Submission to TSC re Integrated Water Cycle Management Strategy 2014
PDF : Integrated Water Cycle Management Strategy 2014 = = = = = = = = =Category:
Find out more about Environmental Offsets
This is a link to an article and podcast from the ABC (Backgound Briefing) about Environmental Offsets and Biodiversity.
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/backgroundbriefing/2014-03-16/5312944
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Save Ballina’s Koalas Campaign – Friends of the Koala
Media commenced yesterday on the Save Ballina’s Koalas Campaign.
With the release in November of the Koala Habitat & Population Assessment for the Ballina LGA, the declaration of the entire Woolgoolga-Ballina upgrade as a “controlled action” under the EPBC Act and funding cutbacks there may be a long shot possibility of changing the [RMS] preferred route through the Blackwall Range.
The estimated koala population of Ballina Shire is put at 285-380 with over half in the southern part of the Shire. Section 10 of the highway upgrade will plough through the middle of the Lower Richmond’s koala populations.
The Blackwall Highway Action Group, Ballina Environment Society, Friends of the Koala, Ballina Shire Council and others lobbied hard back around 2005 when the preferred route was being decided, to no avail. We wanted the route to remain where it is. We were ignored and the RTA went ahead, acquiring properties and so on. Last year (over the 2012-13 Christmas holidays) the Environmental Impact Statement was exhibited and in November/December 2013 the Preferred Infrastructure Report was put out for comment.
Sustainable Energy Solutions
Sustainable Energy Solutions for Climate Change |
| Stephen Bygrave reviews this new bookMark Diesendorf, Associate Professor and Deputy Director at the Institute for Environmental Studies, University of New South Wales, has a new book, Sustainable Energy Solutions for Climate Change. I’ve had the opportunity to have a quick read and it is a nice complement and addition to the Zero Carbon Australia Stationary Energy Plan.
The book is divided into 3 parts; Part A focusing on basic energy concepts, Part B on the technologies and systems for energy supply (which includes a short section on transport); and Part C on the policies to transform the energy system. The energy concepts section highlights the massive changes in energy patterns since the industrial revolution and is a timely reminder of why energy remains such an important aspect of our world and also such a contributor to climate change. The section on technologies provides a useful update on the status of renewable energy, including concentrated solar thermal but also energy storage. There is a section referencing the work of Mark’s PhD student, Ben Elliston, on simulating hourly operation of the National Electricity Market (NEM), demonstrating that in 2010 renewable energy could have supplied the whole of the NEM with electricity with the same reliability as fossil-fuelled power stations. There a couple of obvious omissions — for example there is a section on Zero Carbon Britain but no reference to Zero Carbon Australia and the work of Beyond Zero Emissions. Apart from that — well worth a read, even for the converted. |
Letter to TSC re Reclassification of Mt Nullum- 04-Feb-2014
Submission to TSC re Knox Park Redevelopment- 20-Jan-2014
Kings Forest Letters of Objections to EPBS Referral
Message from Caldera Environment Centre and Team Koala
Thank you to everyone who filled in a letter of objection or submitted their own objection.
The following Letters of Objection were today delivered to James Warren and Associates In Ballina.
• 2,142 letters as per attached (this includes 123 with detailed additional comments and 82 with brief additional comments). These submissions were collected over a 6 day period between 30 November and 5 December 2013.
• 1,007 letters designed and collected by Jenny Hayes, Team Koala and members of her organisation.
During the collection process the public were well-informed of the issues prior to signing these submissions.
Climate Change in the Tweed- Greg Reid
Message From Yasser at: TweedCAN <info@tweedcan.org.au>
Date: Wed, Oct 30, 2013 at 12:31 PM
Tweed Climate Action Now member Greg Reid sent us a report he compiled on the impact climate change has had on the Tweed Shire in the last 5 decades.
I’ve included it below, and as an attachment. It’s well worth reading.
[See pdf: Climate-Change-in-the-Tweed_GregReid ]Please consider doing something about climate change. Here are two simple things you can do:
Lock the Gate- “Fractured Country” Video November 2013
Lock the Tweed invites you to:
– See the latest 30 min video from Lock the Gate “Fractured Country”
– Hear about the latest developments in the Northern Rivers and beyond.
– Defend your community and the Tweed Valley!
– Discuss: Where to now?
$10 entry (includes meal)
FUNDRAISER FOR LOCK THE GATE AND THE ANTI-CSG CAMPAIGN
Starting at Tyalgum: Community Hall Sat 2nd November 2013 6pm.
then at Uki: Community Hall Sat 9th November 2013 6pm.
See Full schedule
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TSC launches Tweed Platypus Project
Message From: Matthew Bloor [mailto:MBloor@tweed.nsw.gov.
Dear Caldera Environment Centre,
Tweed Shire Council is undertaking a brand new Platypus Project with the aim of protecting platypus habitat and reducing threats to Tweed platypus populations. The project aims to use community education to harness community support and involvement.
The project will work with the community to
- Raise awareness and understanding of the platypus
- Report platypus sightings
- Start a Platypus Watch Group
- Protect and conserve Tweed waterways
Council is engaging a community artist, Kris Martin, to weave a 3m long platypus from cats claw creeper vine, starting on Saturday 2nd November at Uki Hall Park. Kris will be based at Uki for the week (to Friday 8th) and several school groups are visiting to help out. Interested members of the public are welcome to pay Kris a visit and Thursday the 7th is open for people to help weave the platypus and learn how it is done. See the website site for an example of Kris’s work artisean.com.au
Planning Bill introduced- Your Rights bulldozed
Message from Kate Smolski-
Nature Conservation Council of NSW [mailto:ncc@nccnsw.org.au]
This week, after two years of preparation, Planning Minister Brad Hazzard introduced the Planning Bill 2013 to the NSW Parliament.
Government has made a number of concessions in response to widespread community concern about the draft planning laws.
But the revised legislation still falls far short—it remains unbalanced and unfair, placing the interests of developers and industry ahead of the local communities and the environment.
With parliamentary debate on the laws due to kick off early next week, it’s critical that elected representatives hear from people like you who support a system that puts the environment and local communities at the centre of planning decisions.
Red Alert for Pilliga forests [NCEC]
North Coast Environment Council
Email From: Susie Russell
Sent: Sunday, 20 October 2013 11:27 AM
Message from Naomi (Wilderness Society Newcastle)
LATEST MESSAGE FROM NAOMI – re the Pilliga Red Alert:
“Hi everyone,
Thank you so much for the amazing level of support that has been shared
today from far and wide. It is very heartening to know so many people are
excited and willing to come together and defend the Pilliga forest from coal
seam gas industrialisation.
The north east area of the Pilliga is currently buzzing with Santos
activity; trucks, utes, rigs, pipes and bulldozers. In response to this high
level of activity and looming drilling plans, a camp has been proposed.
In the week ahead the traditional owners, the Gomaroi people (also Gomilaroi
or Kamilaroi) will meet up with local farmers and community members to
discuss plans and ensure camp is set up the right way, following protocols
and creating a safe space.
Funding Opportunity for improving Fish Habitat in the Tweed River
CEC Message:
Local Bush Regenerator Ian Walker (whose latest book ‘Bringing Back the Big Scrub’ is for sale at the CEC shop) is asking local landholders, residents and businesses in Murwillumbah and surrounding regions to participate in a funding opportunity aimed at improving fish habitat in the Tweed River system. The Caldera Environment Centre supports this initiative and urges people who are interested in learning more about this grant to contact Ian Walker. Please read the following information.
A Project for Murwillumbah
Attn: Murwillumbah
Dear Business and/or Individual,
The Federal Government through the Department of Planning and Infrastructure has available FISH ACTION GRANTS of up to $40,000.00 for any project which it deems will help preserve or improve HABITAT FOR FISH.
Sustainable Commercial Farming Specialist Talk and Organic Farm Visit in Tyalgum
Bob Shaffer is broadly experienced in development and management of cover crop systems for farms, orchards and vineyards. Bob looks at cover crops from a whole-farm perspective including soil biology, soil physics and how the cover crop interrelates with food production and quality.
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Tweed Shire- unbottled water best
Echonetdaily reports on Tweed Shire initiative to discourage consumption of bottled water
Council water-unit officer Elizabeth Seidl said in the article that ‘Australia’s annual consumption of bottled water exceeds 600 million litres, even though Australians are able to drink some of the best tap water in the world.
Ms Seidl said the safety of the Tweed’s tap water ‘is equal to the best bottled water and better than most’.
She also said bottled water caused major environmental problems with discarded bottles creating ‘massive amounts of landfill and litter on our streets and beaches’.
‘Significant resources are also needed to bottle, transport and refrigerate water, especially if that water is imported from overseas,’ she said.
‘The manufacture of plastic water bottles squanders a non-renewable resource, oil, and the road and air miles generated by transporting bottled water are a significant generator of greenhouse gases.
CEC Submission to TSC Economic Development Strategy- 05 July 2013
The Tweed Shire Council is developing an Economic Strategy document that is designed to help guide the future economic development of the Tweed Shire. The Caldera Environment Centre has been involved in planning sessions hosted by the council and has responded to the draft strategy (a copy of the draft discussion paper is available via the link below) with the following submission.
CEC Submission PDF: Submission-to-Draft-Economic-Strategy_Final_2013-07-25
The major issue that the CEC has with economic analyses such as these is their inherent selfishness and lack of consideration of social and ecological considerations. Recent trends (as demonstrated by the prominence economic discussion receives in the media) seem to be emphasising the importance of economic success above other aspects of life and personal well-being. The CEC submission highlights the failures of economic “science” in not being a proper scientific discipline, but rather a pseudo-science, and outlines alternative economic views that have their roots in ancient thinkers such as Aristotle.
World Environment Day Festival 2013- EchoNetDaily Video Report
Watch the festival video on EchoNetDaily Video channel..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpecLY0rOfg
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Rural Land Strategy- CEC Submission to Tweed Shire Council 31-May-2013
Submitted 31 May 2013
The Caldera Environment Centre (CEC) would like to make the following submission to the Tweed Shire Council Rural Land Strategy.
Introduction
As discussed below, The CEC promotes a sustainable ecological ethic of housing development. We disagree with the concept of small rural subdivisions, and would promote an alternative paradigm of rural settlement based on the ideas of Multiple Occupancies (MOs). This would enable the ‘best of both worlds’ where land parcels are kept intact from renegade industrialists, local communities are fostered and population growth can be maintained. There are lessons to be learned from past experiences with MOs, particularly in terms of land management and self-sufficiency. However, that should not be a reason to limit them in favour of cloning city-suburbs (like what is being proposed for Mooball or at Mebbin Springs) in the middle of nowhere. It is important with this ruralising development that wildlife corridors are an integral part of the planning proposals. Effort needs to be made so that there is no further fragmentation or degradation of ecosystems and that the riparian zone is protected. If well managed, these corridors may be expanded with agroforestry and could provide the timber required to eventually replace the housing in the clusters by selective logging.
NCEC- Draft Bill a Blueprint for Planning Dictatorship 19-April-2013
From Ian Smith
19 April 2013
I’ve skimmed the whole ‘draft exposure’ bill, and read a lot of it in some detail, just once so far. Forget White-Paper-full-document.pdf on the gub website, it’s a puff piece. Read the whole bill. Even without considering what it doesn’t as yet ‘expose’, it’s not hard not to see it is a blueprint for dictatorship by this government, the minister and his appointed minions at a level not seen in Australia for generations.
Local government? Dealt with, if need be by the minister declaring a ‘sub-regional’ panel of his choosing. One example: no CSG? No council.
The BPN press release, like O’Farrell’s media release, does not mention the environment AT ALL. Fair enough in one way; it primarily reflects urban and suburban concerns, and from that perspective I can’t disagree with any of the points raised, but the notion of assumed representation by this new organisation makes me very nervous, were anyone to assume it reflects the views of all of these ‘more than 350 community groups’.
SUBMISSION TO THE SENATE INQUIRY INTO EPBC AMENDMENT BILL 2013
Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committees on Environment and Communications
(Submitted online)
4 April 2013
Dear madam or sir
SUBMISSION TO THE SENATE INQUIRY INTO THE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AMENDMENT BILL 2013
Thank you for the opportunity to submit the views of the Caldera Environment Centre (CEC) in relation to the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment Bill 2013
The Caldera Environment Centre is located in Murwillumbah on the Far North Coast of NSW, and its membership extends across the Northern Rivers region. The CEC has consistently opposed coal seam gas (CSG) exploration in the Northern Rivers for reasons outlined below.
Environmental
Scientific investigation of the potential impacts of CSG and other unconventional gas mining activities is inadequate; there simply have not been sufficient independent scientific studies to form a view on the risks these activities pose for the natural environment. Further, while they are currently unquantified, the scale of the environmental damage that could arise from a serious accident – including very serious air and water pollution and (as recent research conducted by the Southern Cross University demonstrates), significant contributions to the phenomena of climate change – are so appalling that they should, at very least, warrant a very cautious approach; very unlike the cavalier approach that has been taken to-date.
NCEC- Glenugie CSG Retrospective 01 April 2013
From: John Edwards
Clarence Environment Centre (the other CEC).
Hi everyone,
The attached link [here] is a collection of images of the epic Glenugie CSG
blockade courtesy of the Clarence Environment Centre, South Grafton.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Regards
John Edwards
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TREE Magazine Vol.11 Issue-1 Autumn 2013
EDITORIAL
Our organisation suffered a huge loss last September when our founder and beloved leader, Hop.e Hopkins, left this mortal coil. We would not exist without him, and his ethical, calm, determined commitment to our cause ensured we stayed largely free from sabotage and foolishness. As a kind of gift to us as he left, his passing has resulted in a rejuvenation for us. Old precious people have returned to help, and new, young ones have stepped up. We are stronger now than we have been for a long time, at least in terms of those who do the work. Our financial situation remains tenuous, and we are keenly looking for sponsors to ensure we keep going for another 24 years. Anything you can do to help will be greatly appreciated.
Caldera joins Better Planning Network
Caldera Environment Centre
During last year CEC became an affiliate of the Better Planning Network (BPN) (flyer attached), as part of a widespread community response to the Review.
BPN is circulating a petition (attached) which requests the NSW Parliament to:
- establish a multi-party Committee to fairly assess the proposals to amend the planning system and to ensure that the community’s rights of participation, consultation and appeal are not reduced; and,
- ensure that the consultation period on the Government’s final proposals (the White Paper) is at least six months long.
Although this is very short notice as many signatures as possible are needed. Please print out the petition and at least sign it yourself (if you haven’t already). It is perfectly acceptable to have just one signature on the form – it does not need to be filled in its entirety. The NSW government will accept petitions in hard copy only.
Hard copy petition is also available in the CEC shop.
Please post the form to: Better Planning Network, PO Box 6116, North Ryde, 2113 by 18 February 2013.
CEC Submission to TSC- Planning Reforms – Draft LEP 2012
The General Manager
Tweed Shire Council
PO Box 816
Murwillumbah NSW 2482
18 January 2013
Planning Reforms – Draft LEP 2012
Caldera Environment Centre (CEC) is extremely disappointed that Tweed Shire Council has rushed the draft LEP to exhibition due to pressure from the Minister for Planning. The Minister’s media release appears to be the justification for placing the Standard Instrument LEP on exhibition without giving full consideration to the protection of environmentally significant areas by zoning these areas E2 and E3. The media release in September 2012 stated the Minister “will not endorse the use of the E2 and E3 environmental zones on land that is clearly rural in council LEPs on the Far North Coast”.
TSC should have placed the protection of environmentally significant areas within the shire above the intent of the state government. The inclusion of E2 and E3 zones proposed in the draft LEP 2010 would not impact on “clearly rural land” as the areas are generally bushland. The Minister for Planning’s media release is not grounds to proceed with the draft LEP 2012 without full consideration of issues detailed in this submission.
Glenugie Update- Police move in on protesters
NEWS FLASH: Glenugie Update
7th January 2012
From: Chris Aitchison, Secretary Caldera Environment Centre
For over 50 days, a contingent of brave, caring, and representative people from across the Northern Rivers region successfully hindered Metgasco’s attempts to access a Glenugie property, where it plans to undertake exploratory drilling for coal seam gas (CSG).
The blockade was reportedly broken this afternoon, whereupon police escorted a drilling rig on to the property. (http://www.abc.net.au/news/
Draft Tweed Shire LEP 2012- CEC Comment
Draft Tweed Shire LEP 2012 – Coastal Koala habitat loses over 1200ha of protection
The Tweed Shire draft LEP 2012 is currently on exhibition for public comment. During the exhibition period there have been four public workshops to explain the draft LEP, with a fifth workshop to be held at Tweed Heads in early January.
Council promotes the draft LEP as a rollover of the current Tweed LEP 2000. This current LEP includes environmental protection zones in the west of the shire. The LEP 2000 was revised in 2010 when a draft LEP 2010 was put on public exhibition. This draft LEP provoked a public response with over 400 submissions with the majority being concerned about the loss of environmental protection zones in the west of the shire. Tweed Council did not proceed with the draft LEP. Amendment 21 which was adopted by council and supported by the Department of Planning in 2010 provided environmental protection zoning to the majority of areas of native vegetation remaining east of the Pacific Motorway.
Kings Forest- Letter to LEDA 14-Dec-2012
Mr Reg van Rij
Regional Manager – Residential
LEDA Developments Pty Ltd
PO Box 1914
Surfers Paradise QLD 4217
14 December 2012
Dear Mr van Rij
Thank you for your letter of 6 November 2012, and for the invitation to engage with your company in relation to the Preferred Project Report (PPR) for the proposed Kings Forest development.
The Caldera Environment Centre (CEC) acknowledges some improvements on previous proposals. In particular, the CEC welcomes commitments to ensure that littoral rainforest will remain intact, to install water tanks at residences, to design road crossings that facilitate safe fish passage, to prohibit the keeping of cats, and to utilise appropriate native plant species in landscaping projects. The CEC also acknowledges some nominal improvements to the Threatened Species Management Plan.
Murwillumbah Community Gardens finally has land
News from: Steve James, MCGs Coordinator
It has been a long time in the making, but Murwillumbah Community Gardens (MCGs) finally has land! MCGs committee members recently entered a lease for a parcel of land on West Street, Murwillumbah. The site has much potential, but does not yet have any amenities or infrastructure.
The committee is in the process of incorporating the MCGs, which will enable the organisation to apply for grant funding from a range of sources.
Membership to the MCGs will soon be invited, and a public meeting will be held in early 2013, at which current MCGs committee members will impart their vision for the community garden, and gauge community interest in the project. If you are interested in attending the meeting, getting involved, or would like further information about the MCGs, please keep an eye on the website (http://
IWCM Review- Byrrill Creek Landcare Group- Dec 2012
Robyn Campbell
Hydrosphere Consulting
robyn.campbell@hydrosphere.com.au
SUBMISSION: Tweed Integrated Water Cycle Management Review (IWCM) Paper
Byrrill Creek Landcare Group thanks you for the opportunity to be involved in the process of helping to formulate the future IWCM Strategy.
As a landcare group, who have been revegetating riparian areas in the upper Tweed catchment, our priority is in maintaining healthy water ways, and pursuing sustainable solutions to water management. We consider the proposed dam at Byrrill Creek not an option due to the environmental destruction to the highest priority riparian conservation area in the Tweed. As coordinator of the Landcare group, and as a member of the CWG committee who examined Tweeds Water Augmentation options, below are comments on points that you have highlighted in your background paper.
BIOREGIONALISM- State System under Question
[Reprinted from the CEC’s TREE Magazine August 1993. Some minor editing has been done to correct some typo’s after article was scanned. Ed.]
“ If local government areas were amalgamated, we could have areas like Swiss Cantons, English Counties, or German Lands, and dispense with States, which are a colonial anachronism. Removing one level of government should produce considerable savings for all Australians. “
BIOREGIONALISM
by Paul Hopkins
It has become clear that economic rationalism, the privatisation of government enterprises, and the deregulation of trade, the money market and banking, has not resulted in any significant improvement in the current financial status of Australia. Any short term advantages gained from influxes of speculative investment capital are likely to be lost when profits are sent back home and when the political and financial power of the multinational corporations becomes manifest.