Once a month, Nannas from around NSW gather online to talk about local and state issues. Some are members of a Nanna group, others are not.
We discuss actions — what works, what doesn’t and share knowledge and resources. If you would like to join us contact us to receive the Zoom link.
Senate Forestry Decision
The motion in the Senate on the National Party’s disallowance motion on the Improved National Forest Management Method (INFM) utilising carbon credits for native forests was brought forward after a majority of Green senators made a deal with Labor.
According to the Greens, “There will now be a mechanism in federal law that will significantly reduce logging, federally enforce a ban on coal and gas using these offsets, and ensure protections against native forests being reclassified as plantations, which would have been a loophole to avoid climate action.”
Whether or not groups and individuals agree with this decision by most of the Greens senators with some independent senators, what’s important now is that we continue the campaign for:
- the implementation of the Great Koala National Park, as promised
- the creation of the Great Southern Forest
- an immediate stop to the logging of Tuckers Knob/Pine Creek
- native forest logging to end.
There will be rallies in Sydney, Canberra, Coffs Harbour and Hobart on 7 October — see ‘Events’ below for details.
Illawarra
Illawarra Knitting Nannas Against Gas (IKNAG) joined Wollongong Against War and Nukes (WAWAN) and other groups at a rally outside the AUKUS public hearing on Wednesday 12 August. To the tune of the Yellow Submarine, they sang new lyrics by Nanna Margi.
On Sunday 23 August, IKNAG held its inaugural Community Sing-along Circle with Nannas, roadies and friends in a Nannas’ home. The event was such a success that they will be holding the next one at a larger venue! All welcome.
Both Centennial Coal and Dendrobium are planning extensions to their mines, so Nannas are on alert.
Coffs Harbour
Forestry Corporation is continuing its destruction of Pine Creek Forest. Nanna Chris, with the help of Lismore Knitting Nannas, followed a logging truck to a biomass-fired power station at Broardwater Sugar Mill on the Richmond River in northern NSW. Logs are chipped to produce electricity!!!
Hunter
Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) mine has refused to consider a shorter mine life in response to questions from the NSW Independent Planning Commission, insisting it must have a full 19-year extension. New public submissions relating to the new material closed on Wednesday 9 September. The Commission’s decision is expected on 30 September 2026.
HVO coalmine application reveals state of inconsistencies (IEEFA)
Rising Tide’s Paddle for the Planet is on November 14 at Horseshoe Beach in Newcastle from 10am to 3pm. This is a one-day, family-friendly flotilla event at the world’s largest coal port. Facebook event
‘Taking the Channel’ is a new documentary film being shown in Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane. It includes footage and stories from different people at the biggest, boldest, most disruptive People’s Blockade yet. Powerful storytellers include a law-abiding grandmother finding courage to fight for future generations. Rising Tide Events
Lismore
Lismore Nannas have joined a local campaign opposing ten mega detention dams as proposed for the Richmond River catchment in a CSIRO report, which will impact the Lismore area down to Woodburn and Ballina.
Big Lismore turnout for CSIRO’s mega-dams proposal (Echo)
Albury Wodonga
At their weekly knitting sessions in Albury, Nannas talk to passers-by about how to access the government’s interest-free loans and subsidies for installation of renewable energy in homes. They have also let ANZ Wodonga know they should not fund fracking the outback.
NSW Election
For Knitting Nannas, government elections are not about supporting a candidate or a party, it’s about trying to find out where candidates stand on various issues and then publicising it, so the public know who they should vote for.
With the state election on 13 March next year, it is a good time to book an appointment with your local MP because after the Christmas break, they will be busy campaigning. Candidate registrations close 24 February and candidate forums are good places to learn about candidates.
Sydney Knitting Nannas are pushing candidates on the promises the government hasn’t kept so far: Action on Climate Change and meeting legislated emissions’ targets (more approvals of fossil fuel projects is not consistent with this commitment), finalising the Great Koala National Park, reining in land clearing on private land, saving the rivers of the Murray Darling Basin, reinstating real protections for Sydney’s drinking water.
Events
Sydney Nannas regularly post EVENTS on their event website.
18-20 September — Pilliga Ultra
A weekend of running, community and celebration.
End logging Now — No Social Licence Rallies
A three-day Australian Forestry Symposium is being held at the Rex Hotel in Canberra opening on Wednesday 7 October. As the forestry industry gathers to talk up its ‘social licence’, communities across the east coast will be rallying to demonstrate there is no social licence to log our native forests and destroy habitat, bulldoze our life support systems while biodiversity keeps declining.
Nannas are invited to Forestry HQ offices and the symposium venue for coordinated actions across NSW, the ACT, and Tasmania:
8am, Wednesday 7 October
- Sydney — West Pennant Hills, outside Forestry Corporation HQ, Cumberland, Forest Way on the road (with a possible walk down to the office)
- Canberra — action at Forestry Symposium (Rex Hotel grass on 150 Northbourne Avenue, Canberra City, ACT)
- Coffs Harbour — action outside Forestry HQ (30 Park Avenue, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450)
- Hobart — action outside the symposium venue TBC
23-25 October — Create on Country
Calling all artists to Maules Creek
Next Meeting
Monday 5 October 5:30pm