41,415 species on the IUCN Red List and 16,306 were threatened with ex­tinction, up from 16,118 last year

The global extinction crisis con­tinued with the World Conser­vation Union (IUCN) Red List of threatened species, released yes­terday, showing apes, vultures and dolphins all in danger, reported The Courier Mail (14/9/2007, p.38).

Oil spill from fuel-transfer hose into ocean is ‘one in 50′, says Drillsearch as it details impacts of Marina-1 Exploration Well

While the probability of a major oil spill associated with hydrocarbon exploration and production facilities was low in Australian marine waters, consequences of such an event can be significant (Swan et al., 1994), noted the Drillsearch Energy Limited, Drilling of Marina-1 Exploration Well EPBC Referral Submission (24/7/2007).

Studies in WA-279-P for Blacktip devt find diverse and abundant marine life fauna, Drillsearch report shows

There was limited information available concerning the benthic communities in the permit area; however, a previous study by Bowman Bishaw Gorham (unpublished data for Blacktip Project) encountered sandy substrates containing shell and crustacean fragments, and pebbles of terrestrial origin, according to the Drillsearch Energy Limited, Drilling of Marina-1 Exploration Well EPBC Referral Submission (24/7/2007).

Victoria’s desal a public-private partnership; five firms line-up for $1.6b bonanza of guaranteed cash-flow

According to Duncan Hughes, at least half of Victoria’s $3.1 billion desalination plant, the country’s largest, would be delivered as a public-private partnership, Victorian Premier John Brumby said on 19 September, reported The Australian Financial Review (20/9/2007, p.3).