7 August 2026

This week we launched our plans to pull off Canberra's Biggest Nutbush on the 19th of September to call on the ACT Government to follow through on their promise of setting 🎵💃 Canberra City Limits! 🕺🎵 Find out more and register here to make this a fun, media-worthy and record breaking event!

A whole suite of public consultations are either closing or opening up this week too, from Urban Forest & Planning Legislation Amendments to the Draft Southern Gateway Planning and Design Framework. Head to our community news section for more information.

Later down the track, our AGM will be held on 26 November in the evening. We will release all relevant details over the next weeks and months.

In the meantime, we have a great Impact Hour coming up on Circular Fashion, more amazing walks in nature, a webinar on dingoes, and so much more!

Until next time,

The Conservation Council team.

As a non-profit, non-government organisation, the Conservation Council ACT Region relies on the donations of our generous supporters.

STAND UP FOR NATURE PROTECTION
AND CLIMATE ACTION BY GIVING TODAY

Impact Hour - Julie Boulton

Circular Fashion: What Fashion Teaches Us About Systems Change

Clothing is one of the clearest examples of how the system of production and consumption needs to change.

The dominant linear system of production and consumption of clothing has led to huge environmental and social impacts. How can we change this? Could fashion become instead the world's most compelling example of systems transformation?

Webinar: Understanding the Waragul (Dingo) - Evolution, Genetics, and Ecological Role

Few Canberran's would realise that only 40 minutes from the nation's capital, an apex predator roams the high country as it has for millenia - the Waragul (Ngunnawal for Dingo).

Yet, despite their long presence on our island continent, confusion still remains regarding the dingo’s evolutionary history, genetic makeup, and what actually constitutes a dingo versus a ‘wild dog’. The dingo’s role as an apex predator in Australian ecosystems is also contentious - debate continues over how to weigh their ecological value against the challenges they pose for land managers and livestock producers.

Canberra's Biggest Nutbush: Line up for our City Limits!

Ready to kick up some dust and pull out some moves for our bush capital? Join us for Canberra’s Biggest Nutbush where we’ll be lining up for our city limits!

More information and registration here.

We need 350+ people in attendance for this to be Canberra's Biggest Nutbush. Please invite your friends, family and community groups so we can make this a fun, media-worthy and history-making event!

Branching Out: Canberra Nature Walks

We invite the Canberra community, especially people with no, or very little, experience with our nature to engage with us to learn about and enjoy the beautiful nature spaces the ACT has on offer.

Upcoming walks:

5 Sep, 10 am: Lifeline Canberra - Nature Scrolling at the Arboretum STEP garden

Community News

Support ending native forest logging

Get your free yard sign: show your neighbours, local MP and election candidates that you care about protecting forests. You can show support for the Great Southern Forest or Ending Native Forest Logging – or both! Click links below to find out more about each campaign and order your sign today.

I support ending native forest logging

I support the Great Southern Forest

The Draft Southern Gateway Planning and Design Framework

Have your say! on the long-term plan for the Southern Gateway corridor, which extends from Parliament House to Farrer.

Draft National Recovery Plan for the Gang-Gang Cockatoo

Feedback is now invited on the draft National Recovery Plan for the Gang-Gang Cockatoo (Callocephalon fimbriatum) (Read more.)

Urban Forest and Planning Legislation Amendments (ACT) - CLOSES tonight!

including a draft Guide for Tree Removals on Design Grounds and Urban Forest (Approval Criteria) Have your say!

Consultation: Flat Rock Battery Energy Storage System

Flat Rock Battery Energy Storage System (or ‘BESS’), Uriarra (documents; summary and map)

2026 State and Territory Landcare Awards

Don't let great work go unrecognised!

It's time to celebrate the volunteers, coordinators, land managers, community groups and YOU quietly making a difference for our land, waterways and sustainable communities.

The ACT Landcare Awards are open! Read more and nominate until 31 July!

ACT Heritage Grants Program for 2026-27 now open for applications

Applications will be open for 6 weeks and will close on Friday 14 August at 5pm.

Owners, managers and community groups involved with places or objects protected under the Heritage Act 2004, including those on the ACT Heritage Register and Aboriginal heritage places and objects, are eligible to apply for a grant. Individuals and incorporated non-profit or private organisations are also eligible to apply for a grant. Visit the ACT Heritage Grants Program webpage for further information.

Website(s) of Interest

The government's own assessment identifies almost 300 native species and subspecies at high to extreme risk from H5 bird flu – and for some, that risk is extinction.

Why Climateflation Will Drive Food Prices More Than War

Our friends the mistletoes - A rticle on the critically important mistletoes by Stephen Murphy from Sustainable Biorich Landscapes.

Volunteer With Us

If you'd like to get involved with Conservation Council, whether that's helping out on our campaigns, researching and writing policy submissions or something else entirely, we would love to hear from you! You can find out more and get in touch here.

Sign a petition to protect nature and ensure a safe climate future

Give Australian wildlife a fighting chance against bird flu calling for a Wildlife Resilience Fund: an initial two-year, $200 million investment to strengthen vulnerable wildlife populations, repair critical habitat and ease the pressure from feral cats, foxes, rats and other invasive threats already pushing species to the edge.

Draft Plan Amendment 14 (DPA-14) - North Canberra green waste facility
The proposed permanent location for the green waste facility raises significant questions regarding environmental impacts, traffic, amenity, bushfire risk, odour, dust, noise, surrounding land uses, and long-term strategic planning for North Canberra.

Save our Western Edge! With Canberra’s urban boundary being set by the ACT Government in 2027, we have to tell our government now, before decisions are made, that we want our Western Edge protected — not developed — so it can continue to provide vital services to our community.

Upcoming events

August is Platypus Month

August is platypus month with dusk and dawn surveys all over town (organised by Upper Murrumbidgee Waterwatch). Find out more.

Webinar: 'The Future of Producer Responsibility'

12 August, 1-2pm

The Boomerang Alliance is thrilled that Helen Millicer from One Planet Consulting has offered to share insights from her latest report, ‘The Future of Producer Responsibility: International Solutions that will fix a broken system’. Everyone is welcome! Details & RSVP here

Data Centre Boom: we pay, they profit

12 August, 6pm

Co-hosted by GetUp and Friends of the Earth Big Tech is racing to build massive data centres across Australia, with 162 already operating and another 90 in the pipeline. They guzzle water and electricity, push up power bills, and are being fast-tracked through planning systems that lock out councils and residents. Read more and register.

Nature Artlabs

3 - 24 August, 9.30am–12.00pm

Making Art Journals with Sharon Peoples
Join Dr Sharon Peoples for an enjoyable introduction to bookbinding and discover how to create your own handmade art journals. Book.

5 - 6 September , 9.30am–4.00pm

Wattles in Watercolour
Celebrate one of Australia's most iconic native plants while learning techniques for painting foliage, flowers, colour transitions and botanical detail in watercolour. Book.

17 - 18 October, 9.30am–4.00pm

Orchids in Watercolour
Explore the elegance and complexity of orchids while developing confidence with colour mixing, transparency and botanical illustration techniques. Book.

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We acknowledge the Ngunnawal (Ngunawal), Ngambri and Ngarigo Peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we live and work, extending respect to all other First Nations people with connection to this region. We pay our respects to Elders past and present. We acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded and we benefit from stolen Country. We recognise the deep and continuing connection that First Nations Peoples have with land, sea, culture and community. We are striving to stand in allyship with First Nations communities for self-determination and environmental justice.

Conservation Council ACT Region

info@conservationcouncil.org.au

(02) 6229 3200