Noelene Lucas, Toni Warburton & Juliet Fowler Smith outside Kandos Projects
Toni Warburton
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
BYLONG VALLEY
In March 2012 plans began for WRVAP to visit the Bylong Valley, and planned a picnic on 19 May to meet local environmental activists and supporters to discuss strategies for creative resistance to unsustainable development.
LINKS:
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Award for No Tillegra Dam Group
Congratulations to the Nature Conservation Council and to the No Tillegra Dam Group:
MEDIA RELEASE – 29th October 2011
No Tillegra Dam Group
Most outstanding Environment Group 2011
“The No Tillegra Dam Group (NTDG) was presented with the Nature Conservation Council’s (NCC) Most Outstanding Environment Group award at the NCC Annual Conference on Saturday 29th October 2011.
The award is presented annually to a Member Group of NCC which has demonstrated outstanding commitment and success in the conservation of the NSW Environment.
Carol Pasenow Chair NTDG, said it was a delight to accept this award on behalf of the members of NTDG. For a small grass roots community group to achieve the outcome which we did is testimony to the hard work and determination shown by our group. The historic decision around the Tillegra Dam proposal and the determination that NO dam shall be built in the Hunter is evidence of the detrimental effects a dam would have on not just the Williams River but the whole of the Hunter’s river network.
This award should also be shared with member groups of the Save the Williams River Coalition; The Wilderness Society, Hunter Environment Centre, Total Environment Centre, and National Parks Association, as well as Dr John Kaye, and the Greens, who contributed enormously to our campaign. We must also thank the Hunter community whose environmental awareness and support was paramount to our campaign.
Ms Pasenow says “NTDG is now addressing the future of the Dungog community which has suffered through four years of indecision. We welcome the O’Farrell government’s commitment of no dam in the Tillegra valley and no desalination plant for the Hunter.
NTDG requests that the Premier now follow through and direct the Department of Planning to commence a ‘Whole of Government’ strategy to sell all Hunter Water owned land in the Williams River Valley. By instigating a proper land use plan we can promote a sound socio-economic future for our community. A future that ensures the preservation of the natural beauty, rural aspect, the social and natural heritage of the valley and it’s unique environment.
NTDG will work towards promoting sustainable water planning which encourages community and independent consultation.
For more information contact Carol Pasenow 0427 607 491
Chairperson: past & present of No Tillegra Dam Group
Warwick Thomas, Carol Pasenow and Sally Corbett, Don White NCC Chairperson.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Riparian Rites - open till 16 October
Riparian Rites is the latest exhibition of the Williams River Valley Artists' Project. It includes the work of artists Suzanne Bartos, Neil Berecry Brown, Ruby Davies, Noelene Lucas, Margaret Roberts, Toni Warburton, David Watson and Juliet Fowler Smith, made in response to the proposal to construct the Tillegra Dam, to the disruption that proposal has brought to the valley and to hope for a better future now that the proposal has finally been withdrawn.
above: Toni Warburton
above: Ruby Davies
above: Neil Berecry Brown
above: Noelene Lucas
above: floor: Margaret Roberts; right wall: David Watson
above: Juliet Fowler Smith
above: Suzanne Bartos
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Riparian Rites: Official Opening Saturday 17 September 3pm
The Williams River Valley Artists’ Project began in 2009 out of a conversation between artists about the then proposed Tillegra Dam in the Williams River Valley, in Dungog and the Upper Hunter in NSW. The Williams River originates in the World Heritage listed Barrington Tops and is one of the few healthy rivers left in NSW. The proposal is now defunct, but the dam would have flooded 4000 hectares, destroying the valley’s unique heritage, community and prime agricultural land.
Over the past two years a series of artists' residencies were held in the valley, resulting in exhibitions in Muswellbrook Regional Art Centre, Tocal Agricultural College and the Tin Sheds Gallery at the University of Sydney. These shows responded to the context and changing situation in the valley.
This latest show, Riparian Rites, brings together sensitive responses to the experience of the impact of the proposal and the disruption to the valley along with hope for a better future. It includes the work of artists Suzanne Bartos, Neil Berecry Brown, Ruby Davies, Noelene Lucas, Margaret Roberts, Toni Warburton, David Watson and Juliet Fowler Smith.
While this latest show is a time of celebration over the reversal of the decision to build the dam, it is also a time for reassessment and recovery. The valley has been devastated by the impact of the dam proposal, the community fragmented and the land fallen into a state of neglect and disrepair. There is on going disquiet about what the future holds.
What the Dungog shire has had to struggle with has implications for how we deal with water policies on the wider scale.
Monday, August 15, 2011
RIPARIAN RITES - Opening soon
The Williams River Valley Artists project arrives at Maitland Regional Art Gallery from the 27th August to 16th October with the official opening on Saturday 17th September 3pm.
While this latest show is a time of celebration it is also a time for reassessment and recovery. The valley has been devastated by the impact of the dam proposal, the community fragmented and the land has fallen into a state of neglect and disrepair over the years of uncertainty.
Issues of water usage and the community impact of such policy decisions which the Dungog shire has had to struggle with still need to be thought about and grappled with on a wider scale.
Watch this space as things continue to unfold.
This show brings together sensitive responses to the experience of the impact of the proposal and the disruption to the valley along with hope for a better future.
Artists participating at MRAG are Suzanne Bartos, Neil Berecry Brown, Ruby Davies, Noelene Lucas, Margaret Roberts, Toni Warburton, David Watson and Juliet Fowler Smith.
The Williams River Valley, photo by Noelene Lucas
Monday, March 7, 2011
Paddling the Grid
Yesterday WVRAP artists explored the Hexham Swamp, the health of which is dependent on the health of the Williams River. Photo, Paddling the Grid, by David Watson.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)