The story of an ecologist with a plan to save the world by restoring the planet’s forests. His original work was hijacked by corporations and politicians with disastrous effect. Now he’s using science to fight back. Includes a segment with Professor David Lindenmayer, author of The Forest Wars, available from the NEW Caldera Environment Center and Shop, next door to the Fresh Wholefoods store. 43/2 Wollumbin St Murwillumbah.
Landcare field day
Tweed Landcare invites you to attend a free Landcare field day in focused on balancing property management for cattle and biodiversity conservation.
Presented by North Coast Regional Landcare, Tweed Land Care Inc. and the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust, the session will demonstrate the benefits of balanced land management for farmers.
The field day, held on Bundjalung Country, will include a range of speakers and a farm walk and talk tour of Rhonda and Greg James Cudgera Creek property, including through high-value conservation bushland. Local graziers and others will present on ways of balancing conservation efforts with grazing and what financial and technical supports are available to landholders to undertake conservation work on their properties.
Highway to Hell: Are we stuck in a Climate Action Cul-de-sac?
With ever-increasing frequency of floods, intense storms and bushfires, we know the climate crisis is accelerating.
We also know that the solutions are with us, the everyday people who hold the power to vote and compel decision-makers to enact the right policies for the health of our planet.
I’m Chels Hood Whithey, Founder of House You and a local 350 Australia supporter, and I am excited to invite you to a pivotal event that will empower our community to take decisive action on climate change: Highway to Hell: Are we stuck in a Climate Action Cul-de-sac?
Silent Spring
The extraordinary story of a lowly-paid public servant who launched an environmental conservation movement and became an unlikely 1960s pop culture icon. Using a combination of lyrical writing and fact driven journalism, when Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring was published in 1963 it alerted the world …19 Dec 202419 December 2024
Native Forests Rally Mullumbimby
Native Forests Rally in Mullumbimby at the Civic Hall
Sunday November 3rd 10am
I am writing on behalf of the Bob Brown Foundation to ask for your involvement in the nationwide Rally for Native Forests on Sun 3 Nov at the Mullumbimby Civic Hall and Cenotaph Park.
The rally itself is from 11-12, and this is bookended by environment group networking and mask-making activities (by Save Wallum crew) from 10am with coffee and food available, then a march and live music until about 1pm. The festival atmosphere will entice people to network and socialise while standing up for the forests together.
The Wollumbin Caldera
Text in progress, apologies.
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A ‘Caldera’ is the geographical remnant of an extinct volcano.
… the soft red volcanic soil washed away over eons, revealing the circular landscape feature of the outer wall of the caldera, formed from a harder magna material inducted below the surface, with the central hardstone ‘plug’ of the volcano remaining as Mount Warning / Wollumbin.
A particular ecosystem existed within the geographical landscape of the Wollumbin Caldera, for eons, different from the surrounding landscape, a biosphere of unique and diverse lifeforms, a wonder to behold, almost completely destroyed for the extraction of ‘timber’ for the hardwood sleepers of the London underground railway system.
Find Us
The Caldera Environment Centre and Shop is at 2/43 Wollumbin Street, Murwillumbah. (Next to Whole Foods).
43a Wollumbin Street
Murwillumbah NSW 2484
Australia
Email: caldera@calderaenvironmentcentre.org
Web: http://calderaenvironmentcentre.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calderaenvironmentcentre
CEC Shop Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calderaenvironmentcentreshop/
Post: PO Box 5090 South Murwillumbah NSW 2484 Australia
Heal the Rivers
petition to end logging of native forests
End public native forest logging
‘Rogue’ government agency Forestry Corporation of NSW accused of more illegal logging
petition to end logging of native forests.
Right now the NSW state owned logging company is logging an area larger than 10,000 football fields inside the proposed Great Koala National Park and has recently been accused of illegally logging the homes of endangered Greater Gliders – despite clear rules prohibiting logging in these areas.
The logging industry is currently writing to NSW MPs asking for their support to continue unsustainable industrial logging in our native forests including some of the last critical habitat for endangered species like the Koala and Greater Glider.
Follow the Rain
World famous fungi hunters invite audiences on a unique expedition into the wilderness of Australia, where the symbiotic dance between fungi, plants and animals, unlocks nature’s greatest secrets.
We document fungi because humans are only just starting to understand how important fungi are to life on our planet and how critical they are in protecting us from the impacts of climate change. We realise now that without fungi, the world as we know it would not exist – forests would not exist, and we would not exist. Now the push is on to document as many species as possible, as fast as possible. Raising awareness about fungi is critical to achieving that goal.
What the gas giants knew all along
From The Saturday Paper
The founding chair of Australia’s oldest fossil fuel industry association was aware at least as early as 1969 that burning oil, gas and coal had the potential to cause harm, according to newly recovered materials.
However, legal experts say that under Australian law it is unlikely companies will be held to account for their historical role in driving climate change, while activists and campaign groups are ever more at risk of litigation and jail time.
The relevant observations are found in an article published in the June 1969 issue of Australian Fisheries – a journal produced by the then federal department of primary industry – authored by Reg Sprigg, a geologist who helped establish Santos, served as the founding chair of the Australian Petroleum Exploration Association (APEA) and founded the oil company Beach Energy.
An Evening with the federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek
When: 6:30pm, Thursday, 15th August 2024
Where: Online, via Zoom
And you can invite others to join you at the event with this link:
https://www.nature.org.au/evening_with_the_minister_2024?recruiter_id=52205
I look forward to seeing you then.
Ed Mortimer
Organising Director
Nature Conservation Council of NSW
Climate Community Convergence event!
Hi Friends of the Koala Inc,
Are you and your community free on Saturday 22 June from 10:00am – 3:00pm Rising Tide is going on Tour and coming to Bangalow for a Climate Community Convergence event!
In November 2023, Rising Tide organised The People’s Blockade of the World’s Largest Coal Port, which saw over 3,000 people from across Australia come to Newcastle and blockade the coal port for over 32 hours. This incredible event saw a group from the Northern Rivers establish ‘Climate Justice Alliance Northern Rivers’ in December 2023.
Minister won’t step in over alleged logging breaches
An audit found Forestry Corporation breached greater glider search rules 188 times in eight weeks.
NSW’s environment minister has refused to intervene amid fears the government’s own Forestry Corporation could be illegally destroying the den trees of endangered greater gliders.
Penny Sharpe has voted against a motion, brought by the Greens in parliament, calling for the suspension of logging in nine state forests while investigations are carried out.
The motion was made after an audit by conservation groups found the Forestry Corporation had breached new greater glider search rules 188 times in just eight weeks.
Environment Initiatives
Tweed Shire Council has lots of opportunities for you to have your say about Sustainability and Environment initiatives, including:
Energy Access and Poverty plan
Electric Vehicle Charging in the Tweed
Community Action Network May Sustainable Food
Climate Change Adaptation reference Group
For More information go to TSC website
CEC at Kinship Festival
The Caldera Environment Centre will have a stall at the Kinship Festival on May 25 at Knox Park.
Come and check out our range of environmental books and grass roots products, such as stainless steel clothes pegs, water bottles and native plants.
As well as Plant ID and children’s books, we have the recently launched book: The Forest Wars, by ecologist David Lyndenmayer.
Architect, Rebecca Whan will demonstrate the ancient method of Earth Bag building
The Forest Wars
Professor David Lindenmayer AO, in his new book, The Forest Wars, lifts the lid on destruction of native forests by government corporations and logging industry that is making bushfires worse, killing wildlife and costing taxpayers millions, for the sake of woodchips for export.
David Lindenmayer reveals an unholy alliance between state forestry, the timber industry and unions. Loggers routinely breach regulations, and industry intimidates anyone who questions what they are doing. Worse still, even where native forest logging is supposedly ending, efforts are being made to continue it under a different name. Forests purify our drinking water. Forests are our best hope to reduce carbon emissions. Forests preserve biodiversity. It’s time we realised the value of leaving our native forests standing.
State Government Koala Strategy
From our friends at North East Forest Alliance (NEFA) a flyer to encourage your response to the State Governments Koala Strategy. The most important thing to emphasise is habitat. We need to see an end to native forest logging as in Western Australia and Victoria. Currently logging is happening in the proposed Koala National Park. Submissions due 26th April.
TSC, Increased Roadside Weed Management, 3 Year Contract
Weeds, along with habitat loss and feral animals, are the top causes of the loss of biodiversity in NSW.
Cnclr Nola Firth: “We in the tweed are responsible for one of the most diverse places in Australia and one where we have the most threatened species.
“Despite this weeds are proliferating along our road side and the floods have spread seriously invasive weeds such as devils fig. Many in the community are concerned about the issue.
“In response to this urgent situation a it is proposed that council accept the quote from Rous County Council for a full weeds team and their equipment for three years.
Draft Growth Management and Housing Strategy
Passing this on from The Northern Rivers Guardians.
Friends:
A few weeks ago, we alerted you to Tweed Shire Council’s Draft Growth Management and Housing Strategy that was exhibited for public comment. The draft raises many questions about what the shire will be like in the future, including how to best preserve the region as we know it. Re-zoning of different areas and other significant changes are in the strategy, including plans for development of most areas of the shire. If you haven’t yet looked at the document in detail, here is a link:
https://www.yoursaytweed.com.
The deadline for submissions was 22 March, but if you have comments on the draft that you have not sent in yet, please send them in asap. We understand that late submissions will be considered—as long as they aren’t too late in arriving. Please follow the link above for more information on the draft and on making a submission.
March for the Forests
Sunday 10am Gather at Riverside Park. Lismore
Will you March in March in Lismore with us?
We can protect our native forests, restore our landscapes, expand our plantation base and create thousands of jobs in the regions.
We need a national strategy to guide this important work, and we need to move urgently – to 100% plantation timber and an end to broadscale land clearing before the next federal election.
make sure you bring your friends and family along too!
The Australian Gas Royalties Issue:
ePetition: Increase Penalties for Urban Forest Tree Vandalism and Recognise Trees as Natural Assets
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY – ePetition:
To the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly, In November 2023, Lane Cove witnessed the worst act of environmental vandalism in its history. Nearly 300 trees and plants were illegally removed from Council-owned bushland in Longueville. Local governments received more than 1000+ reports of trees being damaged or killed in the previous 12 months. Our urban forests are under threat. These acts also put a financial burden on already cash-strapped councils. It’s time to take stronger action against those who harm our environment. Current fines for tree vandalism in NSW are $3,000 for individuals and $6,000 for companies, compared with recent reforms in the ACT imposing fines up to $80,000. We ask the Legislative Assembly to call on the Government to significantly increase penalties for urban forest tree vandalism. Councils lack resources for thorough criminal investigations, hindering effective prosecution. Despite the illegality of tree vandalism under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, only 19 cases were prosecuted from 2018 to 2022. We the undersigned petitioners also ask the Legislative Assembly to call on the Government to amend the NSW Local Government Act to include trees in Councils’ asset registers as ‘natural assets’, allocate a budget for a collaboration of councils to undertake pilot projects to integrate natural capital/asset reporting in balance sheets and develop natural asset data capture and management standards. Recognising trees as ‘natural assets’ helps us appreciate their true value including their role in combating climate change and preserving biodiversity.
Caldera Update
Both state and federal governments are responsible for decisions which erode environmental protection.
The Caldera Environment Centre is supporting environmental protection groups, Fridays4Forests, North East Forest Alliance, Northern Rivers Guardians to call for immediate action to protect native forests and species habitat, for their intrinsic ecological, biodiversity and carbon services.
On Friday 8th March from 11.00 outside Justine Elliott’s
South Tweed office.
The ‘ March in March for the Forests’ is in Lismore on Sunday 24th of March.
NCC: The government is currently seeking feedback on changes to the Environmental Protection Act.
A Sad Decision for Nationally Threatened Species – “This judgement means that it is valid to roll over Regional Forest Agreements (RFAs) forever-more based on data collated in 1997″
NORTH EAST FOREST ALLIANCE:
“Justice Perry ‘s judgement of today in North East Forest Alliance vs The Commonwealth of Australia is that no contemporaneous [‘at that time’] assessment is required before extending Regional Forest Agreements beyond the originally intended 20 years, noting:
the question of whether or not to enter into or vary an intergovernmental agreement of this nature is essentially a political one, the merits of which are matters for the government parties, and not the Courts, to determine.
EDO: “We’ll keep fighting to protect NSW forests after disappointing court decision.”
Find Us
Tweed Shire Council Monthly Public Meeting Agenda and Minutes (links)
The Monthly Public Meeting of Council
Council publishes the upcoming Monthly Public Meeting Agenda and subsequent meeting Minutes here: link.
eMail notifications for the agenda of forthcoming meetings as they become available can be subscribed to also via the above link.
Birdlife Northern Rivers
Public education plays an important role in what we [Birdlife Northern Rivers] do. We have placed signs at important roosting, feeding and breeding sites from the Tweed River in the north, to the Port Macquarie coast and at inland areas identifying significant Regent Honeyeater habitat. Additional signs, posters and Bird Routes brochures have been developed to raise awareness of migratory and resident shorebirds.
EDO:
Nightcap National Park: Going Back in Time, Birdwatching in an Ancient Rainforest
Update Regarding Caravan Park proposed on Pottsville Koala habitat
Notice from proponent’s lawyers, 3rd April 2024, an on-site “… conciliation conference under section 34 of the Land and Environment Court Act 1979 (Conciliation Conferen… If the matter is not resolved at the Conciliation Conference, the matter will proceed to a hearing at a date to be fixed.”
S34-Notice-of-Concilliation-Meeting-Potsville-Caravan-Park-DADownload———-
Development Application no. DA23/0302 (112 sites, reception, managers residence and pool).
A development application has been lodged by Design Build Instruct Pty Ltd seeking development consent for a caravan park (112 long term sites), reception, managers residence and pool at Lot 2 DP 815370; No. 1126 Pottsville Road, Pottsville. Tweed Shire Council is the consent authority for the application.
NCC: “Habitat clearing – the elephant in the bush”
Black Cockatoo Film and Talk
Picnic for Nature, Chillingham
Community Information Session, ‘Cudgen Connection’
Despite this subject development proposal being prohibited on State Significant Farmland (SSF), and promises there would be no further development on the Cudgen Plateau SSF the Cudgen Connection proposed development has come to life yet again.
Proposed development:
“As you are aware we have a proposal for a $300M+ health, education and essential worker housing precinct for the Tweed and Northern Rivers community.
The concept proposes essential worker housing, a mental health hospital, childcare and retail to support essential workers, a bus interchange, community hub, university campus, private hospital and medical suites and medihotel.
Recommended Website: NEFA – the North East Forest Aliance
BEACH WALK FOR YES THIS SUNDAY
Walk for YES This Sunday
Tweed Shire Council – Conservation Strategy: Help shape the future of the Tweed’s natural environment.
A draft of the Tweed Shire Council Conservation Strategy is now available for review.
“The Conservation Strategy will guide Tweed Shire Council’s actions to protect, improve, collaborate and adapt to conserve the Tweed’s natural environment for future years to come.
“Help shape the future of the Tweed’s natural environment by providing feedback on the draft strategy.” Have your say until the 19th of October.
Read the Draft Tweed Conservation Strategy and take the survey to provide feedback here:
Climate Changers film screening & Q&A Regent Theatre Murwillumbah
The film ‘Climate Changers’ follows Australian scientist and conservationist Tim Flannery in his global search for leadership on climate change.
“The screening is part of a national event on September 17th, which will see audiences at more than 30 cinemas across the country watch the film together and join a live-streamed Q&A moderated by actor and climate advocate Yael Stone (actor and climate advocate, Orange is the New Black) with the following panel:
TSC asks your input to the Coast and Estuaries Coastal Management Program
TSC: “Let us know what matters to you:
- what do you love about the coast,
- how do you use the coast,
- what are your priorities and what would you change,
- your ideas for the future.
You can provide feedback until 31st October
Online: Complete the survey below, or
Email: tsc@tweed.nsw.gov.au, …
CEC Membership Application
Your membership adds weight to our organisation’s voice as we seek to influence Cultural, Council and government decision making to better protect and enhance the natural environment of the Caldera. Thank you for your support in this.
For information about our concerns and our activities our website is www.calderaenvironmentcentre.org
3 Year Membership, Family $20, Single $15, Under 25yrs $10.
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For on-line application for membership of the Caldera Environment Centre Association follow the Join Now button below, add your name ect at the prompt.
Zombie Developments: Communities Organise to Stop Developments Approved Decades Ago
Many of these developments were approved decades ago, avoiding environmental, cultural heritage and other impact assessments that are required today.
“Communities right along the length of the NSW coast are fighting to protect sensitive coastal bushland and villages from dozens of inappropriate developments that will change our beautiful coast forever if allowed to go ahead. Now they’re bringing their fight to the NSW parliament and they’d love you to join them!
“Many of these developments were approved decades ago, avoiding environmental, cultural heritage and other impact assessments that are required today. Many large pockets of endangered bushland containing beautiful old hollow-bearing trees will be clearfelled – for unaffordable housing estates in towns where 50%+ of existing properties already sit vacant most of the year, used only for holiday homes and on platforms like AirBnb.
Bob Brown: “The Logging Must End.”
CEC Facebook
What is “ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY”?
Sustainability is … CONTINUABILITY, the ability of something to sustain, to continue.
The Environment is … the whole of NATURE, the Ecology, the systems of inter-related, inter-dependent lifeforms on this planet.
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY IS THE ABILITY OF NATURE TO CONTINUE.
Nature organically sustains itself through time, naturally regenerating and continuing to exist.
For hundreds of thousands of years the Nature around us in its current form has naturally regenerated and sustained itself – the wonder of nature and evolution, a beautiful, living, inter-related, inter-dependent system of lifeforms.
