Paperbark December 2021
Firstly, we'd like to thank you for your support throughout 2021 - in whatever form that took. Supporters like you helped us to advocate, educate and make wonderful and important connections!
Please enjoy this wrap up of some of our highlights of 2021!
Hopefully as you are reading this, you are feeling refreshed and revitalised from the festive season, and are looking towards 2022 with excitement and a sense of purpose, just like we are.
2022 is going to be a big year for us, with a Federal Election that will bring climate action to the forefront of the national conversation. We are excited by what we will achieve in North Queensland, with your continued support!
In this edition:
- Some Good News
- NQCC Updates:
- Youth Response
- Member Groups
- Green Drinks
- Opportunities:
- President position available with CDTLI
- Mackay Conservation Group need a Climate Campaigner
- Help manage the GBR with the Eye on the Reef app
- Climate Action Now signs and stickers available
- Return-It Recycle Regatta
- Have your say about an Independent EPA
Paperbark November 2021
As November comes to an end, we're starting to catch our breath after a very busy few months! We all know that conservation issues don't disappear at this time of year, and that our environment needs us to be engaged all year round. As such, the second half of this Paperbark edition is filled with ideas and opportunities to contribute and engage, from wherever you might be!
Some good news from this month...
- Sunshine Coast Council officially declared a climate emergency. Congratulations to the wonderful people involved in this campaign!
- Townsville City Council is one step closer to grandfathering cats off of Yunbenun Magnetic Island, thanks to proposed changes to their animal management laws. Well done to MINCA for raising awareness and encouraging submissions!
- The State Government announced $125,000 over two years to support the recovery of the Mt Etna Ghost bat colony. This comes after 50 years of campaigning from conservationists in the region.
In this edition:
- NQCC Updates:
- Trivia Night and Mega Raffle
- Environment Minister Roundtable
- QCC's Evening with the Minister
- Townsville Waterways Forum
- Green Drinks
- Online Actions:
- Tell Steven Miles to stop the Waratah coal station
- Have your say on the future of Qld's Renewable Energy Zones
- Provide feedback on Qld's Draft Resources Industry Development Plan
- Join the #StopAdani end-of-year celebration
- Get involved with "Soils for Science" - a citizen science project
- Complete a survey about the use of drones in conservation work (or share with someone who can help)
Trivia Night 2021
It wouldn't be the start of the silly season without our Annual Trivia Night Fundraiser! This month we invited members and supporters to join us for a night of fun and frivolity, and what a night we had!
Read morePaperbark October 2021
As another massive month comes to a close, it is important to reflect on the powerful local actions that have taken place in our little corner of the world.
As you are reading this, Scott Morrison is representing us in the Glasgow climate talks, where he expects to get away with shallow promises and dodgy deals to save face among world leaders, all the while abandoning his responsibility to protect Australia's people and ecosystems.
Meanwhile, we've seen North Queenslanders take real action to stand up for nature in so many wonderful ways. Through meetings, media, submissions, strikes, artworks, clean ups and petitions, people like you have made a real difference, and we couldn't be more proud of our community.
In this edition:
- NQCC Updates:
- Postcard Art Auction
- Tree Advocacy Update
- Flying-fox Reform: Media
- NQCC at the International Rivers Symposium
- Meeting with Scott Stewart MP
- School Strike 4 Climate
- Coming Up:
- Townsville Waterway Forum
- Green Drinks
- Trivia Night & Mega Raffle
- Evening with the Minister
- Online Actions:
- Fix Compostable Packaging in Queensland
- Stop the Cut of Species Recovery Plans
- Protect Birds from Mouse Poisons
NQCC Art Auction 2021
On Saturday 9th October we saw the end to our four week Postcard Art Exhibition and the beginning of an exciting Fundraising Auction Night!
Art and environment lovers attended the event at Umbrella Studio of Contemporary Art (Townsville City), where each of the 125 artworks generously donated by artists from around the country were auctioned off for prices ranging from $10 to $160. The pieces were approximately postcard-size and created with our "Nature: the wonder and the tragedy" exhibition title in mind. Artworks are still available to peruse in our online gallery here.
Read moreTownsville Tree Update Oct 2021
Image source: Townsville City Council's Public Consultation Report
After approximately six months of engaging with Townsville City Council (alongside other community members and groups) regarding their approach to vegetation protection, residents were given the opportunity to provide feedback on TCC's Draft Public Tree Management Policy.
The opportunity to provide feedback closed on Wednesday 13 October, with 70 submissions received. Read on for more information on what we have learned since...
Read moreInternational Rivers Symposium
ATTENDING THE INTERNATIONAL RIVERS SYMPOSIUM ON BEHALF OF THE BURDEKIN
24th International Rivers Symposium 27-30 Sept | The University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus
NQCC Committee Member and volunteer John Connell was invited to attend the 24th International Rivers Symposium, held in Brisbane in late September. This was an invaluable opportunity to introduce an international audience to some of the issues affecting the Burdekin River and to highlight NQCC's role in advocating for an integrated management approach.
Below is John's account of the event...
Read morePaperbark September 2021
September was a whirlwind of Postcard Art, exciting campaign developments and our AGM! Hence September's Paperbark is only reaching you now. We hope you don't mind.
Our 2020/21 Annual Report has just been released, and we're very excited to share it with you. It outlines a lot of activities that we are incredibly proud of from the last financial year. We hope you enjoy the read!
This edition of Paperbark is packed full of recommended reading, calls to action and date savers. Why not treat yourself? Find a quiet place and maximise your enjoyment of this humble newsletter - you won't regret it!
In this edition:
- NQCC Updates:
- AGM
- Tree Advocacy Update - have your say!
- Burdekin Update
- St Benedict's Ecofest
- Actions & Activities:
- Art Auction: Sat 9 Oct 6pm
- School Strike 4 Climate: Fri 15 Oct 9am
- Green Drinks: Fri 15 Oct 6pm
- Pitch Your Project
- Townsville Waterway Forum
- Further Reading & Events
- Support Us
2021 AGM
On Wednesday 29 September we held our backyard AGM, which was a great opportunity to catch up with our members and share some updates about our organisation and our work. We also tabled our Annual Report and elected a new Management Committee.
Read moreAn Open Letter to the Hon Bob Katter MP
This letter was written in response to The Hon Bob Katter MP's comments in this article, published in the Townsville Bulletin. We immediately responded with this open letter, from which some statements were published about a week later. You can read the printed article here.
Dear Bob,
Contrary to your recent claims that North Queensland Conservation Council (NQCC) represents the people of Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne, and that we’ve “never set foot off a pavement”, we have more in common than you think.
Read more