NEWSLETTER June 2021
A word from the Chair
I am reflecting on the beautiful words from this year’s theme for World Environment Day:
‘IMAGINE. RECREATE. RESTORE. This is our moment. We cannot turn back time.
But we can grow trees, green our cities, rewild our gardens, change our diets and clean up rivers and coasts.
We are the generation that can make peace with nature.
Let’s get active, not anxious. Let’s be bold, not timid.’
www.worldenvironmentday.global
What does this call to ‘make peace with nature’ mean to me? This is a time to deeply listen to nature and the cry of the earth; take that greater ecological awareness and grow an ‘ecological justice’ practice in my life. Love where I am; learn from science; make connections locally; be an active voice for biodiversity; seek wisdom from the Elders; celebrate and enjoy Nature; befriend a tree.
This World Environment Day how will you take a moment to make peace with nature?
Get Involved – so much happening!
Sign a petition: MDEG member Alan Greer has started a petition to Confine Domestic Cats in NSW. Sign on to support Alan’s important initiative to save our precious wildlife. https://me.getup.org.au/petitions/a-petition-to-confine-domestic-cats-in-new-south-wales?just_launched=true
Tuesday 15th June 1pm-2.30pm or 5.30pm-7pm, Zin House, Tinja Lane, Mudgee: Voices4Calare Conversations that Matter. A listening event to hear from the community of Mudgee. Share your thoughts – what you love about living in Calare, what makes a good Federal representative, what issues and concerns are important to you. FREE. Register for a voice at the table https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/157744292425
Thursday 17th June 9.30am-1pm: Watershed Landcare Patches & paths – managing Box Gum woodlands workshop. Join Dan Florence, from the ANU Sustainable Farms team for a half day workshop to explore and better understand box woodlands within our area. Topics include: what is a box woodland ecosystem, what species can be found, and managing for both biodiversity and production. The session will include an indoor presentation and a field trip. Numbers are limited and registrations are required to attend. The workshop will be held in Mudgee. Exact location TBC. FREE. https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing?eid=725611
Sunday 27th June 8:30am (9:00am start)-1:30pm (incl lunch) Burrendong Botanic Gardens and Arboretum, Mumbil: Central West LLS Critically Endangered Birds of the Central West. A workshop and woodland walk learning about critically endangered woodland birds and their habitat requirements – focusing on the Regent Honeyeater and Swift Parrot. FREE. RSVP to May Whittall may.fleming@lls.nsw.gov.au Mob: 0436 122 140
Wednesday 23rd June 6.30pm, Pastoral Hotel, Dubbo: Healthy Rivers Dubbo Public meeting about the Gin Gin re-regulating project – It’s time for the community to decide, is the Wambuul-Macquarie River more than just an irrigation delivery channel? Great guest speakers. Some accommodation. See separate flyer.
Tuesday 29th and Wednesday 30th June, Rylstone and Mudgee: Department of Planning, Industry and Environment Preliminary Regional Issues Assessment: Consultation.
The NSW Government is considering whether to release two areas (near Rylstone), known as Hawkins and Rumker, for coal exploration. The consultation aims to identify potential social, environmental and economic opportunities and constraints associated with coal exploration. This is a critical issue. Please be informed and participate! The Dept’s info is here: https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/pria-consult We will be supporting the newly-formed group Rylstone Region Coal Free Community (RRCFC). Check their website and sign on for updates: https://rylstonecfc.com/ Hope to catch up with you at one of the consultations!
Adams Lead
Hardy members met on the first Saturday, as usual. Boots, gloves and beanies were the order of the day! Purple top was being removed; pathways mown and tidied; edging logs pulled out from under the grass. The kangaroo grass is looking good and increasing its spread by about 1m per year, but unfortunately, despite lots of prior weeding, the cleavers are coming back! The amount of standing water at the moment emphasises that the reserve has a large, cleared catchment – plenty of nutrient and weed seed coming in too!
Crown Land 2031 – State Strategic Plan for Crown Land
‘A plan for activating Crown land’
This NSW Govt document has recently been published. It is available on the website here. This is the first ever strategic plan for Crown Land and covers the next 10 years. The first action plan will be available on the website within 3 months. The draft plan was put out for comment last year, and a summary of the consultation is available here. The MDEG submission on the Draft Plan is attached separately. Do you think the consultation summary was accepted within the final Plan document? I would be interested to know what you think!