Welcome to CAFNEC, the Cairns and Far North Environment Centre– the peak regional environment group for Far North Queensland. This website is packed full of information and resources – if you are a new user of this site the menu bar above provides links to the different areas of the site.

Our mission as an organisation is to ensure the unique and special natural heritage of Far North Queensland is protected – if you would like to help us we would love to have you as a member. Download our MEMBERSHIP FORM and help protect our special region.

Check the latest news, events and campaign news in ECOTONE, our quarterly members magazine.

LATEST NEWS MAY 19 - Federal Government declares interim Conservation Zone over the Coral Sea, a first step on the way to permanent protection of this tropical Marine jewel MORE

Australians have a deep connection with the ocean.  It is of great importance to our identity, prosperity, lifestyle and security. To the east of the Great Barrier Reef lies a second and less known tropical marine jewel: the Coral Sea.  It's crystal clear waters are home to huge fish that dominate the ecosystem, like lions of the African plains.  The pristine islets and cays are both breeding ground and nursery for turtles and seabirds.  Hundreds of other species, from majestic humpback whales to dainty reef fish, abound in its warm tropical waters.  The Coral Sea is steeped in maritime history with stories of adversity and survival. Once the arena for the Battle of the Coral Sea, it now remains a refuge for marine wildlife.  Globally, less than one tenth of 1 percent of the world's oceans is highly protected.  It's rare to find a place where the political will and public support could be generated to secure a large no-take marine park. The Coral Sea is one of those places.  There could be no better ocean legacy for future generations. MORE

NEWS MAY 19 - Federal Government declares interim Conservation Zone over the Coral Sea, a first step on the way to permanent protection of this tropical Marine jewel MORE

DOWNLOAD this letter to Kevin Rudd, fax or post it and ask him to protect the Coral Sea.
A MythBusters Sheet has been produced in response to some serious misconceptions going around about the proposed Heritage park and its implications for the local fishing public. Send this around and help to clear the air.

LATEST NEWS MAY 19 - Plan B: An Agenda For Immediate Climate Action

The Cairns and Far North Environment Centre together with the leading national and state environment groups have come together to make it clear we do not support the Federal Government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) in its current form.

We’re concerned the level of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are already above safe levels, and the CPRS will not effectively reduce carbon pollution.

We’ve put together a Plan B of measures that could be enacted in the next two years and would set Australian up to meet the vital target of halving our greenhouse pollution over the coming decade.

The environment groups behind Plan B, with a combined membership of more than 400,000 Australians, call on the Rudd Government to abandon the fundamentally flawed CPRS and commit Australia to this new approach to tackle climate change.

Plan B outlines five priority areas where we could achieve significant pollution reduction in the next few years and make deep cuts in emissions over the next decade.
1) Prioritise saving energy
2) Fast-track the switch to a renewable energy economy
3) Drive the shift to low emissions vehicles and sustainable cities
4) Protect our forests and woodland as a carbon store and make agriculture a part of the solution
5) Grow the green job economy

The Plan B agenda will provide tens of thousands of green jobs based on saving energy; enable a fast transition away from coal and towards renewable energy; and protect precious forests and establish carbon sinks.

ELLA BAY - STILL A HELL OF A BAY TO GIVE AWAY

Attention all lovers of FNQ's natural environment. Please take a moment to add your name to the growing list of concerned community members and groups who oppose the highly inappropriate development proposed for Ella Bay north of Innisfail.

This special coastal spot and all the wonderful wildlife and plants there are greatly threatened by a massive urban and tourism development which is to include up to 6 luxury resorts and over 500 new residences.

The development site is completely surrounded by World Heritage Wet Tropics and the Great Barrier Reef. The best use for this land is low impact recreational and cultural use, not another concrete jungle.

We urge you to add your name today to those acting to save this iconic place by signing this pro-forma letter requesting that the development's impact on sea turtles be assessed. Recent documentation of sea turtle nesting sites in and around Ella Bay must lead to the investigation of the proposed developments impacts on these, and other, threatened marine animals.

Please send your response to the Federal Department of the Environment and don't forget to date your letter and include your postal address!

DOWNLOAD the letter to Minister Garrett and send today.

See HERE for more information on the turtle nesting sites and the implications for the development.
See HERE more information on the proposed development:

Urge your councillor to support hillslope and habitat protection package before council

DOWNLOAD this letter and email, post or fax it to the your local councillor. Every letter counts. Call Cairns Regional Council on 4044 3044 to find out who your local councillor is.

Save Our Slopes and Whitfield Hill Community Action Group’s have handed Cairns Regional Council a report outlining 25 proposals dealing with around 60 areas of hillslope and vegetation rezoning, including the slopes of False Cape. All proposals deal with zonings within the Cairns Plan that are in conflict with it’s own Desired Environmental Outcomes and asks that these areas be designated ‘Conservation’. This would entitle private landowners to build a house and caretakers residence but prohibit allotments from being subdivided.

This years’ Local Government Elections saw several sitting councillors elected on a platform of hillslopes and habitat protection. Now is the time for this council to deliver on these promises. Action today will not only help preserve the nature and character of our region, but will also allow future decisions to be made without having to be defended through expensive legal action.
CAFNEC fully supports these proposals and urges all Councillors to support the package. It is now scheduled to go before Council in February, following a January 22nd meeting with all Councillors.

SAVE THE WALSH RIVER - NO NULLINGA DAM

DOWNLOAD the campaign action kit and help protect the Walsh river from being needlessly dammed.

False Cape - Site Shut Down due to financier collapse and Federal Government stop work order

Work on the development site has halted after key financial backers (MFS) ran into trouble and seem to have lost the confidence of contractors.  Proponents of the false cape development, Reef Cove Resort, have also had a one year moratorium on further works imposed following investigation over alleged failure to adequately control soil erosion and sediment run-off into the Great barrier Reef lagoon. Cairns Regional Council has since undertaken works to stabilise the site before the Wet Season.

Take Action Today!

Take Action to help Save False Cape

Send a letter to the Federal Environment Minister and ask him to reject the application for False Cape Stage Two. Download, edit and send...Easy: DOWNLOAD HERE (Word doc).

...and...

Write to the Premier and ask her to immediately intervene and stop the False Cape development.

The Premier
Hon. Anna Bligh
PO Box 15185
City East
Queensland 4002

Main Points about the Reef Cove development Proposal

Visit the www.falsecape.org.au for more information. Or, call us and we can go over any details.
If you would like to get involved in the campaign, please call us on 4032 1746 and we will get you to work.

Say No to Buchans Point (map) Development: Say no to this eyesore on our seashore. Download this letter (30K Word doc), to Planning minister Paul Lucas. Add your bit, sign and send it. Contact your local member also and ask them to help stop this inappropriate development. Get MP details via this List of Queensland MPs.