Enovacommunity energy Mini Expo

Come to our FREE mini solar and battery expo to learn how to save and go renewable.

Bring your bill and learn how to save on your electricity  – Local energy experts on hand plus local solar equipment suppliers.

We hope to educate everyone on how to reduce energy usage, which will not only save money, but save on carbon emissions. We also aim to create an awareness of the value of renewable energy and the importance of the value of more renewable energy resources.

Location Date & Time
Murwillumbah Civic and Cultural Centre Thursday 12 April 2018, 10:00 am-12:00 pm
Pottsville Beach Community Hall Monday 16 April 2018, 5:30 pm-7:00 pm
Banora Point Community Centre Thursday 26 April 2018, 5:30 pm-7:00 pm

Register here

Good for the Local Economy

In the Northern Rivers, approximately $300 million a year is spent on electricity. By buying your energy through a local company, we can work together to return as much as $80 million a year to the region ( incl. profits and operating costs). read more

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World Environment Day Festival 2018

Caldera Environment Centre is holding its annual World Environment Day Festival on Sunday 3 June from 10am to 3pm at Knox Park in Murwillumbah.

“Beat Plastic Pollution” (If you can’t reuse it, refuse it) is the United Nations theme for World Environment Day 2018 – a call to action for all of us to come together to combat one of the great environmental challenges of our time.

For more information about this year’s World Environment Day theme visit http://worldenvironmentday.global/en/about/beat-plastic-pollution

The World Environment Day Festival promotes sustainability and protection of the natural environment and encourages people to care for the environment by providing the information, resources and encouragement to reduce our environmental footprint. read more

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Land clearing Code declared invalid by Court – then immediately remade

From EDO newsletter..

Last Friday, the NSW Land & Environment Court made an order that “on and from 24 August 2017, the Land Management (Native Vegetation) Code 2017 has been invalid and of no effect.”

This extraordinary order stemmed from a legal error made by the NSW Minister for Primary Industries in the making of the Code. The Minister had a legal obligation to obtain the concurrence of the Environment Minister before making the Code, which he failed to do.

Following the Court order, our CEO David Morris stated, “In conceding that they failed to follow due process, the Government gives the strong impression of making laws on the run. This is not simply a matter of incorrect paperwork. Ecologically sustainable development is not just another box to tick – the Environment Minister has a legal responsibility to protect biodiversity in this state.” read more

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Court rules NSW land clearing laws ‘invalid’

From Echonetdaily.

The Land and Environment Court has today ruled the NSW Government’s land-clearing laws invalid because they were made unlawfully.

‘The government has bungled the introduction of one of its signature pieces of legislation, and in the process demonstrates its careless disregard for nature in NSW,’ Nature Conservation Council CEO Kate Smolski said.

‘Today’s ruling is an embarrassing admission of failure by the Berejiklian government and a great victory for the rule of law and the thousands of people who have supported us in taking this action.’

The Nature Conservation Council, represented by public interest environmental lawyers EDO NSW, launched legal challenge against the government’s land-clearing codes last November. read more

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Extension of Regional Forestry Agreements

Another important submission is due on RFAs.  The 23 February submission date pertained to the 10 and 15 year review.  Another is needed for the proposed extension of RFAs.

Overview from the NSW Government   NPA submission guide

Info from NPA website –

Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs) are 20-year agreements between the State and Commonwealth Governments that permit the logging of public native forests. Under the RFAs forests in NSW have suffered through intensive logging which damages not just the trees being logged but many threatened species which rely on healthy forests. These public forests belong to the people of NSW and we now have a vital opportunity to have a say on how they are managed in the future.

Submissions are being sought (until 12 March 2018) on: read more

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Stop Adani Tweed community survey

Stop Adani Tweed wishes to survey the views of Tweed Shire residents, regarding the proposed massive expansion of coal mining in Queensland, including the so-called “Adani” mine in the Galilee Basin.

Yes, the projects that are the subject of our survey are located in Queensland, but many of the issues at stake have national and global implications, so you are entitled to an opinion!

We intend to compile the results of this survey into a statistical view of opinions among Tweed Shire residents, so that Government at all levels can be influenced accordingly.

Please take part in our survey, and respond in a timely manner, not later than 31st March, 2018.  To complete the survey on-line, go to Stop Adani Tweed community survey read more

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Koala workshop Sat 17 March

Friends of the Koala is calling for Tweed Shire locals to become Koala Watchers, and will be holding a free workshop on Saturday 17th March 9.30am-12.30pm at the Murwillumbah Civic and Cultural Centre, Canvas and Kettle Room , 10-14 Tumbulgum Road, Murwillumbah.

Susannah Keogh, Koala Care Coordinator, who will be delivering the workshop, said ‘early reporting koalas in need of care can improve chances of successful treatment, rehabilitation, and release back into their natural habitat’.

The workshop will provide information on:

  • becoming a koala watcher
  • recognising the signs of healthy, sick, injured and distressed koalas
  • when koalas may need koala watchers
  • what you can do to help support a healthy koala population in your local community

Refreshments provided. Koala Watch is a NSW Environmental Trust Project.  If you would like more information or to register for the workshop contact Maria Matthes, Koala Watch Project Officer, on 0467 855 990 or maria@healinghistory.com.au  or Friends of the Koala on 6621 4664. read more

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Rally to Save the Train 3pm Thurs 15th Feb Murbah Railway Station

Message from Northern Rivers Railway Action Group

Dear Team,

As we all live at the far flung districts of the Region and have no train service to enable easy meeting, I am copying you my March Plan, Route Plan and Safety Management Plan.

It is attached as an easy to Print PDF, or copied below.

Please print, Share, Forward, tell your friends, and let’s pull a big crowd and make a very good impression.

Remember the absolute rule, this is to be Peaceful, so, no badgering people, No disturbance to Businesses, No Shouting or Fist waving.

Be very tolerant, there may be some who will attempt to disrupt or cause a fight.  Just ignore any heckling.

Keep off the road and follow directions of the Road Crossing controllers who will be wearing high visibility vests (The Polite Force!). read more

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Regional Forest Agreements Review

from the National Parks Association of NSW

Have Your Say: RFA Review

Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs) are agreements between the State and Commonwealth Governments that permit the logging of public native forests. Under the RFAs forests and wildlife have suffered through intensive logging for the past 20 years.

Help end native forest logging by making a submission to the RFA review. NPA has prepared a quick submission letter and a more detailed submission guide for organisations/ individuals who would like to write there own submissions. Submissions close 23 February 2018
Send a quick submission
View our detailed submission guide
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Final Draft Rural Land Strategy presentation

There will be a drop-in session at Murwillumbah Civic Centre’s Canvas and Kettle Room, Thursday February 1 from 7pm to 8:30pm.  The session will cover the more than 140 proposed actions in the Draft Strategy which will shape the future of rural land use in Tweed Shire.  Draft Rural Land Strategy on exhibition until 28th February.

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Journey to Stop Adani frontline

A journey to the front line is being arranged by the Northern Rivers Stop Adani Group leaving on January 13 and returning on January 21. Living costs for the week on the front line are $250 and include everything.  For more information look up the Stop Adani Byron Shire Facebook page. You can also post questions and ask someone to contact you on the Facebook page.

A social night on January 9 at Mullumbimby Commons, 91 Main Arm Road from 6 to 9pm will help inform the community about what is taking place as well as provide information on the upcoming journey and encourage people to get involved.  Alternatively every Monday at 6.30pm a strategy meeting is held upstairs at the Middle Pub in Mullumbimby to discuss how to effectively move the campaign forward. read more

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VICTORY. Downer drops Adani!

This is HUGE!!

Downer quietly dropped to the stock exchange this morning that they will no longer build or operate Adani’s Carmichael mine.

Adani are pretending that it’s ‘mutual’, that they can build the mine themselves. But Adani have never built a mine in Australia and never built a mine this big. They simply can’t do it without huge delays, massive costs and extra risk to investors.

We’ve led the campaign to get Downer out of bed with Adani. Hundreds of citizens have blockaded Downer industrial sites day and night, bought shares, protested, donated and even got arrested. Please honour their efforts and celebrate this victory by:

Thank you for your ongoing support. Together we will win! read more

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North Coast Koala Survey

This survey is part of a research project to identify where you see koalas in the North Coast region and to learn your preferences for future koala management and conservation.  Take the survey at www.northcoastkoala.net

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Stand with the Wangan & Jagalingou people

At any moment, the Queensland Government could extinguish Wangan and Jagalingou native title rights in the Galilee Basin – the land Adani wants to build their Carmichael mega mine on. [1]

The Wangan and Jagalingou (W&J) Family Council have already said NO to Adani four times and are in the midst of a court battle to protect their country. [2]

It’s urgent: in the last few days, the newly elected Queensland Government was asked by W&J to give assurance that they would not extinguish native title until the Federal court case, but the Queensland Government has refused to make this commitment. [3]

This means they could trample Indigenous rights at any moment.

Can you stand with the Wangan and Jagalingou people and make a phone call to tell the Queensland Government not to extinguish native title under any circumstances? Read more on the W&J website. read more

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NCC takes govt to court on land clearing laws

The Nature Conservation Council of NSW has launched legal proceedings in the Land and Environment Court seeking to overturn land-clearing codes made under the Local Land Services Act earlier this year.

You can read more about the case and donate to help fund the case on the NCC website here.

Grounds of the case:

  1. Failure to adequately consider the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development

The Primary Industries Minister and the Environment Minister had a legal duty to consider the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development when making the land-clearing codes. That includes proper consideration of internationally recognised legal principles such as intergenerational equity, the precautionary principle, and conservation of biodiversity. Documents obtained under freedom of information laws suggests the Ministers failed to do so. read more

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Limpinwood logging

Logging on a property of high ecological significance at Limpinwood is causing grave concerns for locals and all people who care about native wildlife, habitat for rare and threatened species, cultural heritage, and corridor connectivity to World Heritage Areas.

Unauthorised works happened on this property in 2014.  Read the back story.

On 7 September 2017 Council resolved to call on the state government to investigate the logging activities on the property and to consider revoking the Private Native Forestry licence.  Memo to Mayor.  Council meeting minutes.

Echo article 13 September  Limpinwood logging destroying koala habitat

Echo article 14 September  EPA stops logging at Limpinwood for inspection read more

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Repower NSW Week of Action

The Nature Conservation Council is calling on us to sign the petition to Repower NSW with clean energy. 

CEC stall at Murwillumbah Farmers Market Wednesday 22 November.

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Repower Week

To celebrate Re power week
Come and speak to the Caldera Environment Centre team members at this Wednesday’s Farmers Market between 7 and 11 am at the Murwillumbah showground.

our climate and our democracy is in crisis. The Turnbull Government is pushing a coal energy target to keep our addiction to burning coal for energy. It’s outrageous. All while we have the renewable energy solutions to stop climate change and bring down power prices.

I’m more sure than ever that the only thing that is going to overcome the influence the coal lobby has on our democracy is people power and smart solutions.

Join us for the launch of the Repowering our Regions report, as report author Dr Brad Smith, talks through the report findings and what we can do locally to transition the energy system. read more

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Ballina, Byron and Tweed Councils E zones

The North East Forest Alliance (NEFA) is calling upon Ballina, Byron and Tweed Councils to remain resolute in the face of yet another concerted effort by NSW Farmers to stop far north-coast Councils from being able to establish Environmental Zones.

“Environmental Zones (E zones) are the only way that local communities can over-ride the State Government’s new draconian land clearing laws, apply reasonable constraints on logging, and limit inappropriate developments in our most important remnant vegetation”, according to NEFA spokesperson Dailan Pugh.

“The far north coast has been identified as both a national and international Biodiversity Hotspot because of its high number of endemic species and the threats of excessive land clearing. read more

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2017 Green Globe Awards

Inspirational projects including local business Stone & Wood and Enova Community Energy.  http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/funding-and-support/awards-and-recognition/green-globe-awards/awards/2017-winners

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Koala Mapping and Sighting Records

Tweed Shire Council interactive koala habitat restoration mapping is now live!

Links to the mapping and to report a sighting can be found on Councils website  http://www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/Koalas

You can assist by sending in your sighting including a photo if taken. These sightings can also be viewed by the public.

It is important for the conservation of Koalas that information on their whereabouts is recorded.

Your input is valuable.

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Draft Crown Land Management Regulation 2017

Future protection, management, use, transfer or sale of our publicly owned Crown Lands will be defined by the draft Regulation now on exhibition.  The Regulations underpin the Crown Land Management Act 2016 (NSW).

Comment can be made until midnight on Sunday 15 October 2017.

Documents that explain the Draft Regulation and inform submissions are:

Draft Crown Land Management Regulation 2017 – See Highlights

Key points for submissions – Crown Lands Alliance

EDO submission

Tweed Shire Council submission

NSW Government Fact Sheet

Submissions can be made:

Online

or Email to legislation@crownland.nsw.gov.au

or Post to

Draft Crown Land Management Regulation comments
Department of Industry Lands and Forestry
PO Box 2185
Dangar NSW 2309 read more

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Limpinwood logging – Private Native Forestry – Hewittville Pty. Ltd.

Logging on a property of high ecological significance at Limpinwood is causing grave concerns for locals and all people who care about native wildlife, habitat for rare and threatened species, cultural heritage, and corridor connectivity to World Heritage Areas.

Unauthorised works happened on this property in 2014.  Read the back story.

On 7 September 2017 Council resolved to call on the state government to investigate the logging activities on the property and to consider revoking the Private Native Forestry licence.  Memo to Mayor.  Council meeting minutes.

Echo article 13 September  Limpinwood logging destroying koala habitat

Echo article 14 September  EPA stops logging at Limpinwood for inspection read more

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Stop Adani Big Day of Action Cabarita 7 Oct

11am – 1pm.  Norries Headland, Cabarita.  Join forces with the Stop Adani campaign to create human signs at iconic locations across Australia.

At the local event there will be photos at the headland followed by a picnic, so please spread the word, wear red, bring a picnic rug and something to eat.

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Transport Forum 25 September Murwillumbah

How do you feel about the future of public transport in our region?

A Public Forum will be held on Monday 25th September, 6 pm – 9 pm at Murwillumbah Community Centre.

Speakers:

Katie Milne – Tweed Shire Mayor
Dr Mehreen Faruqi – NSW MP & Transport spokesperson
Geoff Reid – Northern Rivers Railway Action Group

Event poster

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Protecting our paddock trees

Paddock trees are big, old, majestic native trees that often stand alone like sentinels from another time. They graciously provide shelter for stock, nectar for honeybees, hollows for nesting, and places of rest and safety for weary wildlife.

Studies have shown economic and environmental benefits from keeping paddock trees and small patches of native trees in a rural landscape.

Share a story about your favourite paddock tree at http://www.yoursaytweed.com.au/PaddockTrees

This page honours the humble paddock tree and aims to assist these valuable giants outlining how they can be protected.

Council is offering assistance to landholders to keep their trees in good health and assist regeneration of future trees. Click here to find out more or phone Council on (02) 6670 2419. read more

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New solar bulk buy

Community partnered bulk buy information sessions – Sept 12-14th: Tweed, M’bah, Ballina, Lismore, Byron.  The first “Farming the Sun” bulk buy round was fully subscribed. Bulk buys save 20-29% on retail prices.

The “Farming the Sun” group is up front with all their pricing and offers. Also included are prices for Reposit systems. The scheme focuses on tier 1 equipment but only one installer.

RSVP to an information session here

Lismore (Main Launch event)

  • Tuesday 12 September
  • 12.15pm for 12.30pm start to 1.30pm
  • Northern Rivers Community Legal Centre, 16 Carrington Street

Ballina

  • Tuesday 12 September
  • 5.15pm for 5.30pm start to 6.30pm
  • Ballina Surf Lifesaving Club
    • read more

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    Living for the Future Home Expo

    Saturday, 16 September 2017

    A free, family-friendly event offering a one-stop-shop of stalls and practical workshops to help people embrace sustainable living principles, find out more about smart housing designs and renovations to help create more affordable and environmentally-friendly homes and lifestyles in the Tweed.

    Be inspired and informed:

    • See the winners announced for the 2017 regional Sustainable House Day ‘Build It Local’ design competition awards and view the design entries on display.  More information at http://www.sustainablehousedaynr.org/
    • Join in workshops such as building with bamboo, bee keeping, easy food gardens in small spaces, and practical, inexpensive ideas for sustainable living.
    • Sample delicious food from chef Daniel Lange as he shares tips to save up to $1,000 per year in food costs.
    • Go in the draw to win fantastic prizes

    Visit local trade stalls, community groups and talk to Council for all you need to know about smart, sustainable living in the Tweed.

    Enjoy delicious food and local coffee, and make the most of free kids activities available all day.

    Home Expo and Lights On Festival combine

    Visitors to this year’s Expo will have a chance to enjoy an extended program of live entertainment and participate in the annual Tweed lantern parade when the new ‘Lights On the Tweed’ festival relocates to the Terranora Broadwater at Seagulls this year. read more

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    Draft Wildlife Protection Areas Policy

    This is a great initiative by Council to protect and improve high conservation value public land by reducing threats to wildlife from the impacts of domestic cats and dogs.

    Draft Wildlife Protection Areas Policy

    The draft Policy is on public exhibition until 12 September 2017.  Community is invited to comment by 26 September 2017.

    Submissions can be made in writing to: The General Manager, Tweed Shire Council, PO Box 816, Murwillumbah NSW 2484 or by email to tsc@tweed.nsw.gov.au.

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    Sunlight and Seaweed

    Sunlight and Seaweed , the most recent book by Tim Flannery is a must-read book for all who want to look straight ahead at climate change and its effect on our planet and our lives. Importantly it is a book that presents hopeful solutions in the face of these challenges. Flannery believes we cannot now avoid the 2% warming level but he goes on to show that already there is innovative technology and initiatives which, if embraced in time, can mitigate the legacy we have created.

    Central to the solution is a new and much more powerful method of collecting sunlight and one that allows storage of heat despite the disappearance of the sun each night.  Access to such clean and abundant power, along with other developing technologies, can  solve many urgent problems. For example, it will allow the cleanup of the swaths of polluted and unusable soils on the planet and of the mass of toxic rubbish in the ocean as well as giving access to unlimited  use of desalinated water from the sea.  Flannery also predicts  that food production in the future will rely on extensive use of hydroponics as well  large scale seaweed farming, the latter being also a way to substantially reduce carbon in the atmosphere. Each of the initiatives presented is already in operation and the book gives accessible detail about methodology and current development stage. read more

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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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