Many wattles in the district are blooming, and the insects are a-buzzing! Plenty in this newsletter to get you a-buzzing, too!
Members had a delightful morning at Cullenbone TSR on Sunday 1st August 2021
Those who joined Evelyn Nicholson from Mudgee office of Central Tablelands LLS and members of the Cudgegong Field Naturalists had a very enjoyable time AND yummy morning tea and lunch. A ute-load of bags filled with rubbish was removed from this beautiful stretch of the river – some of the workers are in the pic below. There were 31 bird species spotted, a platypus spied, and even a time capsule (of sorts!) seen lodged in a tree trunk – very intriguing. A great effort all round!
Find out about:
Central Tablelands LLS here
TSR management in the Central Tablelands here
An interactive map of all TSRs in NSW available here.
DIARY DATES – time to get a-buzzing!
Thursday 12th August 2021: 6pm Dubbo. ‘No Gin Gin Dam’ campaign meeting. Muki Café, and via Zoom. Agenda and link attached.
Friday 13th August 2021: Closing date for submissions to NSW Upper House Inquiry into floodplain harvesting Submission guide from Lifeblood Alliance attached.
14th – 22nd August 2021: National Science Week featuring in-person and online events, virtual tours, DIY science and more, all across Australia. Find an event, register an event, or look through heaps of resources here.
Monday 16th August 2021: Closing date for submissions to NSW Dept Planning, Amendment to EIS for Bowdens Silver Project (Lue Lead Mine) SSD 5765 Submission guide attached.
Wednesday 18th August 2021: Closing date for submissions to NSW Dept Planning, Preliminary Regional Issues Assessment (PRIA) Hawkins-Rumker, potential release for coal exploration Submission guide from RRCFC here.
Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd August 2021: Birdlife Southern NSW are seeking help from locals to plant trees for the endangered Regent Honeyeater in the Capertee Valley. Info, and register your availability here.
Wednesday 25th August 2021: Kepco Bylong Australia v. Independent Planning Commission in the Court of Appeal – 1 day hearing, to be held in Sydney (expected to be available online).
WHAT’S NEW
From the NSW Dept of Planning, Industry and Environment (DoPIE) new measures to assess State Significant projects: Rapid Assessment Framework
‘The Rapid Assessment Framework (RAF) is a comprehensive set of changes designed to improve the efficiency, transparency and quality of assessment and community engagement standards for State significant development (SSD) and State significant infrastructure (SSI) projects.
The RAF streamlines the assessment for some major projects. It provides clear guidance on environmental impact assessment and introduces a new Registered Environmental Assessment Practitioners (REAP) scheme to provide quality assurance for environmental impact statements (EIS).’ More here.
THOUGHT PROVOKING
The Rule of Law Institute of Australia says ‘ICAC Public Hearings must STOP. The Independent Commission Against Corruption has disgraced itself. This agency has overstepped the mark and removed all doubt that the law governing public hearings needs to change.’ Read their opinion here. Watch a more recent explanation with reference to the Obeid case (27m) here.
Adam Searle, barrister, Labor member of the NSW Legislative Council and a member of the NSW Parliament oversight committee on the ICAC thinks differently ‘Consider the Obeid result before meddling with the ICAC’ Read his opinion piece here.
INSPIRING
Dr Ian Wright Senior Lecturer WSU (mining and water) (1hr27m – excellent presentation – the time will fly!)