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. EDO Case Win- Hub waste facility rejected
2. Workshop in Lithgow: Private Conservation
3. EDO NSW Job Vacancy: Education Assistant
Environmental Law Notices – New South Wales
4. Major Project Proposals – Invitation to Comment
5. State Conservation Notices – Invitation to Comment
Environmental Law Notices – Commonwealth
6. EPBC Referrals – Invitation to Comment
Community News
7. NPA Conference, Sydney: Travelling Stock Networks: Biodiversity Highway of the Eastern Inland
8. Plant Conservation National Conference
9. The Australian Museum Eureka Prizes
EDO News and Events
1. EDO Case Win- Hub waste facility rejected
In a judgment handed down on 17 March, Justice Preston and Commissioner Moore of the Land and Environment Court rejected Orange City Council's proposal to build a waste facility at Molong. The rejection was due to the Court's concern that the waste facility was not ecologically sustainable development and that it was likely to adversely impact on prime crop and pasture land.
The case was commenced by the Hub Action Group, a group of local residents, to challenge the decision of the Minister for Planning to approve the proposal. They were represented by barristers Malcolm Craig QC and Ian Hemmings and solicitors from the Environmental Defender's Office.
The Hub proposal was highly contentious in the local area, with over 100 residents attending the first day of the hearing on site at Molong.
Planning controls in Molong, as in most rural areas, have a clause prohibiting any development that will have an adverse impact on the long term productivity of any prime crop and pasture land. The Council failed to show that the garbage dump could be built without compromising the agricultural productivity of the site.
Protection of good agricultural land is important, because international scientists have told us that agricultural productivity is going to decline as a result of climate change. Continuing to convert prime agricultural land to other uses, whether it is urban subdivisions or garbage dumps, is unsustainable.
This judgment has emphasised the need for all developments to ensure they are sustainable. The Court refused to approve a development on the premise that at some future time the proposal may become sustainable and result in waste minimisation.
2. Workshop in Lithgow: Private Conservation
Most of Australia's biological diversity is located on privately owned land.
Landowners hold the key to the protection of countless endangered species.
This workshop will cover a range of legal and practical issues associated with private conservation, including:
legal mechanisms for protecting conservation values on private land;
financial incentives for private conservation; and
technical assistance and advice for private conservation projects.
Date : Saturday 29 March 2008
Time : 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Venue : Lithgow Information and Neighbourhood Centre, 1 Padley St Lithgow
For enquiries or to RSVP please contact Eszter Kovacs on (02) 9262 6989.
3. EDO NSW Job Vacancy: Education Assistant
The Environmental Defender's Office (EDO) is looking for a suitable Education Assistant to support the delivery of our dynamic services to the community. This position is based in the Sydney CBD and is 30 hours per week.
The Environmental Defender's Office (EDO) is a community legal centre specialising in public interest advocacy regarding environmental law and policy.
A key part of the EDO's work is the delivery of community programs including education, indigenous engagement, rural and regional and international work. To this end, the EDO has a team comprising a Programs Director, Education Officer and Education Assistant.
Selection Criteria
The Education Assistant position is open to dynamic, self-motivated candidates who satisfy the following selection criteria:
Essential:
Ability to manage projects independently
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Ability to meet deadlines and balance competing priorities
Ability to work in a small team; good interpersonal skills
Experience in using desktop publishing and web publishing programs
Fluency in Microsoft programs
Desirable
Experience in event management and promotion
Current drivers licence
Salary : $34, 850-$43,560 per annum (pro rata $27,880-$34,850)
To inquire about this position, please contact Jemilah Hallinan, Education Officer, on 9262 6989. To apply for this position, please send your CV and a cover letter addressing the above selection criteria to Jemilah at: Environmental Defender's Office, Level 1, 89 York Street Sydney NSW 2000.
Environmental Law Notices – New South Wales
4. 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
Tweed Heads South: Upgrade of Banora Point Water Reclamation Plant
Muswellbrook: Modifications to Bengalla Point Coal Mine
6. EPBC Referrals – Invitation to Comment
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
No new notices since last eBulletin.
Community News
7. National Parks Association Conference- Travelling Stock Networks: Biodiversity Highway of the Eastern Inland
The Travelling Stock Network has significant conservation values. This is an opportunity to explore future directions and resourcing for the management of these vital broad landscape linkages. It is of interest to bird watchers, field naturalists, ecologists, researchers, conservationists, land managers and decision makers.
Date : Wednesday 9 April 2008
Time : 9am to 5pm
Venue : Australian Museum, College St Sydney
Registrations due by 2 April; for registration details go to www.npansw.org.au
For more information contact Bev Smiles,Western Project Manager
National Parks Association of NSW, (02) 6373 4330.
8. Plant Conservation National Conference
The ANPC and Mount Annan Botanic Garden invite you to a conference on threatening processes in plant conservation and the responses we can effectively make. This conference will bring together scientists, conservation managers, on-ground practitioners and community volunteers.
Field trips will cover a variety of plant conservation topics using Western Sydney examples. The social program includes a welcome function, BBQ and conference dinner offsite.
Date : 21-24 April 2008, in Sydney
9. The Australian Museum Eureka Prizes
Presented annually by the Australian Museum, the Australian Museum Eureka Prizes are Australia's most comprehensive science awards and the largest award scheme for research into critical environmental sustainability issues facing the country.
Entries and nominations are now invited for $60,000 in prizes dealing with environmental issues
Young Leaders in Environmental Issues and Climate Change
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.
