The deadline for public comment on the Draft FNQ 2025 Regional Plan is on the 8th August. Get your submissions in by this date if you want to have your say on this important peice of policy.

Concerns for agriculture in the region include a 60 ha minimum for new sub divisions outside the urban footprint and rural living area, which may impact on emerging small scale farming and horticultural industries. Also, little provision has been made for urban agriculture orcommunity gardens.

For more information on the Draft plan visit http://www.dip.qld.gov.au/regional-planning/far-north-queensland.html

or for a pro forma submission on conservation sector concerns go to... www.cafnec.org.au

Cairns and Far North Environment Centre invites you to a seminar on

Sustainability Indicators:
taking sustainability from theory to practice

Sponsored by the Wet Tropics Management Authority, Blue print for the Bush and RRRC.

With many planning policies and strategies claiming Sustainability as a core objective, how to measure progress towards this goal becomes a vitally important question.  This seminar will include both speakers and an afternoon workshop, which will seek to create a set of aspirations and recommendations for the application of sustainability indicators within the FNQ region.

Keynote Speaker and Workshop Facilitator ~
Jade Herriman,
Institute for Sustainable Futures, UTS

With case studies from our guests ~
CSIRO, Terrain NRM, and
Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

Thursday 28th August 2008

Australian Tropical Forest Institute (Building E2)
James Cook University, Cairns Campus

Registration:  10.30am for a 10.40am start
Break:  12.45pm
Workshop / Forum:  1.30pm
Close:  3.00pm

Free entry  ~  please RSVP or make a booking for catering purposes
Contact Sarah at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or at 07-4032 1746

The Koah Clean Harvest Food Bowl-  a community supported agriculture project- is being launched on Thursday 7th August 2008. The initiative is an attempt to support locally grown, quality, fresh, organic and biodynamic fruit, vegetables and produce for local people.

Would you like to:

1. Be a supporter
2. Know the people who grow your food (free of chemical residues & genetic pollution)
3. Be involved in growing a more self reliant community?

Venue: Koah Commuity hall, 292 Koah Rd, Koah

Arrive at 5.30 pm for a 6pm start.

 Guest speaker: Community supported agriculture pioneer, scientist, author, consultant, market gradener and biodynamic farmer, Hugh Lovel.

Donations very much appreciated to cover guests expenses and venue hire. 

The draft Australian Standard for Organic and Biodynamic Products has been released and is available for public comment. Standards Australia released the draft for public comment on 21st July. Members of the public and interested parties are encouraged to review the documents and provide feedback by 22 September 2008. Standards Australia is working towards publishing the Australian Standard by December 2008.

To read the documents, visit the Standards Australia website at www.standards.org.au and click on Drafts for Public comment in the left hand menu. 

"Soil and Water for Every Farm" is a workshop on Keyline Design to be held for the first time ever in Far North Queensland from 1st-3rd December in Malanda. Presenter for the workshop is Darren Doherty.

Keyline principles and techniques are based on a holistic approach that works with natural patterns to restore and increase the depth and fertility of the soil, while increasing its water holding capabilities.  Don’t miss this rare opportunity to learn practical, hands-on Keyline Design with the world's most respected Keyline educator, Darren Doherty.

Further information: Please see the  Workshop Flyer . Any questions, just call Kym on 0407243298 or Georgie on 0437267323. Alternatively you can email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Permaculture Cairns is a non-profit community group. Our mission is to implement sustainable design systems throughout the Cairns community & the far north region, through education, communal design projects & the shared individual experience of Permaculture. 12 Month memberships are available on the day at $20 for a single adult and $30 for a family. All proceeds from Non-Members go towards funding Permaculture Cairns Inc.

Don't miss this unique opportunity to  learn from two of the best, internationally renowned teachers in the world, Geoff Lawton and Darren Doherty, teaching here in Far North Queensland from Monday 17th to Sunday 30th November 2006.

Permaculture offers an integrated approach to land use and community building, designing diverse and stable ecosystems for people to provide their own food, energy, shelter, and other needs. Permaculture design can be applied across any biosphere, on any property, in any landscape, and in any city.

This world-recognized, 72-hour curriculum course will empower participants with the skills and knowledge required to become a person capable of designing and developing sustainable systems anywhere in the world.

Futher information: Please see the flyer, or contact Kym Kruse, 0407 243 298, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .