Category:

Tweed Water Alliance. Update.

The new water regulator (Natural Resource Access Regulator) is now handling Tweed Water Alliance’s complaints to the Department of Water. They have asked the Office of Water for the metering records – they’re going to find out soon enough that they don’t exist. They’ll then have to get documents from the operators and with any luck insist that all commercial bores have meters.

Tweed Water Alliance continue to track any ongoing breaches at Bilambil, Kunghur, Nobbys Creek and Kynnumboon – let Tweed Water Alliance know if you see any activity that isn’t permitted – all of it will be recorded and reported.

Here’s what they’re allowed:

• Urliup Road: 1 truck load per day, 7 days per week read more

Share

Mayor Katie Milne has a Climate Emergency Declaration Motion on the Council Agenda ! Thursday 19th

7 [NOM-Cr K Milne] Climate Emergency Declaration

NOTICE OF MOTION:

Councillor K Milne moves that Council:

1. Declares that we are in a state of climate emergency that requires urgent action by all levels of government, including by local councils.

2. Notes that on 14 August 2019 Council’s Youth Advisory Committee proposed that Youth Council, as a group, recommend that Council declare a ‘Climate Crisis’. As this proposal was made during an informal session of the meeting such a recommendation could not be made. All members of the committee asked that this be noted with consideration being given to presenting at a future Community Access meeting.

3. Notes that our young people have the most at stake as they are the ones that will face the worst impacts of climate change if this is not addressed rapidly and effectively. read more

Share

Press Release: “Students’ Strike for Climate” Rally, 20/Sep/19

There is to be a world-wide Global “Students’ Strike for Climate” (“SS4C”) on Friday, 20th September.

Tweed Shire residents are requested to support this world-wide action by attending a rally at Pottsville, at 11 am that day.

The global SS4C movement was started by Greta Thunberg, a Swedish school student, now an international celebrity.

The demands of the Strikers in Australia are as follows:

1. No new coal, oil and gas projects, including the Adani mine. 2. 100% renewable energy generation and exports by 2030. 3. Fund a just transition & job creation for fossil-fuel industry workers and communities.

It is envisaged that adults will join this strike, which is already supported by some businesses and trade unions.

Here is what the students have to say:

We are in the thick of the climate crisis.  Yet our Government wants to open the floodgates to new coal, oil and gas projects that put all of us at risk. read more

Share

NEFA Rally in Braemar State Forest, 10 am Sunday 15 September to protest the intent to log some of the best Koala habitat known on State Forests

The rally is being held at the Rappville turnoff from the Summerland Way, 24 km south of Casino.

The North East Forest Alliance has welcomed the postponement of logging of core Koala habitat in Braemar State Forest as an opportunity for the community to increase pressure on the NSW Government to protect extant populations of Koalas.

“We hope our rally on Sunday sends a strong message to the Government that this community does not want to see our best Koala habitat on public lands devastated, even though the new logging rules allow it”, NEFA spokesperson Dailan Pugh said.

“This logging delay gives the community more time to speak up for Koalas and convince the NSW Government that they need to protect core Koala habitat to stop their extinction read more

Share

TSC Planning proposal to prohibit new water bottling facilities in the Tweed.

Have your say before 4pm Tuesday 17 September.

In response to community concern, Council is proposing to remove a clause in the Tweed Local Environmental Plan 2014 that enables Water Bottling Facilities in the RU2 Zone. Existing water bottling facilities will remain permitted on the land where they are currently located.

Have your say before 4pm Tuesday 17 September.

Link to TSC: Planning proposal to prohibit new water bottling facilities in the Tweed.

Share

WATER MINING, Please make a submission to council by 17 September.

Email: TSC@tweed.nsw.gov.au

Subject: Draft Planning Proposal PP18/0004

Main points to make (in your ow words):

>  Water belongs to the community and should not be used for private profit.

>  Given concerns over negative environmental impacts of water extraction, the precautionary principal should be applied.

>  With more and more heavy vehicles transporting extracted water on our roads, residents’ safety and damage to the local road network are both serious concerns. These truck movements are also incompatible with the tranquil ambience and eco-tourism of Tweed villages. *

>  This water mining raises concerns over the new massive stream of environmentally harmful single-use plastics used for bottling. read more

Share

‘GLOBAL CLIMATE STRIKE’ (SS4C) – 20th September Rally At Pottsville Beach

School students around the world are taking the day off to join in a ‘Global Climate Strike’ three days before the United Nations Emergency Climate Summit.


There will be a ‘Global Climate Strike’ rally  in the Tweed Shire at Ambrose Brown Park  on the Tweed Coast Road Pottsville Beach at 11am on Friday, 20 September 2019.


This is one of many strikes which have been initiated by the student Greta Thunberg of Sweden to demonstrate to governments that people are demanding effective action on climate change.


Students are inviting everyone in Tweed  Shire and beyond, hoping for a large number of people to attend to really make an impact.
Ambrose Brown Park is on the Surfside busline public transport bus route 603 which runs between Tweed and Pottsville. read more

Share

Invitation to Tweed Water Alliance mailing list

You may want to get on the mailing list of the Tweed Water Alliance. Here’s an invitation from them:

Re: Stop Tweed Water Mining

You may want to stay informed, please pull up our website (https://tweedwateralliance.org) and sign up to our emailing list. Scroll down to the bottom and you’ll find the link. On a computer it’s in the right hand side panel.

~~~
Share

The CEC ‘Ecological Arts Merit Award’ and “If this, …”

The inaugural Caldera Environment Centre ‘Ecological Arts Merit Award’ has been awarded to the 1 minute duration video information unit: “If this, ….”.

“If this, … ” is an awardee of The Caldera Environment Centre ‘Ecological Arts Merit Award’.

The Caldera Environment Centre.

.

.

Share

2019 NSW Threatened Species Children’s Art Competition

Open for entries between June 3 and August 2, so now’s a great time for your children to get started on their artworks! Children from 5-12 years old in NSW can participate.

We invite children to choose a threatened native species, then create a drawing or painting of it with an accompanying short explanation of their work. The rules have changed a bit this year, so that children from NSW can pick any threatened Australian native species.

Seventy finalists will be chosen for a two-week exhibition in Sydney, with winners announced at Parliament House Sydney on September 6. 

We will offer some fantastic prizes for winners and runners-up in different age categories: 5-7 year olds, 8-10 year olds, 11-12 year olds; and special prizes including  Most Unusual Entry, Best Plant Entry, Best Group Work Entry and Best Written Explanation. There will be two additional new prize categories this year –  Best Local Species Entry; and an All Abilities category for children with special needs. read more

Share

Biosecurity Forum

Lismore Showgrounds.  9.00am (cuppa) – 2.30pm Wednesday 12th June 2019.     

Includes a free lunch.  RSVP for catering: 6623 3847 by 31st May

ALL WELCOME

  • Regenerative agriculture -Southern Cross University
  • Animal Biosecurity -Local Land Services
  • Crazy Yellow Ants- Local Land Services
  • Red Imported Fire Ants-Local Land Services
  • Wild dog baiting program-Local Land Services
  • Wild dog control -TRACS
  • Soil trooper update -Biological Solutions
  • Drone spraying display- Agflight
  • Biological control options-NSW Department of Primary Industries
  • Rangers Projects -Ngulingah Aboriginal Land Council
  • Tropical Soda Apple-Rous County Council

Program here

Share

Changes to KPoM for Kings Forest Approved

The Independent Planning Commission has approved changes to the koala management plan for a 4500-lot residential development on the state’s far north coast.

Property 28 Pty Ltd has sought to implement a new Koala Plan of Management (KPoM) and amend the
conditions of approval for its Kings Forest Residential Subdivision about 15km south of Tweed Heads.

The proposed changes include:
• reducing to eight hectares the amount of koala habitat to be cleared on the development site
• changing a condition of approval to require the planting of 27ha of koala food trees in Cudgen
Nature Reserve or another approved location
• increasing the width of the east-west wildlife corridor from 50m to 100m
• increasing the proposed on-site offsets from 54.71 to 62.51 ha
• increasing the total number of koala food trees from 20,578 to 76,411 and increasing the
proportion of koala habitat from 74% to 95%, and
• amending the fencing details and providing seven koala culvert crossings and one “cattle grid”
to manage koala movements across the site.

The Department of Planning & Environment referred the matter to the Commission after receiving
objections from Tweed Shire Council and members of the local community.

A Panel of three Commissioners – Mr Ross Carter (Panel Chair), Professor Richard Mackay AM and Ms
Catherine Hird – was appointed to determine the case.

The Commissioners met with the Applicant, Department and Council and inspected the site and
surrounding locality.

They also held a public meeting at Kingscliff in March this year to listen to the community’s views.
Concerns raised by the local community centred around the impacts of the development on the region’s
diminishing koala population and koala habitat.

Following careful consideration of all the evidence and weighing the community’s views, the Commission
has today (Wednesday 8 May 2019) conditionally approved the new KPoM, as well as changes to the
original conditions of consent.

In its Statement of Reasons for Decision, the Commission stated it has “considered representations,
advice and comments provided by government agencies and the community and found that the
Application, as modified, is generally consistent with the ESD principles, the Objects of the Act, and is in
the public interest because it:

• maintains the quantum of offsets required under the Project Approval;
• will ensure that koala connectivity is maintained and that suitable protection measures are in
place during construction activities; and
• will result in a positive ecological outcome for koala and other wildlife.”
In making its determination, the Commission concluded:
• the proposed quantum of offsets in the revised KPOM will adequately compensate for the loss
of koala habitat,
• the delivery of additional 27ha of offsets is a critical component of the koala offset package and
the current obligation to physically plant out 27ha of koala food trees should be maintained,
• offsets need to be secured and planting needs to occur prior to construction certificate,
• offsets related to koala habitat or food trees should be delivered ahead of clearing works to
ensure suitable offsets and habitat linkages are created and maintained during the construction
phase of the Project,
• allowance should be made for the Proponent to undertake additional offset planting within the
Kings Forest Development Site,
• off-set obligations discharged via a payment to Biodiversity Conservation Trust is not
permissible,
• the east-west wildlife corridor should be provided to its full extent and delivered earlier as part
of Stage 2 to ensure connectivity for koalas and other wildlife across the Project Site,
• it is impractical to require underpasses to be installed prior to bulk earthworks and that
provision of underpasses can be delayed as it will result in a positive outcome by ensuring
temporary and/or permanent fencing is in place to protect koalas and other wildlife prior to the
commencement of works, provided an adaptive management approach is undertaken to ensure
koala connectivity at all times, outside of daytime construction activity,
• the golf course should function as an ecological buffer and the fencing should separate the golf
course from the adjacent urban areas,
• performance indicators should be framed in terms of 90% planting survival rates during
‘establishment’ period and 80% canopy cover during the ‘maintenance’ period, and that canopy
species should be planted at 3m spacings,
• conditioning of a bond or bank guarantee relating to the reduction of koalas on site is
unreasonable as it may not be possible to attribute a wider decline in koala numbers to the
development, and
• the application is in the public interest

The Commission’s full Statement of Reasons for Decision is available here:
https://www.ipcn.nsw.gov.au/projects/2018/12/modification-to-kings-forest-residentialsubdivision-koala-plan-of-management

NSW Government Independent Planning Commission – Media Release 8 May 2019

 

Share

Glossy Black Cockatoo Workshop – Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary

Glossy Black-Cockatoo Birding day is on 19th May 2019 organised by Tweed Shire Council’s Marama Hopkins and local ecologist, Kim Stephan.

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is offering a FREE workshop this Sunday 5th May, 10.30am including lunch.

The workshop will prepare you for the Birding Day. You will get a chance to view the Glossy Black Cockatoos. This is a citizen science based project and ideal for people who are interested in birding or birds to help monitor the species in the Tweed Shire. This will also help raise community interest in this threatened species. There are 25 places available.

Book here https://www.trybooking.com/BCEUN or contact Marama on 02 6670 2787 or Kim on 0418692442.

Meet Marama at 10.30 at the main entry gate. You don’t have to do the birding day, but can just come along to the workshop.

The approximate schedule for the 3hr visit would be:

ITINERARY: Glossy Black-Cockatoo information session

10.30am – Meet at the main entrance to gain entry for a 10.45 start at the small seminar room read more

Share

Kings Forest Koalas – submissions due 19 March

Final Opportunity for the Community to have a say in the Koala Plan of Management regarding our Endangered Tweed Coast Koalas in Kings Forest.

Here is a letter developed by Team Koala that can be completed by interested supporters and most importantly personalised by adding something under item 4.

Deadline for submissions is 5pm Tuesday 19th March by email to ipcn@ipcn.nsw.gov.au or via the Independent Planning Commission website

As you are likely aware, there is a Koala Corridor in Kings Forest and the development was approved in 2010 with many conditions to primarily protect the endangered Koala colony in Kings Forest.

Since 2010, there have been many attempted changes, we are now seeking comment and support with the Fourth Modification. The community has placed its confidence and support in Team Koala each and every time to voice community sentiment letting the government know they and we, remain focused on the one main thing Protecting Tweed Coast Koalas. By ensuring an adequate KPOM (Koala Plan of Management) is in place before any works commence, the one main thing, Protecting Tweed Coast Koalas will be achieved. read more

Share

The Bentley Effect

Thursday 21 February, 6.00 pm for 6.30 start.  Crystal Creek Hall.  

Share

Tweed Byron Hinterland Trails

National Parks and Wildlife Service is seeking feedback on changes to the plan of management for Whian Whian State Conservation Area and Tweed Caldera Parks and Reserves to enable development of a multi-day walking track network and supporting visitor facilities linking Mount Jerusalem National Park with Nightcap National Park  and Whian Whian State Conservation Area.

More information and how to give your feedback at https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/topics/parks-reserves-and-protected-areas/park-management/community-engagement/tweed-byron-hinterland-trails

Have your say by 11 March 2019.

Share

Confluence

A gathering about the serious business of water.  

Saturday, 2 March, Uki Hall, 2pm – 5pm

We are assembling the people from our Northern Rivers area, particularly in the State electoral seats of Lismore and Tweed, to:

  • Respond to the February 1 report from the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer on the sustainability of water mining for the bottling industry.
  • Hear from the State election candidates from Alstonville to the border about their policy on water extraction. There will be a Q&A session.
  • Ensure the water extraction industry remains under close scrutiny.
  • Take action to ensure the issue is firmly on the state electoral agenda.

Event flyer

And a get together afterwards.  Details at https://events.humanitix.com.au/confluence

 

Share

NSW Koala Strategy – “ineffective, inadequate and expensive”

WWF Media Release:
A new report has found that the New South Wales government’s Koala Strategy is “ineffective, inadequate and expensive” and ignores the main cause of koala deaths – the destruction of habitat.

The joint report by WWF-Australia, the National Parks Association of NSW and the North East Forest Alliance has found numerous failings in the Government’s $45-million, which is aimed at halting the unprecedented decline in koalas in NSW.

The Strategy will not prevent the projected extinction of koalas, which WWF has found could be as early as 2050.

Of 11 recommendations made by the NSW Chief Scientist to save koalas, the report finds that only two were fully addressed.  Five recommendations were partially addressed, two were poorly addressed, and two were not addressed.

“The primary failing of the NSW Koala Strategy is that it ignores changes to legislation in 2017 that made it legal to clear 99% of the state’s koala habitat,” said the report’s lead author, WWF-Australia conservationist Dr Stuart Blanch.

The NSW Government has allocated $20 million to buy up 5,000 hectares of koala habitat, but is simultaneously enabling the bulldozing of seven million hectares of koala habitat across the state.

“Improving legislation to protect mature forests and woodlands is the cheapest and most effective way to immediately halt the unprecedented decline of koalas,” Dr Blanch said.

“Some elements of the NSW Koala Strategy appear to be misleading. For example, the Strategy claims to create 12 ‘new reserves’ for koalas, but 10 of these are already protected state forest.”

The strategy ignores recommendations by koala experts to establish the 175,000-hectare Great Koala National Park on the NSW mid north coast, new national parks for the last remaining koala populations in southwest and western Sydney, or new national parks in other areas of known koala significance.

There are estimated to be less than 20,000 koalas in NSW, down from the estimated millions two hundred years ago.  NSW has lost 1 in 4 koalas in the last 20 years, primarily due to habitat loss.
=&0=&
Media enquiries: 0428 391 735

David Crisante
Media Relations Manager
WWF-Australia
Level 1, 1-3 Smail Street, Ultimo NSW 2007
t: 02 8228 6846 |  m: 0428 391 735 |

Share

Snap #StopAdani Rally: Brisbane next Saturday

With the news this week that Adani has arranged to fund=&0=&t’s critical that we =&1=& to the mine over the coming weeks, especially in the lead up to Labor’s national conference.

We’re holding snap marches in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne next Saturday 8th December to “March for our future & #StopAdani.” read more

Share