5 September 2007

Former Australian of the Year and Clean Up Australia CEO Ian Kiernan will meet with Townsville’s environmental leaders on Friday to discuss key environmental issues for the region.

The meeting is part of an environmental roadshow, entitled EP3 – the Third Wave of Environmental Practice, which includes a series of one-day forums held across Australia and New Zealand.

As part of the meeting, local students will be taking the opportunity to talk about their involvement in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority’s (GBRMPA) Reef Guardian Schools Programme and to demonstrate rubbish collection devices they invented as part of a school unit on technology.

Dr Adam Smith, Acting Director of Programme Delivery at the GBRMPA, helped to coordinate the Townsville conference that addresses issues such as water, energy, climate change and sustainability.

“We are thrilled that the students will meet with Ian and the rest of our group to tell us about the great work they are doing as Reef Guardians,” he said.

“I think it will be inspirational for our local environmental practitioners to share in their enthusiasm for the environment.

“EP3 is an exciting opportunity to listen and learn about what has been done both locally and elsewhere to address environmental issues.

“This meeting brings together some of Townsville’s most visionary environmentalists and presents a unique opportunity to change behaviours and to really make a difference."

Discussions topics will include wetlands, climate change in north Queensland and community management of water supply.

The EP3 forum is an initiative of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (EIANZ), the peak professional body for environmental practitioners in Australasia.

The EIANZ leads Environmental practitioners and sets standards for best practices to enable a sustainable future for Australia and New Zealand.

The GBRMPA is a key sponsor of the event and was the first organisation in Australia and New Zealand to be accredited as a certified EIANZ environment practitioner.

The organisation won a prestigious United Nations award in 2007 for excellence in marine and coastal management.

The conference is sponsored by the Department of Environment and Water Resources, James Cook University, Townsville Port Authority, North Queensland Water and GBRMPA.