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January & February E-News 2017
Welcome to our first e-bulletin for the year. We hope you had an enjoyable and regenerative holiday period. 2017 is shaping up to be a big one so we appreciate and look forward to sharing the journey with you!
Campaign Updates
Don't Rock the Maroochy River
At the 25 January Ordinary Meeting of the Sunshine Coast Council, a questionable and contentious motion recommending options which would ultimately see the rock walling of the magnificent Maroochy River was sensibly not supported. Instead, an alternative motion put forward by Mayor Mark Jamieson to undertake further studies and consultation was unanimously passed. Amongst a range of necessary considerations, this 'pause and revisit'...
QLD Planning Instruments - Have your say!
Three key State planning instruments are open for your comment until 10 February. These instruments protect key environment and community issues across Qld and dictate many features of Qld's planning framework. Please see more at EDO Qld.
South East Queensland Regional Plan information night
An overview of the draft SEQ Regional Plan can be read here.
"Planning the Hinterland" - Barung Landcare Association Inc and Montville Village Association warmly invites members of Barung Lancare and friends to an information presentation by Sunshine Coast Council planners on the South East Queensland Regional Plan. Come along and learn about the vision, principles and objectives of the plan - both overall and in a Hinterland context (Maleny, Montville, Mapleton and surrounds).
Shark Nets Campaign Update
Latest Environment News
Koalas are at the centre of a perfect storm. The species is slipping away.
In mid-December, scientists from the University of Queensland were part of a team that found, of all developed countries on Earth, Australia was performing worst in protecting its ecoregions (areas containing broadly similar habitat). Human destruction of habitat is a much greater threat to the koala species than climate change. All koala populations, bar a few in eastern Australia, are in decline - some sharply so. Koala numbers are a fraction of what they once were and the species is slipping away.
If this were happening to frog, it would probably be ignored. But koalas are one of the few animals whose plight the government finds it hard to ignore. That’s why the NSW government is currently beginning the development of a whole of government koala strategy and asking for community feedback on planning issues and its Saving Our Species conservation strategy. At a federal level, the National Koala Conservation and Management Strategy expired in 2014. The best way to protect koalas is with well-connected protected areas. Only by protecting and connecting remaining koala habitat can the government enact meaningful conservation. Everything else is tinkering round the edges.
And only by demonstrating that it can effectively protect koalas can we have any confidence that the government can protect the rest of Australia’s extraordinary wildlife that doesn’t share the koala’s high profile.
The meaning of Yaroomba
Protected Area Strategy
Queensland Water and Land Care
Junior Landcare has created a number of educational resources to encourage young people to participate in Landcare activities and build a closer connection with the land.
Australia Day Awards
SCEC nominated Craig MacIntyre (President of Surfrider Foundation Sunshine Coast) for a Sunshine Coast Council Australia Day Award for his contribution to the environment and community. He's also a pretty awesome guy all round, and SCEC wish to congratulate Craig and all the legends that make up the Surfrider crew for their hard work throughout 2017. Craig's humility and passion has made the projects he has initiated to tackle marine debris and to protect oceans truly deserving of recognition.
Image: SCEC's Leah Hays & Surfrider's Craig MacIntyre
Call to Action!
Twin Waters residential development
Residents feel prudent consideration of the environmental and flood management requirements is being discarded, despite this area forming a critical role in providing flood protection to the existing local communities.
If they get 10,000 signatures, the House will debate the issue in parliament.
Banning lightweight shopping bags in Queensland
Around 900 million lightweight plastic shopping bags are used in Queensland each year. Single-use plastic bags pose real threats to wildlife, marine and land environments. They often end up in our waterways, polluting and endangering marine life.
The Queensland Government wants to reduce the amount of plastic pollution in our environment by introducing:
Complementary voluntary action to reduce the use of heavier-weight, department store plastic bags.
The ban is planned to come into effect on 1 July 2018 after extensive consultation and preparation, to allow retailers and consumers to adjust to the change.
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About SCEC's stand with the flying fox roosts.
SCEC acknowledges the efforts of the Council officers and looks forward to the cessation of dispersals altogether- Read more
Events Update!
Applications for 2017 World Environment Day Festival are NOW OPEN!
Applications are now open for performers, food vendors, business exhibitors, speakers, volunteers and sponsors. We would love to hear from you. For more information about the festival watch our video by clicking on the image below.
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Gecko Environmental Council with offices in beautiful Currumbin, needs your help! Gecko has been the peak regional environment body on the Gold Coast for nearly 30 years. They are currently seeking talented individuals in the areas of:
Public Community Workshop
11 February 2017 - Environment Centre, Wallace Park, Eumundi road, Noosaville.Anytime between 10-12am. Bring your ideas along to help create a transport plan for Noosa's future. More details
Date Claimers!
Community groups will unite with legal and energy experts, business and government to supercharge Australia’s renewable energy future. Two internationally acclaimed energy experts will headline the February event. Denmark’s Soren Hermansen – who led the way in creating the world’s first renewable energy island – will be joined by Candace Vahlsing, who works at the White House advising on US President Barack Obama’s environmental agenda. By owning and operating clean energy projects, such as wind farms and solar breweries, communities can save money, cut pollution, create local jobs and attract new investment.All are welcome. Find out more and register.
28 February 2017 – Business Clean Up Australia – By participating in a Business Clean Up, you are doing your part to promote a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. It’s also a fantastic way to be seen as a community leader and engage with your staff, customers and local community. Previous Business Clean Up Days have proven to be excellent team building events and great for staff morale. Join them today to register for 2017
Clean Up Australia Day
28 February 2017 – Business Clean Up Australia – By participating in a Business Clean Up, you are doing your part to promote a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. It’s also a fantastic way to be seen as a community leader and engage with your staff, customers and local community. Previous Business Clean Up Days have proven to be excellent team building events and great for staff morale. Join them today to register for 2017.
Wild Women: Brunch for Wildlife
Don't miss this beautiful buffet brunch on Brisbane's riverfront in celebration of women in wildlife conservation for International Women's Day 2017. Save the date Saturday 4 March and get your tickets now - they're selling fast! Tickets: $45 pp.
Rainforest Symposium
23/24 March 2017 Rainforest Symposium, Gold Coast. Featuring many of Australia’s leading rainforest experts, save the date and attend or get involved with the event program.
Nature Connections - South East Queensland
Thanks to Leisa for the photo!
Do you need help funding a conservation project?
“Projects could include the installation of fencing to restrict stock access to vegetation and waterways, revegetation to restore degraded areas, control of environmental weeds and the modification of fencing to make it more wildlife-friendly.”
Head to council’s website and submit an EOI by midnight on Monday, February 20.To be eligible for grant funding, projects must be completed on privately owned rural land within the Sunshine Coast Local Government Area.
Step 1 – Expression of Interest: all applicants must submit an EOI form by midnight on Monday, February 20.
Step 2 – Site visit: a conservation officer will visit your property to discuss the project.
Step 3 – Online application: following the site visit, applicants must complete an online application form. Applications close at midnight on April 10, 2017.
For more information, visit council’s website or contact a grants officer on 5420 8616 or via email at [email protected]
News - Blog - Information
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Climate Adaptation Strategy (QCAS). The Queensland Climate Adaptation Directions Statement aims to inform industries and communities about the Queensland Government’s planned approach to mainstreaming climate adaptation. Read more here.
Vale Greg McKean
