Forestry continue to haemorrhage money

From the North East Forest Alliance, NEFA News: “Forestry Corps have declared a half year normalised earnings loss of $14.9 on their hardwood logging, in part blaming  protests, protection of Koala hubs in the GKNP, the new Greater Glider protocols and having to assess the unique and special wildlife values in plantations. The claimed significance of…

World Environment Day 2025

World Environment Day Festival is back!Sunday 8 June  Come along to this year’s annual World Environment Day festival on Sunday 8 June at Knox Park from 10 am to 3:30 pm to promote sustainability and the protection of the environment. World Environment Day is an internationally celebrated day of environmental awareness and action, and locally…

We Are All Ingesting Plastic

The CEC note the growing awareness of the public to the issue of plastic molecule emissions from plastics, especially from materials undergoing changes in temperature or in direct sunlight. We are all becoming more aware of our unwanted ingestion of these plastic molecules and the retention of these molecules in our bodies. Bioaccumulation of microplastics…

[nefanews]: Axe falls on loggers’ plan to avoid battle over gliders

[Caldera note: A recent court case determined that private people or entities could not take legal action against logging operations carried out in breach of regulations, and that only government entities had that right. The current court case has over-ruled that finding, opening the courts to individuals and groups to pursue legal action against logging…

Welcome to all our members 

Now after two years without a shop front CEC is back in a new Centre and Shop in Murwillumbah. Drop in a check out all our new merchandise, including a great range of books, plants and environmentally sound products. The shop is managed by our volunteers and open week days and Saturday morning. Caldera Activities:…

TSC DCP Review, An Opportunity to Protect Non-Native Trees As Do Other Councils

The revised Development Control Plan, when it soon goes on exhibition for Public comment,  will be an opportunity to lobby for stronger protection of both native and non-native trees.  Greens Councillor Nola Firth comments: “Tweed Shire Council compared to other NSW Councils has scant protection for non-native urban trees.  “Non-natives here in the Tweed are only protected if they have a diameter of more than 80cm at breast height, but…

ReUse: Refill tablet for household cleaning spray containers

Plastic production reduction – don’t buy a new plastic spray bottle of cleaner each time, instead use an empty plastic spray bottle or get a glass spray bottle from us, then add the refill tablet, and then add water. The refill tablets are available at the Caldera Environment Centre and Shop. Not dwelling on the…

“If this, …

A one minute duration information unit about plastic in the environment: “If this, ….”.

NEFA: Koala claims are yet more false information by loggers

“The loggers are once again spreading false information in their attempts to stop the Great Koala National Park (GKNP), this time by claiming that the assessment of Koalas was based upon Koala scat searches when they know it was based upon comprehensive drone surveys that identified actual Koalas. For the GKNP repeated night time drone…

Which Land Sites for Development? The Tweed Shire Council Draft Options Paper for the Growth Management and Housing Strategy: Councillors Request Clarity

The TSC ‘Final Options Paper‘, nominating 69 sites to be proposed for development or further development, was on the agenda of the December ’24 Tweed Shire Council Public Meeting. It was noted by Councillors however that the ‘Final Options’ presented by Council staff has combined several previously separately identified sites, clouding clear identification of environmental and…

Tweed Shire Climate Action Cafés

TSC: “Tweed Shire Council’s Climate Action Cafés are workshops that will bring people together to explore, connect and deepen ideas to reduce the impacts of climate change. We already have a palette of possibilities – now it’s time to prioritise these projects and commit to action. “Choose one of these events to attend: Climate Action…

Dear TSC: 18.1.Hastings Point Wastewater Treatment Plant Performance Upgrade Options Peer Review

Birdlife Northern Rivers: “Dear Councillors, Regarding Hastings Point Wastewater Treatment Plant Performance Upgrade Options Peer Review. Birdwatchers frequent Tweed Shire Wastewater Treatment Plants (Hastings, Banora, Chinderah and Murwillumbah). Birdwatchers often enjoy visiting wastewater treatment plants because they provide a rich and readily available food source for birds due to the nutrient-rich water, attracting a diverse…

NEFA: “Forestry Corporation retrospectively slash timber yields by 28%”

NEFA: “The Forestry Corporation has reduced yields from public native forests in NSW by 28%, though they are only doing so by dramatically reducing the volumes of products they previously claimed to have obtained in each of the past 3 years, according to the North East Forest Alliance. The Forestry Corporation is legally required to…

We’re Back!

The Caldera Environment Centre and Shop are, thankfully, back with a premises in town again. Looking forward to seeing you all again and anew. 2/43 Wollumbin Street, Murwillumbah

Great Koala National Park

Open letter to Premier Minns and the NSW Government January 10, 2025. IT IS PAST TIME FOR THE MINNS GOVERNMENT TO STOP LOGGING THE GREAT KOALA NATIONAL PARK. THEY MUST HONOUR THEIR COMMITMENT TO PROTECT IT. The Minns’ Government was elected on a promise to save Koalas and create the Great Koala National Park, but…

The Ecological Crisis > Plastic Ingestion

We are all becoming more aware of unwanted ingestion of plastic molecules and the retention of these molecules in our bodies. Plastic molecules in their smallest form are peeling away from plastic surfaces, especially from plastics undergoing changes in temperature [eg plasticised cardboard coffee cups, plastic water bottles, plasticised tea bags, …]. Shop now at…

Fridays4Forests

Today at the second weekly Fridays4Forests session, opposite the Murwillumbah post office, three members of the CEC, collected a good number of signed petitions to the premier and local federal member, to stop logging native forests.

Great Koala National park

Why We Need a Great Koala National Park. The countdown is on, the assessments are complete or nearly so, and a decision on the GKNP will be made this year – though might not be announced until next year. So we need a concerted lobbying effort over the next month to maximise the outcome for…

The Windfarm Threat to The Great Dividing Range

The Great Dividing Range is a magnificent series of connected mountain ranges that form the backbone of eastern Australia. Stretching over 3,500 kilometres from the tropical north to the temperate south, this ancient landscape is home to some of the most ecologically significant habitats on Earth. Sadly, this natural wonder is facing severe threats from major…

CEC Movie Club: The Forest

The story of an ecologist with a plan to save the world by restoring the planet’s forests. His original work was hijacked by corporations and politicians with disastrous effect. Now he’s using science to fight back. Includes a segment with Professor David Lindenmayer, author of The Forest Wars, available from the NEW Caldera Environment Center…

Landcare field day

Tweed Landcare invites you to attend a free Landcare field day in focused on balancing property management for cattle and biodiversity conservation.  Presented by North Coast Regional Landcare, Tweed Land Care Inc. and the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust, the session will demonstrate the benefits of balanced land management for farmers. The field day, held on Bundjalung Country, will include…

Highway to Hell: Are we stuck in a Climate Action Cul-de-sac?

With ever-increasing frequency of floods, intense storms and bushfires, we know the climate crisis is accelerating.  We also know that the solutions are with us, the everyday people who hold the power to vote and compel decision-makers to enact the right policies for the health of our planet.   I’m Chels Hood Whithey, Founder of House…