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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The due date for submissions is Monday 29th April 2019. 

Fill in your details and send off the form below as is, or make changes to it as you please.

We’ve also provided links to the referral documents if you would like to write your own submission from scratch. If you have time we always recommend an individual submission To submit it simply send it in an email to EPBC.comments@nullenvironment.gov.au with the reference Number: 2019/8424 in the subject line.

However, we understand many of us are busy hence the template option below. 

Referral documents: 

• 2019-8424 Referral
• Cairns Regional Council Flying Fox Relocation Management Plan 2019
• Cairns City Library EPBC
• Corporate Plan 2017

Other key docs: 
The four community experts on the Council’s own Flying Fox Advisory Committee have released a damning open letter categorically opposing this action. If you are going to do your own submission look at these documents that have a lot of important detail in it.

Bat and Trees Society Submission Template: https://batsoc72412150

Read the letter here: https://bit.ly/2UD5rdk
Share it on Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/yyc4t9l5

You can also read more information on the background of the issue in Cairns on our website, as well as listen to Dr Martin Cohen Wildlife Biologist & Chair of Flying Fox Advisory Committee’s ABC interview on the issue here:
https://cafnec.org.au/get-involved/take-action/spectacled-flying-foxes-extinction-in-action.

The post Make a Submission: Spectacled Flying Fox Dispersal appeared first on CAFNEC.

URGENT: You may have seen hundreds of flying foxes dying as a result of the record-breaking temperatures in Cairns this week. Carers are working around the clock. Sound familiar? It is. We were in this same situation one year ago losing a majority of pups from the Cairns CBD camp from other stressors.

We are living in a changing climate. Aside from supporting carers, we can’t press pause on the heat right now but what we can do is push our politicians to be making better decisions for these creatures.

The post Flying Foxes need your help! appeared first on CAFNEC.

On the 22nd of April, the Bat Festival was held at the Salt House Garden. It was an event organised by the Cairns Regional Council, Australasian Bat Society and CAFNEC.

Hundreds of people came along for live music, cocktails, microbat detecting, kids crafts, educational talks, flying fox flyout interpretive talks, a great raffle, BBQ, Zoo To You and more!

The post Bat Festival appeared first on CAFNEC.

MEDIA RELEASE 17/09/2015

Cairns and Far North Environment Centre (CAFNEC) is today expressing dismay at a disallowance motion tabled by the LNP opposition in an attempt to derail the legislation necessary to implement 3 Net Free Areas in Queensland, including one for the Cairns / Trinity Bay area.

CAFNEC Director Josh Coates said:

“This is a cynical political move and is a huge snub to the many people who have worked for years to see this common sense approach to resource sharing and environmental protection in areas under significant environmental pressure.

Attempts to block the Net Free Areas fly in the face of the Reef 2050 plan which refers to the Net Free Areas.

The LNP is saying there has not been enough consultation but this is just not the case as there has been much opportunity for input and discussion in recent months and years. The recent submission process showed overwhelming community support – in the order of 90% support for the Net Free Areas.

Arguments that compensation is not adequate do not stand up to scrutiny with figures being mentioned well in excess of the amounts offered in recent net buy-back processes.

Net Free Areas will help protect local fish populations, marine mammals like dugongs and will be good for recreational fishers and fishing tourism. Commercial fishers will still be able to operate in less heavily fished areas and the scare campaign regarding supplies of fish for local markets does not hold water.

CAFNEC is proud to stand alongside recreational fishers including the local CAREFISH group in calling on the LNP to support the environment and recreational fishing community in implementing these zones.”

Media contact: Josh Coates, Director, (07) 4032 1586, director [at] cafnec.org.au

The post Net Free Area disallowance motion snubs recreational fishers and environmentalists. appeared first on CAFNEC.

The proposed Wongai coal mine on Princess Charlotte Bay, Cape York has failed to progress its applications with the Queensland government and is no longer listed as a coordinated project under the control of the Department of State Development.  The company has also not submitted a substantial EIS requested by the Federal Department of the Environment in December 2011 to progress the necessary approvals for activities in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area.  CAFNEC hopes that this is an indication that this poorly conceived project is about to be abandoned due to its potentially high environmental impact and poor financial viability.

The Wongai coal mine is proposed on Indigenous land in an environmentally sensitive region 150 kilometres north-west of Cooktown, wedged between wetlands bordering Princess Charlotte Bay and the Cape Melville National Park. The current proposal includes an underground coal mine, 15-kilometre conveyor, coastal coal stockpiles a barge-loading terminal on Bathurst Head and last, but definitely not least, offshore transhipment of coal from barges to larger ships in the waters of the Great Barrier Reef lagoon adjacent to the Flinders Island group.  Not only are all these activities proposed in a currently pristine portion of the Great Barrier Reef, but they also threaten the wetlands, coral reefs, sea grass beds and dugong and turtle habitat of Princess Charlotte Bay.

Josh Coates, CAFNEC Director said:

Dugong feeding on seagrass. Photo: Julien Willem

“We have serious concerns about this project from an environmental perspective.  We see coal mining, new ports and transhipping as an unsustainable direction for development on the Cape. We need to be looking at development opportunities that do not put our wetlands, dugongs, turtles, sea grass beds and coral reefs at risk.

The new ALP Queensland Government made a number of pre-election commitments, and more recent commitments to the World Heritage Committee, to implement a range of initiatives to protect the Great Barrier Reef.  These initiatives included a ban on transhipping in the Great Barrier Reef lagoon and no new ports, both of which are elements of the Wongai proposal.

Whilst there is a clear need for increased economic opportunities for Indigenous people on the Cape, we don’t see coal mining as a viable or sustainable way to go. Support for Indigenous ranger programs, better environmental management initiatives and support for tourism and other industry that does not harm the environment are the way forward.

We welcome the fact that the Queensland Government has chosen not to renew coordinated project status for this project and we hope that this is indicative of a renewed focus on more sustainable economic opportunities on the Cape. We don‘t want to see the ecological health of the Princess Charlotte Bay/Bathurst Head/Flinders Islands region declining like that of the southern reef.”

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CAFNEC has long supported the introduction of net free areas in sensitive areas and areas subject to heavy human environmental pressure along the Queensland coast.

Proposed outer boundary for the Cairns Net Free Zone

We have worked closely with the local recreational fishing group CAREFISH to support the campaign to introduce a net free area for Trinity Inlet (Cairns) and surrounds, as well as other areas. Implementation of net free zones should always be accompanied by appropriate assistance for affected commercial fishers.

CAFNEC helped to achieve an election commitment from the then Labor opposition in Queensland to commit to 3 net free areas in Queensland, including Trinity Bay.  Since the early 2015 election result putting Labor in power in Queensland we are now working with Government and stakeholders to see this promise implemented.

The net-free fishing zones will be established at:

• Trinity Bay, Cairns
• St Helens Beach to Cape Hillsborough, north of Mackay
• Yeppoon/Keppel Bay/Fitzroy River, Capricorn Coast.

2 easy ways to support the net free zones:

1. Have your say on the Government’s quick consultation survey: https://www.getinvolved.qld.gov.au/gi/consultation/2555/view.html
2. Support the ‘nets out Queensland’ petition put forward by recreational fishers: https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-assembly/petitions/e-petitions

Benefits of net free zones

Net Free Zones are areas that are closed to commercial gill net fishing. This reduces the pressure on fish stocks in the area and prevents localised depletion, protects animals that may be caught as bycatch such as dugongs, dolphins and turtles and prevents habitat damage that can result from net operations.

CAFNEC supports removing commercial netting from inshore estuarine areas and areas that already face multiple environmental pressures such as those near larger cities and towns.

Protecting these environments can protect fish nursery areas, increase fish numbers overall and protect populations of dugongs, dolphins and turtles. This in turn can support the fishing, recreational fishing and tourism industries that rely on healthy environments and fish numbers.

Suggestions for what you may say on the consultation survey:

The survey is simple –

1. Fill out some basic details about yourself then choose if you want to comment on 1 or all 3 of the proposed areas (why not support them all?)
2. Put your comments into the box provided, as long or as short as you like.

Perhaps you would just like to write a quick comment in support, e.g. :

I support the implementation of the 3 proposed net free areas in Queensland. Net free areas will protect local environment and fish population and benefit habitats and species including dolphins, dugongs and turtles. I support the benefits net free areas will bring to tourism and recreational fishing.

I note that these proposed net free areas are supported actions in the Reef 2050 Long-Term Sustainability Plan. I commend the Government in sticking to it’s election promise and support the implementation of the net free zones without delay.

The post Support Net Free Zones for Cairns and other parts of Queensland appeared first on CAFNEC.

On the 27^th of January CAFNEC and AMCS hosted at the Salt House in Cairns an important event in our ongoing series of Reef Hour events, the Reef Hour – Election Special event.

The event featured local election candidates speaking about their policies in relation to the Great Barrier Reef and addressing questions from the audience.

An engaged Cairns and Far North community hear from candidates on reef protection.

The scheduled and confirmed speakers were: Michael Trout MP (LNP), Rob Pyne (Labor candidate), Noel Castley-Wright (Greens candidate). However the LNP candidate withdrew from the event and no LNP representative was present to replace him. This gap in the line up was replaced at the very last minute by attending local independent candidate Bernice Kelly.

Early problems with the in house sound system, the non-attendance of a LNP representative and some chopper noise were quickly overcome with the help of our committed CAFNEC Marine Response Team volunteers and an engaging and insightful hour long conversation continued.  A strong turn out and many intelligent questions confirmed the importance of the Reef as a crucial election issue in 2015.

Topics covered included the Cairns Port dredging proposal, the Reef 2050 plan and the threat of ‘World Heritage in Danger’ listing, coastal development, land based impacts such as agricultural runoff , fisheries management, protection of vulnerable species such as dugong and turtle and the issue of climate change impact on the reef.

CAFNEC would like to extend our sincere thanks to all the volunteers, management committee members, candidates, the Salt House and everyone who attended and made the event a success.

CAFNEC Marine Response Team volunteers did a great job to facilitate the event and prove and information booth for the public.

We would also like to thank the many members of the media who attended and appreciated the coverage given to the event by the channel 7 and WIN local news teams.

Community participation in the democratic process is very important to all of us at CAFNEC and we are proud to have facilitated this important event in the lead up to the 2015 election.

For more information please see our 2015 election page where you can read more, access our election report card and learn more about how to make your vote count for the environment in 2015.

The post Reef Hour – Election Special event a success appeared first on CAFNEC.

Cairns and Far North Environment Centre (CAFNEC) is today inviting media and the public to attend a very important event in the lead up to the State election.

The Reef Hour – Election Special event will feature political candidates discussing their positions on issues relevant to the protection of the Great Barrier Reef. CAFNEC is extending an invitation to media to promote and attend the event and will be available for interviews today in the lead up to the event and after the event. It is anticipated that candidates will also make themselves available for interview at around 1:30.

Event Details:

When: Tuesday 27^th January. 12:30 – 1:30pm

Where: Salt House, Marina Point

Who: Michael Trout MP (LNP), Rob Pyne (Labor candidate), Noel Castley-Wright (Greens candidate)

What: Introduction to the issues from CAFNEC, Short talks from candidates, Q&A. Opportunities for media interviews after the event.

Free to attend. 2 for 1 bar meals available from 12 noon.

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Event Details:

When: Tuesday 27th January. 12:30 – 1:30pm
Where: Salt House, Marina Point
Who: Micheal Trout MP (LNP), Rob Pyne (Labor candidate), Noel Castley-Wright (Greens candidate)
What: Introduction to the issues from CAFNEC, Short talks from candidates, Q&A. 

Free to attend. 2 for 1 bar meals available from 12 noon.

CAFNEC Marine Programs Coordinator Josh Coates said:
“We are continuing our very successful Reef hour event series with an ‘Election Special’ in the week before Queenslanders go to the polls.
The protection of the Great Barrier Reef is a crucial election issue and this event is an opportunity for candidates to clearly articulate their position on a range of issues in relation to reef protection.
We are actively encouraging Far North Queenslanders to ‘vote for the reef’ this election and as part of that we are giving the politicians the chance to outline and defend their policies.
Issues discussed will include the Cairns Port dredging proposal, the development of the Reef 2050 plan and the threat of ‘World Heritage in Danger’ listing, coastal development, land based impacts such as agricultural runoff , fisheries management, protection of vulnerable species such as dugong and turtle and the issue of climate change impact on the reef.
The reef is clearly the highest profile environmental issue this election and reef health is extra important to us in the Far North. We expect a very informative session, interesting questions and a great opportunity for the community to hear directly from the local candidates and for media to report the positions of the parties in relation to the reef and FNQ.”

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