Stop Adani in 2019 Volunteer Pledge
Lets make 2019 the year we Stop Adani!
Getting involved is as easy as showing up to our next organising meeting at the Mackay Conservation Group office at 6pm every third Thursday of the month.
Join the Mackay Stop Adani team today to get involved with our rapidly growing campaign team of writers, event organisers, stall holders, campaign coordinators, social media warriors, community campaigners and dedicated volunteers.
Can't make the meeting? Sign up to join the campaign here and one of our organisers will call you.
Next Stop Adani Mackay Meeting 17th Jan at 6pm
Lets make 2019 the year we Stop Adani!
Getting involved is as easy as showing up to our next organising meeting at the Mackay Conservation Group office at 6pm Thursday the 17th of January. You can RSVP Now!
This is your opportunity to get involved with our rapidly growing campaign team of writers, event organisers, stall holders, campaign coordinators, social media warriors, community campaigners and dedicated volunteers.
Can't make the meeting? Sign up for the campaign here and one of our organisers will contact you.
Media Release: Adani back in court, polling shows public oppose handouts
Adani in court today for breaching their ‘special’ pollution licence
New poll reveals Central Queensland voters oppose the Qld government granting special deals to Adani on roads, royalties and water
Mackay Conservation Group released polling today that shows the majority of Central and North Queensland voters want government subsidies for Adani withdrawn. The group delivered a letter to local MP, Julieanne Gilbert, calling on the Queensland Government to cancel what amounts to nearly $500 million in subsidies.
Peter McCallum, Co-ordinator of Mackay Conservation Group said, “It’s disturbing that governments trust Adani to push ahead with a mine at a time when they’re being prosecuted in court for polluting the Great Barrier Reef with coal.
“Last year the Queensland government granted Adani a favour and issued a special licence to allow them to pour coal-laden water into one of the world’s greatest natural assets, the Great Barrier Reef, and Adani failed to even comply with that.
“Today the Mackay Conservation Group is releasing new Reachtel polling in three federal electorates in regional Queensland, conducted on 30 November.
“The polling of voters in Townsville, Rockhampton and Mackay reveals more that 60.0% of respondents strongly oppose the Queensland government giving Adani special deals, which allow the company to avoid paying a reported $370 million in royalties and offers Adani a $100 million publicly-funded road upgrade and a licence to take unlimited water for 60 years.
Read moreVoters want principle based policies
If there’s a single lesson for politicians from last week’s Victorian election it is that voters want political parties to develop rational policies and stand by them. Despite a major scare campaign around law and order, the ALP leader, Daniel Andrews, stuck to his reasoned platform and was rewarded with a hugely increased majority. He displayed leadership and authority over his party, maintaining a steady course all the way to polling day. With a federal election looming there must be more than a few MPs and candidates contemplating their future in the light of the Victorian result.
The insanity of damming Urannah Creek
It is said that ‘insanity’ is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. We have been told that the next big thing for our region is yet another feasibility study for the Urannah dam. That study will be the 19th attempt since 1967 to shuffle the cards and come up with a winning economic hand.
What is even more irrational is that the Federal Government paid $3 million of taxpayers’ money to have those cards reshuffled. Of course there’s a chance that this time the economic analysis may say something different to the previous 18 attempts. Maybe there’s a way to sell the water from Urannah dam to someone who’s willing to pay enough to recoup the dam’s construction and running costs. The only industry that can do that is mining.
Read moreNational Park Commercialisation Plan Outrages Environmentalists
Media Release
7 November 2018
Mackay Conservation Group has launched a campaign against a Queensland Government plan to allow private tourism development in three of the state’s iconic national parks.
Last month the Tourism Minister, Kate Jones, issued a statement calling for expressions of interest from private tourism operators to build accommodation and conduct private walking tours in Hinchinbrook, Whitsunday Islands and Great Sandy national parks.
In a document on a government website, private developers are being offered 30 year exclusive leases on current national park land plus a 30 year option. The government will also fast track the assessment process. In the case of Whitsunday Islands national park the government is also offering private developers a $5 million subsidy to assist with accommodation construction.
Mackay Conservation Group has launched a petition, which has collected over 700 signatures, calling on the state government to scrap its plans.
Read moreEcoPress November 2018
How Will We Stop Adani Opening Its Mega-Mine?
The world is facing a climate crisis and the next Australian federal election is a crucial moment that will decide the world's future. We're asking you to volunteer a couple of hours of your time to help our campaign to change Australia's and the Earth's future.
Two weeks ago we heard from the world's leading climatologists, the IPCC, that the world must stop burning coal by 2050 if we have any chance of maintaining a livable climate into the future. Every week Australia emits about 5 cubic kilometres of carbon-dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. That makes global air temperature hotter, rainfall less predictable, more intense cyclones and bleaches the Great Barrier Reef. It also presents a real challenge to future Australians when they try to reduce the CO2 concentration of the atmosphere.
Imagine trying to find 5 cubic kilometres of safe and secure underground storage, that's a pretty big job. Then multiply that by 30 years worth of CO2. About 7,500 cubic kilometres of storage must be found to secure the gas that will be emitted between now and 2050. If we start reducing our carbon-dioxide emissions today the future problem becomes much more achievable.
This week Adani announced it is close to financing its 
disastrous mega-mine near Clermont west of Mackay with the aim of commencing construction early in 2019. The Carmichael Mine will operate for 60 years and produce up to 60 million tonnes of coal every year. It must never be opened so it's time for us to ramp up our campaign.
Australia has a choice to make about whether we make the shift to renewable energy or continue to mine coal and destroy the Great Barrier Reef, putting all forms of life at risk. The federal election in May 2019 will be crucial in that decision but right now, neither major party has a policy to rule out new coal projects.
Even though most people in Australia oppose Adani's mine, politicians believe they can cruise to the next federal election without making a commitment to stop it. It's time they started to feel the heat of our campaign and make clear policies to Stop Adani and urgently reorganise our energy system to make life safe for everyone.
We're asking you to make a commitment to lend a few hours to support our campaign. No matter where you live you can help. Over the next few months we'll be knocking on doors in Mackay and other parts of Central Queensland to find out what people think about Adani and climate change and let them know how they can help. We'll be writing letters to politicians of all persuasions. We'll be making phone calls. We'll have stalls at markets. We'll be surveying community opinion. That's just for starters. So please sign our volunteer pledge and let us know that you want to join this campaign.
National Park Privatisation
The Queensland Government is pushing ahead to privatise parts of the state's most picturesque national parks by offering exclusive use to tourism developers for up to 60 years.
The first three parks affected will be Hinchinbrook Island, Whitsunday Island and the Great Sandy National Parks. The tourism minister says that other sites are being investigated for privatisation including the Gold Coast.
A document found on a government website reveals that the state is willing to give away publicly owned national park land to private operators. In the document the government says it is willing to provide private businesses with:
- State-owned national park land for private eco-accommodation development;
- exclusive ground leases for a term of up to 30 years plus one up to 30 year option to operate the private eco-accommodation;
- assistance during the approvals process;
- a coordinated “one government” approach to comply with other government requirements; and
- a contribution of up to $5 million for eco-accommodation built along the Whitsunday Island Trail.
It appears the government wishes to rush this process through the assessment process (which it calls the approvals process ... it seems the outcome is already decided) by bringing the projects under the control of the Coordinator General.
Please sign the petition on our website to voice your concern about the privatisation of our most valuable assets.
EcoPress October 2018
October 2018
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Stop Adani Meeting Thursday 11 Oct 5.30pm |
Volunteers Meeting Tuesday 16 Oct 6.30pm |
Beautiful Walk Sunday 21 Oct 8.30am |
| Our next Stop Adani meeting will be on Thursday 11 October. We'll be celebrating the success of our recent doorknock and planning new activities for the upcoming crucial weeks in our campaign to keep coal in the ground.
The Environment Centre, 156 Wood St Mackay |
Peter Rosier will present a talk on the Tragedy of the Commons. Some people are permitted to treat the environment as a dumping ground for the wastes of our industrial society, the worse things are for us all. Afterwards we'll hear about the current situation with Great Barrier Reef water quality and government responses.
The Environment Centre, 156 Wood St Mackay
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Emma Barrett has another fantastic treat in store for us in less than two weeks. This month we're visiting the shorebirds that have migrated all the way from Siberia to overwinter on Mackay's sunny beaches. This annual migration is a very special part of living in Mackay so come along to our Beautiful Walk and learn about our precious wildlife.
The Environment Centre, 156 Wood St Mackay |
Shorebirds & waders at Shellgrit Creek
The waders are almost back on Mackay's shores and we're going to welcome them in true MCG fashion with a Beautiful Walk! Each year, these little shorebirds travel long distances between Australia and the northern hemisphere, chasing the warmer weather. Some waders fly from countries as far away as Japan, China, Siberia and Alaska. After their arduous journey to Mackay, the waders spend the next 6 months resting and feeding on our coasts. We're excited to welcome the new arrivals and would love you to join us!
Guest speakers from Birdlife Mackay will be on hand to identify bird species and tell us more about their behaviour and ecology. It's a great opportunity to get outdoors and discover the nature at our doorstep with other like-minded people.
Please wear enclosed shoes and appropriate clothing. Don't forget your water bottle, sunscreen, hat and binoculars!
RSVP your place today, we will book out soon.