The Mingling Waters Music Festival at Nowa Nowa in East Gippsland - 18, 19 January 2014

This post has been taken from Cam Walker's marvellous blog, Mountain Journal

From the organisers:

Mingling Waters Music Festival is a small, grass-roots, high quality, well-organised, community-focused, family-friendly music event, supporting local artists and business, promoting Nowa Nowa as a special place to visit.

We plan to bring new and interesting artists in from the wider community.

We aim to create a scene that brings people together to talk, listen, play, and dance and celebrate together, in a beautiful natural environment!

It is a high priority to pay and look after all the participating artists as best we can.

We hope to do well enough to donate to two local charities, The East Gippsland Rail Trail and Melon’s Cottage.

There will be a small market, including food stalls, a bar, workshops, children’s activities and FINE MUSIC!

Check here for details on the artists.

Check here for details on tickets, accommodation, etc.

Diary Date - Inglewood Alive is on ... First Saturday in December

It's all happening in Inglewood 

December 7

INGLEWOOD ALIVE

Dates: 7 Dec 2013

Address: Brooke Street Traders, Calder Highway, Inglewood, Victoria 3517

Phone: 03 5438 3008  

Email: loddonvistorinformation@loddon.vic.gov.au
Web: loddon.vic.gov.au/calendar/calendar.asp?month=12&year=2013&Category_id=

Thanks to the Victorian Women's Trust & Mary Crooks - Julia is on again >>> Livestreaming on Sunday 10 November, 2013

Create a better world for women & girls – and everyone benefits.

Imagine. A world where women and girls stand equally with men and boys, and take up all of life's opportunities without fear, harm, discrimination or disadvantage.

ABOUT THE VICTORIAN WOMEN'S TRUST:
We invest in women & girls for positive social change; research issues which affect their lives; work in key arenas ranging from violence prevention to environmental sustainability; create opportunities that spark ideas, engagement & debate; advocate for reforms that improve conditions for women & girls; and make sure the public record better reflects their contribution and impact. Find out more about us here. 

                                                                                                                           

'Credit where Credit is Due' - Julia Gillard Event 10th November sold out!

Special livestreaming of the event!

As you may be aware, tickets to The Victorian Women's Trust forthcoming event on the 10 November at The Melbourne Town Hall - featuring a keynote address from former Prime Minister Julia Gillard - sold out in a matter of hours. As such, we will now be livestreaming the event so that people everywhere can gather and not miss out on this important address.

You can watch the event happening live via Livestream Australiahttp://www.livestreamaustralia.com.au/creditjulia/

Retired independent federal MP, the Hon Tony Windsor will also speak. MC for the event is Mary Crooks AO (author of 'Credit Where Credit is Due'), as well as a special performance of the 'Women's Anthem' with a 250-strong women's choir led by Kavisha Mazzella. 

The event is scheduled for Sunday afternoon 10 November 2013 at the Melbourne Town Hall, from 2:00 - 4:00 pm. Entry by ticket only. Doors will open from 1:30pm onwards.

Due to popular demand, we can announce a special Sydney Screening of the Melbourne event to be held as Sydney's Seymour Performing Arts Centre, live as it happens. A great opportunity for people to come together and experience this special event. Find out more and book tickets here.

On Friday 5th July 2013, the Victorian Women's Trust took out advertisements in four mainstream newspapers - Fairfax's The Age and Sydney Morning Herald, News Limited's The Herald Sun and the Australian.

Written by Executive Director Mary Crooks AO on behalf of the Board and staff of the VWT, the advertisement
entitled Credit where credit is due, paid tribute to the effective leadership of former Prime Minister Julia Gillard
and  her minority government, despite a hostile political environment and discourse.

We have been overwhelmed by the response including donations from across the country, which enabled us to place the advertisement in Italian, Greek and Chinese newspapers.
Click on image above or smaller File here

Italian translation (published in Il Globo & La Fammia)
Greek translation (published in Neos Kosmos)
Chinese translation (published in the Singtao Daily)

If you would like to stay informed of our work  email or Subscribe to our e-bulletin.
                                                                                                                            

Help respond to weakened land clearing laws and Victorian native vegetation reforms which could wreak destruction on the bush

 Picture above is from here

From: Yasmin Kelsall <YasminK@vnpa.org.au>
Date: Wednesday, 18 September 2013 8:03 AM
Subject: Joint Statement - Help respond to new Native Veg Policy

Dear friends,

 

We have drafted a joint statement (attached) that we intend to submit to the State Government and opposition in response to the Native Vegetation Policy that is due to pass through Parliament any day now.  If we get enough response we're also hoping to try for some media around this important issue. 

 

We're looking for as many community-based environment/Landcare groups or ecological organisations to sign on to this as possible. 

 

To sign on to the statement, simply reply by return email and attach the logo of your group.  It's fine if you don't have a logo - just let us know.   

We're hoping for responses by next Wednesday - 25th September.  Apologies for the short timeline.  Again let us know if you'd like to sign on but can't make the timeline. 

 

Please forward this on other colleagues and anyone else who may be interested.  In particular, if you happen to know of anyone who may be outside of the usual sphere of 'the converted' or someone who may be likely to get the Government's (or Opposition's) attention, please forward to them.  Or alternately let us know of anyone else (individuals/associations/organisations) that you think we should approach.   

 

Best wishes,

Yasmin

Yasmin Kelsall

VICTORIAN NATIONAL PARKS ASSOCIATION

Level 3, 60 Leicester St, Carlton Vic 3053
T: 03 9347 5188  F: 03 9347 5199 

www.vnpa.org.au

Join us on Facebook

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Save the bush !

Weakened Land Clearing Laws

 Joint Statement in Response to Victorian Native Vegetation Reforms

As ecologists, scientific experts, industry groups and community-based environment groups, representing thousands of Victorians, we are alarmed at the State Government’s dilution of Victoria’s Native Vegetation policy and are concerned that they will lead to increased land clearing

We value, care for and conserve the various habitats across the state and expect to see our government doing the same.  We want to see Native Vegetation policy in Victoria strengthened, not weakened.

The new native vegetation policy significantly weakens the protections for habitat, threatening the State’s biodiversity and its sustainability. Additionally, it compromises the value of native vegetation for landscape stability and amenity.

This comes on top of pressures from both urban and regional growth as well as agricultural intensification and fire management which are currently impacting on the vegetation remaining on freehold land across the State.  None of these issues were duly considered in developing the reforms.  Furthermore there are increasing pressures on vegetation within public land, such as the large-scale clearing of large old trees along fire trails.

We have the sad legacy of being the most cleared state in Australia.  This includes 80% of the original cover of native vegetation cover on private land[1] with a corresponding loss of biodiversity leading to a high proportion of threatened species[2].

Native vegetation not only provides a home to wildlife, it provides a safety net for all of us.  A 2002 study for the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council[3] found that native vegetation in Australia provides approximately $1 trillion per year in value for preventing land degradation, and providing basic services like pollination and tourism value. 

State and Federal governments spend tens of millions of dollars per year on restoration and habitat protection supported by the community through Landcare and other regional networks. Tree-planting and habitat restoration is important, but must be done in conjunction with protecting remnant bushland – for both ecological and economic reasons. Reducing or stopping clearing is the best strategy we have and native vegetation regulation is an efficient way to do this. Native vegetation regulation was estimated to cost the Victorian economy $ 41 million per annum[4], this being significantly less than the amounts spent on land restoration.

Despite receiving over 200 submissions to the draft Consultation Paper for the Native Vegetation Reforms, of which the vast majority (approx. 80%) expressed concern at the proposed reforms, these concerns were disregarded and Victoria’s native vegetation permitted clearing regulations released without further opportunity for comment.

The reforms will create a new system where we will see:

·        A cash for clearing approach, where in almost all cases, permits will be granted provided an offsetting fee is paid.

·        Flawed maps for decision making based on biased and inadequate data and irresponsible assumptions

·        Nature losing its safety net, formerly provided by on-site expert assessments – how do you know what’s there if you don’t look?

We call on the Minister/ Premier to:

-         Move on from this flawed native vegetation policy and develop new standalone legislation that will truly ensure that Victoria’s unique natural values will be conserved on private land.

-         Make sure that decisions to clear native vegetation are based on the actual vegetation on the site, rather than flawed mapping.  If mapping is to be used to help decision makers, then make sure it accurately reflects habitat values.

-         Set a vision for biodiversity and native vegetation across the State.  This will address the gaping hole in current policy to guide subordinate policy of this kind.

-         Make the state government and public land managers subject to the same rules as private land.

-         Provide better planning support upfront to ensure that native vegetation is considered and large-scale clearing is avoided.  For example, when State Government decisions are being made about urban and regional land use and growth.

-         Provide upfront guidance for land managers who are seeking to intensify their agricultural production to ensure that native vegetation is considered upfront in their planning.

-         Support local government efforts to strengthen their local planning schemes, undertake compliance and enforcement and to better administer any native vegetation policy that falls within their primary responsibility.

---

[1] Department of Sustainability and Environment (2008) Native vegetation net gain accounting first approximation report.  State of Victoria, Melbourne

[2] Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (2010) Remnant Native Vegetation Investigation Discussion Paper, VEAC, East Melbourne

[3] Possingham H, Ryan S, Baxter J and Morton S(2002) Setting Biodiversity Priorities: a paper prepared as part of the activities of the working group

producing the report Sustaining our Natural Systems and Biodiversity for the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council.

[4] Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission (2009) A Sustainable Future for Victoria: Getting Environmental Regulation Right Final Report, VCEC, Melbourne

Hanging Rock is at risk according to the locals ... yet it is important to ALL OF US. Please sign the petition.

From the Macedon Ranges Residents’ Association Inc. ~~~

Picture from here 

See the movie and read the book

and you will see why Hanging Rock is important

to Australians.

Hello Everyone,

Help needed, and it won’t take but a moment of your time. 

Here in Macedon Ranges Shire we have a terrible council.  It thinks it can operate and make decisions in isolation of and without consulting its community, while making the community pay for its decisions. 

Recently Macedon Ranges council took this culture a step too far.   It deliberately resolved (not once, but twice) to apply for funding for a conference centre (and other large-scale development) at Hanging Rock and to not consult the community on the development or funding.  

Hanging Rock does not belong to Macedon Ranges’ council officers and 5 of 9 councillors!  It is an international icon; it belongs to the people of Macedon Ranges, Victoria, and Australia.   Yet our council has shut everyone out.  It’s making big decisions on our behalf – and on yours – without us having a say.   We want our council to know this is not acceptable, and to rethink its decision.

The first favour we ask of you is PLEASE, PLEASE SIGN THE ONLINE PETITION “HANGING ROCK FOR SALE – HAVE YOUR SAY” by going to

http://www.communityrun.org/petitions/hanging-rock-for-sale-have-your-say

This petition has been authored and started by local residents in the Hanging Rock area community.  MRRA is supporting this initiative.

The second favour we ask is PLEASE, PLEASE SEND THIS EMAIL AROUND TO YOUR FRIENDS AND CONTACTS AND ASK THEM TO SIGN THE PETITION AS WELL. 

Here’s what some people are saying:

“If you have visited the Rock at some stage in your life you know the beauty and mysteriousness of the area, if you have not visited the Rock please google it and you will see what I mean.  I live near the Rock and drive past it every day to and from work and it never ceases to amaze me because I see the same view but it’s different.  I implore you to sign this petition to put a stop to the suggested development around the area of the Rock;  Landcare has spent 10 years building up the wildlife corridor here and as usual greedy people just want to tear the bush down and put in concrete.  Once you have signed it please email this to all your friends so we can save a natural beauty so close to Melb for visitors.”  Toni

“Development such as that being proposed by MRSC in an area protected by an environmental overlay is totally inappropriate.  It goes against all that this Landcare group has been working towards over a 10 year period!  The East paddock area was purchased to buffer the reserve at Hanging Rock - a haven for wild-life and city-weary folks.  So please add your name to the petition Luke has prepared and send it [the link] to your friends.”  Penny

As you can see, this awful decision affects many people and impacts many (irreplaceable) values.  

Many thanks for your help.

Christine Pruneau,

Secretary,

Macedon Ranges Residents’ Association Inc.

Concern about Coal: Fighting Fracking in Victoria; Lakes Oil in Western Vic; an export facility on beautiful but fragile 90 Mile Beach

From Cam Walker of Friends of the Earth

Dear Friends

Thank you to everyone who came along to the ‘farmers and friends against fracking’ rally last Sunday.

As you know, our petition was one of the ones handed in to Greens MP Greg Barber on the 18^th.

The Energy Minister is feeling the pressure (and came out in the media the next day to counter the rally  and say that ‘he is open to discussion on fracking’.)

However, he has still not organised the community consultation he keeps promising.

Please email or call his office, asking him to engage with the community as a matter of urgency. Tell him that there should be no on-shore exploration or production of gas until we know whether it will be safe for people, water supplies and farming. Ask him to initiate a public inquiry into this matter.

A phone call has the most impact: (03) 9651 1156

But an email is good too:

Hon Nicholas KotsirasMinister for Energy and Resourcesnicholas.kotsiras@parliament.vic.gov.au, 

Please remember, we have a monthly email newsletter, if you’d like to stay in the loop on what we are doing, please email cam.walker@foe.org.au with the words SUBSCRIBE CLIMATE in the subject line

Regards

Cam Walker

Friends of the Earth

CONTENTS

·  Farmers and friends against fracking rally

·  Lakes Oil in Western VIC

·  Coal export facility on 90 Mile Beach?

·  Local meetings: Yarragon, Drouin, Catani

·  Getting involved

Farmers and friends against fracking

There is a great set of photos on the Quit Coal facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/quitcoal.org.au/media_set?set=a.420077811442101.1073741832.100003196581402&type=1

Lakes Oil – western VIC

Lakes Oil have been quietly drilling for gas in western Victoria under petroleum exploration permits PEP163 andPEP169. 

These were issued under the Petroleum act for 'tight gas', not the MRSD Act which is used for Coal Seam Gas (CSG). One permit allows for 3 wells and to 'frack' one, the other permit for one well, drilling only.

These sites are near Timboon and north of Peterborough (PEP 169)and a broad area from Aireys Inlet up towards Winchelsea and across to Geelong, then down through the Bellarine Peninsula (PEP 163).

If you live in either of these areas and want to help stop Lakes Oil, please get in touch. Cam.walker@foe.org.au

We are hoping to hold an info session in Torquay shortly.

Further info here.

http://www.melbourne.foe.org.au/?q=node/1240

Coal export facility on 90 Mile Beach?

It has recently come to light that “a $3 billion rail line and port concept connecting the Latrobe Valley to the Bass Straight via a port at McGauran's Beach on the Ninety Mile Beach …is … the preferred export route by developers of alternative brown coal technologies”.

In May 2013, the Victorian government said that it wanted to see development of ‘next generation’ coal mines in the Latrobe Valley. An export industry will need new mines, new roads, new infrastructure and new ports.

So far, the Port of Hastings and Port Anthony have been suggested as possible locations for export infrastructure. A proposal for 90 Mile Beach seems particularly crazy.

We will be launching a campaign shortly, but in the meantime, check here for further details on what is proposed:http://www.melbourne.foe.org.au/?q=node/1257

Local events

Below is a list of some of the other upcoming events/meetings in Gippsland. If you have been thinking of getting more involved, WE NEED YOU, please come along to any of the gatherings below, everyone is welcome!

Meet the Candidates Coal & Gas Forum 

When: Wednesday the 28th August @ 7pm

Where: Yarragon Public Hall, Campbell St, Yarragon

All known candidates in the McMillian electorate have been invited.

For more information email: bbsn@dcsi.net.au

Friday 30th August, 7pm

Drouin CSG Information Meeting

@ The Drouin South Hall, Drouin-Korumburra road

Speakers: Dr Gavin Mudd (Groundwater Specialist), Felicity Millner (Environment Defenders Office)

and Dr Merryn Reddenbach (Doctors for the Environment)

Catani CSG Information Night

When: Wednesday 11th September @ 7pm

Where: Catani Football Club, Taplins road, Catani

Speakers Include: Ariane Wilkinson (Environment Defenders Office) &

Allison Sable (Seaspray Local)

For more info call Gillian on 0418 995 756

Getting involved

NO CSG IN VICTORIA 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/No-CSG-in-Victoria/278427315523831

Friends of the Earth facebook: 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-the-Earth-Australia/16744315982

Quit Coal: 

http://quitcoal.org.au/

FoE website: 

http://www.melbourne.foe.org.au/

To support our work, please check here: 

http://www.givenow.com.au/foecsgcampaign

Campaigns co-ordinator

Friends of the Earth

Box 222, Fitzroy, 3065

Ph: 03 9419 8700 (ext 20)

M: 0419 338 047

melbourne.foe.org.au

foe.org.au

Central Victoria Refugee Support groups take the fight for humanity rather than inhumanity up to the LibNats and Labor

From Terry White in Bendigo ~~~

Picture below from here

Dear Friends

We desperately need our political parties to RETURN TO HUMANITY in their treatment of asylum seekers.

Can you let us (the working group of Central Victorian Refugee Support groups) know which of the politicians on the attached contact list you've spoken to or have written to ?

Today at 2pm, our working group meets in Castlemaine to discuss what more we can do, and we want to be certain that every one of our Central Victorian politicians and candidates knows that we expect them to distance themselves from the harsh liberal and labor policies on asylum seekers in the lead up to the election.

Fortunately, some Labor politicians and union leaders are beginning to do just that.

1) The Age article regarding ALP Federal election politicians and candidates speaking out against the PNG solution and vowing to fight against it. 

http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/federal-election-2013/labor-disquiet-at-hardline-png-solution-20130814-2rvjw.html. 

2) Australian Financial Review article on ACTU position on Asylum Seekers and off shore processing 

http://m.afr.com/p/national/politics/unions_split_from_labor_on_png_solution_uJZfprGdlwrN04X0lNPZ9L

Also encouraging was last weeks joint statement, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH by non-government organisations (including our Castlemaine and Daylesford RAR groups)  (see attached)

What are your thoughts on what more can we do?

Do you have any good news stories we could share with our friends on the Forum contact list?

Any responses from the churches or other organisations?

Any good press coverage or interviews?

Is there any way we can get the sitting members and candidates to let the public know where they stand on asylum seeker policies at public meetings in Bendigo and Ballarat?

Could this be done through the Bendigo and Ballarat TV channels or through ABC regional radio in these two centres?

What are your thoughts?

Warm regards

Terry White

Working group of Central Victorian refugee support groups.

PS: I've written to the Prime Minister and the Minister for Immigration (no response) and to Dan Tehan the member for Wannon asking for a meeting with Maryborough RAR reps (no response as yet).

I've also written to all our Forum speakers asking if they would endorse our return to humanity statement (endorsements from Louise Newman, Julian Burnside and Janet Rice are attached)

5 attachments — Download all attachments  

RAR AND MP CONTACTS.doc 41K   View   Download   Clip to Evernote

JANET RICE.doc 1362K   View   Download   Clip to Evernote

ENDORSEMENT BY LOUISE.doc 35K   View   Download   Clip to Evernote

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.pdf 91K   View   Download   Clip to Evernote

JULIAN BURNSIDE.pdf 139K   View   Download   Clip to Evernote