“The list of businesses deregistered from operating under the Home Insulation Program sends a strong message to installers and the public that we take non-compliance with the insulation program requirements seriously,” Mr Garrett said.

“All installers working under this program are on notice – if they break the rules, strong action will be taken to ensure they can no longer access payments and now they can also be named to protect householders.

“The consequences of dodgy behaviour for insulation businesses just got a lot tougher.

“There’s no room in this program for businesses who aren’t willing to stand publicly by the quality of their work and who tarnish the work of reputable, hard-working installation businesses.

“We will take swift and tough action against anyone who breaches the terms of registration and the program guidelines.”

Mr Garrett encouraged householders to continue to check their installer is on the Installer Provider Register.

“We have always encouraged householders to shop around until they find a registered installer they’re happy with and to ensure they’re choosing the right product and installation options for their circumstances.”

Mr Garrett also reminded householders that under changes to the scheme that commenced on December 1, they must get at least two independent quotes which are based on a physical site inspection before proceeding to have insulation installed.  

“A mandatory requirement that every house undergo a risk assessment before any work is carried out also commenced on December 1, to improve safety and protection for both householders and installers,” he said.

“These checklists will be subject to random and targeted audits and householders are encouraged to review this assessment prior to work being conducted.

“This new safety requirement comes on top of changes introduced in November requiring the mandatory installation of downlight covers and a ban on the use of metal fasteners.

“Householders should also only sign the work order form when they are satisfied with the work that has been done.”

If householders require further information on installers they are encouraged to contact the information line on 1800 808 571.

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All residents and businesses are encouraged to comply with the measures, to ensure sustainable water use throughout the region.

“After extensive public consultation earlier this year, Rous Water and local councils in the Rous region are now implementing permanent water saving measures,” Rous Water chairman Col Sullivan said.

“These voluntary measures will be part of our ongoing commitment to sustainable water use in the region.”

Rous Water general manager Kyme Lavelle said: “In June last year, Rous Water conducted a community survey of attitudes towards permanent water saving measures.

“These measures would be voluntary and separate from the mandatory water restrictions that are implemented during dry times.

“The survey found very strong support within the community for permanent water conservation measures, regardless of dam levels.

“These measures will therefore be in place on an ongoing basis and will ensure sensible and sustainable use of potable water throughout the region.”

Rous Water and the local councils of Ballina, Byron, Lismore and Richmond Valley jointly prepared a list of possible measures and obtained feedback from the community before adopting a final list in mid-August this year.

The measures are now in place and will restrict the use of potable water for activities such as hosing of hard surfaces and garden watering times.

The full list can be seen at the Rous Water website.

Alternatively, community members can contact Rous Water for a copy by calling 1800 450 203.

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“As previously announced, there will be changes to the First Home Owners Grant Boost commencing today,” Ms Saffin said.

“As a part of Budget 2009-2010 the Australian Government announced an extension to the First Home Owners Boost until 31 December 2009, with changes to the payment from 1 October 2009. 

“First home buyers who purchase an established house who were eligible for a $14,000 grant will now still be eligible for a $10,500 grant, while those who sign a contract to buy or construct a new home that were eligible for a $21,000 grant will be eligible for a $14,000 grant. After December 31, 2009, the original $7000 First Home Owners Grant will continue.

“A gradual phasing out of the First Home Owners Boost is the responsible way of helping the market to readjust as the grants reduce.

“As a key aspect of the Rudd Government’s stimulus plan, the First Home Owners Boost helped to stimulate not only the building and housing sectors but it also had a flow-on effect which boosted other industries such as retail and hardware. 

“It has been a very successful initiative.

“Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that the Rudd Government’s National Building Economic Stimulus Plan continues to support housing sector jobs and first home buyers, with more than 153,000 Australians using the First Home Owners Boost to the end of August.

“NSW continues to lead the way, with over 53,000 applicants taking up the boost – over one third of the national total.

“First home buyers made up over one quarter of all new loans for owner occupation and overall the number of first home buyers rose by over 73 per cent in July 2009, compared with the same period last year.

“Since the First Home Owners Grant Boost was announced, the amount of houses I have seen for sale be snapped up has just astounded me. 

“Everywhere I go people tell me what a great thing it was and how much it helped them be able to buy their first home.”

Lismore real estate agent Paul Deegan said: “There is no doubt that there has been a boost in sales. The First Home Owners Grant Boost has certainly enabled a lot more people to buy a new home.”

Local business owner Travis Watson was one of the many people to benefit from the First Home Owners Grant Boost. 

“Like most other people I know, without the First Home Owners Grant Boost I would never have been able to save for the deposit to buy a house. With the grant I was able to produce the deposit and buy my first home, which I love. It was the push I needed to go out and buy a house,” Mr Watson said.

Information on the changes to the First Home Owners Grant boost can be found at the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs website at www.fahcsia.gov.au

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The school’s garden will receive a makeover, with sponsor Bunnings providing all the plants, mulch and labour needed to establish a new herb and vegetable garden for the school.

Murwillumbah East Public School students are equally thrilled that all their hard work in their garden paid off after taking out the John O’Reilly Memorial ‘Judges’ choice’ perpetual trophy. The school also won the Best Large School Garden category and were placed second in the Schools Garden Project.

The judges were Brad Moore from Council’s Recreation Services Unit and John McIntosh and Mike Toby from Bunnings South Tweed. The trio spent three days touring the gardens of the 22 pre-schools, primary and high schools which entered the competition.

“The standard was fantastic overall and it was great to see so many students and their teachers putting such a big effort into improving their school’s outdoor environment,” Mr Toby said.

“But the number one thing for us, without a doubt, was seeing the kids’ faces and the joy they got from their gardens.”

Special mention was made of the efforts at Tweed Valley College in Murwillumbah, which won the Best School Garden Project Category.
“This project was fantastic with a high level of student involvement,” Mr Toby said.

Judging criteria included student participation, sustainability, cost effectiveness, appearance and originality. There will be an extra category next year, the Sustainable Garden.

Tweed Shire Council and Bunnings jointly funded the $1220 in prizes on offer in this year’s awards.

The winners were:
Best Large School Garden
1st Murwillumbah East Public School
2nd Bogangar Public School
3rd Tweed Heads Public School
Best Small School Garden
1st Tumbulgum Public School
2nd Condong Public School
3rd Crabbes Creek Public School
Best School Garden Project
1st Tweed Valley College
2nd Murwillumbah East Public School
3rd Condong Public School
The John O’Reilly Memorial Schools Award “Judges Choice”
Murwillumbah East Public School
Encouragement Awards:
Murwillumbah South Infants (Grown your own Garden award)
Kingscliff High School
Other Entrants were:
Duranbah Public
Pottsville Beach Public School
Mt Warning Community Pre School
Murwillumbah Public School
Banora Point Primary School
St James Primary
Banora Point High School
Possums Community Pre School
Wallum Community Pre School
Fingal Head Public School
Crystal Creek Public
Tyalgum Public School
Sathya Sai Primary School

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Held at the Ballina RSL last Saturday night, the Awards recognised ‘diversity of design and excellence in crafstmanship’ on the North Coast.

Twenty-seven year old Natalie was solely responsible for both the interior design and fitout and building design of the iconic tavern.

Other refurbishments she has completed recently include the Lismore greyhound track, Café Wa in Maclean and Bangalow Hairdressing, as well as numerous residential extensions, renovations and new house designs.

After completing her Bachelor of Design Studies at the Queensland College of Art, Griffith University, in 2002, Natalie planned to move to Sydney to immerse herself in the world of design.

“But after coming back to the Northern Rivers for a break I realised I wanted to stay and contribute,” she said.

“There is incredible talent here – all my suppliers are local. And there is so much scope to improve our streetscapes and living spaces.”

Natalie commissioned giant paintings of horse heads from internationally celebrated Northern Rivers artist Angus McDonald for the Tavern. The illuminated works on glass, which stand three metres tall, bring a contemporary edge to Tavern’s platinum TAB.

“Tommy’s is a really incredible project that would not be out of place in any city in any country,” said Angus.

“Natalie is a hugely talented and creative designer with a big future.”

In 2006 the home at 137 Dawson Street in Lismore that Natalie shared with her partner, builder Nathan Brown, was destroyed in a house fire.

“We were devastated,” said Natalie. “But after some time we felt we wanted to make something positive out of the tragedy, so we set about designing our new home and studio space.”

Located next to Perfix Dry Cleaners, the site now houses two shops, the couple’s home and Natalie’s studio for her business, NW Design.

“We live in the middle of town next to a dry cleaners so the environment was very urban,” Natalie said.

“The building design reflects that. My design is always vernacular, it has to be relevant to the place and the people it is for. The Northern Rivers has so much potential for interesting development and we wanted to set a new standard.”

Natalie often creates clients’ corporate images, as well as looking after their physical premises.

“As a designer it is important to create a unique identity for any business,” said Natalie.

“This means integrated design where the corporate identity is visually linked with the internal and external space.”

To view Natalie’s work visit www.nwdesign.com.au

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“The Homeowners Insulation Program is a key part of the Rudd Government’s Energy Efficient Homes Package which aims to improve the energy rating of Australian homes and help home owners save on their electricity bills,” Member for Page Janelle Saffin said.

“The program offers free insulation worth up to $1600 to eligible Australian home owner-occupiers of currently uninsulated homes.

“From the first of July eligible home owners will gain access to a free-call booking and installation service which will arrange for a qualified installer to visit the home and install free ceiling insulation (up to $1600). The homeowner can then avoid upfront costs.

“Because of the huge interest in the Homeowners Insulation Program, the Government has announced details of a program for early installation, for eligible homeowners who install ceiling insulation between February 3 and July 1, 2009.

“Under the early installation program, eligible applicants will be able to seek reimbursement up to a maximum amount of $1600 if they arrange for an authorised installer to install ceiling insulation between February 3, and July 1, 2009 and meet the application requirements.

“People wanting to take advantage of the early installation program need to ring the hotline on 1800 808 571 and they will be sent an information package and application forms. They can return the forms after installation and will be reimbursed within eight weeks.”

More information is available on the website at www.environment.gov.au/energyefficiency or by ringing the hotline 1800 808 57.

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Ms Saffin said: “I have had so many inquiries from people right across Page who are keen to take advantage of the free insulation. I can now let them know they can apply from today.

“Many local businesses which supply and install ceiling insulation will have to prepare for a boom in business, going by the level of interest in this program.”

Through the Government’s $3.9 billion Energy Efficient Homes package, households can now apply for one of the following upgrades:

• The Homeowner Insulation Program which installs free insulation (capped at $1600) in the homes of eligible owner-occupiers.
• The Low Emission Assistance Plan for Renters which provides assistance of up to $1000 for installing insulation in private rental properties.
• The Solar Hot Water rebate which provides rebates of up to $1500 for installation of solar hot water systems.

The program was originally to come into effect in July, but Prime Minister Kevin Rudd today announced a new fast-track process, making it effective immediately.

“The Energy Efficient Homes Package will create thousands of jobs around Australia in the manufacturing, distribution and installation of ceiling insulation and solar hot water during the global financial crisis,” Ms Saffin said.

More information is available on the website at www.environment.gov.au/energyefficiency or by ringing the hotline 1800 808 571, or ring Ms Saffin’s offices Lismore 6621 9909, Grafton 6642 8507.

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Recycling was one thing that residents could do to help address climate change, said co-ordinator of the North East Waste Forum, Gordon Fraser-Quick.

Mr Fraser-Quick said the more we recycled, the greater the environmental benefit was because we were not only minimising the output of carbon dioxide – which was the biggest contributor to climate change – but we’re also conserving valuable resources and saving vast amounts of water and energy.

“Last financial year more than 17,000 tonnes of recyclable household waste was recycled in the NEWF region of Byron Shire, Tweed Shire, Ballina Shire, Clarence Valley, Richmond Valley and Kyogle Council areas,” he said.

“This amounts to a saving of 8500 tonnes of CO2 being saved from entering into the atmosphere or the equivalent of 2050 cars being permanently removed from our roads; and a water saving of more than 280,000 megalitres or the equivalent of 112 Olympic sized swimming pools.”

Mr Fraser-Quick said recycling bottles, cans, jars and paper at home was a great start, however, to Recycle Right we needed to make sure we’re putting the right things into our home recycling bins.

He said when we put the wrong items in a household recycling bin, we contaminated the entire contents of the bin and reduced the effectiveness of the whole recycling process.

For example, a single plastic bag could shut down an entire material recovery facility if it got caught in its machinery; and just five grams of drinkware glass or Pyrex in a recycling bin could contaminate a tonne of bottle and jar glass because it melted at a different temperature.

“The North East Waste Forum and local councils encourage all residents to address climate change by recycling,” he said.

“When we Recycle Right we minimise contamination, we conserve resources and we reduce our impact on the environment.”

The North East Waste Forum is encouraging all Far North Coast residents to use National Recycling Week as an opportunity to Recycle Right whether it’s putting the right things into your home, work and school recycling bin, recycling clothes and other household goods at your local charity or recycling printer cartridges.

For more information about recycling in your area visit www.recyclingnearyou.com.au

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The release of Stage Two of the celebrated community by joint venture partners Indigo and Urbex has stirred the development industry both locally and interstate.

But it’s the local buyers who are jumping up and down about this new hilltop release.

Local vet Evan Kosack (pictured) is sitting pretty with his purchase at Elevation.

“We went up to have a look at the developments happening in Lennox, more through curiosity than anything,” said Evan.

“We were drawn to Elevation for many reasons.

“The blocks were level, unlike a lot of the other developments, there are lovely breezes, it’s close to Lennox village as well as both Seven Mile and Boulder beaches.

“It’s also close to the Vet Clinic where I work in Lennox.

“We thought it was a very well-planned estate that was going to be quiet, which was important to us.

“We realised there are not many places available in Lennox to build so thought we had to get in quick. We start building in a few weeks.”

Solicitor Sean Radburn from Lismore firm Somerville Laundry Lomax is moving to Elevation with his wife and three kids.

“What appealed to us is that it’s going to be a family-friendly estate with the park and the footpaths,” said Sean.

“The other thing we liked was the blocks were a good size, flat with a lovely outlook.

“You’ve got the school down the road, it’s just minutes to a number of beaches and I’m looking forward to fishing at Boulder Beach.

“It’s the gateway there at Elevation, you’re right in the middle and you’ve got easy access to everything you need. 

“It’s not only beautiful but it’s practical. And our block was well-priced. Our plans are currently with council and we expect to start building before Christmas.”

Elevation developers says that every one of the 22 blocks being offered in Stage Two is level and easy to build upon.

“Each also offers sweeping hinterland views which are preserved for eternity through zonings.”

“Stage Two land ranges in size from 590 to 775 square metres, with blocks typically around 700 square metres. Prices range from $315,000 to $405,000.

“Five architecturally designed home and land packages (priced from $690,000.00) are also available as a very special offer within Stage Two.

“The contemporary yet timeless designs offer easy living, with flexible spaces and meticulous positioning to capture breezes, maximum light and views.”
 
The on-site Elevation sales office on North Creek Road is open all weekend from 10am–5pm and Monday to Wednesday from noon to 5pm.

For sales enquiries contact Kenn May on 1300 762 552 or visit elevationlennoxhead.com.au

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Many people, particularly older people, are turning to caravan parks as an affordable housing choice or as a lifestyle choice after retirement, according to forum organisers.

While residential parks can provide an attractive lifestyle for older people – providing a sense of community and actual support from other residents – there are also pitfalls that are not often known.
 
Legal Aid NSW, the Northern Rivers Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service and the Tenants Union are holding these forums to make sure that people are aware of the financial and other risks involved in moving into a residential park and are aware of their rights when they sell their relocatable home.
 
Deirdre Dowsett from the Northern Rivers Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service, says many residents don’t know what their rights are when they want to sell their caravan and annexe or relocatable home in a residential park, and people considering buying a relocatable home may not be aware that there are financial and other risks involved in moving into a residential park.
 
“It is important that residents are fully aware of the financial and other risks involved in buying or selling a relocatable home and that they follow the correct procedures,” she said.

“These forums will ensure people will be better informed before making a very important decision about their future.”
 
For people selling their home, these forums will cover issues such as whether you can sell your home on-site, what restrictions apply when you sell, what assigning your residential tenancy agreement means and how that ties in with the sale. 
For people buying a relocatable home, these forums will cover what you should be aware of, questions you should ask before purchasing or moving in and what you should check in your residential tenancy agreement before you sign.
 
The forums will be followed by the opportunity to get free one-on-one tenancy and legal advice.
 
The information forums are part of the Legal Aid NSW Older Persons’ Legal and Education Program, which aims to improve older people’s access to legal information, advice and assistance.

The forums will be held in:

• Ballina
  10am–12pm
  Tues 4 November 2008
  The Lodge Room
  Masonic Centre
  56 Cherry Street (cnr Swift Street)
   
• Tweed Heads
  10am-12pm
  Wed 5 November 2008
  The Vision Room
  Twin Towns Clubs and Resorts

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