1983 - 2013 PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT FOR 30 YEARS
ANNUAL REPORT
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These campaigns and projects are supported by the Environment Centre NT:
© Environment Centre NT 2013. Annual Report 2012/13 First Published by the Environment Centre NT Inc. Unit 3/98 Woods St, DARWIN NT 0800. GPO Box 2120, DARWIN NT 0801. Australia. T 08 8981 1984 admin@ecnt.org www.ecnt.org facebook.com/EnviroCentreNT twitter.com/EnviroCentreNT pinterest.com/EnviroCentreNT ABN 12 094 525 400 The Environment Centre NT acknowledges Traditional Owners throughout the Territory and Australia. The Environment Centre NT’s office is on Larrakia Land.
The mission of the Environment Centre NT is to: protect and restore biodiversity, ecosystems and ecological processes, foster sustainable living and development, and cut greenhouse gas emissions and build renewable energy capacity. CONTENTS Chair’s and Director’s message Our successes at a glance Protecting and Restoring Nature Communities for Sustainability Working in Partnership About Us Our Supporters and Partners The Year Ahead Public Events Our People Sustainability Report Finances Photo credits
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Chair's and Director's message Thank you to our members, donors and partners for their support during 2012/13. Together, we achieved much. We want to share with you some of these successes, and you can read more about what we achieved together through this report. Our achievements include declaration of Limmen National Park and Limmen Bight Marine Park, implementation of Darwin’s first Sustainable Apartments project, creation of an innovative partnership for energy efficiency in low income homes, creation of the Don’t Frack the Territory community campaign, hosting a Japanese cattle producer to tour Australia to tell his story about the impacts of radioactive contamination from the nuclear meltdown at Fukushima, and commencement of an ambitious Kimberley to Cape landscape scale initiative across Northern Australia plus scoping an Australia-Asia Interconnector to grow renewable energy in the region. Yes, we achieved a lot thanks to the support of people like you. But we know that despite our hard work and many partnerships for sustainability across the Territory, it’s not enough. That’s why our staff and Board started developing a new Strategic Plan that will capitalize on our strengths and proven track record, address fundamental challenges facing the environment and climate across the Territory and the wider region, and build new partnerships that transform sectors and greatly amplify our efforts. It’s what we need to do to restore and protect our globally significant ecosystems and wildlife, drive change towards sustainable urban living, and rapidly transition our economy towards a renewable energy future. We need your support and we invite you to partner with us to make this happen. The past year marked some major milestones and changes. The new Country Liberals Government commenced some key reforms. We welcomed creation of the NT Environment Protection Authority (NTEPA), which was established with strong legal powers. We have been advocating for a ‘real EPA’ for many years. We will continue to advocate for the legislation underpinning the NTEPA to be amended to ensure independence, a strong commitment to environmental protection, and broader third party enforcement rights for the community and landholders.
We warmly welcomed the government’s decision to ban seabed mining in coastal waters surrounding Groote Eylandt and Bickerton Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria. We had worked hard with a range of organisations to stop seabed mining, including the Anindilyakwa Land Council, Australian Marine Conservation Society, Pew Environment Group, The Wilderness Society, Amateur Fishermens Association of the NT and the NT Seafood Council. Unfortunately the new government abandoned key reforms long sought by our members and supporters, such as strong action on climate change, legiswlation to stop major land clearing, and capping water use at sustainable levels from the Tindal Aquifer near the Roper River. The Territory Government’s support for a northern foodbowl is based on a poor understanding of the ecological risks and economic realities of tropical agriculture. The foodbowl threatens to unleash major land clearing, excessive water extraction and river pollution in the heart of the world’s largest tropical savanna system spanning Northern Australia. On a very positive note, Australia introduced a price on carbon 1 July 2012! The Environment Centre NT has campaigned for this fundamental reform for many years, alongside many others across Australia. Requiring polluters to pay for the greenhouse gas emissions they release is good economic and environmental policy, and should be retained. Pricing carbon brought Australia into line with dozens of nations that are starting to seriously address climate change. At the same time Australia started making big polluters internalize some of the costs of their greenhouse gas emissions, global carbon dioxide levels reached a dangerous milestone. In May 2013 atmospheric carbon levels reached 400 parts per million, an historic and alarming threshold. This represents a massive 43% increase over carbon dioxide levels prior to the start of the Industrial Revolution in 1750 (280 ppm), which has seen an increase of 0.9oCelsius in average air temperatures in the past 250 years, mostly in the last couple decades. We highlighted community and landholder concerns over the Territory Government’s focus on mining and major onshore gas development. With Australia’s weakest environmental, mining and petroleum laws, the Territory’s lands and seas are at risk from major mining and shale gas and oil development.
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On a beautiful Darwin dry season evening in June the Environment Centre NT celebrated its 30th Anniversary with a Pearl Ball! A hundred people dined, reminisced and danced under the stars on the lawns of the George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens. Members old and new, volunteers, staff and supporters from the past three decades dined on a sumptuous meal by the Knockabout Chef, and relaxed and danced to the tunes of Larrakia man Robbie Mills and his band. Speeches were made, stories shared, and victories celebrated. We recalled the campaigns and projects where we’ve made a difference: creating Kakadu Stage 3 and Limmen National Parks, stopping Jabiluka uranium mine, making the Daly River a national conservation issue, saving Maria Island in the Gulf from port development, helping householders be energy efficient, and keeping our harbours free of seacage fish farms. The current staff even managed to surprise Board ChAir Diane Koser with a beautiful framed picture of Nightcliff Foreshore to thank her for her many years of dedication to the Environment Centre NT. The Environment Centre NT is the only community sector environment organisation based in Darwin that has been covering a broad range of campaigns and projects for the past three decades. With so much focus on northern development, the pressures on the wildlife and ecosystems we love are increasing rapidly. That’s why we want to change the way we work and increase our effectiveness. We need to be an even stronger voice for the environment. We seek your support to do so.
Get involved! Become a member, join our exciting new monthly giving program Territory Defenders, leave a living legacy to us in your will, or donate to one of the many campaigns and programs shown on our website (www.ecnt.org). You can also follow us on Facebook or Twitter, volunteer in the office or at weekend market stalls, or write to your local Member of Parliament about a burning environmental issue. Thanks again to our members, donors and partners for working with us on our shared goals. Our office is located on Larrakia Country and we acknowledge the important work Larrakia Rangers do in managing land and sea in the Darwin region.
Di Koser Dr Stuart Blanch Chair Director
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Our Successes at a Glance Developed a partnership to scope an Australia-Asia Interconnector to join electricity grids from Darwin to Timor to Java to rapidly grow the regional generation and use of renewable energy. Eight Commonwealth Marine Reserves created in the Arafura and Timor Seas, and Gulf of Carpentaria, covering 15.7 million hectares. Hosted the NT Solar Summit 2013, the first public event in the Territory’s history to bring together community and business to plan a solar future for the Top End. Started the globally significant Kimberley to Cape initiative for a shared vision and plan for conserving and sustainably developing Northern Australia. Started writing the first Field Guide to Wildlife of the Top End to help Territorians and visitors identify and observe 600 species of wildlife. Advocated for the conservation of Top End rivers in the face of the ‘northern foodbowl’ agenda, including through collaborating with fishers, Indigenous Traditional Owners and river communities. Started the Don’t Frack the Territory community campaign and hosted the Territory’s first public meeting about the risks of shale gas and oil. Supported Muckaty Traditional Owners to oppose a nuclear waste dump proposed for their lands at Muckatty six years ago.
Partnered with Protect Arnhem Land community campaign, Indigenous Traditional owners and anglers to oppose oil exploration in Top End coastal waters. Urged Rio Tinto, Australian and NT Governments, and the communities of NE Arnhem Land to include solar power as part of the energy mix for the Gove bauxite mine, Nhulunbuy and Yirrkala. Kakadu National Park got bigger thanks to the decision of Djok Elder Jeffrey Lee to say no to uranium mining on his lands at Koongarra. We were privileged to be able to support his efforts over many years. Limmen Bight Marine Park created to protect 88,000 hectares of shallow marine habitats, dugong, feeding areas for migratory seabirds, and threatened flat back sea turtles. Supported Japanese cattle producers to tour Australia to tell their story about the impacts of radioactive contamination from the meltdown at the Daiichi nuclear power plant at Fukushima. Raised awareness of risks and impacts of pollution on rivers from leaking or legacy mines, such as Mt Todd gold mine, McArthur River Mine, Rum Jungle Uranium Mine, Ranger Uranium Mine and Redbank Copper Mine. Limmen National Park declared to protect almost 1 million hectares of remote savannas, rivers, floodplains and island habitats. COOLmob set up the Territory’s first carpooling website to help commuters save money on petrol, avoid the stress of traffic congestion, and cut carbon emissions from cars. COOLmob partnered with Sterling Property Services on a Sustainable Apartments project to trial improvements in energy efficiency in communal areas of apartment blocks.
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Maria Island protected!
Protecting and Restoring Nature LIMMEN NATIONAL PARK CREATED We led the campaign for declaration of this massive remote park, which was declared 20 years after being formally proposed. The massive park covers 935,400 hectares – or about the same size as Cyprus or Puerto Rico – and will help protect tropical savanna woodlands and grasslands, wildlife, Lost City sandstone formations, Maria Island, many places of great cultural importance to Marra and Wandarang Indigenous traditional owners, and fishing spots. We advocated for funding to employ local Indigenous Rangers to work with Parks staff to manage wildfires, weeds and ferals in the region to help restore the former degraded pastoral leases.
DECLARATION OF LIMMEN BIGHT MARINE RESERVE The first new marine park to be declared in the Territory in three decades helps protect 88, 000 hectares of shallow marine ecosystems and wildlife in the remote southwest corner of the Gulf of Carpentaria. The new marine park was declared after a concerted campaign by Indigenous traditional owners, ourselves and anglers to protect the region from heavy industry.
The park will help protect large dugong herds, flatback sea turtles and colonies of migratory seabirds. We supported calls by LiAnthawirriyarra Sea Rangers and Yugul Mangi Rangers to be employed to improve management of the marine environment within the park.
PROTECTING RIVERS FROM MINE POLLUTION We pushed miners and regulators to reduce pollution of five Top End rivers. After many years of advocacy, in partnership with Yanyuwa Traditional Owners and the Northern Land Council, miner Xstrata Zinc was required by NT regulators to line the bottom of a new tailings dam at its McArthur River Mine to reduce leakage of contaminated water into the McArthur River. We supported the Katherine community, anglers and Jawoyn Traditional Owners to reduce pollution of the Edith River from Mt Todd gold mine by engaging with miner Vista Gold and NT regulators to tighten pollution limits in the waste discharge licence. We worked with regulators and Indigenous communities to push for funds for restoration of the Finniss River polluted with acid mine drainage from the Rum Jungle Uranium Mine, and exposed the lack of investment in stopping sulfuric acid destroying Hanrahans Creek downstream of the highly polluting Redbank Copper Mine.
Kakadu Traditional Owner Jeffrey Lee in Paris.
PROTECTING ARNHEM LAND FROM OIL AND GAS
PROTECTING KAKADU URANIUM MINING
Covering 10 million hectares of some of the most remote, ecologically intact and culturally important lands and seas in Australia, Arnhem Land is the geographic heart of Northern Australia. That’s why we are working hand in hand with Indigenous communities in Arnhem Land to oppose oil and gas companies from damaging the area. We helped the Protect Arnhem Land community campaign, based in Maningrida, to speak out against plans by Paltar Petroleum to use seismic exploration in coastal waters. We produced two video clips and helped secure national media attention for the campaign.
We released a report detailing the impacts of mining 34,000 tonnes of uranium oxide at the controversial Ranger Uranium Mine inside Kakadu National Park. The proposed Ranger 3 Deeps underground uranium mine would create about 10 million tonnes of uranium tailings that would require storage inside Kakadu for 10,000 years. We worked with an environmental engineer at Monash University to highlight the serious long term impacts of the proposed new mine.
EIGHT COMMONWEALTH MARINE RESERVES CREATED
After a decade long campaign by Djok clan member Jeffrey Lee to protect his ancestral lands from uranium mining, he finally succeeded in having the 1,228 hectare Koongarra area inscribed on the World Heritage list and included in Kakadu National Park. The Environment Centre NT supported Jeffrey’s campaign and advocated his right to protect his traditional lands to governments, the Northern Land Council and miners. By deciding to protect the land and turn his back on millions of dollars of royalties offered to let uranium mining proceed, he made an extremely generous donation to Australia and the world. The protection shows what should happen at the nearby Ranger and Jabiluka sites.
We worked with other conservation organisations to convince the Federal government to create eight new marine reserves in the Arafura and Timor Seas and Gulf of Carpentaria, as part of the world’s largest network of marine protected areas that now surround Australia. The reserves help protect 15.7 million hectares of offshore waters including deep canyons, coral reefs, shallow seabed and underwater pinnacles across four provincial bioregions. The reserves protect feeding areas of migratory seabirds, four species of threatened sea turtles, and large tropical fish aggregations.
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KAKADU NATIONAL PARK JUST GOT BIGGER
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Communities for Sustainability SUSTAINABLE APARTMENTS
FACE TO FACE WITH FUKUSHIMA
Our COOLmob Sustainable Living Program led an innovative partnership with Stirling Property Services to trial a new Sustainable Apartments project to help save power, cut carbon pollution and conserve energy from communal areas. This involved installing energy efficient lighting, improving passive air-flow and changing the behavior of residents. With a boom in construction of apartments in Greater Darwin the project aims to show how saving energy can save apartment owners money on their power bills.
We supported Mr and Mrs Hasegawa, cattle farmers from the Iitate village in Fukushima, Japan to travel to Australia and talk to communities around the nation about the devastating impacts of nuclear radiation released after the meltdown of reactors at the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. This involved the release of radiation generated from uranium mined at Ranger mine inside Kakadu National Park.
TERRITORY'S FIRST CARPOOLING INITIATIVE COOLmob staff set up the Territory’s first carpooling website thanks to a grant from the Territory Government. The carpooling website (www. coolmob.org/carpool/) helps commuters save on their petrol bills and parking tickets by sharing their car with others. Carpooling saves commuters money and reduces travel stress in cities around the world. The website enables COOLmob to safely match the needs of commuters with others who want to share the costs of getting to and from work. Carpooling also cuts congestion and reduces carbon pollution from cars.
ENGAGING COMMUNITIES ABOUT THE RISK OF OIL AND GAS We hosted the first public meeting in the Northern Territory to openly discuss the risks of the looming shale gas and oil industry. On 20 February 2013 over 100 people participated in the meeting at the Museum and Art Gallery of the NT in Darwin. The meeting heard from leaders from the Amateur Fishermens Association of the NT, NT Cattlemens Association, Protect Arnhem Land community campaign based in Maningrida, Lock The Gate Alliance and the Environment Centre NT. The public meeting allowed members of the community to ask questions of presenters, as well as enabling representatives of the shale gas and oil industry and industry lawyers to respond to public concerns
Home solar power.
HELPING LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS SAVE ENERGY COOLmob staff developed the Territory-first Smart Cooling in the Tropics research project to trial innovative ways of helping households in Greater Darwin save energy. The project is seeking a multimillion dollar federal grant to form a partnership for energy efficiency between COOLmob, Charles Darwin University, Council for the Aging NT, Carers NT, Yilli Rreung Aboriginal Housing and Melaleuca Refugee Centre. The project would use community engagement approaches using behavior change, building modification and energy efficient appliances to trial ways of improving comfort levels and cutting power bills for the elderly, carers, Indigenous people and refugees. Commenced development of a schools sustainability program.
HOME SUSTAINABILITY ASSESSMENTS The COOLmob team encouraged many householders to save money on power and water bills by providing home sustainability assessments across Greater Darwin. With the benefit of ten years experience in conducting assessments COOLmob assessors were able to provide expert advice and expert information on a broad range of sustainable living issues: energy efficient appliances and fixtures, shading walls and windows, solar power, solar hot water heaters, cycling and public transport, water conservation and organic gardening.
CELEBRATING MANGROVES In partnership with the Australian Marine Conservation Society we raised awareness about the values of mangroves in Darwin Harbour to help celebrate World Oceans Day 2013. Residents of Darwin were taken on a walking tour of mangroves in the harbour where they heard from a local mangrove ecologist about the rich mangrove forests, and the wildlife that relies on them for habitat. The tours also showed how mangroves are important economic and cultural assets: storing carbon, providing bush tucker for Indigenous people and places where families gather, and protecting buildings and roads from storm surges and rising sea levels caused by climate change.
TALKING SOLAR FOR GOVE We were the only voice to publicly argue for solar power to be considered as part of any deal to secure future energy supplies for the Rio Tinto Alcan bauxite mine at Gove and surrounding communities in northeast Arnhem Land. We challenged the NT and Australian Governments, and the mining company and community of Gove, to think long term about energy. At a time when decision makers were only talking about building a destructive 600km long pipeline across Arnhem Land that would lock in dirty gas as the energy source for the region for many decades.
No dump at Muckaty!
Working in Partnership DON'T WASTE THE TERRITORY Our Nuclear Free NT campaign worked with an alliance of environment and Indigenous groups, lawyers and the people of the Tennant Creek region to support Indigenous Traditional Owners to oppose a nuclear waste dump proposed without their consent - for their ancestral lands on the Muckaty Lands Trust. This involved visits to Tennant Creek to talk with Traditional owners and residents, taking part in a rally with hundres of locals to voice their calls to ‘Dump the Dump’, and urging federal and Territory politicians to stop the federal Government from imposing a nuclear waste dump on the Territory. This year marked eight years since sites in the Territory were targeted for a waste dump and six years since Muckaty specifically was nominated.
AUSTRALIA - ASIA INTERCONNECTOR TO GROW RENEWABLE ENERGY We’re thinking long term about the future of the Top End in supplying electricity generated from renewable energy sources into Asia. Thanks to a grant from the NT Research & Innovation Board, with matching funding from Charles Darwin
University, we commenced planning and partnership building for the first meeting to discuss linking the electricity grids of Northern Australia and Southeast Asia to catalyse the generation and long distance transmissions of renewable energy in Australia, East Timor, Indonesia and other ASEAN Nations. Partners for the initiative include Charles Darwin University, The Australian National University, CSIRO Energy Technology, Earth Systems and UNO Management Services.
RAISING AWARENESS ABOUT WILDLIFE After a year of fundraising and partnership building we started writing the first comprehensive field guide to wildlife in the Top End. Partners contributing funds and information include federal and NT government agencies, Kakadu National Park, City of Darwin, NT Field Naturalists Club, wildlife photographers, wildlife ecologists, and taxonomists. We hired Lindley McKay, a well regarded local wildlife ecologist and published author, to produce the guide. Thanks to the support of our partners the field guide will help Territorians and visitors identify and learn about 600 species of wildlife, and when and where to see them.
Talking about shale gas and fracking.
WORKING TOGETHER TO SAVE THE ROPER Over many months we built a shared understanding and position with partners to stop the NT Government over-allocating water from the Tindal Limestone Aquifer near Mataranka, which discharges water into the Roper River during the long dry season. We jointly advocated to NT water managers and through the media with the Amateur Fishermens Association of the NT, and worked with the North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance and Northern Land Council to assist Indigenous traditional owners living in the catchment to oppose the NT government’s unsustainable approach to issuing water licences for the aquifer .We obtained legal advice regarding options for challenging the granting of water licences.
REDUCING IMPACTS OF SHALE OIL AND GAS We worked with the NT Cattlemens Association to bring together leading stakeholders across the Territory to call on the shale gas and oil industry to work with us to better understand and reduce the risks posed by their industry on Territory Centre.
lands and seas, water sources, communities, Indigenous cultural values and food production. Together with NTCA we led the negotiation of a joint statement to the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association calling for industry to support an independent assessment of the risks of shale oil and gas, stronger petroleum and environmental laws, and more information on the potential impacts on aquifers and rivers. The collaboration included the Environment Centre NT, NT Cattlemens Association, Amateur Fishermens Association, NT, Farmers Association and Arid Lands Environment Centre.
BUILDING A SHARED VISION FOR NORTHERN AUSTRALIA We launched an ambitious Kimberley to Cape initiative to develop a shared vision and plan for conserving and sustainably developing Northern Australia’s tropical savannas, free-flowing rivers and healthy shallow seas. Thanks to the support of the Dahl Trust, Melliodora Sub-Fund and Perpetual Trust we were able to appoint Dr Clare Taylor, a former policy manager with the National Water Commission and passionate exponent of natural resource management for rivers, to coordinate the initiative. Dr Taylor will lead our efforts to reach out to environment organisations, Indigenous leaders and on-ground land and sea managers, pastoralists, farmers, NRM bodies, scientists, tourism operators and miners.
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SAVE DARWIN HARBOUR ALLIANCE Our staff and volunteers worked with local residents, landcare and community environment groups and Larrakia traditional owners to highlight the values of Ludmilla Bay, Ludmilla Creek and East Point in inner Darwin that are at risk from the construction of a damaging canal estate, an island, a large earth stockpile, and clearing of native vegetation for commercial and light industrial development. We joined together to oppose plans for the proposed Arafura Harbour canal estate, the proposed Nightcliff Island, and applications to clear urban vegetation and wildlife habitat in Ludmilla.
HOSTED THE TERRITORY’'S FIRST SOLAR SUMMIT In another first we hosted the NT Solar Summit 2013 where 85 people heard from solar experts, developers, solar engineers, and government about opportunities and challenges to building commercial and community scale solar power plants in the Territory. We brought together a panel of representatives from Abengoa Solar, CAT Projects, federal renewables agency ARENA, local developer Dean Osborne and the Community Power Agency. Professor Andrew Campbell from Charles Darwin University hosted a Q&A panel to consider how the Territory can achieve – and exceed – the federal Renewable Energy Target of 20% by 2020 from Territory sources.
PROTECTING TOP END SEAS FROM EXPLORATION FOR OIL We worked closely with senior Traditional Owners from across the Top End, the Amateur Fishermens Association of the NT and Fishing Tour Operators to develop a shared position on preventing exploration for oil in Top End coastal waters. The statement identifies various risks and known impacts of acoustic exploration for oil in marine ecosystems, and calls for all Top End coastal waters to be protected from oil exploration through the gazettal of reserved blocks under petroleum laws.
HELPED SECURE THE TERRITORY'S FIRST EPA WITH REAL TEETH Over the past decade the Environment Centre NT championed the creation of an Environmental Protection Authority with strong legal powers, adequate staffing and a strong culture of environmental protection. The Country Liberals committed to establishing an EPA when in opposition, and passed legislation in late 2012. The move was welcome, but unfortunately our proposed amendments to the Bill to establish the NTEPA to strengthen the independence and implementation of ecologically sustainable development were not adopted. Our Policy Officer and Director, who are supported by a grant from the NTEPA, worked hard to provide submissions to the NTEPA on draft Environmental Impact Statements for various projects, as well as proposed amendments to legilsation.
KEEPING BYNOE HARBOUR CLEAN AND FULL OF FISH We worked with the Amateur Fishermens Association of the NT, NT Seafood Council and Larrakia people to better understand the risks posed by a proposal to build 16 large sea cages in Bynoe Harbour for commercial barramundi farming. We also met with the proponent to highlight the concerns of our members and supporters, and find out details on the plan. Together with these groups we raised concerns with the proponent, regulators and media outlets regarding water pollution from uneaten fish food and the farmed fish, disease risks to wild barramundi, contamination of wild stocks from escapees, and the large impact on small pelagic fish stocks in providing feed stocks to the barramundi.
Save Darwin Harbour.
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The Environment Centre NT works to:
n e t m Ce n o
Envi
The Environment Centre NT is the peak community environment sector organisation in the Northern Territory, Australia. The Environment Centre NT has have been working to protect the environment since 1983.
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About Us
• protect and restore biodiversity, ecosystems and ecological processes; • foster sustainable living and development; and, • cut greenhouse gas emissions and build renewable energy capacity.
The Environment Centre NT achieves its mission through our:
ecn t.org
• • • • •
commitment to protecting nature, living sustainably and creating a safe climate; passion and determination; support for the power of communities and individuals to drive change; independence from governments, political parties, business & industry, and donors; support for the rights and aspirations of the Territory’s Indigenous peoples to sustainable development; • compassion and respect in dealing with others; and, • professional advocacy and projects informed by science and Traditional Ecological Knowledge.
The Environment Centre NT works by: • advocating for the improvement of environmental policies and performance of governments, landholders, business and industry; • campaigning for pro-environment policy and funding commitments from all parties and candidates during election campaigns; • partnering on projects and campaigns with conservation and climate organisations, governments, Indigenous organisations, community groups, businesses, and landholders; • raising community, government, business and industry awareness about environmental issues and assisting people to reduce their environmental impact; • support for the rights and aspirations of the Territory’s Indigenous peoples to sustainable development; • supporting community members to participate in decision making processes and action; • recognising the rights, aspirations, responsibilities and knowledge of Indigenous peoples; and, • acknowledging that environmental issues have a social dimension.
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Our supporters and Partners We thank the following for their financial support:
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Australian Conservation Foundation Australian Government (Department of Sustrainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities Bjarne K Dahl Trust Boomerang Alliance Bruce and Ann McGregor Charles Darwin University City of Darwin NT Environment Protection Authority, Northern Territory Government Major donors Members Pew Environment Group Power and Water Corporation Territory Defenders, our monthly giving program The Wilderness Society
We thank the following organisations for partnering with us on a broad range of projects and events: Abengoa Solar Arid Lands Environment Centre Australian Conservation Foundation Australian Marine Conservation Society Australian Nuclear Free Alliance Beyond Nuclear Initiative Boomerang Alliance Chamber of Commerce NT Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University Climate Action Darwin Colemans Printing Conservation Councils of Australia City of Darwin Darwin Garden Education Network Deckchair Cinema Darwin Dhimurru Aboriginal Corporation NT Environment Protection Authority
Environmental Defenders Office (NT) Figleaf Pools Friends of the Earth Australia G J Wigg Plumbing Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation and Mirarr Traditional Owners Lakeside Drive Community Gardens Larrakia Nation Aboriginal Corporation Li-Anthawirriyarra Sea Rangers Marra Traditional Owners Mix 104.9 FM Muckaty Traditional Owners Country Solar NT Other solar companies – eg who sponsored NT Solar Summit Northern Land Council NT Solar Solutions Pew Environment Group Plan NT Power and Water Corporation UNO Management Services CSIRO Muckaty Traditional Owners Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists Southern Cross Television The Mulch Pit The Nature Conservancy Community Power Agency Australian Renewable Energy Agency, Australian Government Maritime Union of Australia Electrical Trades Union Unions NT The Wilderness Society Total Environment Centre Protect Arnhem Land community group Amateur Fishermens Association of the Northern Territory North Australian Indigenous Land and Sea Management Alliance. NT Seafood Council Australian Agricultural Company NT Farmers Association 17
The year ahead We are planning a range of ambitious, transformative projects and campaigns in 2013-14. And we want you to partner with us to achieve them. There are many ways in which you can get involved in our work: becoming a member, taking action to support our initiatives, donating, joining our monthly giving program Territory Defenders, leaving a lasting legacy in your bequest, working for us, nominating to join our Board, becoming a volunteer or intern, or working with us on secondment. We would love to hear from you if you want to know more. Our priority projects and campaigns for 2013/14 include:
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Sustainable tropics
Create a partnership to set up Darwin’s first Eco-living Centre to showcase sustainable tropical urban living, organic gardening, energy efficiency and solar power, native vegetation and wildlife, and water conservation.
Work with partners in Australia and SE Asia to study the feasibility of building an Australia-Asia Interconnector to grow the generation and transmission of renewable energy in the Top End, Timor and Indonesia.
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Energy savings
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Research innovative ways to help low income households be more energy efficient through a multi-million dollar partnership with Charles Darwin University, Council of The Ageing NT, Carers NT, Yilli Rreung and Melaleuca Refugee Centre.
Energy to Asia
Nuke Free NT
Support Traditional Owners to oppose the nuclear fuel chain across the Territory, particularly the proposed nuclear waste dump at Muckaty, the proposed Ranger 3 Deeps underground uranium mine on Mirarr lands inside Kakadu National Park and transport of yellowcake through Larrakia lands near Darwin.
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Top End unite
Partner with the Protect Arnhem Land community campaign and Indigenous Traditional Owners in Arnhem Land to protect their lands and seas from damaging exploration for oil and gas.
Build consensus for a new vision and plan for conserving and sustainably developing Northern Australia through the Kimberley to Cape initiative, in partnership with Indigenous organisations, environment organisations, fishing groups, NRM groups, conservation scientists, pastoralists, farmers, tourism bodies and miners.
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Frack Off
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No Foodbowl
Achieve broad community support for the Don’t Frack the Territory community campaign to stop the shale gas and oil from damaging our lands, waters, food production, communities and climate.
Campaign with fishers, Indigenous Traditional Owners and river communities for the conservation of our Top End rivers-at-risk from large scale agricultural development, dams, mining and mine pollution, and invasive species, particularly the Daly, Roper and Adelaide Rivers.
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Community Solar
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Protect Arnhem Land
Create a partnership between community investors, a solar company and a financial institution to build a community owned solar power farm for the Darwin-toKatherine electricity grid.
Wildlife guide
Produce the Field Guide to Wildlife of the Top End through a strong partnership of contributors, donors and photographers.
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Music for Muckaty.
ERA AGM Action.
Nightcliff Seabreeze.
Public Events Our staff hosted and participated in many public events and talks: • NT Solar Summit 2013 on 12 June 2013, which helped 85 Territorians hear about the challenges and opportunities for commercial scale and community owned solar power. • On May 25, hundreds rallied in Tennant Creek against the proposed Muckaty Waste Dump to mark the six year anniversary since the nomination on the site. • In March the ‘Face to Face with Fukushima’ tour came to Darwin, evacuees from the Fukushima district shared their story about the ongoing nuclear disaster. The delegation presented to over 100 people at CDU along side local activists, unionists and health professionals. • In December, ‘The history of Rum Jungle’ public meeting at the Darwin Railway club presented an opportunity to hear from mining expert Gavin Mudd, Traditional Owner Kathy Mills and Govenment Department workers speak on the rehabilitation of the Rum Jungle Uranium mine. • Various public events celebrating Sealife in the Top End, including mangrove walks and sea turtle sandcastle fun days. • In April the ANNT (Anti-Nuclear NT) collective hosted a ‘Rock against Radiation’ night at the Happy Yess, raising funds for the Nuclear Free NT campaign. • We co-hosted a public meeting with the Amateur Fishermens Association on 13 June 2013 to tell local residents, pastoralists and NT government water managers about our concerns about plans for major increase in water extraction from the Tindall Limestone Aquifer near Mataranka. • Pearl Ball on 22 June 2013 to celebrate 30 years of being the leading community voice for the environment in the Northern Territory. • Consultation meeting regarding the draft Daly River Conservation and Development Plan in Darwin on 6 April 2013.
Stop, Lock and Go Action.
World Oceans Day.
Music for Muckaty.
• Second Indigenous Experts Forum meeting in Jabiru on 1 and 2 May 2013. • Territory Youth Conference at Kormilda College on 13 April 2013 regarding sustainability challenges and opportunities for young Territorians. • In May over 200 Territorans came to the Nightcliff Foreshore for a Music for Muckaty concert that raised awareness about the proposed waste dump. • Community information stall at the Seabreeze Festival, Nightcliff Foreshore, 4 May 2013. • Presentation to the NT Field Naturalists Club regarding the proposal for the Arafura Harbour canal estate, 8 May 2013. • Environment Centre NT ‘Showcase’ of our various projects and campaigns, The Groove Café, Nightcliff, 5 June 2013. • Sustainable Family Fun Day, hosted by COOLmob, at the Jingili Water Gardens, 8 June 2013. • Co-hosted the Transition Film Festival at the Deckchair Cinema and Nightcliff Foreshore, June 2013. • Community information stall at the Tropical Garden Spectacular, George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens, 1 June 2013. • Protect Arnhem Land community awareness meetings on 5 December 2012 and 17 March 2013 in Maningrida about the risks of oil exploration on coastal waters. • Community consultation meetings regarding the Mt Todd gold mine, north of Katherine, hosted by Vista Gold and the Katherine Town Council.
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Environment Centre NT Annual Report 2012-2013
Our People Corporate Governance The Environment Centre NT is an incorporated Association established under the Association Act (NT) and governed by a Board established under a Constitution. Board Members Members of the Board are elected by our members. Board members in 2012/13 were: Amy Kimber Deb Hall Dianne Koser, Chair Hannah Seward (till February 2013) Justin Tutty Michelle Pipino Pamela Mills Chris McBride (from November 2012) Our staff Adrielle Drury COOLmob Audit Manager / Officer and Auditor Bridget Edmunds, COOLmob Sustainability Officer and Auditor (till February 2013) Cat Beaton, Nuclear Free NT Campaigner Dr Clare Taylor, Kimberley to Cape Coordinator (from June 2013) Dr Stuart Blanch, Director Emma Burkitt, COOLmob Sustainability Officer and Auditor (April to June 2013) Emma Murphy, NT Shale Gas Community Campaigner (from April 2013) Lindley McKay, Wildlife Field Guide writer (from January 2013) Lisa Peters, Office Manager Mereki Garnett, Top End Sustainable living Festival Manager (till December 2012) Rob Law, Policy Officer Robin Knox, COOLmob Project Manager (till March 2013) Sian Gleeson, COOLmob Project Manager (from March 2013) Our regular dedicated volunteers: Chris Mc Bride, Alana Jolly Parrot, Mary Fathers, Mathew Haubrick, Vanessa Spinelli, Meri Davies, Di Koser, Roman Melis, Emma Burkitt, Jan Schneider, Peter Robson, Sarah Amies, Anna Weekes, Dave Suttle, Liam Golding, Col Johnson, Cindy Elritz. Rod Smith, Caroline McFarlane, Owen Gale, Todd Williams, Emma King, Adelle O’Connor, Louise Becker, Kathy Bannister and Ricky Saltmarsh. A special thank you to Larrakia Traditional Owner and activist Donna Jackson for providing guidance, advice and many welcome’s to her country.
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Sustainability Report Our office at 98 Woods Street in Darwin CBD is managed to produce no net carbon emissions through a combination of using passive airflow and fans for most of the year. Our electrical equipment is purchased or leased with energy efficiency in mind. Lights and appliances are switched off when not required. We continually review and improve our energy use behavior. And we purchase 100% GreenPower from Power and Water Corporation for all our office electricity needs. We cut our carbon emissions when traveling through a combination of purchasing approved carbon offsets for flights, walking and cycling to local meetings and to and from work, and carpooling. We use 100% recycled paper and pay attention to separating recyclable materials to avoid waste contamination. Kitchen scraps are composted in the office gardens. We loan electrical appliances and office equipment to other community groups to help them avoid purchasing their own, such as our PA, data projector, cooking equipment, kitchen utensils, and tables and marquees for market stalls. And we donate surplus equipment such as computers to community organisations.
Environment Centre Board December 2012.. L-R, Juanita Croft, Stuart Blanch, Chris McBride, Amy Kimber, James. Courtney, Di Koser, Michelle Pipino, Justin Tutty and Deb Hall.
Finances Despite challenging financial times we almost achieved our five year goal of raising $1M p.a. for our work. We raised $946.5K, or double our income of four years ago. We are very grateful for the support of our partners, donors and members during 2012/13. Income fell $51.3K on 2011/12, or 5.1%, due mainly to a fall in revenue from the Australian Government and philanthropic trusts and foundations. However our focus on membership growth and local fundraising in the Northern Territory saw fundraising grow 32% on 2011/12 to $95.6K. Similarly, grants from the Northern Territory Government grew by 34% over 2011/12 to $418.9K. The ongoing support of the NT Government is very welcome, which contributed 45.5% of revenue. Business sponsorship provided $133K, primarily from Power and Water Corporation to support our COOLmob sustainable living program. Regrettably this funding has ceased for 2013/14. Fundraising and Trusts & Foundations provided 10.2% and 10.9% of income respectively. Expenditure fell 17% on 2011/12 to $706.6K due to mainly to savings on appointing staff due to uncertainties in the timing of receiving grants, fewer consultancies, and bringing inhouse key communications and fundraising tasks. We operated to a nil operating surplus for the year. We have net assets of $163, 393, and $427K in cash and on term deposit. Our liabilities are principally unexpended grants. We made significant progress towards reducing our reliance on government funding, which fell from 50.2% in 2010/11 to 44.5% in 2011/12. This represents strong progress towards our target of ensuring no income source contributes more than 40% of the total. Salaries and employment costs for staff totaled almost two thirds of expenditure (64.8%), with office operations and management totaling 20.8%. A key goal is to increase expenditure in 2013/14 and beyond in fundraising and communications above the current 4.8% to enable us to invest more in advocacy and projects. Of particular note was our investment to support sustainable living in the Top End through our COOLmob program. Expenditure totaled $234,673 which enabled us to employ three staff plus casual home sustainability assessors, produce information materials to help householders save on power and cut energy use, host public events and contribute to policy development.
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Expenses 2012/13 $706,582
Office Management
20.8%
Travel
3.7%
Communica4ons & Fundraising Training
4.8%
Consultancies
3.8%
Community Educa4on & Events Salaries & Employment Costs
1.7%
0.4%
64.8%
Environment Centre Northern Territory Incorporated Financial Statements for the year ended 30th June 2013
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Thank you to all photo contributers: Cover: Stuart Blanch and Helen Williams, ECNT image library. Sea Eagle, Glenn Walker and Jeffrey Lee, Um Welt Film. Page 2-3: Kakadu wetlands, ECNT image library. Page 4-5: Kakadu National Park, ECNT image library Page 5: Di Koser, ECNT Image Library. Stuart Blanch, Hannah Seward. Page 6: Deep sea cable, ECNT image library. Dugong, AMCS. Solar Summit, ECNT image library. Keep River, Glenn Walker. Wallaby, Glenn Walker. Flower, Glenn Walker. Community meeting, Cat Beaton. March for Muckaty, Cat Beaton. Page 7: Protect Arnhem Land, ECNT image library. Solar panels, ECNT image library. Jeffrey Lee, Um Welt Film. Maria Island, David Hancock. Yvonne Margarula and Fukushima tour, Cat Beaton. Ranger Uranium Mine, Hannah Seward. Limmen National Park, Bruce Honeywill Page 8: Maria Island, Limmen Bight, David Hancock. Page 9: Jeffrey Lee at Areva office, France, Justin O’Brien. Page 10: Permaculture Garden, Sophie Edwards. Pahe 11: Sustainable house day, Stuart Blanch. Page 12: Six year Muckaty waste dump march, Tennant Creek, Cat Beaton Page 13: Craig Ingram, Eddie Mason and Stuart Blanch present at Don’t frack the Territory public meeting, Cat Beaton. Page 14-15: Ludmilla Creek cruise, Stuart Blanch. Page 18-19: Long Grass in Kakadu, Glenn Walker Page 20: Music for Muckaty concert, ERA AGM action and Nightcliff Seabreeze stall, Cat Beaton. Page 21: Stop, lock and Go protest, Cat Beaton. World Oceans Day, Hannah Seward. Music for Muckaty concert, Cat Beaton. Page 22:’Our People’ collage, images from the ECNT image library and Hannah Seward. Background birds, Stuart Blanch. Page 24: Environment Centre committee, ECNT image library
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