CQU's Professor David Midmore (pictured below) was an invited speaker for the inaugural meeting of Green Roofs for Healthy Australian Cities, during a conference on Green Roofs for Australia at the Brisbane Technology Park in Brisbane recently (Feb 22-23).

The conference attracted speakers from the US, Canada and most Australian states with presentations on the energy-saving, water-conserving, and biodiversity-promoting benefits of green roofs (roofs that are covered to some degree by vegetation).

Professor Midmore was invited to speak on the possibilities of growing food from the roof, recycling organic wastes from food outlets through vermiculture (worm culture), and through aquaculture and hydroponics, referred to as aquaponics if intimately linked.

The CQU expert spoke of the challenge to match the mineral nutrition requirements of fish with the supply from worms, and of the mineral nutrition requirements of hydroponic vegetables if supplied with aquaculture wastes and worm liquor.

The event was supported by the presence of Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman and the Federal Member for Moreton Gary Hardgrave (the former Minister for Vocational and Technical Training).

Mr Hardgrave has moved a Private Members Bill that the Australian Government recognises the importance of green roofs.

Details of the Bill are at: Page 3581 at http://www.aph.gov.au/house/info/notpaper/rnp153.pdf .