'Hope for the Future' Project launched

FOR the first time, the West Australian Government has teamed up with university students and industry in an innovative project to demonstrate the possibilities for environmental, economic and social sustainability.

The Premier Dr Geoff Gallop, the Rio Tinto WA Future Fund and Murdoch University recently launched ?Case Studies in Sustainability: Hope for the Future in Western Australia?, a spectacular CD-Rom featuring local success stories in sustainability.

The 43 case studies show local initiatives in sustainability that are a real part of every day WA, Dr Gallop said, but they show we are world leaders in many areas.

These practical examples complement the policy work presently being undertaken on the government?s State Sustainability Strategy, which focuses on issues such as climate change, public transport, salinity, oil and community development.

To be distributed to every school, TAFE and university in the State, the CD was compiled by students mostly from Murdoch University, in a unique collaboration with the Sustainability Policy Unit in the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

The students compiled the Case Studies as part of course work and the publication was funded by the Rio Tinto WA Future Fund.

Murdoch University Vice Chancellor, Professor John Yovich, said Murdoch?s encompassing vision had a focus on achieving and maintaining a sustainable future.

This is an exciting challenge to our students who have prepared these case studies to ensure they address environmental issues as well as social and cultural elements, said Professor Yovich.

The launch venue the Piney Lakes Environmental Education Centre at Winthrop is one of the case studies on the CD.

The CD can be purchased from the Institute for Sustainability and Technology Policy, Murdoch University.