NESSiE New England Sustainability Strategy Executive

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Media Release
01.09.08

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Strong Interest in New England Sustainability Strategy

There has been a positive start for the development of the New England Sustainability Strategy with strong levels of interest being registered to be involved. More than fifty people and organisations registered their interest within 48 hours of the launch said Adam Blakester, Principal for the New England Sustainability Strategy Executive (NESSiE). What has been most impressive is the diversity of interest shown, continues Blakester. We have people from right across our Region as well as from national and international areas including community members, government and business too. This reflects a broad interest in our Regions sustainability and the strong alumni and friendship network of New Englandians. For some their interest is to simply want to be kept informed of our progress, though there are many who want to attend the Public Forum and some wanting to discuss joining the Consortium that is leading this initiative. The New England Sustainability Strategy is funded by NSW Minister Verity Firth for the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change. Armidale Dumaresq Council has agreed to extend the strategy to include the New England Strategic Alliance of Councils (NESAC) including Armidale Dumaresq, Guyra, Uralla and Walcha Councils and the New England Weeds Authority. A Sustainability Scorecard for the New England Region is being prepared for the Public Forum to be held at the New England Regional Art Museum (NERAM) on Monday September 22. Eight working groups have been formed for this purpose, each led by a Consortium member. Their brief is to work across the Armidale Dumaresq, Guyra, Uralla and Walcha council areas as well as look at sustainability from a specialist viewpoint being environmental, social, Indigenous, government, economic, youth, cultural and global perspectives on sustainability. Formal invitations to the Public Forum will be sent shortly, and our goal is for 101 attendees, says Blakester. We want as diverse a cross section of the community and stakeholders to be involved to truly reflect the whole of community objective for this New England Sustainability Strategy. The NESSiE consortium members are: Adam Blakester (ParadigmPlay); Ken McLeod (Creative Edge Facilitators); Tex Skuthorpe and Anne Morrill (Tuckandee Training); Michael O'Loughlin, Lindsay Teychenne, Lazlo Szabo (Evolveris), Dr Rebecca Spence (Peaceworks); Zoe Miller (Armidale Family Support Service); Peter Sniekers (NSW Dept of State and Regional Development); Maureen Chapman (Dept of Premier and Cabinet); Jackie Bowe (Southern New England Landcare Coordinating Committee) and Steve Widders (Armidale Dumeresq Council). To register your interest in attending the Public Forum, or find out more about the New England Sustainability Strategy, go to www.slex.com.au or contact Adam Blakester on adam@paradigmplay.net, 02 6775 2501 or 0419 808 900. Media Contact | Adam Blakester | 02 6775 2501 | 0419 808 900