Boomerang Bags works to reduce the use of plastic bags by engaging local communities in the making of Boomerang Bags – community made, using recycled materials. Boomerang Bags provide a free, fun, sustainable alternative to plastic bags.

By getting involved, you are participating in a global movement, celebrating a grassroots initiative focusing on community building and sustainability.

Sign up here: mackayconservationgroup.org.au/boomerang_bags_signup

Women are the leaders of the environmental movement worldwide. Today we're celebrating International Women's Day and the role that women take in the politics, research and organising that is at the core of our movement.

These are a few of the women who have contributed to our success over the past 30+ years. Thankyou for all your efforts.

Saving the world isn’t an easy task. However, even the smallest of actions can have a big collective impact.  Recently, the United Nations released an article ‘A Lazy Person's Guide to Saving the World’ which serves as a splendid reminder that each and every one of us has the power to make change and contribute to the more efficient world we wish to see. A drop in an ocean but an ocean made of drops nonetheless. The message is clear - change begins with you!

From the comfort of your couch to the comfy cushions at a cafe, below we have included some easy breezy tips and tricks of how you can lighten your ecological footprint in your everyday life. Who knows, maybe you will improve you own well-being — as well as our planet along the way.

 1. Save electricity

Saving electricity saves resources and saves you money. So turn off the light switches, let your hair and clothes dry naturally, turn off your appliances at the switch when you are done. 90 per cent of the energy used when running your washing machine is used to heat water. Choosing to wash only a full load of clothes with cold water is moving in the direction of being more ecologically effective. 

2. Use less water

Here in North Queensland, freshwater isn’t as abundant as our actions may translate, so we need to do what we can to save as much of it as we can. Take short showers, turn the tap off when you are brushing your teeth and don’t bother rinsing the dishes before putting them into the dishwasher.

3. Move away from plastic

We can’t wait for governments to #banthebag, we need to take responsibility to reduce plastic consumption into our own hands.  Plastic debris ends up in our waterways & in the bellies of our marine life. Mackay neighbours the most beautiful and diverse reef system in the world, the Great Barrier Reef, and we need to do what we can to protect it.  Buy minimally packaged foods. Carry your own water bottle, coffee cup and cutlery and of course remember to take your own bags to the supermarket. 

4. Shop local

Shopping local is thinking global. Supporting local business and growers helps keep local people employed and helps prevent trucks and planes driving far distances. Did you know that every Wednesday morning Mackay’s Greater Whitsunday Market exhibits a variety of only local products and produce? 

In response to our current plastic consumer culture acting as a significant barrier in moving towards a sustainable future, a ground-roots movement has emerged to help us move away from such a dire fate, one bag at a time.

Boomerang Bags is a fast progressing community initiative that works to change our behaviour and reduce the use of plastic bags on a national and international scale. It operates by bringing local communities together to create bags, made completely of recycled and donated materials, as a means to provide shopping outlets, and in turn their customers, with a free alternative to plastic.  Boomerang Bags provide a free, fun, sustainable replacement to plastic bags that is urgently needed in response to our current detrimental consumer practices.

Last week Mackay Conservation Group celebrated 20 years at 156 Wood Street, which has provided  a secure home for the last 20 years. 

After George Christensen's unfortunate comments calling environmentalists 'green grubs', it was very nice to get supporters today dropping in to the office to say they appreciate our work!

And PS what's so bad about green grubs?

Infrastructure company The Mitchell Group plans for a new coal port at Hay Point, this one using untested barging technologies in the Great Barrier Reef.

Last month the 7.30 Report visited Mackay, speaking with concerned locals including myself and Betty Hobbs from Mackay Conservation Group. Click on the link below to watch the story:

Mackay Conservation Group will be opening an art exhibition on Friday 20 June at 5.30pm, featuring work by local artists. If you would like to contribute, please call 4953 0808.

As well as showing off the new office look, Lian Meaney will be unveiling our new window display and there will be wine & cheese aplenty. Look forward to seeing you there!

The next MCG Environmental Education series will be Friday Feb 28th at the Cook Theatre CQU Mackay campus from 6-8pm.

Free but RSVP to Ros Lowry at 4953 0808 or email [email protected] for catering purposes.

Three short films will be shown. Two are from Lock the Gate and one is from  the Environmental health sector. The two Lock the Gate films are directed by two Northern Rivers film makers, who have volunteered most of their time. Please attend and make a donation to help us protect communities at risk.

35 min Undermining Australia. Personal stories of Australian whose lives have been changed forever by coal mining.
35 min Fractured Country About the risks to communities from invasive gasfields.
16 min film The Human Cost of Power is a new short film which explores the health and climate implications

of the massive expansion on coal and gas in Australia.

The film was produced for the Climate and Health Alliance – a coalition of healthcare stakeholders with a common advocacy agenda for action on climate change to protect and promote public health – and the Public Health Association of

Australia (PHAA). PHAA is the principal non-government organisation for public health in Australia.