For National Heat Awareness Day, NQCC spent the morning at the markets talking with the community about something we all know well in North Queensland: heat. A big thank you to our wonderful volunteers who came along and had thoughtful conversations with people about how heat shapes daily life in Townsville.

Today we learned of the passing of a beloved friend and legendary environmental activist Margaret Moorhouse (aka Peggy Hyde). Our thoughts are with her family and all who knew her well.

We’ve been talking with locals about extreme weather - and again and again, heat comes up.

People tell us about the toll it’s taking on their bodies and daily lives. One local shared a story from a power outage:
“After the third night of really hot nights, my body was just done. I felt so sick I couldn’t eat, and I was crying.”

I hope our first edition of Paperbark for 2026 finds you refreshed, rejuvenated and ready for anything!

If you've entered the new year with a strong desire to: learn new skills, meet new people, live your values, take action in your community, or simply spend more time in nature, then we've got you sorted!

This year promises to be filled with opportunities to "think global, act local", with hands-on conservation activities, citizen science, political advocacy, fundraising, film nights, networking and more!

We look forward to having you join us this year in our strategic efforts for stronger nature protection and climate action. Thanks for standing with us!

- Crystal, NQCC Coordinator

2026 is off to a fantastic start for the North Queensland Conservation Council, and JCU Market Day set the tone beautifully. The campus was buzzing, the stalls were packed, and we were thrilled to meet so many students eager to get involved.

In a powerful and deeply informative community info evening, NQCC was proud to give the stage to Magnetic Island Nature Care Association (MINCA) President Gethin Morgan, alongside ocean advocates Kaspa Blewett and Lawrence Scheele.

The event brought together science, lived experience, and compelling visual evidence to show how maintenance dredging and offshore dumping in Cleveland Bay are affecting the health of Magnetic Island’s waters and marine life.

Five years ago, an independent review of Australia's federal nature laws found that they were failing. This week, the EPBC Act has finally been overhauled, after negotiations between the Labor Government and the Greens resulted in changes that have been labelled "transformative" and "historic". There is still work to be done, but a sigh of relief right now is justified.

While history is being made in federal politics, in the Hinchinbrook Channel, history is set to repeat itself.

Long-term NQCC members might remember the courageous yet ultimately unsuccessful fight against the development of Port Hinchinbrook. Decades of environmental disturbance and decay have ensued. Now, the State Government is looking to revitalise the area and dredge up the past. That can't happen on our watch. Making a submission takes a few minutes, but could make a world of difference. 

Thank you for your support throughout this massive month! It's been exciting, and we love sharing it with you.

- Crystal, NQCC Coordinator

We had the opportunity to visit the Ken Armitage Dry Tropics Nursery at Anderson Gardens - a rare chance to peek behind the scenes at one of the places quietly shaping the future of Townsville’s urban landscape.

The nursery is just one piece of a much larger puzzle when it comes to greening our city. It sits within a long chain of planning, growing, planting, and maintenance across council teams, community groups, and local volunteers. But it plays a crucial role.

Last Saturday, the Townsville Senior Citizens Centre was buzzing with energy as 111 players across 15 teams battled it out at NQCC’s Trivia Night 2025. It was our biggest trivia night to date — and what a night it was!

The Queensland Government is currently consulting on a new Draft Provisional Land Use Plan (PLUP) for the Port Hinchinbrook Priority Development Area. This plan will shape how land and sea country around the Hinchinbrook Channel is used for years to come.

NQCC has lodged a detailed submission calling for much stronger environmental and cultural protections — because as it stands, the draft plan risks locking in the same problems that have caused decades of environmental damage in this sensitive area.

This is a critical moment, and your voice matters. Submissions are open now — and we’re asking our supporters to join us in speaking up.