Cairns Bruce Highway Upgrade and Cairns Transit ... - CAFNEC

-2-Report on QLD and Cairns Environmental RoundtablesBy Sarah HoyalQueensland State Roundtable - 19th Feb 2010On the 17th and 18th February I attended two days of facilitateddiscussion with more than 15 environment groups from acrossQueensland in preparation for the Ministerial Environment Roundtableon the 19th Feb. These two days were spent reviewing thepriorities of different groups across the state and identifying commonproblems and concerns. There was also time for individual presentationson larger issues which included Wild Rivers, the effectof the 2009 floods on the Northern Gulf region, and coal expansionin Central Qld. Considerable time was spent discussing the topicson the agenda for the Roundtable – the Queensland BiodiversityStrategy, the Queensland Coastal Plan and the Growth Summit.The main priorities identified for these topics were summarised andpresented to the Minister at the Roundtable.The Roundtable meeting on the 19th Feb included some time tohear from regional groups about specific issues as well as time forbroader discussion on the three main agenda items. The AustralianRainforest Conservation Foundation’s Aila Keto and WWF’s MartinTaylor have been doing a lot of work to negotiate input into the QldBiodiversity Strategy. The Minister was supportive of significant inputfrom the environment movement on the Strategy and has promisedto extend the time to public release until Aug 2010. I encourageas many of you as possible to get in touch with me about how youmight be able to support this input from FNQ. The Strategy needsto be a document that has real targets and goals. It also needsto include whole-of-government coordination and ownership of theStrategyThe Draft Qld Coastal Plan is currently being finalised and set to gobefore Parliament in July 2010. The collective environment groupsare concerned that the plan is likely to further development interestsrather than protect coastal biodiversity. As Margaret Moorhousewrote in her article in Ecotone Dec 2009 (‘The Daft Coastal Plan’),the draft no longer includes individual Regional Coastal Plans andmuch of the detail from these plans seems to have been lost. TheDepartment of Infrastructure and Planning appears to be relying onmore detailed input into the broader Regional Plans (such as FNQ2031 Regional Plan). Given that only two regional plans have sofar been completed, this is worrying. The Minister did give an assurancethat amendments to the mapping in the Draft Coastal Plancould be made particularly in relation to areas of high ecologicalsignificance (HES) and Maritime Development Areas (MDAs). CAF-NEC will be meeting with Department of Environment and NaturalResources staff in early April about the Plan.Cairns Environment Roundtable - 28 Feb 2010Whilst attending Community Cabinet in Innisfail and Mareeba,Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability Kate Jonesrequested that CAFNEC help host and organise a Cairns EnvironmentRoundtable so that she could get an overview of environmentalissues in the region from local groups.An earlier meeting was held at CAFNEC to help identify commonissues and concerns so that these could also be presented to theMinister. Only about half of the groups attending the Cairns Roundtablecould make this earlier meeting but most felt it was productiveand a brief which outlined the major concerns was provided toKate along with individual group briefing papers. The major issuesincluded the following.- A lack of alignment (coordination, communication and cooperation)of government (local, State and Federal) agencies to deliverconservation and sustainability outcomes.- Habitat loss and fragmentation in the region – which is incrementalbut substantial.- The importance of government departments engaging with localgroups who have an intimate knowledge of the issues.- The need to adequately undertake Resource Condition Monitoringin the region – for example bird monitoring in Protected Areas.- The need to manage sensitive coastal areas from inappropriatedevelopment and the impacts of climate change.The Roundtable meeting was only an hour and a half, but in thattime 14 groups managed to give presentations to the Minister. Thisgave groups only a very short time to present their case, but feedbackfrom the Minister was that this was a very useful evening forher and that the format gave her a very good insight into the region’sissues which she could digest in the short time available.CAFNEC is keen to see these regional get-togethers happeningagain and will be lobbying the Minister for her support to do so. I willkeep you informed of our progress.The State Government is currently organising a Qld Growth Summitfor the 30-31 March in Brisbane to debate issues of populationgrowth over the next 20 to 30 years. Although the Summit isin south-east Qld, the forecast population growth of the State andthe planned management of this expansion will be felt state-wide.According to the Department of Infrastructure and Planning FNQ iscurrently expanding at 8%/annum, set to be 53% by 2026. Sustainablepopulations are those that live within the capacity of the environmentto support them, without taking from future generations. Itis hoped that a major outcome from this Summit will be the establishmentof a coordinated approach to managing growth across allthree tiers of government. This means national sustainable populationpolicy, with State and Local policy that reflects and contributesto these national objectives.

Growing Solutionsto Climate ChangeBy Anna McGuireMore Solar Powerfor CairnsBy Michael BryanA Thought onClimate ChangeBy Michael BryanCAFNEC has just launched the ‘Growingsolutions to climate change’ project,which will work with residents in theGordonvale, Edmonton and Moorooboolareas to encourage people to reduce theircarbon footprints and to get active on theissue of climate change. We will run workshopsat community centres and schools onhow to calculate your carbon footprint, howto reduce your impacts by making lifestylechanges, the importance of local food networksand growing your own food, and howto get active to push for positive changesthat will create a safe, low carbon dioxidefuture.This free program, funded by theQueensland Government’s Low CarbonDiet program, will include workshops, filmscreenings, community gardening and atree planting day. Participants will receivefree energy-saving fittings and have thechance to win great home sustainabilityitems.EVENTS CALENDAREarth Hour event, City Place. Saturday 27thMarch. Stalls, live music and street performersfrom 4pm, film screening from 6.30pm.Growing Solutions to Climate Change activities:29th March, 6pm - Free film screening of ‘TheAge of Stupid’ at the Gordonvale CommunityHubSaturday 3rd and 10th April, 9am - Gardeningworkshops, GordonvaleIn this region, despite government subsidyschemes and a good choice of suppliers,local installations of solar panels haveslowed since the $8,000 rebate ended inMay 2009. This is regrettable because powerproduced where it is used and at the timeof day of greatest demand is a communitybenefit.CAFNEC is currently investigating a schemeundertaken by the Sunshine Coast EnvironmentCouncil, where they have partneredwith a new supplier of solar systems, Ingenero,to encourage a greater number of householdsolar power installations in their area.On the Sunshine Coast, Ingenero and localpartners completed a 1,000 solar roofs projectin 2009, and now have a target of 10,000solar roofs over 3 years.CAFNEC is looking at promoting solar powerin this region through this type of project. Assoon as details can be worked out they willbe presented to a CAFNEC general meetingso that members can be fully informed andtheir reactions taken into account.Become a CAFNECfan on Facebook• Stay informed of the latest news andevents• Spread the conservation messagethrough your networks and friendsNow that the sceptics have prevailed inpublic discourse, describing climatechanges that may come, and explaining howand how much we ought to reduce carbonemissions is preaching to a beleaguered minority.However we can still dispute the comfortof business as usual.Tiny proportions of carbon dioxide and othergreenhouse gases in the atmosphere act toreduce radiation into cold space from a warmEarth and so set average temperature. Thisis basic physics that not even Lord Monktondisputes. We don’t fully understand how theEarth’s natural balance of carbon dioxide inparticular has been maintained over millionsof years to favour liquid water and life. Wedon’t understand how the balance has beenparticularly favourable to human activitiesover the last thousand years. So burningcoal, oil and now gas at a million times therate they were laid down has been a vast experimentwith the home of six, soon to be nine(to 11 - Ed) billion people - an experiment bya minority of humans, and for prosperity ratherthan survival. The sceptics’ bandwagonis discredited by asserting that uncertaintyproves that the experiment is safe.As beneficiaries we have a moral duty tophase out participation in the experiment nowthat the first signs of disturbance of balanceare seen. Moral duty is not fashionable but itis still real. Practically we would be wise to reducedependency on fossil fuels against thetime when billions of people who think theyhave lost from climate change take winnersto task.Phasing out the experiment means reducingdischarge of fossil carbon compounds.Replacing some trees previously cleared,replacing carbon in soils previously misused,adding non-carbon energy production, are allworthy but they don’t reduce fossil discharge.As long as carbon dioxide cannot be collectedinto rock economically, reducing dischargerequires either regulation or taxation.That choice is how every proposed schememust be assessed.Tuesday 6th April, 5.30pm - Carbon footprintsand community action workshopThursday 8th April - Growing Solutions stalland project launch for Mooroobool at ‘Christmasin April’, Long St.Tree planting day, Edmonton. Sunday 18thApril, 7.30-10am followed by a BBQ.Climate Campaign By Anna McGuireThanks to a successful fundraising appeal for local climate action, CAFNEC is also launchinga 100% Renewables campaign aimed at uniting local organisations, business groups,tourism operators, council and local residents to promote a target of 100% renewableenergy for our region and for Australia. This campaign, supported by the Cairns ClimateAction Network, aims to draw on local enthusiasm for climate action across the community,and bring about a strong and cohesive voice for climate action in our region.-3-

-4-Northern Australia Land and Water Taskforce: Final ReportThe Final Report of the Land and Water Taskforce identifies NorthernAustralia’s unique natural and cultural heritage, community valuesand, above all, physiological limitations to development. Their Final Reportshould put to rest notions of wide spread, broad-scale agriculturaldevelopment turning the north into a major food bowl for Asia or Australia.Established in 2007 under a Coalition Government, the Land and WaterTaskforce was established to examine the development potential ofNorthern Australia in response to the 2004 National Water Initiative.The Taskforce originally had a narrow focus of identifying the capacity ofland and water resources for future agricultural development. However,when the federal election was called in November 2007 the Taskforcewas temporarily suspended. In September of 2008, the newly electedRudd Government revised the terms of reference and membership ofthe Taskforce. Changes to the membership of the Taskforce included thereplacement of party-political individuals to an independent and broaderrepresentation of experts from a variety of relevant disciplines.With revised terms of reference and a membership spanning western science,Indigenous knowledge, research, conservation, pastoralism, mining,agriculture, farming and water policy, the Taskforce has spent nearlytwo years investigating:• The sustainable capacity of northern river systems and basins for increasedconsumptive uses;• Opportunities for economic development and diversification of uses(including non-consumptive) of locally and regionally significant water resourcesconsistent with sustainable resource use principles;• The potential impacts arising from identified development opportunitieson natural values and broader community values;• Incentive, market regulatory and planning mechanisms to ensure futuredevelopment is consistent with the National Water Initiative;• Potential cross-jurisdictional governance arrangements for surface andgroundwater resources.The study area for the Land and Water Taskforce stretched from justnorth of Cairns across to Broome encompassing river basins on CapeYork Peninsula’s east coast, the Gulf of Carpentaria and the Timor Sea.Guided by a set of principles that acknowledged Northern Australia’sdistinct demographics, community attitudes, Indigenous rights and interests,heritage values including the intact nature of many freshwaterecosystems, knowledge systems and adaptation to climate change, theTaskforce has delivered a report calling for a coordinated approach togenuine sustainability.By Andrew PiconeIn identifying economic development and diversification opportunities,the Taskforce considered both consumptive and non-consumptive usesof water resources. Key findings were that the north’s environmentalvalues were of global significance and conservation and land and watermanagement are integral to northern Australia’s economy. In addition, theTaskforce recognises that around 90% of the north’s land area supports abeef cattle industry. There are also opportunities for economic advancementwithin the Indigenous estate through the provision of commercialand customary services. The potential water resources for a 100 to 200per cent increase in irrigated land and a mosaic approach to agricultureacross the north should be further investigated.The impacts of the above mentioned opportunities were also consideredby the Taskforce. Again, lack of data limited the Taskforce’s ability to adequatelyidentify potential impacts, particularly in relation to the interconnectedflow of groundwater and surface water. Subsequently, the precautionaryprinciple should apply. Unmanaged land was recognised by theTaskforce as an environmental and cultural liability and it was identifiedthat it is the responsibility of landholders to provide stewardship.Importantly, the Taskforce identified the impacts of rapid large scale developmentand the impacts these developments have on communities.Their recommendations encouraged a coordinated response to landscaperestoration and sustainable production and action to improve theresilience of natural systems through market based incentives particularlyon Indigenous lands. Further, the expansion of the national reserve systemneeds continued government support. An urgent priority for governmentsis ensuring all northern Australian communities can access drinkingwater and any future developments must not negatively impact onthis resource.Key findings relating to incentive, market regulatory and planning mechanismsto ensure future development is consistent with the National WaterInitiative addressed a variety of impediments centred on process, deliveryof existing policy and Indigenous rights. According to the Taskforce, thereare a range of impediments stemming from tenure, divergent jurisdictionalprocesses, inadequacies in planning and the delivery of servicesthat impedes the north’s potential. The Taskforce asserts that the NationalWater Initiative is an effective framework for delivering sustainable waterresource management but that its implementation is too slow. Further,the importance of Indigenous rights in water allocation needs to be explicitlyrecognised in statutory processes including recommendations oncultural water allocations and that there is an equitable allocation for consumptiveuses and support for the Indigenous purchase of water fromconsumptive allocations.The Taskforce has called for a strategic focus, national leadership andrecognition of the north’s ongoing contribution to national prosperity todeliver an integrated and sustainable region in addition to identifying theimperative of ‘Closing the Gap’ for Indigenous Australians.Fifteen recommendations arose out of the Taskforce’s findings addressingeach of the terms of reference.On the sustainable capacity of northern rivers and basins, the Taskforceidentified the acute lack of data on climate, land, water and environmentalattributes and a lack of understanding of Indigenous knowledge. Theseinformation gaps are a hindrance to quantifying sustainable water usefor varied uses. In addition, little is known about groundwater resourcesand the risk of salinity associated with its utilisation. The Taskforce alsoidentified that there is a disparity in measuring the values of water betweensocial, cultural and economic uses. In response the Taskforce hasrecommended that a range of data continue to be collected on biophysical,geological and socio-economic attributes and analysed to inform regional,catchment and local planning decisions.With regard to governance, the Taskforce notes that there are greatersynergies between cross-jurisdictional east-west relationships than withsouthern cities such as Brisbane, Canberra or Perth. But these are notreflected within administrative bureaucracies. To properly implement theNational Water Initiative, the Taskforce recommend that there should befar greater coordination between northern regions across the jurisdictions.On this they propose a Northern Australia Land and Water Authorityto be based in the north to improve northern institutional capacity andadvocate for the north.The Taskforce also calls for a Council of Northern Australia, to be chairedby the Prime Minister, to provide leadership in working with the States andTerritory to develop a vision for a sustainable future for northern Australia.Above is essentially a summary of the Taskforce’s Final Report. It presentssome major opportunities for advancing the principles of ecologicalsustainability across the north, including Far North Queensland.For more information: National Water Initiative:www.nwc.gov.au/www/html/117-national-water-initiative.aspand the Northern Australia Land and Water Taskforce: www.nalwt.gov.au/

‘It’s Time’ To Waste LessBy Cathie Brett, Farmgate MarketsPreviously, in Alessia Mortari’s article entitled ‘Ethical Shopping-Your Dollar is Your Vote’ some thought-provoking issues wereraised about the implications of the choices we make as consumers.The challenge to develop ethical spending habits was encouraged inthe spirit of inspiring and maintaining healthy social and environmentalconsequences to our actions.Some may remember the political call for change in the early 70’swhen the Labor Party lead by Gough Whitlam, were seeking electionwith their tuneful campaign slogan, ‘It’s Time’. The tune was sungby popular musical personalities and it evoked a sense of a nationsearching for a new identity.There is a palpable sense of this same atmosphere within the globalcommunity, questioning our responsibilities to one another and ouridentities within our modern landscapes. ‘It’s Time’ to review our actionsin the current climate of environmental overload, so apparentwith the virtual daily disasters affecting communities around the globe.Regardless of your attitude towards current weather patterns and theconsequential upheavals, we are witnessing the cause and effect ofa planet suffering stress. ‘It’s Time’ to consider how we as individualscontribute to the daily demands being imposed upon our benevolentplanet. We are accountable and the challenge for every one of us is toconsider how to balance the effect of give and take through our dailyactions.Perhaps it’s time to start sharing your thoughts and concerns throughyour social and community networks. What are the prevailing attitudesto food; its production, purchase, consumption and waste disposalmethods? Encourage your friends and family to set the wheels ofchange in motion by making one different food choice and see whatpositive changes eventuate.‘What if I chose to shop at local farmers markets instead of buyingfrom a supermarket?’‘What are the implications of requesting that my local supermarketengage with and support local suppliers and farmers?’‘How could my family contribute to the reduction of food waste andunnecessary packaging?’‘I want my family members to make healthier food choices, but howdo I encourage them?’‘We live in a unit…how can we grow and compost our own food?’‘It’s Time’ to encourage thought about how our communities can givemore and take less.Perhaps by becoming more conscious about our food choices, we arebeginning a journey back to a time of greater self-reliance. A step backin time to where our communities supported the local greengrocer andbutcher and our fathers were sent out to fetch the horse droppings forthe vege garden, when the ice-cream man passed by in a horse andcart. If the veges weren’t eaten they were composted.We are indeed fortunate that our climate facilitates the production ofenormously diverse crops, from the staples we know and love to theunfamiliar and enticing, seasonal fruits found throughout the region.What better than a chilled lemonade fruit after mowing the lawn on adripping-hot Saturday morning or a Sunday brunch of chilled rambutans,mango, abiu, longans, and mangosteens followed by a prawn,crab and avocado and baby spinach salad?So apartment dwellers, be encouraged to establish a patio garden.Train that Ceylon Spinach up a trellis in a large tub, taste the livinggoodness of some home-sprouted alfalfa and learn to buy seasonalproduce. There won’t be local apples available in the tropics but considerall the exciting alternatives.Purchase a worm farm for food waste and harvest the juice to fertilizeyour Ceylon Spinach and cherry tomatoes. Keep your shopping bagshandy in the car and show the kids how easy it is to waste less.What we show them today, they’ll be practicing ‘tomorrow’.Consider that every attempt to be an ethical consumer will be a stepaway from the mounting problems of packaging and waste disposaland it’s inevitable daily journey up the Kuranda Range Road.Have a look at the staggering statistics about food waste on the sitewww.savefoodstopwaste.com founded by John Dee. Then thinkabout the costs of transporting food to your table from across theglobe or from one end of our own vast nation to another.What will you do differently the next time you reach for your hip pocket?Go ahead, take the challenge! After all, ‘It’s Time’.I’ll see you at Farmgate, Saturday mornings.What’s In Season This Month?Go to www.australiantropicalfoods.comWatermelon Granita withSummer FruitCreated by Allan Campion and Michele CurtisThis semi-frozen dessert is refreshing in the summer months. Spoonthe dessert into chilled glass bowls to prevent the granita from meltingtoo quickly when it’s served.Ingredients1 kg watermelon75 g (1/3 cup) caster sugar60 ml (1/4 cup) white spirit (vodka, tequila or rum)3 pink grapefruit or 4 oranges1/2 cantaloupe (rock melon)200 g strawberriesIt’s time for freedomTime for movingIt’s time to beginYes it’s time……‘It’s time for all folkIt’s time for movingIt’s time to giveYes it’s time……’PreparationChop the watermelon, discarding the skin and pips. Place the melon ina food processor, along with the caster sugar and white spirit, and blenduntil smooth. Strain through a sieve and discard any remaining pulp. Tipthe watermelon juice into a shallow baking tray and freeze overnight.Remove the skins and pith of the citrus fruit. Remove the segmentsfrom the membrane so that each segment is free from any pith orseeds. Either dice the cantaloupe or scoop into balls using a melonballer. Remove the leaves from the strawberries, cut in half if necessaryand wash. Combine all the fruit in a bowl and set aside.Remove the granita from the freezer and flake with a fork. Divide thefruit salad between 6 chilled glass bowls, add a large spoonful of granitaand serve. (sourced from www.sbs.com)- 5-

Forest GardenersBy Russell ConstableI’ve been thinking that the developers at EllaBay should perhaps consider advertising fora special type of gardener if their proposed450 hectare urban development/resort complexactually gets approval from the FederalGovernment.Their advertisement could go a bit like this:Wanted skilled rainforest seed collectors/planters/gardeners (at least 7 positions available)Qualifications:• Must be able to run through rainforest atspeeds approaching 50 km/hr• Good swimmer (able to swim wide riversconfidently)• Ability to jump 1.5 metres high with ease(needed for seed collection)• Ability to distribute thousands of fertile seedseeds up to 5km from parent trees• Willingness to work 7 days a week 12 hoursper day• Must be a frugivore and willing to subsist onrainforest fruits (often toxic)• Prepared to endure extreme risks from trafficand wild/domestic dogs• No accommodation available will have tocamp out in one of Australia’s wettest regions• Applicants required to work alone and unassisted• No financial remuneration available, no superannuationand no health care of courseJust quietly I don’t think there would be a rushof applicants for these jobs!Want the good news… there’s already a greatteam at Ella Bay doing this job perfectly.Indeed they and their ancestors have beenperforming this task for so long that plant specieshave co-evolved with these birds to makegood use of their seed dispersal methods.Of course I am talking about the EndangeredSouthern Cassowary Casuarius casuariusjohnsonii.There are scores of reasons for humans towork hard to ensure this endangered bird issaved from the extinction it now faces. TodayI just want to focus on its role as a seed dispersalagent.As I mentioned cassowaries have beenaround for a long time and they appear tohave evolved from a group of large flightlessbirds called the Emuarius. The Emuarius existedabout 20 to 30 million years ago. TheAustralian fossil records show Cassowariesin Pliocene fossils (3 million to 7 million yearsold). That’s plenty of time for the co-evolutionof both rainforest plants and cassowaries.These birds are one of the few animals capableof distributing the seed contained in largerainforest fruits.The long term survival of large fruited rainforesttrees is strongly linked to the presence ofviable populations of seed dispersing Cassowaries.During the time the seed spends inthe cassowary’s gut the bird may travel distancesexceeding 5km from the parent tree.Without these birds many trees have no wayof maintaining their population spread.Why are Cassowaries so good at distributingrainforest seeds?Good question I’m glad you asked! Cassowarieshave been observed eating over 200species of rainforest seeds. They have a relativelyshort gut and don’t grind seed in a gizzardlike a lot of birds. This means the seedgoes in one end of the bird wrapped in a nicefruity parcel and about 10 hours later it popsout the other end of the bird cleaned of thefruit and deposited with a nice fertiliser package…thank you very much! Cassowary droppingshave also been shown to repel seedeating animals ensuring the excreted seedhas a reduced chance of damage by seedeating animals prior to germination.Often fruits around seeds contain germinationinhibiters so by digesting this coatingthe cassowary starts the germination clockticking. During their studies, B.L.Weber andI.E.Woodrow found that passing through acassowary gut improved germination ratesfor the rare rainforest tree Ryparosa. Theyrecorded 92% germination with cassowaryand 4% germination without, pretty strongevidence of the benefits of this avian seeddisperser!I wish to quote our (former) Federal EnvironmentMinister Peter Garrett AM MP. This wastaken from the media release Decisive ActionTaken To Protect Mission Beach Cassowariesdated 28 July 2008.Minister Garrett said “The southern cassowaryis a case study of how native speciescontribute to the overall resilience of an eco-- 6-system”. ”The southern cassowary eats rainforestfruits like native laurels, lilly pillies andpalms, and disperses the seeds in their droppings.So their survival was central to the regenerationof the area and long-term viabilityof rainforest communities”.Well that’s the good news now here’s the bad,Australia’s Southern cassowaries are facingextinction. Why? Well the biggest factor hasbeen habitat loss and fragmentation.Kofron and Chapman assessed the declineof the species in 2006 and found only 20 to25 percent of their original habitat remains.Remaining habitat is fragmented which geneticallyisolates cassowary populations andexposes them to their second major threatwhich is vehicle strike. Kofron and ChapmanStudied 140 cases of cassowary mortalityand 55% were from vehicle strikes (followedby 18% from dog attacks). Between 1989 and1998 Mission Beach recorded approximately40 cassowary deaths in vehicle strikes alone.If you check out the Queensland Parks andWildlife 2006-2007 State of the Wet TropicsReport it documents 31 Cassowary deaths inthe wake of Cyclone Larry in 2007.Considering the Australian southern cassowaryhas a population of about 1200 to possibly1500 animals, these mortality figures arefrightening. There are more pandas in Chinathan cassowaries in Australia that’s why I’msitting here taking hours to punch this out with2 fingers!But stop! The situation is not hopeless, howeverour government needs to take firm anddecisive action to protect this species whilea genetically viable population exists to workwith. habitat preservation should be the number1 item on their list.Returning to the situation at Ella Bay, theconstruction of a 450 hectare urban development/resortwith a forecast population ofalmost 5000 people in an area that containsendangered cassowaries and recorded endangeredcassowary habitat is simply unacceptable.Places like Mission Beach havealready proven that cassowaries and largehuman populations cannot coexist withoutunacceptable and unsustainable losses tofragile cassowary populations.Ella Bay has a cassowary population thatneeds our Federal Government’s intervention.If the Federal Environment Minister overlooksthe gravity of the future threats facingElla Bay’s Cassowaries we may all be readingadvertisements like the one I have suggestedand I doubt any of us will be laughing.Extinction is forever.

global village incorporatingthe latest Agreen principles is in theplanning phase on theAtherton Tablelands.Christine Doan, formerOlympian equestrienneand a committed conservationist, is developing a 49ha site whichwill be linked to the existing town of Malanda via a pedestrian bridgeacross the North Johnstone River.The planning process has had active community input from early on,and an extensive master plan is available on the website (www.malandanorth.com).Christine has said ``I want to develop more than land.The Tablelands, on the cusp of development, needs a model for moresustainable development which stacks up environmentally, sociallyand economically.’’The planned neighbourhood will be developed in clusters of housesand commercial premises interwoven with green belts. The site willcontinue to be surrounded by farmland and include food productionareas.Greening MalandaBy Naomi CescottoSome features of the planned development include:• At least 10 per cent of the developed area of the site will be set asidefor economic pursuits.• Building covenants based on sustainable passive design and lowcarbon development will define the appearance of buildings. Localmaterials will be used where possible.• A carbon footprint and reduced carbon reduction target will be prepared.The combined effect of energy efficient design and solar powerwill reduce energy related emissions by at least 60 per cent.• It’s planned to generate power on site from renewable sources anddistribute on site via a micro grid (and exported at times of peak production).• It is proposed to require all dwellings to install photovoltaic (PV)panels at a rate of 1kW for the base dwelling/first bedroom + 0.5kW/per additional bedroom.• Approximately 80% reduction in demand for Malanda’s water sources.Demand reduction measures will reduce per-capita consumptionto less than 220litres/person/day. Rainwater will be collected andtreated on-site and reticulated for potable uses. Grey water will betreated in small household clusters and reticulated for non-potableuses. Together these measures will reduce per capita consumption ofmains water by 80%.• Grey water recycling and storm water management measures willalso reduce the quantity of wastewater emissions from the site. A networkof green corridors will provide storm water management, climatecontrol, food growing areas, circulation paths and define clusters ofhousing. Incorporation of best practice Water Sensitive Urban Designmeasures in the design of streets and green corridors will improve thequality of storm water leaving the site.• Transport to and from the site and related greenhouse gas emissionswill be reduced through the coordination of deliveries, use ofweb for accessing services, car-pooling and provision of jobs and serviceson site. Malanda North will be a walkable community.• The ecological values of waterways and conservation areas adjoiningMalanda North will be protected through replanting, buffer zonesand preservation of floodways as open space.Founder of Trees for the Evelyn and Atherton Tablelands (TREAT)Joan Wright will be a neighbor to the new Malanda North development.The 91-year-old lives at the nearby Ozcare Aged Care facilitybuilt ten years ago on land Ms Doan donated. Mrs Wright said MalandaNorth was an exciting opportunity for the community to havea real say in the shape of its future. She was very interested in thegreen potential of the plans she had seen so far.Upper Mitchell River Catchment - Wet Tropics Habitat RestorationSmall Grants Scheme 2009- 2010. Project Update February 2010 by Brynn MatthewsThe Mitchell River WatershedManagement Grouphas recently awarded $75,000of grants, from funds providedby the Queensland government,to support ten habitatrestoration projects in the Julatten– Mt Molloy area of the upperMitchell River catchment.These projects will build onthose already assisted by the $80,000 of grants awarded to landownersin the Julatten-Mt Molloy corridor in 2008-9 to provide habitat islands,wildlife corridors and riparian restoration / fencing. These areasof habitat make it easier for the iconic animal species of the adjacentWorld Heritage Wet Tropics to move between protected areas that havebecome separated by extensive clearing of vegetation in this area.The 2008-9 projects have so far resulted in the planting of at least13,000 trees on 6.5 hectares of previously cleared land on 12 differentproperties with some owners continuing to plant more trees. Theten projects funded in the current round of grants include six that arerestoring or protecting riparian vegetation, three along different sectionsof Devil Devil Creek, one on Bushy Creek and two on Rifle Creek. Theother projects are replanting rainforest on previously cleared areas andwill be replacing pasture or areas cleared of weeds such as lantana. In- 7-these latter projects the plantings will not only extend existing rainforestbut will also buffer the edge of the forest and reduce the riskof any future weed invasion. Landowners are all making significantin-kind contributions in time and resources, if not expenditure of additionalfunds. Grants are being spent on materials, such as seedlings,pots, potting mix, posts and fencing, mulch, watering systems, orcontract labour for tasks such as minor earthworks, hole-digging forseedlings and fencing.The aim of this project is to make it easier for the unique wildlife of theWet Tropics to move between protected areas. The replanted areaswill act as “stepping stones” and help wildlife to travel across landcleared for agriculture or rural-residential development. This will notonly assist their survival but, by allowing movement of individuals betweenprotected areas, will also help maintain as much genetic biodiversityas possible in their population. Smaller sedentary creaturessuch as frogs, lizards and native rodents may also find permanenthabitat in these areas.You can find out more about the progress of this grant scheme, includinglooking at photographs of the projects from 2008-9, by visitingthe Mitchell River Watershed Management Group’s website at www.mitchell-river.com.au or contact the Mitchell River Watershed ManagementGroup on (07) 4053 3471 or by email at brynn@mitchell-river.com.au

Marine Campaigners ReportBy Steve RyanMako Back on the Menu:Does the Mako Shark campaign take a biteout of fishing groupsconservationist claims?regardless of the consequences.In last year’s December public meeting organised by theFishing and Lifestyle Party it was claimed that fishers arethe real conservationists. But successful moves by recreationalfishing groups to overturn a ban on killing theglobally vulnerable Short Finned Mako Shark may highlighta tendency to reject controls over fishing activitiesThe Shortfin Mako is currently being assessed by the Australian Government’s Threatened SpeciesScientific Committee, which is due to report in 2011, so surely this decision to now allow the unregulated killing of this species is premature.Oceanic sharks, such as the Short Finned Mako, have suffered drastic global declines at the hands of commercial fishing fleets. On its own, recreationaland charter fishing may not be a major cause of shark declines, but they are now an additional pressure on species approaching the brinkand they need to be aware of this.In this case, recreational and charter fishing groups rejected legislation that allowed catch and release fishing of globally vulnerable Mako sharks,and instead have secured themselves the right to kill these great ocean travellers for sport and food.The argument often utilised by fishing groups is that as “users” of the marine environment, fishers act as stewards and not exploiters of the resource,working to ensure a long term future for their pastime. Undoubtedly, there are many who selflessly practice this ethos and equally those who do not.A major pillar in the fishing lobby argument cited lack of positive scientific proof that the species is in danger in our waters. This demand to showscientific proof that conservation measures are “necessary” is a growing and worrying trend. A true steward may first ask for positive proof that theiractivities were causing no harm.See www.amcs.org.au for how you can helpQuote for the day: “...when a well known collector named Alanson Bryan realised he had shot the last three specimens of Black Momos, a speciesof forest bird that had only been discovered the previous decade, he noted that the news filled him with ‘joy’.” Bill BrysonPhoto: Mako killed in the U.S.The report examines three protection scenarios for the Coral Sea:• Scenario 1: A single large no-take reserve;• Scenario 2: A network of no-take reserves (30% of the Coral Sea) in aReport multiple-use finds zoned park; large marine parks better valueMarine Parks not cheaper by the dozen• Scenario 3: Three smaller no-take reserves, comprising 30% of the CoralSea area and managed as separate parks.A report carried out by the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies and funded by the Protect Our Coral Sea campaign finds it ischeaper for the A taxpayer top-down and better and for bottom-up the environment approach to have one was single applied large fully to protected each park. of these scenarios toestimate the management costs.The report examines three protection scenarios for the Coral Sea:• Scenario 1: A single large no-take reserve;• Scenario 2: A network The top-down of no-take reserves approach (30% examined of the Coral Sea) the in current a multiple-use operational zoned park; budgets for• Scenario 3: Three Commonwealth smaller no-take reserves, MPAs comprising and identified 30% of the key Coral predictors Sea area and for managed the estimation as separate parks. ofmanagement costs within these reserves.A top-down and bottom-up approach was applied to each of these scenarios to estimate the management costs.The top-down approach examined the current operational budgets for Commonwealth MPAs and identified key predictors for the estimation ofThe bottom-up approach identified management requirements for the Coralmanagement costs within these reserves.The bottom-up approach Sea and identified cost estimates management for requirements these activities, for the Coral Sea based and cost on expert estimates interviews for these activities, and based was on expert interviewsand was informed by existing by existing costs for costs Great Barrier for GBRMPA Reef Marine and Park QPWS. Authority and Qld Parks and Wildlife Service.Scenario 1 – one large notakemarine ParkScenario 2 – one large marinepark network with GBRMPtype zonesScenario 3 – Three smallerand seperate marine parksInitial Annual BudgetTop-Down $m Bottom-Up $m2.7 7.814 13.417.6- 8 -

This month the Coral Sea facesanother important challengeThe work to Protect Our Coral Sea continues to make headway nationwidebut will soon face a major challenge. As part of the Commonwealth GovernmentBioregional Marine Planning for Eastern Australia, the release ofmaps detailing the Areas For Further Assessment (AFFAs) are due anyday now; and have been since December last year.In order to enable the protection of the Coral Sea’s large and migratorymarine wildlife, the conservation movement and others in the marine tourismand fishing industry are seeking the entire area to be considered as asingle entity. The alternative is for the protection of smaller areas scatteredaround the region that are unlikely to provide adequate protection for open ocean wildlife such as Tuna, Billfish, migratory sharks, andturtles targeted by the longline fisheries.Whilst there has been differences of opinion between some in the tourism industry and conservation movement over the final managementarrangements of any Coral Sea Marine Park, the consensus remains that the area is worthy of protection, and that a single largemarine park is the most appropriate biological scale to manage the important ecosystem processes such as dispersal and migration.Why is the Coral Sea a special case?• A patchwork of small marine parks will be insufficient to protect the special values of the Coral Sea. Unlike the marine planningregions in most other mainland Australian waters, the Coral Sea contains a mix of reef based and open ocean environments withrelatively low current commercial use and visitation.• The isolated reefs and sea mounts that characterise the Coral Sea are far more vulnerable to fishing pressure than the Great BarrierReef system, and its large ocean predators are among the first to disappear under sustained fishing pressure.• The contentious decisions around marine reserves for the region have already been decided some years ago through the GreatBarrier Reef Representative Areas Program. All this provides a rare opportunity for large scale marine protection that will safeguardagainst further erosion of Coral Sea habitats and wildlife populations.• Like the outer Barrier Reef of decades past, this area is currently little visited. Today GPS, EPERBs and bigger boats have made theouter reef accessible to many more. What future changes may also bring the Coral Sea many more visitors?• In a world where our oceans are under increasing pressure and large marine wildlife is fast disappearing, the Coral Sea offers a rareopportunity to take a pro-active step in turning around the fortunes of our world’s great oceans.• A vibrant ocean area teeming with marine life large and small in a spectacle that rivals the herds and predators of the African plains- surely a legacy worth preserving for future generations.TAKE ACTIONPROTECT OUR CORAL SEAWrite or email Federal Minister Peter Garrett and local MP Jim Turnour asking them to protect the Coral Seaas a single large Marine ParkEven if you have signed the petition, or written previously, please send your message once more. Let themknow that you care enough to write again.Ask this Commonwealth Government to protect the wide ranging and large ocean wildlife of the Coral Sea ina single large Marine Park of a scale that can protect large ocean wildlife.Other points to include:- The Marine Park should include all the area now bounded by the temporary Coral Sea Conservation Zone.- To take note of world leading marine scientists’ call for the full protection of the Coral Sea.- Tragically, less than one percent of the world’s oceans are protected from fishing.- Queensland’s Far North stands to benefit through establishing the world’s largest protected area network.If you haven’t already, join the over 23000 campaign supporters and sign the petition online at www.cafnec.org.auDon’t forget to tell your friends.- 9-

Coordinator’s ReportBy Sarah Hoyalcan’t believe where the time has gone. LastI time I looked it was Christmas and now Aprilis almost upon us! It has been as busy as everin the CAFNEC office – that month of quiettime in January Steve promised seemed to beremiss this year!I have continued to work over the last 3 monthswith Sustainability TNQ - the regional initiativewhich seeks to drive sustainability through abroad partnership across all sectors of thecommunity. I have been particularly involvedin organising an Energy Efficiency Summitplanned for early May and also througha Planning project group which includes theMayor working on a project to drive sustainabilityin local planning.As the Conservation Director of the NorthernGulf Resource Management Group (NGRMG)I have been involved in supporting the community’sneed for financial support to destockland that has been affected by the Gulf Floodsof 2009. Over 1 million hectares of land wasinundated for several weeks and is strugglingto recover (see Dec 2009 Ecotone for moredetails). On the 22-24 February I also attendedthe NGRMG general meeting in Mt Surprisewhich gave me more of an insight intothe diverse, positive and collaborative projectsgoing on in that region.CAFNEC recently received almost $10,000from the State Government to rollout their LowCarbon Diet program to the southern part ofCairns. Anna McGuire has been engaged tocoordinate this project which will run for about6 months in Mooroobool, Edmonton and Gordonvale.Through the Climate Change Appeallast year we raised over $4,000. This money isbeing used to support Anna one day a week toundertake climate change work in the region.Thank you to all those who supported this Appealand particularly to NRA EnvironmentalConsultants for their donation of $3,000.Administratively we have been doing our strategicand annual planning - looking for innovativeways to keep the organisation healthyand focused. This includes some alternativemethods of fundraising which we plan to triallater this year.In mid-February I went to Brisbane for a weekto participate in a planning meeting for theCoral Sea campaign and a State EnvironmentRoundtable with the Minister for ClimateChange and Sustainability, Kate Jones.Kate has also visited Cairns recently as partof Community Cabinet meetings where sheattended a Cairns Environment Roundtablethat CAFNEC hosted. Reports on these twoRoundtables can be found elsewhere in Ecotone.In the last few months I have also supportedlocal community campaigns including Ella Bayand False Cape. If you want to know moreabout these developments or where the campaignsare at, please don’t hesitate to contactour office.It looks like Envirofiesta and the WildernessBike Tour will be on again this year. We arevery fortunate at CAFNEC to have volunteerswho come back year after year with the energyand enthusiasm to make theses eventspossible.As ever, the door is always open (sometimesmetaphorically!) so please contact the CAF-NEC office if you have any issues or concernsthat you think we may be able to help you with.NEW CAFNEC PRESIDENT –ELLEN WEBEREllen completed her science degree fromJames Cook University in Townsville in1994, graduating with a first class Honoursin Botany. She moved to the JCU Cairnscampus in 1996, and with three other lecturers,established the School of TropicalBiology. During this time she also undertooka higher research degree studyingrainforest plants in the Daintree lowlands.She first joined the CAFNEC MC in 1997, including a stint as Secretary.It was a busy time, and in 2000 she left the committee. Twosons later (Louis and Frank), Ellen is delighted to be back at workingfor CAFNEC. She remains in awe of the energy, commitmentand productivity shown by staff, management committee, membersand volunteers. The midges at Cominos Houses still drive her madand she is a bit nervous about being elected President, given thecalibre of her predecessors.NEW CAFNEC VICE PRESIDENT –JEREMY LITTLEJeremy has always had an affiliationwith nature and conservationfor as long as he can remember.This developed into a quest for natureconservation through a careerin the environment.Jeremy completed a Science degree in ecology, with Honours infire ecology. Jeremy then worked in various jobs for NSW andQLD National Parks in wildlife and bushfire research and in Parkmanagement. Jeremy is currently at James Cook University completinga thesis on “Climate change and bushfire impacts on rainforest,eucalypt forest and woodland distribution in the Wet Tropics.”Jeremy has lived and worked in FNQ for 12 years and has beeninvolved with CAFNEC throughout this time.Her day job is at the Wet Tropics Management Authority, in thePlanning and Conservation Program, working on vegetation mapping,threatened species, climate change, heritage conservationissues and building research partnerships with other organisations.In 2009, Ellen won first prize in the banana cake (iced) category atthe Cairns Show. She beat a number of entrants from local, stateand commonwealth government agencies in this competition, andwas awarded the inaugural trophy for the inter-governmental cakebaking challenge. This year she intends to enter her mango chutney.- 10 -Jeremy is a keen photographer, enjoys bushwalking, camping,exploring, music and spiritual awareness.He dislikes complacency, apathy and a lack of vision in dealingwith the difficult task of creating a sustainable existence in the21st Century.

- 11 -Don’t Forget toNominate!Next time you shop at Piccones Supa IGA,Pease Street, Manunda, don’t forget tonominate CAFNEC as your benefactor forthe Local Community Benefits Program.It’s easy. Just let the operator at the checkoutknow, before you make payment foryour groceries, that you wish to nominatethe Cairns & Far North Environment Centre.(Make sure you say our full name, not justCAFNEC.)Points are then allocated to us and at theend of each period; the points are tallied andtransferred to a dollar value. This is an easyopportunity to fundraise for our organisationwhile shopping! So tell your friends and familyto nominate CAFNEC at the checkout tomaximize our points.One Sided Paper -Don’t Throw It Out!CAFNEC is on the look out for your unwantedA4 sheets/documents that areprinted on one side only. Please save thispaper for us as we use the other side for allour internal office requirements. This givesus a financial saving as we do not need topurchase as much paper and of course hasobvious environmental benefits.Often a workplace has a huge amount ofdiscarded one sided paper that could bereused. So keep your eyes open and startcollecting.All donations gratefully accepted. Justdrop off at Cominos House or give Mariea call on 40321746.Many thanks to those who have alreadydropped off some good supplies.EcotoneIs the newsletter of the Cairns & Far NorthEnvironment Centre (CAFNEC).Ecotone is published quarterly and sent toour membership.Reader contributions, including letters arewelcome - however content is subject to theeditor’s discretion.Disclaimer:Views expressed in Ecotone are notnecessarily those of CAFNEC as a whole.CAFNEC Management Committee:President:Ellen WeberVice President:Jeremy LittleSecretary:Stuart WorboysTreasurer:Michael BryanCom. Member:Andrew PicconeCom. Member:Andre GrantCom. Member:Lisa StottCAFNEC Staff:Coordinator:Marine Campaigner:Climate Project Officer:NRM Project Officer:Administrator:Sarah HoyalSteve RyanAnna McGuireNatalia GomezMarie ShortPh: (07) 4032 1746 (Coordinator)Ph: (07) 4032 1586 (Marine Campaigner)Fax: (07) 4053 3779Email: coord@cafnec.org.auAddress: P O Box 323NNorth Cairns, Qld, 4870Web address: www.cafnec.org.auSeeking members to represent CAFNECECOTONE is produced by CAFNEC.Edited by Lisa Stott and Michael Bryan.Layout/Design by Renee Cashman.Hello all members…CAFNEC is a member of a lot of boards and committees around theregion as well as state and national bodies, and sometimes strugglesto get to them all and actively participate. We are seeking interestedand skilled members who want to be involved and representCAFNEC at some of these committees. The groups that we arelooking for member participation on at present include the following.- Mitchell River Catchment Management Group- Mt Peter Planning Advisory Group- Crocodile Management Advisory Committee- Cairns Port Long Term Dredge Spoil Disposal Technical AdvisoryCommitteeCall Sarah on 4032 1746to find out more info.The Only Local HolisticPublication in FNQInforming - Inspiring - IntegratingFocusing on the topics thatare important to you:EnvironmentHealthSpiritCommunitythe ArtsFound at health food shops,groovy cafes, new age shopsand centres.www.connectmagazine.org

Would you like your Ecotone to come via email instead of by post -And save CAFNEC money? Email: admin@cafnec.org.auIf undelivered return to:CAFNEC, PO Box 323N,North Cairns, QLD 4870Ph: (07) 4032 1746Fax: (07) 4053 3779