Woolworths Mullumbimby approval granted for five years
January 29, 2010
The Land and Environment Court has given approval for Woolworths to install and operate their proposed on-site sewerage management system which is to service the supermarket development at Mullumbimby.
Byron Shire Council’s executive manager of environment and land use Ray Darney said the approval was valid for five years and subject to conditions granted by the court.
“One of the conditions included is that installation cannot commence until the approval issued by the Minister has been modified to incorporate the redesigned on-site system,” Mr Darney said.
He said the council was yet to see a final copy of the court’s conditions of approval.
Southern Cross University to lobby for broadband on North Coast
January 29, 2010
Federal Member for Page Janelle Saffin will champion a Southern Cross University submission to get the Australian Government’s $43 billion National Broadband Network (NBN) rolled out early to the NSW North Coast.
Southern Cross University’s Professor of Information Technology and Information Systems, Professor Peter Croll, today handed the submission to Ms Saffin during a ceremony at the Student Services Centre, at the Lismore campus.
NSW Minister for Planning, Infrastructure and Lands, Tony Kelly, who was in the region for a series of infrastructure funding announcements, also attended to receive a briefing from Professor Croll.
The submission was simultaneously electronically lodged for assessment with NBN’s government relations and external affairs chief Mike Kaiser and with Federal Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy.
Gold Coast Airport expansion welcomed by Northern Rivers Tourism
January 25, 2010
Northern Rivers Tourism has welcomed the opening of the new expanded terminal at the Gold Coast Airport.
“The Gold Coast Airport makes the Northern Rivers unique in NSW as the only NSW region with an international terminal on its doorstep. This is proving a real asset for the growth of tourism in the region, as well as a benefit to local residents for easy travel,” says the CEO of Northern Rivers Tourism, Russell Mills.
Business development agency gets internet funding
January 20, 2010
More than 300 Northern Rivers small businesses will benefit from a share of $14 million in Rudd Government funding to help them go online or upgrade their internet presence.
The funding is being provided from the Rudd Government’s $10 million Small Business Online program which has been boosted by another $4 million to extend it to more tourism small business operators.
Member for Page Janelle Saffin said the Northern Rivers Business Enterprise Development Agency would receive $156,000 to help small businesses – especially tourism operators – make the most of the internet.
Across the nation, 95 per cent of small businesses are connected to the internet, yet only 57 per cent have a website.
Minister told of biochar trials success
January 19, 2010
The Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Tony Burke, was told that trials in the Northern Rivers using biochar are proving very positive, but biochar has to be imported to meet the demand.
Richmond Landcare Inc is conducting trials using biochar, a carbon-rich product created by burning waste materials, in soils used to grow sweet corn, avocados, coffee, sugarcane, macadamias and rice, as well as grazing pastures as part of the project.
“We are pleased to report to the Minister that our trials are showing positive results. For example, different biochar mixtures on the sweet corn crop showed significant growth rates for the crop, carbon retention and limited greenhouse gases,” said Tony Walker from Richmond Landcare.
“We would love to use more Australian biochar, but we have to import most of it from Indonesia and the Philippines. There is definitely an opportunity for a biochar plant to be established in the Northern Rivers.
Agriculture Minister to inspect Wollongbar biochar trials
January 14, 2010
Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke will visit trials being conducted by Richmond Landcare Inc on the use of biochar to improve soil carbon sequestration and cropping.
He will inspect the progress of trials at the Wollongbar Agricultural Institute and at a nearby coffee farm. The project is being conducted with the support of a Caring For Our Country grant.
- When: Monday 18 January from midday to 2pm
- Who: The Minister will be brought up to date on the project by Tony Walker from Richmond Landcare, Dr Lukas van Zwieten from Industry and Investment NSW, and other scientists and farmers participating in the project, including Jos Webber from Kahawa Estate Coffee.
- Where: Wollongbar Agricultural Institute, 1243 Bruxner Highway (check at reception for exact location) from noon – 12.45pm, then Kahawa Estate Coffee Plantation, 374 Houghlahans Creek Road, Booyong, until 2pm.
- Details: A grant of $297,000 was provided through Caring for Our Country funds to research the impact of biochar on crops in the Northern Rivers including avocados, coffee, sugar cane, rice, macadamias and sweet corn as well as grazing pastures. Observations to date have been very positive.
Committee looks at setting up Community Bank in Yamba
January 11, 2010
A steering committee has been formed to investigate the establishment of a Community Bank Branch of Bendigo Bank in Yamba.
The committee, chaired by Bob Thompson of Clarence Coast Law, hopes to raise $200,000 in pledges by the end of the first quarter of 2010.
Pledges of Support of between $500 and $10,000 are being sought from Yamba residents and businesses that would like become shareholders in Clarence Valley Community Financial Services Limited.
This company was established to set up the South Grafton Community Bank Branch over 10 years ago, and now wants to share its success with the Yamba community and its own branch.
Small business tax break ends on December 31
December 22, 2009
As the Christmas sales approach, the Assistant Treasurer, Senator Nick Sherry, and Small Business Minister, Dr Craig Emerson, are reminding business owners they have only a few days left to take advantage of their own big discount.
“The Rudd Government’s small business tax break runs out on December 31 – so it really is a case of hurry, hurry, hurry,” the Assistant Treasurer said.
“It’s a double win for small business – a 50 per cent tax break on goods they could be buying at reduced Christmas sale prices.
“It’s also a win for the economy and jobs. Taking advantage of the 50 per cent deduction will help small businesses retool and upgrade, while boosting the economy.
Electricity prices set to rise by 62%
December 15, 2009
The State pricing regulator, the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal, has recommended that electricity prices are to rise by 62% over the next three years.
This is first step in expected increasing prices to reflect carbon pricing expectations which will put pressure on prices moving forward.
The average Country Energy customer will pay an additional $893 by 2013.
For the majority of customers, there will be limited offsets against the increased charges.
However, there are many new energy saving initiatives which can be used to decrease your household energy consumption.
Transport planning on agenda as Saffin meets with RDA-NR
December 10, 2009
Cross-border transport planning, a regional food strategy and trade relations with the Pacific will be on the agenda when Federal Member for Page Janelle Saffin meets Regional Development Australia-Northern Rivers (RDA-NR) in Lismore tomorrow (Friday, December 11).
Ms Saffin thanked the new Board of RDA-NR, chaired by Cr Ian Tiley, for its recent $50,000 in-principle contribution towards developing an Integrated Regional Transport Plan for the Northern Rivers and south-east Queensland.
She said real momentum was building behind the plan because the Northern Rivers Regional Organisation of Councils (NOROC), led by Cr Jenny Dowell, had also decided to increase its original allocation from $40,000 to $70,000 for the project.
“Together with my Federal Parliamentary colleagues Brett Raguse (Forde) and Justine Elliot (Richmond), I am committed to working closely with NOROC on a submission aimed at attracting more funding to ensure the development of the plan,” she said.
“The support of seven local mayors and their councils, and now RDA-NR, shows that the Northern Rivers is fair dinkum about identifying and agreeing on our transport priorities and building a strong case to attract Nation-Building type funds.”
Ms Saffin said she had been impressed by Northern Rivers Food project, which RDA-NR had carriage of, and which focused on enhancing the reputation and capacity of the region’s food industry.
“I am keen to receive briefings on the Northern Rivers Food project, which includes developing a brand to promote the quality and freshness of locally grown and manufactured food, additionally the Food Links project, which primarily relates to food security,” she said.
“I’ve spoken with Southern Cross University expert in regional food and tourism, Rose Wright, on the idea of RDA-NR working in partnership with the university and NOROC on a Regional Food Supply Chain Strategy to better link producer with consumer and commercial user, and to ensure that no opportunities are missed.”
Ms Saffin will also discuss future trade opportunities with Pacific Island nations. She is Chair of the Trade Sub-Committee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade.
The committee is conducting an inquiry into Australia’s Trade and Investment Relations with Asia, the Pacific and Latin America.
One of its terms of reference is to investigate the role of the Government in assisting Australian companies, especially those in rural and regional areas, to maximise opportunities in the Asia-Pacific.
