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Our mission as an organisation is
to ensure the
unique and special natural heritage of Far North Queensland is
protected – if you would like to help us we would love to
have you as a member. So, BECOME
A MEMBER ONLINE or download our MEMBERSHIP
FORMand help protect our special region.
Check the latest news, events and
campaign news in ECOTONE,
our quarterly members magazine.

We are currently
supporting a 'RENEWABLE ENERGY NOW FOR FNQ'campaign 
Protect our Coral Sea

Australians have a deep connection with the ocean. It is of
great
importance to our identity, prosperity, lifestyle and security. To the
east of the Great Barrier Reef lies a second and less known tropical
marine jewel: the Coral Sea. It's crystal clear waters are
home
to huge fish that dominate the ecosystem, like lions of the African
plains. The pristine islets and cays are both breeding ground
and
nursery for turtles and seabirds. Hundreds of other species,
from
majestic humpback whales to dainty reef fish, abound in its warm
tropical waters. The Coral Sea is steeped in maritime history
with stories of adversity and survival. Once the arena for the Battle
of the Coral Sea, it now remains a refuge for marine
wildlife.
Globally, less than one tenth of 1 percent of the world's oceans is
highly protected. It's rare to find a place where the
political
will and public support could be generated to secure a large no-take
marine park. The Coral Sea is one of those places. There
could be
no better ocean legacy for future generations. MORE
Take two minutes and EMAIL YOUR LOCAL MP
and ask them to protect the Coral Sea.
Or, DOWNLOAD
this letter to Far North Queensland MP, Jim Turnour, fax or post it and
ask him to protect the Coral Sea. Use the suggested text or create your
own.
Plan B: An Agenda For Immediate
Climate Action
The Cairns and Far North
Environment Centre together with the leading
national and state environment groups have come together to make it
clear we do not support the Federal Government’s Carbon Pollution
Reduction Scheme (CPRS) in its current form.
We’re concerned the level of greenhouse
gases in the atmosphere are already above safe levels, and the CPRS
will not effectively reduce carbon pollution.
We’ve put together a Plan B
of measures that could be enacted in the next two years and would set
Australian up to meet the vital target of halving our greenhouse
pollution over the coming decade.
The environment groups behind Plan
B, with a combined
membership of more than 400,000 Australians, call on the Rudd
Government to abandon the fundamentally flawed CPRS and commit
Australia to this new approach to tackle climate change.
Plan B outlines five priority
areas where we could
achieve significant pollution reduction in the next few years and make
deep cuts in emissions over the next decade.
1) Prioritise saving energy
2) Fast-track the switch to a renewable energy economy
3) Drive the shift to low emissions vehicles and sustainable cities
4) Protect our forests and woodland as a carbon store and make
agriculture a part of the solution
5) Grow the green job economy
The Plan B agenda will provide
tens of thousands of green jobs based on
saving energy; enable a fast transition away from coal and towards
renewable energy; and protect precious forests and establish carbon
sinks.
ELLA BAY - STILL A HELL OF A BAY
TO GIVE AWAY
Attention all lovers of FNQ's
natural environment.
Please take a moment to add your name to the growing list of concerned
community members and groups who oppose the highly inappropriate
development proposed for Ella Bay north of Innisfail.
This special coastal spot and all
the wonderful
wildlife and plants there are greatly threatened by a massive urban and
tourism development which is to include up to 6 luxury resorts and over
500 new residences.
The development site is completely
surrounded by
World Heritage Wet Tropics and the Great Barrier Reef. The best use for
this land is low impact recreational and cultural use, not another
concrete jungle.
We urge you to add your name today
to those acting to
save this iconic place by signing this pro-forma letter requesting that
the development's impact on sea turtles be assessed. Recent
documentation of sea turtle nesting sites in and around Ella Bay must
lead to the investigation of the proposed developments impacts on
these, and other, threatened marine animals.
Please send your response to the
Federal Department
of the Environment and don't forget to date your letter and include
your postal address!
DOWNLOAD the letter to Minister
Garrett and send today.
See HERE for more information on
the turtle nesting sites and the implications for the development.
See HERE more information on the
proposed development:
Urge your councillor to support
hillslope and habitat protection package before council
DOWNLOAD this letter and email, post
or fax it to the your local councillor. Every letter counts.
Call Cairns Regional Council on 4044 3044 to find out who your local
councillor is.
Save Our Slopes and Whitfield Hill Community Action Group’s have handed
Cairns Regional Council a report outlining 25
proposals dealing with around 60 areas of hillslope and vegetation
rezoning, including the slopes of False Cape. All
proposals deal with zonings within the Cairns Plan
that are in conflict with it’s own Desired Environmental Outcomes and
asks that these areas be designated ‘Conservation’. This would entitle
private landowners to build a house and caretakers residence but
prohibit allotments from being subdivided.
This years’ Local Government Elections saw several sitting councillors
elected on a platform of hillslopes and habitat protection. Now is the
time for this council to deliver on these promises. Action today will
not only help preserve the nature and character of our region, but will
also allow future decisions to be made without having to be defended
through expensive legal action.
CAFNEC fully supports these proposals and urges all Councillors to
support the package. It is now scheduled to go before Council in
February, following a January 22nd meeting with all Councillors.
SAVE THE WALSH RIVER - NO NULLINGA
DAM
DOWNLOAD the campaign action kit and
help protect the Walsh river from being needlessly dammed.
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