As we’re heading into the holiday season, we want to THANK YOU for your support. It’s an opportunity to reflect on what we have achieved together in 2017.
First of all, there are more of you standing up for our Top End coasts - we are 1000 stronger - people like you who have shown time and again that they’re ready to stand up for our Top End coasts.
Earlier this year, when we spoke up and sent a message to Ministers and local members of Parliament -we made sure the development of a strategy to secure the Territory’s coasts and seas was included as a priority in the Government’s Economic Development Framework.
You joined local Aboriginal elders standing up for precious places like the Roper River and Limmen Bight against the threat of an iron ore mine. Together our efforts ensured Ministerial and media attention nationwide on what this proposal would mean for the local environment and cultural connections there.
Half way through the year we filled the house at the Darwin Railway Club for a ‘night at the pub’ with international fisheries expert Dr Daniel Pauly with a cautionary tale on the global decline of the world’s fish. And then we completely packed out the Deckchair Cinema for the Darwin Premiere of ‘BLUE - The Film’ – the incredibly moving and thought-provoking Australian documentary on the massive challenges facing our oceans and what we can do to make a difference. Finally, to end the year, our ‘Saltwater Secrets - The Exhibition’ with artist Simon Normand and photographer Paul Arnold gave us the rare opportunity of a new view on the amazing Territory coasts that we love so much, underlining the key message – that we must protect our Top End lifestyle.
The Keep Top End Coasts Healthy volunteer team powered us through the year having conversation after conversation with the Darwin community about why they want to keep Top End Coasts healthy. Campaign postcards to Minister Moss were signed by countless Territorians at the Darwin Boat Travel and Leisure Show, market goers at Freds Pass, Palmerston, Malak, Nightcliff, Parap and Darwin City, and at festivals such as the Nightcliff Seabreeze.
In November we released our latest report - Valuing Our Top End Coasts and Seas - which spells out just how valuable healthy Territory coasts are to our unique lifestyle, livelihoods and economy. Hundreds of you shared this report with your local member of Parliament and it received attention in local and national media.
We have great momentum and with your support in 2018 we will see the development of a Plan to secure the unique cultural, conservation and fishing values of the Top End's coast.
Every action of every supporter counts - you truly are the strength behind the Territory coasts and seas.
THANK YOU for all that you do!
Seasons greetings to you and your loved ones. We’re ready for 2018 - we’ll see you then.