“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?’

“This new system will put that information at their fingertips.”

Travellers will be able to view a map of the Northern Rivers region, from Clarence Valley in the south to Tweed in the north and out to Kyogle in the west which shows ‘roads closed information’ with markers placed at the location of the closure.
This visual guide will indicate the most reliable routes for travel across the region.

The RoadInfo website, www.myroadinfo.com.au, will be launched at the NOROC meeting on Friday, 26 February at 11am.

The initial idea came up during the post-flood review conducted after the January 2008 flood.

Councils applied for and received $14,000 from the Natural Disaster Mitigation Programme courtesy of the NSW Department of Emergency Services in May 2009.

The past nine months have been spent designing and developing the website.

The development of the website has seen strong collaboration between Lismore, Ballina, Kyogle, Richmond Valley, Tweed, Byron, and Clarence Valley councils.

Cr Dowell said, “It is really good to see our Councils working together, especially to provide such a useful service. This project shows just what can be achieved by us working together.

“We have shared resources and kept the cost down to an absolute minimum. I would like to thank all the councils for their hard work.

“Giving people across the region easy access to road closure information will be a real benefit to the whole Northern Rivers community, and although during a flood people should keep their travel down to a minimum, this new website will help to keep people safe when travel is essential,” she said.

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“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.”

For the past year, Murwillumbah Street has become ‘Sustainability Street’ and neighbours have become friends through swapping goods, information and ideas.

Murwillumbah Street resident Lisa Blackwell was one of the instigators of the project, and sought help from Tweed Shire Council’s Sustainability Officer Dan Walton to help move the project from the discussion stage to reality.

“Initially we wanted to get our little street operating as a community – we wanted to get back to grassroots,” Ms Blackwell said.

“We live in a town but it can be a village. We all know our neighbours but we don’t live in each others’ pockets.”

Interested residents meet once a month at a bench under a shady jacaranda tree to discuss joint and individual projects to reduce water and energy consumption, swap vegetables, eggs, unwanted goods and talk about practical environmental improvements, such as car pooling.

“Through our meetings, we have identified common goals, including a bushland restoration project in a nearby reserve,” Ms Blackwell said.

Over the last few months, Dan Walton has initiated a monthly project to improve environmental outcomes. One month, residents painted gutters with stormwater messages, while another, they set daily targets for water (150 litres per person per day) and energy consumption (less than five kilowatts per person per day).

Through the Bush Futures program, Mr Walton also helped residents at access a State Government grant to plant sustainable street trees, including oranges and lemon myrtles.

“This program offers residents practical ways to restore local biodiversity, improve household water and energy efficiency as well as organic gardening and ethical shopping workshops,” Mr Walton said.

“We’re hoping residents of other streets in Tweed and Byron will be inspired by the hard work, enthusiasm and practical example of Murwillumbah Street.”

Once chosen, the successful streets will participate in series of council-led workshops and community activities including the planting of community fruit trees, painting stormwater messages on gutters, energy and water efficiency workshops and culminating in a community feast using locally sourced ingredients.

Participants will also get the opportunity to provide ideas and suggestions on activities and outcomes they’d like to see for their street.

If you think your street would benefit from this exciting grassroots initiative, download the information package including the application form at www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/sustainability

The closing date for applications is 1 March 2010. People without internet access can call Dan Walton, Tweed Council Sustainability Officer on 02 6670 2555.

The Sustainable Streets program is funded by the Tweed-Byron Urban Bush Futures grant – a local government partnership under the NSW Government Urban Sustainability Program.

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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.

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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.

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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.

“People who lived on the land told me how it became essential for them to learn how to make their own fuel, and all sorts of mixes were developed and tested in backyard sheds. Many people also self-converted cars, buses, trucks and farm machinery to run on coal gas. While there were some tragedies from explosions, many of the designs were innovative and worked quite well.”

Theresa said that a lot of people had great ‘flood stories’ to tell.

“One woman told me how, during the big 1945 flood, her father hailed the cream boat that went from Coraki to Lismore, thinking it could drop them on the other side of the river because their house was flooding,” Theresa said.

“Instead, they were taken all the way to town where the boat was tied up to a hoop pine on the riverbank. Their family spent the night on board eating chunks of bread and cream, and early next morning, the waters had receded and they walked around town.

”The woman said the paper-mâché dress shop models in their beautiful gowns had collapsed onto the floors of the dress shops in the most grotesque attitudes, still with silly smiles on their faces.”

Theresa would like to gather as many oral histories as she can and is seeking 50 people aged 65 and over, living in the Tweed, Byron, Ballina, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Kyogle Shire areas, who would like to participate in her research.

She can be contacted on 6688 2387 or by email at theresa.mason@scu.edu.au.

PICTURE: Theresa Mason, who is doing an oral history of the Northern Rivers area for her PhD.

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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.

Police are continuing their inquiries in relation to Mr Kirk’s disappearance and are continuing to search the areas where it is believed he regularly walked with the dog.

Any person with information regarding Mr Kirk should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or Byron Bay Police on 02 6685 9499.

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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’

 
Mr Page said these projects gave seniors an opportunity to have some fun, explore new activities and record their reflections during the busy Seniors Week.

“Senior members of our community make a valuable contribution to the area,” Mr Page said.

“Seniors Week can only be a success with the support and participation of local organisations.

“I congratulate each of the grant recipients for their participation through vibrant and innovative projects.”

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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.

He was reported missing to police yesterday, and patrols of the area – and his regular walking routes – were conducted without success.

A search resumed this morning involving local police, as well as Mullumbimby SES and Brunswick Heads Surf Life Saving Club members, assisted by the Westpac helicopter.

Mr Kirk is described as being white/European appearance with a thin build, about 163cm tall, 60-65kg with grey hair.

He was last seen wearing a t-shirt shorts and a baseball cap.

Police have been told he walks with a hobble.

His dog is described as being a tan-coloured Staffordshire-type dog named ‘Cimmi’.

Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Mr Kirk or Cimmi, or may have sighted them since Monday morning, is urged to contact Byron Bay Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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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.

Further information about Caring for our Country and the Community Action Grants program, including a complete list of funded projects, is available at www.nrm.gov.au or by calling 1800 552 008.

Community Action Grant Recipients:
·       Rainforest Rescue – $18,909
·       Brunswick Valley Landcare Incorporated – $20,000
·       Madhima Gulgan Community Association Incorporated – $18,181
·       Friends of Wollumbin – $14,531
·       Jiggi Catchment Landcare Group Incorporated – $10,230
·       Angels Beach Dunecare & Reafforestation Group -  $6,850
·       Farrants Hilltop Bushcare Group – $8,350

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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.

Mr Faulkner said this figure included approximately $13,000 on catering for council meetings and $32,500 attending conferences, seminars and the associated costs for travel and accommodation.

“There were no overseas trips and $32,500 is a frugal amount for nine councillors over a 12-month period,” he said.

“We are a regional shire and naturally there are costs associated to attend events that are pertinent to the interests of the shire.”

He said if a councillor wished to attend a conference, it must be identified within the approved yearly council budget or approved at a council meeting.

Councillors have the opportunity to debate the nomination of attendees including who attends and the number of delegates.

Other councillor expenses reported in the $78,682 include the provision of office equipment to the newly elected councillors in 2008 ($10,424), telephone calls ($13,977), Mayor’s vehicle expenses ($7905) and training ($660).

Byron Shire councillors during the 2008/09 period attended 39 council meetings which included Ordinary Meetings, Strategic Planning Meetings, Reserve Trust, Quarterly Reviews and Extra Ordinary Meetings. Councillors were also extensively involved with numerous Council Project Reference Groups, Section 355 Committees and regional committees.

• Councillors’ Remuneration 2008/09
• Mayoral Allowance 33,010
• Councillors – Attendance Fees 134,598
• Mayor Vehicle Expenses 7905
• Provision of dedicated office equipment to councillors 10,242
• Telephone Calls made by councillors 13,977
• Catering 12,909
• Attendance of councillors at conferences and seminars 17,383
• Training of councillors and Provision of Skill Development 660
• Interstate visits by councillors, including transport, accommodation and other out-of-pocket travelling expenses 15,206.
• Expenses involved in the provision of care for a child or an immediate family member of a councillor 400

Councillor expenses were paid in accordance with the council’s adopted Policy 1.1 – Mayor and Councillors’ Payment of Expenses and Provision of Facilities. The total paid, as reported in the Annual Report, was $246,290.

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