – 1000 km from their nesting beaches. Hawksbill turtles nesting at Varanus Island and Rosemary Islands forage at locations 50 – 450 km from their nesting beaches. While all of the nesting beaches within the B-L-M island complex are protected under the Barrow-Montebello Marine Conservation Reserves, the only foraging ground similarly protected is the Northern Territory foraging ground used by Scott Reef green turtles. None of the foraging grounds used by North West Shelf green or hawksbill turtles is currently protected by conservation reserves.
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6

Pendoley, Kellie Lee. "Sea turtles and the environmental management of industrial activities in North West Western Australia." Thesis, Pendoley, Kellie Lee (2005) Sea turtles and the environmental management of industrial activities in North West Western Australia. PhD thesis, Murdoch University, 2005. https://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/254/.

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The nesting demographics of sea turtles using beaches within the Barrow, Lowendal, Montebello (B-L-M) island complex on the North West Shelf of Western Australia were examined in the context of their spatial and temporal distribution and potential for exposure to industrially based artificial light sources. The distribution of overnight turtle tracks throughout the island complex confirmed high density nesting of Chelonia mydas (green turtles) on deep, sandy and high energy beaches and Natator depressus (flatback turtles) on deep, sandy and low energy beaches, while Eretmochelys imbricata (hawksbill turtle) tracks were most visible on shallow, sandy beaches adjacent to near shore coral reef habitat. The three species exhibited a summer nesting peak. Hawksbill turtles commenced nesting in September and continued through to January, green turtles commenced in November and decreased in March. Flatback turtles displayed the most constrained nesting season reported to date in Australia with 86% of the animals visits recorded in December and January only. Nesting population sizes estimated for the three species suggest that on a national scale the B-L-M complex is a moderately large green turtle and a large flatback rookery site. The hawksbill rookery is large on an international scale. While none of the green turtle nesting beaches fell within a 1.5 km radius of industrially based artificial light sources an estimated 42% of nesting flatback turtles and 12% of nesting hawksbill turtles were potentially exposed to these light sources. Testing of green turtle and hawksbill hatchling response to different wavelengths of light indicate that hatchlings from the B-L-M region respond to low wavelength much like hatchlings tested in North America (Witherington 1992a). Flatback hatchlings displayed a similar preference for low wavelength light however their responses to discrete light wavelengths between 400 nm and 700 nm suggest that this species may not discriminate well between wavelengths that lie between 450 nm and 550 nm. This response may be related to the rapid attenuation of visible light that occurs in the turbid near shore habitats favoured by this species. Field based arena studies carried out to investigate hatchling behaviour on nesting beaches with light types commonly used in industrial settings found green turtle and flatback hatchlings are significantly attracted to these lights compared to controls. Lights that emit strongly in the low wavelength range (i.e. metal halide and fluorescent) caused hatchling misorientation at lower intensities than the test light that emitted relatively poorly in this range (high pressure sodium vapour). Hawksbill hatchlings tested in situ under the influence of actual oil and gas onshore and offshore facility based lighting were disrupted from the most direct line to the ocean by these light emissions. Emergence fan mapping methods that measure hatchling orientation on nesting beaches were refined and are proposed as an alternative monitoring tool for use on beaches that are logistically difficult to access for large scale experimental orientation studies. The hatchling behaviour was clearly complicated by beach topography and moon phase. Satellite tracking of post nesting female green and hawksbill turtles from North West Shelf rookeries has identified the Western Australian location of migratory corridors and foraging grounds for these species while Scott Reef turtles migrate from their south Timor Sea rookery to Northern Territory waters. Green turtle nesting on Barrow Island and Sandy Island (Scott Reef) forage at feeding grounds 200 - 1000 km from their nesting beaches. Hawksbill turtles nesting at Varanus Island and Rosemary Islands forage at locations 50 - 450 km from their nesting beaches. While all of the nesting beaches within the B-L-M island complex are protected under the Barrow-Montebello Marine Conservation Reserves, the only foraging ground similarly protected is the Northern Territory foraging ground used by Scott Reef green turtles. None of the foraging grounds used by North West Shelf green or hawksbill turtles is currently protected by conservation reserves.
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7

Pendoley, Kellie Lee. "Sea turtles and the environmental management of industrial activities in North West Western Australia." Pendoley, Kellie Lee (2005) Sea turtles and the environmental management of industrial activities in North West Western Australia. PhD thesis, Murdoch University, 2005. http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/254/.

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The nesting demographics of sea turtles using beaches within the Barrow, Lowendal, Montebello (B-L-M) island complex on the North West Shelf of Western Australia were examined in the context of their spatial and temporal distribution and potential for exposure to industrially based artificial light sources. The distribution of overnight turtle tracks throughout the island complex confirmed high density nesting of Chelonia mydas (green turtles) on deep, sandy and high energy beaches and Natator depressus (flatback turtles) on deep, sandy and low energy beaches, while Eretmochelys imbricata (hawksbill turtle) tracks were most visible on shallow, sandy beaches adjacent to near shore coral reef habitat. The three species exhibited a summer nesting peak. Hawksbill turtles commenced nesting in September and continued through to January, green turtles commenced in November and decreased in March. Flatback turtles displayed the most constrained nesting season reported to date in Australia with 86% of the animals visits recorded in December and January only. Nesting population sizes estimated for the three species suggest that on a national scale the B-L-M complex is a moderately large green turtle and a large flatback rookery site. The hawksbill rookery is large on an international scale. While none of the green turtle nesting beaches fell within a 1.5 km radius of industrially based artificial light sources an estimated 42% of nesting flatback turtles and 12% of nesting hawksbill turtles were potentially exposed to these light sources. Testing of green turtle and hawksbill hatchling response to different wavelengths of light indicate that hatchlings from the B-L-M region respond to low wavelength much like hatchlings tested in North America (Witherington 1992a). Flatback hatchlings displayed a similar preference for low wavelength light however their responses to discrete light wavelengths between 400 nm and 700 nm suggest that this species may not discriminate well between wavelengths that lie between 450 nm and 550 nm. This response may be related to the rapid attenuation of visible light that occurs in the turbid near shore habitats favoured by this species. Field based arena studies carried out to investigate hatchling behaviour on nesting beaches with light types commonly used in industrial settings found green turtle and flatback hatchlings are significantly attracted to these lights compared to controls. Lights that emit strongly in the low wavelength range (i.e. metal halide and fluorescent) caused hatchling misorientation at lower intensities than the test light that emitted relatively poorly in this range (high pressure sodium vapour). Hawksbill hatchlings tested in situ under the influence of actual oil and gas onshore and offshore facility based lighting were disrupted from the most direct line to the ocean by these light emissions. Emergence fan mapping methods that measure hatchling orientation on nesting beaches were refined and are proposed as an alternative monitoring tool for use on beaches that are logistically difficult to access for large scale experimental orientation studies. The hatchling behaviour was clearly complicated by beach topography and moon phase. Satellite tracking of post nesting female green and hawksbill turtles from North West Shelf rookeries has identified the Western Australian location of migratory corridors and foraging grounds for these species while Scott Reef turtles migrate from their south Timor Sea rookery to Northern Territory waters. Green turtle nesting on Barrow Island and Sandy Island (Scott Reef) forage at feeding grounds 200 - 1000 km from their nesting beaches. Hawksbill turtles nesting at Varanus Island and Rosemary Islands forage at locations 50 - 450 km from their nesting beaches. While all of the nesting beaches within the B-L-M island complex are protected under the Barrow-Montebello Marine Conservation Reserves, the only foraging ground similarly protected is the Northern Territory foraging ground used by Scott Reef green turtles. None of the foraging grounds used by North West Shelf green or hawksbill turtles is currently protected by conservation reserves.
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8

Ockwell, David G. "Knowledge claims and environmental policy : an interdisciplinary analysis of fire management in Cape York, Australia." Thesis, University of York, 2007. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.440982.

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9

Nicholson, Rosemary J. Public Health &amp Community Medicine Faculty of Medicine UNSW. "Oh what a tangled web ... : Building capacity for environmental health action in Australia." Awarded by:University of New South Wales. School of Public Health and Community Medicine, 2003. http://handle.unsw.edu.au/1959.4/19144.

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In the early years of the 21st century environmental health has to contend not only with the more 'traditional' and essentially localised environmental risks to human health. We now face the additional challenges posed by a range of 'modern' environmental health issues. These are characteristically more complex, more ubiquitous, and much less clearly defined than any we have previously encountered. They have been brought about through rapid industrial expansion, technological advances that have transformed our social structures and the emergence of a global economy that is now forging ahead in the face of ever-increasing socio-economic inequity. These are problems that are not amenable to traditional environmental health solutions. They call instead for new, innovative and integrative strategies based on cooperative and collaborative working partnerships. This thesis explores the question of what needs to be done to build capacity for such partnerships among environmental health stakeholders in Australia. The current situation is clarified through a critical review of the author?s professional career, the historical development of environmental health practice, the different knowledge constructs of four distinguishable stakeholder groups and the objectives and guiding principles of Australia's National Environmental Health Strategy. A case study of a federally funded collaborative environmental health project serves to highlight some of the inherent challenges of intersectoral partnership and community participation. The metaphor of the spider's web illustrates the imperative of such partnerships among stakeholder groups and across all geographical scales from the local to the global. Finally, the barriers to be overcome in building environmental health capacity are analysed through a force field analysis. The study concludes with an analysis of the constituents of action necessary to develop the partnering capabilities of the various stakeholders, to build supportive community and organisational infrastructures and to demonstrate the political will of government to support change.
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10

Burroughs, Gary Leslie. "The response to environmental economic drivers by civil engineering contractors in South Australia." Title page, contents and abstract only, 2000. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09ENV/09envb972.pdf.

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Bibliography: leaves 91-93. Examines the response of two civil engineering construction contractors in South Australia to environmental economic conditions and market requirements using primarily an action research methodology whilst the researcher was engaged as the environmental manager at both corporations.
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11

Chapman, Kelly. "Complexity and creative capacity : reformulating the problem of knowledge transfer in environmental management." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2013. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/696.

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The Ningaloo Reef is Australia’s largest fringing coral reef and an iconic tourist destination; however tourism development in Ningaloo has been ad hoc and the area is challenged by human pressure on numerous fronts. In response to these challenges a number of research agencies brought together a range of scientists to study the effects of human interaction on the reef. Moving from research to practice has been understood to depend on the adaptive capacity of the institutions responsible for governing human activities, in this case in the Ningaloo area. Knowledge transfer describes the suite of strategies used to try to bridge the gap between research and management. Knowledge transfer efforts, however, seldom have the desired impact of seeing research applied to decision-making. The ubiquity of knowledge transfer difficulties across disciplines suggests a common root to the problem, based in our shared cultural assumptions. This study pairs a multidisciplinary theoretical investigation with action research to shed light on why knowledge transfer efforts so often fall short in terms of seeing research applied to practice. Recent environmental management perspectives on knowledge transfer illustrate the shift towards stakeholder participation as a means of improving knowledge transfer success. As such, the action research study involved the researcher embedding herself in the Ningaloo community for 18 months, adopting the role of a knowledge broker and engaging and collaborating with modelling researchers and local stakeholders on knowledge transfer efforts. However, despite intensive stakeholder engagement, evaluation interviews at the end of the process indicated that although the knowledge transfer process had the effect of catalysing relationships between stakeholder groups in the region, and between regional stakeholders and scientists, it appeared to have relatively little effect on the representational knowledge of local stakeholders or the actual application of research in practice. This led to the question of whether knowledge transfer is itself is part of the research uptake problem, as per the principles of problem formulation, which specify that resolving seemingly intractable problems requires examining the assumptions that underpin our thinking about the problem situation. On this basis, the theoretical component of this study explored the Newtonian assumptions that inform our understanding of knowledge transfer. An alternative complexity-based ontology is proposed, unifying the metaphysics of materialism and idealism, based on a synthesis of process philosophy, mathematical logic, quantum theory, general systems theory and the complexity sciences. The phenomena of cognition, learning, knowledge and organising are compared in relation to how they’ve been understood within the Newtonian paradigm, and how they are now being explained from the perspective of a complexity-based paradigm. By reframing the action research results from a complexity perspective, the Ningaloo knowledge transfer process does not constitute a failure in terms of enhancing the capacity of the Ningaloo system to make more sustainable decisions. Rather, the increased connectivity between stakeholder groups and scientists can be viewed as more importantly enhancing the creative capacity of Ningaloo’s governance system. It is posited that the research uptake problem should be reformulated from the basis of complexity paradigm, and the notions of knowledge transfer and adaptive capacity reconceptualised accordingly. Instead of devising rational objective arguments for someone else to improve the ‘adaptive capacity’ of human systems, scientists should focus instead on improving their own creative capacity in their local interactions.
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12

Rogers, Nina J. L. "Community environment groups and catchment management : an examination of the involvement of community environmental groups in the management of the Northern Adelaide and Barossa Catchment, South Australia /." Title page, contents and abstract only, 1999. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09AEVH/09aevhr728.pdf.

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13

Hutchinson, W. E. "A qualitative systems methodological approach to environmental problems: The case of integrated catchment management in Western Australia." Thesis, Hutchinson, W E (1996) A qualitative systems methodological approach to environmental problems: The case of integrated catchment management in Western Australia. PhD thesis, Murdoch University, 1996. https://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/51182/.

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Environmental problems are generally regarded as being systemic in nature, yet few systemic management techniques are used in practice. This thesis reports on the application of qualitative, systems methodologies to these complex environmental problems, using integrated catchment management (ICM) in Western Australia as a case study. The major objectives are threefold: firstly, to show that the creative use of systems methodologies can produce useful outcomes when investigating coercive situations consisting of a complicated mix of social, economic, legal, engineering, and environmental factors; secondly, to dynamically develop a methodology, which suits the problem situation, by reflectively amending existing systems methodologies; and thirdly, to build feasible solutions for the specific problem of ICM in Western Australia (WA). In 1988, ICM was initiated in WA as an holistic approach to catchment management in an attempt to harness the community and institutions to further the ends of sustainable development. After initial success in setting up some functioning catchment coordinating groups, the concept now appears to have developed a number of problems with its credibility and management. The ICM process has become fragmented with numerous participants, both institutional and individual, developing their own agendas and perspectives of the problem. Because of this organisational environment and the involved economic, social, and ecological features of ICM, it is studied in this investigation as a complex, coercive systemic problem. The foundation of this research is a meta-methodology called Total Systems Intervention (TSI), which has as its basis the principles of critical systems theory. The position taken is that the research methodology should conform to the needs of the problem rather than the investigation conforming to the needs of a methodology. A methodology is developed, using the basic tenets of TSI, to meet the needs of investigating ICM in WA. It uses components from Critical Systems Heuristics, Soft Systems Methodology, Viable Systems Diagnosis, and System Dynamics. The research methodology developed provides outputs which supply holistic, conceptual foundations for developing plans for critical tasks, organisational structures, and implementable policies for ICM. At the first stage of this study, data was collected from 40 interviewees representing different values, interests, and perspectives. They were asked their opinions about the existing problems with ICM, and the features of an ideal, functional ICM system. This information is then used to build a systemic picture of ICM requirements. At the next stage, a definition of the desired system is developed and from this conceptual models of the critical tasks and appropriate organisational structures are built. These models provide a series of conceptual, management solutions for ICM in Western Australia by supplying a design framework at the organisational and process levels. The conceptual models developed show that the major perceived needs for ICM to succeed are in the areas of: social and institutional change, the development of acceptance of ICM with landowners, effective environmental management, and the maintenance of economic productivity. Each of these is examined in detail. A number of models at the state and catchment levels are offered to point to deficiencies in the control, coordinating, and auditing roles within the state system. Finally, a number of hard systems models are produced to show some of the implementation problems ICM might have, and also, how these models might be used to develop policy. The research shows that systems methodologies can be creatively used to dynamically build a methodology suited to a particular complex/coercive, environmental management problem. These qualitative methodologies produce meaningful and useful output, and are well suited to the problem definition stage of contentious, environmental problems.
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14

Hewitt, Mark S. "Alternative rehabilitation techniques and sustainable outcomes from mining using appropriate environmental management and mine closure planning in an arid region of Western Australia." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2007. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/250.

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The subject of this thesis is the development of alternative approaches to environmental management and mine closure plans using case examples of the Big Bell/Cue Mining District and as a working example, an area of unconfined washout of historical gold-mine process tailings located in this arid inland region of Western Australia. This is considered appropriate in the light of the social and political thrust for industry to develop simultaneously positive economic, social and environmental outcomes from their activities. The Big Bell mining operation ceased mining in June 2003 and the Mine Closure Plan reflected a classical approach of minimization of public liability and strict compliance with legislative requirements. During the life of the modern mine the approach to rehabilitation was similarly classical in its approach It is intended for this document to inform the mining industry using the case example of the now closed Big Bell Mine as to how greater long-term outcomes may have been achieved for the State and the region for the future. This thesis specifically investigates alternative ways to approach rehabilitation in arid areas of Western Australia using the washout area as an example and trial area. This thesis has approached the issue by addressing the quantification of what has occurred through the gathering of baseline data of the case study area and then by the implementation of a series of relevant trials to identify appropriate eco-functional process-sensitive methods for rehabilitation as an alternative to current industry practice. Trials investigating the use of "retention banks" and "clay/seed balls" and the use of ex-mine milling waste carbon were conducted to investigate relevant possible techniques suitable for arid mine-site waste dump rehabilitation. Data analysis indicated that the main reason for the high level of degradation within the case study area is due to the smothering effect of the fine clayey tails cover and due to acidity of the tailings. A detailed examination of 92 soil samples found water infiltration of tails-washed areas as half that of control areas. Acidity of alluvium has declined from pH 5.2 to 3.8. The acidity has penetrated at depth to hardpan. Trials were commenced to rehabilitate the area using a combination of earthworks (retention banks and· scarification), pH- adjustment (using ex-mill carbon and crushed lime), and the use of native seed pelletised into clay-balls. The introduction of ex-mill carbon was shown to be effective in ameliorating pH in the tails wash area and improving its capacity to regenerate. Considering it is a widely available waste product with the gold mining industry it should be seriously considered in its application for rehabilitation purposes, and specifically in areas affected by severe acidification and desertification particularly by mismanaged tailings with pyrite content. The use of clay balls should also be subjected to further investigation. It is at least equal to the traditional use of raw seed and fertilizer with immediate and abundant rainfall. As this almost never occurs, it should prove to be superior, in delivering higher rates of viability for seed used. The thesis then attempts to integrate this study within the context of the wider issues of environmental management, specifically the best practice of mine closure plans and the adoption of sustainable economic, social and environmental outcomes from mining as an integral part of responsible operational environmental management plans. The thesis argues that the environmental management planning and specifically the Mine Closure Plan should not waste the myriad of opportunities that are the by-product of mining for the long-term sustainable benefit of the wider region. It is argued that if mining companies are serious about sustainability, then they cannot continue with short-term cycles of mining and closure. However to be realistic it will take concerted willingness from all stakeholders to pursue these outcomes. While a given mining operation can offer extensive resources and assets to support this approach the commercial and legislative pressures of core mining activities necessarily mean that mines are in fact encouraged to simply return the environment back to as natural state after operations are complete. Invariably this means hundreds of millions of dollars of infrastructure are levelled and scrapped to avoid all future liability, whilst the potential for sustainable outcomes is essentially ignored. The same Government that enforces the Mining Act and has a State Sustainability Strategy imposes the conditions which create unimaginative classical mine closure plans. Government, industry and the residents of regions must work together to seriously develop sustainable outcomes to mining.
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15

Anderson-Marks, Michelle. "The decision making processes of small business owner-managers : an environmental focus." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2014. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/861.

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Large business is often the focus when environmental issues are discussed because their individual impact on the environment is viewed as larger than that of the smaller business. However due to the large size of the small business sector it has been recognised that reducing their collective impact is critical to achieving a sustainable future. A lack of engagement by small businesses in environmental management invoked an interest in understanding how to better engage the owner-managers in this area, but more specifically what influenced their decision. With an emphasis on the day to day running of the business, many small business owner-managers place more emphasis on core business operations and often neglect the impact their business has on the natural environment. Considering 96% of all business in Australia is classified as small, their collective impact on the natural environment is significant. As many small business owner-managers see their environmental impact as minimal, improving their environmental behaviour is challenging. The aim of this study was therefore to explore the decision making approaches of the small business owner-manager to environmental management issues. Nine small businesses from three industries were chosen and using the Critical Incident Technique to explore their decision making process, this study sought to understand from the owner-managers perspective how and why business decisions are made. Semi structured interviews were used to identify the decision making approaches for four different business decisions: economic, legislative, social and environmental. Over a series of interviews the owner-managers were able to freely describe their decision process and rich data was able to be obtained. Results indicated that owner-managers base business decisions on many factors and use a range of decision making styles depending on the type, and importance, of the decision to be made, that is core business decision are more often rationally made, whilst discretionary decisions will often be made intuitively based on the information at hand. Therefore to better engage them in ways to improve environmental management practices, increasing the knowledge and understanding to the benefits of these improvements is imperative. In addition this information is more readily accepted when the information is relevant to their business and presented in a clear manner by someone with whom the owner-manager has established a pre-existing relationship.
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16

Shuster, Gabriela. "The Management Of Feral Pig Socio-Ecological Systems In Far North Queensland, Australia." Antioch University / OhioLINK, 2012. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1357345563.

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17

Blake, David. "Inorganic hydrogeochemical responses to fires in wetland sediments on the Swan Coastal Plain, Western Australia." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2013. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/689.

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In the past decade the wetlands of the Swan Coastal Plain (SCP) region of Western Australia have been subject to increasing fire frequency and intensity. Whilst wetland sediment fires (also known as peat fires) on the SCP are not new phenomena, the increased frequency, duration and extent of combustion have been concomitant with an increase in urbanisation and reduction in average annual rainfall for the region. This has led to a decrease in ground- and surface-water levels which, in turn, has increased the susceptibility of the wetland sediments to ignition and combustion events. Increased wetland fire severity has resulted in the loss of large pools of organic matter as well as numerous geochemical changes in wetland sediments. The physical and chemical modifications of wetland sediments have implications for the water quality of these wetlands, particularly on the SCP where an intimate link between water quality and the underlying geomorphology can be demonstrated. Previous wetland sediment disturbance events, such as drought and dewatering, have led to the oxidation of sediments, which has resulted in the acidification, base cation leaching and metal contamination of both ground- and surface-waters. The buffering capacity is strongly linked to the underlying geomorphology. Wetlands on the highly-leached, poorly-buffered Bassendean dune geomorphic unit tend to acidify readily, whereas wetlands on the well-buffered, Spearwood dune geomorphic unit, generally tend to be less acidic and have the capacity to recover (i.e. return to near-neutral conditions). In recent times, some of the wetlands on the Spearwood dune system have remained acidic. This suggests that the buffering capacity of this system is finite and may be linked to the severity of the oxidation event. The physical, temporal and chemical nature of water quality response from dried, heated and combusted wetland sediments are not well understood nor are the processes that drive them. The aim of this research, therefore, was to identify and characterise the inorganic water quality responses to the combustion of organic-rich wetland sediments. The study examined post-fire sediment pore-water and downstream ground-water quality, and the short and long term temporal characteristics of these responses. A laboratory microcosm experiment was conducted to investigate the role of temperature and sediment heterogeneity on observed water quality responses. The porewater of burnt sediments differed greatly from that of unburnt sediments and was indicative of pyrite oxidation. There were also temporal changes associated with seasonal rainfall events and groundwater fluxes. Results of the long-term temporal analysis indicated the exhaustion of the in-situ buffering capacity of the wetland sediments, which resulted in the permanent acidification of the groundwater downstream of the burnt sediments. These patterns were partly obscured by transient buffering supplied by the ash created from the combustion of vegetative organic material and the influx of carbonate-rich groundwater. Laboratory microcosm analyses confirmed the inorganic hydrochemical signals, and the significance of sediment type; including parent geomorphology, in influencing the water quality response. The increased frequency, duration and extent of drying, heating and combustion of wetland sediments suggest an erosion of buffering, and thereby a loss of resilience for these wetlands, threatening their ecological integrity. This research enhances our understanding of the environmental impacts of wetland sediment fires and increases the potential for pre-emptive, rather than reactive management services.
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Larwood, Andrew John. "Cleaner production : promoting and achieving it in the South Australian foundry industry." Title page, table of contents and abstract only, 2000. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09ENV/09envl336.pdf.

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Bibliography: leaves 123-130. The literature search and the findings from the investigation have been used to provide recommendations for a sector specific cooperative approach using regulation, self-regulation, voluntary agreements, economic incentatives and educational/information strategies to promote and acheive cleaner production in the South Australian foundry industry.
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Tapp, Nadia. "Do size differences of juvenile snapper (Pagrus auratus) in two regions of Shark Bay, Western Australia, reflect different environmental conditions." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2003. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1325.

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Aspects of the population biology of juvenile Pagrus auratus in the western gulf of Shark Bay, Western Australia, were investigated to explore the causes of an observed size difference between 0+ fish (first year of life) in the northern and southern regions of that gulf. Five trawl surveys were conducted in each region of the western gulf, from November 2000 to December 2001, to collect juvenile P. auratus. The 0+ fish from the northern region were found to be consistently greater in length by between 10 and 20mm LCF, than those in the southern region, thereby confirming those observed size differences. Three hypotheses were developed and investigated to explain the confirmed size difference between fish in the northern and southern regions of the western gulf. Size differences could be explained by (I) different growth rates; (2) age differences associated with different spawning times; and/or (3) fish migrating from south to north. The first and second hypotheses were tested by determining the daily ages of 125 fish collected by trawling in both regions between November 2000 and December 2001. Length-at-age data allowed the growth patterns of fish aged from 100 to 357 days to be tested using ANCOVA, while back-calculating from these ages allowed spawning times to be estimated. Examination of the third hypothesis was attempted by tagging 3485 0+ P. auratus in the southern region, followed by a trawling program to recapture tagged fish. Length-at-age data derived from validated age estimates indicated that while growth rates of O+ P. auratus, 100-357 days old, were similar between regions, the 0+ fish in the northern region were 15-l6mm greater in length than fish in the southern region, at a similar age. Back-calculated birth dates of O+ P. auratus showed that spawning had predominantly occurred between June and mid-August in both regions. While no tagged fish were recaptured during the study, independent studies examining the spatial movement of P. auratus in the western gulf suggest that 0+ P. auratus are unlikely to migrate between regions. Hence, the difference in length offish between regions almost certainly resulted from differences in growth rates within the first few months of life (age). A laboratory-based aquarium experiment was carried out at water temperatures of 18, 22 and 26oC and salinities of 36, 39 and 42% o to determine whether temperature and/or salinity influences growth of O+ P. auratus. ANOVA showed that growth, in terms of length, of 0+ P. auratus increased significantly at temperatures of 22 and 26oC compared to 18oC. Furthermore, in terms of weight, growth increased significantly with each 4oC increase in temperature. In comparison, growth was higher at salinities of 39%o than at 36 or 42%o but only in terms of length. Sea surface temperatures (SSTs) derived from remote-sensing satellite data demonstrated that P. auratus experienced SSTs 2-3oC cooler in the southern region compared to the northern region of the western gulf. In light of this, and the results of the aquarium experiment, depressed growth of wild 0+ P. auratus in the southern region was most likely due to the cooler water temperatures occurring during their first few months of life. The growth rate differences between the 0+ P. auratus of the northern and southern regions are discussed with regard to their lack of significance to the application of minimum size limits to adult P. auratus in Shark Bay. Further implications of the knowledge gained from this study to management practices applied to the snapper fishery in Shark Bay are highlighted and discussed. In particular, a recommendation was made to modify the dates of the closed snapper-fishing season around spawning to July-August of each year, rather than mid-August to September, as is currently the case. Knowledge gained from the present study is also highly applicable to any future P. auratus restocking programs in Shark Bay and may enhance the effectiveness of such projects by identifying: optimal temperature and salinity conditions for artificial rearing of snapper; favourable locations, times of year and optimal fish size for releases; and providing valuable advice regarding tagging methods.
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20

Huybers, Twan Economics &amp Management Australian Defence Force Academy UNSW. "Environmental management and the international competitiveness of nature-based tourism destinations : the case of Tropical North Queensland." Awarded by:University of New South Wales - Australian Defence Force Academy. School of Economics and management, 2001. http://handle.unsw.edu.au/1959.4/38714.

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The natural environment is a key attraction for Australia???s tourism industry. In order to prevent the deterioration of the environment, environmental management measures have been adopted by the tourism industry. Some of these measures are related to environmental regulations imposed on tourism operators by governments. However, given the dependence of the nature-based tourism industry on the environment, voluntary environmental management measures have also been instituted. The objective of this thesis is to investigate the effect of environmental management on the competitiveness of a nature-based tourism destination. For that purpose, Tropical North Queensland, a major Australian nature-based destination, is selected as a case study. Competitiveness is measured by the aggregate profitability of the tourism industry in the destination region. The investigation incorporates an assessment of the simultaneous effects of environmental management on the destination???s tourism demand and on business costs to tourism operators at the destination. The conceptual background to the investigations is discussed in the first part of the thesis. It includes the rationale for choosing a nature-based destination region as the unit of analysis. The conceptual framework is a departure from the conventional analysis of the relationship between the environment and international competitiveness in which the effect of regulatory compliance costs is emphasised. In this thesis, the potential demand benefits and the associated voluntary environmental management are added to the conventional analytical framework. The primary data for the analysis are derived from two separate investigations. The first comprises an analysis of the tourism industry in Tropical North Queensland. The second investigation involves a discrete choice modelling analysis of destination choices by prospective visitors to Tropical North Queensland. The empirical results show that it is justified to treat the nature-based tourism destination region, Tropical North Queensland, as an aggregate entity in the analysis. The destination competes as a collective unit with other destinations. This is done, predominantly, on the basis of the region???s high-quality natural attractions. The empirical analyses show that tourism businesses??? costs due to environmental management are small in comparison with the positive demand effects. The cost and demand effects are assessed in a quantitative fashion in an economic model. That analysis shows that environmental management makes a positive contribution to Tropical North Queensland???s competitiveness as a nature-based tourism destination.
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21

McElhinny, Chris. "Quantifying stand structural complexity in woodland and dry sclerophyll forest, South-Eastern Australia /." View thesis entry in Australian Digital Theses Program, 2005. http://thesis.anu.edu.au/public/adt-ANU20060322.133914/index.html.

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22

Morrison, Judith Ellen. "Independent scholarly reporting about conflict interventions: negotiating aboriginal native title in south Australia." Thesis, Morrison, Judith Ellen (2007) Independent scholarly reporting about conflict interventions: negotiating aboriginal native title in south Australia. PhD thesis, Murdoch University, 2007. https://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/210/.

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This thesis uses an action research methodology to develop a framework for improving independent scholarly reporting about interventions addressing social or environmental conflict. As there are often contradictory interpretations about the causes and strategic responses to conflict, the problem confronting scholar-reporters is how to address perceptions of bias and reflexively specify the purpose of reporting. It is proposed that scholar-reporters require grounding in conventional realist-based social theory but equally ability to incorporate theoretical ideas generated in more idealist-based peace research and applied conflict resolution studies. To do this scholar-reporters can take a comparative approach systematically developed through an integrated framework as described in this thesis. Conceptual and theoretical considerations that support both conventional and more radical constructions are comparatively analysed and then tested in relation to a case study. In 2000 Aboriginal people throughout South Australia deliberated whether their native title claims could be better accorded recognition through conservative court processes or a negotiation process to allay deep-seated conflict. The author, in a scholar-reporter capacity, formulated a report attributing meaning to this consultative process. As such a report could have been formulated according to alternative paradigms, methodological approaches and theoretical frameworks, the analysis of the adopted framework highlights how different approaches can bias the interpretation of the process and prospects for change. Realist-based conservative interpretations emphasise 'official' decision-making processes where legitimacy is expressed through political and legal frameworks based on precedent. Idealist-based interpretations emphasise that circumstances entailing significant conflict warrant equal consideration being given to 'non-official' 'resolutionary' problem-solving processes where conflict is treated as a catalyst for learning and outcomes are articulated as understanding generated about conflict and how different strategies can transform it. The developed integrated framework approach establishes the independence of scholarly reporting. Its purpose goes beyond perpetuating scholarly debate about alternative 'objective' understandings of conflict; it focuses primarily on communicating a more inclusive understanding of the contradictions inherent in a particular conflict. It increases the capacity to understand when, where, why and how conflict precipitates social change, and articulates possibilities for reconceptualising what might be the more sustainable direction of change.
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23

Morrison, Judith Ellen. "Independent scholarly reporting about conflict interventions : negotiating Aboriginal Native Title in South Australia /." Morrison, Judith Ellen (2007) Independent scholarly reporting about conflict interventions: negotiating aboriginal native title in south Australia. PhD thesis, Murdoch University, 2007. http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/210/.

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This thesis uses an action research methodology to develop a framework for improving independent scholarly reporting about interventions addressing social or environmental conflict. As there are often contradictory interpretations about the causes and strategic responses to conflict, the problem confronting scholar-reporters is how to address perceptions of bias and reflexively specify the purpose of reporting. It is proposed that scholar-reporters require grounding in conventional realist-based social theory but equally ability to incorporate theoretical ideas generated in more idealist-based peace research and applied conflict resolution studies. To do this scholar-reporters can take a comparative approach systematically developed through an integrated framework as described in this thesis. Conceptual and theoretical considerations that support both conventional and more radical constructions are comparatively analysed and then tested in relation to a case study. In 2000 Aboriginal people throughout South Australia deliberated whether their native title claims could be better accorded recognition through conservative court processes or a negotiation process to allay deep-seated conflict. The author, in a scholar-reporter capacity, formulated a report attributing meaning to this consultative process. As such a report could have been formulated according to alternative paradigms, methodological approaches and theoretical frameworks, the analysis of the adopted framework highlights how different approaches can bias the interpretation of the process and prospects for change. Realist-based conservative interpretations emphasise 'official' decision-making processes where legitimacy is expressed through political and legal frameworks based on precedent. Idealist-based interpretations emphasise that circumstances entailing significant conflict warrant equal consideration being given to 'non-official' 'resolutionary' problem-solving processes where conflict is treated as a catalyst for learning and outcomes are articulated as understanding generated about conflict and how different strategies can transform it. The developed integrated framework approach establishes the independence of scholarly reporting. Its purpose goes beyond perpetuating scholarly debate about alternative 'objective' understandings of conflict; it focuses primarily on communicating a more inclusive understanding of the contradictions inherent in a particular conflict. It increases the capacity to understand when, where, why and how conflict precipitates social change, and articulates possibilities for reconceptualising what might be the more sustainable direction of change.
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24

Brueckner, Martin. "The role of management in the movement towards sustainability: Perceived responsibilities, challenges, and opportunities." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 1998. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/120.

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The aim of this thesis was to explore the role of management in the movement towards ecologically sustainable development (ESD), investigating perceived responsibilities, challenges, and opportunities facing business management today. The point of departure for this study was the acknowledgement of the present paucity of references to ESD within the management literature, widespread amoral business conduct, and the dominance of economic rationalism within business science. This research provided an analytical review of ESD related literature, concentrating on the history and rise of the ESD paradigm, its ethical underpinnings, and economic implications to management practice. The paper highlighted the importance of ESD to management theory and practice, urging for a re-conceptualisation of business core values and a redirection of economic systems onto a development path that is economically, socially, and ecologically sustainable in the long-term.
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25

Lewis, Anna Rose. "Remote camping along the Ningaloo Coast, Western Australia: relationship between management and the variables of visitor preferences, resource use and environmental impacts." Thesis, Curtin University, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/2176.

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The aim of this multidisciplinary study was to identify relationships between level of management oversight and the variables of visitor preferences, resource use and environmental impacts at remote coastal campsites along the Ningaloo coast, Western Australia. Significant differences existed for all three variables, determined from four statistically-derived campsite clusters. This thesis demonstrates the importance of management practices to specific types of environmental impact and expands methodological and theoretical knowledge for semi-arid, vehicle accessible environments.
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26

Stephens, Mescal. "Translation of national environmental management programs by the State of Western Australia, the Commonwealth government, and Perth Region NRM, a citizen group." Thesis, Curtin University, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/2631.

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Exploratory research examined how two governments and a citizen regional water catchment group implemented adaptive management in two Australian environmental management policies. The research question asked how theories of action between government and regional bodies influenced their relationships.The research question was first conceived as solely human, but another metaphysics (actor-network theory), enabled following the intertwining of study objects such as adaptive management, natural resource management, and policy, and a potential rethink of environmental reality.
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27

Gherardi, Mark James. "Availability and management of manganese and water in bauxite residue revegetation." University of Western Australia. Soil Science and Plant Nutrition Discipline Group, 2004. http://theses.library.uwa.edu.au/adt-WU2005.0038.

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[Truncated abstract] Industrial processing to refine alumina from bauxite ore produces millions of tonnes of refining residue each year in Australia. Revegetation of bauxite residue sand (BRS) is problematic for a number of reasons. Harsh chemical conditions caused by residual NaOH from ore digestion mean plants must overcome extremely high pH (initially >12), saline and sodic conditions. At such high pH, manganese (Mn) is rapidly oxidised from Mn2+ to Mn4+. Plants can take up only Mn2+. Thus, Mn deficiency is common in plants used for direct BRS revegetation, and broadcast Mn fertilisers have low residual value. Added to this, physical conditions of low water-holding capacity and a highly compactable structure make BRS unfavourable for productive plant growth without constant and large inputs of water as well as Mn. However, environmental regulations stipulate that the residue disposal area at Pinjarra, Western Australia, be revegetated to conform with surrounding land uses. The major land use of the area is pasture for grazing stock. Hence, pasture revegetation with minimum requirement for fertiliser and water application is desirable. This thesis investigates a number of avenues with potential for maintaining a productive pasture system on BRS whilst reducing the current level of Mn fertiliser and irrigation input. Emphasis was placed on elucidation of chemical and physical factors affecting Mn availability to plants in BRS
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28

Alexander, Felicity Anne. "Public participation in the marina developments at Port Vincent and Wallaroo on the Yorke Peninsula, South Australia." Title page, table of contents and abstract only, 2000. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09ENV/09enva375.pdf.

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Bibliography: leaves 98-103. Examines the role of public participation in coastal protection and coastal management in two marina developments proposed for Yorke Peninsula. The study concluded that there was potential for the South Australian Planning System to incorporate sustainable development and involve the public to a greater extent. The Environmental Impact Assessment process has been perceived as a means of incorporating the principles of ecologically sustainable development at a community level, but the extent to which this has occured for the marina developments at Port Vincent and Wallaroo is limited.
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29

Hanna, Elizabeth Gayle (Liz), and lizhanna@netc net au. "Environmental health and primary health care: towards a new workforce model." La Trobe University. School of Public Health, 2005. http://www.lib.latrobe.edu.au./thesis/public/adt-LTU20061110.152550.

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Public health was once synonymous with environmental health. However, as living conditions improved the two fields diverged. Environmental factors are again re-emerging as hazards human health. Increasing global reliance on agricultural and veterinary chemicals (AgVets) over recent decades has is now a serious public health concern. Evidence of their toxicity has prompted international efforts to minimize, monitor and manage exposure risks. Direct involvement of the primary health care workforce is seen as critical to this process, yet little data exists on the health burden on Australian rural communities imposed by these chemicals. The study presented here attempts to explore the impact of these chemicals on two rural communities in Victoria, and ascertain the how the existing primary heath care system responds to AgVet exposure issues. Health determinants are complex, and inter-related, and the client �provider interface is not an entity acting in isolation from other frameworks. The provider-client service relationship has evolved against a background of legislation and provider training. Many external factors also impinge, such as the structure and focus of the health sector, and Australia�s systematic approach to environmental and chemical management. Examination of this underlying infrastructure in Australia provided the background against which the issue of exposure to agricultural and veterinary chemicals was explored. A brief summary of international developments in this area served to provide insight as to what interventions may be introduced to address the issue of chemical exposure. A CATI (Computer Assisted Telephone Interview) survey of 1050 households sought the perspectives from two Victorian agricultural communities to gather self-reported AgVet exposure patterns and health data, and whether respondents perceived their health problems were linked to exposure. Respondents were also asked to comment on the primary health care service experiences from local providers, and which services they preferred to seek for health advice. Perspectives were then sought from all primary health care providers servicing these communities. Information was sought on their level of expertise in diagnosing, and managing exposure related illness, via face-to-face interviews, focus groups and paper surveys. The study revealed rural communities have a long history of hazardous exposure to toxic AgVets. Awareness of toxicity risks is growing, yet further scope exists to improve safe handling of chemicals. High levels of illnesses known be associated with AgVet exposure exist among rural populations. Many believe their own ill-health is linked to exposure, and express strong dissatisfaction with the apparent lack of environmental health expertise especially among their GPs. Health providers demonstrated limited understanding of the health impacts of AgVet exposure. The lack of environmental health expertise among the existing primary health care workforce means that health conditions associated with exposure to AgVets are not being identified, and the absence of health intelligence hampers health planning. In Australia, the health, environment and primary industries sectors function in effect, as distinct silos, with little cross-fertilisation. The United States has combined its agricultural chemical legislative authority to develop a focus on human health, establish direct links, and biomonitoring programs to protect human heath. The U.S. has also developed environmental health expertise at the primary health care level to address community needs as they arise. Strategies are required in Australia to connect the environment, chemical management and health portfolios, with respect to the emerging environmental issues of chemical exposure. There is a need also in Australia to inject environmental health capacity into the primary health care practice.
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30

Ujma, Susan. "A comparative study of indigenous people's and early European settlers' usage of three Perth wetlands, Western Australia, 1829-1939." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2012. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/547.

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This study takes as its focus the contrasting manner in which the Nyoongar indigenous people and the early European settlers utilised three wetland environments in southwest Australia over the century between 1829 and 1939. The thesis offers both an ecological and a landscape perspective to changes in the wetlands of Herdsman Lake, Lake Joondalup and Loch McNess. The chain of interconnecting linear lakes provides some of the largest permanent sources of fresh water masses on the Swan Coastal Plain. This thesis acknowledges the importance of the wetland system to the Nyoongar indigenous people. The aim of this research is to interpret the human intervention into the wetland ecosystems by using a methodology that combines cultural landscape, historical and biophysical concepts as guiding themes. Assisted by historical maps and field observations, this study offers an ecological perspective on the wetlands, depicting changes in the human footprint on its landscape, and mapping the changes since the indigenous people’s sustainable ecology and guardianship were removed. These data can be used and compared with current information to gain insights into how and why modification to these wetlands occurred. An emphasis is on the impact of human settlement and land use on natural systems. In the colonial period wetlands were not generally viewed as visually pleasing; they were perceived as alien and hostile environments. Settlers saw the land as an economic commodity to be exploited in a money economy. Thus the effects of a sequence of occupances and their transformation of environments as traditional Aboriginal resource use gave way to early European settlement, which brought about an evolution and cultural change in the wetland ecosystems, and attitudes towards them.
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31

Tynan, R. W. "Stocking limits for South Australian pastoral leases : historical background and relationship with modern ecological and management theory." Title page, contents and abstract only, 2000. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09AS/09ast987.pdf.

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32

Harris, Mark Anglin. "Some organic amendments for heavy metal toxicity, acidity and soil structure in acid-sulphate mine tailings /." Title page, contents and abstract only, 2000. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09PH/09phh3148.pdf.

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33

Mamouni, Limnios Elena Alexandra. "Incorporating complex systems dynamics in sustainability assessment frameworks : enhanced prediction and management of socio-ecological systems performance." University of Western Australia. Faculty of Business, 2008. http://theses.library.uwa.edu.au/adt-WU2009.0012.

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[Truncated abstract] The application of reductionism, breaking down problems to simpler components that can be solved and then aggregating the results, is one of the bases of classical science. However, living organisms, ecosystems, social and economic structures are complex systems, characterised by non-linear interactions between their elements and exhibit emergent properties that are not directly traceable to their components. Sustainability assessment frameworks oversimplify system interactions, achieving limited predictive capacity and causing managerial behavior that may reduce system's ability to adapt to external disturbance. Intrigued by the importance of complexity, we explore the central theme of how complex thinking can influence the understanding and progress towards sustainability. The purpose is to conceptualize the relationship of key terms (such as sustainability, functionality and resilience), and consecutively develop new or adjust existing sustainability frameworks to take into account complex systems interactions. We aim at developing theory and frameworks that can be used to raise awareness of the pitfalls of the growth paradigm and direct towards modest positions when managing complex systems. We seek to define the structural elements that influence system adaptive capacity, allowing identification of early signs of system rigidity or vulnerability and the development of knowledge and techniques that can improve our predictive and managerial ability. The focus has been on a variety of system scales and dynamics. At the collective community level, a number of stakeholder engagement practices and frameworks are currently available. However, there is limited awareness of the complexity challenges among stakeholders, who are commonly directed to a triple bottom line analysis aiming at maximizing a combination of outputs. An attempt is conducted to measure the functionality of the processes underlying a standing stock, in contrast to sustainability measures that only assess the variations of the standing stock itself. We develop the Index of Sustainable Functionality (ISF), a framework for the assessment of complex systems interactions within a large-scale geographic domain and apply it to the State of Western Australia. '...' Finally, we focus on smaller systems scales and develop a methodology for the calculation of Product Ecological Footprint (PEF) including elements from the accounting method of activity based costing. We calculate PEF for three apple production systems and identify significant differences from first stage calculations within the same industry. Cross-industry application will provide a practical way to link individuals' consumption with their ecological impact, reduce misperceptions of products' ecological impacts and develop a market-driven approach to internalizing environmental externalities. At the firm level PEF can be compared with investment costs, resulting in the opportunity to optimize both functions of financial cost and ecological impact in decision making. We have developed methods for incorporating complexity in sustainability assessment frameworks. Further work is required in testing and validating these methodologies at multiple system scales and conditions. Integrating such tools in decision making mechanisms will enhance long-term management of socioecological systems performance.
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34

Hall, Sandra. "The contribution of heavy industry and commercial activity at Canning Vale to the loads of nitrogen and phosphorus released in the Bannister Creek catchment area." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2007. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/307.

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Stormwater is recognised as a transport mechanism for pollutants. Pollutants enter stormwater drains via surface washoff, subsurface flow or direct discharge. Landuse is reported to affect the quantity of pollutants released into stormwater drains. In Australia, the contribution of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) and surfactants from industrial areas to surface drainage is poorly understood. Previous research has mainly focused on the quality of water leaving residential and agricultural areas. In Western Australia, there is growing concern over the health of the Swan-Canning River system, which is seeing signs of eutrophication. Runoff and discharge from residential, commercial, and industrial areas influence the quality of water in the Swan-Canning River system. A study of nutrient release was undertaken for the eastern sector of the Canning Vale Industrial Area, to determine the contribution of industry to nutrient loads received by the Canning River system, between August 2001 and 2002. Data was collected three times a week using a point sampling regime. Diurnal and storm event variability were also tested. Data collected from the eastern sector of the industrial area was compared to that released from the entire Bannister Creek Catchment area. Nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations downstream of industrial areas have been reported at 45mg L-1 and 15mg L-1 respectively (Thomas et al, 1997; John, 2000). In this study, the median concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus downstream of industry in Bannister Creek, at the Tom Bateman Reserve Detention Basin, were 1.32mg L-1 and 0.11mg L-1 respectively. Concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus were not indicative of point source discharge. Nutrient concentrations reported in Bannister Creek in this study, have been consistent with data collected and reported in other studies i.e. Donohue et al, 1992 and Jakowyna, 2002. Nitrogen and phosphorus loads released from the entire Bannister Creek Catchment area, exceeded loads previously reported in other studies i.e. Donohue et al ( 1994); Donohue et al, 1992 and Jakowyna, 2002. An estimated 32890kg of nitrogen and 2085kg of phosphorus was released from Bannister Creek Catchment during the study. Rainfall during the study period was reflective of the drying climate Perth has been experiencing over the last ten years. Nitrogen and phosphorus released from Bannister Creek during the study period are likely to be underestimated, as they do not include the data collected for a significant storm event recorded at Hybanthus Road on the 16.4.02. During this 1- 2/1-5 ARI storm event 1586kg of nitrogen and 185kg of phosphorus were exported from Bannister Creek, producing loads ten times greater than that estimated during the point sampling regime. The later values were used in the calculation of annual loads to maintain consistency between the study sites. Despite the significant load of nutrients released from the catchment on 16.4.02, rainfall was not the main transport mechanism for nitrogen and phosphorus, indicated by the weak correlation e.g. R2 > 0.1. Base flow was determined to be the most significant pathway of nutrient export. The concentrations and loads of nitrogen and phosphorus released from the industrial area were low, but the contribution to catchment loading was important. The rate of nutrient release per unit of area was higher from the eastern sector of the Canning Vale Industrial Area than the entire Bannister Creek Catchment Area. Nitrogen was released at a rate of 4163kg km2 yr from the industrial area and 134 2. 86kg km2 yr for the entire catchment. Phosphorus was the same. From the industrial area it was released at a rate of 397kg km2 yr compared to a rate of 94.2kg km2 yr from the entire Bannister Creek Catchment Area. The study revealed the need to retain nutrients within the catchment. Studies on stormwater management suggest that this can be achieved through Water Sensitive Urban Design and Best Management Practices. Both strategies work on the principle of retaining and recycling nutrients within the catchment area. Work is currently been undertaken to meet the objectives of these two management strategies in Bannister Creek. Work has included the removal of the southwestern bank of the Tom Bateman reserve detention basin to create a meandering wetland, and the downgrading of the banks along Bywood Way, Lynwood to create a Living Stream. Further studies should focus on the effectiveness of these strategies.
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Thompson, Scott A. "Managing the acidity of abandoned water filled coal mining voids in Collie (Western Australia) using organic matter." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2000. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1352.

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The effectiveness of using organic matter additions to increase pH in abandoned water filled coal mining voids in Collie was investigated. Previous studies have demonstrated that passing acidic drainage through organic matter increased the waters pH. Laboratory trials using intact sediment cores (collected from Ewington, Collie, Western Australia) were used to assess the effects of additions of hay, manure and mulched vegetation on pH, nutrients an sulphate levels. In a series of experiments the effect of different quantities of organic material, sulphate reducing bacterial inoculations and alkalinity generation were measured. A subsequent field experiment was conducted to examine the impact that manure and mulch had on mine void water in 18 in situ ponds constructed adjacent to Ewington. It was concluded from the laboratory experiments that mulch and manure treatments were significantly better than hay as an organic matter addition for increasing the pH of acidified mine void water at Ewington. The manure produced the greatest increase in pH, although it contributed less to alkalinity than mulch; suggesting mulch bas a greater ability to release carbonates than did manure. The manure and mulch additions increased the pH in the laboratory and field experiment by 0.5-1.5 pH units. This increase was sustained for most of the 21 week field experiment. An increase in pH in the control ponds was recorded over the last 8 weeks of the experiment which was probably due to the inflow of more alkaline groundwater through the substratum as a consequence of the winter rainfall. pH values measured in the experimental ponds 15 months after the commencement of the project indicated that the ponds treated with manure maintained significantly higher pH levels than either the mulch or the control ponds. There was no difference between the pH values for the ponds treated with mulch and the controls suggesting that manure not only provided a greater increase in pH but also over a longer period. The addition of organic mailer also resulted in an increase in gilvin in the laboratory experiments. Low sulphate and sulphide levels were also recorded in all experiments before and after the introduction of organic materials into mine void water and ponds adjacent to Ewington indicating that sulphate reducing bacterial activity was not the cause for the increase in pH as occurred in other situations, but rather the addition of alkaline organic matter caused the increase in pH. The addition of manure organic material was associated with an increase in the ortho-phosphate levels, resulting in an increase in chlorophyll a concentrations. It is believed to be the first stages of succession processes leading to the establishment of a biologically active wetland system. During this process the emerging ecosystem neutralises the acidic content of the water.
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Carr, Anna. "Grass-roots and green-tape : community-based environmental management in Australia." Phd thesis, 1994. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/114568.

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This thesis examines the role of community groups in environmental management. It is recognised that governments have a responsibility to intervene at the local scale to ensure sustainable management of the environment. Increasingly, there are also community groups wishing to manage local environments. This study argues that neither approach — top-down or bottom-up — is sufficient, but that they must combine to create middle-ground approaches which encourage a plurality of stakeholders to take environmental responsibility. In Australia there is widespread agreement on the serious nature of environmental degradation. Rural Australia now comprehends the damage done to the land by erosion, vegetation decline, salinity and invasion by exotic species. Now that the effects of these problems on biophysical and socioeconomic systems are at least partially understood, people want action. This call for action has led to the formation of local community organisations to act on water quality, weed control, vertebrate pest management, dryland salinity, heritage conservation, forest protection and many other environmental issues. Proponents of community-based environmental management believe that bottom-up approaches will change the face of Australian environments through participatory processes and bioregional principles. On the other hand, critics of this approach believe that community-based environmental management is a naive tool of the state. This study concludes that community-based environmental management can occur along any point of the community-government continuum and is presented as an heuristic model. While the extremes are useful, there is an emerging consensus that middle-ground approaches require cooperative environmental management. Substantive findings of this research support both ends and the middle of the continuum. Principles underlying government involvement in community-based environmental management include a range of policy options, such as providing seeding finance or in kind resources; providing opportunities for group facilitation or human resources; establishing the basis for local consultation and participation; furnishing advice and information; and establishing the political, regulatory and institutional arrangements within which local group action can flourish. Principles behind community-based environmental management include a strong sense of community; an attachment to place; extensive local knowledge; empowerment through building relationships within the locality; and the strengthening of extracommunity relations with government agencies and resource management institutions. This study uses a case-study approach to investigate three rural community groups — Water Watchers in Western Australia, the Downside Landcare Group in New South Wales and the Mitchell River Watershed Management Working Group in Queensland. The research is exploratory, collaborative, reflective, experiential and pragmatic. It borrows methodological procedures from a variety of research paradigms in order to establish the profile of community-based environmental management, the process by which it works and the principles underlying both group and government approaches to local environmental management. The three case studies reflect the diversity of community groups, but were not chosen using statistical sampling techniques. Rather, the research design was replicated in three case studies to make the findings generated more robust. The study uses grounded theory to explore the principles of community-based environmental management and links these with a range of disciplinary perspectives to generalise these findings in the literature, not to other populations of community groups. Although the research is interdisciplinary, it is largely based in the social sciences and explores theory from community psychology, human ecology, rural sociology, adult education, cultural geography and environmental policy. It does not examine economic theory, but investigates emerging themes in the literature such as public participation, cooperative management and environmental stewardship. Communitybased environmental management is complex, uncertain and turbulent — requiring an approach to the research which borrows from post-modernist thinking in recognising diversity and celebrating individual difference.
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Carroll, Leonardo Zi{u00EA}n. "Australian water management and population change." Phd thesis, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/150596.

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Australia's population is growing rapidly, and is projected to grow by 65 percent to reach over 35 million people by the middle of the century. This population growth could exacerbate stresses on Australia's already stretched water resources and environmental assets, particularly if climate change projections prove correct. At the same time, there is a possibility that water shortages and declining water quality could lead to population decline in some parts of the country. Both of these scenarios will present water managers with significant challenges. With this in mind, this thesis addresses the question: How does Australia's water management framework deal with population change. This topic has not previously been considered in a coherent fashion. While there is an extensive literature on the relationship between population change and the environment more generally, and there has been some discussion of population change and water in Australia, there is a scarcity of literature on water policy and how it deals with population change. The thesis investigates the question from two angles. Firstly, it investigates the institutional arrangements, organisations and policies which influence how population change is considered in the context of water management. Secondly, it investigates what demographic data are available and relevant to water managers, and how these data are and can be used in the context of these institutional arrangements, organisations and policies. Reflecting its focus on policies, legislation, institutions and organisations, the thesis is primarily an exploration of public policy. To a more limited extent, the thesis also draws upon a second discipline, demography. More specifically, the thesis: 1. Develops a conceptual model to help explain the linkages between water management and population in Australia. This is an important contribution to research methodology in the area of population and water management. 2. Explores how and where demographic and population issues are relevant to Australian water managers. The issue of population change, and how water managers deal with it, needs to be considered very differently in different rural and urban areas. These areas, and the ways in which population matters in them, can be identified through analyses of water policy and socio-economic data. 3. Considers in detail the water reforms flowing from the National Water Initiative (NWI) and subsequent Water Act 2007 (Cth) and 2008 Agreement on Murray-Darling Basin Reform, and how population change is dealt with in the context of these reforms. While the NWI provides a range of mechanisms for managing population change, in some cases the effectiveness of these mechanisms remains compromised while they are still being rolled out. Furthermore, the focus of the NWT is on reallocating water resources in rural areas; increases in urban water consumption, associated with urban population growth, will not necessarily be constrained by water allocation planning processes. 4. Considers how population change is dealt with in the context of broader approaches to water management, such as land use planning and urban water planning. In doing so, it draws upon an extensive study of the policy literature, and qualitative discussions with informants involved in water reform at national, State and regional levels in the Commonwealth, New South Wales, and Queensland. 5. Describes and catalogues the myriad of socio-economic data sources available to water managers. It finds that these sources are generally reliable and well-documented, and that there is an emerging body of work aimed at integrating sources of socio-economic data so that they can be more readily used by water managers. 6. Through case studies, assesses in detail how socio-economic data have been used by water allocation planners and urban water planners. To date, a pragmatic approach appears to have been taken, whereby socio-economic data are used only to the extent that is necessary. Other factors (such as land use planning) are equally important determinants of population change and how it should be managed. 7. Considers the relationship between Australian water policy and structural adjustment, and hence, how water policy may lead to population change. Overall, the thesis makes an important contribution to research in the area of water management and population change. It brings together two previously largely separate domains of intellectual inquiry. By identifying and describing many of the ways in which Australian water managers are dealing with population change, it helps build understanding of some of the strengths and shortcomings to how Australia manages its water resources, and areas for improvement. Through its methodology and findings, it also lays a foundation for future work in this area.
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Filby, Nicole E. "Burrunan dolphin (Tursiops australis) tourism in Port Phillip Bay, Australia: effects, implications and management." Thesis, 2016. https://vuir.vu.edu.au/32312/.

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In Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, Australia, the endemic and vulnerable Burrunan dolphin (Tursiops australis) is the target species of a non-consumptive, economically important, dolphin-swim industry. This industry commenced in 1986, and southern Port Phillip Bay is now a key eco-tourism destination in Victoria, with 8 permitted trips daily targeting swimming with Burrunan dolphins. Although this industry has been in operation for 29 years, understanding of the occurrence, demographics, habitat use, behaviour and effects of tourism on Burrunan dolphins is limited. This lack of empirical data is of concern as it has impeded management of the Port Phillip Bay dolphin-swim industry. To ensure the sustainability of this industry, it is imperative that sound scientific data be provided so that management can make informed decisions. This study assessed the potential effects of the dolphin-swim industry on Burrunan dolphin behaviour whilst simultaneously assessing the efficacy of different management strategies.
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Osterrieder, Sylvia K. "Conservation ecology and human disturbance of Australian sea lions (Neophoca cinerea) in Western Australia." Thesis, 2016. https://vuir.vu.edu.au/32297/.

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Effective conservation and management are paramount to long-term recovery of endangered species. Achieving recovery relies on knowledge of their behaviour and habitats. Neophoca cinerea (Australian sea lion) is an endangered species endemic to Australia. This study focused on three key questions aimed at improving its management near Perth (Western Australia): testing a sea lion identification tool, describing haul-out patterns, and identifying human disturbance sources. N. cinerea whisker spot patterns as a tool for individual identification were tested using Chamfer distance-transform. Patterns contained sufficient information to reliably (99%) identify individuals in populations of 50, matching 90% correctly when testing known captive animals photographed at 90°. Off-angle photographs resulted in 48% correct matches. Resighting in the wild proved unfeasible in this study. However, resights of four scarred N. cinerea at Carnac and Seal Islands (the main study sites) confirmed returns and visitations to both islands. To describe haul-out patterns, generalized additive models were applied to hourly counts between 0800h- 1600h. N. cinerea numbers followed 17-18 month cycles, inversely aligned with the breeding cycle. During non-breeding seasons, hauled-out numbers increased throughout the day, and were associated with air temperature and tide. Research investigating human disturbance indicated that all human activity types elicited responses, which varied between islands depending upon stimulus types (vessel types, people), ranges to stimuli, and activities at each islands. People at close range elicited most elevated responses, including aggression and retreating. This occurred mainly at Carnac Island since direct beach access is allowed. Significant rates of lower-level disturbances were also elicited by vessels within close proximity, including paddlers and those undertaking noisy activities. Resulting recommendations include further restriction and enforcement in approach distances allowed. Also, ongoing monitoring of abundance and behaviour is required for long-term trend estimation. Because of high variability in haul-out behaviour, surveys undertaken at comparable times are recommended.
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Maclean, Kirsten Marion Eileen. "Creating spaces for negotiation at the environmental management and community development interface in Australia." Phd thesis, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/149730.

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Davey, Stuart McDonald. "The environmental relationships of arboreal marsupials in a eucalypt forest : a basis for Australian forest wildlife management." Phd thesis, 1989. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/142232.

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Van, Kerkhoff Lorrae. "'Making a difference' : science, action and integrated environmental research." Phd thesis, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/148654.

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43

Squance, Marline Louise. "Environmental determinants of lupus flares." Thesis, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/1309860.

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Research Doctorate - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
The Environmental Determinants of Lupus Flares study (EDOLF) investigated the relationships between common environmental agents found indoors and self-reported symptom flare days (SRF) in 101 Australian female lupus patients as compared to 41 age matched healthy controls. The study was retrospective and employed mixed methods examining differences in lifestyle behaviours and agent exposure with personal product use. The study showed that the Australian population was similar to other Caucasian populations, with the average number of flares reported to be 29.9 SRF days, with 6.8 discrete flares for the study year. Flare symptoms were consistent with other population profiles published, however the EDOLF Australian population also reported gastrointestinal issues (13.9%) and shortness of breath (9.9%) as common symptoms. Commonly published flare triggers of UV radiation, infection and stress were confirmed, with the addition of new potential triggers: temperature & weather changes, work, and cleaning chemicals. Use of personal care products for home cleaning, personal hygiene and lifestyle activities, resulted in significant increased risk associations for bath oil (IRR 1.008, CI 1.00-1.02) and significant reduced SRF risk for cleansing beauty products (IRR 0.999, CI 0.998-0.999) and a combined makeup group (foundation and sunscreen) (OR 0.998: CI 0.997–1.0). A flare day reduction of 0.15% was calculated for each day of combined makeup group product use. In comparison to control participants, the SLE group showed significant difference in 25(OH)D deficiency (p=0.02), and 25(OH)D levels (means-control 74nmol/L (29.5ng/ml); SLE 58nmol/L (23.1ng/ml), p=0.04). Reduced levels of 25(OH)D were associated with expression of serological autoimmunity (ANA titres of 1:80) with odds ratios (OR) for ANA-positivity declining by 36% of the baseline OR for every two-fold rise in 25(OH)D level. A significant association could not be found between levels of 25(OH)D and SRF. Significant associations were found for Finnish Job Exposure Matrix (FINJEM) occupational exposure classes; manual handling burden (p=0.02, IRR 1.01); iron (p=0.00, IRR 1.37); wood dust (p=0.00, IRR 3.34); and asbestos (p=0.03, IRR 2.48), indicating that participating in occupations such as nursing, teaching and specialist labouring could pose an increased risk to SLE patients. Analysis of lifestyle factors indicates that the EDOLF SLE participants, as compared to the control participants, had reduced levels of QOL on VAS scales, lower levels of physical activity but similar dietary variables. SLE participants also used significantly more whole medical system CAM (p=0.0301). SLE patients commonly used therapies such as acupuncture, hydrotherapy, massage and dietary supplements including vitamin D and anti-inflammatory homeopathic medications such as fish oils. The retrospective design of the EDOLF study may have resulted in a number of study limitations including misclassification and recall bias; however a number of data validation steps were incorporated to limit bias influences on reported results. One considerable limitation of the retrospective EDOLF study design was that establishment of firm causal relationships was not possible. Therefore, reported results can only infer potential significant relationships and health effects. In conclusion, the EDOLF study provides insight into the patient SLE experience particularly perceived flare symptoms, triggers and management strategies. Each year, the average SLE patient experiences 30 days of symptom flares which are commonly self-managed with no extra physician assistance. The study also identified that everyday behaviours and exposures in day-to-day life activities, including both home and work environments, could potentially trigger exacerbation of SLE symptoms. In addition, the use of UV protective products, whilst potentially reducing symptom exacerbation and flare days, may paradoxically influence serum 25(OH)D in a group of patients with a higher incidence of deficiency and insufficiency as compared to the general population. Importantly, the EDOLF study provides insight into future research directions that will better inform appropriate protective measures that people living with SLE can adopt to reduce adverse health impacts and improve life potential and quality.
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Pelton, Nicole Sheree. "Challenges for Integrated Coastal Management in the Australian Federation: Understanding Intergovernmental Tension: A Case Study of South Australia." Thesis, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/2440/119189.

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Prudent management of the coastal zone is of major importance given that competition for coastal resource use is being intensified by increasing population pressure and the impending impacts of climate change. Integrated Coastal Management (ICM) is internationally regarded as the best-practice approach for the planning and management of coastal resource use. ICM espouses effective integration between governing bodies. However, numerous Australian government inquiries and academic literature on coastal zone management have concluded that ICM has been difficult to implement in Australia, with intergovernmental integration particularly elusive. Whilst Australia’s federal system of government has been implicated in this, studies have not explicitly addressed the nature of the relationship between Australian federalism and intergovernmental integration between the local, state and federal spheres. Thus, the aim of this study was to generate a theory as to why ICM, particularly intergovernmental integration, has been so difficult to implement in Australia. The study, employing elements of grounded theory and comparative case study methodology, was designed to explore the relationship between federalism and intergovernmental integration based on the experiences of coastal managers and decision-makers responsible for coastal management ‘on-the-ground’. Three natural resource management (NRM) case study regions in South Australia were selected: Eyre Peninsula, South East, and Adelaide & Mount Lofty Ranges. The nature of Australia’s federal system of government and the functions and capacity of the three spheres – local, state and federal – were also explored via literature review and document analysis. Primary data collection was accomplished via thirty three in-depth, semi-structured interviews with local government staff and elected representatives, NRM Board staff and SA government ‘Department for Environment’ staff with responsibilities for coastal management and/or decision-making. Interview questions revolved around interviewees’ perceptions of the roles and responsibilities of each sphere of government; financial arrangements for funding coastal management; and the level of intergovernmental integration. Constant comparative analysis elicited themes from interview transcripts. Triangulation of interview data with secondary data obtained via literature review and document analysis verified interview data and scaffolded theory development. Two prominent themes emerged from the analysis of participants’ perceptions regarding the roles and responsibilities of the three spheres of government: disempowerment and intergovernmental tension. Synthesis of interview data with secondary data revealed two fundamental issues underpinning these themes at both the local and state level: 1) asymmetries in responsibility relative to capacity and 2) a lack of autonomy. Understanding of these issues was enhanced by examining the evolving role of the federal government within the Australian federation, whereby Australia’s practice of fiscal federalism has resulted in fiscal centralisation characterised by a large vertical fiscal imbalance between the federal and state spheres and a comparative lack of fiscal autonomy at the state government level. Fiscal centralisation poses a significant barrier to the operation of effective cooperative federalism in Australia. Thus, this thesis theorises that fiscal centralisation is a significant barrier to meaningful integration between the spheres of government involved in coastal management in Australia.
Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Social Sciences, 2017
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Nicholson, Rosemary. "Oh what a tangled web- : building capacity for environmental health action in Australia /." 2003. http://www.library.unsw.edu.au/~thesis/adt-NUN/public/adt-NUN20030916.124845/index.html.

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Kwonpongsagoon, Suphaphat Civil &amp Environmental Engineering Faculty of Engineering UNSW. "Integration of substance flow analysis, transport and fate of materials in the environment, and environmental risk assessment for provision of information for regional environmental management: cadmium as a case study in Australia." 2006. http://handle.unsw.edu.au/1959.4/40655.

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Extraction, production, utilization and disposal of material resources have been undertaken continuously for much of human histories. Unavoidably, all of these activities have disturbed our environment, and subsequently have been harmful to humans and ecosystems in this and future generations. Due to time lag associated with both environment impact and the effects of measures taken to reduce this impact, existing approaches (i.e. monitoring and reacting) do not give sufficiently rapid feedback for effective environmental management. With regard to the complexity and concern related to environment-health chain effects, there is currently no environmental tool or approach that can provide comprehensive information and indicators covering all major environment and health themes, to enable decision makers to make informed judgements about regional policies and plans, relating to the sustainable use and disposal of material resources. Consequently, there is a need for developing a new approach by taking account of a multidisciplinary concept used in this thesis. Substance Flow Analysis (SFA) has been mainly applied in order to provide input information for Health Risk Assessment (HRA). The SFA approach provides the quantity of the substance that is transported (flows) and stored in the system (stock), and of which sub-system, flow, and process is the greatest concern. The HRA approach provides estimates of human health risk associated with site, activity and facility. An environmental fate and transport model is another key knowledge area incorporated into the HRA process. An integrating method of SFA, environmental fate and transport, and HRA is developed and illustrated by a case study of cadmium in Australia. This thesis shows that this new integration of existing stand-alone methods can provide holistic information and useful indicators covering all significant economic activities, environment, flows, and health risk assessment for selected substances. This enables better decision making on the use and disposal of substances at a range of levels in the economy, from corporations to regions and nations.
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Proctor, Wendy Louise. "Multi-criteria analysis and environmental decision-making : a case study of Australia's forests." Phd thesis, 2001. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/148572.

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James, Karli Louise. "Environmental life cycle costs in the Australian food packaging supply chain." Thesis, 2003. https://vuir.vu.edu.au/15613/.

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There is increasing evidence that external and internal pressures are being placed upon companies to acknowledge, characterise and analyse environmental issues, impacts and costs. It has been argued that companies will increasingly be faced with responsibilities extending outside the factory gate to point of sale and beyond. Companies will need to adopt a life cycle perspective into the decision making framework, to support managements' decisions regarding the environmental impacts and costs of activities and products. The aim of this thesis is to explore the environmental impacts and environmental costs recognition and management within companies in the Australian food packaging supply chain. A grounded theory approach is used to develop propositions from the findings that can be tested in further research. A qualitative case study approach is undertaken using face-to-face interviews with Environmental Managers of twenty-seven companies that operate within the Australian food packaging supply chain.
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Kehoe, Josephine Ann. "The making and implementation of environmental laws in Queensland : the Vegetation Management Act 1999 (Qld) and the Land Act 1994 (Qld)." Phd thesis, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/109352.

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Land policy and law are fundamental to the development of the State of Queensland; and instrumental in wreaking disastrous environmental consequences on privately held rural land. Such policy and laws have been indelibly shaped by prolonged political cycles and ideologies of successive State administrations. In the second half of the 1950s, a non-Labor government took office and held power for 32 years. This era encouraged, and often legally required, unsustainable land management practices. The demise of this conservative regime came in 1989: Queensland Labor took office and enacted a raft of environmental laws as part of a general shift towards biodiversity conservation. This research was undertaken primarily during this latest Queensland Labor administration. Two environmental statutes were examined. The Vegetation Management Act 1999 (Qld) (VMA) was a new statute enacted to redress the effects of broadscale land clearing on freehold land. The Land Act 1994 (Qld) (LA) was an existing statute upon which requirements for sustainable management on leasehold land were grafted. The aim of this thesis has been to advance understanding of natural resource legislation and contribute to the body of knowledge on State environmental laws. Each law is examined in the traditional doctrinal manner, adopting a conventional positivist approach and accompanied by socio-legal research. This methodology brings an insight into environmental law and the reality of the Queensland legislature and legal practice. This is achieved by analysing the circumstances which led to the creation of each law, including the political and parliamentary setting within which the laws were made; and by exploring the process of implementation. To assist the focus of this study, the thesis explores a series of research questions. Each designed to elicit an understanding of the making and implementation of environmental laws and to effectively link each component of the thesis to provide an integrated work. Both environmental laws aimed to rectify the degradation of rural land caused by unsustainable policy and law. Notwithstanding this common environmental endeavour, the making and implementation of each statute differed. The VMA has been one of the most controversial pieces of legislation to be made and implemented in the last decade of the Queensland parliament; conversely, amendments to the LA, never reached the same level of controversy. This thesis ultimately asks why the statutes differed and advances a range of explanatory reasons. By exploring this question, the thesis aims to show that the public environmental good, and long-term sustainability of rural land, can be more readily achieved with leasehold title. The concern, as discussed in the concluding chapter, is that leasehold tenure might be facing its own expiry in Queensland.
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Qian, Wei. "Environmental accounting for local government waste management : an assessment of institutional and contingency theory explanations." Phd thesis, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/1885/110003.

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Over the past 10 years, with Australia's urban population ,growth there has been an increasing pressure on land, resource and waste management throughout the States and Territories. Local government, one of the public sectors traditionally responsible for waste services, is being required to take more environmental issues into account in order to develop a sustainable community. The purpose of this study is to investigate current practices of environmental accounting for local government waste management and to explore possible explanations for these environmental accounting practices. This study applies a mixed method design to achieve the research objectives, starting with the case studies of 12 local councils in New South Wales (NSW) Australia, and extending them to a mail survey of all councils in NSW. The case studies allow the researcher to explore the practices of environmental accounting for waste management in a real-life context. The case study findings indicate that contingency theory and institutional theory are most likely to provide insightful explanations for current environmental accounting practices in local government waste management. Contingency theory views organisations as technically devised instruments aiming for effective and efficient control of their work processes. Based on this theory, environmental uncertainty, environmental strategy and task complexity are proposed as explanatory variables. Institutional theory views organisations as social actors and the "carriers" of social structures aiming for legitimacy from a wide range of social institutions. Based on this theory, regulatory pressures, cognitive pressures, community expectations, and inter-professional communication, are proposed as explanatory variables. The mail survey assesses the effectiveness of the two theoretical explanations. The results reveal that the use of environmental accounting in local government waste management is generally moderate rather than little or none as previously suggested. However, the variance in environmental accounting practices in local government waste management is significant. When the scope of environmental accounting information becomes broader, from direct to indirect, from internal to external, lower levels of accounting are found. Among the local councils investigated, accounting for external environmental costs and impacts in waste management has always drawn the least attention. The assessment of theoretical explanations reveals that current environmental accounting practices in local government waste management arc significantly driven by proactive environmental strategics, complex waste operation tasks, a high level of interprofessional communication, and uncertain waste management environments. Task complexity, inter-professional communication, environmental uncertainty, community expectations and environmental strategy are all significantly associated with the level of direct waste flow and activity accounting. However, only environmental strategy, task complexity and inter-professional communication, play a significant role in explaining the levels of accounting for indirect/hidden and external costs and impacts in waste management. It appears that community's environmental expectations and uncertain waste management environments cannot provide a significant incentive for local government to account for indirect/hidden and external environmental costs and impacts. Two institutional factors, regulatory pressures and environmental cognitive pressures do not significantly contribute to any aspect of environmental accounting practices in local government waste management. When testing the effects of type and size of local councils, it is found that urban councils have a significantly higher level of direct waste flow and activity accounting than rural councils, but the differences in the levels of indirect/hidden and external cost and impact accounting are not statistically significant. Size of local councils does not explain any aspect of environmental accounting practices in local government waste management. The results of this thesis indicate that contingency theory provides better explanations for environmental accounting practices in local government waste management than institutional theory. The weaker role of institutional theory explanations implies that the development and institutionalisation of environmental accounting for local government waste management may take a longer time than expected. The explanations for current development of environmental accounting are mainly related to pursuing efficiency and effectiveness of working processes.
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