Continuing Threat to the Liverpool Plains

by editor | 9 Sep 2016 | AACSGaM

Armidale Action on Coal Seam Gas and Mining (AACSGaM) and Progressive Cinema present Black Hole on Friday, 16 September, at 6pm at Kent House, 141 Faulkner Street. The screening will be followed by a community dinner. Black Hole documents the on-going battle to save...

How many koalas do we have left on the Northern Tablelands?

by editor | 8 Sep 2016 | SLAM

It seems that no-one really knows. While they are now a threatened species in eastern Australia, we don’t really know if they are common or rare locally. Northern Tablelands Local Land Services (LLS) has commissioned two teams of researchers to find out more about...

We need peddlers at Well Fair — UNE central courtyard

by editor | 8 Sep 2016 | Event, Transport

In the lead up to NSW Bike Week’s Commute Challenge and Pedal to Piney, we will be making and consuming pedal mixed smoothies! Well Fair is an annual event aimed at improving the mental health and wellbeing of UNE students. Come to Well Fair in the University Central...

Dumaresq Creek revitalisation working bee behind Phil Wheaton Field

by editor | 8 Sep 2016 | AURG, Event

The Armidale Urban Rivercare Group (AURG) recently obtained a grant of $80,000 for its restoration and rehabilitation work in Armidale. This success is largely due to the work done by the committed volunteers of AURG and those who can only help occasionally. A walk...

Tim Marshall — Planning a Spring Garden workshop

by editor | 8 Sep 2016 | Event, Garden

The Armidale Tree Group is excited to announce that Tim Marshall will be conducting two workshops at the Woodland Centre in August and September, including a never before offered class on making your own organic potting soil. Tim is the bestselling author of four...

NSW Government — Appliance replacement offer for eligible concession cards

by editor | 7 Sep 2016 | Energy

The Office of Environment and Heritage are offering discounts on fridges and TVs so you can replace them with new, energy efficient models and save energy and save money on your energy bills. They are offering: a 40 per cent discount on the cost of a fridge a 50 per...

Beyond the coal rush — Noon Sat 3/9 ABC Radio National

by editor | 30 Aug 2016 | AACSGaM, Event

Hi, here’s a documentary based on the latest research from the ‘Coal Rush’ research team, in the coal mine affected areas of Liverpool Plains, as part of a study of coal and climate change in India, Germany and Australia. It’s starting this Saturday on The...

September Forum: Mark Ogge presents Mining the Truth

by editor | 30 Aug 2016 | AACSGaM, Event, Monthly Forum

Mark is the Principal Adviser at The Australia Institute. He specialises in mining and energy issues, particularly relating to the economic impacts of coal and gas mining. This role includes research and engaging with stakeholders from communities, industry...

Looking for Pedal to Piney volunteers

by editor | 30 Aug 2016 | Transport

Dear Sunday Cruisers, On September 25th the annual ‘Pedal to Piney’ event will run again! Members of the public (kids and adults alike) pedal a few kilometres from Curtis Park to the Armidale Pine Forest, along the bike path. At the pine forest this year...

Fill out this survey to help get Tim Flannery to present in Armidale

by editor | 30 Aug 2016 | Climate

The Climate Council has released a report ‘On the Frontline: Climate Change & Rural Communities’, which reveals that climate change is likely to worsen the systemic disadvantages suffered by rural and regional communities, and further widen the gap...

Volunteer photographers needed to take photos of Leard Forest, Maules Creek and Namoi Valley

by editor | 30 Aug 2016 | AACSGaM

With the buyback of the Caroona coal licence from BHP, and the potential buyback of Shenhua, there is a concern that the Namoi Valley, not classified as the Liverpool Plains will not be deemed “prime agricultural” land. We would like to tell the story in pictures of...

Can we feed 10 billion people on organic farming alone?

by editor | 30 Aug 2016 | Local Food, Starfish

Organic farming can help to both feed the world and preserve bushland. In a study published this year, researchers modelled 500 food production scenarios to see if we can feed an estimated world population of 9.6 billion people in 2050 without expanding the area of...

Wind and solar are crushing fossil fuels

by editor | 30 Aug 2016 | Starfish

While two years of crashing prices for oil, natural gas, and coal triggered dramatic downsizing in those industries, renewables have been thriving. Clean energy investment broke new records in 2015 and is now seeing twice as much global funding as fossil fuels. One...

Australia’s first community-funded Council solarfarms confirmed for construction

by editor | 24 Aug 2016 | Starfish

Australia’s first ever community-funded Council-operated solarfarms are on track to be operational by the end of this year following the successful completion of the investment offers and tenders for construction. “The response from community investors has been...

Restoration and rehabilitation of the creeklands working bee

by editor | 24 Aug 2016 | AURG, Event

The AURG is holding a Working Bee on Sunday 28th August, 2016. The working bee will introduce our plans for Restoration and Rehabilitation of the creeklands downstream of where Centennial Ave would intersect with Dumaresq Creek. The program will include an...

FREE battery storage workshop for business

by editor | 24 Aug 2016 | Energy, Event, ZNET

The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage in partnership with the University of New England Business School, are trialing a ‘Battery Storage for Business’ course with expert, impartial trainers for business, to be held in Armidale. Please be aware the workshop runs...

Global map reveals ‘unsafe levels’ of biodiversity across 58% of Earth’s surface

by editor | 24 Aug 2016 | Starfish

Biodiversity has dropped below the “safe limit” across 58% of the Earth’s surface according to the most comprehensive analysis of global data to date. The international study, published recently in the journal Science, suggests that the degree of lost biodiversity...

Bike Week 2016 17–25 September

by editor | 8 Aug 2016 | Transport

Commute Challenge and Pedal to the Piney Building on the success of these events over the last 3 years we are encouraging all cyclists to register their trips during Bike Week and to join in the “Pedal to the Piney” on Sunday the 25th of September. It’s time to talk...

August Forum: Tim Marshall — Organic tea coffee and spice

by editor | 3 Aug 2016 | Event, Garden, Local Food, Monthly Forum

Writer and trainer in organic growing, environmental and biodiversity management — Tim Marshall, will lead August Forum. Tim Marshall is a pioneer of organic certification. He was a founder of the first Australian organic certifier (NASAA) and the first Standards...

UNE Lecture: The Environmental Rule of Law and the Sustainable Development Goals

by editor | 3 Aug 2016 | Event

School of Law Kirby Seminar Series 2016 Friday, 5 August at 12pm Lewis Seminar Room, W38 EBL Building The concept of the ‘environmental rule of law’ has been growing in importance in recent years. It is based on the long-term acceptance of the centrality of the rule...

Video: Sustainable House Tour 2016

by editor | 29 Jul 2016 | Energy, ZNET | 2 comments

While only a few people are in the market for a brand new house, there is a lot of interest in how houses can contribute to living sustainably. To broaden awareness of what’s possible, we showcase materials, design, technology and even behaviour. Thanks to everyone...

Field Trip Vickery Forest: 6–7th August

by editor | 29 Jul 2016 | AACSGaM, Event

By now many of you are aware that Vickery Forest, between Boggabri and Gunnedah, is next in Whitehaven Coal’s targets, if not read this article: Whitehaven Coal proposes to ramp up mining and increase mine foot print near the Namoi River for its Vickery coal...

2016 Sustainable House Tour includes Armidale & Uralla!

by editor | 21 Jul 2016 | Energy, Event, ZNET | 2 comments

Join the third SLA Sustainable House Tour by buying a booklet that describes the houses on this year’s tour and includes relevant articles. The booklet acts as a ticket for a carload of people to visit the 11 houses. 2016 Tour: Saturday July 23rd and Sunday July 24th...

SOLD OUT: Free community dinner hosted by OzHarvest New England

by editor | 21 Jul 2016 | Event, Local Food

There are no more spots available for this event. Members of the public are invited to a free and delicious hot lunch created from quality food that would have otherwise ended up as landfill. When: Monday, 25 July 2016 from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM (AEST) Where: Meals on...

Excessive Noise Levels at Whitehaven’s Maules Creek Mine

by editor | 20 Jul 2016 | AACSGaM

Recently Paul Flynn, CEO of Whitehaven Coal, appeared on nationwide ABCTV “Australian Story” and also ABC radio attempting to persuade the public that the controversial noise impacts of the Maules Creek coal mine are of less concern than birdsong, or the noise of a...