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 North Queensland Position Vacancy: Project Officer
2. Private Conservation workshop (EDO Northern Rivers)
3. Rural Landholders Workshop: Albury Wodonga NSW
4. Australian Youth Ambassador for Development Pacific placements
5. Positions vacant: Solicitors (one permanent; one locum)
6. FREE copies of the new edition of the Rural Landholder's Guide to Environmental Law in NSW
7. EDO seeking Indigenous Cadet
Law and Policy Watch
8. Dates announced for public consultation: Aboriginal Land Management Framework Discussion Paper
9. Senate Inquiry into the investment of Commonwealth and State funds in public passenger transport infrastructure and services
10. Statutory review of the National Parks and Wildlife Regulation 2002
11. Renewable Energy Target scheme: exposure draft legislation released for public comment
12. National Human Rights Consultation
13. Policy Submissions
14. Legislative Reviews
15. NSW Department of Planning: Housing Code Implementation Workshops
EDO in the Media
16. NBN North Coast News : Climate Change Rally (1 February 2009)
Environmental Law Notices New South Wales
17. Major Project Proposals Invitation to Comment
18. State Conservation Notices Invitation to Comment
19. Department of Lands Public Exhibition
Environmental Law Notices Commonwealth
20. EPBC Referrals Invitation to Comment
Community News
21. Total Environment Centre Position Vacancy: Program Support Officer, Green Capital
22. Greenpeace Public Forums: GM Crops the benefits and risks
23. NSW Young Lawyers Environmental Law Committee CLE: Criminal Appeals to the Land and Environment Court
24. AYAD positions for Intake 25 available
25. Launch of A Practitioner's Guide to the Land and Environment Court of NSW'
EDO News and Events
1. EDO North Queensland Position Vacancy: Project Officer The Environmental Defender's Office in North Queensland seeks an experienced Project Officer to deliver community legal education and prepare law reform submissions.
The position is based in Cairns, with a salary range between $37,000 - $44,000.
A copy of the selection criteria and position description are available on the website at www.edo.org.au/edonq/ or for more details, call (07) 4031 4766.
Applications close 6 February 2009.
2. Private Conservation workshop (EDO Northern Rivers) The EDO Northern Rivers office invites you to this free workshop for landowners in the Lower Clarence Valley interested in conserving biodiversity on their property. The Northern Rivers is a national biodiversity hotspot, but much of the high conservation value land is on private property. Governments and other organisations have recognised the need to protect biodiversity on private land by offering a range of formal and informal agreements and incentives.
The morning session of this one day workshop will be held in Grafton. It will cover the options for conservation agreements, with talks from EDO lawyers and staff from the Nature Conservation Trust of NSW, the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change and the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority. The afternoon session will involve a visit to a farm 28 kms south of Grafton that has had a Voluntary Conservation Agreement for many years, to show how it has worked in practice.
Date: Saturday 28 February 2009
Morning session: 9.15am (for a 9.30 sharp start) to 12.30 at Grafton Community Centre, 59 Duke St Grafton
Afternoon session: 2.30 4.30pm at Kangaroo Creek Rd Coutts Crossing (address tba)
Attendance is free, however registration is essential. Please call Mark Byrne, Education Officer, on 6622 8470.
3. Rural Landholders Workshop: Albury Wodonga NSW The Environmental Defender's Office would like to invite you to this FREE afternoon workshop on land and water law applicable to rural landholders and relevant organisations in NSW. The workshop is taking place in conjunction with the release of the latest edition of the EDO publication the Rural Landholder's Guide to Environmental Law in NSW'. The workshop will address the legal rights and obligations of landholders and ways to manage rural land in accordance with natural resource management law. Vegetation and water management, pests and weeds, and the use of agricultural chemicals will also be discussed.
Time: 1pm to 4pm (afternoon tea will be provided)
Date: Friday 27 February 2009
Venue: Kinross Woolshed Hotel, 47 Old Sydney Road, Thurgoona
RSVP is essential. Please contact us to register or for more information.
4. Australian Youth Ambassador for Development Pacific placements The EDO, in partnership with the Australian Youth Climate Coalition and the Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development program (AYAD), invites applications from young Australians (aged 18-30) interested in working on climate change in Pacific Island nations. Ambassadors will be placed in various Pacific nations, with positions confirmed in the Solomon Islands, and potential positions in Vanuatu and Tonga. The role involves supporting the local community on tasks including:
Providing support to the local government department responsible for international climate negotiations
Working with local Pacific island youth to raise awareness about climate change
Strengthening local networks to empower communities to participate in climate change discussions and decisions
Placements are to be for 6 months, July to December 2009.
5. Positions vacant: Solicitors (one permanent; one locum) EDO NSW has 2 Solicitor positions available in our Sydney office, one of which is a locum position. Part-time work will be considered.
Selection Criteria a NSW practising certificate or eligibility for admission to legal practice in NSW and, preferably, two years post admission experience
understanding of, and experience with, NSW environmental law and policy
commitment to the protection of the environment and public participation in environmental decision-making
demonstrated ability to work productively and to deadlines
demonstrated ability to develop and maintain good relationships with clients and colleagues
excellent oral and written communication skills.
Salary $49,000 - $61,000 per annum depending on experience plus superannuation.
For further information contact Kirsty Ruddock on 02 9262 6989.
Applications must address the selection criteria and be received by Friday 6 February 2009.
6. FREE copies of the new edition of the Rural Landholder's Guide to Environmental Law in NSW The new edition of the Rural Landholder's Guide to Environmental Law in NSW, a publication last produced by the EDO in 2006, is now available for free, including postage and handling. The guide is a valuable tool in understanding the law in NSW regarding land management and explains legislation dealing with issues such as vegetation management, protected species, fire management, water management, construction and development, pollution, agricultural chemicals, crops and stock, mining and quarrying, heritage protection, conservation on private land and trading and offsetting agreements.
Contact us to obtain your FREE copy of the guide. Boxes of 160 are also available on request for groups or organisations.
7. EDO seeking Indigenous Cadet
EDO NSW is currently seeking an Indigenous Cadet to assist the work of the EDO's Indigenous Solicitor. The cadet will be a law student looking for part time work for two days per week. The type of work to be undertaken will include environmental policy work and research for litigation. This is a paid position , open to Indigenous applicants only.
8. Dates announced for public consultation: Aboriginal Land Management Framework Discussion Paper
The consultation schedule for the public consultation regarding the Discussion Paper - Aboriginal Land Management Framework has been announced.
Tuesday 10 February, Wagga Wagga
CMA Offices, L1 43-45 Johnson St
9. Senate Inquiry into the investment of Commonwealth and State funds in public passenger transport infrastructure and services On 4 December 2008 the Senate referred to the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee for inquiry and report by 18 June 2009, the matter of Commonwealth and State investment in public passenger transport infrastructure. The following terms of reference were provided:
an audit of the state of public passenger transport in Australia;
current and historical levels of public investment in private vehicle and public passenger transport services and infrastructure;
an assessment of the benefits of public passenger transport, including integration with bicycle and pedestrian initiatives;
measures by which the Commonwealth Government could facilitate improvement in public passenger transport services and infrastructure;
the role of Commonwealth Government legislation, taxation, subsidies, policies and other mechanisms that either discourage or encourage public passenger transport; and
best practice international examples of public passenger transport services and infrastructure.
10. Statutory review of the National Parks and Wildlife Regulation 2002 A new Regulation has been drafted to replace the existing Regulation which governs various activities under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974.
The proposed National Parks and Wildlife Regulation 2009 will replace the former 2002 Regulation which will be automatically repealed on 1 September 2009.While the majority of clauses in the 2002 Regulation will be retained, there are some amendments and additions.
11. Renewable Energy Target scheme: exposure draft legislation released for public comment Exposure draft legislation on the design of the expanded national Renewable Energy Target scheme has been released for public comment.
Interested stakeholders are invited to provide comments on the exposure draft legislation by 13 February 2009. Legislation to implement the expanded national Renewable Energy Target scheme will be in place by mid2009.
For more information regarding the exposure draft Renewable Energy legislation, contact Robert Ghanem on (02) 9262 6989.
12. National Human Rights Consultation In December 2008, the Federal Government launched a national public consultation about the legal recognition and protection of human rights and responsibilities in Australia. The National Human Rights Consultation is an historic opportunity for individuals and communities throughout Australia to improve democracy and to have a say about the protection of fundamental values such as freedom, respect, and dignity.
The Human Rights Law Resource Centre has produced a comprehensive report to enable individuals and organisations to participate in the National Human Rights Consultation in an informed and evidence-based way. It is intended to provide important background information for those seeking to engage in the consultation.
ANEDO will be preparing a submission that seeks to highlight the need for greater protection of human rights, focusing on those relating to the environment. For an example of this work, visit the EDO ACT's website at http://www.edo.org.au/edoact/ and access their 2005 submission on Human Rights legislation in the ACT'.
13. Policy Submissions
EPBC Act The ANEDO submission on the legislative review of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 will shortly be made available on the EDO website at http://www.edo.org.au/edonsw/site/policy.php#subs
Australia's future tax system Consultation Paper The Australian Government is currently conducting a review of Australia's tax system. The Australia's Future Tax System Review Panel released a consultation paper on 11 December, providing the basis for further community input into 2009. This paper can be found here: http://taxreview.treasury.gov.au/content/...
Section 13 of the consultation paper seeks submissions on tax transfer impacts on the environment, the ways that taxes can improve environmental amenity and how the tax system can detract from environmental outcomes. Submissions are due on Friday 1 May 2009.
Optimising benefits from Native Title Agreements Discussion Paper The Government has released a Native Title discussion paper, which canvasses options for using the native title system to help address key areas of Indigenous disadvantage.
The purpose of the discussion paper is to generate ideas, stimulate discussion and seek input from the public on how the benefits negotiated through native title-related agreements can deliver social and economic wealth for generations of Indigenous people.
National Carbon Offset Discussion Paper
The National Carbon Offset Standard Discussion Paper has been released by the federal Department of Climate Change. It aims to provide guidance on what constitutes a genuine, additional voluntary offset credit, set requirements for the verification and retirement of such credits, and provide principles for calculating the emissions of an organisation, product or service which could be offset. The Department is particularly interested in any comments on the design of the standard in the context of the introduction of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme.
Submissions are due on 27 February 2009 , with information sessions being undertaken around Australia. Further information can be found on the Department of Climate Change website, at http://www.climatechange.gov.au/nav/carbon_offset.html
14. Legislative Reviews
Natural resource management in NSW Legislation in NSW is usually reviewed after five years. A review is carried out to determine whether the policy objectives of an Act remain valid and whether the means of addressing these objectives are appropriate. The following Acts are shortly due for review:
In anticipation of these reviews, the EDO is gathering information on key issues of concern, problems with implementation and suggestions for improvement. Please contact Robert Ghanem on (02) 9262 6989 if you would like to contribute.
15. NSW Department of Planning: Housing Code Implementation Workshops A series of free implementation workshops will be held in eleven locations across NSW in February to educate and train people about the NSW Housing Code.
The Workshops will provide education and training for councils and housing industry practitioners focusing on the key components of the NSW Housing Code and the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 (SEPP) in preparation for its commencement on 27 February 2009.
The NSW Housing Code outlines how new single and two storey dwelling houses, and home alterations and additions, on lots 450 sq. m and greater can receive approval in ten days. It also outlines how 41 types of minor improvements such as garden sheds or solar water heaters can proceed without planning approval
There are four separate workshops targeted for different stakeholder groups (Practitioner, Council, Customer Service and Community).
The workshops and community information sessions are complimentary but registration is required. You should select which workshop and location is most appropriate to you. The online registration will confirm your attendance and venue details.
16. NBN North Coast News : Climate Change Rally (1 February 2009) EDO Northern Rivers Education Officer, Mark Byrne, appeared in a news item on NBN television, talking about a climate change rally that took place at Brunswick Heads on Sunday 1 February 2009. The rally was organised by a network of community groups.
For more information, contact the EDO Northern Rivers on (02) 6622 8360
Law Notices New South Wales
17. 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
Upper Lachlan: Modification Crookwell II Windfarm
There are no new notices since the last eBulletin.
Environmental Law Notices Commonwealth
20. EPBC Referrals Invitation to Comment Referrals under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 are available for comment on the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts 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 Centennial Mandalong Pty Limited/Transport land/Awaba and Dora Creek, west of Sydney-Newcastle railway line/NSW/Haul Road to connect the Cooranbong Colliery to Newstan and Eraring Haul Road http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/...id=4722
21. Total Environment Centre Position Vacancy: Program Support Officer, Green Capital Green Capital ( www.greencapital.org.au ) is TEC's ( www.tec.org.au ) program focusing on reducing the environmental footprint of business the largest and longest running business sustainability program in Australia, run by an NGO.
Our business programs are an integrated part of TEC's environment protection campaigns expanding its reach and highlighting NGO and sustainability thinking. The program is unique in that it brings together NGOs, government and businesses to advance the sustainability agenda in Australia. It undertakes research; holds major and small events to raise the profile of current issues; produces reports and policy proposals and also has a corporate training component.
TEC is seeking a person who wants to help make a difference in a job providing great satisfaction and potential for achievement in environmental sustainability.
Duties
Maintain the Green Capital database of business contacts and event management information
Monitor and assist with partner payments and renewals
Process incoming and outgoing monies/invoices and liaise with the TEC Administrator
Manage the green capital' email
Follow up on debtors
Provide monthly budget and debtors reports
Assist the Event Manager with logistics as required
Participate in team discussions about topics and development of intellectual property
Assist with the website
Other duties as required
Preferred Experience, Attributes
Proven experience with database and accounting software and websites
An understanding of and experience in working for environment goals with NGOs and the business community
A knowledge of sustainability policy, particularly as it relates to the environment, but also the social welfare sector
Ability to work within a team
The position is a part time appointment (24hr week), with prospects for extension and the opportunity to be part of the Green Capital team providing event management, policy development, sustainability advice and fundraising.
Remuneration: $31,800 pa (24hpw) plus super and holiday leave loading.
Applications to: Jeff Angel, Director, TEC. PO Box A176, Sydney South. 1235.
By 20 February 2009.
22. Greenpeace Public Forums: GM Crops the benefits and risks Australia is currently at a cross-roads, with genetically modified (GM)
canola being grown for the first time last year. Before farmers can
decide whether they want to go down the GM path they need to be aware of
all the potential benefits and risks associated with GM crops. These
public forums provide an important opportunity to talk directly with
farmers from North America, where GM crops have been grown commercially
for more than a decade. Speakers will discuss issues such as benefit
gained, corporate influence, costs, segregation of GM crops, legal
concerns and the effect GM crops have had on markets:
Speakers are to include Moe Parr a seed cleaner from the USA, Ross Murray a third generation seed grower and grain cleaner from Canada.
NSW Forums Sydney Friday, 13th March, 10-11.30am
Waratah Room, New South Wales Parliament, Macquarie Street, Sydney
For more information contact: Graham Strong: (02) 6959 8656, 0428 598
656.
Cootamundra
Saturday, 14th March, 10-11.30am
Stephen Ward Room, Cootamundra Library, corner of Wallendoon and
Thompson Streets, Cootamundra
For more information contact: Graham Strong: (02) 6959 8656, 0428 598
656.
Wagga Wagga
Monday, 16th March, 7-8.30pm
Commercial Club, 77 Gurwood St, Wagga Wagga
For more information contact: Graham Strong: (02) 6959 8656, 0428 598
656.
Orange Tuesday, 17th March
Moresby room, Orange Ex-Services' Club, 231 - 243 Anson Street,
Orange
For more information contact: Graham Strong: (02) 6959 8656, 0428 598
656.
23. NSW Young Lawyers Environmental Law Committee CLE: Criminal Appeals to the Land and Environment Court The NSW Young Lawyers Environmental Law Committee welcomes lawyers to attend its February Continuing Legal Education program, on the topic of Criminal Appeals to the Land and Environment Court. Tom Howard, barrister of Fredrick Jordan Chambers will be presenting.
Date: Wednesday 25 February 2009
Time: 5.30 to 7.30pm
Venue: Level 9, 170 Phillip St, Sydney
24. AYAD positions for Intake 25 available The Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development Program (AYAD) sends young Australians aged 18-30 on short term assignments (3-12 months) through Asia and the Pacific.
Assignments for Intake 25 of the AYAD Program are online from January 30 February 27 2009 at www.ayad.com.au
New assignments are listed 3 times per year on thier website. The assignments offered cover a diverse range of sectors including education, environment, gender, governance, health, infrastructure, rural development and trades.
The Program provides support to cover the costs of volunteering overseas, including pre-departure medicals, insurance, travel, in-country allowance, and the support of in-country management services.
Applications for advertised positions close Friday 27 February 2009. Visit www.ayad.com.au for position descriptions and application details.
25. Launch of A Practitioner's Guide to the Land and Environment Court of NSW' The NSW Young Lawyers Environmental Law Committee invites you to attend the launch of the third edition of A Practitioner's Guide to the Land and Environment Court of NSW'. The launch will be followed by a speech on Practice and Procedure of the Land and Environment Court of NSW', presented by His Honour Justice Preston, Chief Justice of the Land and Environment Court of NSW.
Time: 5.30pm to 7pm
Date: Wednesday 18 February 2009
Venue: The Law Society of NSW, Level 2, Functions Rooms, 170 Phillip St, SYDNEY.
For general inquiries, contact Kim Glassbrow on (02) 8083 0419
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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.
