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Environmental management system
A new system was developed during the year, in
preparation for ISO 14001 certification. This was a
significant achievement, particularly considering our
geographic diversity and the need for the system to
cover the whole business. All procedures are complete
and the system will be subject to external audit early in
the new financial year.
ISO 14001 is an international standard which
outlines the recognised best practice environmental
management processes. To maintain certification,
we must establish and maintain systems and
practices which include the use of environmental
policies, management plans, risk analysis, continuous
improvement, employee education and training,
emergency preparedness and reporting.
2004-2005 KPI – develop environmental magament
system by June 2005
Outcome – completed
Future goals – obtain and maintain external
certification in 2005-2006.
Greening up our act
Since January 2004, we have committed to purchasing
100 per cent green energy for 282 sites, including all of
our field service centres, 20 customer service centres,
43 offices, 48 zone substations and 42 other properties.
Under the Australian Building Greenhouse Rating
(ABGR) Scheme, eight of our properties were awarded
‘five-star’ greenhouse ratings during the year. The
scheme, administered by the Department of Energy,
Utilities and Sustainability, is a world-first initiative that
rates buildings on greenhouse performance from one
to five stars.
Future goals – achieve ‘five star’ ratings at our
Bathurst and Wagga Wagga premises in the near
future.
Saving more energy
The following initiatives will soon be implemented to
further reduce energy consumption and greenhouse
gas emissions –
• Building Management System (BMS) to manage
lighting and air-conditioning at Port Macquarie and
Bathurst corporate offices
• Quantum Solar hot water systems at Bathurst,
Port Macquarie, Orange and Wagga Wagga
• Power Factor Correction at Bathurst and Orange
• Movement sensors in all stand-alone offices and
meeting rooms
• Lighting upgrade to energy efficient T5 lighting at
Bathurst corporate office
• Timers on all hot water and cooling units in kitchens
• Insulation batts at Port Macquarie corporate office
• Proposed field service centre energy saving
competition involving employees
• Analysis of any new building or refurbishment
undertaken by Country Energy’s energy answers
business, to ensure optimum energy saving
techniques are utilised.
Helping primary producers
The issue of soil contamination around power poles is
of increasing concern for primary producers, particularly
considering the quality assurance requirements from
Meat and Livestock Australia. A standard livestock
production assurance letter for property owners
seeking certification has been developed, outlining our
past practices as well as current chemical application
practices.
The minimisation of soil disturbance during
maintenance work and use of environmentally
acceptable chemicals has reduced any potential impact.
Soil/pole tests are carried out at a customer’s request
if potentially harmful chemicals may have been used in
the past.
2004-2005 target – develop written materials to assist
primary producers in achieving certification
Outcome – completed
Future goals – continue to minimise soil disturbance
and use environmentally acceptable chemicals when
treating poles.
COUNTRY ENERGY ANNUAL REPORT 2004–2005