A NSW town devastated by bushfire is planning the largest human sign climate change protest ever staged in Australia.
The local Clean Energy for Eternity (CEFE) group wants the town of Tathra on the Sapphire Coast (NSW’s far south coast) to send a strong message to federal politicians, claiming Canberra has let them down.
The town suffered severe damage in March 2018 during a ferocious bushfire.
Previously, the CEFE formed human signs on Tathra beach in 2006 featuring 3,000 people. This weekend they want to surpass that achievement.
Tathra: town of innovation and climate change protest
The human sign will start forming at 11.30am on Sunday, September 30 at Lawrence Park.
The town on the NSW south coast is used to being in the spotlight. In 2015, solar panels at Tathra Sewerage Treatment Plant were arranged to spell the world ‘Imagine’.
As a result the 30 kW solar installation won global attention. The Tathra Community Solar Farm was also a finalist in the NSW Government’s Green Globe Awards.
Tathra experienced one of its hottest days on record early in 2006. This sparked a series of projects aimed at reducing climate change. As a result the town is aiming for 50 per cent renewables by 2020.
Award winning renewable energy project
Meanwhile, CEFE won the 2016 NSW Local Government Award for Excellence in Environmental Leadership and Sustainability.
CEFE also won the best Australian medium-scale community energy project award earlier this month.
The group also won in the Heroes Building Australia’s Low-Carbon Economy awards held by climate action body 350.org. It delivered “measurable benefits and changes to its local community”.
Solar battery storage real hero in 350.org awards
- Residential rooftop solar named by 350.org as ‘longest running project’ and a game-changing renewable resource.
- Solar Citizens selected as the NGO, charity or community group showing best advocacy renewable uptake in Australia.
- South Australia’s virtual power plant won most innovative state government renewable energy or low-carbon project.
- Totally Renewable Yackandandah recognised as best small-scale community project for its solar microgrid.
