e-Bulletin No. 7 of 2015, 23 April 2015
The environment's legal team since 1992 - protecting the public interest - evening the odds
The EDO is an independent community legal centre specialising in public interest environmental law.
We offer professional legal advice and (in a small number of cases) representation, law reform and
policy work and community legal education.
Please feel free to forward this e-Bulletin within your networks.
EDO Overview:
In the last two weeks, your EDO has been "evening the odds" by:
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Giving evidence to the SA Parliamentary Inquiry into Unconventional Gas and Fracking;
Liaising with the Australian Network of EDOs on national law reform submissions;
Making a number of grant applications and meeting with EDO supporters and potential project
partners;
Advising on: River Murray protection; development categorisation.
In the media – an interview on Radio 101.5 FM “The Wire”.
Your generous gifts supporting your EDO:
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In the last fortnight, we received $4,174 in gifts, via the Givenow website and other donor
sources - thank you!
Remember - your EDO needs $6900 per fortnight to continue our current services!!
Remember - your EDO has 10 weeks of funding left from the 2014 Law Foundation grant until
the money runs out and your EDO services are cut.
Help your EDO stay strong in 2015, make a gift to our SA environment, to your children and your
grandchildren – join us or make a tax-deductible donation.With the end of the tax year looming – NOW
is a great time to join the dots, add up those dollars and donate!
Thank you for your valuable contribution.
To join the EDO or to donate - please visit our website. We are also on Facebook. You can
phone us on (08) 8359 2222.
IN THIS BULLETIN:
NEWS AND EVENTS
South Australia
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EDO (SA) Fundraising Movie Night
Commonwealth
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Climate Change Authority releases new report: Comparing Countries’ Emissions Targets
NOTICES AND INQUIRIES
South Australia
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Nuclear Royal Commission – first Issues Paper released
Employment Lands (Gillman/Dry Creek &Wingfield) DPA
Commonwealth
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Feral cat threat abatement plan – call for submissions
PREVIOUS NOTICES: REMINDERS
NEWS AND EVENTS
South Australia
EDO (SA) Fundraising Movie Night
The environment needs a good lawyer - help support your EDO!
SATURDAY 6 JUNE 2015
Why?We need your help to keep our services going. The work of the Environmental Defenders Office
(EDO) is vital in the struggle to conserve and enhance our rich and unique environment. The EDO has
had federal funding cut, and unlike other legal services for the public, not reinstated. We provide
environmental and planning advice to groups and individuals, and believe that this is an important,
unaligned, service in a democratic society.
How?Please come along to our first film fundraiser and enjoy a great evening with as many friends,
family and colleagues as you can muster in support of our continued service! Book online
here: http://www.edosa.org.au/filmnight
The film we are showing is “Woman in Gold”, the journey taken by one woman to recover a famous
painting by Gustav Klimt.
Ticket price of $25 includes a glass of Temple Bruer wine and nibbles. Doors open at 5:30pm with the
historic organ playing at 6.15pm followed by the movie at 6.30pm.
There will also be a raffle and silent auction on the night and best dressed in 1930s black and gold wins
a prize!
So come along, support the EDO and have a great night out!
Commonwealth
Climate Change Authority releases new report: Comparing Countries’ Emissions Targets
In the lead up to the Paris Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC) in December 2015, the Commonwealth’s independent Climate Change
Authority has released a guide to help Australians understand and compare post-2020 greenhouse gas
emissions targets that will be announced over the coming year by various countries.
The Australian Government has said it will put forward its target in mid-2015. The Climate Change
Authority is currently conducting a Special Review of Australia’s climate action, and will recommend
post-2020 targets for Australia. As part of its analysis, the Authority will consider the action other
countries are taking.
The guide can be downloaded by following the above link.
NOTICES AND INQUIRIES
South Australia
Nuclear Royal Commission – first Issues Paper released
The Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission, which is tasked to examine the prospect of a greatly
expanded nuclear sector in South Australia, has released two of four Issues Papers for public
feedback.
The first Issues Paper looks at the feasibility of expanding the current level of exploration, extraction
and milling of minerals containing radioactive materials in SA. It also examines the risks and
opportunities that will exist if the level of exploration, extraction and milling is expanded and how this
might be regulated.
This second Issues Paper addresses the possibility of managing, storing and disposing of nuclear and
radioactive waste in South Australia. It will also examine the risks and opportunities of doing this.
Future Issues Papers will discuss the further processing and manufacture of nuclear materials in SA;
and the possibility of nuclear power generationin SA.
To keep up to date, on the Royal Commission website, you can subscribe to Royal Commission
newsletters.
Submissions close 24 July 2015.
Employment Lands (Gillman/Dry Creek &Wingfield) DPA
The South Australian Minister of Planning has proposed a development plan amendment that will affect
permitted activities on land at Gillman / Dry Creek and a smaller area of land at Wingfield in the
Western Adelaide region. The existing rules for the land were developed under the now obsolete Multi
Function Polis (MFP) concept, which were focused on the establishment of housing and ‘urban
villages’in these areas. The Government is now saying that such land use is incompatible with
surrounding industrial uses, and is therefore seeking a change.
Submissions are due by25 May 2015.
Regular SA Government Consultations
Below are links to a number of SA Government agencies and bodies who undertake regular
environmental audits or assessments open for public consultation. Whilst there are too many such
consultations for us to list them all fully in the e-Bulletin, the links are included here as they may
nevertheless be of interest to readers. The e-Bulletin will publish consultations in these categories
where we deem them to be of wide public importance.
Current Crown Developments and ‘Category 3’ Developments before the DAC
Current Ministerial Development Plan Amendments
Current DEWNR consultations
Current EPA license applications
Current DMITRE mining proposals
Commonwealth
Feral cat threat abatement plan – call for submissions
Feral cats threaten the survival of over 100 native species in Australia;the Federal Environment
Departmentis now seeking public comment on proposed revisions to its national Threat abatement plan
for predation by feral catsin order to address the problem.
The newly released draft plan provides a national strategy to identify activities to abate the threat and
guide investment and effort by the Australian Government, jurisdictions, research organisations and
non-government organisations in managing the impacts of feral cats on native species. The goal of this
threat abatement plan is to minimise the impact of feral cats on biodiversity in Australia and its
territories by:
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Protecting affected threatened species; and
Preventing further species and ecological communities from becoming threatened.
Submissions are due by 8 July 2015.
Regular Commonwealth Government Consultations
Below are links to Federal Government agencies and bodies who undertake environmental
audits/assessments that may be open for public consultation. Whilst there are too many such
consultations for us to list them all in the e-Bulletin, the links are included here as they may
nevertheless be of interest to readers. The e-Bulletin will publish consultations in these categories
where we deem them to be of wide public importance.
Department of Environment Public Notices and Invitations to Comment
PREVIOUS NOTICES: REMINDERS
Public consultation on Australia’s post 2020 greenhouse gas emissions target
 Submissions are due 24 April 2015.
Senate Inquiry – Stormwater resources in Australia
 Submissions are due 24 April 2015.
Zero Waste Strategy 2015-2020 consultation draft
 Submissions are due11 May2015.
Assessment Bilateral Agreements – draft conditions policy
 Submissions are due 15 May 2015.
House of Representatives Inquiry – tax deductible status of environment groups
 Submissions are due 21 May 2015.
Senate Inquiry into bill allowing farmers to refuse mining
 Submissions are due 29 May 2015.