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EDO NSW BULLETIN 5 November 2009: Number 633The EDO Bulletin is a free weekly bulletin that provides a listing of news, events, public notices and opportunities for public comment. EDO News and Events1. FREE WORKSHOPS: Reconnecting the community with the planning system Law and Policy Watch6. NSW Government's Sea Level Rise Policy Statement EDO in the Media10. Sydney Morning Herald : Power for the people or for the corporates? Environmental Law Notices New South Wales11. Major Project Proposals Invitation to Comment Environmental Law Notices Commonwealth14. EPBC Referrals Invitation to Comment Community News15. Position Vacant: Project Manager NSW Legal Assistance Forum (NLAF) EDO News and Events1. FREE WORKSHOPS: Reconnecting the community with the planning system What do you think of the NSW planning system? Come along to one of the following workshops to share your views. These workshops are funded by the Department of Planning NSW and will be jointly facilitated by the EDO and Total Environment Centre. City: Wollongong City: Newcastle City: Sydney City: Moruya City: Ballina City: Coffs Harbour For more information or to RSVP please contact Dave Burgess at daveb@tec.org.au or on (02) 9261 3437. Upon receipt of your RSVP you will be issued with a Discussion Paper on the planning system. Workshops will focus on the content of the Discussion Paper. Refreshments will be provided. http://www.edo.org.au/edonsw/site/pdf/flyer/091026community_workshop.pdf 2. FREE SEMINAR: Climate Change & Biodiversity Byron Bay In response to a rising wave of interest from all levels of government in threats to coastal communities from climate change, the Environmental Defender's Office Northern Rivers presents a free public seminar on coastal management. It will focus on how liability issues, adaptation strategies and biodiversity protection are dealt with in recent initiatives including Byron Council's Draft Coastal Zone Management Plan and the NSW Government's reforms to coastal erosion management. Date: Thursday 3 December 2009 Light meal and refreshments will be provided. Please note that current litigation concerning protection works at Belongil Beach and the question of whether or not Byron Council is partially responsible for erosion there will NOT be addressed. 3. 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, cr ops and stock, mining and quarrying, heritage protection, conservation on private land and trading and offsetting agreements. To obtain your FREE copy of the guide please call (02) 9262 6989. Boxes of 160 are also available on request for groups or organisations. If you would like the EDO to visit your area to present a workshop on the contents of the guide please contact EDO Education Director Jemilah Hallinan on 02 9262 6989. 4. Invitation for Private Conservation landholders The Environmental Defender's Office (EDO) is seeking to consult with landholders who have been involved in private conservation. The EDO is also interested in speaking with people who are in the process of investigating or carrying out private conservation or people who have looked at private conservation options and decided against implementing a private conservation program. If you fit into any of these categories please contact us. Your feedback and experiences will be used as part of the research into a new free publication on private conservation. Please contact Project Officer Rosemary Bullmore on (02) 9262 6989. 5. Sweetwater Action Group wins Nature Conservation Council Award The annual Nature Conservation Council's World Environment Day Awards were held recently to honour the achievements of individuals and other community groups working hard to protect the environment of NSW. This year's Marie Byles Award sponsored by ecoDesign ecoPrint went to the EDO's client Sweetwater Action Group for its three-year campaign to protect land of high conservation significance in the Lower Hunter region, from inappropriate housing estate development. Congratulations!
Law and Policy Watch6. NSW Government's Sea Level Rise Policy Statement The NSW Government has finalised the Policy Statement on Sea Level Rise following extensive consultation. Download a copy of the Policy Statement . The Policy Statement specifies sea level planning benchmarks for the NSW coastline. These benchmarks are an increase above 1990 mean sea levels of 40 centimetres by 2050 and 90 centimetres by 2100.
The Department of Planning has released the Draft NSW coastal planning guideline: adapting to sea level rise for public consultation. The draft guideline is on exhibition until 11 December 2009. A Departmental fact sheet has been published to summarise the guideline. The draft guideline proposes to adopt the following six coastal planning principles for sea level rise adaptation: * Assess and evaluate coastal risks taking into account the NSW sea level rise planning benchmarks; * Advise the public of coastal risks to ensure that informed land-use planning and development decision-making can occur; * Avoid intensifying land use in coastal risk areas through appropriate strategic and land-use planning; * Consider options to reduce land-use intensity in coastal risk areas where feasible; * Minimise the exposure to coastal risks from proposed development in coastal areas; * Implement appropriate management responses and adaptation strategies, with consideration for the environmental, social and economic impacts of each option. Submissions are due by 11 December 2009 .
The Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council, comprising Ministers responsible for food and health issues, has just released the Terms of Reference for the upcoming Review of Food Labelling Law and Policy. Click for further details and copies of the Terms of Reference. This review offers an important opportunity for organisations and members of the public to have their say on food labelling standards and policy, and in particular to call for reform when it comes to the labelling of animal-derived food products. The first round of public consultation for this review is now open, and interested organisations and individuals are encouraged to make submissions to the panel on issues within the scope of the Terms of Reference. Submissions are due by 20th November 2009 .
The Environment Protection and Heritage Council has released for public feedback draft National Wind Farm Guidelines which cover all phases of wind farm development. The guidelines include technical components covering: shadow flicker; noise, including prediction and post-construction monitoring of noise; impacts on landscapes; impacts on birds and bats; and electromagnetic interference. The draft guidelines and submission template can be found here: http://www.ephc.gov.au/taxonomy/term/25 Submissions are due by Wednesday 16 December 2009 .
A discussion paper on Australian laws to protect Indigenous heritage has been released for public comment. This is an opportunity for the public to contribute ideas on making the Commonwealth's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984 (ATSIHP Act) more effective as a way to protect traditional areas and objects significant to Indigenous Australians. The Australian Government is proposing to reform this Act to improve Indigenous heritage protection laws nationally. The Act could be substantially amended or replaced. Submissions must be received by 6 November 2009 . The Discussion Paper can be viewed here: http://www.environment.gov.au/heritage/laws/indigenous/lawreform/index.html
The Attorney-General, the Hon Robert McClelland MP, released the report of the Access to Justice Taskforce, A Strategic Framework for Access to Justice in the Federal Civil Justice System'. The report focuses on how to improve access to justice in Australia and makes recommendations. The report provides an opportunity for the public to assist the Government to develop initiatives which appropriately address and improve access to justice for all Australians. The Discussion Paper can be viewed here: Submissions are due on 13 November 2009 . 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: * Natural Resources Commission Act 2003, * Catchment Management Authorities Act 2003, and * Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995. 9. Local Environmental Plan Tracking The process for creating Local Environmental Plans (LEPs) starts with a planning proposal which in most cases is prepared by your local council. They are then assessed by the Department of Planning which makes a gateway determination to determine whether the proposal has sufficient merit to proceed. Once planning proposals pass through the gateway stage they are placed on the Planning Department's website which allows the community to track their progress. To access the LEP tracking system visit the Department of Planning website at: http://leptracking.planning.nsw.gov.au/Default.aspx The following proposals have been listed within the last 7 days:
Reclassification and Rezoning of various properties that have been assessed as surplus to Council's and the community's needs. http://leptracking.planning.nsw.gov.au/PublicDetails.aspx?Id=25
EDO in the Media10. Sydney Morning Herald : Power for the people or for the corporates? (31 October 2009) We are often told we need more baseload power. But baseload power generated in a distant coal field, delivered by an electricity grid, suits almost nobody these days, except the incumbent operators... Meanwhile, the grid continues to roll out, whether the public wants it or not. As was reported earlier this month, on the North Coast there is majority community opposition to a $227 million power line from Lismore to Tenterfield, according to State-owned proponent Transgrid's own consultants. The residents saying they don't need the power, question the demand projections, and point to cleaner alternatives such as solar, wind and the bioenergy already generated from bagasse (cane pulp) at sugar cane mills at Condong and Broadwater. The EDO Northern Rivers office is advising community groups opposed to the TransGrid project in the Tenterfield area. For the full text of this article, please visit: http://www.smh.com.au/business/power-for-the-people-or-for-the-corporates-20091030-hps6.html
Law Notices New South Wales11. 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://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.pl?action=search&status_id=6 There are no new notices since the last eBulletin. 12. 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 Native Vegetation Regulation 2005 The Regulation sets out an Environmental Outcomes Assessment Methodology that Catchment Management Authorities must use to assess clearing proposals for both Property Vegetation Plans and Development Consents. http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/vegetation/nvreg.htm Draft code of practice for private keeping of reptiles The Code establishes a set of minimum care requirements that will help to ensure the welfare of reptiles held in captivity. http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/wildlifelicences/ReptileDraftCOP.htm 13. Department of Lands Public Exhibition The following draft plans are currently being exhibited for public comment. Visit http://www.lands.nsw.gov.au/about_us/publications/exhibition to view the plans in detail. There are no new notices since the last eBulletin.
Environmental Law Notices Commonwealth14. 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: Western Australia Rolston Open cut mine expansion http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=5175 Wiluna Wiluna Uranium Project http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=5174 Queensland Cape Tribulation development of accommodation cabins http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=5176
Community News15. Position Vacant: Project Manager NSW Legal Assistance Forum (NLAF) NLAF ( www.nlaf.org.au ) seeks to improve the delivery of legal assistance services to socially and economically disadvantaged people through a collaborative and strategic approach by service providers. The role Relevant tertiary qualifications in law, social sciences or other relevant discipline, project management experience, knowledge of current and emerging issues in the Australian justice system, as well as an understanding of the justice sector in NSW are essential. High level analytical skills and judgement are required. Salary will be in the range $66,500 to $80,000 pa pro rata plus Super, dependent on qualifications and experience. Secondments will be considered. Applications close Friday 27 November 2009 For more information: Applicants should obtain selection criteria from www.lawfoundation.net.au or from Richard Wood (02 8227 3200 or hr @lawfoundation.net.au See the impacts of mining, meet amazing activists and support the transition: A six-day bus tour through coal communities around NSW to learn about coal, its contribution to climate change and its impacts on communities and environments. The tour is also about promoting the potential for a just transition to a renewable energy future that guarantees jobs and protects communities. When/Where: Fri 20th Nov Newcastle Gloucester Singleton Jerrys Plains; Sat 21st Nov Jerry's Plains Muswellbrook Bickham Caroona; Sun 22nd Nov Caroona Mudgee Lithgow; Mon 23rd Nov Lithgow Canberra; Tues 24th Nov Canberra; Wed 25th Nov Canberra Katoomba; Thurs 26th Nov Katoomba Sydney Lake Macquarie Newcastle Join for a weekend. There are options for people who can't come for the whole tour Fees : Final ticket price to be confirmed For more information please visit http://transitiontour.wordpress.com/
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. |
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