In October 1969, I wrote to Council suggesting that the Academy might be able to act as a catalyst to promote the preparation of reports on the Australian environmental situation, similar to some produced at that time by the US National Academy of Sciences. In response, Council set up a Standing Committee on the Environment and a National Committee on the Environment. I was a member of both Committees (1970–78 and 1979–82 respectively). For several years, the Standing Committee was very active in establishing working groups and ad hoc committees that prepared reports on many environmental problems. Later, it was difficult to maintain the impetus, because the more obvious problems (at that time) had been covered by either the Committee's activities or governmental action.

Following its successful working symposia on the Murray River (Frith and Sawer, 1974), the Consultative Committee of the three learned academies (Humanities, Science and Social Sciences; the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering was not established until 1976) sought another project that would require and promote collaboration between them and the various disciplines that they encompass. The idea of looking at problems of environmental change in some long-occupied part of Australia won support and it was decided to focus on Botany Bay because of its historic associations. After discussion by the Councils of the three Academies, with the active participation of Noel Butlin, Professor of Economic History in the ANU, a Botany Bay Project Committee, of which I was elected Chairman, was established with four members of each Academy.

Discussions between the President (Bob Robertson) and Biological Secretary (Bob Walsh) of the Academy of Science and the Minister for Environment Control of the New South Wales government (Mr J. G. Beale) secured State government support and, in 1972, discussions between ministers of the newly elected Whitlam government and representatives of the three Academies secured a promise of $1 million over five years. A Ministerial Policy Committee was set up and attended by Professors Butlin, Hancock and me, to oversee financial matters and the appointment of a Director. Butlin was persuaded to apply, was appointed to the position in January 1974, and moved to an office in the University of New South Wales in April.

An early activity of the Project Committee was to seek proposals relevant to the Project from staff of the ANU and universities located in Sydney. 18 projects, each involving unpaid services and contracts, were approved, and over time produced a great deal of useful information. Between April 1974 and January 1975, five academics—whose fields of expertise covered chemical engineering, economics, demography, geography, microbiology, political history and water engineering—and three research assistants were appointed.

However, by October 1974, Butlin resigned because of difficulties in dealings with the New South Wales government and, to a lesser extent, with the Commonwealth government. After much discussion, the project was terminated, with only $380,027 of the $1 million Commonwealth grant spent. Butlin continued working on the project within the Research School of Social Sciences until 1978 and a substantial number of books and papers were produced (Botany Bay Project, 1972–78).