Forum on the future of public transport in our region

Posted on September 22, 2017 by

An opportunity to get inolved in discussion about public transport in our region, the need for rail services to accomodate a growing population of residents and tourists, and having great bike paths without destroying existing rail infrastructure.
Hear from speakers including Katie Milne, Tweed Shire Mayor,
Dr Mehreen Faruqi NSW MP, and Geoff Reid from the Northern Rivers Railway Action group. Plus a screening of our film – Bringing trains back to the Northern Rivers and a special guest.

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Protest outside local MP Geoff Provest’s Tweed South office

Posted on September 19, 2017 by

URGENT

Ten days have passed since Tweed Mayor Katie Milne sent the urgent message from Tweed Council that logging on private land at Limpinwood was damaging the Environment Protection Zones there threatening species such as koalas, glossy black cockatoos , masked owl, and marbled frogmouths.

The location near Tyalgum is an important part of a wildlife corridor from the Border Ranges to Nightcap through the Mt Warning Reserve.

Thus it is part of our World Heritage area.

Council has investigated and called for a halt to unauthorised logging until a comprehensive risks assessment can be made.

Mayor Milne has yet to receive any sort of reply from the NSW Environment Minister Gabrielle Upton.

Northern Rivers Guardians voted at the monthly meeting Saturday 16th to mount a protest outside local MP Geoff Provest’s Tweed South office on Thursday 21 st September at 2 pm, calling on him to pressure the Minister to respond.

We congratulate Tweed Council for prompt action and we will also call upon Federal MP Justine Elliot to do what she can through EPBC legislation to protect the biodiversity of this unique caldera .

When: Thursday 21 st September at 2 pm

Where : Minjungbal Drive (opposite Tweed City shopping centre) South Tweed

What : peaceful protest (make/bring signs) and deliver a letter

Who : NRG, Supporters of Koala preservation ( & other wildlife ) Team Koala, CEC

Why : NSW government has failed to respond

Hold Minister to account

Questions ?? northernriversguardians@gmail.com

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NRG May meeting

Posted on May 14, 2017 by

NRG monthly meeting will be on the 2oth May at Mavis Kitchen from 1 to 3 PM, as usual. We will plan for the stall at World Environment Day  ( on Sunday 4th June) at Murwillumbah (weather permitting.)

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Stop Adani film/discussion evening

Posted on April 24, 2017 by

Stop Adani film/discussion evening on Thursday 27th April .

5:30 PM start (bring a plate to share) and film starts about 6 PM. Birth and Beyond Room next door to Nimbin Environment Centre.

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HELP – WESTPAC: STOP ADANI

Posted on April 22, 2017 by

Westpac Bank recently announced a new policy to address climate change concerns.

This supports emissions controls and refuses lending to new coal mines in Galilee Basin. This decision by Westpac is being attacked by Federal politicians so we need to support Westpac : we will deliver a letter to Federal MP Justine Elliot saying we need her to defend our climate/our future in Parliament.

Demonstrate : gather outside Justine Elliot’s office opposite Tweed City shopping centre at South Tweed at 11 AM on Thursday 4th 
office : 107 Minjungbal Drive Tweed Heads South
If you can’t be there contact the (ALP) Member for Richmond. 
FaceBook: Justine ElliotMP. Phone : 075523 4371 
email: justine.elliot.mp@aph.gov.au

Stop Adani – Save The Reef – Save the world !
The Australian Government has begged the Indian capitalist Gautam Adani to take over central Queensland and said it would “take care of” opposition from local traditional owners and other landholders . They voted to allow Adani as much of our precious water as they want (to wash the coal.)
India and China are moving away from dirty coal – generated electricity in favour of renewable technologies because of air and water pollution. Why not Australia? Money from fossil fuel companies buys too many of our politicians. Resources Minister Senator Matt Canavan needs to be sacked , and the National Party needs to sack Barnaby Joyce for their lies and support for Adani . They want to “loan” nearly a Billion dollars of public money for Adani to build a railway from their mega-mine to Abbot Point . Adani has a terrible track record and will never pay back this “loan.” That doesn’t matter say these two charlatans as “other companies will exploit the Galilee Basin” once Adani gets started there.

The Great Barrier Reef will suffer more damage: it is in dire stress, maybe even terminal decline already! But that doesn’t matter : the thousands of jobs lost in our tourism industry will be replaced by coal mine jobs…until robotics and black lung kick in. Barnaby Joyce says the only way Australia can stay afloat is to be a quarry for other nations. Good luck with that strategy : the world is moving away from fossil fuels.
The Coal-ition Federal Government is supported by the ALP Queensland government, so all three major parties need a slap. The Federal Senate (Greens and minor parties) could stop this outrageous treason against our future. Tell them to do it!

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protect North Byron Parkland

Posted on April 22, 2017 by

Campaign to protect North Byron Parkland Festival venue:

The Mega Festival’s 5 year trial comes to an end this year, and the owners of the Parklands site are applying for a 20 month extension to that approval. They and the new 51% shareholder of the Splendour and Falls festivals (U.S. festival conglomerate Live Nation), believe they will lose money if they don’t get the extension because of future acts they have booked. What they are really aiming for is permanent approval of these festivals and others at this venue for up to 50,000 patrons. Please find the time to email or send submissions to the NSW Department of Planning  to prevent the extension. (Submissions due by 26 April). Later, we will have a chance to object to the proposed permanent approval. These massive events are destroying the culture and lifestyle of this unique community and also affect the ecology of the high-conservation area.
To object to the 20-month extension, go here:  http://www.majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.pl?action=view_job&job_id=8331.
Even a few words will help as submissions are counted as objecting or in favour,

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re: northern rivers floods:

Posted on April 6, 2017 by

Hi NRG people,

As always we have lots to cope with the rich and greedy often failing to recognize they share the fate of our world. Parliamentarians in Australia hand around lumps of coal as if they worship black lung. Qld government wants to back a foreign coal mine with handouts.

Trump thinks we don’t need to worry about climate change and says it is a “Chinese hoax.” Cyclone Debbie recently whipped thru here as if nature wanted to wash us clean. BUT…, our species has some spectacular people doing great work and will overcome all obstacles in the long run.

If any of you have a problem that other NRG members might be able to assist, please contact Sharon, our volunteer NRG members’ welfare officer Sharon home 0266793209 or  mobile  0458138540. You may need help with property or health issues. Telephone counselling?

Gasfield Free NR has set up a temporary help centre for flood victims in the disused Lismore railway station. People wanting to volunteer or needing help can register requests for assistance online at lismore.recovers.org or they can come to the train station.

A government hotline also offers advice on disaster relief, call 1800 018444 .

I hope all members are safe and well. We need you. The world needs you.

Aloha,

Scott Sledge

President

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Train film night march 13

Posted on March 9, 2017 by

I’d like to invite you to our film showing at 7pm on the 13th of March

FYI Poster / Invite attached as printable PDF, please forward this to anybody you think might be interested

We are promoting this around the region with the intention of gaining support for the reintroduction of the Rail service, in the form of a Commuter Train Service.

The Film is being shown at the Murwillumbah Services Club

We showed this to all the TSC Councillors in the Council Chambers two weeks ago.

This film was put together by The Northern Rivers Railway Action Group (NRRAG)

Hope to see you there.

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‘Concert for Koalas’ Pottsville 11 March

Posted on March 5, 2017 by

‘Concert for Koalas’ Pottsville

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re: kings forest

Posted on January 27, 2017 by

Hello Concerned citizens,
Just when we thought that Kings Forest couldn’t get worse, it has.
Breifly, Leda Corp has applied to vary their plans for the small piece of land on the ocean (east ) side of the Tweed Coast Road . Instead of “rural supplies” store (aka lanscaping business), Project 28 Pty Ltd (LEDA) sought to amend its DA to 6 food outlets – 2 of which are drive through – a car wash and dog wash and a fossil fuel service station. All to go in Precint 1 of the KF development on the bank of the Cudgen Creek and wetlands adjoining State Significant Farmland on the block’s northern boundary.

This is a modification to the original approval given to the site for a Rural Supplies Building.

This modification was objected to by local land owners, but Tweed Shire Council and The DPI failed to object to this new land use. The danger to the wetlands and Creek becoming seriously contaminated made some of us think this change would be refused…and it was:
The Modification request was refused by the Executive Director Key Sites and Industry Assessments under section 74W of the Environmental and Planning and Assessment Act 1979. on 18th April 2016.

But…Project 28 Pty Ltd (LEDA) appealed this decision and an on-site conciliation conference was held with some objectors, the commissioner and Project 28 on 13th Sept 2016. ( report was confidential).
Tweed Council held an extraordinary meeting on Tues 24th January 2017 to discuss the issue, and sent an urgent letter to the Lands Dept. Neighbour and organic farmer Donna Smith has since learned that Council’s letter was “too late” and that a S.34 Agreement has been reached which will be tabled in the Lands and Environment Court on Monday 30th January 2017. The terms are not yet known but Donna feels certain that Leda Corp will have its way, with some conditions imposed.
I appeal to everyone to spare a few moments to save Cudgen Creek – that wonderful regional asset and tourist attraction – please email Gladys Berejiklian, who is the new Premier of NSW, via the Premier’s web site, an appeal based on threat to clean water and prime farmland.
The Planning Department listed risks to the environment and wildlife among it’s concerns. You comments might include the fact that a new Caltex roadhouse has opened a few kms away and that established area businesses ( in Kingscliff, Cabarita, Casuarina ) will suffer as a result. Perhaps even make an argument about moving away from fossil fuels during our Climate Change emergency.
Today the Three Minutes to Midnight Scientific Committee advanced the Doomsday clock” by 30 seconds.
Search for NSW Premier – contact. You will find there also a link to message the Premier on Facebook and Twitter .
Do it now. Just a few words may turn the tide.
Thanks, Sledge
NRG President

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