Fighting for nature since 1955

Before the Nature Conservation Council of NSW formed more than 60 years ago, nature in this state was pillaged on an industrial scale.

Land clearing was uncontrolled, rainforests were clear-felled, wildlife was being decimated, and mining companies recklessly destroyed our extraordinary wild places. Before NCC, there was no National Parks and Wildlife Service, no Environment Protection Authority, no Land and Environment Court, and no marine parks.

The achievements of the environment movement in NSW over the past six decades are a tribute to the hard work, vision, and tenacity of the many thousands of people who have had the courage to be a voice for nature.

VIDEO

BROCHURE

 

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Click on the image to download our anniversary brochure.

TIMELINE

Here is a summary of some of the milestones achieved by the environment movement in NSW. While we were involved in many of these campaigns and victories, we do not claim credit for them. These are the achievements of the collective action of many individuals and organisations working together for a better world. 

Year                  

Milestone

1955

Founded on July 2 at a meeting in Phillip St, Sydney

1957

National Parks Act drafted by NCC 

National Parks Association of NSW founded

1961

Katoomba and District Wildlife Conservation Society founded (Blue Mountains Conservation Society) 

1963

Last Eastern Quoll sighted on mainland Australia 

1967 

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Act passed, National Parks and Wildlife Service founded

1968

Colong Foundation for Wilderness founded 

1970

Campaign to end tax breaks for native vegetation clearing starts 

1971

Battle for Kelly's Bush in Hunters Hill starts 

1972

Total Environment Centre founded 

1973

NSW rainforest wars start (1973-1984) 

1974

NSW Environment Centre established 

1975

Colong Caves protected 

1976

North Coast Environment Council formed 

1977

Premier Wran bans sand mining 

1979

NCC Bushfire Program starts 

Battle for Terania Creek

Environment Planning and Assessment Act 1979

Land and Environment Court established 

1983

Kelly's Bush is saved 

1984

Premier Wran bans rainforest logging 

1985

NSW Environment Defender’s Office established 

1986

Urban bushland protections enacted 

NSW rainforests inscribed on the World Heritage register

1987

NSW Wilderness Act 1987 

NCC acquires its first desktop computer (second-hand from TEC) 

1989

Save Jervis Bay campaign begins 

Eden woodchip mill blockade begins

First director of NCC appointed (Haydn Washington) 

1991

Environmental Liaison Office formed 

First marine reserve (Solitary Islands)

Chaelundi State Forest Blockade

Environment Protection Authority (EPA) established

1994

First NCC Bushfire Conference after bushfires burn out 800,000 hectares 

Jervis Bay naval base proposal dropped 

1995

Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995  

Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1995

NCC launches its website

1997

NCC representatives appoint to key committees under Rural Fires Act 1997 

Marine Parks Act 1997 

1999

Regional Forest Agreements 1999-2001 (Eden, north-east, southern) 

2000

The Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage listing   

2001

NCC’s first Regional Environment Conference (Newcastle) 

2002

NCC sustainable living program begins (Cool Communities)

Campaign against burning native forests for power starts

Grey nurse shark campaign begins

2003

Native Vegetation Act 2003 

2005

NCC Hotspots program is established 

Walks Against Warming begin

The South East Region Conservation Alliance Inc. (SERCA) is formed 

2006

Adopt A Shark  program launched 

NSW Environment Awards launched

Campaign to stop Tillegra Dam in the Hunter Valley begins

2007

Grey nurse shark court case (NCC, EDO) 

20% of NSW coastal waters protected in marine parks

Walk Against Warming attracts 140,000 participants 

2008

Musician Jack Johnson promotes Adopt a Shark  at Sydney concert 

2009

1000 households register for NCC Climate Challenges 

2010

River Red Gum Parks declared 

Government abandons Tillegra Dam proposal 

2011

Campaigns for better planning laws begins 

Climate campaign starts targeting coal and gas projects

2012

NCC Firesticks program begins 

Better Planning Network established

Hunting in national parks proposal

Koala listed as vulnerable to extinction in NSW

2013

NSW Planning Bill defeated  

Hunting in national parks proposal defeated

NCC’s Low Income Energy Efficiency Program (NCC) begins

Land Water Future is formed

2014

Campaign for Sydney marine park ramps up 

Campaign to end native forest logging ramps up

Government proposes scrapping  Native Vegetation Act and Threatened Species Conservation Act 

2015

1000 households benefit from NCC Low Income Energy Efficiency Program 

CSG licences scrapped after community campaigns

Campaign for Great Koala Park launched

2016

Government scraps the Native Vegetation Act and Threatened Species Conservation Act