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EDO NSW BULLETIN – 4 March 2010: Number 649

The EDO Bulletin is a free weekly bulletin that provides a listing of news, events, public notices and opportunities for public comment.

EDO News and Events

1. FREE Seminar Series: Urban Sustainability in Sydney
2. FREE Seminar: Tweed Draft LEP
3. EDO participating at Australia's Climate Action Summit 2010
4. New EDO Publication – the Major Projects Toolkit
5. Diary Note - ANEDO Conference Announcement
6. New EDO Publications Survey
7. Please complete our online planning survey
8. FREE copies of the new edition of the Rural Landholder's Guide to Environmental Law in NSW

Law and Policy Watch

9. Rees plan to save the Redgums faces the axe
10. Policy Submissions
11. Legislative Reviews
12. Local Environmental Plan Tracking

EDO in the Media

13. 702 ABC Sydney: Above or below ground: is coal or agriculture the Hunter Valley's most important industry
14. Northern Rivers Echo: Land clearing not a farmer's friend

Environmental Law Notices – New South Wales

15. Major Project Proposals – Invitation to Comment
16. State Conservation Notices – Invitation to Comment
17. Department of Lands – Public Exhibition

Environmental Law Notices – Commonwealth

18. EPBC Referrals – Invitation to Comment

Community News

19. Project Survival Pacific are currently recruiting
20. Position Vacant: TEC - Part Time Fundraiser
21. Position Vacant: Nature Conservation Council of NSW (CEO)  
22. Australia 's Second Conference on Wild Law and Earth Jurisprudence -Keeping the Fire: Ecologies, Ontologies and Myth-Making
23. Climate Change Law seminar
24. Wildendurance


EDO News and Events

1. FREE Seminar Series Urban Sustainability in Sydney

The Environmental Defender's Office (EDO) would like to invite you to the first in its series of seminars on urban sustainability sponsored by the City of Sydney . This seminar will discuss incentives, policies and legal frameworks to encourage sustainable homes, including BASIX, waste management and rebates. Our panellists are

  • Jane Castle of the Total Environment Centre;
  • Roderick Simpson who was instrumental in the formulation of BASIX, (the NSW Building Sustainability Index) and is currently working on the development of a precinct wide sustainability assessment tool for Landcom: PRECINX; and
  • Scott Wilson of the NSW Department of Planning.

Date: 5 March 2010

Time: 12:30pm - 2:00pm

Venue: Level 38, 201 Elizabeth St , Sydney

Light refreshments will be provided

For more information or to RSVP email education@edo.org.au or call

(02) 9262 6989.

2. FREE Seminar: Tweed Draft LEP

The draft Tweed Local Environmental Plan is on public exhibition until Wednesday 31 March. In response to requests from the local community, the EDO Northern Rivers office is holding a public seminar to discuss how well the draft Plan protects the area's unique biodiversity and how the community can make effective submissions.

Where :  CWA Hall, 20 Queen St MURWILLUMBAH

When : 5.45 for 6 pm sharp to 8 pm, Tuesday 23 March 

Light refreshments provided. No booking necessary. Presented by the EDO NSW Northern Rivers office

For more information please call Mark Byrne on 6621 1113 or email edonr@edo.org.au

3. EDO participating at Australia's Climate Action Summit 2010

Felicity Millner of the EDO will be co-facilitating a climate litigation workshop at this year's Climate Action Summit. The workshop will discuss the pros and cons of litigation, assist campaign groups to put in place objectives for using climate litigation, and increase understanding and engagement by campaign groups in climate litigation. Topics will include Australian case studies, recent developments in US climate litigation and what is involved with bringing a case. Other speakers at the Summit include Ian Fry, (Chief Climate Change Negotiator for Tuvalu), David Karoly (Lead author for Intergovermental Panel on Climate Change Reports), Bernard Keane (Canberra's Crikey Correspondent), Christine Milne (Deputy leader of the Parliamentary Greens), and Walden Bello (Executive Director of Focus on the Global South) and a whole heap of other experienced and committed climate activists.

Where: ANU Canberra

When: 13-15 March 2010

For more information, please visit:

http://www.climatesummit.org.au/

4. New EDO Publication – the Major Projects Toolkit

The Major Projects Toolkit is a publication designed to assist local residents and community groups to engage in the process for assessing and approving major projects under Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

The toolkit comprises a step by step guide to the Part 3A process with information on opportunities for public participation and ideas for how to achieve best practice outcomes.

The EDO wishes to acknowledge and thank the City of Sydney for funding this project. The publication is available in hard copy free of charge to all City of Sydney residents. Please call the EDO to request a copy on 02 9262 6989 or email education@edo.org.au

If you are not a City of Sydney resident you can access the publication online at:

http://www.edo.org.au/edonsw/site/pdf/pubs/100217major_projects_tk.pdf

5. Diary Note - ANEDO Conference Announcement

The Australian Network of Environmental Defender's Offices (ANEDO) will be holding a national conference on 28-29 May 2010. The conference will be held at the Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts in Sydney . The Hon. Robert McClelland, Attorney General will be opening the conference and some of Australia 's leading legal environmental speakers will participate in panels over the two days. More details will be available soon on the EDO website.

6. New EDO Publications Survey

What do you think of our EDO publications? Please evaluate the following publications online by clicking this online evaluation

7. Please complete our online planning survey

The EDO , along with Total Environment Centre (TEC), held a series of workshops throughout NSW to update the community on the recent changes to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and to seek community feedback on the NSW Planning System. The workshops were based on a discussion paper entitled 'Planning in NSW: Reconnecting the community with the planning system' which outlines the NSW planning system and the opportunities for public participation. You can access the discussion paper at:

http://www.edo.org.au/edonsw/site/pdf/pubs/091112planning_discussion_paper.pdf

The workshops were funded by the Department of Planning NSW and were jointly facilitated by the EDO and TEC. They were held in Ballina, Coffs Harbour , Newcastle , Sydney , Wollongong and Moruya throughout November 2009.

People who could not attend the workshops are encouraged to give their feedback on the NSW Planning System by completing our Online Survey.

8. FREE copies of the new edition of the Rural Landholder's Guide to Environmental Law in NSW

If you would like the EDO to visit your area to present a workshop on the contents of the guide please contact EDO Education Director Jemilah Hallinan at education@edo.org.au or 02 9262 6989.

The new edition of the Rural Landholder's Guide to Environmental Law in NSW , a publication last produced by the EDO in 2006, is now available for free, including postage and handling. The guide is a valuable tool in understanding the law in NSW regarding land management and explains legislation dealing with issues such as vegetation management, protected species, fire management, water management, construction and development, pollution, agricultural chemicals, cr ops and stock, mining and quarrying, heritage protection, conservation on private land and trading and offsetting agreements.

To obtain your FREE copy of the guide please email education@edo.org.au or call (02) 9262 6989. Boxes of 160 are also available on request for groups or organisations.

This project has been assisted by the NSW Government through its Environmental Trust.

 

Law and Policy Watch

 

9. Rees plan to save the Redgums faces the axe

The decision of the former premier Nathan Rees to immediately end logging of the Riverina redgums has been reversed by the state government.

It has opted for a five-year wind-down of logging, coupled with the establishment of national and regional parks that cover much of the contested area.

For the full details of this article please visit:

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/reess-plan-to-save-redgums-faces-the-axe-20100302-pgex.html

10. Policy Submissions

  • EDO Submission to the Office of Fair Trading on Residential Tenancies Sub (green leases)

To view the EDO 's submission in its entirety, please visit:

http://www.edo.org.au/edonsw/site/pdf/subs09/091217residential_tenancies_act.pdf .

  • EDO Submission on the RET - Discussion Paper 4 – the treatment of new waste coal mine gas power generation in the RET and the Discussion Paper 5 – the treatment of ‘Solar Credits' Renewable Energy Certificates under the RET

To view the EDO 's submission in its entirety, please visit:

http://www.edo.org.au/policy/100128ret_discussion_papers4&5.pdf

  • EDO Submission on the Plantations and Reafforestation Amendment Bill 2009 and the Plantations and Reafforestation (Code) Amendment Regulation 2009

To view the EDO 's submission in its entirety, please visit:

http://www.edo.org.au/edonsw/site/pdf/subs10/100211plantations_reafforestation_bill.pdf

  • Submission to the NSW Law Reform Commission on Security for costs and associated costs orders

To view the EDO 's submission in its entirety, please visit:

http://www.edo.org.au/edonsw/site/pdf/subs10/100215costs_orders.pdf

  • Native Vegetation Laws, Greenhouse Gas Abatement and Climate Change Measures Inquiry

On 4 February 2010 the Senate referred the following matters to the Senate Finance and Public Administration Committee for inquiry and report:

(1) The impact of native vegetation laws and legislated greenhouse gas abatement measures on landholders, including:

•  any diminution of land asset value and productivity as a result of such laws;

•  compensation arrangements to landholders resulting from the imposition of such laws;

•  the appropriateness of the method of calculation of asset value in the determination of compensation arrangements; and

•  any other related matter. 

(2) in conducting this inquiry, the committee must also examine the impact of the Government's proposed Carbon pollution Reduction Scheme and the range of measures related to climate change announced by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Abbott) on 2 February 2010.

http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/fapa_ctte/climate_change/index.htm

Submissions should be received by 5 March 2010. The reporting date is 30 April 2010 .

11. Legislative Reviews

Legislation in NSW is usually reviewed after five years. A review is carried out to determine whether the policy objectives of an Act remain valid and whether the means of addressing these objectives are appropriate.  The following Acts are shortly due for review:

  • Review of the Lord Howe Island Act 1953

12. Local Environmental Plan Tracking

The process for creating Local Environmental Plans (LEPs) starts with a planning proposal which in most cases is prepared by your local council. They are then assessed by the Department of Planning which makes a gateway determination to determine whether the proposal has sufficient merit to proceed. Once planning proposals pass through the gateway stage they are placed on the Planning Department's website which allows the community to track their progress. To access the LEP tracking system visit the Department of Planning website at:

http://leptracking.planning.nsw.gov.au/Default.aspx

There are no new notices since the last eBulletin.

 

EDO in the Media

 

13. 702 ABC Sydney: Above or below ground: is coal or agriculture the Hunter Valley's most important industry (2 March 2010)

The EDO is acting for Caroona Coal Action Group Inc. A spokesperson from the group was interviewed this week on ABC radio. Coal and agriculture are two of most important industries in NSW. But a contest between the two is playing out in the Hunter Valley, which has one of the world's highest concentrations of coal mines. It is also a key agricultural zone. So, can the two co-exist?

To download the audio file of this interview, please visit:

http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2010/03/02/2834266.htm?site=sydney

14. Northern Rivers Echo: Land clearing not a farmer's friend (25 February 2010)

With the current controversy over native vegetation law in NSW, there has been a lack of clarification over some basic legal issues. This article, by Northern Rivers education officer Mark Byrne, is intended to dispel some misunderstandings.

For the full text of this article, please visit:

http://www.echonews.com.au/story/2010/02/25/land-clearing-is-not-necessarily-the-farmers-frien/\

For a similar article by the same author, please visit:

http://www.edo.org.au/edonsw/site/pdf/misc/100304rw.pdf

 

Environmental Law Notices – New South Wales

 

15. Major Project Proposals – Invitation to Comment

For a full listing of Major Project proposals currently available for public comment, visit the Department of Planning website at http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.pl?action=search&status_id=6

  • Homebush Bay – residential development

http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.pl?action=view_job&job_id=3443

  • Sydney Opera House – Drain diversion

http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.pl?action=view_job&job_id=3322

  • Sydney Olypmic Park – new commercial building

http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.pl?action=view_job&job_id=2806

  • Royal North Shore Hospital – demolition of the mortuary building

http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.pl?action=view_job&job_id=3809

16. State Conservation Notices – Invitation to Comment

The full listing of conservation plans is available for public comment on the National Parks and Wildlife website at http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/consult/DecPublicConsultation.htm

There are no new notices since the last eBulletin.

17. Department of Lands – Public Exhibition

The following draft plans are currently being exhibited for public comment. Visit http://www.lands.nsw.gov.au/about_us/publications/exhibition to view the plans in detail.

There are no new notices since the last eBulletin.

 

Environmental Law Notices – Commonwealth 

 

18. EPBC Referrals – Invitation to Comment

Referrals under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 are available for comment on the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts website at: http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl

The following referrals have been listed within the last 7 days:

VIC

Melbourne – Geelong Interconnection Pipeline Project

http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=5380

Bangholme – water management upgrade

http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=5376

Nhill – Proposed heavy vehicle trailer exchange

http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=5375

WA

Perth – Airport & freight access gateway

http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=5384

NSW

Illawarra – Calderwood urban development

http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=5381

Blue Mountains – upgrade of existing DECCW radio communications facilities

http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=5374

QLD

West End – Sale of ABC Orchestra and Music centre

http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=5372

Helidon – Sandstone Quarry

http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=5377

 

Community News

 

19. Project Survival Pacific are currently recruiting

Despite being hit by Climate Change earliest and hardest, the Pacific islands are extremely under resourced in international climate change negotiations. Project Survival Pacific works to put the Pacific on the map, both at international negotiations and by working in environmental education in the Pacific.

Project Survival Pacific are seeking talented leaders, organisers, designers, logistics people, IT people and more for their 2010 Team.

Team members may get the chance to travel to the Pacific and Mexico for the UN Climate Change negotiations.

For more information on the project and to apply visit   http://youthprojectsurvival.org/join-us .

Applications close on Friday 12 March .

20. Position Vacant: TEC - Part Time Fundraiser

Total Environment Centre (www.tec.org.au) is looking for a successful fundraiser with a proven track record in the NGO sector - a person with initiative, creativity, excellent interpersonal skills, and a commitment to sustainability. Applicants must have a commitment to the environment and some experience in pursuing online and social marketing opportunities for fundraising.

About the position

This is a newly created 3 day per week position, with appointment for an initial 2 year period and a review after 6 months and one year based on achieving agreed targets.

The position will develop, manage and lead an ambitious program to grow TEC's fundraising activities across a range of strategic new initiatives. You will work closely with senior management and campaign and media staff to identify prospects, nurture relationships and grow the supporter base through events, donations including regular giving, gifts and bequests.

Key Responsibilities

• Implement TEC's Fundraising Action Plan and report on progress

• Develop and implement a regular giving program

• Grow income streams though the use of TEC's web and online presence

• Develop and manage a program to support major donors

• Develop and implement a formal bequest program

• Pursue online fundraising opportunities

• Manage direct mail fundraising

• Manage and grow corporate donations and grants for environmental projects (not Green Capital)

• Develop and manage a workplace giving program

• Explore creative and innovative fundraising opportunities in collaboration with other TEC staff

• Develop and maintain key fundraising tools and materials

• Work collaboratively as part of the TEC team to further the aims and objectives of the organisation.

Selection Criteria

• Experience and a successful track record in a professional fundraising role, preferably with a not-for-profit organisation

• A solid understanding and knowledge of the principles of fundraising within the NGO sector

• Ability to identify and build new donor niches

• Ability to develop a regular income stream through regular giving programs

• Experience in developing tailored programs such as bequest programs and workplace giving programs

• Understanding of direct marketing, social marketing and web based fundraising

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

• Creative, goal oriented, with the ability to turn ideas into successful initiatives.

Remuneration

The salary is $50,300 (plus super and leave loading) pro rata based on 3 days per week.

TEC is a people friendly employer and flexible working hours can be negotiated. There may be opportunity for the position to develop into full time over the longer term.

To apply

Send applications to Jeff Angel, Executive Director, Total Environment Centre

PO Box A176 , Sydney.

21. Position Vacant: Nature Conservation Council of NSW (CEO)  

This position is a unique opportunity for a motivated sustainability leader to guide the direction of NSW's peak environment group. Few roles can offer similar opportunities for making a genuine difference on some of the biggest environment challenges facing this and future generations.

The NCC Chief Executive Officer is pivotal in providing vision, leadership and good management in keeping with the NCC's constitution, strategic plan, adopted policies and the directions of the Executive elected by the NCC's member groups.

Download the Chief Executive Officer position description here .

Essential criteria
You should already have sufficient experience to have acquired:
•    A demonstrated commitment to and high level of knowledge of nature conservation environmental issues, and environmental organisations;
•    Proven experience as a team builder including capacity building amongst constituent organisations;
•    Proven experience with initiating and running environmental campaigns;
•    Excellent verbal and written communication skills, and demonstrated media experience;
•    Experience in working to achieve state and federal government policy change, using research, education, campaigning and/or lobbying strategies;
•    Background in running a similar organisation e.g. balancing competing priorities of governance, statutory reporting, managing volunteers, staff development, fundraising planning, identifying and securing new funding sources; managing grants etc and budget management with a limited resource base;
•    The capacity to focus on near-term goals while keeping sight of longer term strategic directions.

And also:
•    Formal qualifications in environment studies;
•    Familiarity with environmental organisations and government environmental policies within the NSW and Australian context;
•    Political nous and interpersonal skills.
•    Excellent computer skills, particularly standard Office applications and an appreciation of data base management.

Confidential enquiries can be made to Prof Don White on +61 2 9389 6728 or email: whitedon@bigpond.net.au
                               
Closing date: Sunday 7 March, 2010

22. Australia 's Second Conference on Wild Law and Earth Jurisprudence -Keeping the Fire: Ecologies, Ontologies and Myth-Making

Following the success of Australia's inaugural Wild Law Conference in October last year, Earth Laws, in conjunction with the Legal Intersection Research Centre and the Faculty of Law at the University of Wollongong, the School of Law and Justice at Southern Cross University, and the Sandon Point Aboriginal Tent Embassy, is organising a second Wild Law Conference to be held in Wollongong on the 24th and 25th of July 2010. Proposed sessions will explore Indigenous and environmental activism, myth-making and wild law, making wild law out of existing law, wild law and cross-cultural learning, and teaching wild law (or teaching law wildly). The conference will be connected to place through the Sandon Point experience. The organisers are currently calling for papers. For more information, visit www.keepingthefire.org

23. Climate Change Law seminar

Explore a more detailed analysis of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme and how it will work in practice. Hear from a panel of experts on: Australia 's international obligations; how the final CPRS scheme is to operate; key issues relating to compliance and enforcement; how to assess the financial impact on corporate value; and understand how the carbon market will work.

When: Wednesday, 24 March, 2010

Where: UNSW CBD Campus, Level 6, 1 O'Connell Street , Sydney

Time: 9.00am to 1.15pm

Registration price: $440

To register, simply complete the registration form and return it to Legalwise Seminars by fax on 02 9387 8711

24. Wildendurance

Make 2010 count for you and the planet!!

Get committed to being in great shape this year by registering a team in the WildEndurance 100km team challenge. Start training now and get together a team of 6 for the 50km relay or a team of 4 for the 100km. You'll be raising funds for The Wilderness Society to protect our forests and fight climate change!   The event is held in the stunning Blue Mountains over the 1st & 2nd of May.

The challenge is to complete the 100km in 48 hours and stay together as a team. You will have your support crew meeting you at the 4 checkpoints keeping up both your spirits and supplies. We can help you with your training program. Check out the You Tube clip for inspiration http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nietmvqL2NI and more info at  www.wildendurance.org.au

 

 

Untitled Document

This bulletin is meant for your general information. Where possible, references are given so that readers can access original sources or find more information. Any information contained in this bulletin does not represent legal advice.

The EDO does not endorse and is not affiliated with events advertised in the Community News section.

 

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This site was last updated Friday 12 March, 2010
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