Charges dropped for Rising Tide blockaders, Nannas meet at Sydney Rally, decision on native forests, Wallerawang Power Station site, knitted galahs and more.
Hunter Nannas
Charges Dropped
Hunter Nannas were outside Newcastle court on 7 August for the hearing of charges against the remaining 125 people arrested during the 2024 Rising Tide blockade of Newcastle Harbour. They were thrilled to learn that the NSW Police had dropped all 250 remaining charges against the arrestees.
Protesters on kayaks and other small craft were arrested after entering the shipping channel in Newcastle Harbour on 24 November 2024.
The defendants faced two charges —
- seriously disrupting or obstructing a major facility with a maximum penalty of two years in prison, a $22,000 fine or both
- operating a vessel in a way that interfered with other people’s use of the water with a maximum fine of $5,500.
Climate Defenders Australia said police should have withdrawn these charges earlier.
Police drop remaining charges over 2024 Rising Tide harbour blockade (newy)
Australia, world leader in arresting climate protestors, drops 130 charges (MichaelWestMedia)
Save Link Road Forest
Hunter Nannas have been working on a local campaign to stop the development of the Link Road Forest, the last patch of forest close to Newcastle. Link Road Forest provides irreplaceable ecological, social, and wellbeing benefits to the surrounding Newcastle suburbs. The privately owned land, held by Eden Estates, is the subject of long-running development plans that could see large areas cleared for housing development if rezoning is approved. The proposal would fundamentally change one of the region’s last significant remaining native forests — replacing wildlife habitat and green space with urban expansion.
Raise your Voice Against Coal Expansions Rally
Nannas from the Hunter, Central Coast, Gloucester, Illawarra and Sydney gathered with many other activists in Martin Place on 8 August to raise our voices against the Minns government’s plans to allow the coal industry to expand.
Great Koala National Park
There has been intense discussion and debate about a carbon offset scheme, the Improved Native Forest Management method (INFM), which the Minns government has made a condition of the declaration of the Great Koala National Park (GKNP).
There are two schools of thought in forest protection groups about the scheme and whether it should be accepted —
1. Accept the carbon credits mechanism as proposed in the Improved Native Forest Management (INFM) method. Advocates for this believe the likely alternative would be worse – a scheme devised by the Nationals and the industry.
2. Reject the INFM method because the carbon credit system will mean big polluters will be able to continue to pollute, rather than cut emissions and contribute to climate action. The NSW government has said credits from GKNP won’t be sold to fossil fuel companies, but the scheme will apply to all public native forests.
The scheme has federal government approval, but the Nationals have moved a disallowance motion, which will be voted on in the Senate on Tuesday 18 August. To be passed, the motion needs the support of the Greens.
Flock of knitted galahs
This flock of knitted galahs began with community workshops in Kandos to create the set design for the Fast Cars play at Bathurst in 2022/3. The flock has since flown to Kandos Projects for Pink Up and Warwick Art Gallery in 2024 with new galahs added each time. The next murmuration will be exhibited at Charles Sturt University (CSU), Bathurst Campus Library Gallery in April 2027 for Not on My Watch.
This project involves members of the Creative Practice Circle — an academic artist group at CSU — selecting a threatened ecosystem, plant or animal to feature in an artwork. Nanna Leanne’s last contribution was a knitted replica of all the regent honeyeaters released into the Capertee Valley. The critically endangered birds were bred at Dubbo Taronga Zoo.
It is a little cheeky to call galahs a threatened species, but with bird flu andif the mines keep getting their way, then all birds, including galahs, will become endangered.
In previous iterations of the galah project, knitters have sent pieces to Leanne, and she has put them together. Pink and greys of any shade are OK.
For a galah pattern and more information about Leanne, go to her Songlark Studio website and contact her through Facebook or Instagram or contact us.
Wallerawang Power Station site near Lithgow
Blue Mountains Nannas are following what is being proposed for the disused Wallerawang Power Station. It was decommissioned 12 years ago, then sold to Shell Energy and resold to Greenspot, a real estate investor/developer focused on disused fossil fuel industry sites with the potential to be repurposed.
Shell Energy have leased back rights to build an approved 500MW/1,000MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), which will connect to the adjacent 330kV TransGrid Wallerawang Substation.
Greenspot’s current application in NSW Planning is to change the site zoning to allow a mix of housing, light and heavy industrial and open space/recreation. Submissions are due by 25 August 2026.
While there are arguments about the types of industry that are preferred, and the mix of housing — affordable, low income and sustainable builds — this current proposal only affects general zonings in which all industries are permitted, except for waste to energy.
Of great concern is that data centres are allowed, even though there are questions about water access and other impacts. Lithgow needs jobs and houses, and according to the mayor, this is the most promising project in decades.
When the government decommissioned the power station, there were no regulations in place for future use. The NSW government needs regulations covering what happens to decommissioned mining sites. Priority should be given to renewables and alternative sources of power generation, green industry and eco housing.
This site is right next to the Gardens of Stone!
Lismore Nannas
Even Lismore is cold. Nannas have had to wear their scarves — each colour represents a change in the earth’s temperature. It’s getting into the red zone!
Drake
The antimony mine at Drake is progressing with a $500,000 grant for test wells. It’s employing young locals. Antimony is mixed into alloys and used in lead storage batteries, solder, sheet and pipe metal, motor bearings, castings, semiconductors, and pewter. Antimony oxide is added to textiles, plastics, rubber, adhesives, pigments and paper to prevent them from catching fire. It is also used in paints, ceramics, ammunition and fireworks, and as enamels for plastics, metal and glass. Antimony compounds also have medical uses.
Antimony Opportunities in NSW map
Antimony and compounds — (Australian Government)
Forestry requested to do a nocturnal wildlife survey on Nanna Felicity’s property at Drake. Though she was pleased to have the drone survey done and to have the presence of koalas confirmed, she is curious about Forestry’s motive.
Northern Rivers
CSIRO have been commissioned to do a flood mitigation plan for the Northern Rivers region. They have come up with a plan that involves creating eight ‘detention basins’. This is causing a great deal of concern among locals.
Toowomba Nannas
Toowoomba Nannas have been knitting outside their state MP, Trevor Watts’s, North Toowoomba office for 14 weeks. The chilly conditions and bracing wind are not cooling the Nannas’ resolve to protect the best farmland, surface and groundwater from the ravages of coal and coal seam gas. They have earned their free coffee from the local café and, after filling in the ABC Have your Say form, they have an ABC Radio interview lined up.