Last chance for farmers to take advantage of funding for Biological Farming courses
July 6, 2011
Over the past two years 153 farmers in the Northern Rivers Region have completed Biological Farming courses through TAFE Wollongbar as part of a SoilCare Inc project funded by the Australian Government’s Caring for Our Country Program.
According to SoilCare Chair Ms Bonnie Walker, only 27 more farmers have the opportunity to take advantage of funding for this course because the project finishes in 2012.
Ms Walker said: “The Biological Farming courses have been very popular and we find that farmers get very excited about soil health when they discover how they can take advantage of natural soil processes and soil biology to improve productivity and sustainability on their farms.”
$100,000 to help local small businesses hit by natural disasters
July 6, 2011
Page MP Janelle Saffin has announced that the Lismore-based Northern Rivers Business Enterprise Centre (NORBEC) had been awarded a $100,000 grant to provide advisory services to local businesses affected by major flooding earlier this year.
Ms Saffin said many small businesses in urban centres and rural areas of her electorate were adversely affected by the floods last December and in January this year.
“The Clarence Valley was hit particularly hard by this flooding, as were parts of the Kyogle Shire and Richmond Valley,” Ms Saffin said.
“In addition, across the Northern Rivers, many small businesses in the tourism sector experienced significant loss of income from cancellation of bookings.
Stokers Siding and Crabbes Creek go plastic bag free
May 5, 2011
The villages of Stokers Siding and Crabbes Creek are now the fourth and fifth communities in NSW to officially go plastic bag free, joining Chillingham and Tumbulgum in ‘banning’ the bag.
Mayor of Tweed Kevin Skinner congratulated the businesses in both villages at launch event held at Stokers Siding this morning.
Local firm launches ‘world’s best’ filtered water bottle
March 30, 2011
Local company AlkaWay, which has been busy for the past 11 years helping Australians prevent and treat disease through a more alkaline lifestyle, has just released a stainless steel filtered water bottle.
And they are good enough for health-conscious supermodel Miranda Kerr, who is using and endorsing the bottles.
The first of its kind in Australia, the makers say the Fill2Pure has been subject to rigorous clinical testing with independent laboratories and the armed forces in remote locations including Afghanistan and Iraq prior to market release.
The bottle can be filled with tap water from any country in the world. The bottle’s filter removes up to 99.99% of all contaminants including chlorine, heavy metals, fluoride, bacteria such as e-coli and giardia and other industrial and agricultural waste but leaves in beneficial trace minerals such as magnesium, calcium and potassium.
“Good water is the foundation of good health,” said Ian Blair Hamilton, founder of AlkaWay and author of The Untold Truth About The Cause of Disease.
Lyn Parche appointed to Tourism NSW Board
February 5, 2011
Lyn Parche, Byron Bay resident and General Manager of the award-winning Byron at Byron Resort and Spa, has recently been appointed to the Tourism NSW Board.
Lyn brings a wealth of industry knowledge to the role with over 30 years tourism experience covering managerial, operational and sales and marketing roles including Joint General Manager for the Beaufort Hotel Group in Darwin and Managing Director of Aman Resorts in Australia and New Zealand.
“It’s so wonderful that Tourism NSW has representation from regional destinations on the board,” said Lyn.
“Tourism NSW recognise the importance of regional areas, with Byron Bay and the Northern Rivers one of the most visited regions in New South Wales.
Jetstar’s Ballina-Melbourne service resumes on December 21
December 20, 2010
There will be much fanfare and celebration when the first passengers disembark at Ballina Byron Gateway Airport on Tuesday 21 December 2010 with the return of Jetstar’s direct Ballina-Melbourne service.
“We have much to celebrate when our Melbourne visitors arrive at 10.40am on Tuesday morning and we’ll welcome them by popping the champagne corks (non-alcoholic of course) and treating airport patrons to celebration cake and giveaways,” said Neil Weatherson, Ballina-Byron Gateway Airport Manager.
Clubs promised reduced tax rates by NSW Coalition
December 15, 2010
The Member for Ballina Don Page this week met with representatives from registered clubs in the Ballina electorate and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which will see some community groups receive an extra $112,000 a year in donations and support.
The MOU between the NSW Liberals and Nationals and Clubs NSW outlines the key measures that will be introduced to help secure the long-term financial viability of NSW Clubs as well as the increases in contributions they will make to the local community.
Byron Community Centre Saturday Bazaar seeks stallholders
November 3, 2010
The weekly Saturday Community Bazaar 10-2pm at the Byron Community Centre is looking for more stallholders to sell their wares and talent.
Set up a table for $15 in the all-weather confines of the Community Centre and enjoy the Saturday vibe of Byron Bay.
Part of the weekly Harmony group, the Balinese Wayan Warung sell authentic food, while cold drinks are available at the Community Centre’s reception.
Stallholders: No bookings or insurance required. Simply set up on site from 9am every Saturday at the Byron Community Centre. Further info on 6685 6807 or 0423 855 888.
Jetstar to increase Melbourne-Ballina flights
October 22, 2010
Low fares leader Jetstar has delivered another windfall for northern NSW tourism with the re-introduction of direct low-fare Melbourne services to Ballina Byron Gateway Airport timed to commence pre-Christmas.
From 21 December 2010, Jetstar will operate three times weekly Melbourne-Ballina Byron A320 services on a year-round basis and offer the region its only direct interstate flight.
This new growth follows Jetstar’s recently announced expansion of Sydney-Ballina Byron flying by five more weekly flights to double daily (14 times weekly commencing 2 December) and represents a new high-water mark for Jetstar, offering over 300,000 annual seats for the first time in this market.
Jetstar group chief executive officer Bruce Buchanan said the decision to re-introduce a direct Melbourne service alongside growing Sydney frequencies to Ballina/Byron Bay reflected a renewed confidence in the market and a response to strong regional community and tourism industry support for an interstate air link.
Page calls on ABC not to axe Rural Report
October 22, 2010
Ballina MP Don Page has called on the ABC not to axe the North Coast ABC Rural Report, out of Lismore, on morning radio at the end of this month.
Mr Page said the ABC was planning to discontinue the program and justify it by saying it will provide an online service instead.
“The North Coast has a very diverse agricultural and horticultural sector and it would be shortsighted to axe the live interviews that are regularly conducted with industry leaders and innovators,” he said.
The Northern Rivers has produced many leaders in agriculture, including two NSW Farmers of the Year recipients since 2007. This year’s winner, Ridley Bell, from Mountain Blue Orchards on the Alstonville Plateau, is a pioneer in the development of the blueberry industry in Australia.
