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EDO NEWS

Land Access for Mining and Petroleum -
Mining, Gas and Agriculture debated in Brisbane 16 17 August

This two day conference by AJM included a heated discussion about how Queensland gives priority to a short term use - mining and gas extraction - over security for long term food production. A panel included representatives of the Basin Sustainability Alliance, AgForce, the Queensland and NSW Farmers Federations and the CEO of the Queensland Murray Darling Committee, Mr Geoff Penton. Many panel members called for a moratorium on coal seam gas projects given uncertainty about the impacts of massive ground water extraction that occurs in order to obtain the gas. Is there any feasible and safe way of disposing of the salty ground water? What are the implications of massive extraction for ongoing access to clean ground water for productive agricultural use?

Jo Bragg for EDO raised the need for law reform to effectively protect ecological values and good quality agricultural land from mining and gas projects.

For a copy of EDO’s March submission in relation to Strategic Cropping Lands Framework, click here.

EDO seeks funding to address coal and gas

EDO has asked Minister Stephen Robertson for funding (no reply as yet) so that our office can meet the burgeoning demand for community advice, law reform and education in relation to the rapidly expanding coal and gas industry in Queensland. We have asked for funding for a hydrologist/scientific officer and for one lawyer to work on the all important front end, helping the community scrutinise mining and gas projects.

If you’d like to help EDO gain that funding, send an email to Minister Robertson 'naturalresources@ministerial.qld.gov.au' and Minister Jones ' ccs@ministerial.qld.gov.au ' .

Broad Scale Vegetation Law Factsheet Updated

EDO Qld is reviewing its factsheets. If you are interested in broad scale vegetation protection, which is relevant when many major resorts and developments are proposed, our vegetation protection law factsheet was recently updated. Click here to read it.

Third Edition of the Community Litigants Handbook nearly complete.

If you are running or about to run a planning appeal, you will need the second edition of the Community Litigants Handbook, plus the Practice Direction No 1 of 2010 and the Planning and Environment Court Rules 2010.

The good news is that Anita O’Hart has finished the updated third edition, and it will hopefully be printed within a few weeks.

For more information contact EDO.

Milton Tennis Centre site to be park
July 2010

EDO congratulates Elizabeth Handley, Bronwyn Morris and Paul Cholakos and all the members of CRAMED at Milton over the much needed park announced for the old Milton Tennis Centre site.

Elizabeth said, ”I think we can be confident that, without all the community feedback about both the Milton Railway Precinct and the Tennis Court site developments, this planned park would not have happened. Unless a lot of people object, broad community support is assumed. We have all heard it before. "We approved the development because it had broad community support." "Why do you say that?". "Well only three people complained." However, CRAMED was able to deliver over 1600 objections against the Milton Railway Precinct proposed development and over 1800 objections against the Milton Tennis Court proposed development. People power!, and I again thank the Brisbane City Council for responding so wonderfully with the Milton Tennis Court site, even if there was little movement on their Milton Railway Precinct plans.”

Elizabeth kindly rang EDO to thank us for legal support EDO provided over these major community campaigns. We try our best to be there to assist and love to hear success stories.

Let's get Development Applications back online
30 July 2010

It is disturbing that some councils have taken development applications and supporting information offline.

EDO was alerted to this issue by Genevieve Gall of the Birkdale Progress Association, Redland area, who like other community minded conservationists gthroughout Queensland, relies heavily on the internet to scrutinise development.

Click here to read the letter we wrote to Minister Hinchliffe asking him to urgently clarify the implications of the Information Privacy Act 2009 so that councils can put this vital information about development applications and supporting materials back online.

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EDO Alerts

Community Briefing - new Sustainable Planning Act
14 October 2009

Public Forum Wed 2 Sept 09 - Developer Donations - Queensland's Integrity & Accountability Green Paper
27 August 2009

Save Koalas - act now
26 August 2008

SEQ Regional Plan Review - make a submission before 6 June 2008
3 June 2008

Win for Yeronga Memorial Park
23 November 2007

Bat Case Rehearing successful
16 November 2007

EDO Media Release - Qld Govt overrides Court of Appeal in Climate Change Case
17 October 2007

Legal Win for Climate Change
12 October 2007

Climate Change news
16 January 2007

Bat Case Win - Grids Ordered Down
30 November 2006

IPA Review - Submissions Closing
26 October 2006

HSI Whaling Case
17 July 2006

Bat Case Appeal Success
17 March 2006

IPA Review - Please Act
16 March 2006

Bat Case Appeal
28 February 2006

Regional Forests Test Case
8 July 2005

Bat cases in Court
22 December 2004

SEQ Regional Planning Bill before Parliament
2 September 2004

Nathan Dam Appeal Win
30 July 2004

Nathan Dam Appeal - State of Queensland intervenes
18 May 2004

New vegetation clearing laws
31 March 2004

Conservationists win battle in Federal Court over proposed Nathan Dam!
22 December 2003

Third party enforcement rights in the Nature Conservation Act
27 November 2003

Bulletin

EDO Qld releases a monthly bulletin in conjunction with EDO North Queensland to keep members and the public in touch with the latest developments in environmental and planning law and to inform the community of our activities. To subscribe to our Bulletin free of charge, please send an email to edoqld@edo.org.au.

Read about the call by Qld EDOs for the State Government to fund public interest environmental test case funding. Also in this bulletin: a major prosection launched against John Holland Pty Ltd; results of the Qld Coastal Growth Summit; a review of Great Barrier Reef wetland protection, and more.

In this bulletin: how to have your say on population growth in Queensland; key changes for community litigants in the Sustainable Planning Act; EDO's view on conserving Queensland's strategic cropping land; environmental law and policy update, and more.

Read about community successes in protecting the environment; what's happening with the Lungfish case; EDO law reform submissions; and changes to State and Federal environmental law and policy. We also have details of positions vacant at EDO offices around Australia.

This bulletin brings you up to date with three months of changes to State and Federal environmental law and policy. Also, details of EDO submissions on the State Koala SPP, and the Integrity and Accountability Green Paper; updates on EDO casework; a new edition of the Community Litigants Handbook…and more

In this bulletin, EDO gives the new Sustainable Planning Bill a fail mark. We also report on excellent new Reef protection laws, update you on EDO and other interesting cases, and outline the latest changes to environmental law and policy in Queensland and the Commonwealth.

In this Bulletin, read about EDO Qld's submission on the Draft SEQ Regional Plan; an extensive wrap-up of Federal and Queensland law and policy changes from April & May 2009; opportunities to comment; and much more.

In this twice-as-big Bulletin: a case update on Paradise Dam; news of legal success for community groups; information about recent EDO law reform submissions; opportunities for you to comment; and two months worth of environmental law and policy changes, both State and Federal. Plus lots more!

In the first Bulletin of 2009, find out how to have your say on the revised SEQ regional plan, including details of free EDO workshops around South East Queensland. We bring you up to date with interesting court cases, and detail recent changes to Queensland and Federal environmental law and policy. Plus opportunities to comment, EDO news and more.

This end of year Bulletin covers court case news, including Burnett Water's failed attempt to delay the Paradise Dam Case, and a second lychee farmer fined for contempt of court. Plus law reform, opportunities to comment and more.

There's plenty to read in this Bulletin:Paradise Dam case update; Booth v Yardley decision; The Traveston dam delay announcement; Details of recent EDO law reform submissions on peak oil, SEQ land use and change, FNQ2025, and federal issues; A summary of changes to Queensland and federal environmental law and policy; Opportunities to comment and more.....

In this Bulletin: case updates on Paradise Dam and False Cape; details of recent EDO law reform submissions on climate change, FNQ2025, "clean coal" and electoral donations; a summary of changes to Queensland, Federal and International environmental law and policy; opportunities to comment and more.

This Bulletin is packed with information about our court cases (including good news on bats and False Cape), recent law reform, and a bevy of law and policy changes covering Queensland and the Commonwealth since May 2008, plus other useful info.

Read news of EDO court cases; an update on our regional workshop series; EDO submissions on environmental law reform; opportunities to comment, and more.

In this Bulletin: EDO outraged by 'Eco Fund' allowing developers to buy their way out of vegetation laws; updates on court cases; details of free EDO Environmental Law Workshops around Qld; extensive news on policy and law changes at state and federal level; and more.

Catch up on EDO court case news, law reform submissions, opportunities to comment, and more, including new staff at EDO NQ, and new premises for EDO Qld.

Read EDO's comments on the Qld government Climate policies; recent changes to environmental law and policy; opportunities for public comment, and more.

In this Bulletin: community action saves an important wildlife corridor; updates on EDO NQ's Stoney Creek appeal and False Cape case; recent changes in environmental law and policy including those on water and greenhouses gases . Plus opportunities to comment on Qld's new climate policies, population growth in SEQ, the Mineral Resources Act and much more.

Read about the climate change case appeal, and updates on other current EDO Qld & EDO NQ court cases. We outline EDO's comments on the Local Government Act review, and alert you to recent changes in environmental law and policy at a state and federal level. Plus opportunities to comment on Government initiatives, and much more!