News
New policy means bigger steps but smaller footprints
29 December 2009
Brenton Stacey
Anjuli Cruz
Public relations editorial intern
Tags: Environment; Energy and Environment Policy
Avondale College has released the first draft of a policy to manage the environment of its Lake Macquarie campus in a more ecologically sound way.
The preamble of the Energy and Environment Policy notes Avondale's responsibility as a Seventh-day Adventist higher education provider to monitor its use of resources, minimise it waste production, maximise its recycling and implement ecologically sensitive management and development. The policy also lists seven goals, including conducting annual energy and environmental audits, promoting environmental stewardship, enhancing biodiversity and supporting environmental research.
"Most universities in Australia have strong environmental policies, but many Seventh-day Adventist colleges and universities, like Avondale, have been slow to demonstrate a commitment to preserving God's creation," says Brad Watson, a lecturer in development studies and geography in the Faculty of Arts.
Brad is a member of the committee that developed the policy over this past year. The committee includes staff members, students and a member of the community.
Eleven priority areas, from education, facility construction and maintenance and information technology, to landscape and campus management, purchasing and resource conservation, even advocacy is included, form the core of the policy. The committee has set goals and tasks for each area.
Avondale plans to finalise and implement the policy by the end of 2010.
"Change never occurs quickly," says Brad, "but we want to take big steps, not just small steps, to reduce our ecological footprint."
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