The Federal Environment Minister, Murray Watt, has presented parliament with long awaited reforms to the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBC Act) aka our Federal Nature Laws. Sadly, these reforms are not what we were expecting. 

Legal analysis from Environmental Justice Australia has confirmed that the proposed reforms are just not good enough to protect nature and stop deforestation, and could potentially result in worse outcomes for nature! Some key concerns include:

1. It does not close the deforestation loopholes that allow ongoing clearing of native bushland and forests in Great Barrier Reef catchments. 

2. It gives the Minister too much discretionary power and even the power to approve harmful projects on the basis of “national interest”. This means that decisions could be left up to politics and not science or law. 

3. It does not include a consideration for climate harm. A project’s emissions and contributions to climate change aren’t considered even though climate change is one of the primary threats to nature, especially in FNQ. 

Shockingly, the Lower House has already approved this reform and now it’s gone up to the Senate who have started an Inquiry. This means that they want to know more and they want to hear from the public.

This is our chance to push for strong new federal nature laws. Laws that will finally crack down on Queensland’s record high deforestation rates that wipe out homes for koalas and greater gliders, laws that will protect our special places in Far North Queensland and our unique plants and animals.

CAFNEC has prepared a detailed submission with examples pertinent to our region to help you make your own submission. Our goal is to get as many submissions as possible with voices from our region highlighting the risks to our Spectacled Flying Foxes, Cassowaries, Great Barrier Reef and all the unique biodiversity Far North Queensland hosts. 

Environmental Justice Australia has developed a downloadable submission guide, which we highly recommend taking a look at! We recommend writing your own submission based on the resources above, but if you are short on time, you can use our simple submission template – simply download a copy and complete the highlighted areas. 

We recommend writing your own unique submission using the resources above, but if you are short on time, you can use our community submission template – simply download a copy and complete the highlighted areas. Then follow the instructions below to lodge your submission.

Lodge your submission:

Upload your submission via the My Parliament submission portal (more detailed instructions in submission guide above).

Optional extra – Email your submission to decision makers:

• Minister for the Environment, Senator Murray Watt, at Minister.watt@nulldcceew.gov.au
  
• Senator Nita Green at senator.green@nullaph.gov.au

Don’t have the capacity to make a submission?

We have been flooding our representatives emails, calling on them to advocate for stronger nature laws within their party.

Download our letter template, fill it out with your personal story and illustrate why you care about our unique nature.

Send it directly to: matt.smith.mp@nullaph.gov.au , senator.green@nullaph.gov.au and senator.watt@nullaph.gov.au.

Stumped for words but would still like to add your name?

Click on the link below and send a quick pre-written email to our MP Matt Smith, Senators and Minister Watt. A small action adds up if enough of us do it!

CAFNEC teamed up with other experts to give you the details on why the review of the EPBC Act matters and what action you can take to support better laws.

Bitumen coating mangrove and molluscs a couple days after the spill. Photo Credit: Tanya Murphy, Australian Marine Conservation Society

29th September 2025 – 2nd Oct 2025

On 29th September 2025, a bitumen and kersoene spill occurred in Smith’s Creek (Trinity Inlet). CAFNEC staff were made aware via The Cairns Post social media pages.

On 30th September 2025, CAFNEC was contacted contacted by ABC Far North to comment on the spill. CAFNEC Projects Officer, Shannon Bredeson, talked about the impact to mangrove health as the pollutants can: smother snorkel roots, damage fish nurseries, and poison  mangrove crabs – if not cleaned up properly and quickly. Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) and a marine biologist at James Cook University are also quoted in the article.

ABC Far North Article

ABC Far North Breakfast

Boral self-reported the spill stating that it was due to a bund safety valve failure. As a result, 10,000L of kerosene and bitumen spilled into Smith’s Creek.

CAFNEC contacted Dr. Norman Duke, a mangrove ecologist with more than 40 years experience, to inform him of the spill.

On 2nd October 2025, Maritime Safety Queensland (MSQ) contacted CAFNEC to discuss our MangroveWatch program and opportunities for an existing program to provide long term monitoring in Trinity Inlet. They also confirmed they had been in touch with Dr. Duke and reading his papers.

However, support to MSQ was limited as they did not have funding to pay for Dr. Duke nor CAFNEC’s time.

Bitumen coating leaves of a young mangrove sapling in Trinity Inlet. Photo Credit: Tanya Murphy, Australian Marine Conservation Society. 

Screenshot from DETSI’s website stating that they will not be removing the residue from the rock wall nor the mangroves. Screenshot taken on 8th October at 3pm.

Bitumen sticking to mangrove snorkel roots in Trinity Inlet. Photo Credit: Tanya Murphy, Australian Marine Conservation Society. 

This post will be updated regularly as new information comes in and decisions are made. Please check back here for the latest updates.

This article was originally published in the June 2025 editon of Ecotone. Read the full edition here. 

For six months each year, one Island, part of a tiny archipelago off the east coast at Cardwell, is home to a huge breeding colony of the iconic Pied Imperial Pigeons (Ducula bicolor). Every September, the birds arrive from their winter territory in New Guinea to breed on NorthBrook Island, the largest in the Brook Islands archipelago, which lies 5 nautical miles east of Hinchinbrook Island.

The data they, and countless volunteers have collected, tells an extraordinary story of the population rising back from near extinction to a much healthier number, although still vulnerable to habitat loss and climate change, which is increasing the frequency of extreme weather events.

Each count begins mid-afternoon, as the first flocks return to the island after the day’s feeding on the mainland. Volunteer counters are paired up (one counter, one scribe) to cover the northern and southern approaches. Counters call the numbers as each flock is in view, while scribes record these on prepared data sheets. As the afternoon progresses, the pace accelerates and intense concentration is needed to ensure an accurate count. When it is too dark to see the last few flocks, the count concludes and the boat turns towards Cardwell with its tired but happy band of counters.

By the 1980s, populations were around 14,000 & the National Parks service was involved, coordinating up to five counts a year. Ranger Dave Green became a passionate advocate and a mentor for the mostly volunteer counters. Today, Girringun rangers are also closely involved.

The devastation from Cyclone Yasi in 2011 hit hard, damaging both the pigeons’ island habitat and the coastal forests they feed on. Despite a promising bounce-back, the birds have never reached pre-Yasi totals, plateauing around 23,000 after averaging around 34,000 in the first decade of this century. The reasons remain unclear and are being investigated by Dr John Winter, a veteran of fifty counting seasons.

The count is a true labour of love — for the couple who started it, those who return each year, and every first timer. As we enter the 60th season, it’s a reminder that to ensure a future for these important birds and the rainforest they help regenerate, we must keep watching — and keep counting.

Join this years count when dates are announced at www.pipwatch.net

First planting at Barr Creek Fish Habitat Area. AFTER. (2025) – see BEFORE photo at end of article.

Mulgrave LAP:

In 2024, the Mulgrave LAP Coastal Wetland Education Campaign was the first completed LAP. Led by Rachel Platte and Clive Murray, local school students were taught the importance of coastal wetlands in the classroom and in the field! It provided hands-on opportunities for students to learn about mangroves in their own backyard. It also filled a gap in the school education system by providing schools with a free educational opportunity on coastal wetlands.

This year, Rachel and Clive are beginning their second year of the program. They are expanding the program from 3 schools to 5 schools and including a knowledge-sharing field day with the Madjaybana Rangers from Madjandji Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC. This opportunity allows children to learn about the cultural value of coastal wetlands and supports reconciliation, with the rangers being remunerated for their time and knowledge. This expansion and increased engagement with the local community is proudly supported by the Queensland Government—Engaging Science Grants.

Rob Williams working hard at the first tree planting event for Barr Creek Fish Habitat Area. (2025)

Hinchinbrook LAP:

Vito Napoli and Gabi Plumm, Hinchinbrook LAP Leaders, have also received funding through GBRF’s Value Add Grant to get expert advice from a coastal engineer at Royal HaskoningDHV. The engineer is currently drafting a report, outlining erosion severity, potential causes, and feasibility of the bamboo fence to reduce erosion of the Cardwell foreshore. This report will fulfill State Assessment and Referral Agency requirements and help us obtain permits as we progress to on-ground works.

First planting day at Barr Creek Fish Habitat Area with Holloways Beach Coastcare. BEFORE. (2025) 

CAFNEC’s MangroveWatch Chapter is funded by the partnership between the Australia Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation. Project delivery is done in partnership with Earthwatch Australia and MangroveWatch.

This article was originally published in the March 2025 editon of Ecotone. Read the full edition here. 

Over forty year old Fig beside St John’s Anglican Church that the church has applied for permission to remove despite the 5 metres of shade it provides over the street.  

Urban trees provide far more than just aesthetic appeal; they are essential to the health and well-being of people, wildlife, and the environment. In tropical climates like ours in Gimuy (Cairns) where heat and climate challenges are becoming more pronounced, trees play a critical role in cooling our city, mitigating climate change, and offering habitats for local wildlife. 

As we face hotter temperatures and more damaging and unpredictable weather due to climate change, planting and protecting our urban trees is only becoming more critical. However, as members of CAFNEC’s newly formed Tree Action Group (TAG) know, this isn’t as easy as it should be.

The Importance of Trees for Cool Streets

Heat is the number one killer in Australia, responsible for thousands of deaths in our community annually. Our wildlife also feel the heat; the 2018 heatwave wiped out a third of the Spectacled Flying Fox population in Cairns, a stark reminder of the devastating impacts of heat on both humans and wildlife. 

According to the Mackay Regional Council’s strategy for a ‘Cool, Clean City’, shade trees can reduce daytime temperatures in urban areas by up to 20°C and mitigate the urban heat island effect. These cooling effects can significantly reduce the need for air conditioning, lowering energy costs for residents, easing the strain on the power grid during heatwaves, and protecting vulnerable community members who are susceptible to heat-related illness.

Having shady streets also makes active transport, walking and riding, a more realistic option for getting around the city – reducing emissions from cars and our reliance on fossil fuels. Another important piece in local climate action.

Urban trees also support biodiversity by providing food, shelter, and habitat for a variety of species, including pollinators like bats and birds, who play essential roles in maintaining our local ecosystems.

The loss of shade trees in Cairns

Lost: Le Grand Park Fig that was cut down by Cairns Regional Council in 2024

We have seen so many trees axed even just in the past 12 months. Unfortunately the general attitude across the region towards trees seems to only focus on the costs of maintenance and the hassle of having to remove them for development.

Additionally, a lack of proper management, including poor pruning practices by companies like Ergon, has further contributed to the degradation of these valuable urban assets.

Examples of trees that have been lost unnecessarily include the beloved Weeping Figs at the Tennis Club and the Le Grande Park in Freshwater which were removed due to complaints about fallen branches and roots invading neighbouring gardens. The Mango trees along Cedar Road in Holloways Beach were cleared for a footpath in February 2025. 

The St John’s Anglican Church fig and three White Rock figs are currently on the chopping block. TAG are advocating with community members for the applications to cut them down be refused by Cairns Regional Council due to the incredible shade & amenity the trees gift the community.

Despite the challenges in trying to save our shade trees we know that there are wins in sight. The community has demonstrated countless times that when we come together, we can save trees that were once condemned. The best example of this in Gimuy is the campaign to save the T5 tree, still standing outside the Cairns Central Library. A community campaign through 2021 and 2022 saved the tree after the Cairns Regional Council wrongly claimed the tree was too sick to remain. 

T5 Fig tree outside Cairns City Library that was saved by a community campaign in 2022

What are the solutions? 

Looking abroad, we see Paris has embraced an ambitious plan to remove 60,000 parking spaces by 2030 and replace them with street trees as part of its broader strategy to combat climate change and adapt to a hotter climate. It’s a great example of incorporating nature-based solutions for climate adaptation. We’d love to see something at an appropriate scale in Cairns. Planting suitable native shade tree species along streets and footpaths in cleared suburban areas will help cool neighbourhoods and promote active transport.

Educating and empowering the community to be involved is also critical. Helping residents understand the value of trees will reduce complaints and unnecessary removals and build capacity and support for new greening initiatives.   

It is also important to shift Council policy to require new housing and infrastructure developments to maintain existing shade trees, encouraging community and developers to value the benefits of the trees instead of only seeing the costs. The CAFNEC Tree Action Group has been advocating for this as a solution with the Kenfrost development in White Rock where they have applied to remove three significant figs. (See below the two development proposals side by side).

Fig 1 of 3 that Kenfrost has proposed to cut down to make way for 50 lot development of standalone houses in White Rock

Get Involved in Saving Our Shade

We need more community members to join the Tree Action Group: help us monitor tree removals, advocate for increased canopy cover, and take action to educate the community on the benefits of our shade trees. We currently meet fortnightly on a Tuesday at the Cairn City Library. Get in touch with Monique at getinvolved@nullcafnec.org.au.

Sign the petition to save St Johns fig and stay up to date with TAGs work here: https://cafnec.nationbuilder.com/save_our_shade 

See a tree marked for removal?

1. Take photos of the whole tree, record the location and email both to the TAG team at trees@nullcafnec.org.au. 

2. Email the Cairns Regional Council to request the reason for the removal and when it is scheduled to happen. The address should be printed on the sign attached to the tree. 

As we continue to adapt to climate change, trees will remain one of our most important allies. Let’s work together to protect and plant more trees for a cooler, cleaner, and more vibrant Far North Queensland.