New England Sustainability Strategy

25 November 2010

OPEN LETTER TO THE NEW ENGLAND COMMUNITY

This open letter is to seek support and participation from the New England Community
for an historic event that will contribute significantly to the future strength, success and
well being of our Region.

On Monday 6 December, at Armidale Town Hall, interested community members,

organisations, groups and authorities are invited to work together in completing the New
England Sustainability Strategy (NESS).

Sustainability is one of the most pressing challenges and significant opportunities today.

At a recent workshop a wide range of stakeholders measured the sustainability of the

New England for the first time. Their conclusion was that right now we are some way off
being sustainable ~ with a view expressed by nearly everyone that overall our social,
environmental and economic capital is being degraded right now.

At the same time however the consensus was also that the sustainability of the New
England Region has 'marginally improved' in the last two years. This is a promising
conclusion.

For the New England the emerging priorities include: clean and affordable energy;
regeneration of our biodiversity; the need to diversify and create new employment and
enterprise; community health and cultural diversity; opportunities for youth; and better
harnessing the potential of our unique strengths, assets and identity.

The Public Forum on 6 December marks the completion of two years of work involving
more than 1,000 people through forums, workshops, meetings, surveys and discussions.

The purpose and vision for this work is for the New England to become a sustainable
region by the year 2108. This is an ambitious and achievable pursuit, though this massive
collective effort is significant, perhaps even globally unique. In terms of participation
alone it is possible we a nearing a tipping point, about to move to a new level.

www.ness.wikidot.com NESS is an initiative of

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 New England Sustainability Strategy

A broad focus is being taken on the priorities for the whole region ~ including business,
community, all levels of government, urban and rural, towns and villages. So too, the view
of sustainability ~ including social, environmental, economic, global, local and more.

In recognition of this pioneering and valuable work the New England Sustainability
Strategy was awarded 2010 Community Organisation of the Year by the Armidale &
District Business Chamber and the NSW Environmental Trust has described the scale of
community involvement as “amazing”!

Thank you very much for your consideration of this invitation and request.

When: Monday 6 December, 8.30am for 9am start to 5pm

Where: Armidale Town Hall, Rusden Street, Armidale
Food: Lunch, morning & afternoon tea (advise of dietary requirements)
Cost: $30 to cover costs (exemptions available on request)
RSVP: Close of Business, Wednesday 1 December 2010

Adam F Blakester
Convenor, New England Sustainability Strategy Executive (NESSiE)
adam@starfishenterprises.org http://www.starfishenterprises.net
m 61 (0)419 808 900 | t 61 (0)2 6775 2501 | skype adam.f.blakester

www.ness.wikidot.com NESS is an initiative of

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