Office for Environmental Programs - Theses
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ItemCommunity reactions towards wind farms in Victoria, Australia: a comparative study between an inland and coastal site( 2004)Wind energy is a promising alternative to energy forms that contribute to global and regional environmental problems such as climate change and air pollution. The industry is now the fastest growing energy technology in the world (SEDA, 2002). However wind farm proposals often struggle to gain public acceptance. Commonly held perceptions regarding wind farms were explored in order to provide the background for understanding community reactions. Two operational Victorian wind farms were presented as case studies to identify the key circumstances that influence the local reactions. The Toora wind farm in South Gippsland received mixed local support whilst the Challicum Hills wind farms, in central western Victoria received overwhelming support from the local community. The location of the two wind farms appeared to play a key role in influencing community attitudes, the coastal location attracting greater negative reactions than the inland location. The idea that the communities' reactions were correlated with the values attributed to the landscape was explored, drawing on the link with visual impact as a key negative perception. Understanding and managing negative perceptions regarding visual amenity and considering the values attributed to landscapes by local communities are important in ensuring the success of future wind farm proposals in Victoria.
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ItemThe uptake and longevity of three meat baits by red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in western Victorian( 2006)This study investigated the uptake and palatability for dried meat baits and fresh liver meat by foxes (Vulpes vulpes). A field trial lasting four weeks was undertaken to compare uptake of three fox baits. Two registered commercially manufactured dried meat baits used in fox control in Victoria and unpoisoned liver were laid in 50 baits stations in mixed agricultural and conservation land on a National Trust Property in Western Victoria. In total 10% Defox, 6% Foxoff and 17% liver baits of each bait type were taken by foxes over the course of the study. There was no significant difference in the rate of uptake and palatability of the three bait types at stations where one bait was taken in the first two weeks of the study, significant differences were found in bait preference by foxes in the third and fourth weeks with liver the most significantly preferred bait type. Foxoff was significantly rejected in the second and fourth weeks of the study indicating that it was the least preferred of the three baits. There was a significant difference in the degradation scores between each bait type in the last three weeks of the trial, with Defox and Foxoff baits being less degraded than liver. This study suggests that liver is the most preferentially eaten bait type however it is the most susceptible to degradation of the three.
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ItemScales, knowledge systems and institutions: Reframing State of the environment reporting in Victoria( 2010)This paper looks at the production and consumption of environmental knowledge through State of the Environment (SOE) reporting in Victoria, Australia. Using environmental discourse analysis and reflexive interviews I consider how the reframing of the audience for the current round of Victorian SOE reporting has reshaped its purpose in terms of the scales at which the environment is perceived and managed, the knowledge systems that emerge across those scales, and the institutions that embody those paradigms of knowledge. Through the process of developing the framework for the next SOE report the perceived legitimacy, credibility and utility of SOE reporting has had to be renegotiated within both the existing and emerging institutions of environmental knowledge and governance. I conclude by proposing that reframing and reformulating environmental knowledge produced through SOE reporting has potential to reshape wider institutions of environmental perception, governance and management.
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ItemInvestigating the potential for thiocyanate bioremediation in a gold mine in Stawell, Victoria( 2010)Bioremediation is a cost-effective way of removing environmental contaminants like thiocyanate, which is associated with various industrial processes. Certain species of bacteria have been found to be capable of oxidising thiocyanate into sulfate, thus removing thiocyanate in the system. This project aims to investigate current and future applications of bioremedation on thiocyanate contamination in a gold mine in Stawell, Victoria through analysis of historical data, gathering information on in situ geochemical conditions, gaining an understanding of thiocyanate oxidation via reduction of nitrate and iron, and enrichment and isolation of thiocyanate-degrading bacteria or microbial communities. Particular focus was placed on thiocyanate concentrations in the Stawell Gold Mine Tailings Dam No. 2. Results from the desktop study indicate that thiocyanate is a redox reactive chemical species and is probably transformed into sulfur. The minerals in the mine tailings are not the likely source of thiocyanate concentrations. Instead, thiocyanate is likely to be from a cyanide and sulfur that is leached from an unknown source. The investigation of thiocyanate oxidation via ferric oxide synthesis indicates that in situ thiocyanate oxidation is more likely to proceed through enzymatic reactions or microbial catalysts and likely to be coupled with nitrate reduction. Inconclusive results from the enrichment and isolation of thiocyanate degrading microorganisms suggest that thiocyanate degradation may potentially occur in experimental conditions different from what was investigated in this study.
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ItemBehaviour and management of common wombats (Vombatus ursinus) at Tidal River Campground, Wilsons Promontory National Park( 2005)The common wombat (Vombatus ursinus) is widespread and common throughout Wilsons Promontory National Park, particularly in Tidal River Campground. These wombats have been damaging tents searching for human food and acting aggressively towards campers since the 1990s. Tents were erected throughout the campground during October 2005 to find whether food was the wombats' motivation for entering tents. Bread was placed in one of three tents erected adjacent to each other and the tents were observed. An incident was recorded if a wombat entered this tent and ate the bread. Incidents occurred on eight out of 15 nights and the other two tents were never entered. This provides evidence that wombats will only enter tents containing food, which subsequently gives guidance to future management strategies.