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EDO NEWS

Coal & Gas projects - make a submission
3 February 2012

There are are number of coal, coal seam gas and major infrastructure projects in Queensland currently open for public submission.

Click here for the list at 3 February 2012

For information on what to include in your submission, please read the EDO factsheets : “Community Rights to Object to Mines" , “EPBC Checklist and Example Submission” and refer to the Department of Environment’s website here .

Make sure you follow the instructions for making a properly made objection in the public notice.

If you have put in a submission on any of these projects, we’d like to know. Please email us at adminqld@edo.org.au.

EDO Qld cannot guarantee to alert you about every public notification period about proposed mining projects. We strongly recommend that you regularly ring the Mining Registrar of the region you are concerned about to determine when the public notification period is open for any possible applications made for mining claims, mining leases or environmental authorities in your region.

Free Lunchtime Workshop for Community Litigants
27 February 2012

Save the Date! Monday 27 February 2012
Speakers: P & E Court Registrar John Taylor & EDO Qld Senior Solicitor, Sean Ryan

This free legal information session is suitable for anyone currently participating or planning to participate in an appeal in the Qld Planning and Environment Court as a self-represented litigant. It is strongly recommended that attendees read EDO Qld’s publication, The Community Litigants Handbook, before attending.

When: Mon 27/2/2012 – 12.30 pm till 2pm
Where : Brisbane Square Library, Community Meeting Room, ground Floor
RSVP to edoqld@edo.org.au or on 32114466 by Friday 24 February

Listen online to EDO's Jo Bragg at Woodford
9 January 2012

Miss the Woodford Folk Festival? Listen to the audio of EDO Qld Principal Solicitor Jo Bragg speaking at the Greenhouse about the massive coal mining expansion in Queensland.

Mine Coal, Sell Coal, Repeat Until Rich! You can find Jo's talk about what you can do about the impact of mining on your environment and community in the session ‘Mine Coal, Sell Coal, Repeat Until Rich!’ along with Guy Pearse (UQ Global Change Institute) and Derec Davies ( Friends of the Earth Brisbane ) at the 2pm session! Listen online here – scroll to 2pm session, and minute 33 to listen to Jo - http://www.thegreenhouse.org.au/index.php/201112-audio/fri-30-december-2011
Treading on Hot Coals! Jo Bragg ( EDO Qld ) and Derec Davies (Friends of the Earth Brisbane) talking about the scale of coal mining in Queensland and the Friends of the Earth Brisbane challenge to the Wandoan coal mine. Listen online here - http://www.thegreenhouse.org.au/index.php/201112-audio/tues-27-december-2011

Stradbroke mining: Sibelco gained more than it lost
11 October 2011

Have you heard the details on the Stradbroke mining phase out? Well-known Brisbane Solicitor Richard Carew has studied the special legislation and stated:

"Mining company Sibelco was a true beneficiary of the special legislation. It gained much more than it lost. The special legislation passed by the Queensland Parliament in April renewed key expired mining leases. The renewal of one in particular, until 2020, was crucial to mining continuing at the Island’s largest mine, Enterprise."

See the article by mining companies’ lawyers and Richard Carew’s full response at……. http://savestraddie.com/site/politics-of-mining/government-con-not-sovereign-risk

Senate Inquiry into coal seam gas and the Murray-Darling Basin
July 2011

The Senate Rural Affairs and Transport References committee heard evidence on the their inquiry into the management of the Murray-Darling Basin, with particular reference to the impacts of coal-seam gas mining. Lawyer Peter Shannon tabled EDO’s letter to the Premier about access to information and fair process. Read the transcripts of the public hearing here:

http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/senate/commttee/s171.pdf

http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/senate/commttee/s173.pdf

http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/senate/commttee/s172.pd

Reforms needed to protect Brisbane Trees
21 June 2011

EDO Qld has called for urgent law reform to allow community input into Brisbane City Council decisions to permit destruction of protected trees. This was sparked by a request for urgent legal advice by neighbours acting to save three landmark native fig trees in Windsor. Click here to read the full story.

Access to Information and Fair Process
17 June 2011

The Queensland EDOs have written to the Premier, Anna Bligh, regarding access to information and fair process in regard to Coal Mining and Coal Seam Gas projects. Click here to read that letter.

Many landholders miss out on the chance to make submissions on major coal seam gas projects AND on proposed mining leases, as the submission period is poorly publicised. If you go to “opportunities for comment” on the DERM website, the submission periods are never mentioned despite EDO writing and making that suggestion to DERM several times. If you don’t make a submission then you cannot appeal to the Land Court.

EDO staff have had to waste their time ringing up DERM and the Mining Registrars to find out basic information that ought to be well publicised and online at DERM. We will publish the information on this page, and via our emailed Alerts and Bulletins.

Challenge to Wandoan Coal Mine launched
25 February 2011

On Friday 25th February, 2011, Friends of the Earth Brisbane lodged an objection against a massive open cut coal mine proposed by Xstrata Coal for west of Wandoan in Southern Queensland. EDO Qld and barrister Dr Chris McGrath are representing Friends of the Earth Brisbane in a “David and Goliath” battle that needs to be won.

Friend of the Earth Brisbane spokesperson Dr John Mackenzie said today: “The mining and burning of this coal, whether used domestically or overseas, will create absolutely massive greenhouse gas emissions of 1.3 billion carbon dioxide equivalents over its life. This is not up for dispute – it’s clearly stated in the Environmental Impact Assessment statement”

To read the full media release, please click here.

Climate Change litigation launch gift
15 February 2011

EDO Qld was delighted to receive a generous donation for climate change litigation. These extra resources are crucial, as Queensland needs to rapidly transition to a society based on renewable energy. The donation will enable employment of two additional staff solicitors, Sean Ryan and Revel Pointon. Revel Pointon is fresh from sustainability work in Mexico and formerly worked in planning and environment at Minter Ellison, Gold Coast. Revel started on 31 January 2011. Sean Ryan leaves his role as Senior Associate at Corrs Chambers Westgarth to join EDO on 21 February 2011. Sean will bring many years of experience in litigation and scientific qualifications to EDO Qld.

A warm welcome from all at EDO to Sean and Revel.

Getting Development Applications back online- Minister’s reply
3 September 2010

Minister Hinchliffe has replied to EDO and (in our words) he considers that in light of the Information Privacy Act 2009, changes to the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 are required in order for copies of the development application and supporting material under s728 SPA to be placed online. These are the key documents that community people need to see online in order to formulate their submissions. The Minister advises that he will propose an amendment of SPA as soon as possible to authorise the continued publication of documents and information, where appropriate, on PD online. Click here to read the Minister's reply.

Please write to Minister Hinchliffe infrastructure.planning@ministerial.qld.gov.au and ask him to confirm his proposed amendments will ensure that development applications and supporting material under s728 SPA may be put online without breaching the Information Privacy Act 2009.

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EDO Alerts

Community Briefing - new Sustainable Planning Act
14 October 2009

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

Bat Case Appeal Success
17 March 2006

Bat Case Appeal
28 February 2006

Regional Forests Test Case
8 July 2005

Bat cases in Court
22 December 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 prosecution 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!