1. travel
2. transports
3. public transport

Ecotone
Newsletter of the Cairns and Far North Environment Centre Inc.
www.cafnec.org.au
Vol 28 Number 3
Sept 2008
Public Seminar Review of
‘How to Build a Village’ - an Alternative to Suburbia
By Gabriele Bohnet
A series of public seminars with Claude
Lewenz was held in Cairns, Innisfail and
Malanda at the beginning of July, organised
by Ecosmarte Australasia Pty Ltd and CAFNEC.
Claude Lewenz’s book “How to Build a Village” explores the village concept in the 21st
century. It gives a blueprint on how to create
sustainable, thriving communities and is definitely food for thought on many issues. The
introduction to the ‘village idea’ is especially
timely in the light of the FNQ 2025 Regional
Plan. This was emphasised by the strong attendance of all presentations with over 100
people at each forum in Cairns and Malanda
and about 25 in Innisfail. What does life in
this village, that is both human-scaled and focused on creating an enriched quality of life,
look like?
Lewenz describes a “Parallel Village”, which
provides a home for 5,000 to 10,000 people,
in a village of medium-density attached buildings . Cars are excluded from within the village walls. Everything – home, workplaces,
shops, schooling and recreation – is within a
ten-minute walk… just as before cars were
invented. The aim is to provide a culturallyenriched environment that never gets boring
by including neighbourhood plazas, host offices, shops, cafés, and outdoor play space for
children. Halls which host musicians, actors
and writers are protected through a parallel
real estate market assuring they can never be
forced out when unrestricted home prices rise
(as they will because the amenities are so attractive). Elderly housing provision assures
old people they never have to leave their community, even when they become infirm. With
no cars to injure the children, the streets become safe to play and parents find less stress
on the family. In village environments, the
whole community keeps an eye on the young.
What makes this possible is in the uptake of
web technology where one can, once again,
have a local economy that not only competes
with 20th century sprawl-economies, but outperform them.
How would this different
economy be established?
The fundamental economic principle that distinguishes the Village is its internally dependent, functional local economy. It is for this
reason that a Village can be placed as much
as two hours from a city (more than that and
it may become too isolated with difficulty
connecting to major transport and freight
links essential to its local economy). A local
economy is one that generates wealth and
then turns that wealth internally – at least five
times before it goes back out -80% sell local
to local. Additionally, 20% of the workers
sell local to global so they are money ‘importers’. The local economy is layered, built
on a foundation that provides the basic needs
of the community independent of the global
economy – creating a resilience to declines
in the global economy. The local economy is
diversified and shuns monocultures. Rather
than designing a world where people are passive consumers, the village intent proposes a
life where quality of life – social, economic,
cultural, environment and spiritual wellbeing
– of its citizens becomes paramount.
What are the first steps to
implement one of these villages?
1. Secure permission. This means ensuring
that state and local plans will allow the village
concept and then working with the Regional
Council to identify the right land and secure
the right permits.
2. Enroll 4,000 heads of household for the
village. This is essential as the parallel village
economy must kick start with full capacity,
not sell in stages over a decade. Most of these
people are expected to come from elsewhere,
not FNQ, although some in FNQ will want to
live in the village as well. This requires a major internet marketing campaign
3. All construction completed in 12 months.
This is also essential to kick start the village
economy. This involves a form of construction relatively unknown in Australia, likened
to mobile-factory where the factory moves,
not the product. This is possible with the
economy of scale with an order for 4,000
buildings at one time.
Is there an interest in creating a
Village in FNQ?
Substantial discussions ensued after each
presentation and groups of people who were
interested in forming a network and working
towards establishing local communities were
formed in Cairns and Malanda.
Since that time, the groups have come together
to write submissions to include villages in the
FNQ 2025 Regional Plan. The groups would
like to see three villages by 2012 which means
breaking ground in 2011. There is a 42ha site
adjacent to Malanda where one village could
be built. Christine Doan, the owner of the land
has called this the Malanda North Project.
A website for FNQ Villages is under construction. In the meantime you can contact the Malanda North Project which is the representative
for all the groups at the moment by email for
any information, questions or suggestions at
[email protected].
There will be a Village information stall at the
Yungaburra Folk Festival from 24 to 26 October 2008. Also, for more information on
Village concept see www.villageforum.com.
Wildlife Corridors
Our Local Frog Populations
Need Your Help
By Sarah Rizvi
W
A summary by Michael Bryan
ildlife corridors are something that CAFNEC has strongly advocated- especially in regards to their potential applicability to
the FNQ2025 Regional Plan. But what are wildlife corridors, why are
they important in the Far North and how can they be applied through
regional planning?
Traditionally, many national parks were selected on the basis of two
things- their charisma and scenic qualities and their lack of any extractable resources. This resulted in areas which did not necessarily
represent the full range of ecosystems and were too small for wildlife
to perpetuate them selves. As a result, most parks and reserves form
incomplete or disrupted ecosystems.
Far North Queensland is lucky to have more intact habitat in protected areas than many other regions of comparable size, due to its large
World Heritage areas. However, for iconic species like the cassowary
to survive, they need to be able to move through the entire breadth of
the regional landscape without impediment.
N
ews from the Frog Decline Reversal Project, Inc. is not good. This
past summer’s heavy wet season following after several years of
drought/reduced rainfall seasons seems to have stirred up environmental pathogens such as bacteria and fungi from soils. Cyclone Larry did
a similar thing with the distribution of microfungi and bacteria from
forests.
The idea of corridors has been trialled and tested in other parts of the
world, particularly around Portland Oregon, the Great Cascades and
Greater Vancouver regions. A system was developed known as the Integrated Reserve System design, in which core areas were mapped,
buffer zones were placed around these areas where only low impact The Cairns Frog Hospital launched a national appeal in April to raise
uses and development was permitted, and corridors were created to sufficient funds to allow its rescue and disease surveillance operations
link these core areas, allowing free movement of wildlife between to continue but this appeal received an abysmal response.
natural areas.
In the meantime, pressures on the small organisation have continued
CAFNEC advocates statutory wildlife corridors which go across all to push operating costs higher. Paid staff are now essential to the naland tenures, including freehold, leasehold and state land, connecting ture of the group’s work and the types of pathogens present on frogs
up areas already in national park, to allow full movement and migra- require even more stringent handling procedures than what the group
tion of wildlife throughout our region. Farmers groups such as Ag- has available to it now. The next level of containment recommended
force and Canegrowers have been vocal in their opposition to such is a fully functioning laboratory setup with reverse pressure. Although
measures, which may adversely effect their management of productive finances aren’t good, the frog hospital is continuing to receiving sick
agricultural land. Their concerns may be well founded, as the farming and injured frogs because there is no-one else locally does this work.
community has been subject to an ever increasing juggernaut of enviThe impact of weather patterns over the past eight years is easily seen
ronmental regulation and restrictions, impeding their operations.
in the frog population and even the much tougher cane toads are expeDespite these landholder concerns, CAFNEC supports a system of riencing severe decline. This shows how much climate change threatstatutory wildlife corridors which may eventually lead to improved ens frogs, other wildlife, agriculture - and eventually humans.
outcomes for landholders as well as the environment. Wildlife corridors, such as those mapped under the 2025 FNQ Regional Plan, could One of the group’s other challenges is to educate well-meaning frog
become overlays - lines on the map which do not affect existing use. lovers who are doing the wrong thing and might not realise it. Anyone
Essentially these overlays protect the area’s potential to become a cor- can be spreading disease by the following activities:
ridor through state and local codes. In 2025, corridors of ‘state significance’ and those of ‘local significance’ were both mapped and there- * touching frogs and toads without disposable gloves or at least a
fore these could become protected through state and local government plastic bag on your hand
* collecting tadpoles from puddles and moving them to another locaregulations respectively.
tion or releasing them into your backyard pond (not only does this
The regulations would be triggered by an application to subdivide the spread disease, it is illegal in Qld)
land or change it’s use. If the parcel of land was only partially con- * not using disinfection procedures for one’s person and all your gear
tributing to the corridor, then it might be possible to mitigate or offset when visiting bush locations for recreational and/or wildlife survey acsome impacts, by financing rehabilitation in another part of the corri- tivities
dor. By creating a framework by which society ‘values’ the functioning * exchanging plants, tadpoles, fish and snails with other pond owners
of these corridors, then landholders can perhaps even get stewardship
payments for maintaining corridors on the land. A diversity of policy Another hidden problem is an intestinal parasite called Spirometra
solutions and incentives are now urgently needed in order to ensure erinaceii. This worm breeds prolifically in one very common local
that we maintain sufficient habitat for our wildlife, especially through animal:the cat. Worm eggs are deposited copiously in cat faeces and,
urban areas, as the impact of development is shrinking these corridors once in the environment, are picked up by frogs through a variety of
methods and sometimes intermediate hosts. Only proper worming of
to sizes which are becoming unsustainable.
all cats will break the cycle of this parasite and that requires a “super
With decisions still to be made in regard to FNQ 2025 Regional Plan, dose” of four times normal worming product, two treatments in a row,
there exists an important opportunity to let your local state member once a year.
know that you are keen to protect wildlife corridors through statutory
More information about frog conservation matters is available
protection and incentive programs for landholders.
from the FDR Project’s website: www.fdrproject.org.au
-2-
Sustainability Indicators Forum:
Sustainable Transport
for Far North Queensland
Taking Sustainability from Theory to Practice
By Sarah Arrowsmith
By Jonathan Strauss, CAST
C
AFNEC was pleased to present the Far North’s first seminar on
Sustainability Indicators on August 28 at James Cook University.
It was co-sponsored by the Wet Tropics Management Authority, Blueprint for the Bush and the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre. The
seminar was a great success with over 60 attendees including environmental, natural resource management and planning professionals;
local government; conservation groups; researchers and university students; and interested members of the wider community. The purpose
of the seminar was to examine how sustainability indicators can evolve
from being data collected by research agencies, to decision making
and management tools which actually inform and direct our efforts and
progress in achieving ecological sustainability.
Jade Herriman of the Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of
Technology, Sydney, was our keynote speaker, who provided a valuable overview of the development and current application of indicators
at global, national and local levels. The day also included case studies from CSIRO, James Cook University and the Great Barrier Reef
Marine Park Authority, regarding the development and application
of sustainability indicators in the region as well as a very interactive
workshop after the presentations.
Jade was interviewed by CAFNEC on the following issues:
What are sustainability indicators?
Sustainability is about a healthy environment – functioning ecosystems, protecting natural assets and ecosystem services, using renewable resources at a rate no greater than they replenish, but it is also
about healthy, vibrant, equitable communities, whose material and
psychological wellbeing is maintained or enhanced – now and into the
future. Sustainability indicators are therefore indicators we use to track
how we are moving in our journey towards a more sustainable future.
Where have they been applied elsewhere?
Indicators are used in many contexts, at many different scales, as a way
to measure ‘progress’ or ‘performance’. Indicators that are specifically
to do with sustainability have been used by corporations and different
levels of government. Communities in Australia and overseas (either as
a local government area or region) have embarked on comprehensive
programs of developing indicators linked to their vision of sustainability for their areas. Programs like these need commitment over time, to
allow for ongoing public participation and decision maker response to
the trends that indicators reveal. On a household level, many people
are becoming more aware of their own personal environmental impacts
and indices such as ‘Ecological Footprint’ are powerful indicators of
personal consumption and environmental impact.
S
ince its formation early this year, Cairns Action for Sustainable
Transport members have organised a public meeting, helped get
the World Environment Day bikeride and rally off the ground, held
information stalls, set up a school walking bus and put Cairns and the
Tablelands on the carpooling website www.needaride.com.au.
We need to do much more to advocate for better public transport and
bikeways and pedestrian access in FNQ. So we need you to become
involved - please join our contact list. Or better still, come along to
our general meetings (now every second Tuesday, 7pm, at Tramways,
at the Cape York Hotel on Spence St: meals are available) and also take
part in our working groups.
Also, we prepared a substantial submission to the FNQ 2025 planning
process. Our discussion helped us work out more clearly what we stand
for. On that basis we’ve started a petition stating the principles and
some of the most significant proposals in the submission.
The petition draws attention to the severity of the threats stemming
from climate change and peak oil. It states that we need to commit to
renewable energy as a fundamental part of any transport response to
climate change and peak oil, to translate the State Government aim of
sustainable transport into policies which can deliver that aim, and to
proactively embrace public transport for Cairns and the FNQ region.
The petition proposes the following:
•
FNQ 2025 Plan adopt as a guiding principle the fundamental
link between renewable energy and sustainable transport;
•
Set a minimum 40% reduction target by 2025 for the region’s
greenhouse gas emissions;
•
Adopt a proactive approach to public transport and rail
freight;
•
Adopt a substantially higher target for public transport use
within Cairns – at least 40% by 2025; and
•
Immediately commit to a rail-based “spine” for a renewable
energy based public transport system for Cairns (incorporating the existing Gordonvale-CBD-Redlynch rail as the first stage).
For further information about CAST visit our website at http://cairnsactionforsustainabletransport.blogspot.com/, or to get copies of the petition
and also the full CAST submission, email jonathanstrauss11@yahoo.
com.au or phone Jonathan on 0431 683 088.
How do you think sustainability indicators can be applied here in
FNQ?
I think indicators have a role to play in any situation where we are trying to make informed management decisions about our surroundings.
Clearly in FNQ there are some areas of global significance in terms of
natural and cultural values. In addition this region makes a large contribution to the State’s economy – in terms of agriculture and tourism,
and also in the often not costed ‘ecosystem services’ that researchers
at JCU are working on identifying. A lot of good work is already underway on using indicators to measure ecosystem health in the marine
and terrestrial environments in this region. There may be additional
opportunities to develop more consistent indicators of ‘pressures’ on
these systems, to include social indicators that capture the quality of
life aspirations that communities have, and to see local government reflecting regional objectives through its own planning, monitoring and
reporting cycles at the local level.
-3-
Don’t Forget to
Nominate!
Next time you shop at Piccones Supa
IGA, Pease Street, Manunda, don’t
forget to nominate CAFNEC as your
benefactor for the Local Community
Benefits Program.
It’s easy. Just let the operator at the checkout know, before
you make payment for your groceries, that you wish to nominate the
Cairns & Far North Environment Centre. (Make sure you say our
full name, not just CAFNEC.)
Points are then allocated to us and at the end of each period;
the points are tallied and transferred to a dollar value. This is an easy
opportunity to fundraise for our organisation while shopping! So
tell your friends and family to nominate CAFNEC at the checkout
to maximize our points.
What’s wrong with urban sprawl?
By Sarah Rizvi
U
rban sprawl is irreversible - once land
is given over to it, the natural values
which the land contained may be lost forever.
Sprawl is also unsustainable- it is attended by
environmental problems such as air and water
pollution, carbon dioxide emissions and habitat loss which are as intractable and persistent
as sprawl itself because such problems are entrenched in this pattern of land use.
Increasingly we are losing neighbourhood
character, good quality agricultural land, natural values and habitat to relentless development pressures which seek to convert more
and more land to this mode of land use. Some
of the key problems with sprawl include…
Energy consumption
“Obese housing” is becoming more common.
Household occupancy numbers are shrinking
while average house floor space is becoming
larger. The collateral effects of this trend are
that houses are consuming more energy, and
require more extensive road networks. Suburban houses consume more energy than their
urban counterparts of the same scale, simply
because of increased driving distances.
Loss of land for food production
Many cities are located within the same areas as good quality farming land and fertile
soils which are then lost to urban development. This means opportunities to feed urban
populations with locally grown produce are
increasingly limited. As prime agricultural
land is lost to sprawl, less suitable land for
farming is brought into cultivation, often requiring more chemicals or irrigation, both of
which create further environmental problems.
Sprawl also increases food miles by pushing
farm land further and further away from population centres.
Air pollution
Commuting time has been steadily increasing
with the pace of development, as distances
between town centres and homes grow further and further apart. The average driver in
Australia spends 90 minutes a day in their car
- a symptom of the suburban lifestyle. Not
surprisingly all this driving has led to congestion on our roads and to dangerous levels of
air pollution and carbon emissions. Air pollutants caused by car emissions are creating
health epidemics in our communities- an increased incidence of asthma episodes, acute
and chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive
pulmonary disease, reduced lung function and
premature death.
Limited transport choice
amount off a one acre field, receiving the
same volume of rainfall.
Habitat and Wildlife
As sprawl creeps into natural areas, habitat is lost to land clearing. Wildlife is lost to
predation from domestic cats and dogs and
an increase in vehicle strike. Chemical runoff from lawns and fumigating houses enters neighbouring water courses and disrupts
aquatic habitat. Resident populations of native fauna are often lost forever, or pushed
back into shrinking ecological communities,
creating further stress on natural areas.
Residential sprawl, shopping malls and business park modes of development generally
preclude transport choices, and are often hostile to pedestrians and cyclists. Mass transit
such as rail and bus cannot easily capture
and service a dispersed suburban population.
These trends are partly attributable to roads
and suburb design which are not conducive to
public or active transport. In light of peak oil,
we will need to rely on public transport alternatives much more in the future.
Ecosystem services
Climate change
In summary, the cumulative impacts of urban sprawl on social and environmental systems are quite high, and if one examines the
long-term economic costs as well (such as
increased fuel for transport), then it becomes
quite obvious that suburbs should be thought
of as a poor planning tool that should be left
on the shelf. Improved planning solutions
as described in the ‘Retrofitting Cairns’ and
‘How to Build a Village’ forum are the modes
of town planning that are key to ensuring that
we have liveable communities which respect
the environmental systems on which our social and economic well-being depends.
Sprawl is a major contributor to global climate
change - due the inefficiency of buildings and
an over reliance on auto mobile transport,
as well as encroachment and destruction of
natural areas. Forested areas large enough to
absorb substantial areas of CO2 are gradually
replaced with concrete and lawns.
Water supply
The large increase in paved, impervious surfaces associated with sprawl means less water
is re-absorbed into the ground water table,
with more water in a polluted form diverted
from roads, roofs, driveways, and through
our urban drainage system into natural water courses and oceans. The volume of runoff from a one acre car park is 16 times the
-4-
Not only does sprawl increase pollution and
threaten biodiversity, it also degrades the
integrity of the land; impairing its ability to
filter air and water, and to absorb carbon dioxide. Open space is not just an amenity- it is
vital to the health of all species. Forests, estuaries, wetlands, beaches and other ecosystems
provide essential services to sustain human
life, by filtering pollutants, cycling nutrients,
purifying water and mediating floods.
Members Liftout
Envirofiesta 2008 -A Fantastic Community Event
By Elaine Harding
A
lmost like a mirage, Envirofiesta appeared on Aug. 2 on a beautiful, warm
spring day at Little Street Park. The focus of
this year’s event was on ‘Visioning The Future’ - how we can create a sustainable vision
for this region. CAFNEC staff and its myriad
of volunteers worked very diligently for many
months before to make the day a successful
mix of education and entertainment. I was
quite taken by the massive amount of good
will, sheer physical work and coordination
that occurred in the days before and after Envirofiesta.
I want to give a big THANK YOU to everyone who contributed in any way to the festival. In particular, our event manager and
Campaign Director, Steve Ryan, did an outstanding job of managing the multiple strands
of this complex event. Further, Paul Christie
and his fantastic group of friends did everything from distributing posters to putting up
and taking down tents. Nerissa Heath, our
Envirofiesta manager for the performing artists, enlisted some superb local acts, including
the much applauded Cabaret. Janet Walder
successfully ran our kitchen yet again, which
provided some healthy and tasty foods (the
pumpkin soup was delectable) into the night.
Ann Mansfield and her crew did an amazing
job of running a very professionally organised
Garage Sale. Kate Scobell, Gabi Bohnet, Marie Short, Dave Breeze and our management
committee all put in a huge effort to ensure
the day went smoothly. Also, a sincere thanks
to Renee Cashman for her organisation of the
raffle prizes, Silvia for her raffle prize for stall
holders, David Martin for his great MCing of
the market stage, the Zee kids & Pascoe for
their incredible smiles and ability to sell raffle
tickets to just about anyone!
Some of the highlights this year were that we
had a fantastic line-up of more than a dozen
performing artists throughout the day and
into the evening, including comedians, folk
singers, dancers and the great vibes of local
bands such as Pachooka. The ‘open-mike’
chalkboard sessions at the CAFNEC Café
were especially enjoyable, as they provided
an opportunity for anyone to share their music (and humor) with the audience. CAFNEC provided information on the draft 2025
regional plan through two short presentations
and by distributing pro-forma submissions to
attendees. Over 75 stallholders presented a
vast array of information and locally-made
and environmentally friendly products. The
permaculture area and the group of schools
displaying their environmental projects were
two great additions to this year’s event.
The Future Forum offered an opportunity for
individuals to reflect on the past, present and
future of our region. From discussions held
at the forum, there emerged many interesting
themes that will be captured by a report that
we’re writing on the outcomes of this event (it
will be posted on the website soon). See also
the article by Gabi Bohnet in this issue.
In walking around that day and during the
week after Envirofiesta, I asked many people
what they liked about the event and if they’d
change anything. Many said they really enjoyed the chance to see colleagues and friends
and to just enjoy the day amongst a festivallike atmosphere. A few commented that they
would like to see more information on environmental topics and some wanted to have
one main event/act at a time instead of multiple happenings. To improve the outcomes
for our organisation and the community, we
will undertake a full evaluation of Envirofiesta and how it fits within our 5-year strategy.
Please come along to our Review Session on
Oct. 23 - any and all ideas are welcome! (see
the info in this newsletter on the session) or
email Elaine at [email protected].
Initial Financial Report on Envirofiesta
By Michael Bryan
The financial outcome for CAFNEC has not
been quite so positive, as our gate numbers
were down – by approximately 800 people –
which is significantly less than last year. Additionally, with our costs being higher, our net
profit is unfortunately quite low. Our overall
income on the day was about $24,000, plus
we had sponsorship income of $6,000. However, our expenses totaled over $25,000 (with
most bills paid), so that our profit is approximately $5,000.
Envirofiesta Review Session
October 23, 2008 – 6:00 to 8:00 pm
Cominos House Meeting Room
We welcome all members and Envirofiesta volunteers, stall holders and others in
providing ideas for how we can improve
and re-envisage Envirofiesta. This is an
open session where we will be letting you
tell us your thoughts about the event and
how we might make it more successful
for CAFNEC and for the community.
Coordinator’s Report
Elaine Harding
ticular aspect of their life. The impetus for
change may be a single experience, or it may
be spurred by a realization that comes through
an accumulation of life circumstances and
new ideas from outside their ‘normal’ set of
values. Undertaking new opportunities and
investigating divergent approaches are often
the precursors to change at the level of an
individual or an organisation.
As Steve Ryan is away on much deserved holiday break, you can find information on Campaigns under the President’s report in this
Ecotone!
Our 5-year Strategic Plan and
‘Valuing’ Regional Sustainability
A
s reported in prior Ecotone, the Management Committee and staff have been undertaking a review of the organisation in relation to our strengths and how to best utilise
the CAFNEC team’s skills to meet the opportunities for developing improved sustainability and conservation outcomes for our Far
North communities. To fully engage in the
development of a organizational strategy, it is
necessary to review the past and thoroughly
reflect upon the present. The strategy has
been a vehicle that allows us to conduct this
type of a review with it’s purpose being to increase our focus and improve our capacity to
deliver tangible results for our members, the
community and the environment.
After much good work on the part of staff and
MC, we have finalised the broad outline of the
5-year Strategic Plan (2008- 2013) – see this
edition for the details. Our next key tasks will
be to further develop the Strategies for implementing each Objective under the Goals. In
working through the mission statement, we
decided that our aim was not only to ‘support’
but to also ‘lead’ the community in valuing
the natural environment through conservation
and ecological sustainability.
The word ‘value’ is a particularly meaningful
one that requires further elaboration. CAFNEC, or any environmental organisation,
cannot ‘create’ a sustainable vision or implement ‘sustainability’ – this is derived through
consensus and delivered through a set of decisions that a community must make by choosing to action on their values. These actions
then may lead to an enhanced set of outcomes
for the environment and for society.
The starting point for all behavioral change is
a change in how an individual ‘values’ a par-
If CAFNEC is to support and lead the community in valuing the natural environment,
then our role must focus on both education
and empowerment of the broader community.
In doing so, we need to reach out to the sectors of society that may not easily understand
the value of nature to their daily lives. A sustainable ‘society’ requires that a majority of
people value similar aspects of life and then
develop adequate means for ensuring that
they can live according to those values.
Therefore, within the 5-year Strategic Plan, we
will focus our efforts in the first year on understanding the current values and knowledge
found throughout the community in regard to
the environment and aspects of a sustainable
society. In seeking to change values, it is important that one first comprehend the current
values of a person, group or sector of society.
So, CAFNEC will develop a set of community
surveys and forums for this purpose. This will
enable us to develop appropriate themes and
forums aimed at linking with current values
of some sectors of the community, but with a
goal of learning about alternative views, concepts and approaches that can further enhance
the basis for valuing the natural world. This
approach will form part of our ongoing ‘Regional Sustainability’ program, which will be
further developed through these forums.
Project Officer
Report W
Sarah Rizvi
ell, it’s been a busy past few months
here at CAFNEC, with Envirofiesta
and the public comment period for the Draft
FNQ 2025, Claude Lewenz’s visit in July and
our public forum on Sustainability Indicators
on the 28th August. Once again, CAFNEC
has to thank its many members, supporters,
volunteers and friends in the community for
the support and contributions made towards
making this busy schedule and large workload
possible.
For the next few months, we will be focusing on Wildlife Corridors and Sustainability
Indicators for FNQ to really progress towards
that ever elusive goal of regional sustainability. We hope that these efforts will lead into a
Regional Sustainability program at CAFNEC,
in which we can continue to collaborate with
many community, government and industry
partners to create a framework for a sustainable region.
In particular, I would like to thank Christine
Doan, Sarva Keller and Gabi Bohnet for their
efforts and contributions in bringing Claude
Lewenz to FNQ, which was inspirational for
hundreds of people who attended his presentations, and also Sarah Arrowsmith, for the
wonderful job she has done in coordinating
the Sustainability Indicators forum.
Want to Get
Involved?
Members are invited to consider a position
on the CAFNEC Management Committee.
Nominations are called for office bearers
and ordinary members of the CAFNEC
Management Committee, to be elected at
the Annual General Meeting, October 9th
6.30pm Cominos House.
Nomination forms can be obtained by calling 40321746 or by emailing: [email protected].
Completed forms need to be submitted to
the Secretary no later than 25th Sept and
will be displayed in the CAFNEC office.
Presidents Report
Ellie Bock
T
his time of the year, and for some months
either side of August, Envirofiesta dominates the lives of all who live and breathe
CAFNEC. This year has been no exception.
Envirofiesta 08 Visioning the Future was a
wonderful vibrant day yet again with great contributions from our sponsors and highlighted
by the immense efforts of our volunteers, supporters, members, staff and committee members. I am pleased that most of the feedback I
gleaned on the day was overwhelmingly positive, although as with every year there are lessons to be learnt and room for improvement
(see report this issue as well as the notice for
a meeting to review the event).
The key event on our calendar for late August is of course the CAFNEC Sustainability
Indicators seminar to be lead by Jade Herriman from the Institute for Sustainable Futures
based at the University of Technology Sydney. It looks like being a very well attended
event with high potential to initiate ongoing
dialogues. With issues of sustainability in the
forefront of community, industry and government thinking, this important discussion is
indeed timely.
Meanwhile the draft FNQ2025 Plan comment
period closed in early August and CAFNEC’s
final submission weighed in at some 31 pages.
This substantial effort was the culmination of
some 9 months of information dissemination
and community consultations throughout the
region by CAFNEC, and the dedication, expertise and input of the FNQ environment and
conservation sector. We did note with wry
smiles the very special mapping and extra
week’s extension afforded to the agricultural
and horticultural sector in submitting their
response. I must at this point acknowledge
the tremendous time and energy put in by our
Steering Committee members and our staff,
with special mention to Sarah Rizvi and Steve
Ryan, both well supported by Elaine Harding. We now anticipate the final version of the
FNQ2025 Regional Plan in late 2008, which
CAFNEC sincerely hopes will be able to afford an appropriate level of statutory protection for wildlife corridors and core habitats
in the face of extreme growth pressures. Our
submission is available at http://www.cafnec.
org.au/2025.php
new protected areas; and ecologically sustainable land use opportunities for Aboriginal enterprise on Cape York Peninsula.
Nevertheless there are a number of larger
developments proposed for coastal and estuarine areas within the far north region, and
in areas within close proximity to world heritage protected areas, which continue to cause
CAFNEC significant concern. In particular,
current proposals for the extensive Mt Peter
master-planned development (new suburban
estates to cater for some 50,000 additional
people between Edmonton and Gordonvale);
further residential subdivisions slated for
Mission Beach; the Ella Bay Integrated Resort (north of Flying Fish Point via Innisfail)
and two large-scale marina (“lake”) developments on either side of the Johnstone River
below Innisfail remain of grave concern from
both ecological and sustainability perspectives. Recent meetings with local conservation groups including C4 and the Johnstone
Ecological Society discussed these concerns
at length. CAFNEC actively monitors project-related community consultations, approvals and assessment processes.
Congratulations must also go to our southern
peers in the Mackay-Whitsunday region who
have very recently successfully achieved a 20
year moratorium on further shale-oil prospects
along the Queensland coast. This is very good
news for our coastal waters and reefs – but
intense lobbying against this decision by industry interests requires continued vigilance.
Sometimes though we need to celebrate wins
for the environment, and a few of these have
recently come about. Minister Garrett last
month announced a rescinding of development approvals for a residential subdivision
at Mission Beach on the basis of unacceptable
impacts on a listed threatened species, the
southern Cassowary (Gunduy in the language
of Djiru traditional owners). This is only the
second time a federal Minister for the Environment has used the relevant powers under
the Environment Protection and Biodiversity
Conservation Act 1999. CAFNEC prepared a
submission on this matter in close collaboration with C4 at Mission Beach who lobbied
very hard to get this outcome. Congratulations C4 and friends!
In July and early August the conservation sector celebrated the return of significant land areas on Cape York Peninsula to respective traditional owners and the creation of two new
National Parks (Cape York Peninsula Aboriginal Land): Running Creek and Lilyvale stations and Lama Lama NP (CYPAL) returned
to Lama Lama traditional owners; Mt Croll
station returned to Kaanju people; and KULLA (McIlwraith) NP (CYPAL) to Kaanju,
Umpila, Lama Lama and Ayapathu traditional
owners. These transfers also saw creation of
associated nature refuges. Together with ACF
and TWS, CAFNEC supports continued state
investment in long-term joint management of
In closing, sustainability is now a key theme
of the day. But what is ecologically sustainable in the longer-term? We look with great
worry to the ever-lessening ice sheets of the
Arctic and Greenland where it is now evident
that progressed sea ice melt may mean an icefree Arctic sea within the next 4-5 years, not
the 70-90 years initially estimated in the early
years of this decade. Such major changes to
the earth’s natural environment will impact in
a very substantially adverse manner on lower-lying coastal regions, the reef and the wet
tropics with major implications for marine
and terrestrial species, land use, food production and distribution, water quality and populations centres vulnerable to sea level change.
Now more than ever humanity must self-impose strict limits on the over-exploitation of
natural environments and our own numbers.
We must act with fortitude, great forethought
and strategic action for change – in all aspects
of our lives – so we can become more resilient
to the changes which are now inevitable for
our plant’s ecological processes, the air we all
breathe and the water we all drink.
Join us in pushing the debate forward and
make CAFNEC your rallying point for driving pro-active changes in support of long term
ecological sustainability
*************
STOP PRESS - TAKE ACTION
Saving Our Slopes
Please read the article on page 6 that outlines
the Save Our Slopes report, to be put before
Cairns Regional Council this week, and contact your local councillor ASAP. The attached
letter can be sent to your councillor by mail
or fax. Or, see the CAFNEC website for more
information. www.cafnec.org.au
This initiative from Save Our Slopes is a vital
step in protection on dozens of of our local
hillslopes and areas of significant remanant
vegetation.
NOTICE OF
ANNUAL GENERAL
MEETING
CAFNEC Final
2008-13 Strategic Plan
We have completed the Mission Statement,
Values, Goals and Objectives of the Strategic
Plan. Further work is ongoing to refine the
Strategies under each Objective.
The Values as published in the June Ecotone
are the same, but the Mission Statement and
Goals have changed slightly and therefore
are provided below.
Mission Statement
To lead and support the community in valuing the natural environment through conservation and ecological sustainability.
Goals
1.To ensure long-term financial and organisational health.
2.To expand opportunities for the community to adopt and take action (on ecological
sustainability and conservation).
3.To develop strong relationship with partners, allies and key stakeholders.
One Sided Paper Don’t Throw It Out!
CAFNEC is on the look
out for your unwanted
A4 sheets/documents
that are printed on one
side only. Please save
this paper for us as we
use the other side for all
our internal office requirements. This gives
us a financial saving as we do not need to purchase as much paper and of course has obvious environmental benefits.
Often a workplace has a huge amount of discarded one sided paper that could be reused.
So keep your eyes open and start collecting.
All donations gratefully accepted. Just
drop off at Cominos House or give Marie a
call on 40321746.
The Cairns & Far North Environment Centre AGM will be held on:
Thursday 9th October 2008 at 6.30pm
Cominos House, 27-29 Greenslopes St, North Cairns.
Agenda
1.Introduction, apologies.
2.Minutes of the 2007 AGM to be passed as a true record.
3.President’s Report.
4.Treasurer’s Report (including receiving the Auditor’s Report).
5.Appointment of Auditor.
6.Staff presentations by Coordinator, Campaign Director & Project Officer.
7.Election of members of the Management Committee.
8.Any other business.
The meeting will be followed by a presentation by : Gabriele Bohnet
(Architect and sustainability advocate)
‘Freiburg – A World Class Model of a Sustainable Community
for Cairns to Emulate’
Is your CAFNEC membership up to date?
If you are not financial you may be ineligible to take part or vote at the AGM.Membership
status can be checked and renewed on the night.
CAFNEC Welcomes
New Management Committee Members
Sarah Hoyle
My name is Sarah and I was born and bred in Cairns, but moved
back to FNQ last September after 10 years living and working
in Australia and overseas, including a stint at the Environment
Centre, Alice Springs (ALEC). My background is in environmental science and community development, both in paid work and as
an activist. Over my lifetime I have watched the rapid changes in
FNQ and really look forward to working with CAFNEC towards a future for FNQ that recognises and respects the unique environment we live in.
Ellen Weber
I am delighted to rejoin the CAFNEC management team after a number of years away to raise
two boys. It’s great to be part of an active and dedicated team of people working to protect the
far northern landscapes. Some notable changes since I left in 1998 – the Coalition government is no longer in power (goodbye NHT hello Caring for our Country); NGO’s are even
more savvy at setting the environmental policy agenda and we have wine at MC meetings.
There are the constants too. Once again I find myself at MC meeting sitting next to Michael
Bryant (this is good), I listen to staff advise on the latest development proposals around the
region (these are usually bad) and CAFNEC continues to punch above its weight (this is
amazing). It’s good to be back.
Cape York Celebrations –
New Protected Areas, Homelands Returned and Wild River Nominations
by Kerryn O’Conor, Cairns Campaign Manager, The Wilderness Society
T
he last few months have been an exciting time for conservation
and land justice on Cape York Peninsula, with a number of major
breakthroughs being achieved.
In early June, at a ceremony at Chuulangun on Kaanju homelands,
Traditional Owners declared Cape York Peninsula’s first Indigenous
Protected Area (IPA).
The Kaanju Ngaachi Wenlock and Pascoe Rivers IPA protects 197,500
hectares of Aboriginal freehold land in central Cape York. The new IPA
is being managed under a plan developed by the Chuulangun Aboriginal Corporation. Initiatives undertaken by Chuulangun will have major
biodiversity conservation benefits as well as creating jobs and providing training, capacity building and sustainable business opportunities.
IPAs are part of the Commonwealth Government’s National Reserve
System program in which the Government supports Traditonal Owners
to manage conservation values on Aboriginal land.
On the 10th July we celebrated the handover of two large east coast
properties, Running Creek and Lilyvale, resolving the tenure and future management of these properties by returning over 110,000 hectares of homelands to Lama Lama Traditional Owners. This included
the creation of Lama Lama National Park, Queensland’s first Aboriginal National Park, which will be jointly managed by the Traditional
Owners and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS).
At the end of July, we welcomed the long awaited announcement by
the Queensland Government that the Archer, Stewart and Lockhart
River Basins have been nominated for declaration under Queensland’s
Wild Rivers Act. These three river basins are the first of thirteen Cape
rivers to be nominated for protection under the Act, as identified by the
Queensland Government in 2004.
These river systems are amongst some of the most ecologically intact
rivers left on Earth. You can help ensure that they are protected by
sending in a submission in support of their declaration. Visit www.
The resolution of Running Creek, Lilyvale, McIllwraith and Mt Croll
wildirvers.org.au for more information.
was only made possible by the Cape York Peninsula Heritage Act 2007
Finally, at a special ceremony in Coen on the 6th August, Queensland which facilitates the creation of jointly managed Aboriginal National
Premier Anna Bligh announced the declaration of KULLA (McIlwraith Parks on Cape York. This legislation was the result of negotiations inRange) National Park, as well as the return of additional Aboriginal volving the Wilderness Society, the Australian Conservation Foundation, Cape York Indigenous representative bodies, industry groups and
freehold around Mt Croll.
the Queensland Government.
Protecting the largest tropical rainforest wilderness in Australia, this
Aboriginal National Park is 160,000 hectares and is the result of over Wilderness Society staff members traveled to Cape York Peninsula by
a decade of negotiations between the Queensland Government, Tradi- invitation to join in all of these celebratory ceremonies. With the tenure
and management of over one million hectares of land on Cape York
tional Owners and conservation groups.
still to be resolved, we are confident and excited that many similar
KULLA (McIlwraith Range) National Park is a region of outstanding outcomes will soon be achieved.
biodiversity and conservation value which will be jointly managed and
Cyberaction: Take action to help protect the Archer, Stewart and
protected by Traditional Owners and the QPWS.
Lockhart rivers visit https://secure.wilderness.org.au/cyberactivIt is home to the largest stands of old growth hoop pine left in Austra- ist/cyberactions/08_07_wildrivers-cyberaction.php
lia, nearly 60% of all Australia’s butterfly species, 16% of the entire
Australian orchid flora, at least 1000 different plants - including 100
rare or threatened species - and unique animals including the grey cuscus, the beautiful eclectus parrot and the green python.
-5-
Wrap Up On
FNQ2025
Garrett Freezes False Cape
By Steve Ryan
By Sarah Rizvi
On September 4th the Federal Environment Minister, Peter Garrett
suspended Commonwealth approval of the Reef Cove Resort development for up to one year and ordered the developer to carry out an
s the public submission period for the Draft FNQ 2025 Regional
environmental audit of the site, the first time a Federal Environment
Plan ended on the 8th of August, it is now in the hands of the
Minster has used this power to suspend a development approval.
Queensland Government to finalise the components that make it into
the final document. CAFNEC has long been a vocal advocate of a
Whilst this is only a reprieve, it is a significant first step in having all plan which embraces world’s best practice for regional planning using
approvals reviewed before further damage to site can be carried out.
the principles of ecological sustainability. Further, in developing our
CAFNEC submission we consulted with other conservation groups to
Since the announcement, Cairns Regional Council (CRC) has pledged develop the following major areas of amendment to the Draft Plan.
$40 000 of ratepayers money to stabilise the site before the next wet
season. The previous council administration assured CAFNEC there 1.
The draft plan made continuous and explicit references to the
was a $650 000 bond to cover such eventualities. CAFNEC asks why combined threats of climate change and peak oil; however a real stratthis bond is not being utilised now? CRC must now take what action it egy for addressing these was not really discussed. If the State Governcan to revoke it’s own approvals
ment intends to fully recognise the threat poised by these two phenom-
A
**** BREAKING NEWS - TAKE ACTION ****
Council to Decision on Hillsopes Vital
for the Future of Cairns
ena to our region, a comprehensive plan must be rolled out to address
them, which this planning exercise has failed to do. For example, the
draft plan did not make any provision for urban agriculture, market
gardens etc, within the urban footprint, which will be invaluable assets
to urban communities in a peak oil scenario.
2.
CAFNEC is a strong proponent of an integrated habitat network which builds upon the mapped wildlife corridors, and is protected
by statutory provisions. The core elements of this should include linking core habitat across urban areas with larger intact protected areas
Save Our Slopes and Whitfield Hill Community Action Group’s will (see article on Wildlife Corridors in this edition of Ecotone).
this month hand Cairns Regional Council with a set of 25 proposals,
3.
There are repeated references to “offsetting” in the draft plan’s
dealing with around 60 areas of hillslope and vegetation rezoning, inBiodiversity Conservation section. CAFNEC has stressed to the Decluding the slopes of False Cape. All proposals deal with zonings within
partment of Infrastructure and Planning that offsetting of intact habitat
the Cairns Plan that are in conflict with it’s own Desired Environmental
is not appropriate, particularly in areas of high ecological significance.
Outcomes and asks that these areas be designated ‘Conservation’. This
Queensland does not yet have a policy on biodiversity offsetting, alwould entitle private landowners to build a house and caretakers resithough there is a policy for vegetation offsetting which allows offsetdence but prohibit allotments from being subdivided.
ting of threatened species habitat and threatened regional ecosystems.
The Integrated Planning Act, gives local councils authority to re-designate planning areas due to changes in social, economic and environmental circumstances. Community concern for hillslope and vegetation
preservation is ever increasing particularly now community members
are becoming aware of the extent of hillslope development applications and approvals. The challenge is for the local council to reflect
community concern by re-designating hillslopes and key vegetation to
‘Conservation’ and providing them with the protection they deserve.
4.
The draft plan’s public transport targets are inadequate and
should be raised significantly to a level that would reflect a 40% public transport usage by 2025, with an aim for a capacity of 60% in this
timeframe.
5.
Sustainability indicators, targets and triggers which are
aligned to Desired Regional Outcomes must be developed and used as
a means to ensure the plan is properly implemented, including indicators for key species in the region.
This years’ Local Government Elections saw several sitting councillors
elected on a platform of hillslopes and habitat protection. Now is the
time for this council to deliver on these promises. Action today will
not only help preserve the nature and character of our region, but will
also allow future decisions to be made without having to be defended
through expensive legal action.
While we had criticisms of the draft plan in its current form, there were
many positive aspects to it, which CAFNEC hopes will be retained in
the final plan. These include placing limits on urban sprawl; limiting
rural residential subdivision as a means of preventing loss and fragmentation of habitat; areas of ecological significance are mapped and
referenced; the provision of bicycle transport infrastructure in policies;
a focus on Transport Oriented Communities and the recognition of the
CAFNEC fully supports these proposals and urges all Councillors to habitat values of Mission Beach and the Daintree.
support the package.
With the final FNQ 2025 scheduled to be released at the end of 2008,
there are still significant opportunities to provide the Bligh Government with more information on our concerns as other sectors are continuing to lobby for changes which may weaken some key provisions
in the plan. Although different sectors often have competing agendas
and aspirations, CAFNEC encourages the whole of our regional comMany thanks to Save Our Slopes for their tireless and invaluable con- munity to consider ecological sustainability as a core objective, one
tribution to a sustainable Far North. The report is available online via that everyone should have a keen interest in, for our own and future
www.cafnec.org.au
generations.
Please read the letter to Councillors regarding the rezoning of hillslopes (attached) and ask they represent your concerns and support these proposals. Better still, pick up the phone and ask them how
they will be voting.
**** BREAKING NEWS - TAKE ACTION ****
-6-
Envirofiesta’s
Future Forum
By Gabi Bohnet,
Forum Coordinator
We invited the community to participate in visioning a sustainable future for the Cairns and
Far North Region by contributing their ideas
on ’how would they would make their neighbourhood more sustainable?.’
All contributions were exhibited on the day.
The exhibition informed with 3 time zones:
•
Acknowledging the Past
•
Understanding the Present
•
Visioning the Future
The latter section included large scale maps
that were provided by CRC for people to attach their ideas for their neighbourhoods.
All contributions will be presented to the appropriate regional council and also be used to
inform CAFNEC’s Regional Sustainability
campaign.
O
n August 2 at Envirofiesta, CAFNEC
hosted a special marquee called ‘The
Future Forum’ with the theme of “Community Visioning for a Sustainable Future”.
This project occurred in the context of the
FNQ Draft Regional Plan 2025.
CAFNEC’s FNQ2025 working groups on
transport, sustainable urban development,
water, natural resources, sustainability indicators etc. have come together for more than
one year to discuss and contribute to the drafting of the Regional Plan on an advisory level.
The forum gave these groups and the wider
community the opportunity to share their visions in a public and inter-active space.
The forum also hosted a number of speakers and workshops that were well attended
throughout the day that were extremely informative and a platform for new networking. The general feeling was much excitement
about the possibility to be involved in the local planning process and being able to voice
ideas and discuss them in a public forum. For
quite a few people, sustainability was completely new and they appreciated to learn a
great deal from the speakers and workshops.
We definitely got the feedback from the public that more public education and discussion
in this field is needed.
Speakers included:
• Sharon Brady – Indigenous story telling
“Past-Present-Future dreaming” and facilitated a kids forum
Cairns Regional Council (CRC) was fully
supportive of CAFNEC to take on the role to
facilitate this kind of community engagement
and sponsored the Forum at Envirofiesta.
• Iris Bohnet, CSIRO - “How future landscape
scenarios have been developed with local
stakeholders”
• Georgie Kruse, Cairns Permaculture Group“Permaculture community gardens and Food
Security”
• Cairns Action for Sustainable Transport “Sustainable Transport Vision for FNQ”
• Sustainable Settlement Project, Paul Bennett, Bruce Zell and Dave Love – Discussion
and a survey on the concept of a settlement in
this region.
We will be compiling the information of the
forum and make it available on the CAFNEC
website soon.
Ecotone
Is the newsletter of the Cairns & Far North
Environment Centre (CAFNEC). Ecotone
is published every three months and sent to
over 300 readers.
Reader contributions, including letters, are
very welcome: content is subject to the
editor’s discretion.
Disclaimer:
Views expressed in Ecotone are not necessarily those of CAFNEC as a whole.
Events Calendar
12 Sept. to 10 Oct - Wet Tropics Poster Competition Exhibition. Cairns Regional Gallery.
12 Sept. to 26 Oct. - Torrid Zones: Paluma to Cooktown World Heritage Exhibition. Cairns
Regional Gallery.
9 October - CAFNEC – AGM. 6:30 pm. Cominos House, 27-29 Greenslopes St., Nth Cairns.
9 October - Environmental Defenders’ Office – Annual General Meeting. 5.30pm. Level 1,
96-98 Lake St.
23 October - CAFNEC Envirofiesta Review Session. 6:00 to 8:00 pm. Open to all. Cominos House, 27-29 Greenslopes St., North Cairns.
17 to 30 November - Permaculture Design Course, Walkamin. Contact Kym at 0407243298
or email [email protected].
21 November - Submission period closes for Wild River Declaration Proposals for the Archer, Lockhart and Stewart Rivers on Cape York Peninsula. Contact Kerryn O’Connor at The
Wilderness Society: [email protected]
28 November to January 2009 - Kick Arts Blak Roots Indigenous Art Exhibition. Kick
Arts, Cairns. See Wet Tropics Management Authority for entry forms.
1-3 December - Soil and Water for Every Farm – Workshop on Keyline Design, Malanda.
Contact Kym at 0407243298 or email [email protected].
-7-
CAFNEC Management Committee:
President:
Ellie Bock
Vice President:
Jeremy Little
Secretary:
Ruth Zee
Treasurer:
Michael Bryan
Com. Member:
Tammy Andrews
Com. Member:
Scott Pickard
Com. Member:
Bill Bray
CAFNEC Staff:
Coordinator:
Elaine Harding
Campaigner:
Steve Ryan
Adminstrator:
Marie Short
FNQ 2025 Project Officer:
Sara Rizvi
Ph: (07) 4032 1746 / 4032 1586
Fax: (07) 4053 3779
Email: [email protected]
Address: P O Box 323N
North Cairns, Qld, 4870
Web address: www.cafnec.org.au
ECOTONE is produced by CAFNEC.
Edited by Steve Ryan, Marie Short.
Layout/Design by Renee Cashman.
Would you like your Ecotone to come via email instead of by post And save CAFNEC money? Email: [email protected]
If undelivered return to:
CAFNEC, PO Box 323N,
North Cairns, QLD 4870
Ph: (07) 4032 1746
Fax: (07) 4053 3779