NATIONAL INTENTIONAL COMMUNITIES CONFERENCE
At our last meeting it was agreed that Pan Com would host the next Intentional Communities Gathering. Dharmananda community near The Channon has agreed to host the gathering of 70-80 people from all over Australia.
The Conference will be a 5 day residential and will take place from 2pm Friday 25th September till 4pm Wednesday 30th September 1998. These dates are in school holidays for most states. The conference will be camped beside Terania Creek with all essentials provided on site. The committee will endeavour to keep costs to a minimum to ensure access.
It is proposed that the Conference be for a maximum of 80 participants, who will all have experience in communal living or be strongly committed to exploring this way of living. The committee would like people attending the gathering to commit themselves to the full 5 days as there wont be the opportunity for people to come on a day basis.
We have formed an interim committee Maggie Ritchie, Simon Clough, Jennie Ireland (Dharmananda) and Saskia Kouenburg (PV). We Would like more help for the committee both in terms of membership and also commitment
to
hrlp with delegated tasks before during and after the gathering The committee would like to suggest "PASSING ON THE TORCH" - Intentional Communities and the Next Generation - as the theme for this Conference. We would particularly like to involve young people in the gathering and its orgnisation. The publicity will specifically appeal to young people.
Another advantage of the dates proposed is that the weekend before will be "Visions of Nimbin" an alternative exhibition featuring many aspects of sustainable living and the weekend after will be the "Lismore Folk Festival".
VISIT the CONFERENCE Web Site via Pan Com's Homepage
at
http://www.nor.com.au/users/pancom
VISIONS OF NIMBIN
This year's "Visions" will be on the 19th & 20th September at the old school site (congratulations to Nimbin for its amazing fund raising efforts in acquiring this tremendous community resource). The "Visions" committee is looking for support from Pan Com about information and pictures of communities and particularly "how to" information on owner building and also stories and material that express the culture of "sustainable" community.
For further information about Pan Com ring Simon Clough on 66886 217 or email simonclo@nor.com.au
MO POLICY REINSTATED
Craig Knowles Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning reintroduced State Environmental Plannig Policy 15 on the 9 April. In reintroducing the policy he was fulfilling the Labor Party's promise of 3 years ago! The SEPP has been renamed with the title "Rural Landsharing Communities". The change of name was suggested by Pan Com to more accurately reflect the nature of the policy and is one of the few changes to the policy.
Janelle Saffin Lismore based ALP member of the Upper House said in her press release that, "the new SEPP ensures planning certainty for existing rural land sharing communities and enables the on going provision of alternative low-cost accommodation and rural lifestyle options. " Janelle has been along term Supporter of the policy as has Richard Jones MLC. Pan Com has received strong and constant support from Green Upper House member Ian Cohen. Ian to his great credit successfully introduced a motion In the Upper House that the SEPP- 15 be reinstated',
Pan Com's greatest praise must go to Peter Hamilton who has been absolutely relentless In his efforts to get SEPP reintroduced. Peter's bureaucratic, lobbying, strategic skills and of course his attention to detail is legendary. Peter has been ably supported by Diana Roberts, Graham Irvine, Simon Clough and many more.
For Pan Com the real excitement in our victory is that young people wanting to establish new communities call now have a go anywhere in NSW, with local council approval of course.
Byron Shire is the only Council area excluded from SEPP 15. This is because it already has a Rural Landsharing Communities Policy. The Byron policy is currently reviewed and a draft will go on exhibition 9th May. In the draft amendment it is proposed that Rural Landsharing Communities be restricted to small pockets of the Shire as well as requiring a $4,500 bond to ensure the planting of 900 trees for each dwelling.
Free copies of the new SEPP 15, the guidelines and circular 1311 (the official notice to Councils) are available from the Department of Urban Affairs and Planning on 02 939 122 22.
