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Monday 9:30am - 4pm Tuesday 9:30am - 4pm Wednesday 9:30am - 4pm Thursday 9:30am - 4pm

Cairns and Far North Environment Centre

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Cairns and Far North Environment Centre

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The peak environmental organisation for Far North Queensland.

30/10/2026

What do this plate of food and saltmarshes have in common? Can you spot the connection?

Samphire!

Those little green bits in the salad are actually samphire, a type of plant commonly found in saltmarsh habitats. It adds a delicious, salty crunch to your dish (like a salty cucumber), but has a greater role than just being a tasty snack.

In nature, samphire provides shelter for small fish and crabs that come in with the tide. It also helps improve water quality by trapping sediments from runoff and plays a role in carbon storage.

So next time you see some samphire on the menu, remember the big role it has in our local saltmarshes!

29/10/2026

Yesterday we met with Wujal Wujal Elders and community members here in Cairns to share the draft report we’ve been developing from the stories, experiences and priorities shared during our climate yarns a few months ago in Wujal Wujal.

It was wonderful to come together again, reconnect and reflect on what we’ve heard so far, particularly the priorities the community has identified as crucial to their recovery and long-term resilience.

We also welcomed some new faces, bringing fresh perspectives and valuable insights to the conversation.

With this feedback and new input, we’ll continue refining the report before presenting it to Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council in a few weeks.
Although we weren’t meeting on Country this time, we were grateful for the opportunity to cross paths in the big city and keep these important yarns going.
We’re incredibly grateful to the Elders and community members who continue to trust us with their stories, experiences and aspirations for the future. These aren’t always easy conversations to have, but they are so important for building meaningful recovery and resilience from the ground up, guided by the voices, knowledge and priorities of the people who call Wujal Wujal home.

29/10/2026

Paul Matthews and Monique Jeffs from the Tree Action Group (TAG) met with Mayor Amy Eden and Cairns Regional Council officers to discuss reforms to the Vegetation Management Code. We were grateful for her commitment to meeting with us. We found agreement on needing to strengthen the laws that govern tree removals and have been assured there is work happening behind the scenes on the Vegetation Management Code. We have asked to be connected with the Council officers working on these reforms to be able to assist.

The TAG Save Our Shade campaign group will be continuing to push for a Tree Retention First policy in Development Approvals, a valuation method to be applied to trees, proactive public mapping of vegetation and significant trees through a Significant Tree Register or similar. We’re also looking forward to meeting with other Cairns Regional Councillors to discuss the issue and get their feedback on our proposed reforms.

28/10/2026

Diatreme has demonstrated that the Northern Silica Project is economically viable, but we haven't yet heard if this project is viable when it comes to potential environmental, cultural and social impacts.

27/10/2026

On the 24th of October CAFNEC team members Monique and Lucy joined the Mitchell River Watershed Management Group Inc. for their AGM and annual water forum. It was an excellent opportunity to spend time with stakeholders from across the Catchment discussing the pressing topics affecting the catchment.

27/10/2026

Premier David Crisafulli has promised to add 1.8 million hectares of new protected areas by 2028. Yet, two years in, only around 259,000 hectares have been added, thats just 14% of the target.

Queensland currently protects just 9% of its land, despite being home to more than 1,000 threatened species. In comparison, Tasmania protects around 40% of its land and Western Australia around 30%.

That’s why CAFNEC is bringing the Protect Beautiful Queensland campaign to Far North Queensland!

We’re working to identify priority areas across our region that deserve greater protection and build community support for safeguarding the incredible landscapes, ecosystems and wildlife that make Far North Queensland so special.

💚 Whether you’d like to support the campaign, stay informed about our progress, or join our volunteer team for a year of exciting activities, community engagement and opportunities to make a difference, we’d love to have you involved!

Click the linktree in our profile to get involved!

📷: Landscape photos -

26/10/2026

Picture this: A gazebo, camping chairs, an eski full of zooper doopers...and a side of climate activism !

As our Cairns Communities for Climate Compensation campaign heats up, we're hitting the streets (or rather, the park) to chat with locals about who they think should foot the bill for cleaning up the climate mess .

14 councils have already joined the party and passed a Polluter Pays Motion... can Cairns be next? We need your help to make it happen!

No experience necessary, our community campaigner will be there to guide you through it.

RSVP with link on our Bio/Linktree

So, who's in? 🤗

Date: Saturday 31st October
Time: 9 AM - 12 PM
Location: Goomboora Park.

Need a ride? Just ask!

26/10/2026

Peaceful protest has been core to change making across history. Join Rising Tide for the Gimuy / Cairns screening of the new short film 'Taking the Channel': the extraordinary tale of the biggest, boldest, most disruptive People’s Blockade yet.

To RSVP please head to our Linktree, located on the CAFNEC Facebook profile.

23/10/2026

🔥 BIG TALK ONE FIRE FESTIVAL is TOMORROW! 🔥
Gimuy / Cairns, UMI Arts are bringing the community together for an incredible afternoon and evening celebrating First Nations art, culture, dance, music, food and creativity! ❤️💛🖤

📍 Munro Martin Park, Gimuy / Cairns
📅 This Saturday, 24 October
⏰ 3pm–9pm
🎟️ FREE ENTRY | FAMILY FRIENDLY | EVERYONE WELCOME!
Bring your family, invite your friends and come celebrate the incredible diversity, creativity and strength of First Nations culture with us. There’s something for everyone! ❤️

✨ LIVE ENTERTAINMENT featuring Boigu Island Dancers, Kawanji Dancers, Mayi Wunba, Sand & Sea Dance, Jaban Dancers – Wanjuru, Yidi Dancers, Saibai Island Dance Team and Kawadji Wiimpa from Lockhart River & Qld Regional Artist of the Year Djawarray with Koahlition.
🛍️ FIRST NATIONS ARTISAN MARKET featuring an amazing range of art, handmade creations, jewellery, gifts and more from talented local artists and businesses.
🍔 FOOD & DRINKS with Blaq Pearl Indigenous Catering, Dairy Whip, Big Lemon, Lume Dirty Sodas and more!
🎨 ART WORKSHOPS & KIDS ACTIVITIES including weaving, painting, shell necklace making, island rhythms, creative workshops, face painting, balloon fun and plenty of opportunities to get involved!

22/10/2026

🌿 A year of action for Far North Queensland’s environment.

CAFNEC’s Annual Report 2026 is here! Explore the highlights and the community behind our work.

Read the report via the link on our profile, or by visiting our website.

Address

27-29 Greenslopes Street
Cairns, QLD
4870

Opening Hours

Monday	9:30am - 4pm
Tuesday	9:30am - 4pm
Wednesday	9:30am - 4pm
Thursday	9:30am - 4pm

Telephone

+61740321746

Website

https://www.cafnec.org.au/donate, https://linktr.ee/cafnec

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