Cumberland Plains Woodland has been listed as Critically Endangered Ecological Communities. It is believed that the basis for the Critically Endangered Listing was that CPW had been reduced in area by some 400 hectares. About 400 ha has been lost since CPW was first listed as endangered in 1997/98 and that amount lost has justified the next listing as critically endangered. Yet PM Howard gave Delfin permission to clear practically all the remaining 400 ha at the site in question. The Western Sydney Conservation Alliance is asking Garrett to reverse this terrible decision. Inside: Letter to Peter Garrett.

Over five years ago, against the overwhelming wishes and vigorous protests of local residents, Woolworths commenced construction of a supermarket in the heart of the rural Queensland town of Maleny. A dense and active network of platypus burrows was trashed in the process. In 2010, residents of rural New South Wales town of Mullumbimby are determined not to suffer a similar fate.

See also: "War on Woolworths escalates" by Digby Hildreth in the Northern Star of 16 Feb 10, "Mullumbimby acts to stop Woolies" on ABC Radio's The World Today of 15 Feb 10, "Supermarket battlefield" by Kate O'Neill in the Northern Star of 29 Sep 09. What you can do: Vote against Woolies in Northern Star online poll, Contact groups fighting against Woolworths, including Mullumbimby Forum at magicalmullum.com and the Mullumbimby Community Action Network at www.mullumaction.org and don't shop at Woolworths.

Both the NSW and Australian Government have upgraded Cumberland Plain Woodland from Endangered to Critically Endangered. You would assume any development that proposed to clear over 200 ha of critically endangered bushland would be struggling to get approval. We can assume nothing these days in Australia. Here is another focus where Australians need to unite to help each other get back democracy and protect fauna and flora from the growth lobby. The community has fought to save this area for nearly 20 years.See also related articles.

There was an outcry about the illegal and brutal attack on baby koala Doug, and his consequent death, yet loggers will be allowed to destroy the habitat of a colony of koalas in the state forest on the NSW South Coast. They need protection before they are legally wiped out, simply because their homes are for woodchip profits!

12:00pm, Tuesday 27th October 2009
Outside NSW Parliament, Macquarie Street, Sydney
Bring your signs. Bring your friends.
The Labor Government is once again doing deals with the Shooters Party. Labor has made an offer to allow hunting in 13 national parks in exchange for the support of the two Shooters Party MPs in the NSW Upper House to help pass government legislation.

A jam packed meeting with both sides represented. Why so much public money to gun lobbyists and private parties when wildlife carers get nothing? It should be emphatically noted that every member of the NSW govt refused to attend or be on the speakers panel.

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon is calling on the NSW government to halt tomorrow's auction of 1,200 mega litres of water from the Artesian Basin in Walgett that was saved through the Commonwealth and landowners' funded Cap and Pipe the Bores Program.

A public meeting will be held on Saturday to discuss Premier Nathan Rees' expanding privatisation agenda for NSW. The government's privatisation plans for NSW prisons, ferries, electricity and the sale of other public assets are on the agenda for the meeting.

When: 2pm, Sat 18 Apr. Where: Tom Mann Theatre, 136 Chalmers St, Surry Hills.

See also: All in the family of 9 Apr 09 on johnquiggin.com, Robertson ends jail privatisation ban of 9 Apr 09 in the SMH, articles about the threatened privatisation of NSW's electricity.

Urgent: Penrith Council set to vote tomorrow night to approve 2 new Delfin-lend-lease suburbs totalling 3420 dwellings at the former ADI Site, last big stand of Cumberland grasslands. Residents say public has no idea of what is in process and call on councillors to defer approval pending series of public meetings. Council planners urge councillors to approve plans despite residents' 16 year campaign to save this environmentally crucial sanctuary for wildlife and natural ammenity, not to mention safe CO2 store.

Kristina Keneally, NSW Planning Minister, sells out public land and the environment to Delfin Lend Lease. Now many gentle wild creatures will die the most abject deaths and 1000s of trees will give up their carbon to the atmosphere. How much more nature to be destroyed for narrow corporate interests in a dead-in-the-water economy for the grasping few? See also "Council bastardry..."

The Wilderness Society has reported that Brown Mountain (old growth forest in East Gippsland) is being logged right now for woodchips to be exported to Japan - the bulldozers moved in last week.

See also: NSW and Victorian Governments accused of having colluded to start controversial logging operations at exactly the same time in "Forest protests limited" in the Bega District News of 28 Oct 08.