“A Sustainable Energy Future for Australia” From the Is the massive expansion of Mt Piper coal fired President power station really needed? Our Friday night meetings are a At our monthly meeting at the Conservation Hut on Friday 28 great opportunity to get together with members and have an enjoyable and May, Dr Mark Diesendorf will discuss the technologies and policies informative experience. Our next that could provide a 100% ecologically sustainable energy system meeting, featuring scientist Mark for Australia, based on the efficient use of renewable energy. In Diesendorf, is a fabulous opportunity doing so, he will bust some of the common myths that vested to address the ‘baseload power’ interests are disseminating to try to keep renewable energy as a myth. set of fringe technologies. These are the arguments used to In the absence of a Monthly justify the massive expansion of the coal fired Mt Piper Meetings Convenor, some of the power station near Lithgow. members of the management Mark will also argue that the principal hope for getting real committee have taken on the task of action on climate change, instead of the current ineffective token arranging the meetings for the next gestures, is to mobilise the community. few months. Dr Diesendorf is Deputy Director of the Institute of Members would know that there Environmental Studies at UNSW. Previously he was Professor of has been a lot of discussion over the Environmental Science at UTS. He is co-editor of “Human Ecology years as to the best time, location Human Economy: Ideas for an ecologically sustainable future” and format of our meetings (held on the last Friday of each month at the (1997) and author of “Greenhouse Solutions with Sustainable Conservation Hut, Wentworth Falls.) Energy” (2007) and “Climate Action: A campaign manual for Ongoing discussions led the greenhouse solutions” (2009). Communications sub-committee to Blue Mountains Conservation Society Monthly Meeting consider why we have these 7.30 pm, Friday 28 May 2010 meetings, and if these meetings are The Conservation Hut, far western end of achieving their purpose. Fletcher Street, Wentworth Falls Among other things, the meetings Visitors are very welcome. aim to: increase knowledge of the environment by listening to a speaker or watching a film, update members Sartor puts National Parks tourism on the agenda again on the work of the Society, provide an opportunity for members to get Our national parks have been Parks and Wildlife Act in May. involved in that work, and to hear kept free from being over-run from Already we have learnt that the NSW concerns from members about tourist resorts and other commercial Government wants to overhaul the paraphernalia by a concerted leasing provisions in national parks environmental issues in the Blue campaign from NSW conservation legislation to make it easier to permit Mountains. groups over the last two years. new buildings and facilities in I am aware that the various BMCS is playing an active role in this national parks. monthly meetings held at the campaign by recently engaging ‘Tourism’ is going to be added as Conservation Hut have often met the experienced campaigner and former a purpose of national park purposes discussed above. NPA CEO, Andrew Cox, to assist. management and one of the However, I also believe that we could When BMCS met with functions of the National Parks and increase the opportunities for Environment Minister, Frank Sartor, Wildlife Service. Surely conservation members to get involved in the in March he said that he was about is the job of NPWS and tourism is the activities of the Society. to complete draft legislation to job of Tourism NSW! We are considering ideas at the implement the recommendations of One alarming proposal for the moment and would love to hear what the Tourism and National Parks Task Blue Mountains that emerged in an you think. Please let me know! Force that called for more tourism internal NPWS tourism planning developments in national parks. This document (NPWS Draft Tourism Tara Cameron means that after no action for more Strategy Dec 2009) was a Govetts Email: domtara@bigpondcom than a year, the Government is now Leap Sunset Restaurant. Expect Mobile: 0419 824 974. moving ahead. some fireworks soon if the BMCS expects to see this draft Environment Minister doesn’t back legislation to amend the National down. Andrew Cox. Hut News, No. 270, May 2010— Page 1. “Hut News”, the newsletter of Blue Mountains Conservation Society Inc. Nursery News P.O. Box 29, Wentworth Falls, 2782 Blackheath Community Markets: Phone 4757 1872 nd Email: [email protected] We will make our first appearance at the above markets on Sunday 2 May Web page: www.bluemountains.org.au with mostly Upper Mountains plants to tempt you, including some opening President:: Tara Cameron specials. The markets are held in the grounds of the Blackheath Primary School. 4751 1130 [email protected] Look for us under the new Society marquee featuring a roof adorned with the Senior Vice President: Liz van Reyswoud Society logo and which we first put into use on Sunday 18th April at the Lawson 4757.2694, 0418206899 Magpie Markets (see photo). The latter markets are held every 3rd Sunday of the [email protected] month and the former every 1st Sunday of the month but we will suspend our Second Vice President:: John Haydon 0403 797 585 participation during the colder months of June and July only to reappear with a [email protected] burst of new plants in August. Treasurer: Bart Beech (h)4739 9947 (f)9688 1440 (w)9896 9512 Council Plant Vouchers: [email protected] Almost 2 500 of these vouchers have been redeemed at our nurseries and Administration Officer: Rob Baigent 4759 3104 [email protected] Council officers have expressed great satisfaction with the enthusiastic public CC/Sustainability Officer: Lis Bastion response to the Carbon Offsets scheme, so much so that it is planned again for 4787 7533 [email protected] next year. The Society strongly supports the scheme not only for the Environmental Education Officer: environmental benefits but also for the publicity it brings for the nursery and the Chris Yates 4784 3407 Society. [email protected] Lithgow Regional Subcommittee Coordinator: Waratahs and Mountain Devils: Chris Jonkers 6355 1179 [email protected] Our state floral emblem, the popular Waratah (Telopea speciosissima) is Meetings Secretary: Michael Maack currently adorned with its long pods and we are anticipating collecting large 4751 3623 [email protected] numbers of brown, winged seeds when they ripen. Experience has shown that Membership Secretary: Lachlan Garland seeds over a year old are rarely viable and we need to collect fresh specimens 4757 1929 [email protected] each year. The nursery volunteers are planning a bush-walk/collection day soon. Monthly Meeting Convenor: VACANT Using our special technique for winged seeds, germination is usually rapid (2-3 National Parks Officer: Brian Marshall 4784.1148, [email protected] weeks) and gives near 100% yields. We will have hundreds for sale by the end of Plant Nursery Manager: Kevin Bell the year. ph/fax 4787.6436 [email protected] This favourable season has seen the appearance of hordes of little, green, Publicity Officer: Peter Green 4751 9474 [email protected] horned creatures in the bush. I’m referring to the fruits of Lambertia formosa, Website Officer: David Bowskill 4757 3416 commonly called the Mountain Devil because of their similarity to the head of [email protected] that perceived mythical creature. When the fruits ripen they turn brown and on Bushcare/Threatened Species Officer: drying release two, flat, round, black seeds, which also germinate easily in high Clive Heywood Barker 0413 577 160 yield. These will also be for sale by the end of the year. [email protected] Project Officer-Gardens of Stone: Both these fascinating plants should be included in any Mountains garden so Karen McLaughlin 6355 2835 come and see us then. [email protected] Bushfire Representative: Hugh Paterson Kevin Bell, Nursery Manager. 4751.2303, mob 0427 512 303 [email protected] Walks Convenor: Maurice Kerkham 4739 4942 [email protected] Landuse Officer: Ann Cantwell 4751 3215, [email protected] Newsletter Editor: Christine Davies 4787 7246 [email protected] HUT NEWS EDITORIALS The deadline for the next issue of Hut News is Saturday 22 May 2010 MEMBERSHIP ENQUIRIES Lachlan Garland 4757 1929 [email protected] PO Box 29, Wentworth Falls 2782 BUSHCARE GROUP The Valley of the Waters Bushcare Group meets second Saturday of each month, 9am till noon. Tools and gloves are available. Bring a drink, a snack and a hat. New members are always welcome. Phone Karen on 4757 1929. Hut News, No. 270, May 2010— Page 2. Carbon trading delay will The p2p2020 project - Renewable power to people come at a price We have learnt about an exciting plan to get 100% renewable Ben Cubby, Environment Editor, energy by 2020, funded by Australians. At this stage, Sydney Morning Herald, Weekend subscribers just show support by registering for email Edition, May 1-2, 2010 updates on the website. Nothing more than that! Cows will continue to graze in a The aim is to gather 20,000 subscribers prior to an paddock north of Port Fairy in anticipated public launch. If the group can gather 2 million + Victoria for the next few years – just Australians behind the vision of 100% renewable electricity one of the consequences of the for Australia by 2020, they will then move to Step 2 - the postponement of the federal government’s carbon trading economic and business proof.