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

Pictured: John Connell and Dr Claire Holland present at the inaugural conference of the Research for Ethical Development network in Cairns. [Photo credit: Simon Foale]

Phil Gibson was one of many Townsville locals who has enjoyed visiting the Port Access Nature Reserve - a beautiful bushy area bounded by creeks and mangroves on the south side of Townsville. When he found it heavily littered with all manner of illegally dumped waste, he knew he had to do something to restore that special place.

In 2020, Phil's Bush Cleanup was born, and so began the arduous (but ultimately worthwhile) process of lining up paperwork to gain permission to carry out voluntary work on the site, owned by the Qld Department of Environment and Science. He approached NQCC, who, as an incorporated association with the appropriate insurance, could support his application to work on government-owned land. We jumped at the chance to collaborate and have been thrilled with what we've been able to support Phil to achieve!

Indicators of Australia’s environment in 2021 compared with the average for 2000-2020. (Credit: http://www.ausenv.online)

The State of the Environment Report is a five-yearly comprehensive national assessment of the state of the Australian environment, written by independent experts. 

The latest one has been described as "grim", "sobering" and "shocking" - though most of us aren't particularly shocked to learn that the state of our environment is "poor" and getting worse.

You can read the full report here, or watch Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek's National Press Club address here. There has been plenty of great content to help wrap your head around it, like this article from The Conversation and this this summary from the Australian Conservation Foundation.

Happy NAIDOC Week! We hope you can get along to an event near you (find Townsville events here) to help mark this important week in the spirit of this year's theme: "Get up! Stand up! Show up!"

The past few weeks have been choc-full of government policy and budget announcements with implications for our environment, so we will continue to do our best to keep you well-informed as things unfold.

We have also been keeping busy out and about, carrying out engagement, education and advocacy (locally and in the southeast) - and there's plenty more of that to come! 

We hope that you enjoy this edition of Paperbark as much as we have enjoyed bringing it to you.

In this edition:

• Announcements
  • Funding for National Parks
  • Plastics Ban Progresses
  • Decarbonising Queensland?
• NQCC Updates:
  
  • What We're Working On
  • Eco Fiesta
  • Ministerial Roundtable
  • Member Event
• Coming up:
  • JCU Market Day
  • Green Drinks
• Calls to Action:
  • Become a Litter Hero
  • Waddananggu Celebration: Webinar
  • Tell Lockton to say no to Adani
  • Reef Restoration & Adaptation Advisory Group
  • Low Emissions Agriculture Road Map: Have your say
• Some Good News
  • New National Park for FNQ
  • Climate Election Report

The fabulous Mental Sistas with NQCC staff Tiff (left) and Crystal (right)

Townsville Eco Fiesta was a blast! This BEE themed, community event was run by Townsville City Council (TCC) and held on World Environment day Sunday 5th June at Anderson Gardens. It was fantastic to see so many eco conscious businesses, community groups and organisations coming together to celebrate and share what they do within the Townsville community.