More than 800 people flocked to the CWA Rooms over the weekend for SustainaBellingen, a grassroots event that has quickly become a cornerstone of the region’s environmental calendar. What began as a single program last year has evolved into a comprehensive two-day showcase, proving that appetite for sustainability conversations runs deep in this Mid North Coast community.
“This showcase represents everything our community values - practical solutions, expert knowledge, and the collaborative spirit that builds real resilience in uncertain times,” said outgoing Show President Susan Lumsdaine at the opening. Event curator Liz Jeremy, backed by volunteers including from the Bellingen River Agricultural Show Society, orchestrated the diverse program that seamlessly blended urgent environmental topics with practical community solutions.
The event emerged from the Show Society’s own sustainability journey - they’ve slashed waste from 16 cubic metres to just 5 in two years. When this year’s traditional show was cancelled, SustainaBellingen stepped up as a successful standalone event, demonstrating the community’s resilience and adaptability.
Interactive climate panels proved the weekend’s drawcard, with facilitator Dominic King guiding packed rooms through hypothetical scenarios that hit close to home. Discussions tackled everything from weather pattern changes on the Mid North Coast to what exceeding 1.5 degrees actually means for local seasonal rhythms, while exploring practical steps for building community weather resilience.
Conservation success stories provided hope amid challenging realities. The remarkable recovery of the Bellinger River snapping turtle - decimated by a 2015 virus that killed 90% of the population - showcased what’s possible when government agencies, Taronga Zoo, and Symbio Wildlife Park work together. Successful releases back into local waters proved that dedicated collaboration can turn conservation disasters around.
Paula Flack from the National Parks Association updated audiences on the proposed Great Koala National Park, acknowledging years of grassroots campaigning while communities continue waiting for the government to deliver on this State Labor election commitment.
The program struck an effective balance between local knowledge and external expertise. Former ABC weatherman turned farmer Graham Creed shared hard-won agricultural insights, while Professor David Lindenmayer delivered eye-opening research on forest conservation, revealing how logging actually intensifies bushfire risks despite most harvested timber ending up as taxpayer-subsidised paper and cardboard.
Environmental scientist Jennie Fenton broke new ground with an inclusion panel titled “What have you always wanted to know about disability?” Joined by her daughter Mala and friends, the session emphasised belonging and living fully regardless of ability.
Local wildlife expert Andrew Turbill shared secrets for creating backyard wildlife sanctuaries, while Meaghan Burkett explored how place-based community connections become the foundation for meaningful transformation. The Bellingen Alternatives Bookshop ran a bustling pop-up, ensuring attendees could take sustainability resources home.
“We presented a program that looks deeply at sustainability and building resilience with the objective of taking that discussion further over time,” reflected curator Liz Jeremy. “This was made possible because every presenter donated their time and expertise to our community - we’re truly grateful for that investment.”
Liz Jeremy
