Valley Watch Alerts
Keep an eye on this space for updates relating to current projects, special event announcements and urgent response issues.
West Yamba
The development of West Yamba has been a hot topic for discussion within the community for at least 15 years. In an effort to continue the ongoing community education about the environmental, social and economic impacts of unsuitable development on this floodplain, the Valley Watch market stall at the monthly Yamba River Markets has a display featuring some of the research, photos and correspondence that the group has collated.
Unfortunately in March of this year Clarence Valley Councillors recommended that the rezoning of West Yamba proceed and it is now currently being reviewed by the Minister for Planning.
Valley Watch has sent two letters to the Minister since, once again raising concerns with such a large scale development on the flood plain. Recent floods in the Northern Rivers show just how much floodwater surrounds Yamba. Road access to the town is cut for days during flooding events.
As the “Yamba Floodplain Risk Management Study” (Webb, McKeown & Associates, July 2008) indicates, the 1.3 million cubic metres of fill required for this development will have a huge impact on this relatively peaceful holiday township. The Study states that this is the equivalent of one 20 tonne truck movement every 6 minutes, 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, 52 weeks a year for 9.5 years. It acknowledges that climate change factors have NOT been included in these calculations and adds “the likely increase in design flood levels as a result of climate change (sea level rise) should be incorporated into the above”. Unfortunately data used to calculate the amount of fill required was taken from the IPCC 2007 report, which does not include any allowance for sea level rise caused by the melting of the Antarctic ice sheets. This is definitely not sustainable development!!!
Clearing Causing Concern
More Gulmarrrad land clearing under investigation
Geoff Helisma
The Clarence Valley Council (CVC) and the Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) are investigating another case of alleged illegal clearing of bushland at Gulmarrad.
The DECC and CVC are also involved in continuing investigations into alleged illegal clearing at Gulmarrad in July.
Lower Clarence-based non-profit community environmental group, Valley Watch, alerted the Clarence Valley Review about the clearing last week.
Valley Watch president, Athena Batcheldor, said she was exasperated, sad and amazed that someone would clear bushland without the required permits, particularly as clearing of nearby land is presently under investigation.
“Why anyone in this day and age would blatantly clear with out proper permits is beyond most residents in the Clarence Valley,” she said. “Until these [alleged] offenders are prosecuted to the full extent of the law, they will continue to do so.”
Ms Batcheldor said the area that had been cleared “was deeply hidden in the bush” and that an anonymous caller, who said they had heard the sound of machinery working in the bush for a three-week period, had tipped off Valley Watch.
Clarence Valley Council deputy general manger, Des Schroder, confirmed Ms Batcheldor’s claims. “We’ve been out and inspected the site and verbally told the operators and the person responsible for the clearing to stop under the provisions of the PEO Act [Protection of Environment Operations Act],” he said.
“We are also looking at whether we can use the provisions of our Tree Preservation Order under the local LEP [Local Environment Plan] and we’re also talking to DECC, about what actions they may take under their provisions.”
Mr Schroder said the land clearers had told the council that they were clearing the land for the purpose of cattle grazing and that they had only cleared bush that had regrown since 1990 – under the Native Vegetation Act it is permissible to clear regrowth on land previously cleared before January 1, 1990. There are also sustainable grazing and routine agricultural provisions.
However, he said that the “routine agricultural management processes under the Native Vegetation Act and the provisions of the regrowth clause” might not be applicable.
He described the ‘regrowth’ as “associated” with the old growth trees. “We think it’s an association,” he said. “You can’t separate the under-story regrowth from the old growth trees, but that’s an interpretation that DECC would have to put on it.”
Flying-Fox Draft Management Strategy
The following Public Notice appeared in the Daily Examiner last week. Valley Watch has had representation on this Committee, and we urge you to view the Draft Strategy, make a submission, and/or attend the public information session on 1st September.
EXHIBITION OF DRAFT MACLEAN
FLYING-FOX MANAGEMENT STRATEGY
In late 2009 a working group consisting of relevant government agencies, Clarence Valley Council, community groups and effected residents was formed to develop a comprehensive management strategy for flying-foxes at Maclean.
The working group and its consultants Geo-LINK have recently completed the draft Maclean flying-fox management strategy. The draft strategy will be on public exhibition from 17th August 2010 to 15th September 2010 and community feedback is invited.
The draft strategy will be available at: www.geolink.net.au/Draft_Flying-fox_Management_Strategy.html
The draft strategy can also be viewed at Clarence Valley Council (50 River Street Maclean) or the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water (49 Victoria Street Grafton).
Submissions on the draft strategy will be accepted until 5.00 p.m. on 15th September 2010. Submissions should be addressed to:
Draft Flying-fox Management Strategy, PO Box 9, Lennox Head NSW 2478 or emailed to: flyingfoxstrategy@geolink.net.au
A community information session on the draft strategy will be held on 1st September 2010 from 5.00-7.00 p.m. in the Jim Thompson Pavilion at the Maclean Showground. To assist with catering arrangements please register your interest for the information session by calling 6687 7666 or 6640 2500 or emailing flyingfoxstrategy@geolink.net.au
Information from Nature Conservation Council
The Big Picture - Get involved and make change happen!!
A letter to Valley Watch members and supporters from Ros Woodward
This is a Valley Watch initiative to encourage our members and supporters to comment on some important matters outside the Clarence Valley.
The Nature Conservation Council of NSW has on its website some items that Valley Watch considers of particular interest. While Valley Watch does not necessarily endorse all the views of the Nature Conservation Council, it has made some very valid comments in regard to these issues.
Valley Watch encourages members to review information and have some input into any or all of these important issues.
Ecological harvesting guidelines place threatened species in danger
Logging on private land in NSW is regulated by the Private Native Forestry (PNF) Code of Practice under the Native Vegetation Act.
The PNF code provides minimal standards for logging operations "to ensure that environmental outcomes are improved or maintained". However, the code states that forestry operations may occur in endangered ecological communities (EECs) as part of an approved Ecological Harvesting Plan.
Forest conservationists believe the government's draft guidelines for ecological harvesting plans have gone too far in removing protection for threatened animals, plants and ecological communities under the Threatened Species Conservation Act and we are urging member to reject the draft measures. Draft Ecological Harvesting Plan Guidelines are currently open for public comment until Monday 16 August.
Visit http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/pnf/index.htm#CommentEECGuideline for more info.
Points for your letter about Ecological Harvesting Plan Guidelines
Tourism activities in National Parks
The amendments to the National Parks and Wildlife Amendment (Visitors and Tourists) Act will take effect on 1 October 2010.
The NSW government is currently seeking public comment on the types of activities and uses for which a lease or licence may be granted. It's important we ensure that proposed tourist activities, buildings and facilities have little or no impact on the conservation values our national parks. Submissions on both the draft sustainability assessment criteria and draft sustainability guidelines can be made by Tuesday 31 August.
You can gain further information at the following websites http://nccnsw.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3068&Itemid=447
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/parks/tourism/Sustainabilityassesscriteriadraft.pdf
Draft sustainability assessment criteria and sustainability guidelines Closing date: Tuesday, 31 August 2010
Cash for critters the latest biocertification move in NSW
The Nature Conservation Council, Total Environment Centre and National Parks Association have condemned proposals by the NSW government that could allow developers to destroy populations of threatened species under the state's controversial biocertification scheme.
The scheme's 'like for like' principle for offsets has been abandoned so that an endangered frog, bird or animal can be offset by a tree somewhere else in the state.
As reported in the Sydney Morning Herald, the plan will allow cash payments for building on the habitat of certain animals if no suitable offset can be found. (“Biodiversity plan poses threat to rare species” by Ben Cubby, SMH 02.08.2010). Following are links to the SMH article and a joint media release. Both make very interesting reading!
http://www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/biodiversity-plan-poses-threat-to-rare-species-20100801-111f2.html
http://nccnsw.org.au/images/stories/biodiversity/100802%20threatened%20species%20dumped%20for%20developer%20rules.pdf
Write to your local MPs and send letters to the editor
luke.hartsuyker.mp@aph.gov.au (Cowper) office@keneally.minister.nsw.gov.au
janelle.saffin.mp@aph.gov.au (Page) pnf@environment.nsw.gov.au
peter.garrett.mp@aph.gov.au (Minister for Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts)
lisa.corbyn@environment.nsw.gov.au (Director General, DECCW)
clarence@parliament.nsw.gov.au (Steve Cansdell)
david.bancroft@dailyexaminer.com.au news@cvreview.com.au
Remember the only way to make change is do something about it!!
Happy writing!
Ros