4. Seminar: Can the law save the Grey Nurse Shark?
Environmental Law Notices – New South Wales
5. Major Project Proposals – Invitation to Comment
6. State Conservation Notices – Invitation to Comment
7. BioBanking Public Exhibition and Information Sessions
Environmental Law Notices – Commonwealth
8. EPBC Referrals – Invitation to Comment
Community News
9. Climate Change Group Clayton Utz Seminar: New greenhouse gas reporting law- the devil is in the detail
EDO News and Events
1. Caring for Country Launch: State Parliament
The Environmental Defender's Office would like to invite you to the launch of ”Caring for Country - A Guide to NSW Environmental Law for Aboriginal Communities”.
Date : Tuesday November 13
Time : 5.30 sharp - 7.00pm
Venue : Strangers Lounge, NSW Parliament House
The EDO would like to thank the Law and Justice Foundation of NSW for their financial support with this project. The Guide is now available from our website, at www.edo.org.au/edonsw.
2. Workshops: Caring for Country
The Environmental Defender's Office will be presenting a series of FREE regional workshops providing practical information about environmental law for Aboriginal people. This series is designed to complement the new EDO publication Caring for Country - A Guide to NSW Environmental Law for Aboriginal Communities. The workshops will cover a variety of issues, including:
An overview of the legal system and key environmental laws
The nomination and preservation system for cultural heritage
Access to and permitted activities in protected areas
How the planning and development system works
There will be the two remaining workshops in this series, held in Narooma and Dubbo. Narooma Workshop
Please have a read to find out about the litigation, law reform, policy, science and education program initiatives of the EDO over the past year.
4. Seminar: Can the law save the Grey Nurse Shark?
The EDO represented the NSW Nature Conservation Council (NCC) in proceedings brought in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) against the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment and Heritage. The legal action was for strict no-fishing zones to be introduced as part of a bid to protect the dwindling numbers of Grey Nurse Sharks. NCC presented evidence to the AAT that the NSW Ocean Trap and Line Fishery (OTLF) has a significant impact on the nationally listed critically endangered east coast population of the Grey Nurse Shark. The OTLF is a multi-species targeted fishery that operates within the habitat areas of the Grey Nurse Shark and a number of other threatened species. The NCC was seeking the implementation of fishery closures of specific key shark aggregation areas and the banning of the use of wire traces in deeper waters. It was also seeking an order that sanctuaries be established in areas including Maroubra Beach in Sydney and Montague Island.
In a judgement handed down on 18 October 2007 the AAT upheld the Minister's approval of the OTLF as a wildlife trade operation on the basis that the fishery, operated in accordance with the conditions imposed by the Minister, will not be detrimental to the survival of the Grey Nurse Shark. This seminar will explore some of the legal, environmental and scientific issues and outcomes from this important and interesting legal case.
Venue : DLA Phillips Fox, Level 38, 201 Elizabeth Street Sydney
RSVP :
We would like to thank DLA Phillips Fox for generously providing a venue for this seminar
Environmental Law Notices – New South Wales
5. 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://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/asp/das.asp
No new listings since last Bulletin.
6. 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 www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au . Follow the link entitled ‘Conservation Plans for Public Comment' on the left side of the screen.
Draft Plan of Management
Bollanolla Nature Reserve
Bowraville Nature Reserve
Ganay Nature Reserve
Jaaningga Nature Reserve
Juugawaarri Nature Reserve
Macquarie Nature Reserve
Plans on exhibition until 11 February 2008.
Draft Pest Management Strategies- Southern Branch
South-west Slopes, Snowy Mountains and Far South Coast. On exhibition to 7 December 2007
South Coast. On exhibition to 12 December 2007
7. BioBanking Public Exhibition and Information Sessions
Public exhibition on the NSW Biodiversity Offsets and Banking Scheme (BioBanking) is scheduled to begin in November 2007. The aim of the public exhibition is to obtain feedback on details of the scheme's operation before commencement. The Department of Environment and Climate Change, with the support of local government, will be hosting a number of Public Information Sessions across NSW, to explain the intended operation of the scheme and provide an overview of the materials that will be on public exhibition. The closing date for submissions is 1 February 2008.
To coincide with the Information Sessions the following material will be available on the department's website. These documents will provide a broad overview of the scheme and its operation in particular how credits will be calculated.
Draft BioBanking Assessment Methodology and Background Paper
Peer review and DECC response
Pilot program report
Compliance assurance strategy
Scheme Overview Booklet
The Regulation and Regulatory Impact Statement will be released by December 2007. The scheme will then commence in 2008.
Referrals under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 are available for comment on the Department of Environment and Water Resources website at: http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl .
Title: Residential Development in Cooranbong NSW
Proponent: Johnson Property Group Site: Avondale Road, Cooranbong
Ref no: 2007/3828
Comments due: 22 November 2007
Description: The proposal consists of a 364 hectare Residential Development at Corranbong. The proposed Rezoning and Concept Plan will be assessed by the NSW Department of Planning as a Part 3A Major Project.
Community News
9. Climate Change Group Clayton Utz Seminar: New greenhouse gas reporting law- the devil is in the detail
In September a new law was passed requiring the reporting of greenhouse gas emissions and energy use. This has raised more questions than it has answered, as much of the important detail has been left to the regulations - which are yet to be written.
With reporting to commence from 1 July 2008, there is little time for entities which currently have reporting obligations to adapt to the new reporting regime, let alone for the estimated 300 entities that will need to report for the first time.
In the latest of our climate change seminars, Clayton Utz Partners Brendan Bateman and Peter Briggs will look at what we do - and don't - know about the new National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act, and explain what it means for organizations.
Date : Wednesday 28 November 2007
Time : 12pm for 12.30 start
Venue : Clayton Utz Boardroom, Level 34 No. 1 O'Connell St Sydney
RSVP : Claire Hewitt, on (02) 9353 5344
Sandwiches and refreshments will be provided.
EDO New South Wales offers free telephone advice on the Environmental Law Line. Open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday between 2:30pm and 5:30pm. Call 02 9262 6989, or for NSW residents outside of Sydney call 1800 626 239. If you require the assistance of an interpreter please call TIS National on 131 450 and ask to speak with the Environmental Defender's Office on 02 9262 6989
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.
