Natural Heritage - Number 7
The Journal of the Natural Heritage Trust
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Australia
Department of the Environment and Heritage, Summer 2000
ISSN 1440-7256
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About this document
The Olympic Games in Sydney will not only achieve the highest environmental standards in Olympic history, they will establish Australia as a world leader in developing and applying environmental technologies, expertise and partnerships.
The Federal Government is a strong supporter of the aims and ethos of the "Green Games" and has contributed more than $548 million towards the staging of these Olympics. This includes $58 million to rehabilitate the site now occupied by the Athletes' Village and further funding support through a range of environment initiatives, particularly the Natural Heritage Trust. Examples of the numerous Trust-funded community environment and natural resource management projects associated with the Olympics are featured in this edition of Natural Heritage.
Australian technologies at work at Homebush have turned a contaminated wasteland into parklands, decontaminated 400 tonnes of soil containing dioxins and other toxic chemicals, protected endangered species, implemented impressive waste management and water conservation schemes, and created the world's largest solar-power suburb in the Athletes' Village. Tables, bookcases, desks and bins in numerous Games venues are made from 100 per cent recycled materials and are to be recycled again after the Games.
The environment is now the third pillar of Olympism, alongside sport and culture. Environmental considerations will underpin the planning and staging of all future Summer and Winter Olympic Games. Australia has been a driving force behind this breakthrough.
In staging the world's first Green Games, Australia is setting benchmarks for what can be achieved in the realm of sustainable development. For example, Sydney Olympic Park features sports venues with low energy use designs that should reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 10,000 tonnes a year.
But the environmental impact of the 2000 Olympics is not confined to sites in Sydney.
Through the Greening the Torch Path project, at least one million trees have been planted along the route taken by the Olympic flame throughout Australia. During the past three years, with funding support of $2.4 million from the Natural Heritage Trust, Landcare Australia Ltd has coordinated dozens of landcare groups and thousands of volunteers (including people from metropolitan areas travelling by bus and train to regional locations to participate) to commemorate Australia's Olympic heroes and highlight the contribution of local landcare groups. The Greening the Torch Path project represents the final stage of the Olympic Landcare - Working for the Green and Gold project that began in 1997.
Olympic Landcare has been a major community project aiming to plant two million trees around Australia to showcase landcare to the world and leave a Green Games legacy for communities outside Sydney.
Thanks to a partnership of government, communities and industry, the benefits of Olympic projects to the social, economic and environmental 'triple bottom line' will be felt for decades after the closing ceremony.
Robert Hill
Minister for the Environment and Heritage
Warren Truss
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
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