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. Student Writing Competition: ‘Overeating the environment?’
2. Locum Solicitor Position Vacancy: EDO Queensland
3. Climate Camp review
EDO in the Media
4. Sydney Morning Herald: Miners at the coalface of change
Environmental Law Notices – New South Wales
5. Major Project Proposals – Invitation to Comment
6. State Conservation Notices – Invitation to Comment
Environmental Law Notices – Commonwealth
7. EPBC Referrals – Invitation to Comment
Law and Policy Watch
8. Upcoming Policy Submissions
9. Senate Inquiry into the operation of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
10. Wielangta Forest Update
Community News
11. Law and Justice Foundation NSW: Publishing Toolkit
12. Wielangta Picnic
13. London’s Sustainability Expert to Speak at City Talk
14. Legalwise Seminar- Acquisition, Disposal and Leasing of Contaminated Land
EDO News and Events
1. Student Writing Competition: Overeating the Environment?
In the event of the launch of its new national environmental law journal, IMPACT!, the EDO and Maddocks would like to invite tertiary students to participate in a student writing competition, with a chance to be published in the upcoming edition of IMPACT! and win $500.
The topic of the next edition will be ‘Overeating the Environment?’, dealing with issues relating to food and sustainability.
The rules and guidelines for the competition are listed below:
• The competition runs once a year (IMPACT! is a biannual publication)
• The winning entry will receive $500 and be published in the upcoming edition of IMPACT!
• Entrants must have been enrolled at an Australian tertiary institution in the previous 12 months
• Entries must relate to the topic of the upcoming edition
• Articles should focus on Australian law but use international examples where applicable
• Minimum word count 2,500, maximum 3,000
• Deadline for all entries is 8 September 2008
• Send your entries as attachments to education@edonsw.org.au
• Publisher reserves the right to edit entries
2. Locum Solicitor Position Vacancy: EDO Queensland
The EDO Queensland is currently seeking a part time locum solicitor for its office located in Brisbane. The job description and selection criteria are provided below.
Selection Criteria
• Law Degree
• Admission or eligibility for admission as a solicitor in Queensland
• Experience in environmental litigation preferred
• Demonstrated knowledge of and interest in public interest planning and environmental law and environmental issues.
• Ability to communicate well with a variety of people both oral and written, high written literacy level
• Typing skills experience in Microsoft Word and computer skills
Job Description
The job will entail law reform, case work and educational work under the direction of the Principal Solicitor. It is as a locum solicitor for a solicitor who will be on maternity leave.
Other Duties
• Contribute to a written report to the Management Committee at its monthly meetings.
• Some administrative work (except accounts) as necessary for your role, including typing, photocopy, etc.
Pay and Conditions
5.1 to 6.3 Social and Community Services Award (Qld) pay rates, ($42,350 min -$52,339 min pro rata) depending on experience
• Part time 22.5 hrs per week (i.e. 3 days @ 7.5 hrs) usual hours 9 to 5;
• Plus Superannuation guarantee of 9%
• Pro rata personal/sick leave and holiday leave
• 3 months probation period
Duration of Job
Early or mid August 2008 to 30 June 2009. Potential extension until 5 October 2009.
Please send your CV and a one or two page letter addressing the selection criteria by 5pm Monday 21 July to EDO Queenland’s Principal Solicitor, Jo-Anne Bragg.
3. Climate Camp review
EDO Solicitor Jacquie Svenson and Education Officer Jemilah Hallinan attended the Camp for Climate Action held in Newcastle from 10-15 July.
The camp was organised around a day of non-violent direct action in which demonstrators undertook to prevent trains from delivering coal to the Newcastle coal terminal- the largest coal terminal in the world.
Jacquie and Jemilah were on hand to present workshops on the rights and responsibilities of protesters and the law relating to climate change. They also provided legal support to those participating in the demonstration.
EDO in the Media
4. Sydney Morning Herald: Miners at the coalface of change (5 July 2008)
Environmental
This article relates some of the activities and motivations of those people involved in Climate Camp, a non-violent protest held in Newcastle over the weekend. The article describes the changing attitudes of certain Newcastle miners who are now convinced that coal is heavily contributing to the climate change problem.
The draft Garnaut climate change review is also mentioned. The EDO has been heavily involved in making submissions to various Garnaut reports, whilst members of the EDO team presented workshops on climate law and criminal law relating to the actions of campaigners at Climate Camp.
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
Bankstown: E-Recycling Facility, Villawood
Baulkham Hills: Extractive Industry, Old Northern Road, Maroota
Dubbo: Gravel Quarry, Peak Hill Road, Dubbo
Auburn: Captive Balloon, Sydney Olympic Park
6. State Conservation Notices – Invitation to Comment
Draft Plans of Management
Avondale State Conservation Area
Dananbilla, Koorawatha, Illunie and Gungewalla Nature Reserves
Discussion Paper
Discussion Paper on the NSW Energy Efficiency Trading Scheme
Environmental Law Notices – Commonwealth
7. 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
The following referrals have been listed within the last 7 days:
Queensland
Mark Entriken/Residential development/Lot 19 Chisholm Trail Oak Valley/QLD/Private House Construction
http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=4339
Cairns Natural Spring Water/Commercial development/Maconachie St, East Woree, Cairns/QLD/Subdivision at East Woree Industrial Area
http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=4338
Department of Main Roads (Qld)/Transport – land/Rosedale Road, 30km north-west of Bundaberg/QLD/Replacement of Yandaran Creek and Cockatoo Creek Bridges
http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=4336
Victoria
VicRoads/Transport – land/Muddy Creek 2.5 kilometres south from Hamilton/VIC/Muddy Creek Bridge Upgrade and Rehabilitation
http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=4335
Parks Victoria/Tourism and recreation/Flinders Pier, Flinders near West Head, Vic/VIC/Upgrade and Repairs to Flinders Pier
http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=4331
Tasmania
Hydro Tasmania/Water management and use/Catagunya Dam 10 km from Ouse, Upper Derwent Valley/TAS/Refurbishment and Upgrade of Catagunya Dam
http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=4343
Western Australia
Serpentine Jarrahdale Shire/Natural resources management/Serpentine Sports Reserve, Serpentine/WA/Serpentine Sports Reserve, Protection of Dieback Free Area
http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=4337
Bailbro Services Pty Ltd/Commercial Development/Lot 504 Fields St Pinjarra/WA/Clearing of Lot in Preparation for Development for Industrial Purposes
http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=4332
Bush Beach Holdings Pty Ltd/Mining/Part Location 721 Old Coast Rd Herron City of Mandurah/WA/Extension and Renewal of Existing Sand Quarry
http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=4326
South Australia
Stansbury Marina Development Company P/L/Residential development/North Stansbury, Jetty Road/SA/Marina and Residential Development Stansbury
http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=4333
Commonwealth Marine
OMV Australia Pty Ltd/Exploration (mineral, oil and gas – marine)/Retention Lease AC/RL6, Timor Sea, 300km NW of Kimberley Coast/Commonwealth Marine/Drilling of Audacious- 5 appraisal well
http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=4327
Law and Policy Watch
8. Upcoming Policy Submissions
The policy team is examining the Garnaut Draft Report on emissions trading and climate change.
The team is also preparing a response to the COAG (Council of Australian Governments) Working Group on Climate Change and Water, Design options of the expanded Renewable energy target scheme. This response is due 30 July 2008.
For more information on the EDO’s submissions, please contact the EDO office on (02) 9262 6989.
9. Senate Inquiry into the operation of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
The Senate Environment, Communications and the Arts Committee is undertaking an inquiry into the operation of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
EDO NSW’s policy team is currently working on an ANEDO (Australian Network of Environmental Defender’s Offices) submission to the inquiry.
Submissions are due 5 September 2008. For more information, visit www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/eca_ctte/epbc_act/tor.htm, or contact the EDO office on (02) 9262 6989.
10. Wielangta Forest Update
The Tasmanian Wedge-tailed Eagle, the Swift Parrot and the Wielangta Stag Beetle are all federally-listed endangered species living in the Wielangta Forest on Tasmania’s east coast. Recently the High Court ruled that the previous Federal government’s alteration of the Regional Forest Agreement stating the Forest area is effectively protected, overruled the Federal Court decision that logging under Forestry Tasmania’s management damaged the habitat of nationally-listed endangered species.
In its most recent move, Forestry Tasmania has listed the famous Wielangta coupe 19D for logging. This decision reflects Forestry’s failure to adopt the ‘far more protective stance’ required to protect the beetle, eagle and parrot.
For Wielangta to stay protected either Tasmania’s Premier Bartlett or Prime Minister Rudd will have to intervene. The Wielangta Campaign has urged those concerned to write and urge the State and Commonwealth governments to act.
Community News
11. Law and Justice Foundation NSW: Publishing Toolkit
As part of our role in increasing access to justice for socially and economically disadvantaged groups, the Law and Justice Foundation supports the production and dissemination of high quality plain language legal information. In order to assist organisations to write, publish, promote and distribute their resources, the Foundation has recently produced a Publishing Toolkit. The aim of the Toolkit is to guide organisations through the publishing process from project management to distribution.
There are currently 6 factsheets available:
1. Project Managing your Publication
2. Choosing a Publisher
3. Publishing Checklist
4. How to Promote Your Resource
5. Distributing Your Resource
6. Creating an accessible website for users with vision impairment
As part of their campaign against logging in the Wielangta Forest on Tasmania’s East Coast, the Wielangta Campaign have organised a picnic for their supporters and those seeking to protect the Forest.
Time: Meet 11a.m. Date: Saturday 19 July, 2008.
BYO picnic! The group will be walking from coupe 17E to 19D if access is available, otherwise at the gate on the Wielangta road. For more details contact Mel Hills at mel.hills@active8.net.au
13. London’s Sustainability Expert to Speak at City Talk
Allan Jones MBE is coming to Sydney to discuss how Sydney can move towards a more sustainable future.
Jones was responsible for introducing solar and tri-generation power into Woking, England which allowed Woking to be taken off the electricity grid and helped the Woking Borough Council reduce CO2 emissions by 77.5% from 1990 to 2004.
Other speakers include Clover Moore MP, Lord Mayor of Sydney; Verity Firth, NSW Minister for the Environment and Bruce Taper, Sustainable Sydney 2030 environment expert.
When: 22 July 2008, 6:30-8pm Where: Theatre Royal (MLC Centre, King Street, Sydney) Cost: Free RSVP: Bookings essential and through Ticketek 132 849
14. Legalwise Seminar- Acquisition, Disposal and Leasing of Contaminated Land
Legalwise Seminars is presenting a seminar dealing with the acquisition, disposal and leasing of contaminated land. Topics will include risk management, regulatory reform and practical impacts and implications.
When: 12 November 2008, 2:00pm-5:15pm, 3 CLE points Where: Radisson Plaza Hotel, 27 O’Connell Street, Sydney Cost: Usually $440.00- 10% discount for EDO members ($396.00) RSVP: 02 9387 8133
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.
