Another year has passed for our trusty band of conservationists and as always I am amazed at what has been achieved through the dedication and commitment of a very small group of volunteers.

My term as president ended early this year, when I resigned in November to establish some distance between myself as an elected Councillor and the NVCA executive.  This of course was necessary as NVCA commenced legal action against Nambucca Shire Council (NSC) for its decision to approve a 6 Lot Rural Residential Subdivision in core koala habitat at East West Rd Valla.  I would like to thank Vice President Phil Margolis and Secretary Georgie Allen for taking over the reins at short notice in the lead up to this AGM.

This report therefore covers my time as president from February 2008 to November 2008.

The Nambucca Shire has been awash with environmental issues as well as floodwaters this year.  When you consider these numerous ‘small’ local issues together, one can appreciate the cumulative negative impact upon our valley.  Here’s a snapshot of the worst:

    A local developer successfully lobbied to have his environmentally and socially sensitive block included in NSC’s proposed Future Growth Areas maps as a potential industrial zone.  The Department of Planning as not made final decision yet.  However in the meantime said developer illegally bulldozed and excavated the site in preparation for an industrial development.  The extensive earthworks next to high conservation value Warrell Creek during recent rains resulted in massive rilling and sediment movement in a visible orange plume out into Warrell Creek. 

    Abigroup’s major development proposal was approved by NSC, with flimsy environmental conditions which allow this water thirsty industry to self regulate its water quality conditions.  The high level of wash down involved in the manufacturing of concrete beams poses a run off threat to Tilly Willy Creek which runs into the Nambucca River upstream of Macksville river recreational area and oyster leases.

    Council continues to plan and prepare for its storage dam on Bowra Creek which will see the clear felling of the large inundation area, (but its ok the flora and fauna assessment will tell us what we are about to loss). No mention of carbon emissions either from this, the largest engineering proposal this shire has ever seen.  Extraction from the bores to fill the 5,500ML dam will continue right down into river low flows, threatening aquatic ecosystems, riparian vegetation and upriver water users water supply.

    Extensive erosion and run off from the West St development caused major water pollution in the Nambucca River killing oyster spats and goodness knows what else.  Council eventually took the developer to court but only after intensive lobbying from the oyster industry and complaints from us and others.  NSC won, but still hasn’t seen any money.

     NSC’s use of environment levy money to destroy a magnificent old tuckeroo tree and build a finger wharf on the Nambucca River at Bellwood with no community consultation had us outraged…

    as did its approval of the East West Rd koala habitat destroying proposal.

It’s pretty grim but hey, what’s new?  We’re all used to it by now, the trick is not to give up or be complacent but rather get serious.  The disgraceful East West Road decision led NVCA to commence legal action in the Land and Environment Court – that’s about as serious as we can get! 

This Association has drawn a line in the sand for NSC and not before time.  For all the letters, submissions and ‘consultation’ processes that NVCA has undertaken with NSC, very little and in most circumstance, no change or environmental benefit has occurred.  Conservative politics prevails in Council in the face of a rapidly changing world and growing awareness of the unsustainability of human impacts upon the planet.  NSC needs a wake up call to lift its game on environmental matters.

A very special thankyou must go to Ian Ratcliff of the Environmental Defenders Office and barrister Mark Seymore the for their wonderful work so far, Legal Aid for approving our application for assistance and of course NVCA’s long time friend and koala expert, Dr Steve Phillips from Biolink Ecological Consultants, for his advice so far. As President I was (am) proud of NVCA’s courage.

Thankyou to the members who continue to participate on various committees. Paul Davies handed over to Joy van Son who is our new rep. on Council’s Estuary and Coastline Management Committee.  Seat belt Joy, its going to be a bumpy ride!  We also now have an alternative representative for this committee, new member Lloyd Ellis.  Georgie continues on council’s Integrated Water Cycle Management Plan Committee for what its worth.  I represented NVCA on the North Coast Environment Council and Joy sits on the Nambucca Bushfire Management Committee as the Nature Conservation Council rep.

On fundraising matters, we ran a very successful garage sale last May, raising $500 for our SIGS project.  We also ran stalls at all but the last Valla Community Markets which so far have served more for networking and awareness raising than raking in the dollars, but a worthwhile exercise nonetheless.

This last year saw the bulk of the SIGS project undertaken, including the very successful Germination Art Exhibition.  The SIGS team pulled together using its awesome talents to see the kits off to the publishers and final report to EnviroFund by deadline, despite some significant challenges.  I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all those who contributed to the various aspects of this important project, in particular Kelly, Georgie, Lyn and Carol for seeing SIGS completed on time.

As usual we did our best to get to as many submissions off as possible. The major ones included: the draft Regional Strategy including local contribution to the Regional Alliance for Sustainable Planning (RASP) major submission, NSC’s State of the Environment Report, Fishing impacts to Dugong in Qld waters,  Nambucca Estuary Master Plan Consultant’s Brief, NSC Rural Residential Land Release Strategy, Tourism in National Parks and proposed major retail outlet at Bellwood.

As well as submissions NVCA made numerous media statements in print and on radio.  We also wrote many letters to Nambucca Shire Council raising concerns about various environmental matters and to State Government usually raising concerns about Nambucca Shire Council.

Georgie, Anne and I attended an informative WetlandCare field trip in the valley and were able to view a spectacular little bit of remnant wetland on private land near Macksville.  Anne and I also attended the NCC’s very informative climate change conference.

The Local Government elections appeared on the horizon in September and by June, Anne Smyth and I had commenced our campaigns.  NVCA used its extensive network to raise awareness about the elections and candidates.

So as you can see once again we have punched above our weight – not bad for a bunch of pacifists.

I would like to sincerely thank the outgoing executive committee Phil, Georgie, Carol, Lyn and Wendy (also Paul and Rhonda who resigned from the executive last November).  You have all been wonderful.  Also a special thank you to our auditor David McCormick who has kindly volunteered his time to audit not only NVCA books but the SIGS Project books as well.

NVCA is a wonderful organisation which over the years had gained enormous respect, experience and expertise.  We should all be very proud of our little tribe, I certainly am.

For mother earth….

Paula Flack

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