NSW Land Management and Biodiversity Conservation Reforms – Summary of submissions report
97% of Crown Land leases go to those in the know, says Auditor General
Media release 8 September 2016
The Baird Government is grossly mismanaging the Crown Land estate and the community is being frozen out of decision-making, according to a report from the NSW Auditor General into the Sale and lease of Crown land.
This report confirms what the Greens and members of the public have been saying for years, that public parks, reserves and foreshores lands are being sold and leased at alarming rates with no transparency and minimal oversight. Urgent reform is needed to protect our precious public land estate.
Greens MP and Crown Land Spokesperson David Shoebridge said:
“This report confirms what the public has known for years, closed door negotiations with selected applicants are normal when it comes to signing away the rights over public land. This has to end.
Home Expo – Living for the Future 2016
Saturday 3 September 2016 from 9am – 2pm, Seagulls Club, Gollan Drive, Tweed Heads West. A one-stop-shop of local suppliers and inspirers with ideas and solutions for more sustainable living in the Tweed.
The Expo aims to help people:
- save costs
- be energy and water efficient
- reuse resources and reduce waste
- enhance the local environment
- cut greenhouse gas emissions
- move towards food and energy self-sufficiency
- improve your health and wellbeing
- support local suppliers
Cultivating Murder – global warming, land clearing and cold blooded murder.
Cultivating Murder is both a personal story of those affected by the murder of NSW environmental officer, Glen Turner in 2014 and an exploration of the wider political implications of the murder, in the context of proposed changes to Australia’s environmental protection laws.
You may wish to pledge a contribution to help get the film finished and released.
Focus on tiny homes in sustainable house design competition
Imagine a sustainable house that can bring the ability to live debt-free, with utility bills as low as $10 a month.
It’s not just a dream – the tiny house movement is a reality more Australians are adopting as a means of achieving freedom from debt, minimal environmental impact, and the opportunity to live simply.
For that reason, the focus for the Northern Rivers Sustainable House Day Design Competition this year is Tiny Homes. The competition is now open to residents, architects, designers and young people in the Northern Rivers.
More than $5,000 in cash and prizes is up for grabs over three design categories: Tiny Homes – A Pocket Neighbourhood, A Tiny Home and A Teeny Tiny Home. To find out more and enter go to www.sustainablehousedaynr.org
Update from Enova Energy
Save our Tweed – No Runway Extension
The approval of the ILS has also secured an increase in the operational length of runway 14 unlawfully.
MDP Table 2.1: ILS components – A localiser antenna located 300m from runway 14 end (pg.15), currently 2,342m (Master Plan 2011, pg.85).
However, the antenna is located 300m from just inside the airport southern boundary giving runway 14 a length of 2500m (a longer take off length to the south).
Under the Airports Act a MDP is required for altering a runway (s.89 (ba). The approved ILS MDP made no reference to increasing the runway 14 length.
This will also require the construction of the Runway End Safety Area (RESA) on the NSW Crown Reserve not referenced in the ILS MDP.
Along with this GCA are proposing to relocate the runway 32 landing threshold approx. 310m to the south.
This enables larger long-haul aircraft to utilise the runway, thus putting aircraft lower over the Tweed and increasing noise and emission impacts and impacting on property values.
Seeking sustainable homes to open for Sustainable House Day
CEC submission to Upper House inquiry into Crown Land
Read CEC submission here.
CEC submission to NSW Biodiversity Law Reforms
Read CEC submission here.
Parliamentary Inquiry into Crown Land
Public lands should be held on trust for the people of NSW; managed by the Government with management directed at identifying and protecting the diverse values of public lands. The NSW Government is proposing significant changes to the way Crown land is managed in NSW.
The NSW Upper House is currently conducting an inquiry into Crown Lands in NSW. The inquiry will look at:
a) the extent of Crown land and the benefits of active use and management of that land to New South Wales,
b) the adequacy of community input and consultation regarding the commercial use and disposal of Crown land,
c) the most appropriate and effective measures for protecting Crown land so that it is preserved and enhanced for future generations, and
NCC’s joint submission to Biodiversity Legislation Review
Read the joint submission here
EDO submissions on NSW Biodiversity Law Reforms
Read the submissions on EDO NSW site.
EDO on NSW Biodiversity Reform
Stand Up For Nature
Visit http://www.standupfornature/resources to read the submission guide and more information about the proposed changes to our conservation and biodiversity laws.
Submissions will be accepted until 5pm on Tuesday 28 June 2016.
Festival Cancelled
Hi All
It is unfortunate that we are cancelling Sunday’s Festival due to predicted heavy rain and possible floods for the Tweed Valley, yet again.
On analysis of many weather predictions it is evident that the deluge will peak on Sunday with possible falls of up to 100mm. We are sorry for the inconvenience to you. It would be pointless to attempt the festival, as much as we would like to. We were prepared for moderate rain but not for rain as severe, as is predicted. We delayed postponing, to the last minute last time, as the accurate predictions were for a sunny Sunday which it was. The floods beat us then. This time it looks like Sunday Floody Sunday.
We plan to organize another environment festival in a drier time. Hope you can all make it.
NSW biodiversity reforms: 6 things you need to know
EDO NSW has identified six key issues with the NSW Government proposed legislative and policy package.
http://www.edonsw.org.au/the_2016_nsw_biodiversity_reforms_6_things_you_need_to_know
World Environment Day 2016 poster
World Environment Day Festival Program
Late additions to the program:
Midday: Lui Weber is a Senior Botanist with Biodiversity Assessment and Management Pty Ltd, specialising in flora identification and management. Lui has worked in a wide range of bioregions and ecosystems across Australia, from rainforests to dry forests, grasslands and wetlands. Lui will talk about plant identification, evolution and ecology.
1pm: Sapoty Brook is an electrical engineer orientated towards finding and providing transport solutions for an over-heating world. He has been marketing recycled motor scooters and developing a revolutionary kind of propulsion system. Sapoty wants more people to discover the benefits and joys of light electric vehicles.
Public Meeting – Gold Coast Airport PFC Land and Water Contamination
7 June 6pm – Come along and hear about possible contamination of groundwater, Tweed and Gold Coast waterways, fish and Bilinga bore water.
Following the disturbing findings of Fiskville and Williamtown where towns have been put under a code red from PFC contamination and warned not to drink or use the water or eat produce from the contaminated area, the Gold Coast airport has been exposed as having similar contamination – yet no-one has been warned.
Come and find out the facts from the experts and hear about the recent senate inquiry into the Gold Coast Airport PFC contamination.
Speakers include:
Dr Mariann Lloyd-Smith,Senior Advisor to the National Toxics Network and IPEN, an international public interest NGO. Member of the UN Expert Group on Climate Change and Chemicals.
NCC Submission Guide – Draft North Coast Regional Plan
Time is running out to have your say on future planning for the North Coast.
From its stunning beaches to the scenic hinterland, and productive valleys to coastal shores, the North Coast is a vibrant landscape of thriving ecosystems and a unique place to live.
Right now the NSW Government is developing a new plan to set the future direction for the region and so far it fails to protect the environment and the incredible natural values of the North Coast.
We’ve created a submission guide to help you prepare a submission by June 2nd. Don’t miss this chance to have you say on the future of your community.
The draft Plan covers local government areas in the North, Mid, and Lower North Coast including Tweed, Byron, Ballina, Lismore, Richmond Valley, Kyogle, Clarence, Coffs Harbour, Nambucca Valley, Bellingen, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Kempsey and Greater Taree.
EDO NSW top 10 concerns with draft Biodiversity Conservation Bill 2016 and Local Land Services Amendment Bill
EDO Workshop: Draft Biodiversity Conservation Bill
Biodiversity Legislation Review – EDO NSW
The NSW Government has released its new draft Biodiversity Conservation Bill, a Local Land Services Amendment Bill, and information about proposed land clearing codes.
The proposed law and policy package is a serious retrograde step as it involves removing many of NSW long-held environmental protections.
The legislative package is designed to replace the Native Vegetation Act, Threatened Species Conservation Act, the Nature Conservation Trust Act and parts of the National Parks & Wildlife Act.
The package will be on public exhibition for the next eight weeks, and submissions close on Tuesday 28 June 2016.
We’ll be running a series of workshops throughout NSW in June to assist communities to engage in the reforms. We will also be releasing a briefing note in the coming weeks which will provide a more detailed analysis of what is proposed.
Tree planting at Cudgen Nature Reserve Sunday 15th May
WetlandCare Australia would like to invite the wider community to join them for a community tree planting day at Clothiers Creek Road near Cabarita Beach on the 15th of May to improve habitat for the Tweed coastal Koala population.
WetlandCare Australia is collaborating with project partners Friends of Cudgen Nature Reserve, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Tweed Shire Council and Friends of the Koala to repair over 1 ha of Koala habitat in the reserve. These crucial habitat restoration works will help to safeguard the threatened population of Koalas on the Tweed coast and reduce the decline of this iconic species within our region.
Over the next two years WetlandCare Australia will work with partners and the community to plant 3000 native trees to create important Koala habitat in Cudgen Nature Reserve. Laura White Senior Project Officer at WetlandCare Australia said ‘We are very excited to welcome the community to our first planting day for this project. It will be great to get our hands dirty and work together for practical, tangible benefits for Tweed coast Koalas.’
EDO Update on Protest Laws
This Fact Sheet describes changes made to protest laws in March 2016. It covers new aggravated trespass offences, expanded offences for interfering with a mine, and new police powers. The laws have not yet commenced.
Inquiry into water augmentation in rural and regional New South Wales
The NSW Legislative Council’s General Purpose Standing Committee No.5 is currently conducting an inquiry into water augmentation in rural and regional New South Wales.
The closing date for submissions is14 August 2016.
The inquiry will take place over 18 months, and the committee intends to hold public hearings across rural and regional New South Wales, following the closing date for submissions.
Renewables in agriculture workshop
Find out how your farm business can benefit from clean energy technologies to move water. Learn from industry experts and solar providers about selecting the right solar powered pump for your agricultural needs.
Speakers will explain what government incentives are available, top tips on energy efficient pumps and how to plan for future climate variability. Talk to local suppliers and hear about case studies from our region.
Friday 13 May 2016, 10am til 1pm, Tropical Fruit World, Duranbah. Bookings essential on 6670 2400 by 10 May.
CEC Fun Raiser Dinner
Do you want an inflatable aquatic ‘fun park’ in Jack Evans Boat Harbour?
This idea was proposed in late 2013 by Councillor Polglase and subsequently rejected by Councillors, 4 votes to 2.
Aquasplash fun park operators have now approached Tweed Shire Council about such a facility in Jack Evans Boat Harbour.
Aquasplash operates a business at Broadwater Parklands at Southport on the Gold Coast.
CEC has been contacted by members and wider community who are strongly opposed to such a facility in the Boat Harbour. Concerns raised include impacts on aquatic and terrestrial fauna and flora (including threatened species), noise, pollution, traffic and lack of parking, loss of public area for free activities such as swimming, proximity to residential buildings and loss of scenic amenity.
World Environment Day Festival – Sunday 19 June 2016 – Knox Park Murwillumbah
Come Join The Race To Make The World A Better Place!
FREE environmental celebration and educational community fun day.
With Live Music – Andrea Kirwin Band, Broadfoot
The Pitts Family Circus – Tasty Food – Environmental and Sustainable business stalls – Kids’ activities in the kids tent and workshop with Hoopla Circus – Enviro quest and prizes – Electric car demo, electric bicycles and solar trailer, composting and fermentation demo.
Speakers Room: Steve Harris, CEO of ENOVA: Australia’s first community owned renewable energy retailer – Kacey Clifford and Andrew Price from the Tyalgum Energy project – Nina Lucas from the Environmental Defenders Office on Biodiversity Protection Legislation – Michael Corke on Prioritising onground actions in Threatened Species Recovery projects – Greg Reid president of Tweed Climate Action Now on Options when the Gross Solar Feed-In Tariff ends.
Fun Raising Dinner
ISSUES – Gold Coast Airport Pty. Ltd. (GCA) Instrument Landing System (ILS) Preliminary Draft Major Development Plan (MDP)
INTRODUCTION
Federally-leased airports in Australia are required to produce a Master Plan (MP) every 5yrs. This is effectively a blueprint for the future coordinated development of an airport over a 20yr period, with an emphasis on the first 5yrs. It includes information relating to forecast growth, airport terminals and facilities, runways and incorporates an environmental strategy.
National Aviation Policy White Paper: This Paper was released by the Federal Government 16/12/09 and its objectives formed the basis for policy directions, and administration of regulation of aviation in Australia, which included; Reinforce the importance of minimising aviation’s negative impacts on the environment and communities. The goals included; A response approach is required to managing the environmental impacts of aviation.
Save Ballina’s Koalas & Treetops
Dear Friends of the Koala
The March issue of Treetops is already late and will be later still.
In part this is due to the critical stage of our campaign to persuade the Federal Minister for the Environment to reject the Ballina Koala Plan and determine against proceeding with the route chosen for Section 10 of the Pacific Highway Upgrade.
Here is a summary of our concerns with the Plan:
Concerns regarding data used in the Population Viability Analysis (PVA):
· The PVA uses an overly-optimistic estimation of the current koala population (236), at odds with that provided to the PVA author by the field study (196).
· The PVA underestimates the number of koalas likely to be displaced by the road’s construction (5 koalas), compared to the number, 10-14 estimated from field study observations of koalas recorded on or near the proposed route.
Draft North Coast Regional Plan
The consultation period is open until 2 June, 2016.
View the draft Plan and have your say by making a submission online during the consultation period at www.planning.nsw.gov.au/NorthCoast
Further consultation on NSW coastal reforms
Media release – 25 February 2016
Planning Minister Rob Stokes today announced a second stage of targeted consultation on the NSW Government’s coastal reforms, in response to valuable community feedback already obtained during the initial consultation phase.
Mr Stokes said that proposals for a new Coastal Management State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) had been on public exhibition since November last year and a full draft of the SEPP and corresponding maps would also be released separately for public comment in the coming months.
“The coast is the home of our state’s ‘saltwater economy’, it’s a vital economic zone that supports much of the state’s industrial and commercial activity and we want to ensure we have thriving, resilient coastal communities now and into the future.
CEC submission to NSW coastal reforms
Caldera Environment Centre (CEC) has been established in Tweed Shire for the past 25 years to promote the protection of the environment. Tweed Shire has a highly diverse coastal area which over the past years has been the subject of CEC campaigns. A major campaign was the protection of the large Pottsville Wetlands which includes SEPP 14 wetlands with a successful outcome of over 200ha being transferred from private ownership to community land managed by Tweed Shire Council.
A CEC representative attended the Coastal Reforms presentation by OEH at Ballina and this month we were able to have the EDO facilitate a community workshop on the Coastal Reforms.
The Tweed coastal environment is under massive pressure from adjacent activities such as large residential and industrial developments, major roads, sports fields and an airport.
Public Meeting 14 March – Gold Coast Airport Expansion Plans
Environmental Volunteering Survey – Are you an environmental volunteer?
The NSW Environmental Trust is planning new initiatives to better support environmental volunteers and volunteer programs, but we need to know what is important to volunteers first. To discover this, the Trust is conducting a survey of environmental volunteers and we would really appreciate your participation so that we can include your views.
Who should do the survey?…. anyone who has done ANY kind of unpaid work (‘on-ground’, administrative or other support, advocacy, fundraising) that benefits the environment, with an organisation (government or non-government) or group, in the past 12 months.
By completing our survey you are helping volunteer programs AND you can enter our prize draw for a one year NSW National Parks entry pass for one vehicle.
Stand up for nature – sign the petition to stop Baird’s war on trees!
Our unique and beautiful natural heritage in NSW is in crisis. Without urgent action, many our species of native wildlife, including the iconic koala, will become extinct within our lifetime.
Without adopting new, sensitive approaches to land management, our farmers will find it harder than ever to provide food and fibre sustainably in the face of a hotter, drier climate.
Before the election, Premier Mike Baird committed to “enhancing the state’s biodiversity to benefit current and future generations”, but he is now caving into pressure from developers and a minority of landholders who want to weaken our nature protection laws.
The petition of certain citizens of NSW brings to the attention of the House key features that must form part of an effective Biodiversity Conservation Bill.
NCC submission guide on NSW coastal reforms
Submissions close 29 February 2016. Here is the submission guide.
EDO workshop presentation: NSW Coastal Reforms
Read the EDO presentation here.
Draft Water Sharing Plan for the North Coast Coastal Sands Groundwater Sources
The draft Water Sharing Plan for the North Coast Coastal Sands Groundwater Sources includes proposed rules for protecting the environment, water extractions, managing licence holders’ water accounts, and water trading in the plan area.
The draft plan area comprises all coastal sand aquifers from the Queensland border to the Hawkesbury River.
Set back distances from the boundary of National Parks estates has been identified as a specific Key Issue within the plan area.
Report Card for the Tweed – Brunswick Coastal Sands
Draft Water Sharing Plan for the North Coast Coastal Sands Groundwater Sources
FREE EDO WORKSHOP: How to Have Your Say: NSW Coastal Management reforms
Caldera Environment Centre will host a free EDO NSW workshop in Cabarita to explain the new draft framework for coastal management for NSW and how the community can have their say and respond to the reforms.
Late last year the NSW Government released the coastal management reforms package proposing new laws and significant changes to the way NSW coastal areas will be managed. A draft Coastal Management Bill, Explanation of Intended Effect from the proposed new Coastal Management State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP), and key elements of a draft coastal management manual are currently on public exhibition until 29 February 2016.
The workshop will address what the reforms mean for the coastal environment and how the community can get involved.
CEC response to Northern Councils E Zone Recommendations
Honourable Rob Stokes
Minister for Planning
office@stokes.minister.nsw.gov.au
14th December 2015
Northern Councils E Zones Recommendations
Dear Mr Stokes
Members of Caldera Environment Centre would like to submit their concerns in relation to the recommendations of the E Zone review of northern councils as they relate to Tweed Shire.
A recent public workshop on the recommendations was held by our group and the EDO at Murwillumbah. Those attending, approximately 40, overwhelming supported the implementation of E Zones in areas of native vegetation. This is a similar response to that at community consultation sessions during the period of the review. There have been very few issues against the implementation of E Zones in Tweed Shire.
Tweed water supply augmentation
At Council meeting on 10th December the following motion was passed on the casting vote of the Mayor.
Mayoral Minute Water Supply Augmentation
1. Based on the information currently available, Council adopts the raising of the wall of the Clarrie Hall Dam as the preferred option for future water security and proceeds with the planning approval and land acquisitions phase for the project.
2. Concurrently a comprehensive independent review of Council’s Water Supply-Demand options is undertaken as a matter of priority, to ascertain further consideration of the most ecologically sustainable, climate change resilient, cost effective and socially acceptable long term water management and augmentation options available. Such a review should include, but not be limited to, a full range of demand management, drought security and supply options.
EDO Briefing Note on E Zone Reforms
The Environmental Defenders Office has prepared a briefing note outlining the NSW Government’s changes to the way that councils can set land aside for environmental conservation and management in the Far North Coast of NSW, and the wider implications of these changes for the rest of the State.
After the EDO workshop about reforms to environmental zones
The Environmental Defenders Office visited Tweed on 24 November to explain recent changes to environmental zones in the North Coast. CEC is preparing a response to these state government reforms. Thank you to all the people who came along to the workshop and to those who contributed to supper. The workshop was very well attended. CEC has sent our thanks to the EDO for an excellent presentation.
For a copy of the presentation visit http://www.edonsw.org.au/past_workshop_materials
Links to further information:
EDO NSW:
http://www.edonsw.org.au/new_approach_to_north_coast_environmental_zones
Northern Councils E Zone Review Final Recommendations Report:
Nature Conservation Council of NSW – Major changes to Coastal Protection Laws
NSW Planning Minister, Rob Stokes, has announced major changes to NSW coastal protection laws. Our assessment is that there are positive aspects to the reforms, which involve:
* Replacing the current Coastal Protection Act with a new Coastal Management Act
* Replacing the current NSW Coastal Policy with a new Coastal Manual
* Replacing existing State Environment Planning Policies (SEPP 14 – Coastal Wetlands, SEPP 26 – Littoral Rainforests and SEPP 71 – Coastal Management) with a new Coastal SEPP.
The changes appear to have a strong emphasis on ecologically sustainable development, community engagement and environment protection, and have generally been welcomed by NCC. http://www.nature.org.au/news/2015/11/coastal-reform-package-is-a-step-in-the-right-direction/