DPR 80/97 Wednesday, 4 June, 1997
DEFENCE TO SIGN ENVIRONMENTAL AGREEMENT ON WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY
In a major environmental initiative coinciding with World Environment Day, the Department of Defence will sign an agreement with three internationally recognised consortia, to provide a wide range of environmental management and assessment services for the department.
The agreement, which will be signed on Thursday, 5 June, will establish the Defence Environmental Panel, consisting of the companies, AGC/Woodward Clyde, Dames and Moore and PPK Environment and Infrastructure.
The Defence Environmental Panel will strengthen the Department's environmental management procedures by tackling environmental issues directly and more efficiently by minimising administrative overheads. Industry will gain also through stable pricing arrangements and streamlined procurement processes.
The Department of Defence has been entrusted with protecting its environmental assets and conserving resources. The 1994 Defence White Paper committed the organisation to..."undertaking its operations and activities in an ecologically responsible manner"...
This responsibility encompasses over 500 sites covering some 4.6 million hectares of land throughout Australia. The Department manages facilities and training areas in environments ranging from rainforests, coastal and harbourside regions to tropical savannah and inland arid zones.
Training areas account for the largest proportion of the Defence estate. It is in the interests of the Department to manage training areas for sustainable use because environmental characteristics are fundamental to an area's value for military training. Proactive environmental management of Defence's natural and man made assets is essential if long term training programs are to be realised and operating costs kept to a minimum.
CHIEFS OF STAFF TO NOTE:
The agreement will be signed at 2 PM, this Thursday, 5 June at Campbell Park Offices, Building 4, 2nd floor. Mr Geoff Davis, Assistant Secretary, Resources and Project Management, Environment and Heritage Section, Department of Defence, will be available for interviews and can be contacted on either (06) 2664301 or 0414 664301 from 8.30 AM on Thursday
Further information:
Barry Davies Ph 06-2666016 (b/h) 0418 228131 (a/h)