The Value of a Property Plan Seminar will be held on Tuesday March 27 at Wollongbar Agricultural Institute, and the TAFE course supported by RLI will begin on April 2.

“There are many advantages in having a property plan, whether you have a working farm or a lifestyle property and even if it is only a few hectares,” says Communications Officer for Richmond Landcare Inc, Neville Sloss.

“A property plan can make it more productive, more sustainable and contribute to the biodiversity of your region. The development of a land management or whole farm plan is an ideal way to identify issues, set priorities and plan how to address them on the property.”

In addition, a property plan can greatly assist in gaining funding for projects that will enhance your property.

“There are some funding opportunities at State and Federal levels which require a plan, while a plan will definitely help even if it is not required. These days the competition for funding is very competitive, so a plan is a very worthwhile initiative,” Neville said.

Many factors are combined in the planning of farm management and future developments, including paddock subdivision, access, crops, shelter, water supply, habitat, pest/weed control, fire protection, livestock needs, soil conservation, land degradation and water quality.

For lifestyle property owners, biodiversity, land management to improve water and soil quality are some of the issues to consider.

The seminar on March 27 will introduce people to the process of producing a plan and what factors need to be considered.

Local farmers and property owners who have developed their own plans will be speaking, along with Simon Proust from the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority, an experienced property planning facilitator.

In conjunction with TAFE, Richmond Landcare Inc is conducting a Whole of Property Plan course beginning on April 2 at Wollongbar TAFE.

This course is suited to those who are not familiar with the concept and over the weeks will help participants develop a plan for their farm or property.

It will cover auditing the natural resources of the property; any legal requirements impacting on the management of the property; management strategies to address the key natural resource management issues of water, soils, vegetation and wildlife; integrate business or lifestyle objectives and production plans with sustainable land management.

The course cost is $231 and this will be refunded by Richmond Landcare Inc once participants have completed the course. The subsidy is offered to anyone who is a member of a Landcare group across the Richmond River catchment and places are limited.

For any landowners who would like more information, Richmond Landcare Inc will have a stand at the Soilcare Expo at Wollongbar Agricultural Institute on Saturday, March 10. Anyone seeking more information can phone RLI on 66191582 or email cso@richmondlandcare.org

Richmond Landcare Inc provides support services to the community for natural resource management on behalf of the Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority (NRCMA) in the Lismore and Ballina local government areas.

Richmond Landcare Inc now has around 100 member groups across the whole Richmond River catchment.

The event, which begins on 24th November with a gala opening at the Regent Cinema and Cafe, will showcase the beauty of Murwillumbah’s art deco architecture, whilst encouraging shoppers to shop locally for Christmas rather than spending their money out of the town.

The festival is designed to become an annual event where the businesses and the community celebrate together over the Christmas period.
  
Businesses will have to opportunity to enter a competition for the best commercial or window display, the most sustainable Christmas display and the people’s choice. 

These prizes will be awarded at the Community Christmas Party December 16 at Budd Park.

“It is a great opportunity for the businesses to really show off and represent the town,” project manager Natascha Wernick said.

Businesses can get involved by extending their trading hours  on the Thursday and Fridays nights leading up to Christmas until 9pm,  donating a $50 retainer for  buskers to entertain on the  lit-up streets, donating a prize for the massive Christmas raffle that will help fund the carbon offset for the project.

For more information about the project go to www.murwillumbahchamber.com or contact Natascha 0412 980 063.

“Almost half of the 600,000 Sumbanese, just 500km north of Australia, don’t have access to safe water,” said Claude Graves of the Sumba Foundation.

“Waterborne disease dramatically escalates come monsoon season in December and this is a major cause of the high child mortality rate.”

The group, working under the banner of Onebottleforlife.com, has launched Operation Monsoon, a month-long philanthropic drive which is donating water filtration systems to Sumba each time a water filtration pack is purchased here in Australia.

Operation Monsoon is supported by surfing’s top athletes including Kelly Slater, Mick Fanning, Taj Burrow and Dan Ross. Click to view their support: www.onebottleforlife.com

An AlkaWay Water Filtration Pack, which costs $475, includes one AlkaStream bench-top filter and two Fill2Pure portable filter bottles. Every pack purchased in turn releases one water filter-pump and 10 advanced filters to Sumba, providing 4000 litres of safe water.

Two-time World Champion surfer Mick Fanning has urged Australians to buy a filtration pack. “As a professional surfer travelling the world I see the effects of pollution in the ocean and the shortages of clean water available to humanity,” he said. “Whilst supporting Mother Nature, you are also giving someone a better opportunity at a healthier life.”

AlkaWay’s General Manager, Byron Bay-based Graham Correy, said: “Only 1% of all the water on the planet is accessible to humans and much of that is so polluted it’s killing thousands of us every day.

“With one bottle for life, you can have filtered alkaline water for about ten cents a litre compared to bottled water for two dollars a litre. Plus you get rid of plastic garbage and help save lives. It’s a win-win-win.”

Onebottleforlife.com is a partnership between Freshmullet.com, Alkaway.com.au, Sumbafoundation.org and Onepercentfortheplanet.org.

Gaelan Brown, Marketing Director of 1% For The Planet, said: “This is a unique campaign to address health, humanitarian and environmental needs through one simple business transaction. Operation Monsoon could save over 8 million bottles from entering our environment.”

Buy + Give to support Operation Monsoon from 11 October– 11 November.
To purchase a pack or for more information, visit www.onebottleforlife.com

PICTURE: Residents of Sumba.

The campaign aims to point out the differences in subtropical bananas from tropical bananas and encourage people to support the local product.

“Research shows that people really notice the difference in taste of subtropical bananas – they have a fuller flavour and are a little sweeter than tropical bananas,” says Subtropical Market Development Officer Geraldine O’Flynn (pictured).

“They also come in a wider range of sizes, with most being smaller than the extra large ones coming from over the border. Feedback tells us that many people like the smaller size, particularly for children.”

The North Coast of New South Wales used to be the premier banana growing district of Australia, before far north Queensland became the major district around 20 years ago. There were many banana farms right through the region, from Tweed Heads down to Nambucca Heads.

The number of farms is now greatly reduced, but there are still banana farmers supplying local outlets, markets and the major wholesalers in capital cities with subtropical bananas.

“Both Lady Finger bananas and the most popular Cavendish bananas are grown throughout the region, but it is with the Cavendish bananas that the taste difference is more distinct,” Ms O’Flynn said.

“It is believed that because the bananas take longer to grow and mature in the subtropics that the flavour and sweetness develop more. We would also like to encourage people to buy subtropical bananas and support local growers as there is a benefit to our environment as well as the ‘food miles’ are greatly reduced.

“We want people through the Woolgoola, Coffs Harbour and Nambucca districts to support locally grown and ask for subtropical bananas when they shop.”

“As the former Shadow Minister for Small Business, I am very pleased to see the realisation of the policy that we took to the election to give small businesses an independent voice and advocacy,” Mr Page said.

“I am hoping a diverse range of small-business representatives will attend functions with Ms King at Byron Bay and Ballina so she can get an idea of what issues are concerning people in the Northern Rivers.
 
“This is an opportunity for local small business owners to speak directly to the Small Business Commissioner where they can directly express the pitfalls they encounter running a small business on the Far North Coast.

“This region is home to some incredibly successful businesses operated by very talented people and I know many of them have faced challenges in their quest for success.

“This visit to the Ballina electorate is an opportunity for small business operators to share their views on policies and what they think the State Government can do to better represent and help the 650,000 small businesses in NSW.” 

The Small Business Commissioner’s visit to the Northern Rivers is part of a regional listening tour – Giving Small Business a Say.

“I encourage all small business owners in the Ballina electorate to be a part of Ms King’s visit. This is a great opportunity for our businesses to have a say and effect real change in the corridors of government,” Mr Page said.

Small business owners can meet the NSW Small Business Commissioner, Yasmin King, at the following free events organised by the NSW Business Chamber:

Ballina

• 18 October 2011
• Lunch 12:00pm – 1:30pm
• Ramada, 2 Martin Street Ballina
• Cost: free
• RSVP: we.listen@smallbusiness.nsw.gov.au

Byron Bay

• 18 October 2011
• 3:00pm – 4:00pm
• Byron Bay Community Centre, Jonson St Byron Bay
• Cost:  free
• RSVP:  we.listen@smallbusiness.nsw.gov.au

For more information contact Samantha Day – 0408176475 (Yasmin King)

Chris Taylor – 0419 692 236 (NSW Business Chamber)

Federal Minister for Regional Australia Simon Crean today announced that Ballina Shire Council’s funding application for the airport redevelopment had been successful in the first round of the Regional Development Australia Fund (RDAF).

Federal Member for Page Janelle Saffin said she had lobbied hard for this great project, which would upgrade and extend the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport’s apron parking bays, taxiway and hardstand area.

“These improvements will increase the capacity of this busy airport and allow for parking of three jet aircraft at one time,” she said.

“Ballina is the gateway for holiday-makers to Ballina, Byron Bay and other coastal towns. The project will minimise delays, improve on-time performance and provide capacity for additional passenger movements.”

Ms Saffin said she wanted all of her priority projects in Page to eventually get support, and she would continue to work with local community members, organisations and local government to realise them.

She encouraged people to apply for the second round of RDAF, which would open in November this year and be valued at $150 million.

Mr Crean said an upgraded Ballina Byron Gateway Airport will better connect the rapidly expanding Northern Rivers region and provide visitors and the local community with better access to improved transport options.

“Building the airport’s capacity will allow for more passengers, thereby creating local and regional employment opportunities,” he said.

“Due for completion in December 2012, the upgrade will help to achieve a key goal in the Northern Rivers Regional Plan by delivering enhanced investment in economic enabling infrastructure.”

Ballina Shire Council will contribute $500,000 towards the airport upgrade. The project is endorsed by Regional Development Australia (RDA) Northern Rivers.

The RDAF program supports the infrastructure needs and economic growth of Australia’s regions. It is designed to leverage State, Commonwealth, local government, private and not-for-profit investments.

In Round One, $150 million in grant funding has been provided to 35 projects around Australia leveraging a total of around $418 million in project costs. 

A full list of the successful projects is available at www.regional.gov.au

Ms Saffin said she was delighted that one of the Gillard Government’s most senior ministers had accepted her invitation to come to Lismore to highlight the Clean Energy Future Package and carbon price mechanism.

“Simon will also be discussing opportunities for the Northern Rivers as Australia transitions to a low carbon economy,” Ms Saffin said.

“This is the Minister’s second visit to the seat of Page this year; in January he toured flood-affected areas of the Clarence Valley and met with local councils and emergency services agencies.”

Ms Saffin said Regional Development Australia-Northern Rivers (RDA-NR), which is co-hosting the carbon pricing forum with her, had invited business leaders, award-winning farmers, food processors, university researchers and policy makers to hear Mr Crean’s presentation.

Mr Crean will be taking questions from the floor. The forum will be moderated by RDA-NR Chair Ian Tiley.

“Regions like ours are well-placed to capitalise on a range of new programs that are aimed at supporting regional jobs and making major investments in renewable energy,” Ms Saffin said.

“I know that many farmers in Page are keenly interested in the Carbon Farming Initiative, which will provide economic rewards for farmers and landholders who take steps to reduce carbon pollution.

“Included in the Clean Energy Future Package is a Biodiversity Fund, worth a total of $946 million over its first six years, to back projects that establish, restore, protect or manage biodiverse carbon stores.”

The regional carbon pricing forum will be held at Invercauld House, Goonellabah, from 8am.

“The NSW Liberals and Nationals developed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Clubs NSW prior to the March election,” Mr Page said.

“I was pleased to sign the MOU in December last year, and even happier today to see key aspects of that commitment delivered with legislation introduced to Parliament today.”

The Gaming Machine Tax Amendment Bill reduces tax paid by registered clubs and introduces changes to the Club Community Support Scheme.

“Local clubs in the Ballina Electorate currently donate more than $5 million annually to community groups and activities, and this will increase by an additional $112,000 from September 1 this year,” Mr Page said.

The new ClubGRANTS Scheme will provide an estimated $85 million, in additional community support across NSW from registered clubs over the next four years.

“The reduction in club taxes will save clubs in the Ballina electorate more than $300,000 a year,” Mr Page said

“Clubs make a major social and economic contribution to our local communities. They provide funding to community and sporting organisations, employment opportunities and high-quality facilities that are accessible and affordable for everyone.”

The 18 clubs in the Ballina Electorate employ more than 400 people and make significant contributions to the local economy.

Under the former State Labor Government, more than 100 clubs had to shut their doors due to tax increases.

Further reforms outlined in the MOU will be announced shortly.

“When a club in a small community is forced to close, it has an enormous impact. The NSW Liberal and Nationals want to support regional and rural communities and we understand the important role that clubs play. This legislation will help support clubs both large and small,” Mr Page said.

Clubs across the Page electorate would be forced to spend more than $22 million to install the mandatory pre-commitment scheme being proposed by the Federal Government and Independent MP Andrew Wilkie.

As part of a deal with the Tasmanian independent MP Andrew Wilkie to stay in government, the Prime Minister says everyone will have to apply for a licence just so they can have a $5 punt on a poker machine.

Clubs Australia has invited Andrew Wilkie and Senator Nick Xenophon to attend the meeting so that they can hear about the economic and social importance of clubs in the area.

Clubs Australia said the rally was a chance to be heard and save local clubs.

“This scheme is going to hurt clubs, it will hurt junior sport and it will hurt the wider community – while not doing a thing to help problem gamblers,” Clubs Australia said.

“Leading problem gambling counsellors and researchers have already told the Government that this untested scheme will actually delay problem gamblers from getting help while punishing the social punters who enjoy the occasional flutter on the pokies.

“Clubs have supported and helped the community for decades, and now we need the community to help us send a strong message to Canberra that this is political madness.”

The Save our Clubs rally will be held at 2.30pm on Wednesday 10 August at Ballina RSL, 240 River Street, Ballina. For more information go to www.its-unaustralian.com.au/
 

Ms Saffin, who last year successfully lobbied for early adoption of the network on the North Coast, will host a community NBN briefing at Ballina RSL Club on August 11.

Ms Saffin said NBN Co’s Community Relations Adviser Darren Rudd (pictured), who has extensive experience in global communications, would explain the economic and social benefits of super-fast broadband.

“Many businesses and individuals have contacted my offices in Lismore and Grafton, keen to take full advantage of the biggest nation-building project in Australia’s history,” Ms Saffin said.

“I lobbied hard with Southern Cross University, local government, business and the health sector to champion our submission in Canberra and Sydney for early adoption.

“And it was a real coup for our region last July when NBN Co CEO Mike Quigley announced Coffs Harbour as one of 19 second release sites.”

Ms Saffin said Coffs Harbour was selected on a range of technical criteria, and because of factors like the engagement of local government and the receptiveness of communities to broadband initiatives.

“NBN Co has identified Coffs is an area from which we can expect to see future rollout – extending and expanding the network – and my hope is that this will be to several centres in my electorate,” she said.

Ms Saffin also welcomed an agreement struck last month between NBN Co and Silcar Pty Ltd which enables NBN to prepare for the first large-scale deployment of optic fibre in New South Wales, including past premises in Coffs Harbour in the coming months.

Ms Saffin’s community briefing on NBN will be held in the Ballina RSL Club’s upstairs function room on Thursday, August 11, from 6.30pm. Bookings are essential and can be made by phoning Ms Saffin’s Lismore Electorate Office on 0266 219 909 by midday, Friday, August 5.

Ms Saffin is also hosting a luncheon briefing in Grafton on August 11 to update stakeholders who were involved in the original early adoption campaign.

BIO FOR DARREN RUDD:

Darren Rudd is currently the Advisor, Government Relations & External Affairs with a focus on Community Relations for Queensland, New South Wales, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory for the National Broadband Network Company (NBN Co). Prior to his role at NBN, Darren held leadership positions in Strategy, Operations, Program Management and Government Relations at Alcatel-Lucent across Asia Pacific for the previous 12 years. He has also built his career at AT&T Corporation, IBM and BHP both locally and with a number of international postings.