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

We (NQCC and the Townsville Tree Advocacy Group) have been fielding quite a lot of questions and concerns from our community regarding the removal and harm of trees on Council land. 

It has been twelve months since Townsville City Council adopted their Public Tree Management Policy, so we thought it was a good time to take some of these questions and concerns to the Council staff responsible for the care of our urban forest and learn more about how the Policy has been implemented since October 2021. 

Since our last Paperbark, we've been kept busy with our AGM and doing our best to keep up with all of the new conservation announcements! It's been a huge few weeks for NQCC and for the movement! We'll keep things brief here, but please reach out if you'd like more information.

We hope you enjoy this edition of Paperbark!

In this edition:

• Conservation News
• NQCC Updates:
  
  • AGM
  • Townsville Tree update
  • Meeting with Senator Penny Allman-Payne
  • Recommendations for Rewiring the Nation
  • Protecting our native forests
• Actions, Events & Opportunities:
  • Energy Planning Law Review - petition
  • Move Beyond Coal Townsville group!
  • Climate, communities & reef research
  • Green Drinks
  • Planet-Conscious Townsville
  • Sundalah Meet & Mingle
• Fundraising Update
  
  • Local Matters 
  • Trivia Night - save the date!
  • Become a monthly donor
  • Buy a t-shirt

Who says AGMs have to be boring?? On Wednesday 5 October, our members gathered at our office to launch the next chapter of our organisation. Our 2022 Annual General Meeting was made special with good food and great company!

Environmental news can feel pretty heavy sometimes, so we're going to try and keep Paperbark positive this month!

To start with, here are some stats we think you might like...

• More than 8,400 solar panels have been installed at Townsville state schools (Qld Government media statements), furthering an initiative that has been pushed for and supported by conservation and climate groups for many years.
• According to a new survey, 85% of Townsville residents either support or strongly support our region becoming a hub for renewable-powered industry and manufacturing (Solar Citizens). 
• Operation Habitat Auto has removed a whopping 18.71 tonnes of illegally dumped rubbish from the Port Access Reserve so far (learn more about the project). 

We hope you enjoy this month's edition of Paperbark!

In this edition:

• NQCC Updates:
  
  • Local media for our flying foxes
  • Submissions
  • Green Drinks
  • Farewell, Matt
• Calls to Action:
  • Cut Emissions, Create Jobs (QCC petition)
  • Move Beyond Coal online launch party
• Other Opportunities:
  • Planet Conscious Townsville Event
  • Support other local environmental groups 
• Get Behind Us
  • Become a monthly donor!
  • Give us your vote at Grill'd
  • Buy a t-shirt!

The second half of 2022 has already been action-packed! At a federal level, we've seen the long-awaited release of the State of the Environment Report (more on that later) and the legislation of Australia's new emissions reduction target discussed in parliament. 

Locally, State Government funding is supporting on-ground restoration projects, like Phil's Bush Cleanups' Operation Habitat Auto!

Whatever your level of involvement in conservation work or the movement, this edition of Paperbark offers plenty of ways to step up your support. Please enjoy the read!

In this edition:

• Conservation News
  • State of the Environment Report
• NQCC Updates:
  
  • Operation Habitat Auto
  • Burdekin Campaign Update
  • Independent EPA for Qld - joint submission
  • JCU Market Day
  • Water Report Card now available
  • Green Drinks
• Calls to Action:
  • Qld CAN roadmap and launch
  • Sign Solar Citizens' petition
  • Sign the Invasive Species Council's petition
  • Tell Lockton to say no to Adani
  • Low Emissions Agriculture Road Map: Have your say
• Some Good News
  • Five billion containers recycled
  • ARENA used for renewables
  • Other environmental organisations to get involved with