by Monique Jeffs
CAFNEC Community Organiser

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.  

Monique Jeffs & Tree Action Group

Community Organiser

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.

The post Saving Gimuy Shade Trees: Nature-Based Solutions for a Climate Safe Cairns appeared first on CAFNEC.

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All donations over $2 to CAFNEC are tax deductible.

The CAFNEC Gift Fund is a public fund listed on the Register of Environmental Organisations under item 6.1.1 of subsection 30-55(1) of the Income Tax Asssessment Act 1997.

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Dredging in Cairns is back on the table 

Only 24 hrs left to have your say! Make a submission using the form below. Submissions Close 5 pm Friday 25th August.

It’s no secret that the Great Barrier Reef is one of the great wonders of our natural world, worthy of our very best endeavours to protect it. It is also no secret that our reef is under enormous pressure following two consecutive years of bleaching.

The cumulative impact of new capital dredging projects proposed along the Queensland coast threatens our already vulnerable reef. So much so the Queensland Government have banned it in most places – including Cairns.

But there’s an exception.

Right now, there is a proposal on the table to expand Cairns Port by dredging 1,000,000 m³ from the Trinity Inlet. 

The Queensland government need to hear from the Cairns community who see this project as a lot of risk for little reward. Together, we can protect what makes Cairns a unique destination.

Will you help protect the Trinity Inlet, the Barron River and the Great Barrier Reef from this large, unnecessary and risky project?

Make a submission using form below.

Read the EIS documents here

Find out more about the submission process here

Use the submission guide provided below or:

• Submit online here using Qld Government online form
• Email: to CairnsSDP@nullcoordinatorgeneral.qld.gov.au
• Post: Project manager – Cairns Shipping Development project
  Coordinated Project Delivery Division
  Office of the Coordinator-General
  PO Box 15517
  City East Qld 4002 Australia
• Fax: +61 7 3220 6502

The post Have your say: Cairns Shipping Development Project EIS appeared first on CAFNEC.

Nandroya Falls – Photo credit: James Berry

The Wet Tropics Management Authority (WTMA) is currently reviewing the Wet Tropics Management Plan (WTMP) 1998. 

The Plan regulates activities within the Wet Tropics area which may have an impact on its World Heritage values and integrity. These activities are primarily those which may affect its ecosystems, vegetation, soils, waterways and scenic values.

If individuals or groups would prefer to have a Wet Tropics Management Plan review brochure sent out, please email CAFNEC President, Denis Walls, as soon as possible.

There are two ways to participate in the current round of consultation.

Photo Credit: James Berry

A: Contribute to the conservation sector submission to be prepared by CAFNEC

B: Make a submission directly to WTMA

There are real strengths in working together to develop a joint sector response. By uniting our voices we can send a clear message about our concerns and aspirations for the long-term conservation of the Wet Tropics World Heritage rainforests.

Nevertheless, CAFNEC encourages those interested in conservation to make an individual submission to WTMA as well.

A. Contribute to the Conservation Sector Submission

The Cairns and Far North Environment Centre (CAFNEC) is assisting WTMA with its community consultation and will be preparing a submission on behalf of the conservation sector.

CAFNEC is, therefore, seeking input into the conservation sector submission from local conservation groups and community members with an interest in conservation.

There are a number of ways local groups and community members can contribute to the conservation sector submission:

Step 1 – Quick Poll

Fill out this quick poll prior to 31 May 2017 to help us identify the key areas of interest/concern to the conservation sector.

Step 2 – Consultation Workshop

This will be the major opportunity for attendees to hear from WTMA, ask direct questions and form a better understanding of the impact of the proposed changes. This event will also include a short workshop to identify the concerns and gaps arising from the proposed changes as well as identify proposed changes that are supported by the conservation sector.

The discussions and comments arising from the workshop will be used to inform and prepare the conservation sector submission. 

LOCATION: JCU City Campus – Collaborative Learning Centre, 36 Shields Street, Cairns.

DATE: Saturday, 3 June 2017

TIME: 9am – 12noon

Step 3 – Have Your Say

Following the consultation workshop, we will be seeking and considering written contributions in developing the Conservation Sector Submission.

To make this easier we will release a survey following the event so look out for the email in early June.

Alternatively, you can send an email to CAFNEC President Denis Walls or send a written letter to:
Cairns and Far North Environment Centre
PO Box 323N
North Cairns Q 4870

For written contributions to be considered in the conservation sector submission they must be received no later than 5pm on Wednesday 14 June 2017. This is necessary to allow CAFNEC time to synthesize all views and comments prior to the WTMA formal consultation closing date of 30 June 2017.

B. Make a Submission Directly to WTMA

In addition to contributing to the conservation sector submission, we are encouraging groups and individuals to make their own submission directly to WTMA before formal consultation closes on 30 June 2017.

Ways you can do this online include:

Alternatively you can send a letter to:
Wet Tropics Management Authority
PO Box 2050
Cairns Q 4870

One last thing… Help us spread the word!

Please feel free to forward this information to any contacts that may not be aware of the review process.

You can also spread the word on social media by joining and sharing the Facebook event.

The post Contribute to the Conservation Sector Submission – Wet Tropics Plan Review appeared first on CAFNEC.

CAFNEC, EDO NQ and ACF would like to invite all members of the public to attend one of the public forums being held in both Cairns and Mareeba to ask questions about, and hear the case for supporting, the Vegetation Management (Reinstatement) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016.

Photo Credit: Kerry Trapnell (TWS)

WHEN: 

Tuesday 31st May 2016

WHERE:

• 1.00-3.00pm Mareeba Memorial Bowls Club, Anzac Avenue, Mareeba.
• 6.30-8.00pm Serbian Cultural Centre, 167 Greenslopes Street, Edge Hill, Cairns.

MORE DETAILS:

The Queensland Vegetation Management (Reinstatement) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2016 is currently under inquiry by a parliamentary committee.

This Bill is fulfilment of a 2015 election commitment by the Palaszczuk government to reinstate vegetation protection laws weakened under the Newman government. See here for history and background.

It is essential that this Bill is passed, to ensure the Great Barrier Reef, wildlife, soils, waterways and our climate are protected from the devastating impacts of broadscale clearing.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:

Environmental Defenders Office Queensland (EDO Qld) Solicitor Revel Pointon will identify how the proposed changes to Queensland’s Vegetation Management Act relates to other laws and dispel common myths. Key legal points will cover retrospectivity,  onus of proof and mistake of fact provisions.

Dr Martin Taylor, WWF-Australia’s Conservation Scientist will discuss why the existing law cannot meet its legal purpose and how it fails to protect biodiversity, our climate and the Great Barrier Reef.

Dr Penny van Oosterzee, Adjunct Principal Research Fellow at James Cook University (Mareeba event only) will present on the prospective potential of payment for ecosystem services of native vegetation and how this could provide future economic opportunities.

There will also be information provided to the community on ways to show support to ensure the bill and its necessary protections are passed.

These events will be co-hosted by the Cairns and Far North Environment Centre (CAFNEC), Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) and EDO Northern Queensland.

Photo credit (banner image): Kerry Trapnell (TWS)

The post Tree Clearing Laws (Qld) appeared first on CAFNEC.

CAFNEC is proud to to be able to assist in giving the small businesses community a voice on this important issue.

The letter has been printed in a full page ad in the Cairns Post on Friday 23rd October. Download the letter and the list of signatories as a pdf here: Business letter with signatories final

Josh Coates, CAFNEC Director said:

“The fact that over one hundred Cairns and Far North businesses have put their names to this open letter sends a clear message to the major parties that industrial ‘priority port’ listing for Cairns is not broadly supported.

We know that protecting the Reef and our reputation as a nature based tourism destination that respects our environment is crucial to our economic future.

Many of the small and medium sized businesses we have talked to are concerned that a small group of vested interests are attempting to push the Government toward amending the bill at the expense of our environment and tourism industry.

With the Ports Bill set to be voted on in parliament very soon most are pleased to see the Government is so far sticking to it’s guns and ruling out industrial port status for Cairns.

The Ports Bill only restricts large scale channel dredging and will not affect our ability to provide for our important reef tourism fleet into the future.

The Sustainable Ports Development Bill as it stands fulfils our promise to the World Heritage Committee to limit new dredging to only a few bulk commodity ports under the Reef 2050 plan. The push from vested interests to list Cairns and Mourilyan as industrial ports is misguided and puts our reputation as Reef stewards at risk. The last thing we want to see is a back down on our commitments leading to ‘at risk’ listing for the reef when UNESCO review our progress in implementing the Reef 2050 plan next year.

Our port can and will continue to function without the need for new channel dredging, alternatives exist for cruise boats and visitation continues to grow without the need for new dredging.”

Open letter text:

We, the undersigned business owners, managers and workers of Queensland, are deeply concerned about the future health of the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef is one of the natural wonders of the world. And it’s an
economic driver for our region.
We love our marine environment, and we value the Reef, and the $6 billion dollar tourism industry and 60,000 jobs it supports. Tourism is a sustainable business that supports the local communities, not a select few.
We oppose the changes to list the Port of Cairns and allow more dredging. Making Cairns an industrial mega port would allow unlimited capital dredging.
Cairns risks becoming an industrial port like Gladstone. No one comes from around the world to see dredging.
Australia and Queensland made a commitment to the World Heritage Committee to limit port expansion and dredging alongside the Great Barrier Reef. We must honour that promise and prevent an ‘at risk’ listing for the GBR.
More dredging will hurt tourism. There are real and viable alternatives to dredging for cruise ships. New dredging is not needed for a viable and functioning port.
If we protect it, the Reef will continue to provide for us. We take our responsibility to protect the Reef seriously and we call on all our political leaders to do the same.
That means:
• Not amending the Sustainable Ports Development Bill 2015 to include the port of Cairns or Mourilyan as industrial ‘priority ports’, or making any other amendment which would increase the amount of dredging and inappropriate development from what is already allowed under the Bill.
• Renewing the commitment to not spend up to or over $400 million of taxpayers’ money on new dredging in Cairns under the current EIS process and instead committing to supporting Cairns and FNQ businesses in ways
that do not put the environment at risk.
Please, protect the Great Barrier Reef and our coastal environments; it is in all our interests.

The post Local Businesses open letter on Cairns Dredging and the Ports Bill released appeared first on CAFNEC.

Today a cruise ship dredging smokescreen, tomorrow an industrial mega-port?

Use the easy tool at the bottom of this page to send an email to your local MP’s

Developers are pushing for 4.4 million m3 of dirty dredging in Trinity Inlet, to allow the largest giant cruise ships, cargo tankers, and warships into our harbour / into the heart of Cairns.
The dredge spoil would likely be dumped on the environment reserve and restored wetlands at East Trinity and then, in an annual battle against nature to keep the channel open, they’d dredge and dump around an additional 100,000 m3 into the waters of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park to maintain the channel. The economics just don’t stack up, the project would cost taxpayers around $440 million, and benefit only a handful of businesses.

Offshore dumping of dredge spoil in the GBR Marine Park 2014 – expanding the Cairns channel would significantly increase the amount of maintenance dredging and dumping required annually. © Josh Coates/CAFNEC/WWF

But it doesn’t stop there!
The same vested interests are now calling for Cairns to be made into a priority industrial port. This would allow unlimited capital dredging for port expansion in the future and risks turning Cairns into an industrial mega-port like Gladstone.

The case for priority port status does not add up, Cairns is not and never should be a large bulk commodity port. Our commitment to UNESCO to prevent new dredging in ports like Cairns was crucial in preventing recent ‘at risk’ listing for the reef. If we break our promise we open the door to at risk listing and would send the wrong message to potential tourism visitors. This would have negative impacts on the economy.

Nobody wants to hold back the economic future of Cairns, but new dredging threatens to do just that and is not necessary for our industries such as tourism, sugar export and defence to continue.

Use the easy tool at the bottom of this page to send an email to your local MP’s

Other things you can do:

1. Click here to sign the Parliamentary petition saying that you want a sustainable future for Cairns, not an industrial mega-port.
2. Share the parliamentary petition with your friends please use this link: http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-assembly/petitions/e-petition?PetNum=2441
3. Own or run a local business? Sign the local business open letter on dredging

The post Stand up for the Reef and stop new Cairns dredging – email your local MP appeared first on CAFNEC.

Open Letter from local businesses regarding Cairns dredging and the Ports Bill.

Healthy reef and marine environment = healthy businesses

Do you own, run or work in a Cairns and Far North local business? Do you care about reef protection and our tourism future?

Please stand up to the misleading and damaging lobby group calling for more dredging and inappropriate industrial ‘priority port’ listing for Cairns port. You can sign up to the open letter on the form below and/or download the letter here: Business open letter FINAL web

Over 100 businesses have already signed the the letter which was printed in a full page ad in the Cairns Post on Friday 23rd October. Download the letter and the list of signatories as a pdf here: Business letter with signatories final

Read more:

• No mega-port for Cairns e-petition – sign now!
• Reef report card confirms need to restrict dredging
• Letter from Federal Environment Minister Hunt backs Queensland Government stance on Cairns Port Dredging.
• Other ways to take action: CAFNEC Ports Bill landing page

Please join other local businesses by signing on to the open letter using the form below.

… Want to discuss this further before signing up? No worries, give us a call on 4032 1586

Sign on to the open letter:

[formidable id=11]

Open Letter Text:

We, the undersigned business owners, managers and workers of Queensland, are deeply concerned about the future health of the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef is one of the natural wonders of the world. And it’s an economic driver for our region.
We love our marine environment, and we value the Reef, and the $6 billion dollar tourism industry and 60,000 jobs it supports. Tourism is a sustainable business that supports the local communities, not a select few.
We oppose the changes to list the Port of Cairns and allow more dredging. Making Cairns an industrial mega port would allow unlimited capital dredging. Cairns risks becoming an industrial port like Gladstone. No one comes from around the world to see dredging.
Australia and Queensland made a commitment to the World Heritage Committee to limit port expansion and dredging alongside the Great Barrier Reef. We must honour that promise and prevent an ‘at risk’ listing for the GBR.
More dredging will hurt tourism. There are real and viable alternatives to dredging for cruise ships. New dredging is not needed for a viable and functioning port.
If we protect it, the Reef will continue to provide for us. We take our responsibility to protect the Reef seriously and we call on all our political leaders to do the same.
That means:
• Not amending the Sustainable Ports Development Bill 2015 to include the port of Cairns or Mourilyan as industrial ‘priority ports’, or making any other amendment which would increase the amount of dredging and inappropriate development from what is already allowed under the Bill.
• Renewing the commitment to not spend up to or over $400 million of taxpayers money on new dredging in Cairns under the current EIS process and instead committing to supporting Cairns and FNQ businesses in ways that do not put the environment at risk.

Please, protect the Great Barrier Reef and our coastal environments; it is in all our interests.

The post Business open letter on dredging appeared first on CAFNEC.