In February news, support fire impacted Victorians, Snow Gum summit, Wombat forest work trip, koala hotspots, public transport symposium, wind farms, Longford gas plant PFAS legacy, stop burning Australia petition, rapid response network, anti-nuclear calendar & meetings, plus more!
Support Victorian fire impacted areas and communities in 2026
We want to extend our deep solidarity with those affected by the devastating fires that occurred across Victoria last week. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by these fires. We're collating resources from the ground and ideas on grassroots initiatives for people to support. Please add any missing in the comments so we can amplify local needs. Read more & show your support.
Sign online FoE’s Stop Burning Fossil Fuels, Stop Burning Australia petition here.
Support Australian Nuclear Free Alliance and get the ANFA calendar 2026 for $20 by emailing [email protected] and join an anti-nuclear, anti-colonial, anti-militarism road trip to desert country (SA) in July. We have a national nuclear free movement meeting in-person in Naarm penciled in for Saturday 21 February 2026. Email [email protected] or message @foenuclearfree on Instagram if you'd like more details. Also, zoom into Stop AUKUS nuclear subs evening of 11 Feb RSVP here.
The West Deserves the Best public symposium
Our work on Better Buses over the years has very clearly shown that transport justice is deeply intertwined with access to services, cost of living, safety, health, education, accessibility, gender justice, racial justice, climate and many other community priorities. We hope to bring together a range of diverse stakeholders to work together and tell this story, and demonstrate how better access to public transport improves outcomes across the board and elevates the wellbeing of communities. Read more & RSVP.
Sod turned on Victoria's first publicly owned wind farm
FoE organiser Wendy Farmer attended the official sod turning of the Delburn wind farm this month. Located in pine plantation in the Strzlecki Ranges, the project will be the first in the Latrobe Valley and the first publicly owned wind farm in Victoria after the SEC recently purchased 100% of the project. Read more.
Milestone moment for offshore wind jobs in Victoria
Victoria’s announcement it will kick off the first offshore wind auction in the country in August 2026 is a milestone moment for the state’s clean‑energy transition and a clear signal Victoria is serious about delivering the renewable‑energy future communities have been calling for.
Offshore wind is a once‑in‑a‑generation opportunity to replace ageing coal with clean, reliable power while creating thousands of good regional jobs. Victoria’s commitment to an initial 2 GW auction, supported by the emerging Electricity Services Entry Mechanism, provides the certainty industry needs to invest and the certainty communities need to plan for a fair and prosperous transition. Read more.
Practical solidarity in the Wombat forest
In 2026, FoE is continuing its collaboration with Dja Dja Wurrung traditional owners. We co-host monthly work trips to the ‘test site’ in the Wombat Forest where we carry out practical ecological restoration work (often removing gorse and blackberries). These trips are a good chance to show solidarity with Djaara and to learn more about their aspirations for the Wombat forest. The next worktrip is on Friday February 27. You can rsvp here. https://www.melbournefoe.org.au/djaara_worktrip_feb_2026
Snow gum summit 2026 Jindabyne
We are delighted to announce the program for the second snow gum summit, which will happen on Ngarigo country in the Snowy Mountains over the weekend of March 14 and 15. Speakers include Matt Brookhouse from ANU, Phil Zylstra from Curtain uni, a host of great speakers from the Fenner School at ANU, First Nations people and land managers. You can find the program and buy tickets here. There is also an option to watch the forum via zoom.
Join FoE’s rapid response network
We want to do our bit to help amplify community voices who want to see climate action and environmental protection. This means standing up and being vocal when angry voices are trying to dominate and drown out the debate. By being vocal we help create a space where others can confidently voice their own views. Our rapid response network is a simple way to add your voice to public debates in mainstream and social media at key moments. Our aim is to increase pro environment/ pro renewables/ energy transition messaging in local and regional media and social media platforms, primarily in Victoria. Increasing the presence of pro green voices can change the dynamic of regional conversations and create space for others to speak up and share their views. We share updates and encourage people to act via a Whatsapp community. Simply send your name, postcode and phone number to Cam via [email protected] to be added to the community. You can respond to posts as often or as little as you like and opt out at any moment. You can find out more here.
2020-2025 Strzelecki Koala Road Kill 'Hotspots'
Since 2020, residents of Gippsland have been sharing information via Friends of the Strzelecki Koala Facebook Group regarding locations of koala hit by vehicles. This information has also been added to Friends of the Earth's Strzelecki koala map. Anthony Amis has recently collated this information and has written this blog sharing this issue. It is likely that the roadkill statistics, gathered by the community, understates the enormity of the problem as not all koala incidents are likely to have been reported.
It is clear from the information that the 'centre' of the roadkill statistics are located near the South Gippsland township of Meeniyan. Not only have koalas been killed by vehicles in the main street of the town, but roads leading into the town have recorded higher numbers of koala deaths and injuries. It is also clear that the South Gippsland Highway between Leongatha, Koonwarra, Meeniyan and Stony Creek is a major koala road kill problem area with 30 koalas being killed along this stretch of highway between 2020-2025. Read more.
Longford gas plant and its toxic PFAS legacy
Longford Gas Plant located 15km south east of Sale in Gippsland, is the main receiving point for gas and oil pumped in from Bass Strait. Longford consists of three gas plants (GP1, GP2 and GP3) and one crude oil stabilisation plant. It has been operating (and polluting) since 1969.
Almost all of Victoria's gas requirements come from Longford. It also provides gas to Tasmania and New South Wales. It is extremely important to Australia and over 40 years has produced 54% of Australia's liquids and crude oil. Crude Oil and LPG Gas are also piped to Long Island Point (at Hastings on Westernport Bay) from Longford for further processing. Gas is also processed at Longford and distributed to Victoria's gas network. Read more.
Join the Food Co-op & Cafe
Listen back to 3CR Dirt Radio past episodes here.