In 1978, an area of bushland in South Turramurra was threatened with destruction by plans to build a netball complex. Residents were galvanised into action to try to save this natural area and so STEP was formed. That particular fight was lost, but from this small beginning STEP has grown to become a vital force in conservation in northern Sydney. Click here for more information on our history, aims and achievements.
STEP questions the conventional wisdom. Urban environmentalism is much more than fighting against loss of natural areas. It is essential to look many decades ahead and to educate and inspire the community to appreciate what we have if the battle against the unthinking and destroyers is to be won. Natural areas may be maintained by regeneration and maintenance but they can only be saved if they are not lost, piece by piece, to our ever increasing need for housing, schools, roads, playing fields, hospitals and all the other developments our governments are imposing upon us.
By joining STEP you will demonstrate that you are concerned about retaining the local environment for the future. We draw our members from far and wide but we are primarily concerned with Ku-ring-gai, Hornsby and surrounding suburbs. Each year we organise walks and talks, produce newsletters, make submissions and support environmental education. We've published position papers, books and maps of walking tracks.
STEP Matters
Issue 170 (April 2013)
Diary Dates
Click here for our calendar and coming later this year, talks by:
- Dr Andy Pitman (UNSW) on climate change
- Dr Catherine Chagué-Goff (UNSW) on tsunamis
- Sophia Findlay (Water and Catchments Program Leader at Ku-ring-gai Council) on water
25 June, 7.30 pm Launch of Understanding the Weather: A Guide for Outdoor Enthusiasts in South-eastern Australia by Dr John Martyn
St Andrews Uniting Church, Chisholm Street, Turramurra Google map
John Martyn has written another fascinating book, this time focussing on the weather as you will experience it from the great outdoors. The purpose of the book is to assist, with the help of photos of spectacular, beautiful and portentous skyscapes, in understanding and identifying the weather phenomena that may have the power to enhance, undermine or totally derail your planned walking, camping trip or short outing, John will describe and illustrate highlights from his book.
Beat the rush and order your copy now (due out at the end May).
21 July, Walk Harbour Foreshore and History Circuit
Time: 9 am, 4 h duration
Place: eastern side of Rhodes Railway Station
Grade: medium, 13 km flat walking
RSVP: secretary@step.org.au, 9144 2703 (bookings recommended)
Recent Summisions
Draft Ku-ring-gai Local Environment Plan 2013
Lane Cove National Park Plan of Management
Subdivision of the Former B2 Corridor in South Turramurra (October 2012)
Ku-ring-gai Council Proposed Re-zoning of Community Land to Operational (October 2012)
Comment on the Green Paper – A New Planning System for NSW (September 2012)
Review of the Native Vegetation Regulation (August 2012)
Submission to Inquiry into the Management of Public Land in NSW (July 2012)
Murray Darling Basin
NSW Planning System Review – Response to Issues Paper