5 November, 2012
Coal Terminal Action Group (CTAG) wins major environmental award
An alliance of sixteen Newcastle and Hunter Valley community groups has won the NSW Nature Conservation Council’s (NCC) annual Marie Byles Award for the most outstanding new environmental campaign.
The award was presented at the NCC’s annual conference at Sydney University on October 27.
The Coal Terminal Action Group (CTAG) was established in April 2012 to unite efforts to prevent construction of a fourth coal terminal in Newcastle.
The award is given annually to a group that has initiated an outstanding new environmental campaign and demonstrated strong commitment and passion for the conservation of the NSW environment.
“CTAG has had astonishing success in mobilising community support very quickly against the proposal to build a new coal terminal in Newcastle,’’ NCC CEO Pepe Clarke said.
“In just over six months, CTAG raised $4500 to conduct air pollution monitoring in residential areas along the coal corridor.
“They also letter-boxed more than half of the households in Newcastle, generated almost 2000 letters to the Premier, Planning Minister, and Newcastle MP, and more than 480 submissions from the public opposing the proposed coal terminal.
“A highlight of the campaign so far was a door-knock of 500 Newcastle households and the Sick of Coal survey, which received excellent media coverage.”
The winner of the Marie Byles Award receives $1000 worth of services from ecoDesign ecoPrint.
This Award commemorates Marie Byles (1900-1979), the first female solicitor in NSW. Marie was a passionate bushwalker, conservationist, explorer, mountaineer and feminist.
With her friend Paddy Pallin, she campaigned for the establishment of the Bouddi National Park Trust.
In 1970, Marie bequeathed Ahimsa, her home and bushland property, to the National Trust.
Today it is a place for quiet enjoyment and meditation, in keeping with Marie’s philosophy. Marie’s library was bequeathed to the University of Sydney’s Fisher Library.
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