CCSERAC e-news

Campaign Updates

1. Climate Change
The Climate Recovery Coalition will be meeting on Wednesday 5th September, starting at 7pm in the Conservation Council meeting room, 3 Childers Street Acton. Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of the month. Please contact Genevieve campaign@consact.org.au if you would like an agenda.

Mick Gentleman’s Solar Feed-in Tariff proposal is set to be debated in the September sitting period. Thanks everyone who has written in support of the proposal to MLA’s and in letters to the editor. If you haven’t yet done so, please consider sending a letter to the Chief Minister and CC in Mr Gentleman and Bill Stefaniak. If you would like further information on the proposal before you write, contact Genevieve in the office: campaign@consact.org.au

If you can feel the excitement building for the Walk Against Warming building, you’re not alone! You can pledge to walk at www.walkagainstwarming.org now. And start thinking of what you’ll paint on your placard to carry along on the day! A call for volunteers will be put out at the CRC meeting on Wednesday, but if you’re interested in volunteering and can’t come to the meeting, contact Genevieve in the office campaign@consact.org.au to be put on the ‘helpers’ list. The Walk will be held on the Sunday, 2 weeks before the Federal Election.

The Big Switch keeps on building, and many Canberrans have pledged to see their MP, or gone to visit Bob McMullan or Annette Ellis already. Going to visit your MP is a powerful way of expressing just how seriously you take climate change. You can print off The Big Switch Solutions from the website to take along with you, and ask them to support those solutions. As soon as they’ve responded to our climate change questionnaire, you’ll be able to see their rating at www.thebigswitch.org.au If you can’t see a rating, they haven’t yet responded. Take 20 minutes to go and visit them and ask them to fill in the questionnaire so you know where they stand on climate change. Their contact details are on: www.thebigswitch.org.au

2. Community Engagement in Conservation – Gungahlin Project
Planning is well underway for a variety of activities within this project. 18 November will see The Conservation Council’s first Gungahlin Bushland Expo, with displays and talks about the local reserves, and plenty of activities for the kids. We will also be hosting a photography competition, open to everyone, with the theme Our Gungahlin Environment. The winning photos will be included in the Gungahlin Environment Calendar, which will be produced for free distribution to Gungahlin residents. A website is being built to support this project, and our first e-newsletter is due for publication soon.

On the community research front, our wonderful team of volunteers have been conducting surveys at Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve, and the information gathered from these will be used for planning future conservation activities in the area. If you live in Gungahlin, or if you’d like any more information about the activities we have planned, just e-mail project officer Sarah Davies at bushcare@consact.org.au

3. Transport
The Standing Committee on Planning and Environment has released its report on its inquiry into public transport in Canberra. To read the report click here

Events

1. Cycle Against the Nuclear Cycle- A Mini Protesival
When: Sunday, 2 September: 12 Noon
Parliament House Lawns

Meet by bicycle and encircle parliament house to send the message of renewables not reactors. Pack your picnic for an afternoon of stalls, speakers, and music.Prize for best-dressed anti-nuke cycle.

Cycle Against the Nuclear Cycle is a community campaign to raise awareness about and build opposition to the nuclear industry in Australia. Cyclists have left QLD and are on their way to Canberra before heading to SA. Check the on-road blog at the below website. More info: 0420 669 724, nonukescanberra@gmail.com or www.canc.org.au

2. Pre-Election Meeting
When: Saturday 8 September: 3pm (following afternoon tea at 2.30pm)
Havelock House, 85 Northbourne Avenue, Turner

Sustainable Population Australia are warmly inviting the public to a Pre-Election Meeting with Senator Kate Lundy (ALP), Troy Williams (Liberal candidate for Fraser) and Kerrie Tucker (Senate Greens candidate). Each speaker will address the meeting for up to 15 minutes on the subject: “Does more make sense? Growth in a resource-constrained land”. Questions from the floor and discussion will follow. Further information: Jenny Goldie 6282 8922 (bh) 6161 7028 (ah)

3. Invitation to Public Forum: A2A and K2C Initiatives
When: Tuesday, 11 September: 7.30pm (Light Refreshments will be available)
Queanbeyan Community Centre (opposite council chambers in Crawford Street)

Queanbeyan Landcare invites the community of Queanbeyan and surrounding districts to a Public Forum on proposals to help protect Australian East Coast biodiversity in the face of rapid climate change. The initiative aims to establishing connections between ecosystems all the way from the Alps to the Atherton Tablelands on both public and private lands. More locally a project is underway to establish such connections from Kosciuszko to the Coast as part of A2A. K2C covers a broad sweep country from the Snowies and Great Dividing Range to the coast and includes both Queanbeyan and Palerang Council areas as well as the ACT.

For more information contact Tom Baker, Publicity Officer, Queanbeyan Landcare 6297 4920

4. ‘Best Management Practices for Serrated Tussock’ Workshop
When:
Goulburn – Revival Goulburn, River Street 10th October 9AM – 4PM
Cooma – Cooma Ex-Services Club 11th October 9AM – 4PM
Canberra – Sutton Driving Training Centre 12th October 9AM – 4PM

The Victorian Department of Primary Industries in conjunction with NSW Dept of Primary Industries is running three workshops. If you are interested in attending any one of these workshops please either contact Felicity Grant for a registration form or alternatively the course convenor at: peter.fullerton@dpi.vic.gov.au (03) 9785 0116

5. Identifying Plants of Grassy Ecosystems of the ACT Region- a field-based course
When: Thursday 22-23 November 2007 (preliminary notice)
Australian Network for Plant Conservation, Inc
Australian National Botanic Gardens & an ACT Conservation Reserve

The objectives of this field-based course is to improve skills in identifying plants of the ACT region and to learn to recognise species which indicate quality or conservation value of the site. You can register for one or both days. Course fees are yet to be determined.

Registration forms will be available from the ANPC (website www.anpc.asn.au or office) once details have been finalised. Until then, you can notify Australian Network for Plant Conservation, Inc (ANPC) of your interest in attending this course by emailing (anpc@anpc.asn.au ) with ‘Plant ID – Interest’ in the subject line. Note whether you are interested in day 1, day 2 or both days.

Registrations close: 5.00pm Monday 12 November 2007

Jobs

1. Walk Against Warming Organiser Assistant
The Walk Against Warming is an annual mass mobilisation of ordinary people, aimed at achieving meaningful political engagement on the issue of Climate Change. This is a voluntary position, ongoing until one week following the Walk against Warming, which will be held a fortnight previous to the federal election. The Conservation Council are looking for someone with great time organisation and communication skills to assist the campaigner in organising this event. If you are interested in this position and would like more information, please contact Genevieve campaign@consact.org.au