Mark Butler (formerly Minister for Mental Health) has been named the Climate Change Minister in Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s new ministry, replacing Greg Combet who is retiring from politics. [ + ]

A national survey report, released today, reveals that a large majority of businesses support a national reduction in carbon emissions, preferably through an emissions trading scheme. [ + ]

At the recent Queensland Premier’s Sustainability Awards, Bundaberg Regional Council (BRC) won the prestigious Minister’s Award for Leadership. The award honoured BRC’s waste recovery efforts following three consecutive natural disasters over the 2013 Australia Day long weekend. [ + ]

‘Legacy’ is an industry campaign launched recently in Christchurch, supported by several of the city’s organisations and local developers. [ + ]

Consortium partners GE Australia and New Zealand and Downer EDI have been awarded contracts to work on stage one of the Boco Rock Wind Farm, providing engineering, procurement and construction services for the $350 million project. [ + ]

Nubian Water Systems, a provider of sustainable water solutions for the urban environment, has been selected as the vendor of choice by 720 Bourke Street’s hydraulic contractor, Richstone Plumbing. [ + ]

Pembroke Real Estate has announced the signing of a lease agreement with Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) to retain its retail presence at the new 20 Martin Place. [ + ]

An environmental law expert has presented a paper claiming New Zealand’s waste policies are stuck in the 19th century. [ + ]

Sydney Water has received the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (NCCARF) Climate Adaptation Champion Award in the Business category, recognising the company as a national leader in preparing for climate change and variability. [ + ]

Lend Lease’s Isabella Gardens in Canberra has become the first retirement living village in Australia to achieve the Gold Livable Housing Design Quality Mark from Livable Housing Australia (LHA). [ + ]

Researchers at independent think tank Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE) have found that the government has underestimated the profits of its Melbourne-Brisbane high-speed rail (HSR) plan by $190 billion - enough to repay the capital cost of the network. [ + ]

The Australian Cleantech Competition has whittled down this year’s 150 entrants to 30 semifinalists, ranging from start-ups through to listed companies that have raised tens of millions of dollars. [ + ]

Simons Green Energy will design and install a 100 kW natura-gas-fired cogeneration system for Hornsby Council’s new aquatic centre, currently under construction. [ + ]

Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) has registered its Property Development Master Plan to achieve a Green Star - Communities PILOT rating: an independent sustainability certification of a community-level project. If it succeeds, the airport will be considered the most sustainable in Australia. [ + ]

Wave-energy technology company Ocean Power Technologies Australasia (OPTA) and its subsidiary, Victorian Wave Partners (VWP), have engaged Victorian company Professional Diving Services (PDS) to conduct a detailed seabed survey for the location of VWP’s proposed wave power station off the coast of Portland, Victoria. [ + ]