CEC LISTING IN DIRECTORY OF LIKE MINDED COMMUNITY GROUPS
The CEC, with other like-minded community groups, has subscribed to the Directory of Like minded Community Groups, to:
1. Facilitate intragroup communication (easy access to one-another's contact details, websites, and calendars of events).
2. Receive and contribute to an Email Distribution Agreement such that critical information can be sent across the memberships of all like minded community groups.
_____________________________________
Draft Tweed LEP 2010 - Environmental Protection Zones.
Correspondence:
The General Manager, Tweed Shire Council.
The Director of Planning, Tweed Shire Council.
The Director of Planning, NSW Government.
The Minister of Planning, NSW Government.
Tweed Shire Councilors, Tweed Shire Council.
The Secretary, North Coast Environment Council.
The Secretary, Nature Conservation Council of NSW.
Draft Tweed LEP 2010.
Environmental Protection Zones.
Biodiversity conservation depends on whole of landscape strategies, not just reserving the boutique highest value features such as World Heritage Gondwana Rainforest National Parks. National Parks should not be considered as Crown Jewels in a discrete glass display case. They are part of the regional landscape and wildlife will increasingly need diverse habitats as the impacts of climate change becomes more apparent. Wildlife corridors and support habitat has been (until now) provided by Habitat and Scenic/Escarpment Zones. This has been a successful and widely accepted policy for more than twenty five years.
The Commonwealth Governments EPBC Act and Green Cauldron initiative and the Border Ranges Rainforest Biodiversity Management Plan as implemented by the NSW and QLD State Governments support the strategy of strong whole of landscape conservation measures, for Global Warming, biological and scenic amenity reasons.
Increasing development pressure from rapid exponential urbanization in NE NSW and SE QLD places indigenous/endemic native vegetation at increasing risk of inappropriate clearing. The Native Vegetation Act is not equal to the task of providing protection from pre-emptive and unsustainable clearing.
No reasons have been offered to explain the sudden and unwarranted removal of Environmental Protection Zones from the Tweed Hinterland, West of the Pacific Highway, as shown in the Draft Plan.
We urge the Departments of Planning at local and state levels to support the continued use of EP Zones.
Habitat and Scenic/Escarpment Zones should become E2 Zones under the new State Instrument or 'template' model.
_____________________________________
NO RALLY - The CEC / REAPPA Collective announce . . .
A Community Exhibition of Artworks from the 'NO RALLY' protest actions to stop the Northern Rivers Australia 'World Rally' event.
The attempt to locate a World Rally event in the Northern Rivers Region, 2009, racing through National Parks and on public roads through rural residential areas, against the wishes of local residents, was met with determined protest and activism to disrupt the event and to recast the event as incompatible with ideas of environmentalism and sustainability.
The actions of the local residents were successful in disrupting the inaugural event, stopping day 2, gaining international media coverage of the protest and actions, and turning the opinions of visitors, drivers and sponsors against the continuation of the event in the Northern Rivers Region.
The Caldera Environment Centre and the REAPAA Collective invite community participation in this Exhibition.
To view the Exhibition click here: NO RALLY_Protest Art Exhibition .
Please direct artwork to caldera@calderaenvironmentcentre.org
Thank you for your attention.
_____________________________________
Planned Kings Forest & Cobakei Lakes Developments - Write to The Minister
Kings Forest - 12,000 people.
Cobaki Lakes - 12,000 people
Bilambil Rise - 5,000 people
The Minister for Planning (NSW) is currently assessing these three massive developments.
This is an opportunity to request that these developments be reviewed to achieve the highest environmental and sustainability outcomes worthy of the Tweed's internationally recognised environment.
Please write to the Minister for Planning Tony Kelly to strongly request the State Government commission an independent peer review by the Institute of Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney.
==========
For detail of the proposed developments, suggestions re issues to raise in correspondence to the minister, and info on where to send correspondences please refer to the attached fact sheet. Click here: Fact_Sheet_for_Correspondence_Re_Kings_Forest_Cobaki_Lakes.doc to download the document to your computer.
_____________________________________
DRAFT TWEED LEP (Local Environment Plan)
NSW Government has mandated that all Councils in NSW undertake a review of their individual Local Environmental Plans and produce new LEPs built on the minimum format the NSW Government prescribe so LEP's become more uniform across the state.
Tweed Shire Council have created the Draft Tweed LEP (2010).
Significant changes in the DRAFT TWEED LEP (2010) are:
Changes to rules governing clearing of native vegetation in environmental protection zones
The draft LEP proposes a very great reduction in:
- the area zoned for environmental protection, and
- the quality of protection provided for those areas that remain zoned for environmental protection.
There are currently about 14,000 ha zoned for environment protection outside of the national park system. The draft LEP proposes the removal of about 10,000 ha, mostly in the hinterland west of Murwillumbah. The addition of about 1000 ha is proposed, mostly in areas close to the coast.
The existing, fairly effective rules governing clearing of vegetation in environmental protection zones would be made totally ineffective under the proposed changes. This occurs because, unlike the current LEP, the draft LEP does not include ’Äúclearing’Äù as an activity that requires development approval in environmental protection zones.
Changes in the height limits for buildings accross the Shire
The previous LEP limited heights of buildings using the number of storeys permissable. The new LEP uses heights in meters to limit building heights. The new height limits will allow a further storey over the existing limits. 2 storey limits will go to 3, 3 storey limits will go to 4.
Changes to floor space ratio (density of development)
The draft LEP would effectively increase the allowable density of development in most parts of the shire zoned for urban purposes.
Subdivision of farmland
The argument is that the farmland is not economically productive and subdivision is a way for farmland landholders to make profit from their land.
The farmers, through poor farming practices, have mismanaged the land, degrading the land with easy, soil depleting ways of making profit. They have not kept up to date with modern farming practices and hence their complaints of non-viability.
The farmland should not be subdivided, the farmers who will not accept modern farming methods should rather move off the land and make way for others who will pursue sustainable farming practices.
The soil is good in the Tweed Shire, there is high rainfall, and there is the opportunity for a strong sustainable regional farming industry.
==========
_____________________________________
Draft Tweed Shire Water Supply Augmentation Plan
The Tweed Shire Water Supply Augmentation Plan is based on increased supply requirements to cater for the planned substantial increase in the local population.
Shortlisted options proposed within the said plan include:
- A new dam and the flooding of the highest riparian conservation value land in Tweed Shire at iconic Byrrill Creek valley;
- Increasing the height of the dam wall at Clarrie Hall Dam an additional 8 metres, flooding significant areas of farming, residential and forested land;
- Installing a pipeline to SE Queensland capable of taking water both ways, shipping water into the Caldera (from the non-sustainable desalination plants of the Gold Coast), or, shipping water out from the Caldera (to the on-going non-sustainable development of the Gold Coast).
==========
The damming and loss of iconic Byrrill Creek valley should never have made it onto the options shortlist for ecological imperatives. Byrrill Creek is a biodiverse hotspot and a place of renowned natural beauty abutting World Heritage National Park. At a time in our history requiring the urgent defense of what is left of the natural world Tweed Shire Council are proposing the destruction of one of the few remaining areas of value. Environmental imperatives should have conclusively kept the Byrrill Creek Dam option off the shortlist.
The desalination plant option should never have made it onto the shortlist given the huge amounts of electricity used and the source of that electricity. Given the climate crisis, sustainability impacts should decisively keep the desalination plant option off the shortlist.
Council have run a community consultation process which was widely criticised as a sham process, limiting discussion to only the pre-shortlisted options and disallowing discussion re demand management issues (eg new developments collecting rainwater locally and recycling water).
Tweed Shire Council has yet again demonstrated a complete disregard for sustainability issues, environmental issues, and genuine community engagement.
==========
For detail of the draft plan please refer to the attached fact sheet. Click here: Fact_Sheet_for Correspondence Re_Tweed_Shire_Water_Augmentation_Plan.doc to download the document to your computer.
_____________________________________
DRAFT TWEED WATER DEMAND MANAGEMENT PLAN
Additional water supply for the Tweed Shire is 'required' because of current plans to substantially increase the local population and house the new people here in inappropriately designed mass housing developments which are not required to capture and store rainwater, nor recycle greywater.
The mass housing developments are being designed as unsustainable, hence the water 'supply' plans for a new dam in the highest biodiversity area of NSW and a pipeline connection to Qld's unsustainable climate changing desalination plants.
- Object to the planned doubling of the Tweed Shire population.
- Object to the inappropriate design of the mass housing developments which have no requirement to capture and store rainwater on a large scale, and no requirement for grey water recycling.
- Insist that the new mass housing developments collect and use rainwater as their primary source of water. We live in the countryside, we drink the rainwater here.
- Insist that the new mass housing developments be designed to recycle greywater.
- Object to the processes of council in the pushing through of the water demand and supply plans.
_____________________________________
WATER COLLECTION AND USE
'New' Australians have managed to settle in most parts of the driest continent on Earth via the almost ubiquitous use of water tanks which collect and store rainwater from roofs. Affordable, effective, simple and safe. Dams have been an option where conditions are suitable, but the environmental and ecological costs, let alone the large capital costs have become increasingly unacceptable. Coal-fired pumping and purification are inherent costs that must be added annually to the capital costs of extensive and expensive piping or reticulation costs. Reticulation is not carbon neutral.
New forms of urban stormwater harvesting can provide water where it is most needed and can employ natural rather than concrete or artificial means.
If water tanks have proved to be satisfactory as a primary water source in dry regions of Australia over many years, there is no reason why houses in the Tweed, one of the wettest parts of the country with new roof areas bigger than anywhere else on Earth, cannot be self-sufficient in water, using on-site collection and storage. We are not talking about tiny tokenistic tanks.
Apart from sugar cane ash, there is virtually no harmful pollution on roofs in the Caldera. Residents could use 'first-flush' devices and simple low cost filters for drinking water if they wish. Whilst the capital costs of large water tanks is considerable but affordable, there are virtually no running or on-going costs. Governments subsidise water tanks and Tweed Shire Council should redirect the dam money tank wise and water wise. Autonomy can be an affordable, chlorine-free luxury.
The current 'consultation' process is a bogus, tick-a-box sham charade that does not drill down to the basic possibility of on-site collection, storage and wise water use via landscape and garden design using appropriate plants. Gray water recycling can be incorporated into the water budget system to effect significant savings. Bananas, cassava and reed plants have an insatiable appetite for gray water, turning excess nutrients into healthy food and carbon fibre. Engineers are restricted by the brief and by their training not to think outside the square. Why should our solutions to water supply and use be determined by hydraulic engineers? Isn't there an inherent bias and conflict of interest?
The adjudicators of the Community Working Group (CWG) process are the proponent engineers. Dracula in charge of the blood bank. Who assesses the environmental, ecological and social benefits and costs? What price does a group of in-house engineers put on the natural values of Byrill Creek, or the heritage landscape values of Doon Doon Valley? Are Councils engineers and managers capable of advocating simple technology that does not promise new career opportunities and a bigger engineering section?
Do contractual obligations between the Council and the major coastal developers pre-determine the design brief and the outcomes? Do these developer contributions shape the sham public consultation charade? Does anybody really think that pipelines to neighbouring water deficient catchments is a realistic solution? What about supply guarantees?
The only viable, sustainable solution which minimises harm and risk is by on-site collection and storage of roof water and the on-site recycling of gray water.
_____________________________________
Activities & Events, Calender
To view the Caldera Environment Center Calender of Comming Activities & Events, click here .
Please Note:
Calender opens in week view, change to month view.
Calender opens at 7am in week view, scroll down the page to see entries.
Click on any calendar entry to view more info on the event.
_____________________________________
NO RALLY - REPORT:
The legally required "Rally Review" is in process.
Legislation says the rally continuing depends on a report written to review the rally.
The Pro-Rally State Environment Minister has appointed the General Manager of Homebush Motor Racing Authority (V8 racing) to implement the review process.
The Legislated review, the report which will decide if we ever again race hoon cars through our national parks, is being implemented by the V8 Motor Racing Authority General Manager. Guess the outcome.
The public opinion expressed at the very well attended Rally Review Community Consultation Meeting in Murwillumbah was overwhelmingly anti-rally. The implementation of the legally required rally review was roundly condemed as a sham.
We are supposed to believe that the legally required review is impartial in its current form. It is not. The review is a Claton's review, a review you have when you want a pre-determined, pro-rally outcome.
_____________________________________
THE NSW FAR NORTH COAST 'CONSERVATION' PLAN
The NSW Far North Coast Conservation Plan will determine conservation and developer outcomes for the next 25 years. The CEC has provided a submission to the draft document process.
Written by the developer financed state government, the plan is designed to make easier the approval of the planned new mass housing developments.
If a developer wants to profit from the destruction of nature on a planned development site, then the developer will be directed buy another piece of land which also has nature on it, and offer to preserve that land if he can destroy the nature on the planned development site. Which seems odd given that both pieces of land, given their high levels of biodiversity, should be protected.
_____________________________________
The NSW Far North Coast Regional Strategy
Note the key element of the New South Wales government Far North Coast Regional Strategy:
- A region of [new] villages: inland settlement promoted(!!), & urban infill in existing major centres.- 51,000 new dwellings
- an extra 60,400 people
- 32,500 additional jobs required to support population increase
The current plan is that there is to be a significant increase in the population of the Caldera, located in developer designed high density housing estates.
The 'NSW far north coast regional strategy' is a device which will be used to direct local and state public services to facilitate rezoning and release of land packages, and to approve development applications for large scale housing developments in the Caldera.
The introduction of a developer facilitated population increase significantly disrupts the existing local social and environmental ecology.
The plan has been displayed, commented on and brought into operation without a genuine public discourse regarding large scale population increase in our area and how that population is located.
The Caldera Environment Centre opposes the highly bias processes of strategic planning and decision making which guide the development planning and approval processes in the Tweed Shire and the NSW Government.
_____________________________________
An Anachronistic, Damaging, Rampaging Exploitation
It is understandable that motor races and rallies were popular in the previous (20th) Century before we realised the implications of Global Warming and the limits of fossil fuels. It is unbelievable that governments willingly permit - and even fund - an event like the redneck, revhead Wrecko Rally in a suburban biodiverse environment like the Mt. Warning Caldera.
Tourists, impressionable youths and stunted old boys are all sent the wrong message. Testosterone, petrol and alcohol is a lethal combination that invariably leads to crazy carnage.
A UNESCO sponsored Biosphere Reserve for our bioregion is a model which would unite the Green Calderan concept with World Heritage Rainforest Reserves. Industries and activities in a Biosphere Reserve would aspire to be ecologically sustainable and pro life. Imagine a Tour de Tweed of international cyclists as part of the Tour Down Under, similar to the Tour de France and the recent Tour de Timor Bike Ride.
The era of infernal combustion cars is ending. Government officials promoting races and rallies are like dinosaurs. Fossil fuels for fossilised fools. The Caldera environment is for the benefit of present and future creations of the Caldera, not for foreign corporations.
_____________________________________
Robco, . . . Stealing Your Future
Its a Promotional Event for the car industry - the biggest single carbon polluter on the planet.
Robco is complicit in stealing your final attempt to rescue ourselves from the collapse of the ecology.
Our ideas about nature are highly dysfunctional. We destroy nature on a global industrial scale - to the point that we are crashing the life support systems which exist on planet earth.
We learn our ideas about nature from the world around us as we live our lives. The institutions, media and events around us have taught us how to behave towards nature, have taught us that it is there for us to destroy on a global industrial scale. The broadcasting into our lives of the Robco event is reinforcing the dominant, highly dysfunctional ideas about nature, the same ideas which have brought us to this critical moment in time.
To rescue the future we need to quickly change the way we are towards nature. We need to value nature, to regenerate nature, to protect nature, to see nature as a fragile life support system that is in collapse because of the way we behave towards it.
The future which is being stolen from you is the future that contains a proper attempt to rescue ourselves.
The ecological crisis, the collapse of the ecology - the collapse of the systems of interrelated, interdependent life forms on this planet - is the ecological imperative for change, ... we must change.
Robco is complicit in knowingly and deliberately promoting the highly dysfunctional ideas about nature which threaten our immediate future as we are driven towards the collapse of the ecology.
Robco have failed to recognise the rapid shift in the sentiment of the people of the world.
The imposition of a future that contains no final attempt to rescue ourselves is unacceptable.
_____________________________________
TREE, Vol. 9, Issue 14
An Anachronistic, Damaging, Rampaging Exploitation, ... It is understandable that motor races and rallies were popular in the previous (20th) Century before we realised the implications of Global Warming and the limits of fossil fuels. It is unbelievable and governments willingly permit - and even fund - an event like the redneck, revhead Wrecko Rally in a suburban biodiverse environment like the Mt. Warning Caldera; Robco, ... Stealing Your Future. Robco is complicit in stealing your final attempt to rescue ourselves from the collapse of the ecology.
TREE, the Tweed River Environmental Echo, is the newsletter of the Caldera Environment Center.
To view TREE, Vol. 9, Issue 14: TREE_14.pdf.
_____________________________________
TREE, Vol. 9, Issue 12
Editorial, Developer puppet councillors and/or council bureaucrats call the shots; Kings Forest and Cobaki Lakes - Concept Plan Applications, Councillor Katie Milne on the inadequacies of the development proposals; Repco Rally Australia, inappropriate to say the least; The Issue of Public Consultation, interpreting power relationships; Dear Council, ... please explain; NSW Spin Doctors Find Another Frog to Save, tosh served up in the promotion of the Repco Australia Rally; Community is security, a Transition Initiative is a community working together to face the coming crisis; Bay Street, where is the transparency recommended by the Bulford and Daly Inquiries?; Hands Off Country, help the Kimberley; Submission by the CEC to the NSW DoP, objecting to the ’ÄòDeveloper’Äô Proposals for Cobakai Lakes and Kings Forest, we don’Äôt think golf courses are appropriate ecological buffers; Stirring the Calderan; renewable futures.
TREE, the Tweed River Environmental Echo, is the newsletter of the Caldera Environment Center.
To view TREE, Vol. 9, Issue 12: TREE 12.pdf
_____________________________________
TREE, Vol. 9, Issue 11
WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY - KNOX PARK
FESTIVAL & SUSTAINABILITY FORUM
TREE, the Tweed River Environmental Echo, is the newsletter of the Caldera Environment Center.
To view TREE, Vol. 9, Issue 11 click here: TREE 11.pdf
_____________________________________
TREE, Vol. 9, Issue 9
Give Your Vote more teeth, vote multiple times below the line; editorial, when it comes to the federal election there is really only one option, let ºs get rid of the Howard gang; Why vote in a world gone mad?, at some time in the last thirty years, most of us decided that the suburban lifestyle we grew up in was a train wreck waiting to happen, and jumped off; PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT CONTROL PLAN (DCP) FOR MURWILLUMBAH, we believe there is a lack of local grass-roots democracy as a result of non residents awarding consultancy contracts to foreign Ô¨Årms who then do not sufÔ¨Åciently engage with local residents; TYALGUM DAM, THE OXLEY MORON; Stirring the Calderan, if we can remove the weasel-worded one we must be ahead; Some Questions for Candidates, for the Seat of Richmond; Chemical Free Weed Control, Part 4, WEED SUCCESSION AND REPLACEMENT AT CUMBEBIN; ROLL OUT THE TANKS IN OZ, ’ÄúClean Coal’Äù and ’ÄùClean and Green Nuclear’Äù are oxymoronic and are a distant pipe dream, (or nightmare); SUSTAINABLE FARMS & CITIES, a carnival against carbon.
TREE, the Tweed River Environmental Echo, is the newsletter of the Caldera Environment Center.
To view TREE, Vol. 9, Issue 9 click here: TREE 9.pdf.
_____________________________________
TREE, Vol. 9, Issue 7
WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY - KNOX PARK
TREE, the Tweed River Environmental Echo, is the newsletter of the Caldera Environment Center.
To view TREE, Vol. 9, Issue 7 click here: TREE 7.pdf
_____________________________________
TREE, Vol. 9, Issue 6
No Nightcap Nightmare, 420 buildings in a new 'village' just outside the existing village of Uki; editorial, Full Spectrum Dominance; Whose Fault?, the conservatives are accountable; ªTHE TIMES THEY ARE A CHANGING º, time limits on development consents; KINGS FOREST, a timeline of the development of the 'Development'; RE Kings Forest, Letter to Frank Sartor, Minister for Planning, we have no alternative but to assume that you have summarily withdrawn the undertakings you gave; The NSW Government 'In Caldera' Development Plan, every issue from water to land the electoral funding system is The NSW Government Far North Coast Regional Planning Strategy has as its only theme ªthe promotion of inland development,; The Ecological crisis, ... the collapse of the ecology, the collapse of the systems of interdependent, interrelated life forms on this planet, is the ecological imperative for change, we must change; Chemical Free Weed Control, All weed species have a beauty as well as a difÔ¨Åculty; YOU ARE NOT YOUR GLYPHOSATE, Glyphosate is a chemical, not a religion or a child or way of life; Water Policy, Tweed Shire Council spends half of its budget on water supply, sewerage and sewage efÔ¨Çuent disposal; Stiring the Calderan, capitalist system can ºt be good for a civil society since it ºs all about proÔ¨Åts for shareholders rather than justice and compassion and community.
TREE, the Tweed River Environmental Echo, is the newsletter of the Caldera Environment Center.
To view TREE, Vol. 9, Issue 6 click here: TREE 6.pdf
_____________________________________
TREE, Vol. 9, Issue 5
Lest We Forget, the massive bombing of people and infrastructure (the sewage treatment plants, water supply plants, electrical generation plants, schools and universities) and the depleted uranium fallout from battleÔ¨Åeld weapons, adds up to an horrendous social justice and environmental catastrophe; KINGS FOREST, the Chief Town Planner ºs recommendation regarding the King ºs Forest rezoning has Iemma ºs and Sartor ºs grubby Ô¨Ånger marks all over it; THICH NAT HAHN ºS 14 PRECEPTS, precepts or guidelines for life have been used daily as a method for seeing one ºs place in the order of things; The Ecological Crisis, ... the collapse of the ecology, the ecological imperative for change; Council Status Report, with two (of 3) appointed Administrators residing in Sydney, local knowledge and resident access was always going to be a problem; GLYPHOSATE, the current climate of hysterical fear of weeds combined with a shrugging acceptance of the poison allows for no rational discussion; Chemical Free Weed Control, weed species currently dominate because soils are under threat; CHANGES TO THE PLANNING SYSTEM IN NSW, recent changes to planning laws in NSW include, ...; ARTIFICIAL MASS EARTH MOVEMENT OF HILLSIDES, the Council appears to be treating the problem of whole hillside regrading as an engineering exercise rather than heeding likely environmental effects and 21st Century best-practise town planning and urban design; Stirring the Calderan, if you ºre concerned about the welfare of any farm animals in your ken, you can ring Animal Liberation on 1800 751770; SEA SHEPHERD, Sea Shepherd managed to keep whalers on the run for Ô¨Åfteen days during the killing earlier this year; BEN OQUIST ON THE ELECTIONS, one in six Tasmanians voted for the Greens ’Äì that ºs 16% of the vote across the Apple Isle;
TREE, the Tweed River Environmental Echo, is the newsletter of the Caldera Environment Center.
To view TREE, Vol. 9, Issue 5: TREE 5.pdf
_____________________________________
TREE, Vol. 9, Issue 4
TREE, the Tweed River Environmental Echo, is the newsletter of the Caldera Environment Center.
To view TREE, Vol. 9, Issue 4: TREE 4.pdf
_____________________________________
TREE, Vol. 9, Issue 3
TREE, the Tweed River Environmental Echo, is the newsletter of the Caldera Environment Center.
To view TREE, Vol. 9, Issue 3: TREE 3.pdf
_____________________________________
TREE, Vol. 9, Issue 2
TREE, the Tweed River Environmental Echo, is the newsletter of the Caldera Environment Center.
To view TREE, Vol. 9, Issue 2: TREE 2.pdf
_____________________________________
TREE, Vol. 9, Issue 1
TREE, the Tweed River Environmental Echo, is the newsletter of the Caldera Environment Center.
To view TREE, Vol. 9, Issue 1: TREE 1.pdf
_____________________________________
WHAT IS THE CALDERA ENVIRONMENT CENTRE
The Caldera Environment Centre Inc. (C.E.C.) is a registered Voluntary Conservation Organisation, a registered Charity & an Incorporated Association. The Caldera, Big Scrub , Byron & Nimbin Environment Centres are sibling organisations under the umbrella of the North Coast Environment Council & ultimately, the Nature Conservation Council of NSW
The CEC outgrew from the Tweed Valley Conservation Trust (c.1989) in order to protect Mt Nullum & subsequently, the whole Caldera. The organisation is voluntarily based, relying upon individual initiative, fundraising activities & donations. It aims to raise awareness of local environmental issues, consult with government on natural assessment & promote conservation in the Tweed Valley.
_____________________________________
WHAT ARE CEC'S MAIN AREAS OF CONCERN?
The CEC exists to seek solutions to our common environmental problems. In particular, these include...
- Coastal land use & the conservation of coastal wetlands.
- Protection of Mt Nullum & Wollumbin State Forest.
- Conservation of natural & cultural landscapes, especially the retention of naturally vegetated ridgelines, scenic escarpments & vegetation corridors.
- Protection, regeneration and enhancement of riparian zones & the consequent improvement of water quality.
- Promoting principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD), including the 5 Rs...
Reduce
Re-use
Recycle
Regenerate
Replant
_____________________________________
THE FUTURE
The need for involvement has never been greater. Without radical planning constraints to curb non-sustainable & inappropriate development, the unique ecology of the Tweed Valley will disappear under a blanket of bitumen & concrete.
The good news is that awareness of the environmental challenge is growing. The bad news is that local communities are being increasingly marginalised through Globalisation.
Joining your local Environment Centre is a great way to make friends & make a difference. CEC actitivities are educational, rewarding & just one part of a world-wide network of conservation.
.
_____________________________________
