CCWA Monthly Bulletin
  What’s new at CCWA  Introducing… Better Climate! Better Climate has been established by CCWA to build broad public and stakeholder support for stronger climate action in Western Australia. The program will promote action on climate change as a positive for jobs and the economy, with exciting opportunities for Western Australian businesses, families, and communities. Together, we can build a Western Australia that we can all be proud of – a prosperous, renewable energy superpower that is leading the world in decarbonisation. Better Climate aims to build consensus for climate action across all political and stakeholder groups and will develop a powerful, non-political, community-led movement to support climate action. The 2022 federal election showed us the power of raising the profile of climate action as a political issue. There is now a strategic opportunity to leverage the work done by campaigners in the lead-up to the next federal and state elections to continue to build a powerful climate constituency over the next two years. This work will be politically non-partisan, and focused on the opportunities available to everyone if we take a leading role on climate action. Help us build up the Better Climate supporter base – follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn, or sign up to our monthly newsletter here!  Win FREE conference tickets! Our conference is quickly approaching, and we are giving away a number of two-day and individual day passes to attend the biggest event in our calendar year.To enter: – Follow @conservationcouncilwa on Instagram – Head to this post and tag the friends you would bring along (1 comment = 1 entry) Extra entry: – Share this post to your story and tag @conservationcouncilwa The winners will be selected at random, tagged in the comments of this post by us and emailed on Wednesday 6th September. *T&C’s apply Woodside seismic blasting vigil  Thank you to everyone who attended our peaceful joint community vigil for our WA whales with Greenpeace Australia Pacific outside of Woodside’s Perth headquarters We would like to thank School Strike 4 Climate WA, Doctors for the Environment Australia , The Wilderness Society WA, 350 Perth and Grandparents for Climate Action for attending and supporting the event. This peaceful action would not have been possible without you, and we are all very grateful This event allowed community members, supporters, volunteers and advocates for our natural environment to peacefully express their thoughts on Woodside’s plan to conduct seismic blasting on a natural marine highway off the Pilbara coast as part of the Burrup Hub project If you would like to show your support for this cause and make a real difference, join our Go Beyond Gas campaign! We aim stand up to our state’s biggest contributor to climate change – gas exporters – to reduce the frequency and severity of extreme weather events associated with a warming climate. ACT NOW Yes letter on the Voice Referendum from the climate movement  CCWA signed the Yes letter from the climate movement, alongside our friends at WWF, Greenpeace, The Australia Institute, Oxfam, Australian Conservation Foundation, Get Up, Greenpeace, the Climate Council, Farmers for Climate Action, the Environmental Defenders Office and many more. In doing so, we joined 47 climate organisations and groups representing a movement of well over two million Australians whose commitment to a healthy climate and thriving environment is rooted in the values of justice, equality and fairness. By writing YES in this referendum we are committing to listening to and learning from the wisdom and perspectives of First Nations people which will lead to better outcomes in environmental conservation, education, health, justice and more. Our support for writing YES is based on the fundamental principle that laws and policies are more effective when those who are affected by them have a voice. We firmly believe in substantive change rather than mere symbolism, and we view this referendum as a step in the right direction. Learning from and respecting the knowledge, culture, stories, and languages of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples will help us move forward from our past and progress together towards a brighter future. Find out more about why CCWA supports the YES vote here: WE SAY YES CCWA annual conference speaker line up  We’ve now released the full list of our conference speakers, along with biographies so you can read up on all their tireless work for the environment! Don’t forget – there are only TWO WEEKS left until the conference! GET TICKETS NOW! This year’s conference will feature speakers from…Kimberley Land Council | Bush Heritage Australia | Fauna & Flora International | WWF Australia | WA Forest Alliance | Wide Open Agriculture | Perth NRM | Noongar Chamber of Commerce & Industry | Gondwana Link | South Coast NRM | ARC Training Centre for Healing Country | Tjaltjraak Rangers | Kooyan Designs | Wooleen Station | Activate Tree Planting | Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre and more!Check out our speaker bios here: SPEAKERS Have a read of the full conference agenda here: AGENDA  Climate Action Network Australia Conference CCWA participated in the annual gathering in Brisbane of climate activists from across Australia. With thought provoking and emotional sessions led by Indigenous and Pacific Islander people and people of colour, the annual gathering was an inclusive and diverse event. While the consequences of climate change are ever more apparent, it is clear that there is a broad and focused Australian movement trying every day to influence key decision makers and sustain public engagement in order to mitigate emissions from fossil fuels. Tensions between protecting nature while developing new renewable schemes were explored by delegates. The conference also considered ways to ensure lowest impact extraction of those critical minerals required to build out the renewables transition, a large quantity of which are found in WA. CCWA regulatory submissions for August CCWA lodges submissions to regulatory bodies on projects of public interest and which involve activities that pose significant risks to the environment. Some of the submissions lodged this month include: Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) Mining Development and Closure Proposals and Approvals Statements discussion paper Proposal by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) to clear land for the Managed Aquifer Recharge project in Myalup State Forest. Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), calling for Public Environmental Review of: Alcoa’s Mining Management Plan, recognising the significant residual environmental impact on the ecology of the Jarrah forest and Carnaby’s Black Cockatoo habitat, and the climate impacts from the greenhouse gas emissions. Strike Energy’s South Erregulla gas project, identifying significant greenhouse gas emissions FMG’s East Hamersley Railway, which will involve the clearing of thousands of hectares of native vegetation, impact marshland areas and other fauna habitat. FMG’s Nyidinghu Iron Ore Project, which will involve the clearing of thousands of hectares of native vegetation and add to greenhouse gas emissions. Woodside’s H2Perth new referral under the EPBC Act. This project will produce a range of significant environmental impacts to land and marine environments and produce emissions to air. Decision to approve the clearing of native vegetation for Beach Energy’s Beharra Springs gas facility. CCWA’s appeal highlighted the cumulative environmental risks from land clearing across the Mid West region. City of Gosnells landuse rezoning around the Greater Brixton Street Wetlands. CWA submission opposed the landuse change to General Industry in an environmentally sensitive area of high biodiversity. Consultations CCWA has been an active participant in consultations on: The Forest Management Plan with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA). DWER’s Regulatory Stakeholders group. EPA’s Stakeholder Reference Group WA’s new port facility in Cockburn Sound Woodside’s proposed carbon to ethanol pilot plant at Red Hill Waste Management Facility. Programs updates Fossil Fuels The Fossil Fuels program coordinated a peaceful community vigil with Greenpeace on Wednesday 23 August, where the WA climate community gathered outside Woodside HQ in opposition to Woodside’s NOPSEMA-approved plan for seismic blasting at the Scarborough gas field. The action had widespread coverage in the news, online, TV and radio. Climate communities in Margaret River and Karratha also held actions at the same time in solidarity. Following the successful launch of Go Beyond Gas campaign, we have four community groups with over 50 supporters preparing for a rollout of six weeks of action aiming to get Woodside’s Northwest Shelf Project extension rejected by Minister Whitby. We are also working with a further six groups who are interested in joining the Go Beyond Gas campaign. This month we also held two MP workshops with Greenpeace, on how to meet you MP – both online and in person events with 50 attendees! Fossil Fuel community organiser Binu presented to a crowd of 60 people at a UWA Faculty and industry dinner on the topic of Conservation of the Natural World on 17th August. Binu shared her story and discussed the importance of community movements in shifting the politics of gas. Finally, on 28 August, the team joined the WA climate community for a snap action outside an industry conference on the ‘Future of Gas’ where Woodside and Chevron VPs were speaking alongside Minister Bill Johnston. We demonstrated to attendees when entering the conference that the climate science is clear, to address climate change we must stop any new or expanded gas projects! Better Climate Better Climate has already reached out to over 100 existing volunteers from the previous climate program supporter base and has reengaged community groups from Geraldton and Karratha. The City of Stirling hosted a small information night on Monday 21 August as our first public event, ten people attended who were very keen to be involved! Volunteer recruitment is now well underway with a plan to reengage existing and any new volunteers. The program has also held multiple informal, face-to-face meetings with some Labor MPs and their staff to set up more formal meetings in the near future, including Minister Reece Whitby’s office, staff from the Premier’s office, President of the Legislative Council’s Alana Clohesy’s office, Minister Madeleine King and her staff. The team has met with and has planned future meetings with stakeholders going forward including unions like the MUA, AWU and AMWU – all three have large amounts of workers in the hydrocarbon industry. Citizen Science We’d like to give a big shout out to the WA Museum for their generous gifts to stock up our bat hampers – we can’t wait for the winners to receive them! Thanks to all the people who have already let us know about the bat roosts they’re aware of. If you know of a bat roost near you, you let us know by completing this form. Last but not least, Dusk Watch is starting on 1 September! This exciting citizen science project is open to absolutely anyone, anywhere in WA. It will run until the end of November – find out more here! Upcoming Events Songs for Climate Justice Climate Justice Union is hosting a fundraising gig down at Freo.Social on the 31 August: Join us for a night in which acoustic folk meets electro-pop for an eclectic musical experience, all to raise funds for Climate Justice Union. Headliners Grace Sanders x Scratching’s eclectic influences of R&B, indie, electronic and pop are at the forefront of a new wave of moody, introspective sound in Australia. Don’t miss your chance to experience their emerging underground style for yourself. Beloved local songstress Cassie Skinner and other Perth artists will also treat you to renditions of songs you know and love that explore climate change, community, love and justice. Get tickets here! Multi-Faith Climate Care Forum On 9 September, the Australian Religious Response to Climate Change Western Australia will be hosting a forum on Multifaith Living with Climate Change at the Hillview Intercultural Community Centre in Bentley. Representatives from Catholic, Uniting, Anglican and other Christian churches will join with Buddhists, Hindus, Baha’is and others to discuss their communities’ perspectives, plans, and actions on climate. Reserve your free spot here! On the Rocks: Managing the Cultural and Natural Heritage of Western Australia’s Granite Outcrops Registration is now open for the public symposium “On the Rocks: Managing the Cultural and Natural Heritage of Western Australia’s Granite Outcrops “ to be held on 20 September, and organised by Perth NRM, The University of Western Australia, and Shire of York. “The Symposium aims are: To recognise and promote the cultural and natural heritage of granite outcrops. To manage granite outcrops in the face of changing legislation and multiple stakeholder expectations. To create a network of stakeholders to progress the holistic management of granite outcrops. Ballardong Elder Professor Marion Kickett will Welcome us to Country, followed by Mr Des Blurton’s opening keynote address on the cultural heritage significance of Granite Outcrops. After lunch Professor Stephen Hopper will share his extensive knowledge on their natural heritage and we will have a panel discussion to encourage sharing of ideas and experiences. There will be overview presentations by DBCA, DWER, WA Museum, UWA and more.” Register here. News & Media CCWA welcomes new national park as state government looks to expand conservation estate The new Pimbee National Park – as well as the expansion of the Kennedy Range National Park – will set aside more land for WA’s conservation estate, helping to protect vulnerable species and natural landscapes. The area is home to more than 150 animal species including the peregrine falcon, rainbow bee-eater and the western pebble-mound mouse. Species of flora native to the area include the mulla mulla (ptilotus exaltatus) and everlastings (Rhodanthe chlorocephala subsp. rosea). ‘Deliver the protections Aboriginal people are asking for’ – CCWA calls on state government to ‘get it right’ on cultural heritage laws The Conservation Council of WA (CCWA) has urged the state government to take the opportunity to reexamine Western Australia’s Aboriginal cultural heritage laws after it was announced that the latest legislation would be repealed. The WA State Government confirmed that it would be scrapping the new Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2021, little more than five weeks after they had been introduced. The laws were developed in the wake of the destruction of the 46,000 year-old, culturally significant caves at Juukan Gorge in 2020 by Rio Tinto, but the new legislation had attracted criticism from some land owners. Perth gathers for peaceful vigil against Woodside’s destruction of oceans and climate “Through invasive and destructive dredging and seismic blasting, Woodside is endangering some of our most vulnerable marine life. When considered alongside the enormous climate impacts of the Burrup Hub, the true scale and seriousness of Woodside’s plans are clear.“West Australians have nothing to gain from Woodside’s plans – the majority of the gas and most of the profit will be sent overseas. However, our state’s iconic and endangered species – and our climate – have so much to lose.” CCWA respectfully acknowledges the Whadjuk People of the Noongar nation, along with the Traditional Owners of all Countries where it works. We pay our respects to Elders past and present. CCWA seeks to always walk alongside our Aboriginal partners, recognising their continued connection through land, sea, culture and community. Conservation Council of Western Australia · 1186 Hay Street , West Perth, WA 6005, Australia |