Media Releases

October 27, 2021

The Nature Conservation Council welcomes Environment Minister Matt Kean’s frank admission during a Budget Estimates hearing yesterday that the state’s biodiversity offsetting scheme needs “root-and-branch reform”.     “We totally agree with the Minister on the need to overhaul this deeply flawed system,” Nature Conservation Council Chief Executive Chris Gambian said.   “These reviews must be fully transparent and recommendations subject to public review if the government truly wants to restore public...

October 26, 2021

The conservation movement welcomes the addition of 167,000 hectares of arid-zone ecosystems to the state’s national parks estate. [1]  Environment Minister Matt Kean announced today the government had bought two properties in the state’s Far West: Avenel/Mt Westwood Station (121,390ha) near Broken Hill and Koonaburra Station...

October 26, 2021

The Nature Conservation Council is encouraging everyone concerned about the respiratory health of Central Coast children to make a submission to the review of Vales Point coal-fired power station’s exemption to the NSW Clean Air laws.  Vales Point’s special exemption lets it emit toxic NO2 gas at twice the rate set out in the NSW clean air laws, which is due to expire. Last December, the company applied...

October 22, 2021

The Nature Conservation Council has expressed grave concerns over the fast-tracking of water engineering projects in the Southern Murray Darling Basin, warning that more interventions in the system will result in less water for the environment overall and authorities picking winners and losers.  “The poor track record...

October 20, 2021

The NSW government has been condemned for its targeting of Aboriginal fishers following revelations that its unjust actions, which have led to massive over-representation of First Peoples in criminal penalties, coincides with giving an increased take to commercial operators.   A coalition of concerned leaders...

October 20, 2021

There's now more than enough dispatchable clean-energy projects in the Central West to replace the aging Mount Piper coal-fired power station at Lithgow.     “Clean energy investment in the Central West is really on a roll,” Nature Conservation Council Campaigns Director Dr Brad Smith.  “Four pumped...

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...

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...

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...

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...