Dear members and friends,

to keep you informed of what’s going on at the local level, and to get newcomers interested (and started?), we decided to provide you with an update of our activities on the most pressing local issues several times during the year. To make it easy for you, we also decided to set up a website for our local branch , which we will be keeping updated. Click onto the links to find out about further local and national urgent actions and campaigns. For online information and membership you can also access the ACF main website www.acfonline.org.au . Students will be interested in the ‘Earthkids’ -site under this address.

Our precious Central Coast comes more and more under enormous pressure from urban planning, tourist developments and overpopulation. Projections by the State and Federal Government of population growth in the near future range from 40 to 80 thousand more people for the Gosford/Wyong areas. To fend off the most detrimental impacts of such escalation on our environment we need as many hands on deck as we can possibly get.

We therefore, would appreciate more members and newcomers becoming involved in activities at the local level, such as: It is important to point out that our society is not against sustainable development. However, mega -developments like the extension of Erina Fair (by 50%!) and the multi-storey, three roads- bound Terrigal unit- and commercial complex must be issues of great concern, not only because of the bulk of the proposals but mainly because of unmanageable traffic, unavoidable environmental damage and diminished live quality for the local residents as the result. An even more monstrous development will probably get the go-ahead by Wyong Shire Council. Yet, not all of our councilors seem to take the warnings of their own council advisors and a large number of concerned Central Coast residents serious enough. Although it seems the State Government is about to put a halt to those monstrous coastal developments in the future, it is not so obvious whether it will stop the mentioned developments already in the pipeline. So, try to convince them otherwise.

News in brief

Rezoning of ca. 100 ha to 7a Conservation status adjacent to Brisbane Waters National Park at Kariong that has been proposed for many years has now been taken on board by Council.

Other Council news: Gosford City Council has drafted a Vegetation Management Control Plan and has set up a climate committee. We wonder why it still hasn't adopted the Energy Smart Home Policy (a State Government initiative) which allows local residents to apply for a rebate of $ 500 on solarpower appliances. In addition, a rebate of up to $ 800 under the new Federal renewable energy legislation is available [source: SMH/Domain 24-30/5/01], but unfortunately, little information has been given to the public so far. Please approach Council and Shire Health Departments. Wyong Shire Council has come up with a draft housing plan that sets new environmental standards. One of its proposals is to make compulsory the installation of rainwater tanks for all new houses to be connected to the plumbing and irrigation systems. They would however have to make sure that those tanks are mosquito safe (hard to police!), otherwise the whole idea could turn out to become a major health hazard! Launch your submission. [By the way, the Housing Industry Assoc. (HIA) has built four new GreenSmart display homes at HomeWorld in Kellyville source: SMH/Domain 7-13/6/o1])

On Environment Day 5th June the Central Coast Community Environment Network Inc. (which the ACF is a member of) has opened its new office at the Ourimbah Campus -Community College, including a Sustainability Centre . Open during business hours, but ring beforehand (because often unattended): Ph. 43 494756, or email cccen@terrigal.net.au

We have been lobbying on feral animal control and on curfews for domestic animals. Even in our densely populated areas there are still native animals surviving (how dare they!) Providing them with even the smallest corridors, brush turkeys, lizards, snakes, birds and possums, swamp wallabies, would have a chance if it weren’t for roaming pets and ferals which can shock them to death if they don’t kill or maim them.

We managed to man four stalls last year (Australia Day. Midnight Oil concert, World Environment Day, Flora Festival). It would be great if we had more hands to help.

At the moment we are involved in a Draft Recovery Plan for preserving the rare ‘Somersby mintbush’ by lobbying Council to set aside an area proposed for industrial development.

One of our members is setting up an Aboriginal garden/habitat garden at Woodport Primary School in Erina Heights. If you would like to assist him, please contact us.

It was decided to transfer our humble savings account to one of the financial institutions which offer ethical investment , or environmentally and socially responsible investment. SRI, as it is called, has become very popular in the US and in Britain, and is now to take off in Australia. If you want to follow that movement you have to research very carefully (you find guidance in books and monthly magazines about 'ethical investment') because SRI is very much in the eye of the beholder. You might set different priorities than others have.

We have just touched on some of the local issues of concern. There is much more to be involved at other levels that you will learn about at our monthly meetings. So, please come along and find out. Or, if you are working on an environmental project, please contact us; we are more than happy to support you. Besides working for the good cause it may benefit you, by further developing your communication skills and participating in a network of social activities alongside like-minded people . They look forward to meeting you.

Your ACF – Central Coast Branch