Department of the Environment and Heritage Annual Report 2003-04
Department of the Environment and Heritage, 2004
ISSN 1441 9335
Management and accountability (continued)
Assets management
Fixed assets represent 90 per cent of the Department's total net assets. The majority of these are managed by the Department's Australian Antarctic Division.
In June 2004, the Australian Antarctic Division successfully completed a significant refurbishment and construction programme at its facilities in Kingston, Tasmania. The project included substantial new science facilities, a world leading krill aquarium and herbarium, improved workshop facilities, and more efficient workspaces for administrative and corporate functions. The project was completed ahead of time and within budget.
Major asset procurement in 2003-04 included the completion of the fitout of the Communication Centre in the John Gorton Building and an upgrade of the current Financial Management Information System.
The Department successfully converted the disused underground Communications Centre of the John Gorton Building to A-Grade office space for the Australian Greenhouse Office. The project resulted in a high quality working environment that has set new performance benchmarks for environmental performance and efficiency in energy consumption. Environmentally sustainable processes were integrated into the design concept and continue in the ongoing operation and management of the facility.
The Department began preparing a capital plan to address the significant long-term capital budget issues surrounding its current asset base. Among other things, this includes how to manage the replacement of existing assets and purchase of new assets.
In addition, the Department again put its policies into practice by maintaining the accreditation of its Environmental Management System to the ISO14001 international standard. An independent audit of the Environmental Management System recommended ways in which the Department can further improve performance. See also the last section of Appendix 4.
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