Sydney Food Fairness Alliance

Undermining our food bowls – how CSG & mining are threatening future food: FORUM 6 FEB 2012

VivienneR — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 06:12:56 +0000

Visiting voices from the frontline, plus health expert

Hear about the fight against mining and coal seam gas from leading activists in the prime agricultural region of the Liverpool Plains, as well as from Doctors for the Environment. Learn what you can do to support farmers in 2012 – Australian Year of the Farmer.

The debate about mining and coal seam gas on prime agricultural land in NSW is heating up, at a time when food security is becoming an increasing global concern. More than half of NSW is covered by titles for coal, mineral or CSG exploration or production but the question of what this means for food production is yet to be answered.

The absence of real commitment to identifying, protecting and preserving agricultural land has led to continued uncertainty for farmers. It also undermines our ability to control quality, price and availability in an increasingly resource-scarce and climate-change affected environment.

Cost of $15/$10 (SFFA members & concessions) includes a glass of NSW organic wine and finger food and helps cover costs for this event.

Presentations include:

Utter Madness – 7 minute video that gives a great visual presentation of the landscape in the contested Liverpool Plains (Caroona)
Tim Duddy – Spokesperson, Caroona Coal Action Group (CCAG)
Rosemary Nankivell — CSG Committee Chairperson, CCAG, organiser of recent successful blockade against Santos
Helen Redmond – Doctors for the Environment

WHEN: Monday, 6 February. Arrive 6pm for refreshments and a 6.30pm start. Presentations and Q&A conclude 8pm.
WHERE: Sydney Mechanics School of Arts, 280 Pitt St, Sydney (near Town Hall station)
COST: $15 / $10 members & concessions includes refreshments
RSVP for catering purposes to info[at]sydneyfoodfairness.org.au or phone 0410 145 473.

The forum will be preceded by SFFA AGM from 5pm, which all are welcome to attend.

Photograph: Jeremy Buckingham

DOWNLOAD... Flyer Undermining Our Food Bowls (pdf 540KB)

THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS:

National Food Plan – our submission & next steps announced

VivienneR — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 07:56:41 +0000

We would like to see the National Food Plan Working Group expanded to be more representative of a broad range of stakeholders. We also recommend that the Working Group adopt a similar approach to that taken by the Scottish government and many cities such as Toronto, Vancouver and London in developing their food policies, which have been strengthened through encouraging public debate which gathers and disseminates information simultaneously.

DOWNLOAD… SFFA response to National Food Plan August 2011

DOWNLOAD… SFFA submission on the Department of Agriculture’s website

Despite previously not committing to further public consultation, the Federal Government has since announced further rounds of stakeholder consultation in line with our recommendations.

Can’t eat your house – development threatens food bowl: Video Clips

AlexandraG — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 04:55:47 +0000

In October the Sydney Food Fairness held a public forum as part of the Crave Sydney International Food Festival. The event brought together experts in the area including NSW Farmers Association President Fiona Simson, rural planning consultant Ian Sinclair, WSROC President Alison McLaren and Urban Research Centre Director Phillip O’Neill.

Video footage and downloadable speaker presentations from the event are shown below.
WATCH…

WSROC President Alison McLaren (11.06 minutes)

NSW Farmers Association President Fiona Simson (13.52 minutes)

Urban Research Centre Director Phillip O’Neill. (14 minutes)

Rural planning consultant Ian Sinclair (13.13 minutes)

Can’t eat your house – development threatens food bowl: Presentations.

VivienneR — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 00:33:05 +0000

DOWNLOAD… Ian Sinclair’s presentation (464KB)

DOWNLOAD… Media Release

DOWNLOAD… Daily Telegraph article

DOWNLOAD… CSG mining puts food at risk – AAP

DOWNLOAD… Current petroleum rights Western Sydney October 2011 (811KB)

LISTEN… Listen to Liz Millen and Fiona Simson on The Alan Jones Show

Victorian Food Supply Scenario Report

AlexandraG — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 06:30:52 +0000

The Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab (VEIL) was recently comissioned by VicHealth to undertake some research into the impacts on the availability of a nutritious diet. VIEL collaborated with the CSIRO, Deakin University and the Victorian Department of Planning and Community Development for the project.

The purpose of the project was to develop and demonstrate a new methodology to link land and resource use with availability of a nutritionally adequate food supply for Victoria’s population. The final report builds on the CSIRO’s stocks and flows model which is used as a platform for the on-going “what-if” investigation of Victorian and Australian food supply security.

DOWNLOAD… the VEIL Food Supply Report from their website as a pdf file.