A JAM-PACKED cinema in Tamworth got a brief insight into what the future could hold for the city in an era of changing climate.
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More than 100 people piled-in to the theatre to watch the Damon Gameau documentary, 2040, which explores the possible future if the nation embraced the environmental solutions currently available.
The screening was followed by a panel discussion with some local leaders in government, sustainability and culture.
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Tamworth Regional Council planning director Brent McAlister joined the conversation and said there were two paths government could go down to address the issues facing the country.
"There's two ways of doing it: rules and regulations, or education and changing hearts and minds," he said.
"My view is, there is one way to do it, changing hearts and minds.
"I think farmer field days, looking at weeds and alternative ways of biodiversity and looking at farmers and different ways of managing their lands.
"And not seeing the environment as the enemy."
Emily Honess from Talking Threads, a reclaimed clothing enterprise, said fashion was a good "entry point" for sustainability.
"There's nothing wrong with loving fashion, it's a way we express ourselves and communicate a bit about ourselves to other people," she said.
She recommended people could be more conscientious when it came to clothing and suggested a "buy less, choose well" approach.
Len Waters said the ancient Kamilaroi knowledge of the land didn't hold the answer about when there would be forthcoming rain.
But he said lesson needed to be learnt and things had to change.
"Sometimes the mother will take something away from the child if the child has been reckless," he said.
"The mother won't give it back until the child has learnt its lesson.
"It's tightening and we're not learning.
"Until we learn our lesson, then the mother will give us back what we need.
"She'll keep us alive, but I'll tell you what, she is not happy."
The event was organised by the Tamworth Regional Landcare Association and Sustainable North West.
Landcare coordinator Penne Fraser said the screening should instill some hope about the long-term future.
2040 filmmaker Damon Gameau was unable to attend the Tamworth event, but organisers said he would be attending the 'Pulse of the Earth' festival in Bingara next month.
The event is billed as a "festival of regeneration" and a "start of a wonderful period of renewal for the land and our communities".