Learn what the Society has been doing in the past year and what is planned for the coming year, and vote for a management committee to serve the Society for the coming year.
Here are the proposed 2024-25 Management Committee positions and descriptions and a nomination form,
If you want to find out more, please email bmcs@bluemountains.org.au or leave a message on 0490 419 779 with your name, contact number and what you are interested in. A member of the management committee will respond.
Registration: To assist with catering, please register or phone 0490 419 779 and leave a message indicating your attendance - this is a free event.
Visitors are very welcome!
After the formal part of the meeting, there will be a short break for supper and you will hear from our guest speaker Dr. Ian Wright on the State of the Waterways in the Greater Blue Mountains Area.
Ian is a science communicator, researcher and senior lecturer in Western Sydney University's School of Science.
He teaches classes in water science and management, environmental planning and environmental regulation across several degree programs.
Prior to WSU, Ian was a scientist in the urban water industry, mainly working at Sydney Water.
His research interests include freshwater ecology, water quality, water policy and water pollution (science and management). He also has a long-standing research interest in the impact of concrete materials on water quality and also on impact and management of coal mining activities on streams and rivers.
Ian has provided independent expert testimonies for environmental science matters for the NSW Land & Environment Court.
The Society, or should I say the environment, has had the benefit of Ian's expertise for quite a few years beginning with the Delta Electricity case when it was proved, and they admitted, to polluting the Coxs River.
And ten years ago our Wollangambe Campaign - which was jointly with the Lithgow Environment Group and Colong Foundation for Wilderness (now Wilderness Australia).
So come to our meeting and
hear about the state of health of
our Blue Mountains rivers -
the Wollangambe, Grose and Coxs Rivers.
Notice is hereby given of the Annual General Meeting of the Society to be held at the Wentworth Falls School of Arts, 217-219 Great Western Highway, Wentworth Falls, at 7 PM on Wednesday 27 March 2024.
Business will include receipt of reports, adoption of annual accounts, changes to Constitution, determination of structure of Management Committee, election of President, Management Committee members and other office holders and appointment of auditor.
Changes to Constitution
You will be asked to vote on Management Committee's recommendation that the following Clauses be changed as set out below. (Changes shown in green.)
In recent times it has become difficult for the Financial Report to be produced in time for the AGM, which is currently required to be held in the month of March. In order to alleviate this situation the relevant revised clause will read:-
“The Annual General Meeting of members shall be held by 30 April each year, when the Annual Report and audited financial statements shall be presented."
Due to Government changes the Register of Environmental Organisations, on which we were registered as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR), no longer exists, and we are now classified as an Environmental Organisation with the Australian Tax Office. In order to reflect his change the following clauses will read:-
(h) “In the event that the Public Gift Fund is wound up, any remaining assets in the fund are to be transferred to another fund with similar objectives that is an Environmental Organisation.”
Clause 19 Dissolution
(b) “… The receiving Organisation must have similar objectives to the Society, and must be an Environmental Organisation.”
CIMAG is a community group formed in April 2006 to reduce the impact of this exotic invader.
CIMAG has the aim of protecting our native birds and other wildlife from the threat posed by the Indian Myna (or Common Myna), to reduce the loss of public amenity that they cause and to minimise possible human health risks.
The group has made a significant impact on the population of mynas in the Canberra region.
Light refreshments provided by Secret Creek Café
RSVP: Friday, 29 March to: oddiechristine@gmail.com
The March 2024 edition of Hut News is now available for downloading.
We will have a good selection of tube stock: Prostanthera (mint bush) for a splash of purple or mauve, Crowea and Bauera pretty in pink, Acacia for a bright gold, and many more.
Visit our Native Plant Nursery webpage for our range of plants.
For enquiries or to place an order - Please contact : Nursery Manager, Paul Irwin: plantnurserybmcs@outlook.com
Join our Blue Mountains campaign workshop where we'll be bringing people together to:
Last year we had some incredible wins. After a sustained grassroots campaign, Commbank ruled out lending to all new and expanding oil and gas projects! Just a few weeks later, the federal government changed out environmental protection laws to include water protection for fracking projects. This was a huge win after 10 years of campaigning by Traditional Owners, supported by 350 supporters ramping up the pressure on Labor.
But there's still so much to do! This year, we're calling on Labor to fully fix our environmental protection laws to include climate protections and greater accountability, and we need you to be a part of our campaign to keep fossil fuels in the ground.
Whether you've been volunteering with 350 Australia for years or it's your first event, we want everyone to join us and hear about how you can be involved in the campaign!
When: Saturday 23rd March, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm with snacks and lunch after
Where: RoseyRavelston Books, 1 Badgery Cres, Lawson NSW 2783
RSVP so we can keep track of numbers and we will send you an email with all the details!
Under the government’s proposal, increased building heights and density will be permitted in certain areas. In the Blue Mountains this will mean:
These new heights and densities (called ‘non-refusal standards’) will override Council’s current development controls, including environmental and heritage protections.
You won’t know that one is being built next door until the bulldozer or concrete truck arrives.
Is this what we want for the Blue Mountains?
Here's more information including the points you may wish to make in your submission.
Here's the Society's submission
Here's the Society's submission on the draft Environmental Impact Statement for Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport Airspace and Flight Design.
Residents Against Western Sydney Airport Update No 39 - March 2024 - what's the latest!
Background and Concerns
The flight paths cross most of the 1.03 million hectares of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. In areas furthest from the airport, the height of flights will be up to 20,000ft above the runway. Remember – the elevation of the Blue Mountains increases as you move west. So if you live at Katoomba (elevation 1023m = 3356 ft) and the flight goes overhead at 17,500ft above the runway, then it is at a height of 14,144 ft above you.
These flight paths will change the way we live and enjoy our lives and they are permanent. We do not believe that our concerns have been listened to in the past.
We are concerned about:
We want:
The Autumn 2024 Edition is now available to download.
In this issue you will find -
First Nations:Previous editions of the Gecko Newsletter can be found here.
Information about the Blue Mountains City Council Bushcare can be found here.
During the trial period, residents can drop off household quantities of soft plastics for recycling for free at Blaxland and Katoomba Resource Recovery and Waste Management Facilities.
Residents can also now drop off all e-waste (anything with a cord) for recycling at the facilities.
Council has teamed up with RecycleSmart who will collect the soft plastics and e-waste items and deliver them to their recycling partners for processing.
These new options will allow residents to divert waste from landfill and help the Blue Mountains transition to a circular economy.
The circular economy reduces waste by sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products as long as possible. In this way, the life cycle of products is extended and can minimise the amount of waste in landfills.
Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill said: “As part of Council’s goal to transition the Blue Mountains to a circular economy, we have found a solution to assist residents to recycle their soft plastics and e-waste and help divert them from landfill.
“This means residents can confidently recycle soft plastics including bread bags, bubble wrap, cereal box liners, packets from lollies, chocolates and chips, resealable bags, grocery bags and plastic film.
“They can also recycle e-waste including all small appliances, DVD players, smartwatches, electric toothbrushes and more.”
Visit the Council's Waste & Recycling webpage for a list of acceptable soft plastics and e-waste items that can be recycled at its facilities.