Welcome to CAFNEC, the Cairns and Far North Environment Centre– the peak regional environment group for Far North Queensland. This website is packed full of information and resources – if you are a new user of this site the menu bar above provides links to the different areas of the site.

Our mission as an organisation is to ensure the unique and special natural heritage of Far North Queensland is protected – if you would like to help us we would love to have you as a member. Download our MEMBERSHIP FORM and help protect our special region.

Check the latest news, events and campaign news in ECOTONE, our quarterly members magazine.

BECOME A SEDIMENT BUSTER - Learn how you can take effective action in looking after our creeks, rivers and reef.

Public Workshop and meeting Dec 17
Civic Reception room, Spence St
17 December 2008 at 5.30pm - 8.30pm

Tired of seeing our rainforest creeks and waterways running red with soil that should have stayed on someone's construction site?

Listen to community members with years of experience and from Council Officers on what to look for, who you can talk to and how to take action that gets the problem solved.

Urge your councillor to support hillslope and habitat protection package before council

DOWNLOAD this letter and email, post or fax it to the your local councillor. Every letter counts. Call Cairns Regional Council on 4044 3044 to find out who your local councillor is.

Save Our Slopes and Whitfield Hill Community Action Group’s have handed Cairns Regional Council a report outlining 25 proposals dealing with around 60 areas of hillslope and vegetation rezoning, including the slopes of False Cape. All proposals deal with zonings within the Cairns Plan that are in conflict with it’s own Desired Environmental Outcomes and asks that these areas be designated ‘Conservation’. This would entitle private landowners to build a house and caretakers residence but prohibit allotments from being subdivided.

This years’ Local Government Elections saw several sitting councillors elected on a platform of hillslopes and habitat protection. Now is the time for this council to deliver on these promises. Action today will not only help preserve the nature and character of our region, but will also allow future decisions to be made without having to be defended through expensive legal action.
CAFNEC fully supports these proposals and urges all Councillors to support the package. It is now scheduled to go before Council in February, following a January 22nd meeting with all Councillors.

Write a letter and help keep FNQ2025 on track

DOWNLOAD this letter and email, post or fax it to the minister of Infrustructure and Planning. Email: DeputyPremier@ministerial.qld.gov.au Fax: 07 3224 4781

The official submission period for the FNQ2025 Regional Plan may be over, but that doesn't mean we let this government forget that the our community wants real protection for the remaining habitat, biodiversity and landscapes of this most special region. Statutory protection of wildlife corridors and important habitat is absolutely essential to the ongoing survival of our wildlife. This level of protection was not given in the Draft FNQ2025 Plan and must be included in the final document.
The Cassowary is fast disappearing, and will be followed by many other species if its habitat continues to be lost to urban development. This state government is failing to ensure they have sufficient space to survive and thrive, and they are running out of time.

SAVE THE WALSH RIVER - NO NULLINGA DAM

DOWNLOAD the campaign action kit and help protect the Walsh river from being needlessly dammed.

False Cape - Site Shut Down due to financier collapse and Federal Government stop work order

Work on the development site has halted after key financial backers (MFS) ran into trouble and seem to have lost the confidence of contractors.  Proponents of the false cape development, Reef Cove Resort, have also had a one year moratorium on further works imposed following investigation over alleged failure to adequately control soil erosion and sediment run-off into the Great barrier Reef lagoon. Cairns Regional Council has since undertaken works to stabilise the site before the Wet Season.

Take Action Today!

Take Action to help Save False Cape

Send a letter to the Federal Environment Minister and ask him to reject the application for False Cape Stage Two. Download, edit and send...Easy: DOWNLOAD HERE (Word doc).

...and...

Write to the Premier and ask her to immediately intervene and stop the False Cape development.

The Premier
Hon. Anna Bligh
PO Box 15185
City East
Queensland 4002

Main Points about the Reef Cove development Proposal

Visit the www.falsecape.org.au for more information. Or, call us and we can go over any details.
If you would like to get involved in the campaign, please call us on 4032 1746 and we will get you to work.

Say No to Buchans Point (map) Development: Say no to this eyesore on our seashore. Download this letter (30K Word doc), to Planning minister Paul Lucas. Add your bit, sign and send it. Contact your local member also and ask them to help stop this inappropriate development. Get MP details via this List of Queensland MPs.