Wednesday 27 April 2016

SOLITARY ISLANDS MARINE PARK CELEBRATES 25 YEARS

Solitary Islands Marine Park off the Clarence Valley/Coffs Harbour coastline in northern NSW is celebrating 25 years since it was established.  As part of that celebration there are two events planned for Wednesday May 11 in Coffs Harbour.


EVENT 1


9 am - 4.30 pm Celebration at Coffs Harbour Surf Lifesaving Club 
23 Surf Club Road, Coffs Harbour
Please call to register as places are limited
02 6691 0601

This event is free of charge
Catering is provided
Guest speakers 



EVENT  2


 




Thursday 21 April 2016

EARTH DAY 2016

Google Earth Day Doodle

April  22 is EARTH DAY.  The first Earth Day was held in the United States on April 22, 1970.  It was started by US Senator, Gaylord Nelson, who was concerned about environmental damage.  Its growth led to the development of an organising body - the Earth Day Network.

The Earth Day Network states that its mission is "to broaden and diversify the environmental movement worldwide and to mobilize it as the most effective vehicle to build a healthy, sustainable environment, address climate change, and protect the earth for future generations."

It became a global organisation 20 years after it was founded and now works with more than 50,000 partners in 196 countries.  It works through a combination of education, public policy and consumer campaigns.

In Australia this year there are a number of registered Earth Day activities, many of which involve tree planting.  Places where there are  registered activities include Geraldton, Melbourne, Bathurst, Rockdale and Cairns.

Google Earth Day Doodle

Earth Day Network’s mission is to broaden and diversify the environmental movement worldwide and to mobilize it as the most effective vehicle to build a healthy, sustainable environment, address climate change, and protect the Earth for future generations.
Growing out of the first Earth Day, Earth Day Network is the world’s largest recruiter to the environmental movement, working with more than 50,000 partners in 196 countries to build environmental democracy. We work through a combination of education, public policy, and consumer campaigns.
The first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, activated 20 million Americans from all walks of life and is widely credited with launching the modern environmental movement. The passage of the landmark Clean Air ActClean Water ActEndangered Species Act and many other groundbreaking environmental laws soon followed. Twenty years later, Earth Day went global, mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries and lifting environmental issues onto the world stage. More than 1 billion people now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world.
- See more at: http://www.earthday.org/about/#sthash.BSEEj5Ud.dpuf
Earth Day Network’s mission is to broaden and diversify the environmental movement worldwide and to mobilize it as the most effective vehicle to build a healthy, sustainable environment, address climate change, and protect the Earth for future generations.
Growing out of the first Earth Day, Earth Day Network is the world’s largest recruiter to the environmental movement, working with more than 50,000 partners in 196 countries to build environmental democracy. We work through a combination of education, public policy, and consumer campaigns.
The first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, activated 20 million Americans from all walks of life and is widely credited with launching the modern environmental movement. The passage of the landmark Clean Air ActClean Water ActEndangered Species Act and many other groundbreaking environmental laws soon followed. Twenty years later, Earth Day went global, mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries and lifting environmental issues onto the world stage. More than 1 billion people now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world.
- See more at: http://www.earthday.org/about/#sthash.BSEEj5Ud.dpuf

Monday 11 April 2016

DARK SKY TOURISM A POSSIBILITY FOR THE NSW NORTHERN RIVERS ?



Photographs of the earth taken from space at night show the extent of light from human habitation. So much of the night sky is lit up from below that around half of the world’s population cannot see the stars. In the United Kingdom the 2013 Star Count revealed that only 5% of the population could see more than 31 stars on a good night.

While Clarence Valley urban areas do not have as much light pollution as cities, our view of the night sky is still limited by light pollution.  Travelling through the darkened countryside towards a town or city, you will notice a halo of light above the settlement from many kilometres away. This restricts what can be seen of the heavens from the lit area.

What a contrast there is if you visit sparsely populated areas of Australia away from settlement!  On a clear night there the stars are dazzling in their numbers and intensity.

Observation of the stars, once the preserve of professional astronomers, now attracts many non-professionals and astrotourism is growing.  Around the globe there are areas which have been given “Dark Sky” status – places where it is possible to see the heavens clearly and these are attracting increasing numbers of tourists.

One of these is the UK’s Northumberland Dark Sky Park, around 1,500 sq km in northern England.  Another is the 4,300 sq km Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve on New Zealand’s South Island.  In the United States, even though light pollution is a major issue around the large population centres, there are many designated Dark Sky areas.  These include Death Valley National Park, Canyonlands National Park, and Natural Bridges National Monument.

Dark Sky status is conferred by the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) which is based in  Tuscon, Arizona. Areas applying for the status are required to have taken major steps to avoid light pollution and to have proved that their nights are sufficiently dark.

While Australia does not have any areas with Dark Sky status, it has places – some in our region - which could qualify and potentially boost tourism.
-          Leonie Blain

This  post originally appeared in the VOICES FOR THE EARTH column in The Daily Examiner on 28th  March, 2016.

Friday 8 April 2016

CLARENCE COUNCIL'S LIVING SUSTAINABLY AWARDS 2016


Clarence Valley Council Media Release 
7th April 2016

Residents or organisations who contribute significantly to a more sustainable Clarence Valley are invited to apply for the council’s annual Living Sustainably Awards.

Nominations are now open, with four award categories for individuals, businesses, education and community groups who enhance environmental, economic and social sustainability.

Mayor Richie Williamson said council was looking for nominees who excelled in any aspect of sustainability such as those who reduced energy and water consumption, acknowledged the significance of local culture, provided sustainable recreation, environmental conservation, sustainable economic development, showed leadership within the community and developed innovative ideas.

Nominations are due by 4pm Monday, May 23, 2016 and will be judged by Council’s Climate Change Advisory Committee. The winners will be presented with their awards at a ceremony during Local Government Week, August 1-7, 2016.

Nomination forms are available at
www.clarence.nsw.gov.au, or can be collected from the Council offices at 2 Prince Street, Grafton, and 50 River Street, Maclean.

For further information please contact Suzanne Lynch, on 6643 0200 or email suzanne.lynch@clarence.nsw.gov.au