Bob's Report

Matters discussed at the February meeting of LMCA

· Lake Macquarie City Council has invited LMCA to make a submission on their proposed Sustainability and Environmental Levy.

· LMCA president Richard Edmonds has written to the NSW Feed-in Tariff Workforce outlining our group’s support for a gross feed-in tariff as the most efficient way to encourage individual investment in photo voltaics and other forms of renewable energy

· The meeting decided to publish a monthly bulletin and distribute it by post as well as electronically.

· LMCA secretary Kate Hines is compiling a list of references for practical and low cost ways for households to reduce their carbon emissions. This will be posted on our website.

· The media release by Richard Denniss of The Australia Institute, Solar rebate scheme delivers benefits for emitters, not the Environment will be posted on our website and discussed at our March meeting. (See above: Another serious flaw in the Emissions Trading Scheme?)

· Membership fees, based on the calendar year, are now due. Some of our members have also overlooked 2008 fees. ($10 per year)

· Kate Hines will investigate the possibility of LMCA having a regular stall at monthly markets in the Lake Macquarie area. We have also received an invitation from the Morisset Community Festival to have a stall featuring an environmental theme at their fair in May.

· Richard Edmonds will write to the Johnson Property Group which is proposing a huge marine and tourist development at Trinity Point, asking them to estimate its potential carbon emissions, and outline the sustainability features to be incorporated into its construction.

· Richard also will write to Eraring Energy, which is engaging with community on Environmental Strategy, asking them to outline their plans for emissions reduction.

· Bob Phillips and Kate Hines have been assisting the Carey bay community pre-school to lodge an application for an Environmental Education Grant with the Lake Macquarie City Council. The application was submitted on 24 February.

· Ted Howells has, on behalf of LMCA, made a formal request, via Sonia Hornery MP, for a meeting of potential stakeholders to further our lobbying for a government grant for our Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle project. The meeting endorsed TED’s draft letter, which will be sent over our president’s signature.

· DVD’s produced by The Australian Conservation Foundation for its Climate Project Connector Campaign have been given to Bob and Kate for screening with interested people.

Bob Phillips 7th February