Media Releases
Media Enquiries: James Tremain 0419 272 254
[email protected]
Mt Piper to close five years sooner than announced last month?
October 12, 2021
The Nature Conservation Council urges state and federal government to fast-track transition planning for Lithgow after one the nation’s leading energy experts warned coal-fired power generation could end in Australia by 2035 or sooner. The Australian Financial review reported today: Energy Security Board chairman...
Read MoreNew leadership must accelerate climate action and strengthen wildlife protections
October 06, 2021
The state’s peak environment group urges the new Premier and Deputy Premier to slash climate pollution and strengthen wildlife protections to deal with the twin climate and extinction crises. “I congratulate Dominic Perrottet and Paul Toole on their elevation to the position of Premier and Deputy Premier in NSW,” Nature Conservation Council Chief Executive Chris Gambian said. “The...
Read MoreClimate-based legal challenge to NSW water-sharing plan
October 06, 2021
The Nature Conservation Council has launched legal proceedings to have the Border Rivers Water Sharing Plan 2021 ruled invalid, alleging it was made without properly considering the future impacts of climate change. [1] It is the first time in Australia — and possibly the world — that a catchment-wide water sharing instrument has been challenged on climate-related...
Read MoreNewcastle City Council passes motion opposing woodchip and biomass plans for the city, region
September 30, 2021
The NSW Nature Conservation Council congratulates Newcastle City Council’s opposition to plans to restart woodchip exports from the Port of Newcastle and expand the biomass industry in the region. The council’s position was outlined in a motion passed at a council meeting on the 28th of September. “It is fantastic to see Newcastle...
Read MoreNSW commits to halving climate pollution this decade
September 29, 2021
The Nature Conservation Council of NSW welcomes the NSW Government’s commitment to halving climate pollution by 2030. “NSW’s progress is a brilliant demonstration that protecting our planet also creates jobs and attracts investment,” Nature Conservation Council Chief Executive Chris Gambian said. “Today’s announcement shows what is possible when a government accepts the reality...
Read MoreToo soon? Energy Australia must go harder on coal closure
September 23, 2021
If Energy Australia wants to be considered a responsible corporate citizen, it must shut its coal-fired power plants by 2030 at the latest. Energy Australia today committed to ending all coal-fired power generation by 2040, which means Mt Piper will shut two years earlier than...
Read MorePrecious wildlife habitat is still woefully vulnerable despite new conservation scheme
September 23, 2021
A new government scheme to protect high-conservation-value areas outside national parks is welcome but leaves thousands of hectares of wildlife habit unprotected. [1]
Read MoreIllegal floodplain harvesting works should be removed within 12 months
September 21, 2021
The NSW Government should audit all floodplain harvesting structures and order the removal of any that lack planning approval within 12 months. The audit and the compliance blitz are two of the key recommendation the Nature Conservation Council has made to the NSW Legislative...
Read MoreBylong Valley spared from coal mining again
September 14, 2021
Bylong Valley has again been spared destruction by coal mining. The valley’s salvation this time was delivered by the NSW Court of Appeal, which this morning rejected KEPCO’s appeal against an earlier refusal. [1] The Korean mining giant had bought prime farmland in Bylong Valley near Mudgee in the state’s Central West and planned to construct a 6.5 million-tonnes-a-year coal...
Read MoreRural Boundary Clearing Code opens up more bushland for destruction
September 13, 2021
A new land-clearing code introduced by the NSW Government on Saturday could result in thousands of hectares of previously protected bushland being cleared on the spurious grounds of bushfire risk reduction. [1] “The new Rural Boundary Clearing Code could see thousands of hectares of wildlife habitat destroyed without requiring independent assessment of the environmental impacts,” Nature Conservation Council Chief Executive...
Read More