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About WANDO Conservation & Cultural Centre
This website is honoured to host the forthcoming Biodiversity Offsets: Problems and Consequences Conference on behalf of the Wando Conservation & Cultural Centre Inc, Narrabri’s dedicated environmental group since 2015.
“Wando” is the name of Cliff Wallace’s property at Maules Creek, which hosted the Leard Forest Blockade from 2013-2015. This was an attempt to oppose the destruction of the Leard Forest for coal mining.
Since the Maules Creek mine and Boggabri mine extension commenced, Wando Conservation and Cultural Centre has been a strong voice in favour of planning system integrity and honest science around the impacts of extractive industries in the Namoi Valley. Wando Conservation & Cultural Centre stands up for the Gomeroi Traditional Custodians, in their ongoing resistance against the destruction of their ancestral land.
CONFERENCE DETAILS:
This conference is organised by the Wando Conservation & Cultural Centre Inc, Narrabri and supported by the NSW Nature Conservation Council, taking place on Gomeroi Traditional Land and is for environmental governance professionals, academics, ecologists, scientists and conservationists about the problems and consequences with biodiversity offsetting.
Ten years after the destruction of the critically endangered Leard Forest woodland began we will deep-dive into the planning failures surrounding an endangered ecosystem.
The weekend will also include a film showing and a field trip. See the feature documentary “Black Hole” and spend a 1/2-day in the Leard Forest coal mining precinct.
Globally, and in Australia particularly, loss of biodiversity caused by human activities is resulting in high species extinction rates. Biodiversity offsetting is an attempt to address the loss of species and endangered habitats caused by development by compensating the loss, as a form of impact mitigation.
Public trust in the scientific and legal foundations of biodiversity offsetting is non-existent. A 2023 independent review of the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act recommended fundamental reform, finding that the Act is ‘not meeting its primary purpose of maintaining a healthy, productive and resilient environment, and is never likely to do so’.
Evidence suggests that monitoring of offsets is frequently absent or flawed, meaning that the success of the mitigation measures and their associated biodiversity outcomes, are compromised.
The Leard Forest is a cautionary example of the failings of biodiversity offsets.
WHERE:
Friday evening, 21st February 2025 and Saturday, 22nd February 2025 – The Crossing Theatre, 117 Tibbereena Street, NARRABRI NSW 2390
Sunday, 23rd February 2025, meet at The Crossing Theatre car park, Tag-Along tour ends at Leard Forest mine precinct Boggabri
WHEN:
Friday, 21st February 2025 7:30PM (Optional):
Screening of “BLACK HOLE FEATURE DOCUMENTARY”, a film by director and filmographer Dujon Pereira. It is ten years since they started felling Leard Forest to build coal mines: A film about the events surrounding the mining of Leard Forest, a critically endangered White-Box Woodland in north-west NSW. *Free entry
Saturday 22nd February 2025, 9:00AM-5:00PM
CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS “BIODIVERSITY OFFSETS: Problems and Consequences”
Sunday 23rd February 2025, 7:00AM-11:00AM (Optional):
Guided tour of Leard Forest Coal Mining Precinct. *Free to join, own car preferred tag-along road tour.
REGISTER:
[Click through to registration form or scan the QR code]
COST TO ATTEND:
$35 (employed persons) to attend the conference day at the Crossing Theatre on Saturday 22nd February 2025, 9:00AM-5:00PM.
Free to attend Black Hole Feature Documentary on Friday, 21st February 2025 7:30PM
Free to attend Tag-Along Leard Forest Coal Mining Precinct on Sunday, 23rd February 2025 7:00-11:00AM. *Own car required.
NARRABRI ACCOMMODATION:
There is a variety of accommodation in Narrabri, including motels, cabins, short-stay whole apartments and houses within walking distance from The Crossing Theatre and Narrabri Train Station.
Motel and cabin accommodation conveniently located includes:
Cabins – Big Sky Caravan Park, 11-35 Tibbereena Street, Narrabri NSW 2390 https://narrabribigsky.com.au/ Phone 02 6792 1294
Motel – Club Motor Inn, 115-117 Barwan Street, Narrabri 2390 Phone 02 8293 5799
HOW TO GET TO NARRABRI:
Narrabri is on the North Western NSW Countrylink train network. The train arrives from Sydney Central via the Hunter Valley at approximately 4:50PM daily and is a recommended transport option from Sydney or many stops between the Central Coast, ranges and Liverpool Plains.
Some may prefer to drive to Narrabri. If doing so, we suggest you give consideration to the following warning: If driving from Tamworth DO NOT take the Manilla Rd, (Rangari Rd) even though Google Maps will likely tell you to do so. This road has a tendency to be hazardous and may take considerably longer. It is also not clearly signposted and could be subject to water over the road in places. We suggest you take the Oxley Highway to Gunnedah and then join the Kamilaroi Highway heading north.
For more information about accommodation and transport visit Narrabri Region Visitor Information Centre: https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/country-nsw/moree-and-narrabri-area/narrabri/visitor-information-centres/narrabri-region-visitor-information-centre
MORE INFO:
If you would like to discuss the Biodiversity Offsets Conference, call Wando Conservation & Cultural Centre Conference Secretariat on 0494 183 525.
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