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‘A Plastic Ocean’ screening in M’bah 29 April

Don’t miss this award-winning film that Sir David Attenborough calls ‘The most important film of our time’, which focuses on the impact of plastic in our oceans, marine life and our own health.

To reserve your tickets, please visit the Demand Film Event Page here: https://tickets.demand.film/event/1601. Unlike a traditional movie showing, my Demand Film screening requires that 50 more tickets be reserved in the next 39 days for the screening to go ahead.

We have a full evening of entertainment in store, including ocean-inspired art installations, music and luscious locally made morsels courtesy of JuJus and New Leaf. Drinks, including Stone & Wood ales, will also be available for purchase and we have some amazing sponsor-donated prizes to win. read more

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New report into biodiversity offsetting

A message from the Nature Conservation Council of NSW

Dear Members,

As you may have seen in the news, at the Nature Conservation Council we’ve just released a new report into biodiversity offsetting schemes in NSW. The report, titled ‘Paradise Lost: The weakening and widening of NSW Biodiversity offsetting schemes, 2005-2016’ is a thorough analysis of existing offsetting schemes and an assessment of how they do (and usually don’t) meet best practice standards, putting nature at risk.

We got a powerful story in the Sydney Morning Herald as you may have seen, and on NBN TV news.

The report makes a list of useful recommendations and a range of case studies from across NSW. We hope that it will be of use to you in your campaigns and work to protect nature. read more

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Sky Scout – Drones Against Deforestation

A Wilderness Society crowdfunding campaign.  https://pozible.com/project/sky-scout

Australia is in the grips of a deforestation crisis.  In Qld alone, an area the size of the MCG is cleared every three minutes. Not so long ago, we had stronger state laws against devastating mass deforestation. But those laws recently came undone.  Deforestation typically takes place in remote locations and in secret. If Australians could see the extent of it, they wouldn’t stand for it.

Mass deforestation isn’t limited to the developing world.  It doesn’t only happen in the Amazon. In fact, Australia has one of the most severe deforestation fronts on the planet.

  • Queensland clears nearly 300,000Ha of native bush every year.
  • Recent law changes in NSW have put a further 8,000,000Ha at risk.
  • Land clearing is a leading driver of biodiversity loss in Australia.
  • Cleared trees are wasted, left to rot or burned – a considerable source of carbon emissions.
  • Deforestation weakens our landscape’s resilience to climate change.

Our solution: Sky Scout – Drones Against Deforestation. read more

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Review of State Environmental Planning Policy 44 – Koala Habitat Protection

NSW Department of Planning and Environment proposes to amend this SEPP.

Key changes in the proposed amended SEPP relate to the:

  • definitions of koala habitat;
  • list of tree species;
  • list of councils; and
  • development assessment process.

Submissions can be made until 3 March 2017:

Director, Planning Frameworks
NSW Department of Planning and Environment
GPO Box 39
Sydney NSW 2001

More information:

Environmental Defenders Office NSW submission

http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/Koala-habitat

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Conservation of Beach-nesting Birds: Volunteer Monitoring Workshop

24th January.  1.15pm – 3pm.  Field trip 3pm – 4.30pm.

Pottsville Beach Neighbourhood Centre.

Improving the conservation outlook for beach-nesting birds is incredibly challenging.  Volunteers make an amazing difference to the future of these species by monitoring breeding beaches, reporting and protecting nests, and educationg other beachusers.

This workshop will focus on the methods used to safely monitor beach-nesting birds and you’ll learn how to interpret the quirky behaviours of the birds by going on the beach walk.

Bring along a water bottle and appropriate clothing for the field trip to the beach – walking shoes sun hat or rain coat and binoculars if you have them. read more

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Have your say – Draft Coastal Management SEPP and Coastal Maps

There is still time to have you say on protections for our sensitive coastal environments – the submission deadline has been extended until Friday 20 January 2017.

The NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DOPE) is undertaking public consultation on a Draft Coastal Management State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) and Draft Coastal Mapping. The Coastal Management SEPP and maps will underpin the new Coastal Management Act 2016 that was passed earlier this year (but is yet to commence operation).

The new Coastal Management SEPP will replace existing SEPP 14 – Coastal Wetlands, SEPP 26 – Littoral Rainforests and SEPP 71 – Coastal Protection.

The new coastal management laws divide the coastal zone into four new coastal management areas, and it is important that mapping of these new areas is correct and that sensitive areas are protected from the impacts of urban expansion, biodiversity loss and climate change. read more

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North Coast Energy Forum 2016 – It’s a wrap!

Welcome to the final NCEF newsletter for 2016, and for a while thereafter.

First of all, a huge thank you to everyone involved in this year’s forum – the sponsors, speakers, organising committee, and of course all of you who attended. As with previous years we had over 100 people there, despite a paucity of local media interest (thanks especially to the local World Rally Championship the weekend prior). And a special thanks too to the battery suppliers, some of whom came a long way to showcase the technology that is already transforming the energy sector (and it can’t come quick enough!).

Everything ran pretty smoothly on the day (considering Adam Marshall was delayed), and the evaluations were overwhelmingly positive, although we note the feedback from some that we tried to pack too much in (which to others was a virtue). However, we are always happy to take on advice about how to do things better, should be decide we are up for this task again in another year or two somewhere else in the region. read more

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Baird’s ‘koala extermination program’ condemned

Echonetdaily 21 November 2016

‘Stand up for koalas or they won’t survive in the wild’ is the warning call from the North East Forest Alliance (NEFA).

‘The NSW Government is carrying out a koala extermination program. It really can’t be seen as anything else. It is gutting protections for koalas in all the relevant legislation’ said NEFA spokesperson Dailan Pugh.

Mr Pugh was speaking out after the state government’s contentious Biodiversity Conservation bill passed parliament last week.

‘On Thursday Premier Baird opened up an estimated 2.2 million hectares of identified koala habitat on private land for clearing under his new ‘equity codes’. Although there is clearly no ‘equity’ for koalas. read more

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Solar citizens – Northern Rivers 100% Renewables Forum

Tuesday 29th November, 6:30-8:30 pm (doors open at 6pm).  Lismore City Hall, 1 Bounty St, Lismore, NSW.  RSVP here.

This event is part of our 100% Renewables Roadshow, with forums in towns and cities across the country. It will feature a presentation of the Homegrown Power Plan — a comprehensive policy road map designed by some of the brightest minds in the business which shows how we can upgrade Australia to 100% renewable power by 2030 — as well as other incredible guest speakers.  List of speakers.

The forum will be an opportunity to discuss what’s needed for the orderly transition of the local region and Australia to renewable electricity. You’ll get the chance to hear where local politicians stand — and hold them to account! read more

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Laws passed – Baird condemns wildlife to bulldozers

Premier Baird just gutted the land-clearing laws that have been saving the lives of thousands of native animals like koalas, pygmy possums and squirrel gliders every year.

After several fiery hours of debate, it took just a few minutes for the final vote to seal the fate for our endangered wildlife. It’s a decision that will weigh heavily in the hearts of everyone who values our incredible wildlife, bushland and sustainable farming.

Chip in to help us hold Mike Baird to account for the destruction his laws will cause.

Your efforts haven’t been in vain. I know the laws would have been so much worse if you hadn’t taken a stand. I know that because together we have:

  1. Put Premier Baird on notice that his attacks on the things we value will be catapulted into the media spotlight and will damage his government’s reputation;
  2. Impacted the laws by securing important improvements such as excluding some areas like high conservation value grasslands, and critically endangered ecological communities; and ensuring that the Office of Environment and Heritage will be responsible for enforcing the law – not the Department of Primary Industries;
  3. Encouraged the Labor Party to commit to scrapping Mike Baird’s disastrous laws when they are next in government and replace them with strong protections for bushland and wildlife; and
  4. Supported thousands of people like you to stand up for what we believe in, growing the number of wildlife defenders who will continue to be a voice for nature.

– The plan –

With Mike Baird’s new laws due to take effect from July, our work is far from over. Over the coming months we will be: read more

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Catalyst – The Anthropocene: a new age of humans

Human impacts on the way our planet functions have now become so extreme many scientists are claiming the Earth has shifted out of the Holocene state and into a new geological epoch.

They’re calling it ‘The Anthropocene’, the new age of humans, because millions of years after we are gone, the scar of our existence will be visible in the rocks of tomorrow.

In this episode we look at how the last 60 years of socio economic growth has transformed the human race into a geological force to rival nature.

http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/4574615.htm

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The Bentley Effect – Regent Cinema – 18 November

When the coal seam gas industry staked aclaim on the Northern Rivers region of Australia, alarm bells rang out. A critical mass of people from all walks of life – activists, farmers, landowners, mums, dads, scientists, etc – organised themselves to rally against the unconventional gas invasion. Despite the enormous public opposition, the gas industry and the State Government were determined to see their gas plan through. A series of dramatic blockades ensued, before the final battle lines were drawn in the peaceful farming valley of Bentley. Thousands of people flocked to the site to stare down the threat of 850 riot police, ordered in to break up the protest.

Filmed over five years, The Bentley Effect documents the highs and lows of the battle to keep a unique part of Australia free gas-field free. This timely story of a community’s heroic stand shows how strategic direct action and peaceful protest from a committed community can overcome industrial might and political short-sightedness. It celebrates the non-violent ‘Eureka Stockade’ of our time and chronicles one of the fastest growing social movements of our time. read more

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NSW Crown Land corruption to be referred to ICAC – I just signed this petition — will you?

sign the petition

To: Premier Mike Baird & Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian

1. Bring about the immediate referral to the Independent Commission Against Corruption of the serious and systemic mismanagement of Crown land in NSW, including the cases of King Edward Park (Newcastle), Talus (Willoughby), Yasmar (Haberfield), Stuart Park (Wollongong) and Paddington Bowling Club.

2. Defer the commencement date of the Crown Land Management Act 2016 until after ICAC has investigated and reported on the matters.

Why is this important?

The Crown Land Management Bill – rushed through Parliament by the NSW Government on 9 November – was the Government’s response to years of allegations of systemic mismanagement and cronyism in its Crown Land Department (“Crown Lands”) and by local councils.

Those allegations (by various community groups) were effectively accepted as accurate and substantiated, first, by Mark Paterson as head of Crown Lands on 22 June 2015 and, second, by the NSW Auditor General on presenting her scathing report to Parliament on 8 September 2016. read more

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Liberal politician breaks ranks over land clearing

This morning the unimaginable has happened. A Liberal politician has broken ranks with his own party to raise serious concerns about Premier Baird’s new land clearing laws.

Bruce Notley-Smith, Member of Parliament for Coogee said:

“I am very concerned that these reforms could lead to further irreversible land degradation and endangerment of native wildlife habitat.”

Bruce is right and we need more MPs to stand up for nature. Will you take a minute to thank Bruce Notley-Smith for taking a stand by emailing him on coogee@parliament.nsw.gov.au or leaving a message on his facebook page here.

Premier Baird’s plans to scrap our land clearing laws are disastrous for wildlife and they’re beginning to unravel. read more

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National Parks Association of NSW – Iconic status won’t be enough to save koalas unless Baird changes tack

What does it mean to be an icon in NSW? Not much apparently. Unless the Baird government has a complete rethink of its environment policy the iconic koala faces a bleak future says the National Parks Association of NSW.

Koalas are one of just six of the 1000-odd threatened species put on an ‘iconic’ pedestal in the NSW government’s Saving our Species (SOS) programme. According to the government, “iconic species are important socially, culturally and economically, and the community expects them to be effectively managed and protected”. 1

Yet between opening up land clearing and the ever-increasing intensity of native forest logging, the Baird government’s current environment policies couldn’t be designed to be less effective in managing and protecting koalas—as an article in The Guardian reported today. 2 read more

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NSW Climate Change Policy Framework released

The policy sets two aspirational objectives:

  • Achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
  • NSW being more resilient to a changing climate.

The NSW government has also announced a $500 million funding package and released two draft climate change and energy savings documents for public consultation:

  • Draft Climate Change Fund Strategic Plan
  • A Plan to Save NSW Energy and Money
    • read more

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    Conservation of Beach-nesting Birds Workshop

    Tweed Heads, 20th October 2016

    BirdLife Australia is holding a workshop where you can learn more about Australia’s Beach-nesting Birds (BNB), the threats they are facing across Australia and how these are being tacked.  There will also be opportunities for discussions across a broad range of topics relevant to the conservation of this unique suite of beach-dependent species.  All are welcome!

    Improving the conservation outlook for beach-nesting shorebirds is incredibly challenging given these birds next in habitats so popular for human recreation.

    Hear from BirdLife Australia’s Beach-nesting Birds staff on the threats faced by resident beach-nesting shorebirds on Australia’s coasts; efforts to improve their breeding success and ways to engage schools and the broader community in conservation. read more

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    2016 North Coast Energy Forum

    Theme: “The local energy revolution: Solar plus batteries plus us”.

    Friday, 25 November, 2016

    The North Coast Energy Forum was established in 2010 to drive the shift to a sustainable energy system for the NSW North Coast. Every year over 100 representatives of industry, government and the community come together to plan how to make this shift happen, strengthen the regional economy; and increase our regional energy security as well as lowering greenhouse emissions.

    For the fifth time since the first Forum in Bellingen in 2010, we will bring together decision-makers from government, business and the community to work on creating a sustainable energy system for our region.

    This year the theme is “The local energy revolution: Solar plus batteries plus us”. Our focus is on how solar and batteries are revolutionising the energy system from a centralised to a localised model in which power returns to the people. The key questions are: How can we, in the mid North Coast, play an active part in this shift? What are the opportunities for my local community, business or organisation? read more

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    Magic for Mens Shed is the only one

    Tweed Shire Council has approved the granting of a licence for the Men’s Shed at Black Rocks Sports fields.

    The granting of the licence is currently open for public comment, closing 20th October.

    The Lot 3 Centennial Drive location is a far more suitable location due to close proximity to the village centre and adjacent to the Rural Fire Services, SES and pre-school facilities.

    Please take a few minutes to write to Council  tsc@tweed.nsw.gov.au requesting a deferral of the granting of a licence to the Pottsville and District Men’s Shed at Black Rocks sports field site until the newly elected council makes a decision on the use of part of the Lot 3 Centennial Drive site or adjacent sites as a permanent  location for the Men’s Shed. read more

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