Delicious Weekend in Byron

The Byron at Byron Resort and Spa has announced that top chef Martin Boetz (pictured) of Longrain Sydney and Melbourne will headline the Delicious Weekend Away, being held over the long weekend in June.

Boetz promises to bring energy and colour to Byron for the three day food and wine celebration.

Born in Germany, his passion for cooking was nurtured by some of the world’s greatest Chefs, including David Thompson (who now owns London’s Michelin starred Nahm) at Darley Street Thai and Sailors Thai.

Martin joins Bangalow-based pastry Chef extraordinaire Katrina Kanetani from hatted restaurant Town (formerly of The Pier and MG Garage Sydney, Asiate New York and Quo Vadis London), Valli Little and The Byron at Byron’s Gavin Hughes (formerly of Aqua Luna, The Bathers Pavilion and Aqua Dining Sydney, Inverlochy Castle Hotel and 1 Devonshire Gardens Scotland).

“There are lots of passionate producers growing fabulous Thai ingredients in the Byron region,” said Martin Boetz, “including turmeric, galangal and betel leaves that we use at Longrain and will celebrate over the course of the weekend.”

The weekend includes a cooking class with Valli Little, lunch at award-winning Newrybar restaurant Harvest, a visit to local farmers markets and a producers farm and a gala four-course dinner at The Byron at Byron Restaurant.

Guests will stay in the Byron at Byron Resort and Spa where they can unwind with yoga or spend time by the infinity pool.

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$60 million toward Lismore Base Hospital redevelopment

The 2012-13 Federal Budget will deliver significant new funds for two Lismore hospitals.

Federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek said $60 million was going toward the redevelopment of Lismore Base Hospital and $2.5 million would be used to build two new operating theatres at St Vincent’s Private Hospital.

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Afford your own home – information night brings hope for Richmond-Tweed

An information night is being held on Thursday May 3rd to help local people understand how they may own a home of their own. On offer are the results of research into changing home needs and strategies that make ownership affordable and tailored to this region. All are welcome.

Australian industry leaders have come together as the Future Housing Taskforce to bring back The Great Australian Dream of home ownership. The Taskforce set a new industry record for enquiries when they built an eco-friendly affordable home in a warehouse to demonstrate how councils were so out of touch with the real needs of the Australian public. The Smarter Small Home was profiled on A Current Affair (smartersmallhome.com.au).

Future Housing Task Force founder Kevin Doodney (pictured), who will be the main speaker at the information night, has been working with 16 councils to help bring home ownership closer to ordinary Australians.

“The Future Housing Taskforce is responding to a media story by Peter Weekes of January 24, which put Richmond Tweed as the highest land value in Australia,” said Kevin Doodney.

“This makes the region the most unaffordable in the whole nation, putting massive pressure on new families being able to live and work in the region without renting for life. “On the night we are not there to just talk, we are there to deliver immediate solutions that are up to $130,000 cheaper than what is currently on offer. We are spending these weeks leading up to May 3rd focusing on ideas which end up in the delivery back to people of home ownership at various price points, instead of the current one size fits all scenario.”

The information night will show new approaches to housing that suit changing buyer needs from work at home to single households. Kevin will explain how different income levels can access home ownership and the types of homes to suit their budgets. He will also profile some flexible housing options including dual key and duplex.

“Kevin Doodney’s achievements and innovative concepts are world class,” said Peter Sherrie, National President of the Urban Development Institute of Australia.

The event is sponsored by Tallowood Ridge Estate in Mullumbimby, who are offering generous incentives with land from $195,000.

7:00pm Thursday 3rd May, Mullumbimby Civic Hall MC Mandy Nolan, food and coffee available from Cafe Xpress $5 entry fee, which goes to Mullumbimby Youth Cottage. Kids free and welcome. For more information about the night contact 6687 1492 or johnbennettcedar@gmail.com

 

Chefs entertain at the Byron Farmers Market

Celebrity chef Ben O’Donoghue today visited the Byron Farmers Market to research his new book, “The Best Farmers Markets in Australia”.

Best known for his cooking show with Curtis Stone, “Surfing the Menu”, O’Donoghue spent hours talking to stall holders, taking notes and tasting our unique produce.

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Chefs unite to promote local produce internationally

On Tuesday (27 March) local identity Gavin Hughes, Head Chef at The Byron at Byron Resort and Spa, joined Adam Brown at Duck Creek Macadamias in Newrybar for a cook-up.

The pair produced four dishes between them, using magnificent Duck Creek products including Macadamia Oil, Couverted Chocolate and Wasabi Macadamias.

The event was filmed and will be aired in April at Singapore’s Food and Hotel Asia Trade Show, where Duck Creek Macadamias will display their award-winning range of local macadamia products for the first time.

“Duck Creek are a small unique company and are trying really hard,” said Gavin Hughes, “so I am happy to give my time. They use the grade zero nut, which is the biggest nut. Their plantation is gorgeous, we are so lucky to live where we do and have the opportunity to create from this abundant region.”

Local chef Adam Brown is the face of new cooking show “Extremely Hungry”.

 

Tallowood Ridge first NBN site

Mullumbimby’s new community at Tallowood Ridge is the first site in the Northern Rivers to be connected to the Federal Government’s National Broadband Network. The estate, just next to the Mullumbimby Hospital, saw the final “haul in” of the fibre-optic trunk main cable earlier this week, and is now fully connected to the network.

“It’s great news for our residents,” said Christopher Dean, Chair of Tallowood’s Management Committee. “They’re on the edge of town, surrounded by rolling green hills, yet connected to the whole world better than people in major cities.”

Tallowood Ridge and Armidale are the only places on the North Coast and inland region to be connected to the network.

NBN coverage represents superfast broadband speed (up to 100 MBs per second), the ability to access all channels, including those previously only on pay TV, quality and high resolution in picture to an exceptional standard, the ability to have large numbers of phone lines into your home and all of this through one place, rather than dealing with a multitude of service providers.

Business and marketing consultant Roe Ritchie is perhaps best-known as Producer of the wildly successful childrens fairytale The Grimstones. Roe has recently purchased at Tallowood Ridge with her partner Trace.’

“I work remotely, as a lot of my business occurs in Melbourne and Brisbane,” said Roe. “So to have access to really fast internet is invaluable. The NBN coverage makes it possible for us to live in the most beautiful part of Australia and be connected in a fast efficient way to the rest of the world.”

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Angels Beach North residents celebrate

Residents of Angels Beach North in East Ballina gathered to celebrate recently for their second community get-together.

“There are a few more of us now so we thought it was time to celebrate,” said resident of the Angels Beach North Mews Precinct Jan Stocks.

The residents, some of whom had not previously met, gathered in one of the parks within the estate for the afternoon.

“It was lovely,” said Jan. “The kids all played and we got to know each other a bit better.”

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Saffin seeks assurance on future of Coraki’s Campbell Hospital

Page MP Janelle Saffin is calling on the Northern New South Wales Local Health District to give a public reassurance about the status of Campbell Hospital in Coraki.
 
Ms Saffin said it is not fair to leave the Coraki community in limbo about when the hospital will reopen.
 
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Opportunities to learn about the value of property and farm planning

The value of a farm or property plan will be explained to landowners in the Richmond catchment area at a special seminar coming up in March and in a special TAFE course sponsored by Richmond Landcare Inc (RLI), they will be able to prepare their own.

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.”

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MP calls for end of Canadian asbestos exports to sub-continent

Page MP Janelle Saffin has moved a Private Members Motion in Federal Parliament to recognise the action of Australian governments in dealing with the impacts of asbestos-related diseases.
 
“We have first-hand experience of the tragic legacy of asbestos with constituents of Page who worked at the James Hardie mine at Baryulgil,” she said. 
 
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