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Kings Forest – proposed modification 

The modification request seeks approval to:

  • Implement a revised Koala Plan of Management (KPOM) which includes changes to the location and quantity of koala habitat offsets within the site;
  • Remove the requirement to plant koala food trees on a 27hectare parcel of land within the Cudgen Nature Reserve;
  • Revise the ‘commencement of works’ definition to provide consistency with the approval issued under sections 130 and 133 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) (EPBC Approval 2012/6328);
  • Revise the locations of the koala fencing and fauna underpasses, and amend the timing for the construction of this infrastructure;
  • Remove the requirement to provide traffic calming devices to manage potential koala movements across the site; and
  • Remove references to the KPOM dated August 2012 and insert references to the revised KPOM.
    • read more

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    Gold Coast Airport ILS

    Gold Coast Airport (GCA) ILS development facilitates provisions for increased runway operational length south. 

    Attached is the final design of the ILS development footprint on the NSW Crown Reserve for Public Recreation/Conservation with construction to commence shortly. The additional element in the footprint on the Reserve immediately adjacent to the GCA’s southern boundary that has never appeared before and perfectly aligns to the runway speaks volumes.

    The final design now confirms there is an additional approx.150m development footprint on the Reserve than required for the ILS. All documentation through the entire ILS process including approval is that the localiser antenna is to be located 300m from runway 14 end. Runway 14 is 2,342m with a Runway End Safety Area (RESA) and runway strip of approx. 150m beyond runway 14 end. The additional development footprint (clearing/earthworks) on the Reserve allows for the increase in the operational length of the runway as detailed in GCA documents, “the southernmost part of the runway itself functions as a defacto RESA, thus reducing the runway’s operational length for takeoffs to the south. The implementation of the RESA on land to the south will improve that operational length”. The additional clearing on the Reserve under the guise of the ILS also facilitates the proposed relocation of the runway 32 landing threshold approx. 300m south re the new Obstacle Limitation Surface (OLS) that will be required. read more

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    Build it Local Design Competition

    Build it Local challenges entrants to design a family home in a typical suburban context, using approved and/or non-approved materials sourced from our collective backyard in the Northern Rivers region to reduce the embodied footprint of the build.

    The theme also extends to using local labour, an owner builder model or a combination of the two.

    Sourcing and using local building materials and labour greatly reduces a building’s embodied energy footprint. Given the diversity of our region, with ready access to recycled materials, plantation timbers, bamboo, straw bale, rammed earth and mud brick building systems, combined with a multitude of building component manufacturers, the Northern Rivers can supply everything needed to design and build fantastic, environmentally responsive houses. read more

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    National Tree Day Sun 30 July

    Tweed Shire Council is hosting the National Tree Day planting this year at Pat Smith Park, Dulguigan.

    The site is located on Dungay Creek at the confluence of the Rous River, one the major tributaries of the Tweed River. We are aiming to restore riparian habitat and beautify the park.

    Time: 9:00am to 1:00pm

    Directions: If travelling from Murwillumbah along Tomewin Road, turn into Dulguigan Road before Dungay – Pat Smith Park is located on the right immediately after crossing Dungay Creek.

    Suitable for Children: Yes     Accessible for disabled: Yes

    Notes about the day for Volunteers:
    Please bring some morning tea to share. Coffee and tea provided. Parking is available in the park.

    The following will be provided: Gloves, Tools and equipment for planting, Watering cans / buckets, Drinking water, Snacks read more

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    EDO workshop – environmental law and policy relating to koalas

    Sunday 2 July 2017, 2-4pm.  Friends of the Koala Inc. will host a free EDO NSW workshop in Lismore explaining key environmental laws and policies that impact koalas.

    The workshop will cover development assessment processes under NSW planning law, and the new biodiversity and land clearing laws. Participants will also receive guidance on how to participate in a range of decision-making processes, as well as how to monitor and enforce compliance with legal protections for koalas.

    WHERE: Room Z181A, Southern Cross University, Rifle Range Road, East Lismore
    RSVP: 02 9262 6989  or www.edonsw.org.au/koala_2017

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    Cultivating Murder Saturday 3 June Regent Cinema Mbah

    On the 29th July 2014 Glen Turner a compliance officer with the Office of Environment and Heritage was shot four times by a farmer and died on the side of an isolated public road in NSW, 40 kms from Moree.

    Cultivating Murder tells the story of what happened and follows the murder trial to discover why it happened. It is an unusual murder case. The mystery is not “Who did it?” but “Why did he do it”? The accused is a wealthy New South Wales farmer. The circumstances of the shooting are shocking and perplexing. Glen Turner’s family friends and colleagues want to see the full weight of the law applied.

    As the murder trial gets underway, the government have released the draft for new environment laws that will undo a quarter of century of conservation and protection and unleash a new wave of broad-scale clearing of land, (it is already underway) and destruction to fragile eco systems. It has implications for all land use in Australian. read more

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    Boomerang Bags Sewing Bee Sunday 28 May

    With 8 million tonnes of plastic entering our oceans annually, affecting our food chain, killing off ecosystems, marine mammals, fish and seabirds, as well as clogging up our landfill, Let’s Waste Less believes we can’t ‘waste’ time waiting for the NSW government to act. We want Murwillumbah to get on the plastic bag ‘ban’ wagon.

    As part of our ‘breaking bag habits’ campaign we are introducing the Boomerang Bags ‘borrow and bring back’ model to Murwillumbah. These free bags provide a safe and sustainable alternative to plastic bags and are made by  the community using reusable, environmentally friendly recycled materials.

    Together we can sew our way into a more sustainable solution with Boomerang Bags, which are: read more

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    How does Aboriginal culture relate to bush regeneration? Tues 23 May

    This free workshop is suitable for those who do bush regeneration either professionally or as a volunteer.

    How does Aboriginal culture relate to bush regeneration? Good question! It’s not just about what to look out for but what protocols need to be followed.

    Come along to a free workshop to find out why Aboriginal Cultural Landscapes are not only important to Aboriginal people but also the wider community and what role the bush regenerator can play.

    When: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm on Tuesday 23 May 2017

    Where: South Golden Beach Community Hall at the beach end of Helen Street

    The workshop will be run by Shane Ivey of Madhima Gulgan Community Association with support from NPWS.

    Afternoon tea will be provided. read more

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    The fungi photography of Steve Axford

    Nimbin Bush Theatre – Sunday 21st May – 11am  

    Entry by donation – Hosted by Nimbin Bushwalkers Club

    For this special event Steve Axford gives a presentation on his time lapse photography of fungi and mushrooms sourced from our local rainbow region rainforests and used in the acclaimed David Attenborough BBC documentary film – Planet Earth 2.

    Axford, from Lismore, is known around the world for his unique interest in nature and in particular, Fungi. Living in the Northern Rivers region of NSW, he considers his photography as an avenue into the natural world. His work has taken him around the world from Moscow to China and he has been published in global publications such as NatGeo and New Scientist. More recently he has developed a keen interest in Fungi time-lapse. read more

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    Keep speaking out against Adani

    A message from GetUp..

    Since we last spoke, we’ve had two huge wins against Adani. The momentum is palpable.

    First, after almost 8,000 of you chipped in to run a huge marginal seats campaign, another Coalition MP has publicly defied Turnbull over the $1 billion dollar Adani loan. 

    The campaign is now in full swing, with newspaper ads, billboards and rallies saturating key marginal electorates. If we can get more MPs to speak out, this could become a full backbench revolt.

    Then, on Friday, Westpac refused to finance Adani!

    That leaves Adani with no financial backers. Not one. Australian banks won’t touch it. International banks won’t touch it. Adani’s mine is so politically toxic that 17 banks across the world have refused to fund it. The only person left who thinks it’s a good idea is Malcolm Turnbull. read more

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    World Environment Day Festival 2017

    The Caldera Environment Centre’s annual World Environment Day Festival will be held on Sunday 4 June at Knox Park, Murwillumbah from 10am-3pm.

    Be entertained by the Pitts Family Circus, Hoopla Kids Circus, children’s activity space and music by Taraf Tambal – Balkan Gypsy Band, Monkey and The Fish and Broadfoot, who put a smile on everybody’s face.

    Listen to speakers – the CEO of ENOVA, the Tyalgum Energy Project and Greg Reid from Tweed CAN and hear the latest news about renewable energy and how you can be part of the change to this clean technology.

    Learn practical ways we can help the environment at stalls by local community groups, sustainable businesses and Council workshops. Learn about nature – plants, animals and birds, saving water, renewable energy, farming and food production, health care, reducing waste, community gardening and much more.  Enjoy healthy, delicious vegetarian food sourced from local growers and producers. read more

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    Northern Rivers solar & batteries community bulk buy

    Love clean renewable energy as much as we do? Here’s an opportunity to be a part of the uptake of renewables right here in the Northern Rivers.

    This April, the Northern Rivers will have it’s very own community bulk buy for solar and batteries – making the process easy and accessible, at lower prices.

    Find out more, and RSVP to attend your free local event here:  https://www.suncrowd.com.au/bulk-buy/northern-rivers-2017?aff=calderaenvironmentcentre

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