Nature News Online Issue 21

Your spare change could help change the world

Thank you for your ongoing support of our work to protect the rivers, forests, oceans and other special places in NSW.

The Nature Conservation Council is a small organisation making a big difference through its genuine, hard-working support of grassroots conservation efforts and effective community campaigns.

We’ve had an extremely strong response to our community-based climate change initiatives this year, including an unprecedented level of households sign up to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions through the North Sydney and Warringah Climate Challenges. We've also run continued our vital work on marine conservation and bushfire.

Please consider making a tax deductible donation before 30th June so we can continue to support and empower communities to protect their environment in the face of dangerous climate change.

Your generous donation will help us continue and expand our work supporting community efforts on the most pressing environmental issues facing our earth.

Click here to donate or call (02) 9279 2466.
Read more about our current campaigns and initiatives here .

NSW misses opportunity to shine as Australia’s leading solar state

NSW's solar feed-in tariff scheme announced on Wednesday will provide a boost for the solar industry, but it means that NSW has missed an
opportunity to be Australia's leading solar state.

A gross feed-in tariff would have paid households for all the clean energy created by solar power, providing a greater incentive for households to invest in solar technology, and creating more green jobs for our economy.

Read the State Government's media release about the solar bonus scheme here .

Take a look at our response here .

Easing water restrictions sends the wrong message about water consumption

Last weekend, the NSW Government announced it will scale back water restictions, such as allowing people to water their gardens before 10am and after 4pm on any day.

Given rainfall will be more variable under climate change, the Nature Conservation Council believes we must all continue to use water efficiently to meet the demands of future dry periods.

Outdoor use accounts for about 40 per cent of household water consumption and restrictions promote efficient water practices in the garden. They also give the Government time to expand our level of recycling, increase the number of rainwater tanks and improve our water conservation.

These measures are more sustainable options than the desalination plant for securing our water supply.

Tillegra Dam: an expensive, unnecessary mistake

By Bev Smiles

The proposed 450,000 million litre dam (size of Sydney Harbour) on the Williams River above Dungog in the Hunter Valley is totally unjustifiable, expensive and will destroy one of the few healthy rivers left in NSW.

Sydney has just been relieved of major water restrictions but will still have water saving measures in place, including no garden sprinklers between 10am and 4pm, no hosing of hard surfaces and trigger nozzles for car washing. The Hunter had no water restrictions at all right through the drought and has no water saving measures in place - yet all water storages are currently full. Tillegra Dam will increase Hunter water supply by 150 per cent.

Please contact NSW Minister for the Hunter, Jodi McKay, and tell her to scrap the Tillegra Dam proposal before any more money is wasted on biased reports.
Send a message to: office@mckay.minister.nsw.gov.au

Read more ...

Shooting in National Parks proposal loses Government support ... for now

Opposition from environment and animal welfare groups, and the community has helped influence the State Cabinet's decision not to support the Game and Feral Animal Control Amendment Bill.

Introduced into the NSW Upper House by the Shooters Party this month, the Bill proposed opening up recreational shooting in our national parks, threatening native animals and jeopardising the safety of park users.

We joined with other key environment and animal welfare groups to condemn the destructive Game and Feral Animal Control Amendment Bill.

We must all remain alert to the very real threat posed by the Game Council that wants to open up national parks and our precious native species to hunting.

Here's some further reading on the issue:

The Nature Conservation Council's letter to Minister for the Environment, Carmel Tebbutt

A joint letter from key environment and animal welfare groups to the Minister for Environment and Climate Change and Minister for Primary Industries

Read more about the politics in Cabinet backs off from plan to hunt in national park by Alexandra Smithand Andrew Clennell (SMH, 23/06/2009)

Plan B: An Agenda For Immediate Climate Action

The Nature Conservation Council of NSW and leading national and state environment groups came together early this month to make it clear we do not support the Federal Government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) in its current form.

We’re concerned the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are already above safe levels, and the CPRS will not effectively reduce carbon pollution.

We’ve put together a Plan B of measures that could be enacted in the next two years and would set Australia up to meet the vital target of halving our greenhouse pollution over the coming decade.

The environment groups behind Plan B, with a combined membership of more than 400,000 Australians, call on the Rudd Government to abandon the fundamentally flawed CPRS and commit Australia to this new approach to tackle climate change.

Download a copy of Plan B here .

Read more ...

There goes the neighbourhood ...

NSW Planning law is changing and we're concerned about the potential impact on our environment, particularly in coastal communities.

Using a large number of law reforms, the NSW Government has reduced opportunities for the public to participate in planning. In the case of Part 3A developments, it's now completely left it up to the Minister to decide what level of environmental assessment is necessary.

Part 3A developments and the compulsory adoption of Standard Local Environment Plans (LEPs) by local councils is affecting every area of NSW.

The Nature Conservation Council has created Planning Watch as a forum for sharing concerns about changes to planning legislation and monitoring what is happening around the state.

We want to hear your story ... please visit Planning Watch blog and leave your comments.

Read more ...

We're looking for two great people to join our team - could it be you?

Climate Campaign Coordinator

We know it will take a massive amount of creativity and passion to build partnerships and engage communities across NSW on the action that is needed to avert catastrophic climate change. That's where you come in!

We're looking for an energetic and self-motivated person to coordinate our climate campaign work.

The Climate Campaign Coordinator will work closely with other members of the climate team as well as other groups working on climate change, including new initiatives in the lead-up to Copenhagen and beyond.

Applicants should have strong communication and organising skills, sound knowledge of climate change politics and policy in Australia and be an excellent networker.

Click here for full position description and further details on how to apply.
Applications close 9am, Monday 13 July, 2009

Fundraising Officer

Want to earn good karma fundraising for a great cause?

In recent years there's been an increasing need for high-profile public awareness campaigns on critical environmental issues such as climate change and biodiversity protection. We're looking for an experienced fundraiser who can increase giving so we can grow our organisation and secure a healthy future for the environment.

We're looking for someone who can get results. The Fundraising Officer will build awareness of our work, and increase financial support by building relationships and exploring new fundraising ideas.

This is a fantastic opportunity to work closely with a team of passionate people and make a real difference.

Click here for full position description and further details on how to apply.
Applications close 9am, Monday 13 July, 2009

For more information on either position, call Cate Faehrmann on (02) 9279 2466.

Read more ...

Positions vacant

Climate Campaign Coordinator: Nature Conservation Council of NSW
Closing Date: 9am, Monday 13 July, 2009

Fundraising Officer: Nature Conservation Council of NSW
Closing Date: 9am, Monday 13 July, 2009

Director Local Government and Waste: DECC
Closing Date: Friday 3 July, 2009

Project Manager - Sustainable Water: Auburn Council (Two-year project)
Closing Date: 4pm, Friday 3 July, 2009

Environmental Health Officer: Fairfield City Council
Closing Date: Friday 3 July, 2009

Program Manager, Sustainable Landscape & Implementation: Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority
Closing Date: Friday 3 July, 2009

Project Officer - Sustainable Business: Woollahra Council
Closing Date: Friday 3 July, 2009

Environment Project Officers: Bankstown City Council
Closing Date: Monday 13 July, 2009

Upcoming events

Warringah Climate Challenge Awards Night
Monday 29 June, 2009

Hijacking Sustainability: Adrian Parr in Conversation (Glebe). Hosted by Gleebooks
6:30pm for 7pm, Tuesday June 30, 2009
Gleebooks, 49 Glebe Point Rd, Glebe
Cost: $10/$7 conc.

Hijacking Sustainability: Adrian Parr in Conversation (Katoomba). Hosted by Gleebooks
2:30pm for 3pm, Saturday July 4, 2009
Gearin Hotel, 73 Great Western Highway Katoomba
Cost: $10/$7 conc

The World's Best Botanic Garden
10:30 - 11:30am, Friday July 31, 2009
Woollahra Council, 536 New South Head Rd, Double Bay
Free incl morning tea