SCEC alongside members of Surfrider Foundation, Noosa Community Biosphere Association and the Boomerang Alliance took part in the Marine Plastics Forum in Noosa on Wednesday night. The event was hosted by QLD Greens Senator Larissa Waters, with Tasmanian Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson also in attendance. Senator Whish-Wilson gave great insight into the current Senate Inquiry into the threat of marine plastic pollution in Australia. The forum revealed promising efforts taking place in the region to mitigate the effects of our consumerist society, including total plastic bag bands and the introduction of the long-overdue Container Deposit Scheme.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS

The Sunshine Coast Daily ‘Your Say’ Candidate forums have been held across the region over the past couple of weeks in the lead-up to the March 19 local government elections. With SCEC there to hear what aspirant council and mayoral candidates have had to say and the Daily’s rolling coverage, it is shaping up to be an interesting and pivotal outcome. It is clear we need an accountable, open and transparent Council that exercises genuine community engagement and doesn’t push a ‘growth and development at all costs’ agenda.

Key platforms such as environmental and lifestyle protections, defending the integrity of the planning scheme and a real commitment to transitioning the Coast to an economy based on local sustainable, creative and innovative endeavours are fundamental to the region’s future.

SCEC has sent a survey to all Sunshine Coast candidates on a number of important issues and will release those responses ahead of the election.  And remember, with the optional preferential voting system, you can use your preference powers!

CALL TO ACTION

Like most environmental legislation, vegetation laws were drastically rolled back and dangerously weakened under the Newman LNP government.The government was warned at the time that gutting land clearing controls in Queensland was a serious mistake.

Now our fears are unfolding in real time:

• 300,000 hectares cleared in 2013-14, a major leap upward on previous years
• accelerating Reef pollution and carbon emissions.
• Over 200,000 hectares of threatened species habitat cleared since 2012
• including over 40,000 of koala habitat.

The current government promised before the election to bring back land clearing controls and,  after a long and worrying delay, has at least undertaken to bring a Bill to parliament in the first quarter of this year to fulfill its election commitment.

Environment groups, including SCEC, have set about ensuring this happens and that the proposed Bill is a strong step forward.

Please join us to help end destructive, broadscale land-clearing and restore protections for our wildlife and biodiversity.

Can’t make it to Parliament House in Brisbane on 15 March? You can also participate in a write-in campaign here and join the campaign here.

See WWF’s comprehensive reports on the state of play here and here.

SCEC Membership

Membership of the Sunshine Coast Environment Council greatly assists our efforts to protect the Sunshine Coast’s natural and lifestyle values. As supporters, you share SCEC’s vision of an ecologically sustainable world being achieved through individual and community stewardship of the natural environment at local, regional and global levels. That vision is yet to be fulfilled however, so we still need your help to see this vision realised. SCEC are currently in the process of updating our member database. Please consider becoming a member of SCEC today by joining online or by phoning the SCEC office on (07) 5441 5747 (Tues- Fri). Thank you for the contribution you make to your environment and for your ongoing support!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Earth Hour Saturday 19 March here for more information about the event and to register.

SCEC Member Cruise Saturday 30 April with the theme "Pirate Protectors of the Pumicestone Passage." We’ll be gathering at 4:15pm for a 4:30pm departure. Tickets are $20 and include tapas and a drink on arrival. We only have a few tickets left so get in quick! Click here to purchase tickets and to find out more. If you already have a ticket, we'll see you there!

The WED Festival 2016 will have a new flavour- and we're seeking your input, ideas and involvement! To honor the great successes of previous years while keeping to our grassroots, WED2016 is taking a more refined approach and will be including all the greatest highlights identified by you! We're even returning to WED's early home of Cotton Tree Park. Festival veterans will remember the good vibes and inspiration shared by all way back when SCEC first hosted a World Environment Day Festival in 1979. So please email Leah at [email protected] with your favourite memories from the past and what you'd like to see and experience as the SCEC tradition of WED evolves. Let the creativity begin and the spirit of WED soar!

 SCEC Online..

If you have not yet liked us on Facebook, please be sure to do so! Share our page and help us reach 3000 likes during 2016!

If you consider yourself a picture person, follow us on Instagram to see the latest photos from our events and campaigns. If you have a high quality photo from the region, or a snapshot of your group in action, send it to us and we’ll help share it with the world. Email photos to [email protected]

DATE CLAIMERS
9-13 March- Inaugural World Science Festival Brisbane. The inaugural World Science Festival Brisbane will bring some of the world’s greatest thought leaders to Queensland, showcase local scientists and performers from around the Asia Pacific region, and host the brightest and the best from previous events in New York. Check the full program for the listing of events scheduled during the week here.

12 March- Yandina Community Gardens Workshop 'Making Sundials'. Autumn is here and we are talking sundials this month. We welcome Phillip Richards back to the Gardens to give us a workshop on sundials. Following a talk from Phillip about the technicalities and the different types of sundials, we will go into workshop mode with groups making models of a couple of different types of sundials. We will then return to seats and talk about fixing a sundial you may have, buying a sundial overseas, a sundial on the blue house (types of possibilities), and a possible public sundial in Yandina. Bring a scientific calculator if you have one! There will be a bit of mathematics involved. But don't let that frighten you! You can find more information about the workshop here.

17 March- Noosa & District Landcare Workshop 'Propagation & Seed Collection Etiquette'. What is the correct procedure for collecting seed? Is it the right time of year? Is the fruit or seed ready? Whose property is the tree or plant on? Where should I cut it? All these questions and more will be made clear when the leaders of Noosa & District Landcare share their wisdom and experience. More details about the workshop can be found here.

17 March- Permaculture Noosa Monthly Meeting 'Local sustainable farming practices using livestock and plants'. Guest presenter Phil Stinger will share with us his ethical, sustainable farming practices producing free range pigs and grazing cattle in the Mary Valley. Demonstrating how they contribute to maintaining healthy soil while protecting the environment. He will include examples of his own experiences on how to prepare the soil for planting and show which plants he grows for the pigs to forage and to eat himself. More information about monthly meetings is available here.

17 March- Doonan Creek Environmental Reserve Restoration Day, 8am- 11.30am. Help our migratory birds by planting trees at council reserve. The community can help restore the endangered wetland habitat at Doonan Creek Environmental Reserve by planting fruiting trees this month for our visiting birds, including some that fly in from Papua New Guinea and other parts of South-East Asia. FREE event- morning tea and equipment for planting is provided. More information is available here.

17, 18 and 22 March- Flying Foxes, Fury Little Eco-workers. Did you know that fling foxes play an important role in our local forests? Join Martin Fingland from Geckoes Wildlife to discover the secret life of flying foxes. Learn how flying foxes enhance the environment by pollinating and spreading the seeds of important trees. Three local species of flying fox will be displayed along with several other local wildlife species that have a direct relationship to flying foxes.Learn more about these fascinating creatures and what to do if you come in contact with them. Details of locations and times can be found here.

19 March- Yandina Community Gardens Documentary Screening 'Happy'. Does money make you HAPPY? Kids and family? Your work? Do you live in a world that values and promotes happiness and well-being? Are we in the midst of a happiness revolution? Roko Belic, director of the Academy Award® nominated “Genghis Blues” now brings us HAPPY, a film that sets out to answer these questions and more. Taking us from the bayous of Louisiana to the deserts of Namibia, from the beaches of Brazil to the villages of Okinawa, HAPPY explores the secrets behind our most valued emotion. You can find more information about the documentary here.

19 March (3rd Saturdays)- Petrie Creek Catchment Care Group Working Bee. Namba Creek, 7am- Near Model Railway, Florence Street, Nambour. Email [email protected] or [email protected] for more information. All upcoming events for Petrie Creek Catchment Care Group can be found here.

20 March- Permaculture Noosa Grafting Workshop. Here is a great opportunity to learn how to graft from an expert, at a great price! Special discount for Permaculture Noosa Members. Tina Grigson from Mountain Views Nursery is keen to share her knowledge and educate people and accepted to offer her time and expertise at no cost! Email [email protected]or call 0412890950 for bookings & payments details. Bookings close on Monday 14 March. More information is available here.

21 March- Hinterland Bush Links Roving Restorers, 9am- 12pm.  Join us with infill planting and weeding at Jill Morris and Richard Dent’s nature conservation covenant at the source of the Obi Ck. Some wonderful work has been done to manage weeds and revegetate this property over many years. There will be an opportunity to explore the rainforest on the creek. Morning tea will be provided. Register your attendance here.

22 March- World Water Day and Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee General Meeting- Albert Bowls Club, River Rd (Bruce Highway), Gympie. Starts at 8.45 am with coffee and conversation. Guest Speaker is Vicki Perrin from Lock the Gate. Call MRCCC on 5482 4766 or email [email protected] for more information.

Weekend of 13-14-15 May- Surfrider Foundation 'Double Island Point Beach Clean Up' weekend. Includes dune care, education and live music. Pack the 4wd's and camp gear for another HUGE weekend of fun and activism.  Spread the word! Book these dates in and register NOW. 13-14-15 MAY and 7-8-9 OCTOBER. Check out our promo video filmed at the October 2015 clean up here.
Photo of the Month: Wild surf, taken at Maroochydore looking towards Cotton Tree. Photo submitted by Uwe Sinn

A big thank you..
Leah, Narelle and the SCEC team would like to extend a huge thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers that help us day in day out with the functioning of the office. The numerical, creative, technological and scientific skills of our volunteers ensure SCEC are able to fulfill our commitment to protecting the natural beauty of this wonderful region. Jane, Helen, Deb, Jackie, Martin, Marie, David, Danie, Julie, Ashleigh, Amira, Uwe and Joan- Thank you!

Have a great month!
All the best from the SCEC team.

http://www.scec-action.org.au/