Overwhelming community opposition to a controversial development proposed for South Dural in Sydney's north-west has resulted in a temporary win for endangered species and their Ironbark and Blue Gum habitat. 

Monday Drive - TEC's environment program airs every Monday from 4-6pm on 89.7fm. This week we talk shark nets, the eco-collapse that produced the current war in Syria, and what's happening with wind power since Tony Abbott and Joe Hockey stopped publicly denouncing it.

Perhaps Planning Minister Rob Stokes is starting to feel the heat over the imminent devastation of the Manly Warringah War Memorial Park? We talked to long time locals appalled by the plan to develop this irreplaceable asset.

TEC has called for protection of internationally important wetlands near Botany Bay, threatened by a new golf course.  The Cook Cove South Precinct development is also targeting public open space for private use. "This private golf course which will take over a public park wants to clear important wetland vegetation and will surround an area visited by migratory species causing ongoing pollution and disturbance.  An area of such importance should be managed by a conservation body and enhanced because so much has already been lost," said Jeff Angel, Executive Director of the Centre. TEC submission here. 

Plans by The NSW Department of Education to destroy nearly 4 hectares of bushland in order to expand the Manly Vale Public School were approved by the Sydney North Planning Panel this week despite community protests and the submission of less impactful alternative proposals. Enregistrer

Major environmental professional, community and university groups have banded together to produce an environmental vision as part of the Greater Sydney Commission (GSC) planning process.

TEC must be doing something right! We have obviously annoyed some powerful people. TEC was singled out by The Daily Telegraph three times in one week in articles that claimed that environment groups have created "a tax financed barrier to progress" in NSW by protesting against recent government reforms and developments which renowned scientists, town planners and local communities all agree are a threat to the continued health of our ecosystems Enregistrer

The release of the draft District Plans by the Greater Sydney Commission marks a potentially new direction in making Sydney liveable and more environmentally sustainable, TEC said today.  “The structure and culture of the GSC are distinctly different to past agencies and they have engaged in new research and community engagement techniques, including sponsoring an independent Environment Panel to provide a detailed analysis of Sydney’s environmental problems and solutions,” said Jeff Angel, Executive Director of the Centre. “Critical issue like adequate green spaces, tree canopy, dangerous urban heat and climate change are major challenges for Sydney.”  “We can’t stop the planning and development boat so we need to improve and control its direction; and certainly not let speculation and narrow economic claims drive it. A city has to achieve liveability, sustainability and economic goals at the same time. We have encouraged people to suspend cynicism at our community meetings. The draft District Plans are an important part of this process.”  “The independent report by the Environment Panel which comprised 15 peak professional, community and academic groups will be released shortly. It will help the community and government benchmark the draft plans and provide important perspectives.”  “It’s encouraging that the GSC supported this process and we look forward to further assisting them and the government,” Mr Angel said.

After 13 years of hard work battling Coca Cola and allied big beverage companies – Australia is now on the road to a container deposit scheme. When NSW announced it will implement the 10cent refund system, other states took notice and now QLD, WA and the ACT will too... READ THE FULL REPORT

The announcement of a net zero emissions target for NSW will have far reaching, positive impacts on the state’s economy and environment, TEC said today. “It will need a wide range of concrete and specific programs across key pollution sources such as land clearing, energy production and urban development.  A number of major policy areas are already in flux and will need to be brought into line with the new target,’’ said Jeff Angel, Executive Director of Total Environment Centre. "To reach the 2050 target, substantial action will have to start now and the community will be looking for effective policies.'' ‘’For example, Sydney is about to review its Metro Plan via the Greater Sydney Commission and inevitably low emission transport, energy efficient buildings and expanding tree cover will have to become prominent.  Land clearing laws, which are proposed to be weakened across the state must be redrafted.  And NSW should quickly phase out coal fired power.’’ ‘’The credo for a 21st century state is to be green and resilient in the face of climate change and play its part in global efforts to thwart dangerous climate change.  We look forward to examining the government’s detailed plans,” Mr Angel said.  

The precedent set by a Sydney council’s imminent removal of mature native trees in a harbour foreshore park in order to provide water views is inherently dangerous and should be put on hold, Total Environment Centre said today. “Council’s proposed actions appear to be rewarding tree poisoners. Inner West Council plans to remove healthy native trees in Balmain’s Mort Park as part of a landscape plan which has been dogged by one-sided consultation, tree poisonings and loss of community representation through council mergers,” said TEC Natural Areas Campaigner David Burgess. “A policy of destroying trees for harbour views is archaic and sets off the alarm bells for green space all along Sydney’s waterways big or small.” “When first mooted at a public meeting in 2015 mainly residents whose views would be enhanced by the destruction appeared to know the meeting was on. Since then community members wanting a say have been thwarted by a lack of information and the loss of democratic representation through the council mergers.” Trees in Mort Park have also been the subject of regular poisonings. “Tree poisoning is a serious offence that requires a regulated policy response from councils under the Local Government Act but it doesn’t look as if that’s occurred in this case. Instead Inner West Council appears to be rewarding the perpetrators by finishing off the job”, Mr Burgess said. “It’s not just environmental vandalism but economic vandalism. Trees are known to have great economic benefits to the urban community. The decision to remove trees in a public space, where much has been invested by council and members of the community in planting programs, in order to cater to the private property interests of a minority sets a very dangerous standard.”

Total Environment Centre has called for urgent state government intervention after a Sydney property developer was caught red-handed attempting to remove crucial evidence on the site of one of Sydney’s most environmentally damaging development proposals. Local residents were alerted by the sounds of heavy machinery moving onto the Riverlands Golf Course Site in late September – the same place where over 400 trees were (allegedly) illegally cleared in August this year. City of Canterbury-Bankstown Council officers were informed that evidence of the alleged illegal tree felling was being removed, but were unable to gain access. However, together with members of the local community, the council officers gained a view from the opposite bank of the Georges River which enabled them to witness an excavator and wood chipper operating at the site of the previous (allegedly illegal) clearing.  “The Riverlands Golf Course site is dear to many residents of Milperra and the subject of one of Sydney’s longest running environment protection campaigns,” said TEC Natural Areas Campaigner David Burgess. “It is home to some of the largest hollow bearing trees remaining in urban Sydney with many dating back to pre-settlement. It contains environmentally significant wetlands. It provides a vital link with adjoining areas of bushland”. In 2015 over 200 local residents turned up to demonstrate against the then Bankstown Council’s proposal to weaken environmental protection of Riverlands through a rezoning. A new rezoning proposal that would allow some development on the 33 hectare site but also protect large parts of it currently sits in front of the NSW Planning Minister. “If recent media reports are any indication the NSW Department of Planning is set to reject any environmental protection proposed by Council for the site and give Demian Constructions and Statewide Planning the green light to establish a ‘mini-suburb’ at Riverlands. “The value of Riverlands as green space cannot be overstated. The locals recognise this, Council recognises this, but Mike Baird’s government seems poised to unleash the bulldozers.”