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

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

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!

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

Welcome to 2022! We are so honoured to have you with us.

Last week the Australian Government announced $1 billion over nine years to support the health of the Great Barrier Reef. While we strongly support innovation, restoration and projects that help to improve ecosystem health, we know that CLIMATE ACTION NOW is required if we are to limit the worst impacts to the Reef. This is what we'll be pushing for in this year's federal election. Want to help? Join us here!

Our thoughts are with all those in mourning following the recent passing of Suzie Smith - a beloved champion for nature in North Queensland. We encourage you to read this beautiful tribute from Wildlife Qld Townsville Branch, which highlights her commitment, her character and her legacy, which will live on through all those who knew her.

In this edition:

• Some Good News:
  • Congrats to Carolyn Dixon!
• NQCC Updates:
  • Climate Action Townsville
  • Green Drinks
• Opportunities & Actions:
  
  • Tangaroa Blue: Citizen science from your couch!
  • End Deforestation in Qld - petition
  • Have your say about an Independent EPA

As another massive month comes to a close, it is important to reflect on the powerful local actions that have taken place in our little corner of the world. 

As you are reading this, Scott Morrison is representing us in the Glasgow climate talks, where he expects to get away with shallow promises and dodgy deals to save face among world leaders, all the while abandoning his responsibility to protect Australia's people and ecosystems.

Meanwhile, we've seen North Queenslanders take real action to stand up for nature in so many wonderful ways. Through meetings, media, submissions, strikes, artworks, clean ups and petitions, people like you have made a real difference, and we couldn't be more proud of our community.

In this edition:

• NQCC Updates:
  
  • Postcard Art Auction
  • Tree Advocacy Update
  • Flying-fox Reform: Media
  • NQCC at the International Rivers Symposium
  • Meeting with Scott Stewart MP
  • School Strike 4 Climate
• Coming Up: 
  
  • Townsville Waterway Forum
  • Green Drinks
  • Trivia Night & Mega Raffle
  • Evening with the Minister
• Online Actions:
  
  • Fix Compostable Packaging in Queensland
  • Stop the Cut of Species Recovery Plans
  • Protect Birds from Mouse Poisons

On Wednesday 29 September we held our backyard AGM, which was a great opportunity to catch up with our members and share some updates about our organisation and our work. We also tabled our Annual Report and elected a new Management Committee.