Pioneering green technology developed by local coffee company
March 3, 2010
Byron Shire coffee producer Green Cauldron Coffee has designed and installed the Australian coffee industry’s most environmentally friendly and advanced waste water facility.
Following three years of planning, installation and approval by the Byron Shire Council, the coffee plantation in Federal is now fully utilising the $135,000 facility.
“We’re pretty over the moon about it,” said Richard Kelly, pictured, General Manager of Green Cauldron Coffee.
“With this recycling facility we’ve basically achieved a closed loop for water usage and waste and we are able to capture and use every part of the coffee cherry, not just the bean.”
Byron at Byron wins best in the country again
February 24, 2010
The Byron at Byron Resort and Spa has won ‘Best Resort Accommodation’ for an accommodation property under 100 rooms in The Australian Travel and Tourism Awards.
Announced last Friday 19th February and covered in The Weekend Australian, this accolade has been awarded to The Byron at Byron for the second year running.
“We are constantly surprised at the recognition we receive from both our new and repeat guests,” said John Parché, General Manager at The Byron at Byron.
“It was an absolute surprise and a great boost to the staff that this award was announced in our favour. We constantly strive to ensure that total guest satisfaction is achieved, and our staff are just overjoyed to receive this accolade”.
Northern Rivers Tourism goes international through marketing partnership
February 15, 2010
Northern Rivers Tourism has appointed a specialist company, Parker Travel Collection, to build awareness overseas and to market destinations in the region.
The CEO of NRT, Russell Mills, said the appointment is a key element in its marketing program to build awareness of destinations, experiences and events and convert this into new business for tourism operators in the Northern Rivers region.
“Our strategy is to expand our range of export-ready products, instil confidence amongst international trade wholesalers and retailers in selling our region, as well as capitalise on the iconic profile Byron Bay enjoys to encourage international visitors to experience the wider Northern Rivers region,” Mr Mills said.
Parker Travel Collection has well-established credentials in representing Australian tourism operators and destinations in international markets for more than 12 years.
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.
