Data centres, coal expansions and critical mineral extraction divide regional communities, particularly when governments don’t consult them. COP31 starts.
COP31: 9 – 20 November Türkiye
COP is the United Nations Climate Change Conference for decision makers. Last year over 1600 fossil fuel executives and lobbyists attended, turning the event into a fossil fuel expo. COP31 is the first COP where it is beyond doubt that the world will not meet the 1.5 degree target.
The Australian Government lost its bid to host COP31 with the Pacific nations but Chris Bowen, our Climate Change Minister, is the lead negotiator for the event in Türkiye.
Australia and Türkiye are expected to call on nations to aim for a 35% electrification by 2035 up from 23% today, rather than focus on phasing out fossil fuels. The big issue is how the electricity will be generated — renewables or fossil fuels — and will renewable energy targets have to be quickly scaled up and linked to phasing out fossil fuels. We watch and hope — not more COP-OUTS.
How do you broker UN climate talks when your own country is a big coal and gas exporter? Chris Bowen is about to find out (The Guardian)
Blue Mountains
First Action
The new Blue Mountains Knitting Nanna loop now have t-shirts and their first action was on Sunday 8 November — COP Awareness — a knit-in at Civic Square, Katoomba.
Twelve Nannas knitted up a storm and while Albo hid in the foliage, Nannas demanded that there be no COP-OUTS at COP31. Nannas handed out information on COP and listened to peoples’ worries about the climate.
“We need our government to listen to our neighbours and stop new coal and gas,” said Nanna Cathy.
Centennial Coal
Blue Mountains and Sydney Nannas were outside the Land & Environment Court on 26 October to protest about Centennial Coal’s mothballed Angus place mine’s lack of rehabilitation. See more information about this mine and the Big Coal product launch.
Blue Mountains Writers’ Festival
The theme of the Blue Mountains Writers’ Festival on 30 October – 1 November was “echoes and edges”. Many speakers talked about how to get active about climate, and the Atlas Network was mentioned several times.
Bob Brown delivered a very powerful Mick Dark Talk for the Future. One of his strongest messages was the lack of real government consultation with Traditional Custodians and environmentalists. The crowd gasped when he said that Murray Watt was the first Minister for the Environment that wouldn’t see him since the late 1960’s. “Get active” was his message. He was very happy to receive our 2027 Nanna action calendar.
Trish Doyle MP speech
After members of the Blue Mountains Knitting Nanna Loop visited their MP, Trish Doyle, she later made this speech in the Legislative Assembly.
The Hunter
Tuesday 10 November – Don’t let NSW Labor undo High Court win
11.00am to 12.00pm – outside NSW parliament. Nannas from the Hunter and Sydney will be at this rally calling on Chris Minns to scrap his bill allowing MACH Energy to expand their Mt Pleasant mine. Wendy Wales will be one of the speakers. Join us if you can. More information here.
Support the fight in the next chapter of this extraordinary legal battle.
Saturday 14 November – Paddle for the Planet
Newcastle, Horseshoe Beach 10am. Hunter Nannas are preparing to play a part in making this event by Rising Tide a big success. Two Nanna Care gazebos will be on the beach providing sunscreen and water, and minding belongings for paddlers. Bring a hat to wear, hats to give away, sunscreen, waterbottle, a chair and snacks to hand out.
NSW Police are taking Rising Tide to the Supreme Court over “serious safety concerns”. Facebook event
Data Centres
The Hunter Nannas have been contacting their MPs about their opposition to Data Centres and writing submissions against the one proposed for Kurri Kurri.
An EIS was lodged with the NSW Planning Department for the Kurri Kurri Data Centre and is open for public submissions until 11 November. One hundred submissions are needed for this project to go to the Independent Planning Commission.
Residents are concerned about power being used from the grid, 24/7 noise, increased traffic during construction, light pollution, water drawn from local supplies and increased emissions. These will impact both human and animal health in the area and beyond.
For more information or help writing a submission contact Radikkal – Residents Against Datacentres in Kurri Kurri and Loxford Facebook page.
Coffs Harbour
The Great Koala National Park (GKNP) has passed but some people on the mid north coast are not happy – they want it to be better. Forest protectors began their sixth week of vigils in Tuckers Nob State Forest on Monday 9 November.
Auntie Alison Buchanan – Gumbaynggirr Elder and Senior Lore Woman spoke about her culture and the effect of logging.
“It’s like ripping the pages out of our library books, 34 of our mammal totems extinct forever, all of them existed nowhere else in the world. Will our Dungirr koalas be next, something is very wrong in this country. Stop logging our Homelands Gumbaynggirr country.”
Always was, always will be, Gumbaynggirr sacred land.
Aunty Alison has not been consulted in determining the cultural values of any women’s land. She spoke to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) in Canberra about the inclusion of the sacred women’s Yildaan Track in Tuckers Nob.
Murray Watt has the power under federal Aboriginal heritage legislation to act to stop logging in Tuckers Nob. He has a constitutional and moral obligation to press the NSW government to permanently halt logging in an area of historic cultural significance for Gumbaynggirr women. The substantial work required for a Section 10 would then follow.
Here’s actions we can do: write to the Federal Greens –
- Three areas of plantation – Pine Creek, Tuckers and Gladstone need to be included in the GKNP to create a bridge for koala populations.
- NSW Forestry must stop logging these areas until discussions are held and consultations planned.
Illawarra
The Illawarra Nannas are working through the issues and preparing for the NSW election on 12 March 2027. A priority for them is to stop coal mining in the drinking water catchment.
A petition was tabled in the NSW Upper House in October asking the NSW Government to protect the Greater Sydney drinking water catchment. The petition objected to the use of offsets to allow swamp damage.
Peabody’s Metropolitan Colliery modification proposal underneath Woronora Reservoir will destroy the endangered Coastal Upland Swamps, if approved.
Lue near Mudgee
The Independent Planning Commission (IPC) is reassessing the proposal for Bowden’s massive open cut lead and silver mine at Lue near Mudgee. Nanna Steph from Central West Nannas spoke against the mine at the IPC hearing in Mudgee. Submissions have been extended to Wednesday 11 November!
Click here to read the helpful guide from the Mudgee Region Action Group
Watch hearings:
Day 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6YTIJPnHqs
Day 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koFNiL_4TZQ
Day 3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axW5GlW6064
International Mining and Resources Conference
Miners, investors and decision makers attended the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) in Sydney on 28 October. A third of the attendees were from overseas — 500 companies from 120 countries.
Premier Chris Minns said Australia has 21 of the 31 critical minerals and four of the five strategic minerals as well as significant deposits of rare earths – copper, silver, cobolt and scandium.
Seven critical mineral projects have started in the last four months, four more will start soon and 46 are in the planning process.
The Minns government has introduced a Critical Minerals Royalty Deferral Scheme — no royalties for five years — to cut miners costs.
Nannas want these projects to be situated on old mine sites wherever possible. Digging up more farmland, destroys groundwater and soil, making the area unproductive to grow food.
Pouches for Carers and Wildlife Hospitals
Wires have asked Knitting Nannas to knit pouches and sew pouch linings for young wombats, wallabies, kangaroos, bandicoots, gliders and possums brought into care. This is a good project for beginner knitters as it is in plain stitch only and because wildlife are not fussed about tension, mistakes and colours! Easy to do while watching videos or programs we recommend each week. Instructions for making pouches for joeys here.
National Climate Compensation Fund
Surf Coast Shire Council in Torquay, Victoria voted to back a National Climate Compensation Fund, funded by a levy on coal, oil and gas corporations. They are the 15th council in Australia to call for big polluters to pay their fair share of the rising costs of climate change.
To find out more about this national campaign RSVP for the Zoom link for Wednesday 11 November at 6pm.
Nannas are watching
Ages of Ice (ABC iview) 3 part series – From Antarctica to the Arctic, Ages of Ice is a high-stakes journey into the heart of our planet’s frozen wilderness, following researchers as they push the boundaries of exploration.
Making Life on Earth (ABC iview) – In 1976, David Attenborough embarked on the most ambitious television series he’d ever attempted. This is the hair-raising story of how the first wildlife blockbuster was born.
Nannas are reading
‘We’re making it worse’: Jacinda Ardern’s warning for Australian politicians (The Guardian)
A technique for getting academics to say it: The Fisher Method, The Atlas Network, The Mont Pelerin Society, and making of the free market in Aotearoa New Zealand 1976 to 2026.
Forthcoming Events