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EDO NSW BULLETIN - 20 May 2010: Number 660The 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. ANEDO Conference and dinner: One week to go! Law and Policy Watch 8. ABC News: Change of Plan: red gums get protection
this year EDO in the Media 15. Ulladulla Times: NPA to fight Narrawallee
subdivision Environmental Law Notices - New South Wales 17. Major Project Proposals - Invitation to Comment Environmental Law Notices - Commonwealth 20. EPBC Referrals - Invitation to Comment Community News 21. Paddy Pallin Foundation Science Grants EDO News and Events 1. ANEDO Conference and dinner: One week to go! Next week, the EDO will be holding a 2-day national conference on 28/29 May on the theme 'Public Interest Environmental Law in Australia: 25 Years On'. The conference will focus on developments in public interest environmental law, and the challenges and opportunities ahead. Topics to be covered include:
Keynote Speaker, Professor Ian Lowe AO, President, Australian Conservation Foundation
Keynote Speaker, Dr Nick Wood, Associate Director of Sustainability, KPMG Australia
Keynote Speaker, The Hon Duncan Kerr SC, MP The conference will be held at the Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts , 280 Pitt Street Sydney . Tickets are still available but register now to avoid disappointment. You are also invited to help celebrate the EDO 's 25th Anniversary by attending a special celebratory dinner. The dinner will be held at Doltone House, Darling Island Wharf . This venue boasts spectacular harbour views and is part of the first 6-Star Green Building in NSW. Our guest of honour will be The Hon Chief Justice Robert French, Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia. Date: Friday 28 May 2010 Time: 7pm Venue: Doltone House, Darling Island Wharf , 48 Pirrama Road , Pyrmont Cost: Individuals - $130pp, Tables of 10 - $1500 (with corporate logo/name on table) Dress: Formal For more information , and to register for the dinner or the conference (or both), please visit: http://www.edo.org.au/conference.php Due to the ANEDO conference, the EDO Sydney office will be operating with vastly reduced staff numbers on Thursday and Friday next week. Please be advised that the Environmental Law Advice Line will not be operating on Thursday 27 May but will resume on Tuesday 2 June. If your enquiry is urgent please call the office on 02 9262 6989 and we will attempt to put you through to a solicitor. The Northern Rivers office will be closed Thursday and Friday next week. For urgent enquiries from the Northern Rivers region, please call 0448 201 442. 3. FREE EDO Seminar Series - Making Sydney Sustainable - Transport This seminar contemplates whether Sydney 's transport system is sustainable. Three speakers will discuss what Sydney needs, what Sydney is doing and what works well elsewhere. Our panellists are:
Date: Friday 21 May 2010 Time: 12:30pm - 2:00pm Venue: DLA Phillips Fox, Level 38, 201 Elizabeth St , Sydney Light refreshments will be provided For more information or to RSVP call (02) 9262 6989. http://www.edo.org.au/edonsw/site/seminar.php 4. FREE EDO Workshop - A Guide to Environmental Law for Coastal Communities in NSW: The Entrance, Nowra, Merimbula The workshops will focus on the main environmental and planning laws that affect coastal communities, including biodiversity, pollution, heritage and sea level rise issues. The workshops are intended for anyone interested in learning more about how the various environmental and planning laws interact and how these laws apply to coastal communities. This is an excellent opportunity to find out how to effectively engage in the decision-making process. Strategic advocacy techniques, from gathering information to writing effective submissions will be covered in the workshops. The workshops will be based on the content of an upcoming publication Caring for the Coast: A guide to environmental law for coastal communities in NSW . The publication has been funded the Australian Government though its Caring for Our Country initiative and will be made available for free to all participants when it is published later in the year. The Entrance When : Saturday 19 June 2010 Time : 9:00am to 12:00pm, morning tea and refreshments will be provided. Venue : Diggers at The Entrance, 315 The Entrance Road , The Entrance
Nowra When: Wednesday 23 June 2010 Time: 3:00pm to 5:00pm, afternoon tea and refreshments will be provided. Venue: Shoalhaven Ex-Servicemen's Club, Junction St , Nowra
Merimbula When: Saturday 26 June 2010 Time: 2:00pm to 4:00pm, afternoon tea and refreshments will be provided. Venue: Club Sapphire, Main Street , Merimbula
RSVP : Please call (02) 9262 6989 to register or for more information. For further information or comment, please contact : Rosemary Bullmore, Project Officer, at the Environmental Defender's Office. Phone: (02) 9262 6989. http://www.edo.org.au/edonsw/site/workshops.php#coastal http://www.edo.org.au/edonsw/site/pdf/flyer/100511nowra.pdf http://www.edo.org.au/edonsw/site/pdf/flyer/100511merimbula.pdf 5. FREE EDO Workshop - Environmental Law for Rural Landholders - Dubbo The EDO will be presenting FREE environmental law workshops for NSW landholders in the Dubbo region. The workshops will provide an overview of some of the key laws relevant to rural landholders, including native vegetation and mining, agricultural chemicals, pests and weeds, and generating income from private conservation. Date : Wednesday 30 June 2010 Time : 1pm to 4pm Venue : Coolabah Room, Dubbo Community Arts Centre, 76 Wingewarra Street, Dubbo Lunch and light refreshments will be provided . For more information or to RSVP, please contact the EDO on (02) 9262 6989. http://www.edo.org.au/edonsw/site/workshops.php 6. FREE copies of the new publication A Guide to Private Conservation in NSW A new EDO publication is now available for free upon request. A guide to private conservation in NSW provides an overview and critical analysis of all the private conservation mechanisms available to NSW landholders. The guide is designed to help landholders to understand the different private conservation options and choose the one that is right for them. It covers everything from Conservation Agreements and Trust Agreements to Wildlife Refuge Agreements and much more. This project has been assisted by the NSW Government through its Environmental Trust and the EDO is very grateful for this support. To order your free copy of the publication please call (02) 9262 6989. Boxes of 120 are also available to groups or organisations. Please contact us if you are interested in a free workshop on the content of the guide in your area. 7. FREE copies of the new edition of the Rural Landholder's Guide to Environmental Law in NSW 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 on 02 9262 6989. 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. This project has been assisted by the NSW Government through its Environmental Trust.
Law and Policy Watch 8. ABC News: Change of Plan: red gums get protection this year The New South Wales Government has announced that its decision to protect more than 100,000 hectares of internationally-significant river red gum forests in the State's south-west will come into effect sooner than expected. After several months of political to-ing and fro-ing the government says the creation of a national park in the Millewa group of forests will begin in July. It is being called a landmark decision to protect 50 species of threatened fauna and an important habitat for migrating birds. The national park plan was first announced by Nathan Rees on his last day as premier last December. To read this article, please visit: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/05/19/2903840.htm?site=news 9. Sue Morris appointed as a Commissioner of the Land and Environment Court NSW Attorney General John Hatzistergos today announced the appointment of Sue Morris as a Commissioner of the Land and Environment Court of NSW. "Ms Morris brings over 30 years of experience in town planning, particularly in statutory planning, to the position," Mr Hatzistergos said. Ms Morris is currently the Director of Development and Environment at Camden Council and has also acted as the council's General Manager. She has held director level and senior management positions in planning in local government for the last 23 years. The EDO would like to congratulate Ms Morris on her appointment. 10. Case Update: King & Anor v Minister for Planning; Parkesbourne-Mummel Landscape Guardians Inc v Minister for Planning; Gullen Range Wind Farm Pty Limited v Minister for Planning [2010] NSWLEC 1102 Three separate sets of proceedings were commenced challenging aspects of the Planning Minister's approval of a Wind Farm on the Southern Tablelands of NSW. The Land and Environment Court upheld the approval of the wind farm but in doing so attached additional conditions to minimise the impact of the wind farm on neighbouring residences. To view the judgement in its entirety, please visit:
In December 2005, the NSW Government released its Metropolitan Strategy
for Sydney to 2031, entitled City
of Cities: A Plan for Sydney's Future . See: http://www.metrostrategy.nsw.gov.au/
Comments are sought on the draft Mining Regulation 2010 ('the proposed
Regulation') and Regulatory Impact Statement ('RIS'). Your comments are
also sought on the draft NSW Code for Routine Exploration Activities with
Low Environmental Impact ('Exploration Code'). EDO's submission on this is available at: http://www.edo.org.au/edonsw/site/pdf/subs10/100430metro_strategy.pdf
http://www.edo.org.au/edonsw/site/pdf/subs10/100315water_management.pdf
12. New or current legislation introduced to parliament
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:
14. 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 local government areas have lodged planning proposals during the past seven days:
EDO in the Media 15. Ulladulla Times: NPA to fight Narrawallee subdivision (19 May 2010) The National Parks Association of NSW has called for an immediate halt to the controversial 168-lot subdivision off Leo Drive in Narrawallee. NPA executive officer, Kevin Evans, with the backing of his State Council, says a list of issues points to the need for a State Government Inquiry. These include alleged breaches of the original conditions of consent; developer donations to the State Labor party whilst their application was with the Minister for Planning; and the apparent loss of possibly thousands of public submissions to Shoalhaven City Council in relation to the development. "We have called on the NSW government which approved the development to require an immediate halt to land clearing until these claims are fully investigated," confirmed NPA spokesperson, Gary Schoer. Meeting in Ulladulla recently to discuss key environmental challenges facing the South Coast, the NPA was extremely concerned to learn of the scale of urbanisation planned for forested lands south of Narrawallee Nature Reserve, Mr Schoer explained. This article incorrectly states that the EDO says the Part 3A process circumvents the need for community and local government consultation. The EDO is assisting the NPA in this matter. To read this article, please visit: 16. Northern Rivers Echo: In the zone: local environmental plans (6 May 2010) "There was much consternation recently after the publication of revised population projections for the North Coast, which is now expected to grow by between 11% (in Lismore) and 59% (in the Tweed) by 2036. Where will they live? Who will pay for the new infrastructure? How will we protect our environmental assets?" To view the article, by EDO Northern Rivers Education Officer, Mark Byrne, please visit: http://www.echonews.com.au/story/2010/05/06/in-the-zone-local-environmental-plans/ Environmental 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://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.pl?action=search&status_id=6
http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.pl?action=view_job&job_id=3508
http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.pl?action=view_job&job_id=2929
http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.pl?action=view_job&job_id=3858
http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.pl?action=view_job&job_id=1291 18. 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. 19. 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 - 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: NSW Roxburgh - expansion of coal mine http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=5498 Bowraville - weed species removal http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=5493 Singleton - tree maintenance works in Burdekin Park http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=5489 Mount Annan - construction of access road http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=5485 Dalton - Gas fired power station http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=5484 Cth Darwin - marine seismic survey http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=5487 QLD Moranbah - seismic survey http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=5497 Alpha - coal project http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=5496 Mt Carbine - watershed project expansion http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=5495 VIC Ardeer - commercial development http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=5486 WA East Kimberley - Iron Ore project http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=5494 Bussleton - aerial larvicide application http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=5490 Kununurra - water management usage http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=5491 Geraldton - dredging in port channel http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/epbc/epbc_ap.pl?name=current_referral_detail&proposal_id=5488
Community News 21. Paddy Pallin Foundation Science Grants The Paddy Pallin Foundation in conjunction with the Royal Zoological Society of NSW is pleased to announce that the 2010 Paddy Pallin Foundation Science Grants are now open. $7000 is available for a post graduate student or an early career scientist. The research must address conservation problems in Australian systems and have clearly defined management implications. Preference will be given to research which deals with ecological community processes. Applications will close with the Royal Zoological Society of NSW at 5pm on 30 July 2010 . For further information please visit the Paddy Pallin Foundation website at: The North Coast Energy Forum will explore emerging opportunities for, and impediments to, generating more electricity on the north coast of NSW . Community organisations, industry and government representatives will discuss distributed power options including smart grids, solar, gas, bioenergy, hydro and wind. Dr Mark Diesendorf, renowned lecturer and author on sustainability, will initiate the discussion with his keynote address. There will be presentations and discussion forums all day. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. When: Friday 4 June 2010, 9am-5pm Where: Bellingen Memorial Hall, Bellingen Who should attend : Electricity industry representatives, renewable industry representatives, policymakers, government, academics, researchers and members of the community interested in renewable energy and distributed power generation. Cost : $120 corporate & government; $60 community groups & general public Please go to www.ncenergyforum.org for more information or to register. The EDO Northern Rivers office is providing legal and other assistance to the Forum.
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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