Open letter & invitation to the New England community

I am writing to seek your participation at an historic event that will contribute to the future strength, success and well being of our New England Region. On Monday 6 December, at Armidale Town Hall, interested community members, organisations, groups and authorities are invited to work together in completing the New England Sustainability Strategy (NESS).

EMERGING PRIORITIES FOR SUSTAINABILITY

Sustainability is one of the most pressing challenges and significant opportunities today. At a recent workshop a wide range of stakeholders measured the sustainability of the New England for the first time. Their conclusion was that right now we are some way off being sustainable ~ with a view expressed by nearly everyone that overall our social, environmental and economic capital is being degraded right now. At the same time however the consensus was also that the sustainability of the New England Region has ‘marginally improved’ in the last two years. This is a promising conclusion.

For the New England the emerging priorities include: clean and affordable energy; regeneration of our biodiversity; the need to diversify and create new employment and enterprise; community health and cultural diversity; opportunities for youth; and better harnessing the potential of our unique strengths, assets and identity.

MASSIVE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

The Public Forum on 6 December marks the completion of two years of work involving more than 1,000 people through forums, workshops, meetings, surveys and discussions. The purpose and vision for this work is for the New England to become a sustainable region by the year 2108. This is an ambitious and achievable pursuit, though this massive collective effort is significant, perhaps even globally unique. In terms of participation alone it is possible we a nearing a tipping point, about to move to a new level.

UNIQUE AWARD-WINNING APPROACH

A broad focus is being taken on the priorities for the whole region ~ including business, community, all levels of government, urban and rural, towns and villages. So too, the view of sustainability ~ including social, environmental, economic, global, local and more. The New England Sustainability Strategy was awarded 2010 Community Organisation of the Year by the Armidale & District Business Chamber and the NSW Environmental Trust has described the scale of community involvement as “amazing”!

PUBLIC FORUM DETAILS

• When: Monday 6 December, 8.30am for 9am start to 5pm
• Where: Armidale Town Hall, Rusden Street, Armidale
• Food: Lunch, morning & afternoon tea (advise of dietary requirements)
• Cost: $30 to cover costs (exemptions available on request)
• RSVP: Close of Business, Wednesday 1 December 2010

Thank you very much for your consideration of this invitation and request. We would welcome your support in also forwarding this invitation on through your networks. Please feel free to contact me if you wish to discuss this further or require any additional information.

Sincerely yours

Adam F Blakester

Convenor, New England Sustainability Strategy Executive (NESSiE)