Byron Shire Echo – Issue 24.04 – 30/06/2009

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THE BYRON SHIRE Volume 24 #04 Tuesday, June 30 , 2009 Mullumbimby 02 6684 1777 Byron Bay 02 6685 5222 Fax 02 6684 1719 editor@echo.net.au adcopy@echo.net.au www.echo.net.au 21,000 copies every week

W H AT H A P P E N S N E X T

$2m for local food projects

From left, Sophia Fletcher (local stallholder and naturopath), Judy MacDonald (New Brighton Farmer’s Market Manager), Graeme Williams (Byron Shire Council’s Sustainability Officer), Jeanette Martin (Mullumbimby Community Gardens Coordinator) and Bec Talbot (Mullumbimby Local Food Alliance) link up to share their ideas for a sustainable Food Links community. Photo Lou Beaumont.

Northern Rivers councils have received a grant of $2 million from the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change for a regional food focused project known as the ‘Northern Rivers Food Links’. The project will look at sustainable practices and networks in food production, distribution, consumption and waste management. The Food Links project will aim to protect urban communities from the social and environmental impacts of climate change by developing collaborative approaches to sustainable food systems in the region.

Byron Shire Council’s Sustainability Officer, Graeme Williams, said, ‘This is an amazing and complex project for the whole of the Northern Rivers. It has been challenging and exciting to bring seven councils together with major stakeholders, such as the Northern Rivers Regional Development Board and Area Health, to develop a project of this size and scope. ‘It is the first step in implementing the ideas and the passions of so many people to achieve real, on-ground outcomes in relation to sustainable food production and will further Byron Shire’s work in fostering sustain-

able agriculture.’ A free Byron Shire community consultation session will be held in Council’s Conference Room, Mullumbimby on Friday July 3 from 1pm to 2:30pm. The session will allow community members and groups to provide input and begin thinking about what projects and strategies can be delivered in the Byron Shire and across the Northern Rivers Region. Graeme Williams adds, ‘Any groups or individuals with ideas relating to sustainable food or organic waste/ nutrient cycling are encouraged to attend the consultation session that

will result in future project proposals. The Byron community are leaders in local food systems, so let’s keep up the momentum!’ For more details on the project and consultation process please visit www.byron.nsw.gov.au. Objectives of the project include strengthening the capacity of local government to deliver on greenhouse gas and waste reduction targets; closing nutrient and waste cycles through supporting the growth of sustainable food systems; and strengthening the local economy through the development of sustainable food supply systems.

$6 million for catchment repair The Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority (CMA) has announced its 2009-2010 commitments to natural resource management following the NSW State Budget. The NSW government will invest $6.02 million in the Northern Rivers CMA to manage native vegetation, invasive species, riverine ecosystems, wetlands, soil condition, land capability, economic sustainability, and capacity. This includes $1.97 million under Catchment Action NSW to deliver on-the-ground programs, a 38% increase over 2008-2009, and $4.05m for staffing and the administrative costs of managing NSW Government, Commonwealth Government and all other investment in natural resource management in the NRCMA region. The Chair of the Northern Rivers CMA, Dr Judy Henderson, said the CMA would fund and manage a number of programs including 15 Community Support Officers and three Aboriginal Extension Officers to engage the community and build capacity to look after natural resources. Projects include $562,000 to improve the health of river ecosystems, by assisting landholders to undertake planning and works to improve river health and riparian vegetation; and monitoring fish movements to determine river flow needs and assess barriers to fish passage. Another $90,000 will be spent to integrate natural resource management principles into land use planning, including $70,000 for identification of Aboriginal cultural landscapes. ‘The Northern Rivers Catchment Action Plan was developed by the community to guide natural resource management in the region,’ Dr Henderson said. ‘We consider the community to be our greatest asset. Engagement of landholders, community groups and indigenous community groups is vital to successful delivery of all our projects.’ See more at www.northern.cma. nsw.gov.au.

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