Review of regulatory burden on the upstream petroleum (oil and gas) sector [book]

Author: Australia. Productivity Commission

Recommends the establishment of "a new national offshore petroleum regulator in Commonwealth waters, and then provide state and territory governments, on a bilateral basis, the options of delegating existing petroleum-related regulatory responsibilities in coastal waters to this regulator." - page xx.

Vernacular Culture and Urban Economic Development : Thinking Outside the (Big) Box [journal article]
By: James H. Carr and Lisa J. Servon
From: Journal of the American Planning Association, Vol. 75, No. 1, Winter 2009
"This article addresses the increasing homogeneity of urban commercial areas and the loss of local culture associated with this trend. It seeks to identify strategies that build effectively on vernacular culture as an asset in neighborhood development."

Productivity in the mining industry : measurement and interpretation [book]

Author: Vernon Topp & others, Australia. Productivity Commission

"Identifies measurement and interpretation issues of relevance to productivity estimates for the mining industry in Australia. Quantitative evidence is presented regarding the effect on mining industry productivity growth of two important factors: systematic changes in the underlying quality of natural resource inputs used in mining; and production lags in response to increases in capital investment." - overview.

Reform, Risk and Reality: Challenges and Opportunities for Australian Urban Water Management [journal article]
By: Stuart White, Kate Noble and Joanne Chong
From: Australian Economic Review, Vol 41 Issue 4 2008
"In this paper we review recent challenges to the water industry in Australia and describe a set of risks and opportunities in the form of a set of response measures. Some of these are being implemented or are being actively discussed within industry circles. These response measures are analysed for their potential benefits and their potential to be implemented in ways that yield either positive or negative social outcomes."

Water for Today,Water for Tomorrow: Establishment and Operation of the SEQ Water Grid [journal article]
By: Daniel Spiller, Queensland Water Commission
From: Australian Economic Review, Vol 41, Issue 4, 2008
"A new approach to water supply planning and management was required to respond to these challenges and to provide the capacity to be able to adapt to climate change. The Queensland Government response comprises an award winning demand management program, a range of innovative infrastructure projects and extensive institutional changes. The benefits of these initiatives will be long lasting, delivering new standards of water security and efficiency while building on recent improvements to waterways health. The range of initiatives and the speed in which they are being implemented is unprecedented in Australia. This paper provides an overview of the key elements of the SEQ response."

Review of regulatory burden on the upstream petroleum (oil and gas) sector [book]

Author: Australia. Productivity Commission

Recommends the establishment of "a new national offshore petroleum regulator in Commonwealth waters, and then provide state and territory governments, on a bilateral basis, the options of delegating existing petroleum-related regulatory responsibilities in coastal waters to this regulator." - page xx.

Balanced national development policy in Korea : theory and practice [book]

Author: Korea. Presidential Committee on Balanced National Development

Outlines how South Korea's change in economic policy has resulted in a knowledge-based economy where innovation and economic growth occurs in regional areas, and not just in metropolitan areas.

The Contribution of foreign direct investment and the mining industry to the welfare of Australians [online resource]

Authors: Brian S. Fisher & others, Committee for the Economic Development of Australia (CEDA)

Most Australians are sceptical about foreign ownership. This paper challenges that view and presents the reasons why foreign investment is good for Australia's economy, particularly in regard to the mining industry.

Australia's broadband future : four doors to greater competition [online resource]

Edited by: Minh Bui Jones, Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA)

Contents: The 'Four Digital Doors' : a CEDA Research perspective on digital competition / Michael Porter -- Building the broadband network / Martin Cave -- Creating an efficient national broadband network / Joshua Gans -- A policy framework for a new broadband network / Henry Ergas and Eric Ralph -- Broadband in the US: myths and facts / Jeffrey Eisenach -- The European experience: regulating broadband services / Jim Holmes.

Now or never : a sustainable future for Australia? [book]

Author: Tim Flannery

Considers the philosophy behind sustainable living, and argues that Australia has a special responsibility to become a leader in the global fight against climate change.

Increasing public transport use and reducing transport emissions - is urban density the key? (journal article)
by Darren Holloway
from Australian Planner, Vol 45 No 4 December 2008
"Examines current research into the debate on the linkages between urban consolidation and increased public transport use, which is encapsulated in metropolitan growth strategies in Australia. This debate is becoming more prevalent as planners try to better understand the relationship betweeen land use and transport in order to encourage more appropriate growth management decisions so as to achieve more sustainable urban areas.
Please contact the library for a copy of this article.

Changing residential landscapes: climate change, communities and concepts of place in tourist cities, a Gold Coast study (journal article)
by Caryl Bosman
from Australian Planner, December 2008
The areas of the city most affected by climate change, and, in particular, sea level rise, are where some of the key real estate and tourism landscapes are located. In addition, an apparent shortage of land for development, coupled with high population growth and climate change has significant impacts for the Gold Coast City Council and the state and federal governments.Together these factors highlight the urgent need to understand the social, ecological and economical issues attached to housing landscapes on the Gold Coast.
Contact the library for a copy of this article

Rebuilding America (journal article)
by Robert Bestani
from Project Finance International, December 2008
The American Society of Civil Engineers recently gave America's infrastructure a grade of D and estimated that the nation needed to spend more than $1.6trn in the next five years. Our roads, ports, dams, water systems, highways, power plants, airports, schools, etc. are all in desperate need of new investment.
Please contact the library for a copy of this article.

Planning for a sustainable future : white paper [online]

Authors: Great Britain. Dept for Communities and Local Government (& others)

"Our vision is for a planning system which supports vibrant, healthy sustainable communities, promotes the UK's international competitiveness, and enables the infrastructure which is vital to our quality of life to be provided, in a way that is integrated with the delivery of other sustainable development objectives, and ensures that local communities and members of the public can make their views heard." - executive summary.

Inquiry into mandatory ethanol and biofuels targets in Victoria : report of the Economic Development and Infrastructure Committee on the inquiry into mandatory ethanol and biofuels targets in Victoria [book]

Author: Victoria. Parliament. Economic Development and Infrastructure Committee

Investigates the costs and benefits of introducing a biofuels mandate in Victoria.

The Big switch : rewiring the world, from Edison to Google [book]

Author: Nicholas G. Carr

Argues that just as companies stopped making there own electricity and began sourcing their power from electricity companies last century, the next major change will be the rise of "computer utility services". Companies, such as Google, will provided centralized computing services so business and personal users.

Agriculture and emissions trading : the impossible dream? [book]

Authors: Hugh Saddler, Helen King / Australia Institute

Argues against the inclusion of agriculture in the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme because agricultural emissions are difficult to measure and caused by natural phenomena, rather than production methods. It then outlines alternatives including herd management, reducing the nitrous oxide in fertiliser and carbon sequestration.

Infrastructure and the Vision Thing
By Matthew Ericson
from Australian Journal of Public Administration Vol 67 Iss 4 2008, pp. 405-418
"Australia faces a transport infrastructure problem requiring complex policy formulation and imaginative problem solving. In opposition, Kevin Rudd committed to improving the nation's infrastructure and addressing the 'infrastructure bottlenecks'. This task is made more urgent by the Reserve Bank's concern that the infrastructure restraints are causing inflationary pressure. In the short term however, increased Commonwealth infrastructure expenditure would add to the pressure on interest rates. Consequently, the Commonwealth must work with industry and the states on improving operational efficiency in the short term, while planning for infrastructure investments in the longer term. With the political limitations of federalism, a shortage of skilled policy advice, and ministerial inexperience, the Rudd government must set a broad agenda to guide all infrastructure stakeholders."

Investigating science communication in the information age : implications for public engagement and popular media [book]

Edited by: Richard Holliman

Sections include: Engaging with public engagement, Researching public engagement, Studying science in popular media, Mediating science news, Communicating science in popular media and Examining audiences for popular science.

Scope for improvement 2008: a report on scoping practices in Australian construction and infrastructure projects
Source: Blake Dawson
These 2008 findings show how and why inadequate scoping is now an endemic problem in Australia with a growing trail of budget blowouts, delays and disputes.
The findings come at critical time in Australia as the federal government prepares to spend billions on infrastructure to ward off the effects of the global financial market meltdown and as a range of state government projects have struck difficulties.