17 February 2025

PANDANUS February 2025

Dear friends and supporters,

The CLP Government's attacks on environmental oversight and scrutiny have continued unabated since our last edition of Pandanus, with news that funding agreements with ECNT and the Arid Lands Environment Centre have been unilaterally terminated. The support we have received from the community in the wake of this announcement has been nothing short of incredible, and we are buoyed by the knowledge that however this Government attempts to defund and demonise environmental defenders, we remain stronger than ever with the support of our passionate community.

This news comes on top of the NT Government's plans to roll back a series of regulations designed to facilitate oversight and scrutiny of decision making, and plans to introduce authoritarian laws giving an unelected bureaucrat and the Chief Minister the power to exempt projects like fracking and cotton from environmental laws altogether. The Territory Coordinator Bill is being reviewed by the Legislative Scrutiny Committee, which has opened another round of consultations which will close at 5pm this Wednesday 19 February.

We know so many of you made submissions to the previous round of public consultation on the Territory Coordinator Bill, but it is essential that as many people as possible make submissions to the Scrutiny Committee as well. The NTG refused to make previous submissions public - but the Scrutiny Committee will. This is our chance to demonstrate just how much opposition exists to these dangerous laws.

Click here for details on how to make a submission.

In these difficult times, it's more important than ever that we band together to work out how our movement can remain strong in the face of unbridled attacks and disgraceful regulatory rollbacks. We hope to see you on February 27 at our public meeting at the ECNT Nightcliff Community Space to discuss the challenges we're facing and how we can respond. RSVP here.

In solidarity,

Bree Ahrens and Stephanie Griffin

ECNT Acting Co-Directors
http://www.ecnt.org.au

Help sustain our work - donate today.

Middle Arm campaign update

2025 is a critical year in our campaign to stop the Middle Arm gas hub - we believe that this is the year that we can stop this toxic project from going ahead, for the sake of our health, climate, and harbour.

To make this happen, we're going all out to amplify the campaign - we're back at markets across Darwin, leafleting in Palmerston, and have refurbished our campaign website. Did you catch our amazing ads in the NT News recently?

We're calling on the community to send a message to Luke Gosling MP to ask him to stand up for his constituents and call for a redirection of the massive Federal subsidy for the project. Will you send a message today, and share with your friends?

Adelaide River Off-Stream Water Storage (AROWS)

The Adelaide River Off-Stream Water Storage project (AROWS) has been referred to the regulator as part of the first stage of the assessment process, and is now open for public comment.

AROWS is a proposal to pump tens of millions of litres of water from the Adelaide river floodplain each year during wet season flows into a basin adjacent to Adelaide River, inundating 33km² of old growth forest near Marakai Road. We're deeply concerned about how this proposal would reduce water flow into seasonal floodplains, potentially destroying the seasonal floodplain ecosystems that support so many iconic territory species like barramundi, sawfish and migratory waterbirds.

The business case for AROWS shows that almost 50% of this water will be for the proposed Middle Arm gas hub, with the majority of the remaining water reserved for horticulture and a fraction for residential water use. We have major concerns with the strength of this approval process, fearing that it will not take into account the full breadth of potential impacts on the terrestrial and aquatic environments of the Adelaide River catchment and downstream coastal ecosystems. We will be making a submission to the regulator, asking for more stringent assessment of likely impacts, and you can too on the NTG website.

Nature campaign update

Because of the Northern Territory’s weak nature laws, our savanna is being bulldozed for thirsty crops like cotton. This is devastating for endangered species like the Gouldian finch and purple-crowned fairywren, and it threatens the health of our wetlands, rivers and aquifers.

Right now, 18 land clearing applications are being assessed by the NT’s Pastoral Land Board. All up these applications amount to more than 40,000ha of native vegetation, which represents habitat and important food sources for endangered species. If you haven’t already, send a message to Chief Minister Finocchiaro asking her to introduce NT nature laws and to Stop Bulldozing Country.

In late December, the Finocchiaro government announced they’d be scrapping the Large Emitters Policy, which specifies that a Greenhouse Gas Abatement Plan is needed if a single land clearing action (or multiple land clearing actions on a property over time) would result in emissions of 500 000 tCO2-e or above.

Without this policy, vast swathes of native vegetation can be cleared without consideration of the emissions generated, without evidence to show that efforts were made to avoid the emissions, and without an offset plan.

Despite the NT government pledging a 43% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, the NT’s emissions have risen since 2005. To meet our emissions targets, including the legislated net zero target by 2050, we should not be axing policies that regulate emission raising activities (like land clearing), we should instead be making rapid and immediate cuts in all sectors. Our window to turn back the tide of climate change is small, and the time to act is now.

Freshwater campaign update

On 31 January, ECNT's Kirsty Howey and Mangarrayi women Cecilia Lake and Jocelyn James attended the inaugural Water Justice Day in Canberra (Jocelyn and Cecilia are pictured at left with Murrawarri artist Dobby). Hosted by the Water Justice Hub and Just Water Alliance, this world-first event saw global leaders, researchers, and communities gather to discuss critical water justice issues.

The event included a premiere of EveryOne, EveryWhere, EveryWhen, a film by Professor Quentin Grafton and Professor Anne Poelina. This short film documents the past, present, and future of three living rivers - Baaka (Lower Darling River), NSW; Roper, NT; and Martuwarra (Fitzroy River), WA. It also features Cecilia and Jocelyn advocating for protection of the Roper. You can view the trailer by clicking on the image to the right.

Following the film, Kirsty, Cecilia and Jocelyn participated in a panel discussion on advancing water justice initiatives. The calls of First Nations people demanding water justice are growing stronger, and we continue to support these communities as they fight for Country and water.

Rural Update

Our monthly meetings in the rural area have been full of lively conversations and action planning these past months.

We meet at 6pm on the first Wednesday of the month at Noonamah Tavern, and have been discussing and writing submissions for the Territory Coordinator, the Adelaide River Off-site Water Storage (AROWS Dam) on Marrakai Road, and the Darwin Renewable Energy Hub on Finn Road, and the Middle Arm gas hub. We've also had several meetings with our rural politicians to ask questions and state our concerns. Another favourite topic to discuss is how to live sustainably on our rural blocks, weed management and gardening.

Our meetings are highly social and super friendly, and we always get pizza and wedges to share. Everyone is welcome to join us, including children. For more information, please contact the Rural Campaigner Pauline Cass on 0438686144.

Sustainable Living in the Top End – Join the Action!

COOLmob is rolling out fun, hands-on sustainability initiatives to help everyone in Darwin live comfortably while protecting our unique environment.

Sustainability in Schools

With support from the City of Darwin, COOLmob is delivering engaging, age-appropriate sustainability lessons for preschools to high schoolers. These sessions are designed to spark curiosity and action, helping students and schools integrate sustainability into daily life. Bookings are now open, and spots are filling fast.

Workplace Sustainability & Carbon Tracking

New resources are now available to support businesses in measuring, tracking, and reducing emissions. In March, free, small-group workshops will provide expert guidance on carbon accounting and sustainability strategies, helping workplaces take practical steps towards reducing their footprint.

Sustainable House Day – Cool Retreats for Renters

This April, Sustainable House Day will focus on cooling rental homes in the Top End. The event will feature live demonstrations on window tinting, AC efficiency, and cooking techniques to keep homes cool. Experts will also share tips on using indoor plants to naturally cool spaces and provide practical guidance on talking to property managers about energy efficiency upgrades. We will be adding to this agenda so head to our Facebook page so we can keep you updated.

To get in touch about any of these programs or events, contact Bridget Edmunds ([email protected])

Advocating for Cooler Homes in the NT

Beyond workshops and events, COOLmob continues to advocate for stronger energy efficiency standards in the Northern Territory. Raising the minimum energy efficiency rating to 7 stars for new homes and apartments will help ensure housing is fit for our unique climate—delivering lower running costs, improved comfort, and greater resilience. We’re also calling for minimum energy efficiency standards for rental properties, ensuring all renters have access to safe, liveable housing. Simple but effective measures like ceiling insulation, energy-efficient air conditioning, and proper shading can make a big difference in keeping homes cool and affordable to run.

Last year’s Thermal Comfort Forum at the Botanic Gardens brought together building designers, cultural leaders, and energy experts to explore climate-smart housing solutions for the Top End. In 2025, we’re continuing this work—pushing for practical, forward-thinking policies that make homes more comfortable, affordable, and sustainable for all Territorians.

Upcoming events

PUBLIC MEETING: Our environment and democracy is under attack. What are we going to do about it?

Please join ECNT campaigners for a public meeting to hear how ECNT and the broader NT environmental movement plans to remain strong against the swathe of regulatory rollbacks that have been proposed and rushed through by the Finocchiaro CLP Government. RSVP & more information.