Sustainability and Environment
The MFB is committed to reducing the environmental impact of its business activities and the effect of emergency incidents on the environment.
The MFB has had an Environmental Action Committee (EAC) since 2003. The EAC reports to the executive management team and is strongly supported by the CEO. The EAC is a cross functional team representing all directorates. It has representation from firefighters, officers, corporate staff and the UFU.
The role of the EAC is to recommend policies and strategies to the Board, facilitate implementation of environmental initiatives throughout the organisation and report on issues and achievements to stakeholders.
The MFB’s sustainability and environment program made signifi cant achievements.
They included:
- The implementation of new approaches to conserve resources with a focus on reduced water use.
- Advances in the MFB environmental management system and an established environmental resource.
- Improved monitoring and reporting of environmental performance indicators.
- The establishment of long term plans and goals under a revised environmental strategy.
The MFB and the CFA took a lead in water conservation in Victoria by agreeing to use class A recycled water for training and fire-fighting.
The initiative followed extensive Australian and international research, which established that class A recycled water – sewage and industrial waste water that has been treated to a high standard – was safe to use.
The MFB and CFA developed a management plan and user manual for fi refi ghters using class A recycled water in conjunction with Victoria’s water authorities, EPA Victoria and the Department of Human Services Victoria.
The joint agreement secured a reliable source of water for training and fi re-fi ghting and reduced the impact of these activities on Melbourne’s drinking water supplies.
The MFB received $172,000 from the Smart Water Fund for an innovative water saving project in which water used for training fi refi ghters is recycled and used on parks and sports fi elds or for fl ushing toilets within public amenities. This project is expected to save more than 60 megalitres of water every year.
Other MFB initiatives to reduce its environmental impact included:
- The installation of rainwater tanks at fi re stations and the fi tting of solar hot water systems when fire stations are upgraded.
- The purchase of 15 per cent green power.
- The replacement of old fi re appliances with diesel appliances which meet the European Commission’s Euro 4 standard.
- The formation of a climate change strategy development team.
- The introduction of water efficient fittings.
The MFB modifi ed its procurement process during the year to incorporate an assessment of supplier environmental credentials during tenders. Further integration of environmental criteria took place during the review of maintenance and standard operating procedures.
Establishing baseline data on the MFB’s environmental performance was a key focus during the year. In April 2008, the MFB produced its fi rst quarterly environmental report to provide management teams with information on trends in water, energy, and paper consumption as well as waste and greenhouse gas emissions. MFB’s 2007 – 08 resource consumption data and reporting requirements are shown in the below table.