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The EDO Northern Rivers
Planned Retreat Expert Seminar - Byron BayOn 31 May 2008, the EDO held an expert seminar to discuss Byron Shire Council's policy of planned retreat, which has been in place since 1988 and has withstood several legal challenges. The seminar was attended by twelve lawyers, planners, ecologists and community campaigners with a range of experience of planned retreat in Byron Shire and Queensland. The recommendations from the seminar constitute Appendix 1 to the ANEDO submission to the Federal Government's inquiry into Climate Change and Coastal Communities. The ANEDO submission can be found here: http://www.edo.org.au/policy/climatechange_coastal080610.pdf
Change of Address21 November 2007 - The EDO Northern Rivers has moved to new offices at 1/71 Molesworth Street, Lismore. The office postal address and phone number are unchanged however the fax number is now (61 2) 6621 3355.
EDO Northern Rivers - One Year On22 August 2007 - The EDO Northern Rivers opened on Monday, 3 July 2006 as an 18 month pilot project funded by the Public Purpose Fund. The office has now been operating for 12 months. During that time we have provided approximately 600 telephone advices, we have provided advice and representation to individuals, community groups and conservation organisations in approximately 40 public environmental interest matters. We have also conducted 7 community education workshops in the Northern Rivers region. The pilot has been very successful and has received enormous support to continue providing a much needed service for the region.
Continued Funding for the EDO Northern Rivers20 August 2007 - We are delighted to anounce that the EDO's Northern Rivers Office has gained the generous support of the NSW Law Society's Public Purpose Fund to continue the operation of the office. Funding has increased so as to support an addition to our Lismore office team, with a community legal education and outreach officer. We are greatly indebted to the ongoing enthusiasm and support of the Public Purpose Fund, which provides a substantial foundation for our work to empower communities to protect the environment. We would like to thank all the people who have supported the work of the Northern Rivers office over the past 12 months.
Rural Landholders Workshop - Tuntable CreekOn 18 August 2007, the Environmental Defender’s Office Northern Rivers (EDO) in conjunction with Tuntable Creek Landcare, presented a practical workshop about environmental and legal issues which particularly affect rural landholders. The slides from the workshop are now available for download.
The presentation by guest speaker Mark Graham, ecologist from Buckombil Conservation Services, on the laws relating to threatened species as they are relevant to local issues, is also available for download. (presentation reproduced with permission of the owner)
Rural Landholders' Guide WorkshopBellingen, 21 April 2007 - The EDO (Northern Rivers) presented a FREE workshop for rual landholders, providing practical information about environmental law. The workshop was intended to complement the free EDO publication, ‘The Rural Landholder's Guide to Environmental Law in NSW'. Topics covered in the workshop included: vegetation management, bushfire management, water management, pest and weed control, agricultural chemicals and conservation on private land The workshop was presented by solicitors, Jessica Wood and Sue Higginson of the EDO and Pia Dollman from Bellinger Landcare who spoke about the Upper Bellinger Reach-based Plan Project and Landcare generally. The workshop was followed by a private farm tour on Darkwood Road, Thora. To download a free copy of the Rural Landholders' Guide to Environmental Law, see: www.edo.org.au/edonsw/site/publications.php. Free copies of this publication, including bulk orders, are available from the Environmental Defender's Office NSW. To order copies, please call (02) 9262 6989.
Launch of Campaigning and the Law in New South WalesOn 31 March 2007, the EDO publication Campaigning and the Law in New South Wales: A guide to your rights and responsibilities was officially launched by Ian Cohen, Greens MP, and Jeff Smith, Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Defender’s Office. This plain English guide is an essential companion for those interested in learning about their legal rights to protest, and how to make informed decisions about participating in protest action. For more information and to order your copy of this publication, click here.
Environmental Law for Rural Landholders
The workshop was designed to help landholders understand their legal rights and manage their land in accordance with environmental and natural resource management law, and to take advantage of incentives for voluntary conservation. Topics covered in the workshops included:
To download a free copy of the Rural Landholders' Guide to Environmental Law, see: www.edo.org.au/edonsw/site/publications.php. Free copies of this publication, including bulk orders, are available from the Environmental Defender's Office NSW. To order copies, please call (02) 9262 6989.
Official Opening of EDO Northern Rivers
On 15 July 2006, the EDO celebrated the opening of our new Northern Rivers office with an official launch, followed by a free half-day community workshop about conservation on private land. The new office was launched by Justice Brian Preston, Chief Judge of the NSW Land and Environment Court. [Link to Justice Preston's opening speech.] The private conservation workshop covered a range of legal and practical issues associated with private conservation, including:
The workshop was presented by EDO staff as well as John Nagel from the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority (NRCMA) and Kate Smiley from the Nature Conservation Trust (NCT). The workshop also incorporated a tour of Brockley Farm, where local bush regenerator, Stephanie Lymburner showcased the fantastic results of restoration work in remnant bushland on the macadamia farm. The EDO would like to thank the owners of Brockley Farm, Charlie and Jenny Handley for their wonderful hospitality and congratulate them for their commitment to conserving biodiversity on their land. Both the launch and the workshop were well attended despite inclement weather. Local government representatives, including Jan Barham, Mayor of Byron Shire Council, and Jenny Dowell, Councillor for Lismore City Council were joined by interested members of the community and a number of local environmental groups. Many participants expressed their delight at finally having a regional office in their local area. Now that the formalities are over, the EDO Northern Rivers looks forward to engaging further with the region and helping residents to achieve positive outcomes for the local environment.
Workshops on Planning Law ReformsIn 2006, EDO Northern Rivers presented a workshop series in Byron Bay, Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour on the recent reforms to the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. The reforms include the requirement for all local councils to amend their local environmental plans to conform with a standard template and the addition of Part 3A to the Act which replaces State significant development with major projects and critical infrastructure, for which the Minister is the consent authority. If you would like a copy of the slideshow presentation from this workshop, please contact us. Slides are in PDF format.
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