Eco online: environmental news, features and opinion from the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
Environmental news from Eco online, Sunshine Coast and Queensland environmental news, with indepth sections including interviews, sustainable business, eco adventures, green living and wildlife
EIS draws record response With the EIS submission period over, the proposed Traveston Dam has moved squarely into the national conservation arena. Despite being labelled as "far from pristine" by ex-Premier Peter Beattie or " a NIMBY issue" by current Premier Anna Bligh, environmentalists nationally have recognised there is much to be lost … [Read more...]
As a follow up to our story in the last edition of ECO, teacher and permaculturalist Leonie Shanahan asks students from four local schools their thoughts on permaculture. Leonie says: "Besides lots of fun, exercise & fresh air, the students learn the life skill of growing their own organic food and experience many new fresh nutritious foods. … [Read more...]
Our Wildlife Volunteers Association (WILVOS) has recently been fortunate enough to have Dr Anne Fowler (Vet) (Hons), MACVS (Avian Health), from Australian Wildlife Education in Sydney present a weekend workshop. It was an honour to have someone of Anne's calibre visit Nambour, with over 70 attendees on each of the two days, from as far away as … [Read more...]
In the job just six months, Andrew McNamara, Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation, is enthusiastic about wrestling what he calls the "crouching tiger of climate change". "I live in great luxury, in a magnificent Queenslander high on Point Vernon," says the Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation. … [Read more...]
The resounding victory by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council's new Mayor, Bob Abbot indicated a strong mood for change, which was also reflected in the vote for councillors. This gives the Mayor not just a mandate but also the clear numbers on council to make the changes and implement his policies. There is now a high community expectation … [Read more...]
In the next edition of ECO we will revisit a topic of growing importance - climate change and its companion, peak oil. The potential impacts for rapidly growing regions such as the Sunshine Coast, should not be under estimated. That's why we will present the topic again and discuss not only the consequences of not listening to expert advice, but … [Read more...]
The argument for sustainable urban development is about more than housing design and density, says energy expert Alan Pears. Ann White reports. The question of housing affordability is a furphy, says Alan Pears, a consultant and academic at the forefront of the energy debate in Australia. "We've got a seriously misguided debate going on at … [Read more...]
Sustainable housing is often promoted in the mainstream market as an easy fix; add a bunch of systems on to a building that offsets the power and water usage, throw in some ‘family friendly' features and you get the Big ‘S' badge. Only a handful of companies in the mass market are genuinely promoting responsible material choices and … [Read more...]
The Glasshouses, the impressive collection of peaks jutting up from the coastal plain west of the Pumicestone Passage, have plenty to offer if you're after an outdoor experience. Something mild - a relaxing bushwalk perhaps - or something a bit extreme, like rock climbing. (view google map) They were named by James Cook (just a lieutenant at the … [Read more...]
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