Sunday's Climate & Energy Rally was a simple yet powerful demonstration of the wisdom, compassion and strength of this community.

It was a great reminder that, no matter where the chips fall this weekend, there will always be people ready to stand up and speak out against the injustices facing nature, climate and vulnerable communities.

With just four weeks until the federal election, we know a lot of you will be busy campaigning, researching, sharing information and having important conversations with your friends and family.

We're working hard to ensure local candidates put nature and climate up high on their policy agendas. They need to know that the long-term protection of our environment matters to voters, which is why every action counts!

This month, the dust has been settling across the state following the October election. While we are reaching out to our new MPs, uncertainty remains around several policy pieces of importance to us, including our energy transition and the path to treaty.

The urgency for climate action has never been higher, with North Queensland getting an early taste of summer. This month, Mount Isa recorded 11 consecutive days over 40 degrees and 64 power poles were burnt beyond repair in recent bushfires in our region.

What do Michelle Dyer (social scientist and stand-up comedian), Liz Downes (2020 Queensland Volunteer of the Year), Les Bandt (the man who invented the ute in 1933), and the Aquapella world music choir all have in common? 

Answer: they were all part of NQCC’s 50th anniversary celebration “Stories of the Wild North” held at the Drill Hall Studio on Friday the 23rd of August.

Our current campaigns include:

• Climate Change - seeking real action for climate mitigation and adaptation at all levels of government to address the climate crisis
• Renewable Energy - advocating for a nature positive renewable energy industry that increases biodiversity and empowers First Nations people and regional communities
• Nature and Biodiversity - fighting for the long-term protection and rehabilitation of North Queensland's species, habitats and ecosystems
• The Burdekin Basin - securing a sustainable future for this unique catchment and the communities and wildlife that depend on it
• Queensland EPA - pushing for an independent Environmental Protection Agency for Queensland to keep polluters to account and give our environment the level of protection it needs and deserves

NQCC regional coverage

North Queensland Conservation Council (NQCC) is a peak organisation in the statewide environmental movement and the voice for the environment in North Queensland. It represents the area roughly bounded by Bowen in the south, Cardwell in the north, the Coral Sea in the east and the Northern Territory border in the west, advocating on regional issues, in accordance with our Rules of Association. 

History

NQCC was established in 1974 as a not-for-profit incorporated association with a broad mandate to endeavour to protect the “land, waters and atmosphere of the region” and since then has worked continuously on a number of environmental issues of significance to North Queensland and beyond.

Our Vision: Flourishing communities living in harmony with a healthy natural environment.

Our Purpose: To promote and protect North Queensland's natural environment. 

Our Values

• We are independent and ethical.
• We are bold in our actions to protect the environment.
• We respect the knowledge, perspectives and rights of First Nations peoples.
• We work collaboratively with others towards our vision and purpose. 

Our Strategic Goals

• Affect positive environmental outcomes as a recognised, trusted authority on environmental protection in North Queensland.
• Empower North Queenslanders to learn about and engage with the natural environment and to act together for its protection.
• Work alongside and be guided by First Nations Peoples in delivering our vision and purpose.
• Foster a flourishing organisation that values people and is set up to succeed into the future.

Our Objects (as laid out in our Rules of Association)

• Operate as the peak environmental non-government organisation for the North Queensland region;
• Act as a voice for and promote and protect the values of the natural environment of North Queensland;
• Work towards protection and rehabilitation of the environment through advocacy and education;
• Work to ensure that resource use in the region occurs in an ecologically sustainable manner and respects species, habitats and the integrity of ecosystems;
• Collaborate and, where possible, assist organisations and individuals working toward environmental conservation within the region;
• Work with governments to ensure that legislation, regulations, policies and plans are designed and implemented to protect the values of the natural environment of North Queensland. 

For more information about our current work, check out our blog, our campaigns and upcoming events. For all other enquiries, please don't hesitate to contact us. 

NQCC is a proud member of Queensland and Water Land Carers.

On Sunday 14^th of August, NQCC hosted a fundraising dinner to celebrate our community of past committee members, donors, volunteers and staff. Additionally, former NQCC Coordinator Susan Brown was visiting Townsville after spending the past 11 years in Geneva working for WWF. We thought a dinner at the NQCC HQ would be a good opportunity for our community to gather.

Trivia Night 2015. Photos courtesy Malcolm Tattersall

Once again, the annual NQCC Trivia Night was a source of much amusement, and much-needed funds!

A record 13 tables competed for the supreme honour of having their team names on the championship board – and for the first time in living memory, there was a dead heat. Both winning teams declined the offer of a ‘Dance-Off’ for first place, so both teams’ names will be up there on the board for eternity. And the winning teams? 2013 winners ‘The Suppository of Wisdom’ featured again – this time joined by ‘The Civil Disobedience Penguins’ (disciples of First Dog on the Moon).

Guest ‘quiz wizards’ Deb and Daina (of Magnetic Island Bootcamp fame) injected some hilarious new action-packed interludes with a number of ‘In it to win it’ games – ‘Suck it up’, ‘Elephant Balls’ and ‘Get forked’…

The night netted around $2500 for NQCC – and we thank all those who came along and took part.