PURPOSE OF LANE COVE COAL AND GAS WATCH (part of the Lane Cove Bushland and Conservation Society). As a community group our purpose is:
1. To campaign for no-go zones for coal and coal seam gas in drinking water catchments, prime agricultural land and special wild places.
2. To campaign for public health protections by setting strong limits on air, noise, water and carbon pollution from coal and gas developments.
3. To campaign for community rights by giving landowners and local councils the rights to refuse access to mining companies.
4. To raise awareness of the impacts of coal and coal seam gas within the Lane Cove Electorate and Anthony Roberts’ ministerial responsibilities relating to this.
To amplify and support the messages of coal and coal seam gas campaigns in NSW and other significant campaigns in Australia.
AIMS
1. To campaign for no-go zones for coal and coal seam gas in
– drinking water catchments (Including the re-charge zone of the great artesian basin),
– prime agricultural land in NSW, and
– special wild places for future generations,
A particular focus is on coal mining in Sydney’s drinking water catchment..
2. To campaign to protect public health by setting strong limits on air, noise, water and carbon pollution from coal and gas developments;
3. As a community group, to raise awareness within the Lane Cove Electorate of the impacts of coal and coal seam gas in general and to communicate community concerns to local MPs;
4. To build support for our campaigns both at grass roots and amongst community influences;
5. To amplify and support the messages of other coal and coal seam gas campaigns in NSW and significant campaigns in Australia.
HOW WE PURSUE OUR PURPOSE
– Letter writing and submissions groups;
– Events (film nights, public forums, guest speakers);
– Stalls;
– Knitting Nannas;
– Door to door surveys;
– Visiting our local politicians;
In its ongoing work the Society expanded its role in protecting our natural environment with the establishment of the Coal and Gas Watch as a sub-‐committee to campaign for no go zones for coal and coal seam gas mining with a campaign timeframe until the 2019 State election. As previously we continued with submissions in relation State environmental and planning changes as well as the local development applications which affect the bushland of Lane Cove. The Lane Cove Bush Kids Advisory Committee was established to continue its guidance of the LCBK program in this first year of its operation with LCC -‐ chaired by Corinne Fisher with members Norma Stuart, Ann Proudfoot and Helen Jordan working with Council staff. The Society again held two native plant stalls in the plaza in March and September, Matt Fisher provided our stall at ustainability Lane, Ron Gornall lead a particularly well-‐attended spring bushwalk at The Sanctuary North Head and we contributed three members (Norma Stuart, Maralyn Lawson and Yvonne Barber) to be part of the BMAC. We are also participating as community representatives on Ausgrid’s Tree Trimming Working Group. The monthly newsletter produced by Wendy Bishop and Graham Holland continues to inform members and Alasdair Stuart regularly emails our members of developments. Society emails are regularly monitored by Mike Kelly , our website is well maintained by Bridget Kennedy and Gaye White and Sally Kennedy continue to keep our facebook page current and relevant. However, overall we will need far more members with social media skills – this is where future communication lies.
The Future
The many hard-‐won environmental achievements of the past decades remain under threat and the coming year will be just as busy. We will need to be strategic in our activities and to work within our resource capacity. Especially we need to remember that major activities require serious commitment with follow-‐through and that needs to be factored in our planning. Thankyou all for your constructive and productive work 2015-‐2016 and the wonderful ability of the Society to advocate harmoniously for the benefit of our environment.