Tweed Shire Council – Conservation Strategy: Help shape the future of the Tweed’s natural environment. Have your say until the 19th of October.

A draft of the Tweed Shire Council Conservation Strategy is now available for review. “The Conservation Strategy will guide Tweed Shire Council’s actions to protect, improve, collaborate and adapt to conserve the Tweed’s natural environment for future years to come. “Help shape the future of the Tweed’s natural environment by providing feedback on the draft…
Climate Changers film screening & Q&A Regent Theatre Murwillumbah, Sep 17th

The film ‘Climate Changers’ follows Australian scientist and conservationist Tim Flannery in his global search for leadership on climate change. Watch the trailer here (link) “The screening is part of a national event on September 17th, which will see audiences at more than 30 cinemas across the country watch the film together and join a…
TSC asks your input to the Coast and Estuaries Coastal Management Program, comment until 31st October
CEC Membership Application

To apply for membership of the Caldera Environment Centre Association: 1. Complete the application form below (note: the form is not an online form, eg download, modify, send to caldera@calderaenvironmentcentre.org). 2. Bank transfer the membership fee (note: use your name in the reference field for the payment). Single $10, Family $15, Under 21yrs $5. Payment…
Zombie Developments: Communities Organise to Stop Developments Approved Decades Ago

Many of these developments were approved decades ago, avoiding environmental, cultural heritage and other impact assessments that are required today. “Communities right along the length of the NSW coast are fighting to protect sensitive coastal bushland and villages from dozens of inappropriate developments that will change our beautiful coast forever if allowed to go ahead.…
Bob Brown: “The Logging Must End.”
CEC Facebook
! Caravan Park proposed on Pottsville Koala habitat ! Submit your Objection by Wednesday 16th August

Development Application no. DA23/0302 (112 sites, reception, managers residence and pool). A development application has been lodged by Design Build Instruct Pty Ltd seeking development consent for a caravan park (112 long term sites), reception, managers residence and pool at Lot 2 DP 815370; No. 1126 Pottsville Road, Pottsville. Tweed Shire Council is the consent…
What is “ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY”?

Sustainability is … CONTINUABILITY, the ability of something to sustain, to continue. The Environment is … the whole of NATURE, the Ecology, the systems of inter-related, inter-dependent lifeforms on this planet. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY IS THE ABILITY OF NATURE TO CONTINUE. Nature organically sustains itself through time, naturally regenerating and continuing to exist. For hundreds of…
The Wollumbin Caldera

The Wollumbin Caldera is one of the three top biodiversity hotspots in Australia. It covers an area of approximately 1500 sq km and supports around 1250 types of plants. The Caldera includes a high diversity of ecosystem types because it is in an area where temperate and sub-tropical bio-geographic areas, both terrestrial and marine, converge. …
UPDATE: EDO / NEFA Legal Action to Stop Myrtle and Braemar State Forests Logging

EDO: “… a quick update on our case to stop logging operations in vital koala habitat in north-east NSW and share some positive news. On Wednesday 2 August, EDO lawyers went to the NSW Land and Environment Court, seeking an urgent injunction to stop logging in Myrtle and Braemar state forests. Our client, the North…
Useful Links:
… Nimbin Environment Centre … North East Forest Alliance, NEFA … Nature Conservation Council of NSW, NCC … Northern Rivers Guardiansn, NRG: [Formally the No Rally Group] … Kyogle Action Group, KAG … Caldera Environment Centre
NEFA: Logging suspended in Myrtle and Braemar State Forests until court case

“The North East Forest Alliance has taken the NSW Forestry Corporation to court in an effort to save the homes of Koalas, and 23 other threatened species, including the Southern Greater Glider, Yellow-bellied Glider, Rufous Bettong, Masked Owl and Squirrel Glider. NEFA has engaged the Environmental Defenders Office to commence legal proceedings in the NSW…
Rally at MP Justine Eliot’s Office for Native Forests, 11 August
Terri Nicholson – Caldera Singer-Songwriter

Community member, environmental activist, a singer/songwriter, a natural health practitioner/healer, a deep ecologist. “Growing up in an activist family of rainforest lovers … … I thrive on living close to the land, growing my own food, being able to sink my feet in the grass every day … … I stand for environmental sustainability and…
World Environment Day Festival 2023

Knox Park Murwillumbah, Sunday July 16th. Hosted by the Caldera Environment Centre in conjunction with community environmental groups from around the region. The event gives local environmental organisations an arena to bring attention to their issues and their actions, plus Guest Speakers, plus performance entertainment. Our event promotes sustainability and the protection of the natural…
Tweed Shire Council Sponsors the Caldera World Environment Day Festival, Knox Park Murwillumbah, 16th July!

Historically and again this year the Tweed Shire Council, under the Community Events Grants Scheme, has Sponsored the Caldera World Environment Day Festival, Knox Park Murwillumbah. This year (16th July 2023) the Caldera Environment Centre again invite people from not only the Tweed Caldera but also from the surrounding regions, Kyogle Shire, Byron Shire and…
Renew Fest’s 24hr Vigil for Grief, for Love, for the Earth [!]

Renew Fest’s 24hr Vigil for Grief, 4pm Saturday to 4pm Sunday 29th-30th July 2023, Fig Tree Grove, Mullumbimby Showground. This event is a free open-air cathedral, arts-infused, quiet contemplative space to honour and give respect to personal and collective grief and all that grief brings to the fore to feel… to heal… to love… and to…
Deep Ecology Workshop
HISTORIC PROTEST ACROSS COFFS COAST NATIVE FORESTS

Two HSC students have locked themselves to a cement filled barrel and a third HSC student has locked on to logging machinery to prevent logging operations in Orara East State Forest. A few kilometres away in Boambee State Forest two grandmothers have halted logging machinery by locking themselves to the arm of a harvester. A tree-climber has…
Green drinks and discussion – supporting the CEC

The Stone & Wood Brewery in Byron Bay hosted the July 30th Green drinks and discussion event. This is a bi-monthly social events to bring together like-minded people to have conversations about environmental and social justice issues, a chance to network together to see how we can all be part of the solution to the…
NEFA News: 70% support ban logging of native forests, 22% don’t know and just 8% support logging

nefanews: A new poll of 4,000 Australians shows that most want logging of native forests to stop. Australians were supportive of introducing new policies that could help protect biodiversity. The vast majority of people (80% or higher) support or strongly support: restoring water to wetlands and rivers increasing fines for people caught smuggling illegal wildlife…
ABC: NSW EPA staff lack basic equipment for forestry inspections, report finds
Bob Brown Foundation: Nationwide Days of Action to Stop Native Forest Logging in Australia

BBF: “Over the past few weeks, we have witnessed the emergence of an incredible opportunity to protect native forests nationally. Victoria is fast-tracking an end to native forest logging before 2024. We will use this momentum to build towards an end to native forest logging nationwide, and we need you with us. We have never been at…
End Native Forest Logging Now
FLASHBACK: North East Forest Alliance (NEFA) Campaigner, Susie Russell – Arrested!

Long-time forest campaigner and NEFA spokesperson, Susie Russell, was arrested today at Bulga State Forest and given bail conditions prohibiting her from entering into any part of the Bulga Forest. Report by SEAN O’SHANNESSY: The arrest came as the Save Bulga Forest community ramped up their campaign of civil disobedience calling for an end to…
FLYWAYS – The Untold Journey of Migratory Shorebirds, The Regent Theatre, Murwillumbah, SUN June 18, 5:45pm

“Reaching out to let you know of the beautiful new documentary FLYWAYS – The Untold Journey of Migratory Shorebirds, from Award-Winning Australian filmmaker Randall Wood. “FLYWAYS is now touring Australia for a limited season and is playing at The Regent, Murwillumbah, on SUN June 18 @ 5:45pm. Watch the trailer on bit.ly/FLYWAYS_film_trailer. “FLYWAYSexplores the extraordinary journey of…
The STONE & WOODS all of June Promotion of the Caldera World Environment Day Festival

The Caldera Environment Centre World Environment Day Festival is the Stone & Woods Tasting Room Community Grants Recipient for the month of June ! [!!!] $1 per litre of beer sold at the Byron brewery Tasting Room over the entire month of June will go to the Caldera World Environment Day Festival, Knox Murwillumbah, Sunday…
NCC: Don’t let them log the Great Koala National Park

NCC: “You might have heard that after a decade of community pressure the new Labor government committed to establishing the Great Koala National Park (GKNP). This is great news! [However, … ] The GKNP was developed by leading scientists, ecologists and local environmental groups, who identified the most important areas of koala habitat in NSW. All…
Plastic is a forever molecule

Airborne plastic pollution ‘spiralling around the globe’, study finds. Microplastics ‘significantly contaminating the air’, scientists warn. We are ingesting up to a credit card amount of plastic each week (University of Newcastle). NIST Study Shows Everyday Plastic Products Release Trillions of Microscopic Particles Into Water. Around 90% of all river-borne plastic that ends up in…
Win for native forests in Victoria!

EDO: “Great news for forests and wildlife! This week the Victorian Government announced it will end native forest logging in the State by the end of this year. This is a crucial win for nature and people. Native forests are vital habitat for threatened wildlife, they clean the air we breathe, and are critical…
Kinship Festival, Knox Park Sunday 27th May
Still the best Environmental Bookshop in the Northern Rivers.
Murwillumbah Facing Up: How do we live in the midst of the climate and ecological crisis?

Regent Theatre with Tim Hollo, AYCC Krysta & DirtGirl: Systems Change for Planetary Survival. Notes from the event (Brian). Tim – “Abandon hope that the current system can save us.” – “… it must be the end of the world as we know it.” – The cycle of everything is growth, conservation of form, collapse, reorganisation.” …
Historic Legacy Developments
A current Council meeting agenda item is the already approved though not acted upon historical Legacy Development Approvals which would not meet today’s DA requirements, and if anything can be done to bring legacy developments consents into line with current development standards. From the TSC Meeting May 18 Agenda: “The NSW Planning system has created…
Tweed Conservation Zone Review

TS Council are inviting landowners and the community to provide their feedback on the draft Planning Proposal PP23/0001 which is the first in a series of planning proposals that will apply conservation zones across the whole of the Tweed. It proposes to amend the Tweed Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 2014 by adding in the planning controls…
The easiest way to reduce net emissions by 2030 is that we “reduce the conversion of forests and other ecosystems.” (IPCC)
Time to stop Logging Koalas to Extinction

NEFA MEDIA RELEASE: The North East Forest Alliance is calling on people to take action to protect one of the most important Koala habitats on the Richmond River Lowlands in response to the Forestry Corporation commencing logging in Braemar State Forest (south of Casino). Four days after the election of the Minns Government the Forestry…
Youth Tweed Event
NEFA LEAF May 2023

The Latest Edition of the North East Forest Alliance NEFA LEAF news update. The most informative publication of what’s going on with native forest protection in our area. NEFA: “It’s been a huge start to the year with communities rising up to protect what’s left of our precious native forests. Check out our events below…
Gondwana Going, Going…Gone?

The David Bradbury video, it’s about the fight to protect NSW native forests from logging, it’s about NEFA et al. From Bulga to Gibberagee. “For activists and forest lovers to spread the word about how NSW state forests (and forests throughout Australia) are being so over-logged and trashed by the NSW Forestry Corporation and private…
Submissions were made to the Review of the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act.
Points the National Parks Association of NSW petitioned for included asking for stronger laws to protect nature in NSW: “We need laws that actually protected the most precious species, habitats and landscapes, not discredited offset schemes that end up paying blood money to government agencies instead of protecting nature. Real laws mean a red line,…
Regent Movie: The Message of the Lyrebird

Tweed Landcare is hosting a screening of the award-winning film The Message of the Lyrebird. Lyrebirds hold the history of the forest in their song… but are they now singing the sad story of human encroachment? Set in a natural wonderland where an exquisite forest faery has been performing astonishing song and dance routines for 18…
Singleton Redbank Native Forest Biomass power station news
Hello [from AFCA]. Just letting you know that [we] spoke to Singleton Council yesterday re Verdant and Redbank. The Council did not know about the removal of NF biomass as an eligible source of renewable energy from the RE Act regs so I sent them the attached announcement from Bowen. Verdant has not submitted a new…
Bellingen Environment Centre calls on an immediate prohibition of logging in the Great Koala Nation Park area

As the originator of the GKNP concept BEC wants to see urgent permanent protection of the proposed Park. The recent state election shows the public does not support more of the National Party’s koala wars. We cannot wait for Labor’s $80 million consultation process before the implement the GKNP. We need a prohibition implemented now.…
Echo: “Why is Tweed Council’s report on developers habitat destruction in Tweed Heads confidential?”

“Residents are distressed by the clearing for the development on Triga street, on the tidal estuary of Cobaki Creek. The State and Federal governments have both said that there would be no future building on floodplains, yet they have not taken any action to delay currently approved and yet-to-be-built development on floodplains. The recent destruction…
Protected: CEC WED 2024 Event, TSC Sponsorship:
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
The Murwillumbah Regent Cinema: The Giants – Bob Brown and the Forests, Movie Release Thursday April 20th, and three weekends therafter.

At the Murwillumbah Regent Cinema, … “The Extraordinary life of Bob Brown intertwined with the story of Australia’s ancient trees. “… biopic of environmentalist Bob Brown, … The film goes from Bob’s story to the trees’ story – revealing just how closely intertwined they are. “Australia has one of the highest rates of deforestation in…
Nesting Boxes for Wildlife – Workshop

Conservation Volunteers Australia would like to invite you to their next event in the Tweed Shire about Nest boxes happening on May 25 in Uki. Come along on May 25 and learn about nest box installation with Nick from Sentinel Tree Care. This free event is an introduction to all things nest boxes. Tree hollows…
nefanews: [Final?] Forest Media 31 (April 2023)

Hi, I [Dailan] started doing regular media summaries in late 2019. The format has changed over time. My coverage significantly improved when NCC gave me access to their daily media monitoring results – I thank them for it. I find it interesting to keep up with what’s happening in NSW and around the world, though…
Tweed Landcare newsletter
“They’re STILL woodchipping wildlife habitat”

NSW is blessed with an amazing diversity of forests. These are home to thousands of amazing plants and animals found nowhere else on earth. We have rainforests that have survived since Gondwana and tall eucalypt forests that contain some of the tallest trees in the world. Please watch the 1 minute video below: “They’re STILL woodchipping wildlife…
NEFA: Forest News – March

New South Wales Forest protectors walked into closed forests in Yarratt SF, and Doubleduke SF, claiming they have been closed to the public by the Forestry Corporation to hide the destruction that is occurring at taxpayer expense. Brooman State Forest Conservation Group and Friends of the Forest (Mogo), Knitting Nannas in the M.U.D (Milton Ulladulla…
The Seeding – Caldera Music
The Caldera Environment Centre were at the local markets, 15th & 16th April
Deep Ecology with John Seed, an experiential deep ecology workshop.

Deep Ecology with John Seed, weekend 14th – 16th, followed by optional stay-over: “Human identity exists at the intersection of the ancient cycles of air, water and soil. In spite of the pervasive illusion of separation, in reality no separation is possible between nature and ourselves.“ … community therapies “healing our relations to the…
Caldera Music – Manoa

Caldera Music is a modest platform for the promotion and encouragement of Environmental and Social Justice Music by musicians of the Caldera. “Manoa … completed his PhD in Environmental Education & Ecopsychology and shares his ecologic knowledge and his belief in the healing potential of the natural world through education, workshops and retreats. “Manoa has…
Caldera Music – Lauren
Caldera Music is a platform for the promotion and encouragement of Environmental and Social Justice Music by musicians of the Caldera.
Caldera Music – Murray Kyle
Caldera Music is a platform for the promotion and encouragement of Environmental and Social Justice Music by musicians of the Caldera.
CEC Movie Club – ‘ALBATROSS, A Love Story’

The movie ALBATROSS, a film by Chris Jordan. “… a poetic guided tour into the depths of your own spirit. … a message of life and love for nature. … a visual journey into the heart of an astonishingly symbolic environmental tragedy. The Midway Atoll is home to the largest albatross colony in the world.…
The Joy of Singing – by Wendy Grace
Oops, this page in progress, apologies.
END THE KOALA WARS – TELL GOVERNMENT MEMBERS TO END THE KOALA WARS NOW!

UPDATE: The proposed Bill of the Nationals to further remove protections for native forests has been withdrawn because of community response made the passing of the bill unlikely [a success for forest protection and those who responded to the call for action]. ———- The koala wars are back and we only have days to stop…
Selling out Koalas

UPDATE: The proposed Bill of the Nationals to further remove protections for native forests has been withdrawn because of community response made the passing of the bill unlikely [a success for forest protection and those who responded to the call for action]. [Original] NEFA MEDIA RELEASE: Perrottet’s Private Native Forestry logging bill is an all-out…
NCC > Breaking: The NSW Government just introduced a bill to scrap protections for koala habitat and fast-track logging.

If you thought the news for koalas (and hence forests) couldn’t get any worse read the forwarded email from the Nature Conservation Council. If the NSW Nationals have their way that will be the outcome. They want to relax restrictions on private native forestry and strip Councils from having any say. Our local member Geoff…
Climate Ready Tweed festival 2022
3D printed homes
https://www.studiokite.com/tinyhome Meet Jindi. Studio Kite’s 3D printed tiny home. Jindi is a Yugambeh-Bundjalung word used for nest. The Bundjalung Nation are the custodians of the northern coastal area of NSW. In collaboration with National Parks and Wildlife Services, Studio Kite designed a range of 3D-printed nests for endangered wildlife that were left homeless due to…
NEFA News: Federal Gov’t Falls at First Forest Hurdle
Report by SEAN O’SHANNESSY: North coast conservationists are dismayed, that the Albanese Federal Government have failed to seize the opportunity to exclude wood from native forests being used as a substitute for coal and classed as ‘renewable energy’. A Senate Committee report released this afternoon that investigated potential amendments to the Climate Change legislation, has…
Rally at Wollumbin High School re the proposal to cut down the trees to extend the temporary car park.

The Education Department plans to remove a legacy rainforest planting by students and Bruce Chick at Wollumbin High School. There was a well attended protest onsite on Friday 2nd to advocate for their retention and a different solution found if more space is justified. This urban forest is over 25 years old and shouldn’t be…
Tweed Growth Management and Housing Strategy Survey
Below is the link to the survey and also the Caldera Environment Centre’s priority issues as a guide to help with your survey responses. Closing date is 12th Sept. CEC points – from the perspective of preserving Tweeds internationally significant biodiversity and maintaining the character of local ‘village’ communities as well as preserving productive farmlands. Suggested responses to survey questions: Q on places and types of residential development for…