Dear NRPG members and interested,

For your information – the topic of the keynote speakers is a major concern the environmental movement here in WA, so worth hearing if you can make it!

Kind regards,
Steve Gates

President, NRPG Bushcarers

View this email in your browser    To all our Group Members & Supporters,   We hope that you’ve all had a rejuvenating holiday break and are ready for the challenges that 2024 might bring.  In this newsletter:Notice of UBC AGM and call for nominations for the UBC CommitteeAGM speakers – Dr Richard Yin and Dr Giz Watson from CCWA Safeguarding the WA EPA – a CCWA led campaignSummer 2023/24 edition of the Urban Bush TelegraphWetlands Conference 2024Please share this newsletter with your Group and encourage them to come to the AGM.   NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Our AGM will be held on Tuesday 5 March 2024 from 6:00 pm for a 6:30 pm start.   All positions are declared vacant each year so we are now calling for nominations for all 9 positions on the Committee namely: Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson, Treasurer, Secretary and up to 5 Committee members.  Succession planning for future success remains very important for UBC, and we are very keen to see new people nominate for the committee. We have ended 2023 with two committee vacancies and with others signalling their intention to NOT seek further nomination. Mary Gray, long term Chairperson and committee member, has indicated that she will step back from the committee. We thank Mary for all her advocacy and hard work over 30 years plus and hope that she will continue as a source  of wisdom in future years.  Please think whether you or someone you know are interested in adding your voice to protecting our precious bushlands and wetlands through joining the UBC Committee. There is still much to do! Contact Christine ([email protected]) or Sue ([email protected]) to chat about being part of the UBC Committee.  You can find the nomination forms here.  Note that nominations must be seconded and signed by a second Member Group. Email us at  [email protected]  if you would like assistance. NOMINATIONS CLOSE 13 FEBRUARY 2024.  KEYNOTE SPEAKERS AT AGM – RICHARD YIN & GIZ WATSON, CCWA Richard Yin and Giz Watson are the new President and Vice President of the Conservation Council of WA. They will present on the emerging and urgent campaign to safeguard WA’s EPA and Environment. This campaign is being led by CCWA with the collaboration of all the environmental NGOs in Western Australia.  Richard Yin is the Deputy Chair of Doctors for the Environment Australia (DEA). He has been a major part of the organisation’s restructuring, the planning and overseeing of several WA-based campaigns, the implementation of an organisational review and later a cultural review process which has greatly improved the organisation’s efficiencies, which in turn increased its reach and impact. Richard is a general practitioner and has owned two practices. Richard was elected President at CCWA’s AGM November 2023   Giz Watson is a foundation environmental science graduate from Murdoch University. She brings extensive knowledge of the WA environment – marine and terrestrial, as well as demonstrated long history of commitment to environmental and political activism and skills in collaborative planning, teambuilding and strategic planning. As an MP, Giz has held numerous portfolios including biodiversity, urban bushland, marine issues, forests and woodlands, waste management and agriculture. Giz is currently working with WA Forest Alliance helping to achieve significant advances in the conservation of our forests. Giz was elected Vice President at CCWA’s AGM November 2023 Please let us know that you are coming by registering HERE. Scroll to the bottom of that page to find the registration box.  If you can’t make it to West Perth, you can join us online via Zoom. Please email [email protected] to request the Zoom link.   SAFEGUARDING WA’S EPA AND ENVIRONMENT The conservation movement in WA went into the Christmas break being very concerned about the Cook Government’s commitment to the environment given their release of the recommendations of the Independent Review of WA Environmental Approvals Processes and Procedures. This review had no public / community consultation and its recommendations include some with worrying consequences for the independence of the EPA and its capacity to protect our biodiversity.   The Conservation Council of WA (CCWA) is coordinating a conservation sector wide response to this threat to the protection of our environment. Read more in our latest edition of Urban Bush Telegraph – out later this week.  What’s the problem? There are significant risks to the independence of EPA and to the EP Act being the superior act to lead decision makingThese recommendations remove one of the points for public consultation by proposing to remove appeal rightsThere is no consultation process – these recommendations are being implemented now.WA needs stronger laws to protect our environment; the current EP Act does not provide sufficient protection. We need to mobilise our local communities and get messages to our politicians that these recommendations are detrimental to conservation of our biodiversity and that – in fact – we need better laws and better resourcing to protect our precious biodiversity.  The first public event is a rally at the State Parliament from 11 am on 13 February – the first sitting day of 2024.  Watch out for further details in emails and on social media.   SUMMER EDITION OF URBAN BUSH TELEGRAPH The Summer edition of the Urban Bush Telegraph is due to be published in the next day or so and can be downloaded here. Read about the campaign to Move the Surf Park and stop the waves of destructionSafeguarding the WA EPA and the environmenta project  update on Keep Carnaby’s Flying – Ngoolarks Forever Colma Keating’s induction into the WA Landcare Hall of Fameand more news from around our membership.  The WA Wetlands Conference 2024 – Registrations OPEN 1, 2 February 2024You are cordially invited to the 20th  Annual Western Australian Wetlands Conference the 1st and 2nd of February 2024 at the Cockburn Wetlands Centre. This conference is held annually and commemorates World Wetlands Day, which marks the anniversary of the Convention on Wetlands’ adoption on February 2, 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar. This year’s Ramsar theme is “Wetlands and Human Wellbeing” and the conference speakers will address this topic and many others. nformation about the program and enrolments may be found here. Twitter Facebook Website   Copyright © 2024 Urban Bushland Council WA Inc, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you are UBC’s primary contact for a member group or you are a UBC Supporter. Our mailing address is:Urban Bushland Council WA Inc2 Delhi StreetWest Perth, Western Australia 6005 Australia Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.