Sustainable Scenic Rim eNews Aug/Sep 2011
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Welcome to Spring and the August-September 2011 Sustainable Scenic Rim eNews. Have you noticed that the days are getting longer again? Early morning temperatures are still a wintery low and those dry westerlies are very much embedded in nature’s August weather patterns aren’t they... There is a lot to read and many opportunities to get active in this edition of SSR. There are articles from right across our beautiful region and it is heartening to see the level of meaningful sustainability activity going on locally in businesses, schools, communities, community organisations and Council here in the Scenic Rim. Thank you to all our article contributors who are leading the way with their great initiatives. These newsletters are produced seasonally. If you would like to contribute to our Summer 2011 edition which will be produced in late November 2011, please contact Sally MacKinnon at the Ethos Foundation: sally@ethosfoundation.org Council fights to keep coal mining and coal seam gas out of Scenic Rim
Council fights to keep coal mining and coal seam gas out of Scenic Rim Scenic Rim Regional Council is in the final stages of a submission to the State Government to have coal mining and coal seam gas exploration banned in the region. The submission asks Queensland Premier Anna Bligh to make an amendment to the Mineral Resources Act that would prevent prospecting, mining and exploration in the region, as was made for the nearby Springfield area. Scenic Rim Mayor John...Read More
Keep the Scenic Rim Scenic launches community information campaign about coal seam gas The community group Keep the Scenic Rim Scenic (KTSRS) recently launched an information campaign to update all Scenic Rim residents about the threats of coal and coal seam gas exploration and mining to the region. An information brochure specifically written for Scenic Rim residents was produced by the group and is now being distributed throughout communities including Beaudesert and Boonah. A series...Read More
Tamborine Mountain Sustainability Group launches sustainability plan and localisation film On Saturday August 20, Tamborine Mountain Transition Town Network launched its community “Sustainability Action Plan for Tamborine Mountain” at the premiere screening of “The Economics of Happiness” at the Zamia Theatre. This community-created plan, a first for the Scenic Rim region, outlines a range of projects to strengthen the community’s local economy, community bonds and community resilience...Read More
Scenic Rim Food A regional food network was formed at Canungra in July 2011 as part of the Scenic Rim region’s first Eat Local Week. Called Scenic Rim Food, the network is bringing together regional growers, producers, retailers and consumers. Scenic Rim Food aims to: Develop a local food system to facilitate trade of locally grown and produced food and beverages to meet the needs of farmers/producers and...Read More
Boonah Organisation for a Sustainable Shire – Spring update Helen Houghton Reserve Opening Boonah celebrated National Tree Day with the opening of the Helen Houghton Reserve on Sunday July 31. A moving ceremony was conducted by celebrant Kitty Lyons, and the reserve was officially opened by Councillor Kathy Bensted. BOSS Secretary Julie Jackson said, “a wonderful morning tea was had and over 100 trees were planted in a morning activity involving young...Read More
Mt Barney Lodge Birdweek and Threatened Species Day September activities Community painting and poetry on September 10 “The Rim” community art and ecology project is coming to Mt Barney Lodge’s Birdweek Celebration on Saturday September 10. Between 10am and 3pm visitors and guests to Mt Barney Lodge are invited to help create a giant community fabric painting that celebrates the birds, landscapes and geology of the Scenic Rim. Outstanding regional artists...Read More
Farewell to Michael Anderson Environmental and sustainability organisations, educators and activists from across the Scenic Rim recently said a reluctant goodbye to Michael Anderson, Council’s Team Leader in Environmental Policy and Services. Michael is taking up a position with Sunshine Coast Regional Council and will be sorely missed. As news broke of his departure emails flooded in to acknowledge Michael’s excellent leadership,...Read More
Beechmont Landcare Green Corps program A partnership has been formed between Beechmont Landcare, Job Futures SEQ, National Green Jobs Corps, Scenic Rim Regional Council, South East Queensland Catchments and South East Queensland Water to conduct an environmental traineeship project at Beechmont. National Green Jobs Corps is the Australian Government’s environmentally focused work experience and accredited training program for 17 –...Read More
Tamborine Mountain Community Farm overview Tamborine Mountain fresh food growers Bev and Geoff Buckley have a plan to help people become self sufficient in food. They have set up a Community Farm and are looking for a few people interested in participating. The Buckley's farm is an existing well established profitable operation that grows a wide variety of fruit and vegetables. They have over 500 trees producing avocados, tamarillos,...Read More
Wild Mountains update Earlier this year Wild Mountains Earth Education Centre hosted one of its most popular adult learning programs called “Growing Roots” which was all about permaculture lifestyles. The program was hosted by Bunya, Will and Anaheke and had just the right amount of time to slow down, relax and learn a little about yourself, permaculture and variety of other good holistic stuff. During the weekend...Read More
Scenic Rim Wildlife Expo success The third annual Scenic Rim Wildlife Expo was held in early August at Beaudesert and played host to over 100 people, frogs, reptiles, birds and mammals. Organiser Ronda Green was pleased with the event and said the feedback from visitors was very positive. The expo included a variety of displays and presenters including Scenic Rim Wildlife, the Logan and Albert Conservation Association and Wildlife...Read More
Darlington Community Market in September On Sunday 4 September you can experience a unique new market located in the Lost World Valley of the Scenic Rim, just 20 minutes from Beaudesert. Celebrate Father’s Day with a day out in the country for the whole family and enjoy the unique vibe of community markets, selling locally grown food direct from the farmer. Organisers are seeking interest from Scenic Rim food providers who are looking for...Read More
Scenic Rim EnviroGrant program now open Applications are now open for Council’s Environmental Grants Program with $75,000 in funding on offer for individuals and groups focused on preserving the local environment. Local schools, private landholders and environmental community groups wanting to work in partnership with Council on Council owned or controlled land are encouraged to apply. Mayor John Brent said the program would allow...Read More
Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) now open The RADF funding round is now open. The 2011/2012 Grant Round 1 is now open and closes at close of business on Friday 16 September 2011 for projects commencing after 1 December 2011. Grant application packs are available at Council Customer Service Centres, Libraries, The Centre for Arts & Culture - Beaudesert and The Boonah Arts and Cultural Centre or they can be downloaded from www.liveatthecentre.com.au....Scenic Rim at Regional Flavours Scenic Rim Regional Council is working closely with the region’s food and wine business sectors as part of the Local Living Economies program. With a focus on sustainable business development in our region, Council supported ten local businesses to attend the Southbank Corporations Regional Flavours 2011 event. Over 20,000 people attended the event this year and all of our local business were extremely busy...Read More
“Nearly the last groove?” at Beechmont’s historic community hall August 27 Beechmont musical legend Will Miller and some of his friends (Adam, John, Huon, Catherine, Paul...) have realised that their beautiful old community hall will shortly be closing to public events. So they’ve decided to host a family music night on Saturday August 27 from 7pm to celebrate this historic community icon. Could this be Beechmont’s last groove at the hall? If it is, don’t miss...Read More
Beechmont to screen “The Economics of Happiness” October 28 Since its release in January 2011, the film “The Economics of Happiness” by localisation pioneer Helena Norberg-Hodge, has been screened on five continents, won numerous awards and inspired communities and people who want local prosperity, wellbeing and sustainability. The Beechmont Business & Enterprise Network (BBEN) is thrilled to announce that in collaboration with bioregional solar energy...Read More
Ancient Arts Revival Festival at Lost World in September The first Ancient Arts Revival Festival will be held between September 21 to 24 at Garden Hill at Lost World 3268 Kerry Road, Darlington. The festival offers three and four day workshops including: Blacksmithing (Masterclass) Whipmaking Bookbinding and Boxmaking Horn and Pewter Drawing With Pastels Sandstone Carving Spinning Dyeing Weaving Felting For more details check the blog :...Read More
Under the Radar exhibition at The Centre Under the Radar is a series of LED installations of the Scenic Rim from above by artist David Forbes. The exhibition opened to great acclaim on August 12 with David Forbes and world-renowned artist Davida Allen and will run until October 1 @ the Centre Beaudesert. There are evocative images from Mt Barney, Rathdowney, Beaudesert, Main Range and more which highlight the extraordinary beauty of the Scenic...Read More
Logan Food Gardeners Logan Food Gardeners is a free community social networking site and has been created for the people of Logan and surrounding suburbs. Anyone is welcome to participate, from dabblers to the self sufficient; individuals to community gardeners. Whatever your reason is for food gardening, it is always more fun if you can share the journey with like minded people. So come and...Read More
Tourism Advisory Committee reinvigorated for Scenic Rim Scenic Rim Regional Council and the tourism industry are working together to ensure concepts outlined in the Tourism Strategy 2011-16 become a reality. The reinvigorated Tourism Advisory Committee (TAC) recently met to begin working towards the shared goal of enhanced outcomes for the local tourism industry. Local tourism operators need support now and in the future and this will be the focus of TAC. Newly-appointed...Read More
Queensland Landcare Conference in September The 2011 Queensland Landcare Conference is being held in Ayr, North Queensland between September 20-23. The conference will focus on the generations of guardians responsible for land and culture stewardship across the state. Graham Anderson, Chair Lower Burdekin Landcare Association who will host the 22nd annual event said the theme reflects a number of issues. “Firstly,...Read More National Food Plan and Issues Paper In its 2010 election commitment the Australian Government indicated that the key aims for a national food plan were to integrate food policy by looking at the whole food supply chain, to protect Australia’s food security, and to develop a strategy to maximise food production opportunities. It also outlined a wide range of issues it would consider when developing a national food plan. What is the...Read More
“The Critical Decade” Report – Australian Climate Commission The proposed Australian carbon tax has created a huge amount of political, media, industry, activist and community reaction. One very useful report we have found at Sustainable Scenic Rim is the Climate Commission’s “The Critical Decade” which is, importantly, based on independent, peer-reviewed science: www.climatecommission.gov.au/topics/the-critical-decade If you are feeling confused or suspicious...Read More
Oceans left out of Australian climate conversation Blue carbon accounts for 55% of all the carbon captured in the world: more carbon is captured in the marine environment than on land. (Source: Nellemann et al, United Nations Environment Program Responses to climate change in Australia have so far overlooked the role of oceans and coasts, according to one of the international pioneers of citizen science, Brian Rosborough, Founder of Earthwatch. "Coastal...Read More
Branson brings climate war room to Australia Richard Branson promoted cleantech businesses and entrepreneurs when he opened a conference by the Climate War Room in Sydney in July. The Creating Climate Wealth Summit was held on July 7-8 and was organised by the Climate War Room (CWR), a not-for-profit founded by Branson. The CWR “brings private capital together with emerging technology providers and local and central governments to drive environmental...Read More
Living the Good Life Festival at Iluka Living the Good Life Fest is a gorgeous community festival in the coastal community of Iluka – it will be running on the weekend of September 17 and 18. www.livingthegoodlifefest.com Living the Good Life Fest is a weekend of celebration, inspiration and information in beautiful Iluka with something for everyone! This year our theme is ‘simple pleasures’; where the best things in life really...Read More
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| This eNews has been produced in a partnership between the Ethos Foundation and Scenic Rim Regional Council. Please me from this list. |
