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.

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.

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.” 

Three Biological Farming courses through TAFE Wollongbar are scheduled for the second semester which starts later this month.

1.Biological Farming for All Crops starting 25 July 2011
2.Biological Farming for Banana Production starting 25 July 2011
3.Biological Farming for Grazing and Cropping starting in October at Casino TAFE

Mr Dave Forrest, one of the Biological Farming teachers at TAFE Wollongbar, said: “The Biological Farming course teaches farmers simple practices in composting, ground cover and soil management which can dramatically improve soil health and provide greater productivity while allowing reduction in applications of chemical fertilizer and pesticides.”

The Biological Farming courses also cover biological farming principles, soil testing, soil carbon/organic matter, soil biology, soil foodwebs, biodiversity, Northern Rivers Soil Health Cards, soil mineral balancing, nutrient cycling and much more. 

Field excursions and practical sessions are a component of all classes.

Farmers who complete the course and submit the course assessment (a biological farming soil management plan for their farm) will be reimbursed the $250 TAFE course fee. 

Course outlines and schedules are available on the SoilCare Inc website: www.soilcare.org

For more information regarding the courses and enrolment details contact Bonnie Walker on 0448 026 230 or 6628 1788 email info@soilcare.org

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.

“Our community is known for its resilience in the wake of natural disasters, but some businesses may be still struggling and need the right advice to help them recover.

“This is why I encouraged NORBEC and its partner organisations to apply for funding under the Australian Government’s Small Business Advisory Services (SBAS) Natural Disaster Program.”

The Northern Rivers Business Enterprise Centre will provide one-on-one mentoring and workshops to small businesses directly or indirectly affected by natural disasters since October 2010. The workshops will include cash flow management, short-term cost-effective marketing strategies and boosting businesses through online resources.

NORBEC has been serving the region’s business community for more than 20 years, and has advisers in Lismore, Ballina-Byron, the Clarence Valley and Tweed Heads.

Federal Small Business Minister Senator Nick Sherry said 25 not-for-profit business advisory bodies across Australia would share in $2.5 million worth of funding under the SBAS Natural Disaster Program.

For information on SBAS and other small business assistance measures visit www.ausindustry.gov.au, call the AusIndustry Hotline on 13 28 46 or email hotline@ausindustry.gov.au