As we welcome the cooler weather here in the tropics, the local events calendar is starting to heat up - exciting times ahead!

Hopefully you have found a way to celebrate Reconciliation Week, whether by attending an event, starting conversations with friends or exploring some of the resources available online.

The big news out of the past few weeks of course, is the appointment of Leanne Linard as Queensland's Minister for the Environment and Great Barrier Reef, Science and Multicultural Affairs. This poses an opportunity to impress upon her the importance of this portfolio and to highlight our region's environmental challenges and opportunities. 

In this edition of Paperbark, you will find plenty of ways to support our work - by volunteering with us, attending our events, or by donating to our End of Financial Year appeal! Thank you for whatever it is you do to support our work. Enjoy the read!

- Crystal, NQCC Coordinator 

In this edition:

• NQCC Updates
  
  • NQCC 50th Birthday Project
  • Our Townsville - community event
  • Listening Campaign
  • Burdekin Update
  • EOFY appeal
• In Other News
  • Upper Burdekin Wind Farm Update
  • Reef Snapshot
  • Channel Country campaign

The next 12-18 months will see the replacement of the Burdekin Basin Water Plan get into full swing, and the recent announcement of a Regional Water Assessment means that the mechanisms might just be in place to protect the mighty Burdekin from the threats of over-development.

To me, there is nothing more energising than working with others towards a common cause.

Much of our work is possible thanks to collaborative relationships, which tend to culminate into powerful collective action! We have been privileged to work with some incredible organisations and individuals lately, as you will see below. 

Our subcommittees and volunteers have also been hard at work behind the scenes, allowing us to punch well above our weight as the voice for the environment in North Queensland!

There are plenty of opportunities to Take action! in this edition, so I hope that you enjoy the read and take a moment to add your voice or sign up where you can.

Thank you as always for your support! I hope you enjoy this edition of Paperbark as much as I've enjoyed bringing it to you.

- Crystal, NQCC Coordinator 

In this edition:

• NQCC Updates:
  
  • Protect Channel Country
  • An EPA for Queensland
  • Townsville Listening Launch
  • Green Drinks
• In Other News
  
  • Upper Burdekin Wind Farm
  • Winchester South Coal Mine
  • Our Islands, Our Home
  • Power Together
  • Container Refund Scheme
• Volunteer Opportunities
  • Coastal Dry Tropics Landcare
  • The Smart Coffee Project
  • NQCC

Big conservation news has been breaking this month, with the release of the IPCC's Synthesis Report, big changes to the Safeguard Mechanism and the strengthening of Queensland's environment laws.

While we endeavour to help you keep across all of these big stories, our work remains focussed on what can be done in our beautiful little corner of the world. 

Here, we are facing the real conflict between the clean energy rollout and biodiversity protection (brought about by poor planning and assessment processes) and gas developments continue to threaten the natural and cultural values of the Channel Country in our region's southwest. Keep reading for how you can take action on both of these issues!

We always have something planned around the corner, and this month is no different! Saturday 22 April will see us celebrate Earth Day by calling upon our State Government to push forward with an independent EPA for Queensland - we're calling it EPA Day! Pencil it in your calendar and keep an eye on your inbox for updates. 

This month we sadly say goodbye to Tiff, who has played a vital role in our organisation for almost two years. She has encouraged and supported me through the ups and downs of this work, and will be sorely missed!

Thanks as always for taking the time to read our updates. I really hope you enjoy this edition of Paperbark!

- Crystal

In this edition:

• NQCC Updates:
  
  • Farewell, Tiff
  • Upper Burdekin Windfarm submissions
  • Channel Country Townsville event
• In Other News
  
  • Safeguard Mechanism
  • IPCC report
  • Changes to Qld Environment Laws
• Opportunities

I have just recently returned from Meanjin Brisbane, where I was your representative at the Ministerial Environment Roundtable (MERT).

The MERT is a great opportunity to unite with conservation groups from all over Queensland to push Minister Scanlon and her department for solutions to the issues our regions are facing. I have never seen our movement so energised and powerful!

I look forward to providing more detailed feedback in future, but for now, I am preparing for two weeks of travel to reconnect with nature - it's important for us all to recharge! 

Thanks as always for supporting NQCC and our work. I really hope you enjoy this edition of Paperbark!

- Crystal

In this edition:

• NQCC Updates:
  
  • Welcome Madde!
  • Take Action for an Independent EPA for Qld
  • Townsville Climate Action 2023 Kick-Off
  • World Wetlands Day at Mundy Creek
  • Protect the Protest
  • Burdekin Basin Governance Seminar
  • First Nations Led Dingo Conservation
• In Other News
  
  • Safeguard Mechansim
  • Public Environment Report available for Upper Burdekin Wind Project 
• Opportunities

Attending Big Eye Theatre's Survival Day events in Gurambilbarra (Townsville) last week, we were heartened to witness a groundswell of curiosity, respect and support for local First Nations stories on 26 January.

As an organisation, we recognise that we cannot be the voice for the environment without working in partnership with our region's First Nations people, who have cared for country for millennia. This is the focus of our First Nations Partnerships Subcommittee, which aims to incorporate First Nations perspectives to our environmental advocacy in North Queensland. Please get in touch if you'd like to support this work!

It's only January, but there are already plenty of things to get involved in. We hope you enjoy this edition of Paperbark!

In this edition:

• Conservation News:
  
  • Dr Adam Smith recognised with Sustainability Award
  • Help keep big polluters accountable on climate
  • Upper Burdekin Windfarm updates available
• Coming Up
  • Planet-Conscious Townsville Thurs 2 Feb
  • World Wetlands Day at Mundy Creek Sat 4 Feb
  • "Franklin" screening Wed 22 Feb
  • Green Drinks (date TBC)
• Opportunities
• Further Reading/Actions

Each year the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) hosts a conference (a ‘COP’) of almost all countries around the world. This year, around 35,000 delegates representing countries ('parties'), non-party actors, and civil society travelled to Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt for COP27.

As we round out 2022, we'd love to thank you for your support throughout the year. Taking actions, attending events, chipping in money when you can... it all makes our work come to life!

We are holding an end-of-year gathering this Saturday afternoon (more details below) and we hope you can join us!

Please enjoy this edition of Paperbark!

In this edition:

• NQCC Updates:
  
  • NQCC Trivia
  • Burdekin Basin updates
  • Qld Environment Symposium
  • NAB Action
  • Green Drinks
• Coming Up
  • NQCC Xmas Party
• Opportunities
• Further Reading/Actions

Our 2022 Trivia Night Fundraiser was held on the 19th November at the Townsville Senior Citizens Hall in Belgian Gardens. It was a fantastic evening of fun, corruption and plenty of laughter thanks to 11 enthusiastic teams and our incredible volunteers who keep the night running smoothly.

Thanks to our attendees, raffle ticket purchasers, volunteers and prize sponsors we raised Over $4900! Money raised will support our environmental advocacy work here in beautiful North Queensland.

Things really are heating up here in North Queensland - in every sense of the word! Temperature records are breaking and we're flat out, delivering updates, actions and events. We hope you can get involved with us in some way in this action-packed month!

We are also excited to present our activities and achievements from the last financial year in our 2021/22 Annual Report!

As always, we thank you for your support and hope you enjoy this edition of Paperbark!

In this edition:

• NQCC Updates:
  
  • Meet the Management Committee!
  • Townsville Tree Policy Update
  • Hells Gates Dam not funded
• Actions & Events:
  • #NotAnotherDollar action outside NAB
  • Renewables and Biodiversity: webinar
  • Trivia Night and Mega Raffle
  • TIDY Up Townsville Cleanup
  • Green Drinks
• Opportunities
• Further Reading/Actions