As we swelter through yet another heatwave here in NQ, our thoughts go out to all those experiencing massive and widespread flooding further south.

We all know that we need CLIMATE ACTION NOW, and in an election year it is more important than ever to talk to our friends, family, neighbours and colleagues about it. 

Things you can do:

• Contact us to pick up a "Climate Action Now" sign or sticker to display somewhere visible;
• Watch this powerful 37-minute documentary - "The Coal Miners Defending The World’s Most Controversial Coal Mine";
• Sign up to our Cool it for Climate fundraiser, running from 8th March until the 8th of April!

In this edition:

• Some Good News:
  • A new National Park for NQ 
• NQCC Updates:
  • Climate Action Townsville meetings
  • JCU Market Day
  • Climate Conversations at Cotters
  • Cool it for Climate Fundraiser - now live!
  • Green Drinks
• Opportunities & Actions:
  
  • Volunteer with Fair Bite's Coffee Project
  • Clean Up Australia Day events
  • Love Food Hate Waste Challenge
  • Fix Waratah Coal's Trademark
  • Townsville Electric Vehicle Experience
  • Women's Environmental Leadership - weekend retreat

SOME GOOD NEWS

A New National Park for North Qld!

Photo credit: ABC News

This month, the Queensland Government announced the acquisition of a 35,300ha pastoral property north of Hughenden, set to become a new National Park.

Located on the traditional country of the Gudjala First Nations people, it includes a range of threatened species and ecosystems, which we look forward to learning all about as more information comes to light!

Following the announcement, Crystal spoke on ABC Mornings - congratulating the State Government on this acquisition and calling for more local ranger jobs to help support the management of our National Parks, and an accelerated acquisition of land for conservation, hitting home points from our joint media release.

You can read more about it in the Brisbane Times and in the ABC.

We have since been pleased to learn of a new announcement last week that Traditional Owners in Far North Queensland have been handed back more than 131,900ha of land for conservation as part of another major land acquisition by the state government. You can read more about that in this SBS article.

We hope that this trend continues, creating regional conservation jobs to help protect and manage these invaluable places well into the future.

NQCC UPDATES

Climate Action Townsville Update

This month we held two more Climate Action Townsville (CAT) online meetings, and each one provided valuable opportunities for discussion, connection and inspiration. Thank you to everyone who has joined us in these meetings so far - we've had support from as far as Cardwell and Collinsville, and it really means a lot!

If you'd like to join the discussion and planning, join the "Climate Action Townsville" Facebook Group or hit the link below to get involved...

JCU Market Day

We had a fantastic day at JCU Market Day this month! The rain didn't deter anyone and we were kept busy all day with queries about our Climate Action Townsville group and so many passionate conversations about why climate action is important to people on a personal, community and global level.

Over 20 enthusiastic people signed up to our new Climate Action Townsville group with many others grabbing a free Climate Action Now sign or sticker for their front fence, letter box or car bumper. A big thank you to our volunteers on the day, Tamara Inkster-Draper and Matthew Garbutt (NQCC Vice President) who both brought an amazing positive energy which helped to keep the conversations flowing.

Climate Conversations at Cotters

Last Sunday we braved the heat and took our climate campaigning to Cotters Market in Townsville's CBD. People were happy to stop and have a chat and take a sign or sticker to display somewhere prominent - we can't wait to see all those wheelie bin stickers on show come bin day!

Big thanks to Committee Member and volunteer Cam Leitch for helping out on the day, and to everyone who stopped by. If you'd like to volunteer at local market stalls or other community events, let us know - we'd love to have you!

Cool it for Climate Fundraiser: Now Live!

Our Cool it for Climate fundraiser is now live! We are looking for fundraisers to sign up now! Can you help?

Do something cool for climate and help us protect North Queensland from climate change.

From 8th March - 8th April, get active or creative in a team or as an individual in or around water, using the number EIGHT to inspire your challenge!

Your fundraising efforts will support our climate campaigning and help spread the message that our government has just 8 years left of this critical decade to take strong action on climate change. Sign up today!

Green Drinks

As a precaution against Covid-19, February's Green Drinks took place online (2020 flashbacks, anyone?). It was a small group and relaxed vibe, and was actually the perfect platform to learn all about Fair Bite Townsville's coffee project!

We recorded David's engaging 20-minute presentation and have uploaded it to our YouTube channel for those who couldn't come along.

The next Green Drinks will be back in person, from 6pm on Friday 18 March at Grill'd in Palmer St. 

To receive reminders and updates, please sign up to our Green Drinks mailing list here and consider joining our Green Drinks Facebook group!

OPPORTUNITIES

Coffee Project: Volunteers Wanted!

Fair Bite Townsville's Smart Coffee project is in full swing. Twice a week, volunteers (like those pictured on the right) collect 500-600kg of coffee grounds from coffee shops around Townsville (like the Spirited Goat, pictured left). These are delivered to Atlas Soils in Mount Low, where they are used in a process to make a very rich, biologically active humus.

So, what’s involved?
A small tipper truck is used to collect the grounds every Tuesday and Friday morning. Volunteers meet at the first coffee shop around 9am, then proceed to collect the 15 litre buckets from participating coffee shops and empty them into the back of the tipper.

What is needed?
This is an ongoing project that requires a small group of committed volunteers, to ensure the participating coffee shops don't have to send their coffee grounds to landfill.

Volunteers would be required to...

• Commit to consistent attendance, as per a roster - Tuesday or Friday, 9am-12pm once a fortnight or so;
• Be able to lift 15L buckets safely;
• Hold a drivers' licence if you'd like to drive the tipper truck!

To get involved, call David on 041 666 2410 or Katharina on 049 104 2487.

Clean Up Australia Day

Clean Up Australia Day is this Sunday, 6 March, and there are plenty of opportunities to participate!

You could join Townsville City Council's event from 8am at Sherriff Park, Mundingburra. This community event will be attended by Creekwatch, Tangaroa Blue and Coastal Dry Tropics Landcare, and includes complimentary refreshments and free native plants to take home.

Not your neighbourhood? Find a clean up event near you and play a part in this national day of action!

Love Food Hate Waste Challenge

The Queensland Government invites you to sign up for their free, three-week, Love Food Hate Waste Challenge from Monday 7 March 2022.

Organic materials make up about half of what Queenslanders throw out each week - it's estimated that Australian households spend between $2,000–$2,500 per year on food that is wasted.

By taking the Love Food Hate Waste Challenge you can put an end to food waste in your home, save money and reduce greenhouse gases.

You will receive weekly tips, tricks, challenges and links to resources for you to use at home and share with family, friends and colleagues. Plus, there are prizes to be won!

Fix Waratah Coal's Trademark

In a sneaky twist of events, Queensland Conservation Council has purchased Waratah Coal's trademark (read the news coverage here). Now they want YOUR ideas to help give the trademark a makeover, to demonstrate what a bad idea new coal mines and power stations are and fix it with a better idea... something that Queenslanders actually want from Waratah!

Click the link below to check out some other ideas and submit your own. This competition is only open for another week, so get your ideas in quick!

Townsville Electric Vehicle Experience

Join the Australian Electric Vehicle Association and Solar Citizens at the Townsville Electric Vehicle Experience! 

This community event can help you to discover what it's like to own and drive an electric vehicle, with EVs on display and the opportunity to have all of your questions answered by local EV owners.

The event will be held at the Strand Park from 9am - 1pm, Saturday 2nd April 2022.

WELA Weekends - Qld Program

WELA stands for Women's Environmental Leadership Australia - a fantastic national organisation!

Designed by and for women and gender diverse people working for and committed to our environment (paid or unpaid), WELA Weekends — Queensland program 2022 is a new opportunity based on the successful WELA National Leadership program and developed in partnership with the Queensland Conservation Council.

Applications for the four-day retreat (May 5th to 9th 2022) close on the 4th of March, so if you are interested, don't delay!

Thank you for all that you do!

Yours naturally,

Crystal and Tiff
North Queensland Conservation Council