Welcome to 2021! The year has been off to a strong start for NQCC. We've already met with Queensland's new Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef, facilitated our first Green Drinks on the beautiful Magnetic Island and made a submission on the Burdekin Falls Dam Raising Project and Urannah Dam (both available here). 

And yes, you guessed it - we're just getting started! Are you as excited for this year as we are? 

In this edition:

• NQCC Updates:
  • Ministerial Meeting with Meaghan Scanlon
  • Green Drinks 2021
  • Treasurer Wanted!
  • Container Recycling Update
• Coming Up: 
  • World Wetlands Day
  • Swim for Our Rivers 
• Local Heroes:
  • Hunger Strike for Climate
  • Townsville Citizens of the Year
  • Rodney the Unicorn Fish ready for reading
  • Reusables Back on Track

NQCC NEWS

Ministerial Meeting

The Hon. Meaghan Scanlon MP

On Wednesday, representatives from NQCC met with the Hon. Meaghan Scanlon MP - Queensland's new Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef and Minister for Science and Youth Affairs when she visited Townsville.

In this meeting, we discussed our main concerns and campaigns, including the kind of solutions and outcomes we'd like to see. To address Climate Change, we encouraged projects that offered co-benefits to our region, in the form of jobs creation and innovation.

For the future of the Burdekin River, we asked for a science-led, integrated approach to its management, as well as consideration of the long-term environmental impacts throughout the catchment, Bowling Green Bay and the Great Barrier Reef. 

We pushed for the State Government to meet and exceed its commitment for more Indigenous Rangers, outlining the need for conservation jobs throughout our region to help minimise the impacts of invasive species, bushfires and climate change. We also elaborated on the risks posed by commercial developments within National Parks, highlighting the importance of their Cardinal Principle (conservation).

Finally, we voiced strong support for an independent EPA (Environmental Protection Authority), as Queensland is the only state without one. We are grateful for the opportunity to meet with the Minister, who listened intently, answered our questions and expressed her appreciation for our work and our co-operation. 

Green Drinks 2021

Our first Green Drinks of 2021 was held on Magnetic Island at the charming Smugglers Wine Bar. We were delighted to be joined by friends old and new!

Our next Green Drinks is scheduled for Friday 12 February, at a venue to be confirmed. To keep updated, make sure you're on our Green Drinks mailing list or have joined the Green Drinks Townsville Facebook Group!

Treasurer Wanted!

Are you ready to take on a new adventure with NQCC? Are you familiar with finances and have a keen eye for detail?

We are looking for a volunteer with a financial background including skills in basic bookkeeping. As NQCC Treasurer you will become an important member of our dedicated and hardworking Management Committee.

You will need to spend a nominal 2 to 3 hours per week in liaising with NQCC’s bookkeeping service and maintaining the NQCC financial records. You should also have a passion for protecting our environment.

Email Peter Hanley <[email protected]> with your expression of interest!

Container Refund Scheme: Update

We'd like to give a huge thanks to everyone who has donated their containers to us through the Container Refund Scheme! With the containers collected over the past few months we've raised over $200! Every container counts! 

You can also support us through this initiative by quoting our Charity ID number (C100 283 66) at your closest drop-off point. We'd also like to thank volunteers Malcolm Tattersall and David McMillan for sorting our containers in preparation for recycling!

COMING UP...

Let's Celebrate Our Wetlands!

Tuesday 2 February is World Wetlands Day and we want to celebrate these marvellous ecosystems! Join us from 10am at Umbrella Studio Contemporary Arts to learn about the wetlands in our very own backyard and meet the people who are working hard to conserve them! Be prepared to learn new things and meet new people at this celebration of North Queensland's wetlands! You can also help us spread the word by sharing our Facebook event and inviting your friends along!

Join Our Fundraiser!

Want to help us protect North Queensland's rivers for the future? Grab some friends and make a splash to help us kickstart the next phase of our campaign to protect our iconic Burdekin River!

This year, we are joining Mackay Conservation Group's Swim for Our Rivers fundraiser to ensure the rivers in Northern and Central Queensland have a powerful voice advocating for their protection.

Register your team and start raising funds on our Chuffed.org page. Then, join us on Saturday 20 March at Kokoda Memorial Pool in Mundingburra for a Swim-A-Thon, with games, challenges and prizes!

For questions about getting started, contact Crystal at [email protected] or on 0406 421 061.

LOCAL STORIES

Hunger Strike for Climate

Wendy Tubman and other courageous Hunger Strikers have collected well over a thousand signatures on postcards to the PM asking for more action on Climate Change! They've been situated on the Strand since 22 January and were overwhelmed with signers on Survival Day when so many supportive people attended the event at Strand Park.

To learn more or show your support, visit their Facebook page or email [email protected]. 

Committed Citizens Recognised

Congratulations to Townsville's Citizen of the Year: Dave Dudley, the founder of "TIDY" (Townsville Illegal Dumping Yobbos Clean-ups)! This NQCC member group supports community members and business owners to clean up illegally dumped rubbish, while raising awareness and advocating for measures to proactively deter illegal dumping altogether. Dave's grassroots approach to tackling the issue is to be commended! He was quick to share praise with his group, declaring "It's about everyone involved... there's no "I" in team". We really encourage you to get involved with TIDY via their Facebook group. 

Continuing the environmental theme, Townsville's Young Citizen of the Year was awarded to 12-year-old Emily Walker, known in Townsville for her lobbying against single-use plastics due to their environmental impact. We can't wait to see what the future holds for this bright and passionate young conservationist! 

Rodney the Unicorn Fish Ready for Reading

Late last year, NQCC supporters Steve Coleman (author) and Sabine Carter (illustrator) released their newest children's book - "Rodney the Unicorn Fish Who Lost His Way".

It’s all about how you see yourself if you are a young, ordinary-looking, inexperienced unicorn fish growing up on the Great Reef.

​Meet Rodney, a loveable, curious, fun-loving and sometimes forgetful, unicorn fish who lost his way and found it again with the help of his topsy-turvy, best friend, Omen.

You can pick up your copy of this 2020 Queensland Limited Edition (only one hundred copies printed) at Steve's stall outside Townsville's iconic Hotel Grand Chancellor.

Reusables Back on Track

Thanks to an initiative from Plastic Free Places, reusable takeaway cups and containers have been back in force all around Australia this month, with the support of eco-conscious businesses!

If you've been using reusable items for your takeaway treats, make sure you take a photo and share it with your friends and Plastic Free Townsville to help spread the word that reusables are trendy and safe, while disposable items are destined for landfill after just one use (not cool). 

Do you have a story, activity or event to share with your fellow Paperbark readers? Email [email protected].

Thanks as always for your wonderful support, whatever that looks like.

Yours naturally,

Crystal, on behalf of NQCC

North Queensland Conservation Council