Research and Markets: Water Market Middle East 2010 – Understand How the Water and Wastewater Markets Work in Each Country

July 21, 2010 By Leave a Comment

DUBLIN–(Business Wire)–
Research and Markets
(http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/a28cb0/water_market_middl) has
announced the addition of the “Water Market Middle East 2010″ report to their
offering.

The breakneck pace of economic development and population growth in the Middle
East and North Africa has exacerbated the regions existing problems of water
scarcity and wastewater disposal. In response, many countries are embracing
reform. Governments are increasingly turning to the private sector to meet their
needs, leading to an abundance of business opportunities.

Water Market Middle East 2010 will help you understand how the water and
wastewater markets work in each country, where the greatest challenges and main
growth areas are, and how to make it work for you. The report profiles local
companies in detail and gives an overview of the main local and international
players so you can identify potential partners and competitors. It also lists
current and upcoming major projects, details recent policy changes, and
anticipates future regulatory developments so that you can easily identify
business opportunities.

Water Market Middle East 2010 provides coverage of the big picture, identifying
trends across the region. But no two countries are alike opportunities are
concentrated where the economic growth is hottest, and where there are
forward-looking public authorities. Thus, Water Market Middle East 2010 also
includes the fine detail about the unique challenges and business opportunities
in each countrys water, wastewater and water reuse sectors.

Excel datasets include:

* Projects and tenders: A listing of water sector projects and tenders,
including information on size, client and estimated completion time
* Companies: A directory of local and international companies involved in the
water business
* Government contacts: A directory of key government contacts and water
utilities in the region
* Country data: Key demographics, economic indicators and water data for each
country
* Market forecast: A country-by-country assessment of current and future
expenditure on water and wastewater services

The Datasets

* Projects and tenders: A listing of water sector projects and tenders,
including information on size, client and estimated completion time.
* Companies: A directory of local and international companies involved in the
water business.
* Government contacts: A directory of key government contacts and water
utilities in the region.
* Country data: Key demographics, economic indicators and water data for each
country.

Market forecast: A country by country assessment of current and future
expenditure on water and wastewater servicesthat includes the following
headlines:

* Contracted desalination Capacity Forecast
* Installed desalination Capacity Forecast
* Annual new contracted capacity
* Annual new completed capacity
* Capital expenditure on desalination
* Other water resources/treatment plants
* Water Distribution Networks (new build and rehabilitation)
* Total Capital Expenditure on Drinking Water
* Advanced water reuse capacity forecast
* Additional water reuse capacity forecast
* Wastewater network investment (new and rehabilitation)
* Wastewater treatment plant investment (new and rehabilitation)
* Total capital expenditure on wastewater
* Total capex on water and wastewater
* Total private investment
* % of capex from private sector
* Total operating expenditure on water
* Total operating expenditure on wastewater
* Total Water and wastewater opex
* Annual value of private sector operations
* % Private sector participation in operations

Data by country

Overview – summary of the current water situation, including:

* Overview of current water resources.
* Overview of challenges.
* Water sector organization and structure.

Current water situation – a detailed picture, including:

* Details of current water resources.
* Details of water production facilities.
* Details of waste water treatment facilities.
* Key performance indicators.

Current policy – a detailed picture of financial and legal matters, including:

* Tariffs.
* Institutional and legal arrangements – especially for private water customers
such as industry and property developers.
* Finance – private / public sector participation, etc.

The future – forecasts and the future direction of the market, including:

* Government strategy – main growth areas.
* Current and future projects – including extent of private sector
participation.
* Summary of agents driving change.
* Predictions and forecast.

Companies mentioned:

* Arabian Company for Water & Power International (ACWA Power International)
* Acciona Agua
* AES Arabia
* Agbar
* Amiantit (AmiWater)
* aqualia
* Befesa Agua
* Besix
* Biwater
* Corodex Industries
* Degrmont
* Doosan Heavy Industries
* Fichtner
* Fisia Italimpianti
* Future Pipe
* GdF Suez Energy International
* GE Water & Process Technologies
* Hyder Consulting
* ILF Consulting Engineers
* Kharafi National
* Kuwait Engineering Office (KEO International)
* Malakoff Corporation
* Marubeni Corporation
* Metito
* Mitsui & Co
* Moya Bushnak
* PB Power
* SETE Energy Saudi for Industrial Projects Ltd. (SETE Energy)
* Sogex Oman
* Suez Environment
* Sumitomo Corporation
* Veolia Water

For more information visit

http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/a28cb0/water_market_middl

Research and Markets
Laura Wood, Senior Manager,
press@researchandmarkets.com
U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907
Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

Copyright Business Wire 2010

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U.S. Census Bureau Daily Feature for July 18

July 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

WASHINGTON, July 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Following is the daily “Profile America” feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090226/CENSUSLOGO)

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090226/CENSUSLOGO)

SUNDAY, JULY 18: STAYING COOL

Profile America — Sunday, July 18th. On these blistering hot summer days when we walk from the heat into a cool office, business, or home, we can thank a man many of us never heard of — Willis Carrier. Known as the “father of air conditioning,” Carrier patented what he called an “apparatus for treating air” in 1906. His idea has fundamentally changed the way most Americans live, work and play. A good example is the surging population growth in some of the nation’s warmest climates. Air conditioning came into widespread use following World War II. Even by 1960, only 12 percent of homes in the U.S. were equipped. Today, two-thirds of houses in the nation have central air conditioning. Of the remaining homes, six-out-of-10 have window units. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at www.census.gov.

Sources: Chase’s Calendar of Events 2010, p. 353

U.S. Census Bureau, Statistical Brief, Tracking the American Dream

Statistical Abstract of the United States 2010, t. 953

Profile America is produced by the Public Information Office of the U.S. Census Bureau. These daily features are available as produced segments, ready to air, on a monthly CD or on the Internet at http://www.census.gov (look for “Multimedia Gallery” by the “Newsroom” button).

CONTACT: Rick Reed, U.S. Census Bureau, +1-301-763-2812, fax: +1-301-763-3762, rreed-at-census.gov

SOURCE U.S. Census Bureau

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Packaged Facts: Hispanic Food and Beverage Market to Continue Aggressive Growth Through 2014

June 10, 2010 By Leave a Comment

NEW YORK, NY, Jun 09 (MARKET WIRE) —
The expanding appetite for Latino cuisine among non-Hispanic Americans,
combined with the rapid increase in the United States’ Hispanic
population, will be a boon for the $7 billion Hispanic food and beverage
market, helping to drive sales to $10 billion in 2014, according to
Hispanic Food and Beverages in the U.S.: Market and Consumer Trends in
Latino Cuisine, 4th Edition, the latest market research study by
publisher Packaged Facts.

Along with population growth, buying power within the Hispanic population
is expected to increase significantly in the next four to five years.
Packaged Facts projects that the buying power of Latinos will reach $1.3
trillion in 2013 up from $984 billion in 2008, representing a cumulative
growth rate of 31%. In addition, Hispanic shoppers spend significantly
more than other groups on food consumed at home, due to the importance of
family mealtime and larger family units.

Packaged Facts separates the Hispanic food and beverage market into three
segments: Mainstream Mexican (tortillas, salsa, tacos, burritos, nachos,
refried beans, Tex-Mex cuisine, and other products that have become part
of the American culture); Authentic Hispanic (products either imported
from Hispanic countries to the United States or products made
domestically that use traditional recipes); and Nuevo Latino (products
with south-of-the-border flair, including traditional American foods made
with Hispanic ingredients, as well as unique new creations that meld a
variety of Hispanic flavors and food traditions).

In particular, Authentic Hispanic and Nuevo Latino are garnering
substantial sales boosts from America’s population of adventurous food
enthusiasts known as “foodies.” The demand has caused new Hispanic food
products to pour forth from manufacturers seeking to increase variety to
meet the ever restless American appetite for the new and different.
Foodservice operators are likewise creating innovative and exciting
dishes to keep pace with consumer demand.

“All three segments of Hispanic food are becoming increasingly available
throughout the U.S. due to expanded distribution through both retail and
foodservice outlets and expanded awareness of these products as a result
of mass communications on television and the Internet about Hispanic
foods and cooking techniques,” says Don Montuori, publisher of Packaged
Facts. “The fact that the Hispanic population is expanding beyond
traditional enclaves in California, the Southwest, Florida, and major
metropolitan areas like New York and Chicago to communities which
previously had either no Hispanic presence or only a small one further
benefits the market.”

The 4th edition of a popular Packaged Facts title, Hispanic Food and
Beverages in the U.S.: Market and Consumer Trends in Latino Cuisine,
investigates the primary factors driving sales in the market. In addition
to covering packaged products sold through various retail outlets and
developments in the retail marketplace relevant to Hispanic foods and
beverages, this report includes qualitative and quantitative information
on foodservice sales through a variety of channels such as fast-food
outlets, sit-down restaurants, mobile units, and more. Foodservice
coverage focuses on those outlets that are owned and operated or founded
by immigrants from Latin American countries or Hispanic-Americans and
which feature exclusively or predominantly Hispanic menus. The report
also includes coverage of the expanding presence of Hispanic foods and
beverages in traditional “American” foodservice outlets. For further
information, please visit:

http://www.packagedfacts.com/redirect.asp?progid=79200&productid=2565237.

About Packaged Facts — Packaged Facts, a division of MarketResearch.com,
publishes market intelligence on a wide range of consumer market topics,
including consumer goods and retailing, foods and beverages,
demographics, pet products and services, and financial products. Packaged
Facts also offers a full range of custom research services. To learn
more, visit: www.packagedfacts.com. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and
Twitter.

Contact:
Jenn Tekin
Packagedfacts.com
(240) 747-3015
jtekin@packagedfacts.com

11200 Rockville Pike
Suite 504
Rockville, Maryland 20852
800.298.5294
240.747.3004 f
www.PackagedFacts.com

Copyright 2010, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

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The Triple Threats of Our Coming Water Crisis

June 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment

I know that talking about infrastructure isn’t a sexy blog topic. It’s about as exciting as doing laundry. But here’s the thing: We have to do it.

According to a recent report from the Urban Land Institute and Ernst & Young, there is no greater infrastructure challenge facing the country today than water.

We’ve got a triple whammy going on.

First whammy: The U.S. uses the most water per capita in the world — more than 656,000 gallons annually. That’s very close to the amount of water in an Olympic-sized swimming pool. Compare that to China, which uses less than 186,000 gallons per person each year.

The report calls for increased water conservation. But here’s the consumer truth: Water conservation just isn’t high on their priority lists. In Eco Pulse 2010, fewer than 20 percent said they’d installed low-flow toilets or showerheads. Only 6 percent said they’d installed low-water landscaping. The most popular water-conserving behavior? Taking shorter showers, but fewer than half said they were doing that.

Second whammy: Our dilapidated infrastructure is leaking about 1.25 trillion gallons of water every year — that’s about the same amount of water residents of L.A., Miami and Chicago use, combined. Political turf wars, lack of funding for improvements and low water bills that don’t cover the true costs of treating and delivering water stand in the way of repairing the country’s leaky old pipes.

Third whammy: The population is still growing in water-constrained parts of the country — putting even more pressure on limited water supplies. The report says that the U.S. is expected to add more than 120 million additional residents in the next 40 years, despite current water shortages. “We are starting to see the limits of where people can live,” stated the report. “Water profligacy is an American way of life.”

As marketers, there’s not much we can do in the political arena or to control population growth and migration. But what we can do is attack the first whammy — conservation — by producing more water-saving devices. By helping everyday Americans become more aware of the problem and offering affordable, practical, attractive solutions. By saving more water in our offices, factories and job sites. By making water conservation the next big topic of conversation.

How will you start your customers talking about saving water?

As Director of Insight for Shelton Group, Karen Barnes serves as the voice of the consumer for the firm. The original version of her post was published on the Shelton Group blog and is reprinted with permission.

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Larger forest cover but more cars too

June 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

New Delhi, June 5 — The increasing population of Delhi – from 13.9 million in 2001 to an estimated 17.44 million for 2009 and growing – has turned out to be the largest drain on resources, the ‘State of Environment Report for Delhi 2010′ said. As she released the report on Saturday, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit warned about the challenge to balance the needs of the ever-increasing population vis-a-vis natural resources. “Although Delhi is the greenest city in India, there is a greater challenge to balance the environment with the increasing needs of power and water for the large population,” Dikshit said. First, the good news from the report: The 2009 Forest Survey of India records Delhi’s forest area as 85 sq kms, which is 5.73 per cent of the geographical area of the state. There has been a net increase of around 16 sq kms in 2009 assessment over the 2005 status. But the report also said that Delhi ridge, which is the veritable green lung of the city, has seen shrinking in size due to mining and quarrying activities, especially in the south-central Ridge. At 1,615 units, Delhi has the highest per capita consumption of electricity among the states and union territories in the country. The demand of 4,500 MW of power is much more than the installed capacity of 1,000 MW in 2009. Apart from the production levels of 785 MGD in 2009, the average shortfall in water is about 200 MGD (million gallons per day) but the percentage of unaccounted for water is 35-40 per cent, reflecting problems in management of available resources. The report points out that the major sources of air pollution in the city include transport, power and industrial sectors and the population growth directly leads to stress on resources and infrastructure. As against 8 private cars per 1,000 persons across India, Delhi has 85 even as the city has seen an exponential growth in the number of vehicles from 30.5 lakh in 1998-99 to 63.0 lakh in 2008-09.

Speaking to reporters later, Dikshit supported Pachauri’s proposal and indirectly hinted at a hefty increase in power and water tariff so that it proves as a deterrent to the people and prevents wastage.

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ANALYSIS – Twenty years after unity, Yemen struggles for survival

May 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Yemen’s President Ali Abdullah Saleh this week marked 20 years ruling a united Yemen, but has little to celebrate in a country buckling under the pressure of separatist, sectarian and al Qaeda violence.

Pro-unity billboards lining the streets of the capital Sanaa — “Strength in unity and unity in strength!” — serve as a soft warning to Yemenis not to challenge the state, whose government has strong Western backing and a history of quashing dissent.

But they also underline challenges the government faces including struggles with northern Shi’ite rebels, southern secessionists and al Qaeda, any of which could spiral to threaten the state’s survival. All that is exacerbated by a foundering economy.

“There are the challenges to Yemen that we spend all of our time talking about — the south, al Qaeda or the war in Saada — but there is also a failing economy, resources depletion, population growth, unemployment,” said Christopher Boucek, an expert with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

“These are what will overwhelm the state. It won’t be terrorism or the traditional security challenges.”

The cash-strapped Yemeni government is almost powerless to meet the needs and demands of most of its people in a heavily armed society that is growing increasingly discontent and sometimes takes its struggles to the street.

One in three of Yemen’s 23 million people suffer chronic hunger, according to U.N. aid agencies, and sky-high unemployment — more than half of 15- to 24-year-olds are out of work — means few people can help themselves.

The ranks of the poor include nearly 270,000 people displaced by northern fighting, most of whom have not returned to their homes despite a February truce to end a war that raged since 2004. Refugees from war-torn Somalia add yet more strain.

“This regime is focused on its survival, there is no doubt about that,” a Western diplomat in Sanaa said.

Violence between government forces and separatists in the south is nearing its worst level since a 1994 civil war, and a crackdown on a resurgent al Qaeda, whose regional wing has its base in the country, has been only partly successful.

North and South Yemen united in 1990 under Saleh, who took power in the former North Yemen in 1978. Many in the south, home to most Yemeni oil facilities, feel northerners have commandeered their resources and are denying them their identity and political rights.

DANGERS OF DIVISION

Sanaa often resorts to military means to quash dissent, but the government has recently appeared ready to do whatever it takes, including talking to opponents in the south, if it means it will stay in power.

After all, a divided Yemen would not necessarily dissolve into two — South and North — but more likely into a number of entities, which could lead to more violence among southern factions and potentially a destabilising civil war.

“For Saleh, the unity of Yemen is non-negotiable and defending it is top priority. The president would divert all resources necessary to prevent secession,” said Nicole Stracke at the Gulf Research Centre in Dubai.

In an anniversary speech on Friday, Saleh appeared to want to appease his opponents, announcing an amnesty for nearly 300 imprisoned Houthis, southern separatists and journalists, and saying he wanted to open Yemen’s political process to all.

Though Yemen’s opposition largely welcomed the move, albeit with some scepticism, southern media played a different tune.

“The issue of the south must be recognised and dealt with for what it is in reality, not how the government wants to market it to the outside world,” a journalist wrote on a southern opposition website in response to Saleh’s speech.

Saleh’s powerful foreign allies have no interest in seeing Yemen break up, especially as al Qaeda wing tries to make its comeback from the Arabian Peninsula state, where powerful tribes hold much sway.

“The international community is clearly in favour of having a unified Yemen,” said Theodore Karasik, of the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis. “Splitting up again would be too shocking for the country and the region.”

Both the United States and Britain support Yemeni unity. Saudi Arabia, which in the 1994 war backed the south, now backs Saleh’s Sanaa-based government.

International alarm over instability in Yemen peaked in December when al Qaeda claimed an attempted bombing of a U.S.-bound plane.

“Countries splitting in half makes everyone nervous … it would just create an even more chaotic, decentralised environment in southern Arabia, and that’s just something that nobody sees any benefit in,” said Eurasia Group’s David Bender.

“In terms of there being any support for the south, I don’t know where that would come from. There would be overwhelming support to the north in order to prevent a southern secession.”

With next to no hope of drumming up international backing for its cause, Yemen’s southern separatist movement is also far too divided and poor to pose a serious threat to the government.

Yemenis have supported unity as a natural reflex, seeing it as vital for the country’s future. “We need unity,” said Mohammed, a textiles and coffee trader from Sanaa. “If we don’t have unity, we will not have security.”

(Editing by Samia Nakhoul)

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Ballarat on track for Melbourne link

May 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Ballarat will get a direct rail line to Melbourne as part of the Regional Rail Link being funded through the Victorian budget, which was announced yesterday.

A total of $4.3 billion has been allocated to the Regional Rail Link, which is the single biggest project in the state budget.

The project will create stand-alone tracks to Melbourne from Bendigo, Geelong and Ballarat.

Ballarat council’s chief executive, Anthony Schink, says the investment is needed to help Ballarat cope with population growth.

“The intention of linking the regional centres with Melbourne is clearly a recognition of the growth that we are experiencing,” he said.

Mr Schink says the line will help to make the fast-train service even quicker.

“What we’ve seen is investment in the fast train, investment in improving the infrastructure to get people to and from Melbourne quicker,” he said.

“But the blockage has always been the lack of dedicated lines when the trains hit the metro system.”

The budget also includes $2 million for intersection upgrades on the Ballarat to Buninyong Road at Mt Clear.

Health boost

Coleraine hospital in the state’s south-west has been secured in the budget and a new $25.2 million will be built in the town.

The Western District Health Service will contribute a further $600,000.

The health service’s chief executive, Jim Fletcher, says the hospital will include 10 new acute patient beds, 29 residential beds and a community health clinic.

“The tight-knit community will be over the moon with respect to this announcement,” he said.

“It is a great boost for Coleraine and what it does is ensure that they will have a health presence in their township for 50 years and beyond.”

Two western Victorian primary schools have also had their futures secured in the budget.

The Halls Gap and Woady Yaloak primary schools are two of six that will share in $10.5 million.

Woady Yaloak’s principal, Alan Campbell, says the money will help redevelop the ageing Smythesdale campus.

“In recent years the nature of teaching has changed – we’re much more flexible in the way we use space as part of our teaching methodology now,” he said.

“By adding these modern teaching spaces we’ll be able to provide a much more invigorating learning experience for our kids.”

A new police station at Daylesford has been allocated $2 million.

Highway loses out

But the Colac-Otway Council is shocked the budget contained no funding to upgrade the western section of the Princes Highway.

The G21 group of south-west Victorian councils had asked the Government to upgrade and duplicate the highway from Geelong to the South Australian border.

The budget included funding to upgrade the highway’s Gippsland section.

The Colac-Otway Mayor, Lyn Russell, says she expected the western part would be included.

“We were hoping it would be in this budget and we’ll be asking the question why it isn’t,” she said.

“It’s a very important transport link and we do need it.

“It’s not only for safety but the road has deteriorated over the years and so we’ll need to look at it and we’ll need to know why it wasn’t funded.”

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South-east SA sees benefit in Vic councils’ plan

May 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

A 10-year strategic plan by Victoria’s five south-west councils could be highly beneficial to industry in south-east South Australia.

The Great South Coast Regional Strategic Plan, outlining infrastructure and transport corridor development that could boost the south-east’s economy, was put out for consultation on Monday.

Education and the loss of agricultural land to population growth are some of the other areas highlighted in the plan.

Mount Gambier Mayor Steve Perryman says the plan will be a good gauge of where both regions can expand until 2020.

“These types of plans are about looking at the major opportunities and potentially using those documents as a good source document to lobby other levels of government for investment in infrastructure that will drive those things,” he said.

“Like population and spending on infrastructure to support economic growth.”

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Experts say UK water use ”worsening global crisis”

April 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, Apr.19 (ANI): The report, focusing on the UK, says two-thirds of the water used to make UK imports is used outside its borders.

The BBC quotes the Engineering the Future alliance of professional engineering bodies, as saying this is unsustainable, given population growth and climate change.

It says countries such as the UK must help poorer nations curb water use.

“We must take account of how our water footprint is impacting on the rest of the world,” said Professor Roger Falconer, director of the Hydro-Environmental Research Centre at Cardiff University and a member of the report”s steering committee.

Professor Peter Guthrie, head of the Centre for Sustainable Development at Cambridge University, said: “If we are to prevent the ”perfect storm”, urgent action is necessary.”

Forecasts suggest that when the world”s population soars beyond eight billion in 20 years time, the global demand for food and energy will jump by 50 percent, with the need for fresh water rising by 30 percent.

But developing countries are already using significant proportions of their water to grow food and produce goods for consumption in the West, the report says. (ANI)

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Experts say UK water use ”worsening global crisis”

April 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, Apr.19 (ANI): The report, focusing on the UK, says two-thirds of the water used to make UK imports is used outside its borders.

The BBC quotes the Engineering the Future alliance of professional engineering bodies, as saying this is unsustainable, given population growth and climate change.

It says countries such as the UK must help poorer nations curb water use.

“We must take account of how our water footprint is impacting on the rest of the world,” said Professor Roger Falconer, director of the Hydro-Environmental Research Centre at Cardiff University and a member of the report”s steering committee.

Professor Peter Guthrie, head of the Centre for Sustainable Development at Cambridge University, said: “If we are to prevent the ”perfect storm”, urgent action is necessary.”

Forecasts suggest that when the world”s population soars beyond eight billion in 20 years time, the global demand for food and energy will jump by 50 percent, with the need for fresh water rising by 30 percent.

But developing countries are already using significant proportions of their water to grow food and produce goods for consumption in the West, the report says. (ANI)

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Morrison migration remarks ‘not Coalition policy’

April 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Opposition immigration spokesman Scott Morrison says his comments about cutting the country’s migrant intake to curb population growth do not reflect official Coalition policy.

His comments come amid reports that some of his colleagues are angry that his earlier call to reduce migration was made before any discussion with the party room.

Yesterday there were also confusing signals from the Coalition about where it would want to see cuts made.

The business community is unhappy with the comments, arguing that temporary migrant workers are vital for economic growth.

Debate has raged this week over whether Australia can cope with a predicted population of 36 million by 2050, with a survey released today by the Lowy Institute showing that almost 70 per cent of Australians think the figure is too high.

On Tuesday Mr Morrison said migration levels were “out of control” and needed to be “brought back into perspective”.

But he has told ABC’s NewsRadio this morning that his comments are not Coalition policy.

“If there is an interpretation out there that this is a wholesale policy, it’s not a wholesale policy,” he said.

“The way the debate has gone over the last few days, I think there is some misunderstandings about the points that are being made.”

Mr Morrison says the net migration rate is about 300,000 a year, including international students and those on working visas.

He says that rate will push the population much higher than 36 million by 2050.

“The fact is that 300,000 net overseas migration will produce a population in excess of 50 million people. Is that a policy this Government is going to adopt?” he said.

Treasury figures show the population will reach 36 million by 2050 with a permanent net migration intake of 180,000 a year.

When asked yesterday if the Coalition would rein in migration levels, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott did not say.

Mr Abbott said he supported a “strong Australia” but questioned whether the Federal Government was addressing the country’s infrastructure needs for such a large population.

Business Council of Australia spokesman Graham Bradley has told Radio National the skilled migration program should not be cut.

“Australia needs a growing population to develop our economy and to of course offset the issues that will arise as outlined in the intergenerational report about an ageing population,” he said.

“We need a vibrant immigration policy.”

The Lowy Institute survey found that while 72 per cent of Australians support population growth, 69 per cent want to see it reach only 30 million by 2050.

Newly appointed Population Minister Tony Burke says he will be developing a policy that ensures the predicted rise in population is sustainable.

“Obviously it will be a larger population but one which is balanced against the future infrastructure constraints of the country,” he said.

The Government says it has not set a population target.

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Shopping centre gets green light for completion

April 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The Mackay Regional Council has approved the final stages of development for a major retail centre in the Northern Beaches.

The Northern Beaches central development will include supermarkets, a hardware shop, childcare centre, a hotel and a vet.

The development, on the corner of Mackay-Bucasia and Eimeo roads, will have 45,000 square metres of floorspace – the same size as Canelands Central.

Councillor Di Hatfield says developments are usually limited to 10,000 square metres, but the centre is an exceptional case.

“The fact is that it is a huge, growing area and when those areas were set for gross floor area we didn’t have true figures in relation to our population growth,” she said.

“So we’re looking back at 2001 [and] we’re more than happy to recommend that we go beyond our planning scheme and … accept this increased gross floor area.”

Cr Hatfield says the development should ease some employment and traffic issues.

“We are expecting that the entire project in the end will create upwards of of around 900 jobs,” she said.

“That has to be good for the community, it has to be great for the Northern Beaches community in that many of those people may in fact be able to gain employment in that centre too.

“So that will also address many traffic issues that we already have with people travelling from the Northern Beaches through into the city centre.”

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Australians wary of 36m population target

April 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

A survey by the Lowy Institute says almost three-quarters of Australians want to see the country’s population grow, but not by too much.

The Lowy Institute surveyed more than 1,000 people last month and found that while there is support for increased immigration, Australians are not quite prepared to embrace the Government’s prediction that the nation will reach 36 million people by 2050.

The poll shows 72 per cent of people support a rise in Australia’s population, but 69 per cent want it to remain below 30 million people.

Lowy Institute executive director Michael Wesley says most Australians are concerned by the Government’s predictions.

“Thirty million doesn’t seem to be that much different from our current 22 million; it seems like a natural progression,” he said.

“I think most people see 36 million as really quite a substantial increase.

“Some of the concerns about overcrowding, about house prices, about the environmental strain that 36 million Australians would cause, are also starting to bite.”

The Federal Opposition says the poll results underscore the need for a debate about a sustainable population and immigration rates.

Immigration spokesman Scott Morrison says it shows most people want to make sure population growth is sustainable.

“The Coalition believe in having a sustainable growth path for our population and this survey shows that many Australians support that view,” he said.

“But they’re not prepared to sign up to the level of growth that Kevin Rudd is championing.

“What I’d like [the Government] to do is engage in the debate with the rest of Australia.”

But Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard has played down the results, saying it all depends on how the survey questions were asked.

Ms Gillard has joked in the past about being a “10-pound Pom”. On Lateline, she cautioned the Opposition against linking the debate on population to immigration.

She specifically singled out 2001, the year former prime minister John Howard stopped the Tampa freighter from landing asylum seekers in Australia. The issue was potent at the ballot box and many say it cost Labor the election.

“I think there are some dangers here for the Opposition of trying to pull an election slogan from 2001 and hope that it will work for them again,” she said.

“We obviously believe that there needs to be a discussion about population. [Population Minister] Tony Burke will lead it.”

Ms Gillard stresses the 36 million forecast is just that – a forecast and not a target.

“We can change that future. I think a key question for the nation is about population distribution,” she said.

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Mayor urges united front to tackle growth

April 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Tweed Shire’s Mayor says councils in northern New South Wales need to work together to get more government funding for infrastructure projects.

The population in the Richmond-Tweed area grew by 1.5 per cent last year.

Mayor Warren Polglase says the council is upgrading water and sewage systems but transport is the biggest concern.

“Public transport has become a very important issue and buses and trains as a part of that issue,” he said.

“But there’s got to be a regional approach because its no good just Tweed Shire getting involved, there’s got to be a regional approach to get state and federal governments aware of our transportation issues.”

The State Government says it is committed to providing local councils with the funding they need to deal with future population spikes.

In the next 25 years the population in the Byron Shire is expected to increase by 40 per cent, while on the Tweed coast population growth is expected to rise by almost 60 per cent.

State Planning Minister Tony Kelly says these figures provide some idea of what is needed from all levels of government.

“The NSW Government has recently [given] local infrastructure loans,” he said.

“These were loans of zero interest to allow them to bring forward their infrastructure construction to cater for an increase in population.”

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Housing plan changes give council ‘no control’

April 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Sunshine Coast Mayor Bob Abbot says he has serious concerns about changes the Queensland Government has made to a housing development planned for Caloundra south.

The revised plan will be released today and is the largest of three structure plans proposed by the State Government to provide housing for the Sunshine Coast’s growing population.

Revised plans for developments at Palmview and the Maroochydore CBD were released last month for public comment.

Councillor Abbot says the council has similar problems with all three developments.

“One of the problems that we’ve faced with all of the Government’s responses to our structure plan is they’ve replaced our maximum population figures in those areas and suggested they would be minimum targets,” he said.

“So that sort of blows us out of the water in the sense that we’ve got no control of where it’s going in the future or indeed what sort of future development proposals we might see in the future on those sites.”

Meanwhile the Sunshine Coast Environment Council (SCEC) says it hopes the Federal Government will conduct public forums across the country to get community input into the national population strategy.

Federal MP Tony Burke will develop the strategy to manage the nation’s population growth as part of his role as Australia’s first Population Minister.

The plan will be created over the next 12 months and SCEC’s Narelle McCarthy says that is more than enough time.

“Given the significance, it’s not unreasonable, but I would think that it could actually be done in a shorter period of time,” she said.

“There are some very vested interests in continuing the population growth and the pro-growth agenda, so it needs to be done in a very fair and balanced way with very strong community representation.”

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New epoch in Earth’s history might see sixth largest mass extinction

March 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Washington, March 27 (ANI): A team of scientists has suggested that the Earth might be on the threshold of entering a new geological epoch, which might include the sixth largest mass extinction in the Earth’s history.

The scientists include Jan Zalasiewicz and Mark Williams from the University of Leicester Department of Geology; Will Steffen, Director of the Australian National University’s Climate Change Institute and Paul Crutzen the Nobel Prize-winning atmospheric chemist of Mainz University.

The scientists propose that, in just two centuries, humans have wrought such vast and unprecedented changes to our world that we actually might be ushering in a new geological time interval, and alter the planet for millions of years.

Zalasiewicz, Williams, Steffen and Crutzen contend that recent human activity, including stunning population growth, sprawling megacities and increased use of fossil fuels, have changed the planet to such an extent that we are entering what they call the Anthropocene (New Man) Epoch.

First proposed by Crutzen more than a decade ago, the term Anthropocene has provoked controversy.

However, as more potential consequences of human activity — such as global climate change and sharp increases in plant and animal extinctions — have emerged, Crutzen’s term has gained support.

Currently, the worldwide geological community is formally considering whether the Anthropocene should join the Jurassic, Cambrian and other more familiar units on the Geological Time Scale.

The scientists note that getting that formal designation will likely be contentious.

But, according to them, “However these debates will unfold, the Anthropocene represents a new phase in the history of both humankind and of the Earth, when natural forces and human forces became intertwined, so that the fate of one determines the fate of the other. Geologically, this is a remarkable episode in the history of this planet.” (ANI)

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Tens of thousands of construction jobs ‘at risk’

March 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Access Economics says up to 37,000 construction jobs in Queensland could be lost if development does not improve in the state.

Two industry reports released today show there has been a 60 per cent drop in commercial finance to developers in the last two years.

Access economics director Chris Richardson says action is needed.

“The population growth isn’t going to go away,” he said.

“Something needs to free up the supply of housing – the number of new homes getting built in Queensland.”

Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) spokesman Warren Harris says there is no time to waste.

“This problem is so dire and so immediate, we need an immediate response,” he said.

“The form of that we are proposing is for an industry recovery taskforce to be established that has members from the State Government, local government, the development industry – and if necessary the federal government.”

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Inquiry call as population tops 22 million

March 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Leading population experts are calling for an inquiry into the nation’s growth as the number of people living in Australia passes 22 million.

The latest figures from the Bureau of Statistics show that nearly half a million people were added to the population in the last year.

Two-thirds of that growth was attributed to immigration.

Dr Bob Birrell from the Centre for Population and Urban Research at Monash University says the most important aspect of the latest figures is how fast they have shot up.

“The main item of note is the pace with which we’re growing, which has propelled us across the 22 million barrier,” he said.

“We’re growing at about 2.1 per cent per annum, which is way above other developed countries. For example, Canada grew by 0.8 per cent – it was less than 1 per cent – in the same period.”

The growth rate of 2.1 per cent is faster than many Asian countries including India, Indonesia and the Philippines. It is also almost double the rate of the world’s population growth.

Dr Birrell says there are two factors driving Australia’s particularly fast growth.

“We have seen an upsurge in fertility in the past five or six years. That’s contributing,” he said.

“But the main factor is the surge in net overseas migration.”

Sixty-six per cent of the population growth was caused by net overseas migration to Australia, which was 297,400 people. That was 9,000 higher than the previous year.

Dr Birrell says an inquiry would widen the scope of the population debate from “totally economic” to more social.

“There’s no input into the setting of current migration programs as far as the quality of life in the major cities is concerned,” he said.

“There’s no social focus at all. The cities are simply left to cope.”

Dr Birrell says that without that consideration, Australia’s larger cities are destined to suffer social problems as increasing numbers of migrants gravitate toward low-cost housing areas.

Seeking sustainable growth

Australia’s population is forecast to grow to 35 million by 2050.

While Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has made it clear he supports big population growth, there is a chorus of voices questioning the merit of that.

Labor backbencher Kelvin Thomson argues Australia should cap its population at 26 million.

And both the Federal Opposition and the Greens want an inquiry into how many people the nation can support.

Today four of the nation’s leading population experts added their voices to that campaign in a briefing at the University of Queensland.

University of Adelaide Professor Graeme Hugo said Australia should not be adopting “unsubstantiated, aspirational population targets”.

“We should be looking at the science and looking at what people want, to see how we can achieve this holy grail of growth with sustainability,” he said.

“The last time we had a population inquiry in Australia was in 1971, and the world has changed – Australia has changed.

“We really do need, I believe, to have a fully informed, multi-disciplinary examination of Australia’s future population, but one also which engages the community to develop what I believe could be a shared vision for the future generations of Australia.”

Professor Hugo was joined in that call by the CSIRO’s Dr Graham Turner, and professor Martin Bell and associate professor John Minnery, both from the University of Queensland.

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Territory population grows by 5000

March 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The Northern Territory’s population has increased by more than 5000 people in the year to the end of September.

The population is now just over 227,000.

The Chief Minister Paul Henderson says the Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released today show a record sixth consecutive quarter of population growth driven by interstate migrants who have moved to the Territory.

“This is the longest period of sustained population growth the Territory has ever seen,” Mr Henderson said.

“It certainly means that people around Australia are backing the Territory and backing the economic growth that is occurring here.”

The Opposition Leader, Terry Mills said a population increase was nothing to “crow about”, when housing in major centres was unaffordable and progress building remote indigenous houses was slow.

“It is not a good mix when you have a population increase against a failure to release land,” Mr Mills said.

“The Housing Institute of Australia is saying that we should have an extra 4200 houses built right now and a good part of the population increase are indigenous births.”

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Gympie fights to join growth summit

March 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The Gympie Regional Council is concerned it will not be represented at the Queensland Government’s Growth Management Summit next week.

The council says it nominated two council representatives at the request of the Government and it was then told it was not eligible to attend the event.

Deputy Mayor Tony Perrett says it is disappointing because the region is just north of the south-east corner and is being affected by population growth.

“The projection for growth in this region is above the state average,” councillor Perrett said.

“Given that statistic, I think it’s most appropriate that we be there.

“More particularly to make certain that our voice is not only heard, but we can also hear from a broad perspective what the state has planned to deal with high growth areas.”

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