In June news, our EOFY appeal, Global Wind Day, Snow gums at risk, Koala kill report, Gippsland water pesticides study, Act on Climate garage sale and actions, Buses in the budget, Chain Reaction double magazine launch, Don't nuke the climate video, plus more!
This end of financial year we’re asking for your help to keep Friends of the Earth Melbourne active in our fight for a fair, just, and sustainable world. Your donation can help us protect the environment, grow communities, and drive meaningful change for years to come. Together, we can make a real difference for our planet for another 50 years! Please help us reach our target to raise $75,000 by the 30th June. Make a tax deductible donation here thanks!
You are invited to the Chain Reaction: Anti-Militarism & Nuclear Never Safe double magazine launch & exhibition 17 June in Brunswick, details & RSVP.
Watch the post-election Don’t nuke the Climate webinar on you tube.
Global Wind Day 15 June
This Global Wind Day of community action Sunday 15 June send a strong message about the opportunity and need for creating good jobs in wind energy – onshore and offshore. Join Yes2Renewables, Voices of the Valley and likeminded people at the Toora Wind Farm for a community photo to celebrate wind power and the massive opportunities for our region. Info & rego here.
Also, get involved and create a mini wind turbine using our resource pack and post a picture on social media. Grab your friends, family, or colleagues and make it a group activity! (tag @yes2renewables so we can see your post). Add your voice to the story and post one of our social media tiles and talk about why you support wind energy and jobs, or what you would like to see for Australia’s energy future (tag @yes2renewables)
Snow Gums at risk email the Premier
Snow Gums are the classic alpine tree of the Australian High Country. And they're now at risk.
Like many vegetation communities, they are being impacted by the effects of climate change. In 2019, the Environment and Planning Committee of the Legislative Council was tasked with investigating ecosystem decline in Victoria. The report of the committee found that, as expected, climate change is already driving ecosystem decline across Victoria with devastating consequences for flora and fauna. We now need the Victorian government to act on the recommendations of the Inquiry. As a starting point it should act to protect mountain forests. Please send an email to the Premier, Jacinta Allan and the environment minister Steve Dimopoulos urging them to take steps to protect the iconic Snow Gum forests, read more & email here.
FoE visits mass Koala shooting sites at Budj Bim & petition
On the 18th and 19th of May, Anthony Amis from SKAT (Friends of the Earth Melbourne's koala collective) visited Budj Bim National Park, the site of Victoria's largest mass koala shooting and probably the first ever conducted from helicopter. Budj Bim was reopened to visitors after the helicopter shooting had stopped. At least 14 km was walked on the first day, with another 10km walked on the second day. The area of the most shooting was located in the south west corner of the park and is quite difficult to access.
A larger bushfire in 2020, three times the size of the recent fire did not mean that helicopter shooting was employed. Why the change in five years? Have hundreds of koalas descended onto Budj Bim after recent bluegum plantation logging? Does this incident low set a 'low bar' ethical precedent where other land owners will also now embark on shooting of koalas and do so because they Victorian Government has now 'green-lighted' it. Read more.
Act on Climate Garage Sale fundraiser Sat 28 June
Act on Climate campaigns for climate justice with frontline communities, workers, and unions. The collective is building an alliance with grassroots groups towards climate resilience and local solutions with social justice at its core. Support us by coming and grabbing a bargain at our Garage Sale Fundraiser on Saturday 28 June 10am-4pm at Friends of the Earth HQ in Collingwood. More info & RSVP here. P.S. Please let us know if you have donations contact [email protected]
Climate Adaptation state budget 2025-2026 response
The Victorian Government’s budget for 2025-2026 is touted as focusing on cost of living and community safety, but without meaningful investment in climate adaptation, costs for Victorians (both economic and physical) will remain high. Although climate impacts are here now and Victorian communities are already battling escalating extreme weather such as bushfires, heatwaves, and floods, the state budget has almost completely ignored these climate risks. Read more.
Climate Resilience Mapping Whittlesea
Act on Climate facilitated a community resilience mapping session hosted by the Whittlesea Climate Action Network (WCAN) at the start of May. The session was invigorating, with many great actionable ideas coming up, and passion from those in the room to start working on them. Having appropriate and relevant climate resilience initiatives are key to keeping communities safe. Community resilience mapping helps communities to understand their unique challenges and strengths, and which climate impacts they’re most at risk from, so that they can implement appropriate solutions. It identifies the residents most at risk, where a community has strong climate resilience, and where the gaps are in its climate impact readiness. We're offering support to anyone who wants to facilitate the activity in their own community. Check out our Community Resilience Mapping Facilitation Guide, which you can use to guide the running of your own event! Read more & get involved.
Climate Resilience Inquiry report watch the launch video here.
Gippsland water pesticide detections 2017-2024
In February, Friends of the Earth sent a Freedom of Information request to Gippsland Water for information pertaining to pesticide detections in drinking water between 2017-2024 and PFAS detections at Gippsland Regional Organics facility at Dutson Downs. FoE received information back from Gippsland Water in early April 2025. The Dutson Downs information can be viewed here.
Pesticides can find their way into drinking water supplies mainly through runoff, accidents and spray drift. The FOI data reveals 111 pesticide detections over the 8 year period (~14 incidents per year). This information is generally not publicly provided because if pesticide levels don't exceed drinking water guidelines they do not have to be reported in annual drinking water quality reports by water authorities. Pesticides leaching offsite into waterways are generally not tested in Victoria with water authority data being the main source of determining what pesticides are being sprayed where and which are ending up in drinking water supplies. Read more.
Buses in the Vic Budget 2025 response
Media release: Tuesday 20 May 2025
Today’s Victorian State Budget headlined transport. For the first time, buses have got the recognition they deserve as the fast, affordable cost-of living solution for millions of Victorian families. But, the new bus announcements are only one step towards the transformation of the bus system the West needs to deliver real cost-of-living relief. Read more.
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