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. Northern Rivers Workshops
2. EDO to attend ELAW Annual Meeting, Kenya
3. Student Writing Competition: ‘Overeating the environment?’
4. Acting Policy Director Position: EDO NSW
EDO in the Media
5. Farmers angry as mining companies move in: The 7.30 Report, ABC
6. BHP – the Big Aussie Bully: A Current Affair, Channel 9
Environmental Law Notices – New South Wales
6. Major Project Proposals – Invitation to Comment
7. State Conservation Notices – Invitation to Comment
Environmental Law Notices – Commonwealth
8. EPBC Referrals – Invitation to Comment
Law and Policy Watch
9. EDO Policy Submissions
Community News
10. Nature Conservation Council: Call for Conference Papers
11. National Walk to Work Day
12. Australian Ethical Investment: Sydney Seminars
13. CANA: Emissions Trading and Climate Change Workshop
EDO News and Events
1. Northern Rivers Workshops: Changes to NSW Planning Laws
Major changes to NSW’s planning and development legislation, the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979, were passed in June 2008. Over two evening workshops in the Northern Rivers region, EDO solicitors will explain the changes to professionals, community groups and members of the public. Topics will include:
Plan-making
Development assessment
Exempt and complying development
Private certification
Community infrastructure contributions
Remaining appeal rights
A proposal for what the Act should look like
Coffs Harbour – *please note revised time and venue Time: 5-7 pm Date: Thursday 7 August 2008 Venue: Room 1, Coffs Harbour Community Village, 22 Earl St, Coffs Harbour
The workshops are free of charge, however RSVP is essential. For more information or to register your interest, contact EDO Northern Rivers Education Officer, Mark Byrne on 6622 8470.
2. EDO to attend ELAW Annual Meeting, Kenya
The Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW) gives pubic interest lawyers and scientists the training and resources they need to help communities protect the environment through law. By empowering their partners, ELAW achieves two key objectives:
1. ELAW helps win victories for the environment, and
2. ELAW builds lasting, local capacity to defend the global environment.
The EDO has actively been involved in the work of ELAW and has obtained funding to attend the ELAW Annual Meeting each year. In 2007, the meeting was held in Oregon, Canada.
This year, the meeting will be held from 3 to 9 August 2008 in Mombasa, Kenya. The EDO is busy preparing to send a representative from the Sydney office, Jemilah Hallinan, and also an indigenous representative from Papua New Guinea, Annie Kajir. Annie is CEO of the Environmental Law Centre in Port Moresby.
3. Student Writing Competition: Overeating the Environment?
The EDO has recently launched a new national environmental law journal, IMPACT! We 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, courtesy of Maddocks.
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
For more information and suggested essay topics for the upcoming edition, got to www.edo.org.au/edonsw and follow the student prize link.
4. Acting Policy Director Position: EDO NSW
The EDO is a community legal centre specialising in public interest advocacy regarding environmental law and policy. We are seeking an Acting Policy Director to lead the Office's policy activities.
This is a maternity leave position in our Sydney office and is expected to be for 12 months.
Selection Criteria
Essential
An undergraduate degree in law
3 – 5 years experience in environmental policy development processes at a high level
Experience in managing and supervising people and projects
Excellent written and oral communication skills, including an ability to communicate clearly in plain English
Excellent research skills
An excellent understanding of NSW, national and international environmental legal issues
The ability to work with minimal supervision and to tight deadlines
Commitment to the protection of the environment and public interest environmental law
Desirable
A NSW practising certificate, or eligibility for admission to legal practice in NSW and other relevant tertiary qualifications
See our jobs page for a full position description.
Salary Range
$65,630 - $71,597, plus superannuation.
For further information contact Jeff Smith on (02) 9262 6989
Applications close Friday 15th August 2008.
EDO in the Media
5. Farmers angry as mining companies move in: The 7.30 Report, ABC (2 July 2008)
This report presented the story of farmers on the Liverpool Plains in central NSW who are fighting a mining company to retain their rich agricultural land. The properties of these farmers are situated on a large coal seam and they claim that BHP Billiton has recently paid $100,000,000 to the State Government to explore a 350 square kilometre portion of the Plains.
The EDO has been working with some of the farmers in this area as they attempt to stop the mining going ahead. The full transcript of the program can be found at http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2008/s2292659.htm
6. BHP – the Big Aussie Bully: A Current Affair, Channel 9 (23 July 2008)
This story on Channel 9’s program ‘A Current Affair’ looked at the same matter as the above program, namely BHP Billiton’s exploratory drilling on private properties on the Liverpool Plains to investigate prospects of mining for coal and coal gas on these properties.
Law Notices – New South Wales
6. 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
Blacktown: Modification – Onesteel Sydney Steel Mill, Kellogg Rd, Rooty Hill
7. 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.
Environmental Law Notices – Commonwealth
8. 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:
New South Wales
WSN Environmental Solutions/Waste management (non-sewerage)/Lots DP105023 & DP 233333 New Illawarra Rd, Lucas Heights/NSW/Proposed Alternative Municipal Waste Treatment Facility
Australian Bulk Minerals/Mining/Main Creek, Savage River magnetite mine, 100km SW Burnie/TAS?Construct new Tailings Storage Facility – South Deposit Dam
Proto Resources and Investments/Exploration (mineral, oil and gas – non-marine)/Barnes Hill and Mount Vulcan, 30km north of Launceston/TAS/Barnes Hill and Mount Vulcan Exploration Drilling Program
Simon Currant and Associates/Tourism and recreation/Pumphouse Point, Lake St Clair National Park/TAS/Development of Tourist Accommodation and Facilities
MEO Australia Limited/Exploration (mineral, oil and gas – marine)/Petroleum Exploration Area WA-361-P northern Carnarvon Basin/Commonwealth Marine/Exploration drilling of Zeus-1 well
This week, the EDO policy team is busy finalising a submission on the COAG Working Group on Climate Change and Water – Design Options for the Expanded National Renewal Energy Target Scheme. The COAG discussion paper is available at http://www.climatechange.gov.au/renewabletarget/consultation/pubs/ret-designoptions.pdf. EDO’s submission will be available on the EDO website from Wednesday at http://www.edo.org.au/edonsw/site/policy.php
A short submission is also being prepared on the Senate Inquiry on the recent carbon sinks legislative amendment. Details of the amendments can be found at http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/committee/rrat_ctte/carbon_sink/tor.htm This submission will be released later this week.
A submission on reform of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, due 5 September, is also being prepared.
For more information on the EDO’s submissions, please contact the EDO office on (02) 9262 6989. Previous submissions are available on the EDO’s website at www.edo.org.au/edonsw/site/policy.php
Community News
10. Nature Conservation Council: Call for Conference Papers
The Nature Conservation Council of NSW would like to invite submissions for the call for papers for the ‘Saving a Sunburnt Country’ conference to be held on 12 and 13 November 2008 (revised dates). The Department of Environment and Climate Change is the principal sponsor for the conference.
Major themes of the conference include:
How Australian species and ecosystems might respond to climate change;
The effect on human society of changes to biodiversity and ecosystem functions caused by climate change;
Planning for higher temperature scenarios and other climate induced changes – the challenges of assisting mitigation and adaptation for biodiversity and ecosystems; and
What further contributions, research, planning and innovations on the part of community and government are available to protect our biodiversity and ecosystems.
Abstracts are due 11 August 2008, however NCC can be contacted if an extension is required.
To indicate your interest in either presenting a paper/attending the conference please reply by email, or register by email on our website at www.nccnsw.org.au/sunburntcountry
11. National Walk to Work Day
With average use, an Australian family car travels 15,000km a year, generating about 5 tonnes of greenhouse pollution and costing its owners about $13,000. Walking just 10km a week (1km each way, to and from work), instead of driving, saves about $900 in transport costs and 300 kilograms of greenhouse pollution each year.
Walk to Work Day (WTWD) is an annual event held around Australia which promotes regular walking and a cleaner environment. By registering for participation at www.walk.com.au individuals, businesses and organisations can take the first step to improve our nation’s health and environment.
12. Australian Ethical Investment: Sydney Seminars
Australian Ethical Investment and Superannuation are running a series of free seminars to better inform members of the public about the work that they do and the nature of ethical investment.
The presentation will cover the following topics:
What is ethical/socially responsible investing?
How it links to issues such as climate change, water shortages and corporate responsibility
How ethical screening can reduce investment risk and identify potential growth sectors
An overview of Australian Ethical’s managed funds and superannuation
Seminar Details
6 pm to 7:30 pm, Tuesday 12 August
Vibe Hotel North Sydney
88 Alfred St, Milson’s Point
6 pm to 7:30 pm, Tuesday 19 August
Metro Hotel Sydney Central
431-439 Pitt St, Sydney
6 pm to 7:30 pm, Thursday 21 August
Sydney Park Pavilion
Euston Rd, Alexandria
The seminars will include some food and refreshments. There is no cost, however places are limited. Register your interest to Adam on (02) 6201 1926.
13. Climate Action Network Australia: Garnaut, the Green Paper and Climate Change: What happened in July 2008, what does it mean, and what is the role of the public?
July 2008 has brought significant developments on Australian climate policy. The Garnaut Review released its 600-page interim report, Minister Wong released her Green Paper on Emissions Trading, and the Wilkins Review is scheduled to release recommendations on legislative changes to incorporate the new responses to climate change.
This seminar-workshop will provide a path through the events of July 2008 and clarify the messages that matter, the statements to watch for, and the role that advocacy, community and environmental organisations can play to effectively contribute to the public and political climate debate.
Time: 10 am – 1 pm
Date: Tuesday 5 August 2008
Venue: Mitchell Theatre, Sydney Mechanics School of Arts, 280 Pitt St, Sydney
The seminar is hosted by the Climate Action Network Australia, the Nature Conservation Council, the Total Environment Centre and the Australian Conservation Foundation. Download a registration form at www.cana.net.au.
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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.
