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. Lunch-time Seminar: The Dying Murray – Is There a Legal Cure?
2. Northern Rivers Workshops: Changes to Planning Laws
3. Student Writing Competition: ‘Overeating the environment?’
4. Acting Policy Director Position: EDO NSW
Law and Policy Watch
5. A Final Win for the Community in Hastings Point
6. EDO Policy Submissions
EDO in the Media
7. ABC Rural News: Anvil Hill group ‘ups the ante’ in court action
8. Northern Star: Government puts stop on quarry
9. Byron Shire Echo: Councillors give nod to Splendour at Yelgun in close decision
10. Byron Shire Echo: Sartor cops a bagging at Bruns protest
11. Radio Features
Environmental Law Notices – New South Wales
12. Major Project Proposals – Invitation to Comment
13. State Conservation Notices – Invitation to Comment
Environmental Law Notices – Commonwealth
14. EPBC Referrals – Invitation to Comment
Community News
15. Canberra Seminar: A New Architecture for Domestic Climate Change Policy
16. Asia Pacific Forest Industries Climate Change Conference
17. Australian Ethical Investment: Sydney Seminars
EDO News and Events
1. Lunch-time Seminar: The Dying Murray – Is There a Legal Cure?
The EDO would like to invite you to a one-hour lunch-time seminar titled, ‘The Dying Murray – Is There a Legal Cure?’ Guest speaker Professor Rob Fowler will look at the plight of the Murray River, including the Ramsar-listed Coorong, Lower Lakes and Murray Mouth and the severe ecological impacts on these areas due to the demand for water resources.
The panic-driven proposals initiated by the South Australian government in order to preserve Adelaide’s access to drinking water will be considered, as well as the most recent COAG agreement on the Murray-Darling Basin and the efforts by the Commonwealth Government to buy-back water for environmental flows.
Time: 12.30pm for a 12.40 start, concluding at approximately 1.40pm Date: Friday 22 August 2008 Venue: DLA Philips Fox, Level 38, 201 Elizabeth St Sydney
For more information or to register your interest, call (02) 9262 6989.
2. 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:
Port Macquarie *Note revised time and venue
Time: 3-5 pm
Date: Tuesday 26 August 2008
Venue: Port Macquarie City Bowling Club, Owen St
Murwillumbah
Time: 6-8 pm
Date: Thursday 4 September 2008
Venue: CWA Hall, 20 Queen St
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.
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
Minimum word count 2,500, maximum 3,000
Deadline for all entries is 8 September 2008
Send your entries as attachments and send to the EDO
Publisher reserves the right to edit entries
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 http://www.edo.org.au/edonsw/site/jobs_volunteer.php 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.
Law and Policy Watch
5. A Final Win for the Community in Hastings Point
The final outcome of the Hastings Point Matter which was heard in the Land and Environment Court earlier this year was delivered by the Court on 31 July 2008. The result was success for the Hastings Point Progress Association Inc.
The Land and Environment Court found that Tweed Shire Council had failed to take into account a pivotal clause of its Local Environmental Plan when it consented to a 3 storey multi-housing development in the coastal hamlet of Hastings Point. Three storey development is contrary to the current character of the Hastings Point Hamlet and would represent an unwanted turn in development trends in the locality.
The Court was asked to exercise its discretion to allow Tweed Council to simply ‘fix up’ its legal error and then allow the development to proceed. However, the Court refused to exercise this discretion and held that an entire reconsideration of the merits of the development is required in considering whether the development should be allowed to go ahead or not.
The EDO acted for the Hastings Point Progress Association in the proceedings.
6. EDO Policy Submissions
A submission on reform of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act is currently being prepared by the EDO Policy team on behalf of ANEDO. This submission is due 5 September 2008.
A NSW submission on the ‘Taskforce for Tourism and National Parks,’ seeking to advise the Ministers for the Environment and Tourism regarding promotion and protection of biodiversity and cultural heritage values through the appropriate use of national parks, is due 22 August 2008.
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
EDO in the Media
7. ABC Rural News: Anvil Hill group ‘ups the ante’ in court action (4 July 2008)
EDO Northern River’s Senior Solicitor Ian Ratliff was interviewed regarding the progress of the Anvil Hill coal mine matter. The EDO has been acting on behalf of the Anvil Hill Project Watch Association in proceedings against the Department of Water and Environment, claiming the Minister ‘failed to properly consider the long-term effects of carbon emissions from the mine.’
For a brief report of the radio interview, visit http://www.abc.net.au/rural/nsw/content/2006/s1969727.htm
8. Northern Star: Government puts stop on quarry (5 August 2008)
The article discusses the Department of Environment and Climate Change’s request to Lismore City Council to halt the assessment process for an application to expand Champions Quarry at Tucki Tucki. The request is based on concerns of the environmental impacts expected to flow from the expansion. Specifically, impacts to koala and grey-headed flying fox habitat were an issue.
EDO Northern Rivers has been assisting the conservation group opposing the application, the Tucki Community Against Mega Quarry.
For a full transcript of the article, visit http://www.northernstar.com.au/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3780633
9. Byron Shire Echo: Councillors give nod to Splendour at Yelgun in close decision (5 August 2008)
This article reports on the public meeting held for Byron Shire Council to make a decision regarding the approval of a ‘Splendour in the Grass’ music festival at Yelgun on the NSW North Coast. The Councillors voted 5-4 to approve the development application, despite concerns regarding impacts on the biodiversity of the area and protection of historic indigenous sites.
EDO Northern Rivers has been assisting various conservation groups in writing submissions opposing the application. For a full transcript of the article visit http://www.echo.net.au/index.php/News/Lead-Story/Councillors-give-nod-to-Splendour-at-Yelgun-in-close-decision.html
10. Byron Shire Echo: Sartor cops a bagging at Bruns protest (5 August 2008)
The article reports on a peaceful protest held in Brunswick opposing the 2008 planning law reforms introduced by NSW Planning Minister Frank Sartor. Sue Higginson, Senior Solicitor at the EDO Northern Rivers office is mentioned in reference to information and advice she provided to the protestors on the legal rights of individuals and community groups seeking to protect the environment. The upcoming EDO workshops in the area addressing the changes brought by the reforms are also advertised in the article.
For a full transcript, visit http://www.echo.net.au/index.php/News/Latest-News/Sartor-cops-a-bagging-at-Bruns-protest.html
11. Radio Features
The following radio interviews of EDO Northern Rivers’ team members went to air in the recent weeks:
Friday 1 August, Bay FM radio
Senior Solicitor Sue Higginson on the planning law changes and the development application for a ‘Splendour in the Grass’ festival at Yelgun
Monday 4 August, ABC North Coast Radio
Senior Solicitor Sue Higginson on the recent planning law changes
Wednesday 6 August, ABC North Coast Radio
Education Officer Mark Byrne on the recent planning law changes
Law Notices – New South Wales
12. 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
Great Lakes: Poultry Shed, Wards River
Cowra: Cowra Sand and Quartz Quarry – EIS
13. 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 last week’s eBulletin.
Environmental Law Notices – Commonwealth
14. 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
Sydney Harbour Federation Trust/Tourism and recreation/Buildings 1 & 3, Middle Head Road, Mosman/NSW/Demolition and Removal of Two Naval Cottages
http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=4373
Western Australia
Shell Development (Australia) Pty Ltd/Exploration (mineral, oil and gas – marine)/Petroleum Permit Areas/WA-384-P and WA-394-P/WA/Guacamole 2D Marine Seismic Survey
http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=4381
Victoria
South Gippsland Shire Council/Natural resources management/Toora Boat ramp channel in Corner Inlet 3km from Toora/VIC/Maintenance Dredging of Toora Boat Ramp Channel
http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=4376
Keith Altmann and Associates/Residential development/Barrington Lane Sunbury/VIC/Proposed Residential Subdivision and Services
http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=4370
Northern Territory
Arafura Resources Ltd/Mining/Stuart Highway 135km N/W of Alice Springs/NT/Development of Rare Earth Oxide and Phosphate Mine at Nolans Mine Site
http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=4371
Christmas Island
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts/Natural resources management/Christmas Island National Park/Christmas Island/Baiting Efficacy of Trial Feral Cat and PAPP Toxicant
http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=4383
Community News
15. Canberra Seminar: A New Architecture for Domestic Climate Change Policy
The Australian National University, the Centre for Climate Law and Policy and the Embassy of the United States of America present ‘A New Architecture for Domestic Climate Change Policy: Trading, Tax or Technology.’ Guest speaker Professor Michael Hanemann from the California Climate Change Center will address the economic arguments for emission trading versus a carbon tax and other proposed policies.
Time: 1-2pm
Date: Wednesday 13 August, 1-2pm
Venue: Lecture Theatre, Hedley Bull Centre, Cnr Liversidge St and Garran Rd, ANU campus, Acton, ACT
RSVP: Monday 11 August to (02) 6214 5784
16. Asia Pacific Forest Industries Climate Change Conference
ForestWorks presents this industry-specific conference, subtitled, The Opportunity to Influence the Australian Government on Forestry’s Role in the Emissions Trading Scheme. Guest speakers from both the industry and government will be attending.
The conference will involve:
International presentations on the prospects of a global Emissions Trading Scheme and its impact on domestic schemes like that proposed for Australia;
Sessions on the role of sustainable forest management in the long term storage of carbon and the opportunities for businesses and communities; and
A presentation from URS Forestry on the highly topical Trade Exposed Emissions Intensive Industry (TEEI) status and their work for the pulp and paper sector.
Date: 18 – 20 August 2008 Venue: Sydney Cost: $2,200
The conference brochure and registration forms can be obtained by calling 0410 553 938.
17. 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 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.
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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.
