Logan Eco Action Festival (LEAF) is Logan’s most successful environmental event promoting eco-living tips in a free, fun, family environment. The last two LEAF events have attracted over 9000 people who were eager to learn how to live their lives more sustainably. Leave the car at home and catch the train to the Loganlea train station and meet with the walking group and walk to LEAF or take the courtesy coach which will run from 9:30am-3:30pm between the station and LEAF.
The Hut Environmental and Community Association (THECA) 12th Bushcare Forum will explore issues in restoring and managing biodiversity for the long-term future and for resilience in the South East Queensland region. Please contact THECA as soon as possible if you are interested in making a presentation on the forum themes. Participant registration forms will be available in June 2013.
Established in 1998, the South East Queensland Fire and Biodiversity Consortium (SEQFBC) is a network of land managers and stakeholders devoted to providing a coordinated response and best-practice recommendations for fire management, fire ecology and the conservation of biodiversity in the South East Queensland (SEQ) region through education, community engagement and applied research. SEQFBC resources include the award-winning Individual Property Fire Management Planning Kit (which should be used in conjunction with fire service resources in regard to the preparation of a Bushfire Survival Plan).
The Helidon Hills Smokespotters are a group of volunteers who cooperate to locate and report observations of smoke in the Helidon Hills, located west of Brisbane in South-East Queensland. Through their efforts the Smokespotters assist the Rural Fire Service and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service to make the quickest possible response to fires in the Helidon Hills. With this assistance they can reduce the time and resources devoted to locating fires, and prevent the development of wildfires that put lives, property and biodiversity at risk.
Eastern Australia has experienced devastating floods again in January 2013, just two years after the horrors of the January 2011 Queensland floods. When will flood risk planning adequately reflect the realities of history and river hydrology? Hopefully before more lives are lost and more people have to suffer losing their homes, possessions and life memories.
The Australian Network for Plant Conservation (ANPC) frequently organises courses and workshops in plant conservation techniques. These courses are usually targeted at all those involved in plant conservation, be they private landholders, local government, community group facilitators, state and federal government and industry groups. Coming workshops are:
In April 2011 I wrote the opinion piece Queensland floods: information, history and knowledge to highlight how the January 2011 floods in South East Queensland had their historical precedents, in the hope of encouraging the better use of historical information in flood risk planning.
That eastern Australia has experienced devastating floods in January 2013, just two years after the horrors of January 2011, comes to me as no surprise. These floods are not extraordinary or unexpected events. Rather, they are a normal part of the considerable climatic variability experienced in eastern Australia. Read the rest of this entry »
Brisbane City Council has released the draft new City Plan (ePlan) for the future development of Brisbane. It guides how land in Brisbane can be used and developed, and helps Council plan for infrastructure to support growth and create a more diversified economy while continuing to protect the city’s way of life. You can have your say on the draft new City Plan. In 2013, after the Queensland Government has completed the First State Interest Check, Council will be holding a number of events where you can talk face-to-face with Council about the draft plan.
The Queensland Government wants to hear from landowners in South East Queensland interested in selling properties that could become protected koala habitat. Environment Minister Andrew Powell said the government wanted to purchase land identified as suitable for long-term protection and was inviting expressions of interest from property owners.
The South East Queensland (SEQ) Ecological Restoration Framework is a regional standard for undertaking restoration projects. It comprises a Code of Practice, Guidelines and Manual. Ultimately, ecological restoration projects delivered under the Framework will: