New website lists road closure information
February 24, 2010
Motorists travelling in the Northern Rivers area now have ready, reliable access to roads information with the launch of a new website called RoadInfo www.myroadinfo.com.au
“This is especially important in times of emergency,” said Cr Jenny Dowell, president of the Northern Rivers Regional Organisation of Councils (NOROC).
“Although the new system will show roadworks and scheduled road closures on an everyday basis, it will come into its own during a flood or in other emergency event.
“It is the experience of most councils that the information people request most is ‘what roads are closed?’ and ‘how can I travel from A to B?’
Murwillumbah Street shows the way in Sustainable Street program
February 10, 2010
The Mayor of Tweed Shire Council has congratulated residents of a Murwillumbah street who have broken down barriers and improved community life through a groundbreaking project to improve sustainability at the grassroots level.
“The Sustainable Street program is a joint initiative of Tweed and Byron shire councils which aims to bring neighbours together for local environmental improvements,” Councillor Warren Polglase said.
“This project has been so successful that Tweed and Byron shire councils are now seeking more streets to take part.
“Tweed and Byron councils are pleased to announce that we have secured State Government funding through the Tweed-Byron Bush Futures Program to deliver the Sustainable Streets package to two streets in each shire in 2010.”
Man’s body identified – Brunswick Heads
January 30, 2010
Police have positively identified human remains located in bushland at Ocean Shores as missing man Kevin Kirk.
Mr Kirk, 70, was last seen walking a small Staffordshire dog through Ferry Reserve Caravan Park at nearby Brunswick Heads on 18 January.
A series of searches for Mr Kirk were conducted in the area by police and other emergency services after he was reported missing but failed to locate any trace of him.
His remains were found during a search on Thursday.
A post mortem examination will be conducted on Monday to try to establish the cause of Mr Kirk’s death.
A report is being prepared for the Coroner.
Man’s body located near Brunswick Heads
January 28, 2010
Police will prepare a report for the Coroner following the discovery of a man’s body at Ocean Shores.
About 8am today (Thursday 28 January 2010), a co-ordinated search utilising a specialised police dog commenced in bushland.
About 12.55pm, human remains and a number of personal items were located near Oola Place.
The body has not been positively identified and investigations are continuing.
Since Wednesday 20 January, police from Tweed/Byron Local Area Command have conducted a series of searches for a 70-year-old man.
Kevin Kirk was last seen walking his dog through the Ferry Reserve Caravan Park at Brunswick Heads at 9.30am on Monday 18 January.
Memories sought for oral history of Northern Rivers
January 28, 2010
A Southern Cross University researcher is searching for older people living from Tweed Heads to Kyogle who can share their memories of the region’s early history.
Theresa Mason has embarked on her PhD research project – an oral history of the Northern Rivers – and already has many a fascinating tale to tell, thanks to locals sharing their stories for her earlier Honours project.
Her interest in the region’s history began when she was editing and writing for The Village Journal, a local newspaper based in Rosebank, serving the rural areas between Dunoon, Federal and Bexhill.
“I came across all of these older people who had fascinating stories to tell,” she said. “Many of the stories around people’s experiences during the Great Depression and in times of war were particularly interesting.
Search continues for missing man at Brunswick Heads
January 25, 2010
Police from Tweed/Byron Local Area Command have renewed their appeal for any information regarding the disappearance of 70-year-old Kevin Kirk.
Mr Kirk was last seen on the morning of Friday 15 January this year, when he left his home at Brunswick Heads to walk a friend’s brown Staffordshire dog.
The dog was located by a member of the public on Friday 22 January in the area of Divines Hill but it was not wearing a distinctive pink leash used by Mr Kirk.
An extensive search of Brunswick Heads, Ocean Shores and surrounding areas has been conducted by police, members of the SES, local surf lifesaving clubs and the Westpac Lifesaver Helicopter but failed to find any trace of Mr Kirk.
Funding for Ballina Electorate 2010 Seniors Week programs
January 21, 2010
Seven Ballina Electorate organisations have been awarded funding under the 2010 NSW Seniors Week Grants Program, Ballina MP Don Page announced.
Mr Page said the programs would be held during NSW Seniors Week from 21 to 28 March 2010.
The successful recipients are:
- Ballina Coastal Quilters Inc. $400 for Seniors at the Gallery – Creativity in Action
- Ballina District Community Services Association $400 for ‘Celebrating Our Seniors’
- Brunswick Valley U3A $400 for ‘Picnic in the Park’
- Byron Shire Council $500 for ‘The HIP-hop Replacements’
- St Andrew’s Village Ballina $400 for ‘Seniors Gathering Together’
- The Merrymakers Inc: $870 for Seniors Week Concert
- Tintenbar Community Aid Network: $400 for ‘Stepping out in Tintenbar’
Appeal to locate missing man and his dog – Brunswick Heads
January 21, 2010
Police from Tweed/Byron Local Area Command are appealing for public assistance in locating a man who was last seen walking his dog at Brunswick Heads on Monday.
Mr Kevin Kirk (pictured), aged 70, was last seen walking his dog through the Ferry Reserve Caravan Park about 9.30am on 18 January. Neither Mr Kirk nor his dog have been seen since.
Richmond electorate Caring for Our Country grants
January 20, 2010
Seven community-based organisations on the Far North Coast are set to benefit this year from more than $97,000 in funding from the Australian Government.
Richmond MP Justine Elliot said the community organisations had received funding through the 2009-10 Caring for our Country Community Action Grants program.
She said the funding would enable the groups to undertake important local environmental activities, such as planting and revegetation, weed control, field days and community workshops and education.
Applications for the 2010-11 Community Action Grants are expected to open mid year.
Byron Shire councillors don’t ‘live it up’
January 14, 2010
An article in the Daily Telegraph on councils ‘living it up’ does not apply to Byron Shire Council, the council’s general manager, Graeme Faulkner, said.
He said the Byron Shire’s councillors are a hard-working group of individuals dedicated to the community.
“They are paid less than $15,000 each per year, with an additional Mayoral allowance of $33,000,” he said.
The Daily Telegraph news article reported a figure of up to $47,000 spent on ’sustenance’ within Byron Shire for the period 2008-09.
