EDO Northern Rivers: seminars and workshops in December 2009 [climate change, managed retreat, biodiversity, land clearing, power stations]

Seminar: Planned retreat, climate change and biodiversity - Byron
Bay, 3 December

In response to a rising wave of interest from all levels of government
in threats to coastal communities from climate change, the Environmental
Defender's Office Northern Rivers presents a free public seminar on
coastal management. It will focus on how liability issues, adaptation
strategies and biodiversity protection are dealt with in recent
initiatives including Byron Council's Draft Coastal Zone Management Plan
and the NSW Government's reforms to coastal erosion management.

Thursday 3 December
SCU Room, Byron Community Centre, Johnson St
5.45 for 6 pm sharp to 8 pm

Light meal provided. No booking necessary. For more information, please
call Mark Byrne, Education Officer, EDO Northern Rivers, on 66228470 or
1300 369 791 or email edonr@edo.org.au. Please note that current
litigation concerning protection works at Belongil Beach and the
question of whether or not Byron Council is partially responsible for
erosion there will NOT be addressed.

Workshop: Native vegetation and private native forestry - Coffs
Harbour, 5 December

This event is being organised with Coffs Harbour Council in response to
concerns about illegal land clearing. It will cover the approvals
process for private native forestry under the Native Vegetation Act and
other relevant instruments including Local Environmental Plans and Koala
Plans of Management.

Saturday 5 December
Cavanbah Hall, 191 Harbour Drive
10.30 am to 3 pm including a light lunch

To register to attend, please call Rachel Binskin at Coffs Harbour
Council on 66484662 or email rachel.binskin@coffsharbour.nsw.gov.au.

Meeting for groups: TransGrid and local energy - Lismore, 10
December

Does the North Coast need more coal-fired electricity at a cost of
$227M? TransGrid, NSW's electricity network builder and operator, plans
to build a 330 kV transmission line from west of Tenterfield down to
Lismore. The EDO Northern Rivers and Lismore Community Sustainability
Forum are organising a meeting on the evening of Thursday 10 December in
Lismore to discuss this project, join with other groups, examine
alternative power proposals and plan a strategy to stop this "19th
century" project. The proposal will be publicly exhibited under Part 3A
of the EPA Act, and the EDO will organise at least one public meeting at
that time. This initial meeting is for representatives of environment
and community groups. We are contacting groups by separate email. If
your group has not received an invitation and would like to be
represented, please reply to this email or call Mark Byrne on 66228470
or Simon Clough on 66242894 to let us know.