8/6/2019 NESSiE 26.8.08 Local Consortium to Lead NESAC Sustainability Strategy

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Office of the Mayor Richard TorbayArmidale Dumaresq Council Member for Northern

TablelandsSpeaker, NSW Legislative

Assembly

MEDIA RELEASE___________Tuesday, August 26, 2008Local consortium to lead NESAC sustainability strategyA consortium of local experts headed by consultant Adam Blakester has been selectedto draw up a sustainability plan for the New England Strategic Alliance of Councils,Armidale Dumaresq Mayor Cr Peter Ducat announced today.

He said the initiative, funded through a $24,500 grant from the State Government,would address social, economic and environmental issues in the four council areas. It

would be launched at a Community Forum during Armidales Sustainable Living Expo(SLEX) on Monday, September 22.

This funding means the process can begin on this important project and we want tosee the whole of the NESAC community involved in addressing sustainable practices ata local level, the Mayor said. It is the most critical issue facing our communitiestoday.

Member for Northern Tablelands Richard Torbay said the former Minister forEnvironment and Climate Change had allocated the funding following a meeting withSLEX organisers during the visit of State Cabinet to Armidale last year.

The current Minister Verity Firth has also given her whole hearted support to thisproject, he said. It is good to see local expertise will be engaged to lead the processwhich is so important to all our communities.

Mr Blakester said his group The New England Sustainability Strategy Executive(NESSiE ) was excited by the challenge. The consortium includes leading professionalsand organisations across a broad range of disciplines.

This will position the NESAC Region as a leader in sustainability and attract people,business and investment interested in this pursuit, he said. The leadership,creativity, collaboration and education required to address sustainability are alreadystrong qualities of our vibrant region

The first Hydro-Electric scheme in Australia was in the New England, and theUniversity of New England was Australia's first regional University. The sustainabilityof the region has strong foundations in our world class agri-business, engineeredwoodlands and land care, a wide range of green businesses and enviable naturalenvironment. These strengths fit well with new global markets in education,ecosystem management and carbon trading.

Mr Blakester said eight working groups had been formed to analyse sustainablesolutions from a local environmental, social, Indigenous, government, economic,culture and youth perspective and to identify how they match with global

8/6/2019 NESSiE 26.8.08 Local Consortium to Lead NESAC Sustainability Strategy

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Office of the Mayor Richard TorbayArmidale Dumaresq Council Member for Northern

TablelandsSpeaker, NSW Legislative

Assembly

opportunities and challenges.

Its about finding local solutions to local problems as part of engaging in wider globalstrategies, he explained.

For further information and to register an interest in attending the Public Forum orcontributing to the New England Sustainability Strategy go to www.slex.com.au orcontact Adam Blakester on adam@paradigmplay.net or 02 6775 2501.

Media Contacts |Cr Peter Ducat 6772 7255/0428 669 866Richard Torbay 6772 5552/0427 635 029

Adam Blakester | 02 6775 2501 | 0419 808 900

http://www.slex.com.au/mailto:adam@paradigmplay.netmailto:adam@paradigmplay.nethttp://www.slex.com.au/