NSW surf lifesaving Country Championship results -Byron Bay wins pointscore
January 17, 2011
The Stramit NSW Country Championships wrapped up today after strong swells forced the relocation of the carnival to Trial Bay. Byron Bay has won the overall carnival pointscore, followed by Warilla-Barrack Point, with the defending title holder Lennox Head-Alstonville ending up in third spot.
The event has been hugely successful over the last two years for the small South West Rocks club and community, generating an estimated $5million within the local economy.
Overall Pointscore
1st Byron Bay 807 pts
2nd Warilla-Barrack Point 575
3rd Lennox-Head Alstonville 459
4th Cudgen Headland 410
5th Coffs Harbour 394
6th Tacking Point 327
7th Port Macquarie 297.5
8th Sawtell 295
9th Shellharbour 268.5
10th Wauchope-BH 200
11th South West Rocks 168
12th Woolgoolga 103
FAR NORTH COAST RESULTS
Lifesavers on patrol over holiday period
December 16, 2010
Far North Coast surf life savers will be back on patrol again this weekend as the Christmas and Summer holiday season gets under way.
Beaches on the Far North Coast will be patrolled from Yamba right up to Fingal Head on the Queensland and NSW border.
Seahorses, some fish species ‘rarer than anticipated’
November 14, 2010
Seahorses and fish species including the Ballina angel fish and Elegant wrasse have been found to be rarer than anticipated in a project which has mapped threatened and protected marine species along the coast between Tweed Heads and Port Macquarie.
The Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority (NRCMA) project was completed by Southern Cross University researchers Associate Professor Stephen Smith, Dr Steven Dalton and Dr Steven Purcell, from the National Marine Science Centre in Coffs Harbour.
Coastal waters targeted in marine operation
November 6, 2010
State and Commonwealth enforcement agencies combined forces this week to conduct a joint marine Operation between Mooloolaba in South East Queensland and Yamba in New South Wales. The Operation commenced on November 3 and continued until 2pm today, November 6.
The combined resources of Queensland Police, NSW Police, Australian Fisheries Management Authority, Australian Customs and Border Protection targeted illegal activities within the Australian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) out to 200 nautical miles to sea.
Despite strong winds and rough conditions, approximately 150 commercial fishing vessels and private boats were intercepted and inspected for a range of compliance and illegal activities.
Vessel interceptions have resulted in 10 people being charged with a variety of minor drug-related offences. 100 Random breath tests were conducted with approximately 30 state marine compliance offences detected.
Flood warnings issued for Tweed and Wilsons rivers
October 11, 2010
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued Minor Flood Warnings for the Tweed and Wilsons rivers. The SES advises you never enter floodwater.
WEATHER AND WARNINGS
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, a deepening low pressure trough off the NSW Far North Coast is expected to bring locally heavy rain during Monday, easing during the afternoon. Falls of up to 200mm have been recorded overnight in the upper Tweed River Valley.
A Flood Warning has been issued for the Tweed River for Minor Flooding at Chinderah.
In the Tweed River Valley, up to 220 millimetres of rain has fallen during the past 24 hours to 8:30am today. This rainfall combined with this afternoon’s high tide is expected to cause minor flooding at Chinderah (Barneys Point) this afternoon. Further rainfall is possible today which could produce some further river level rises.
Thanks from the Koalas
October 10, 2010
Friends of the Koala warmly thanks customers of the Vintage Retro & Recycled Clothing Fair which was held at the Brunswick Heads Memorial Hall over the weekend of 2-3 October for their wonderful generosity in donating over $1100 to assist their work to conserve the Northern Rivers’ precious koalas.
“Like other wildlife rehabilitation groups on the Northern Rivers, Friends of the Koala is a voluntary, not-for-profit organisation, drawn from members of the community who are passionate about the survival of the region’s wildlife and rich biodiversity,” Friends of the Koala president Lorraine Vass said.
“We operate with little financial assistance from government and depend on donations and fundraising efforts which are supported primarily by the regional community.”
Friends of the Koala has provided the Northern Rivers with koala watchdogs, tree planters and rescuer/carers for over 20 years.
Lifesavers back on our beaches from this weekend
September 22, 2010
They’re back! Far North Coast surf lifesavers will be back on patrol this coming weekend. Beaches from Yamba right up to Fingal Head will gladly welcome back the red and yellow caps.
Surf Life Saving NSW, in partnership with local councils, will provide safe swimming areas as well as be prepared for any rescues, undertake first-aid treatment and provide surf and beach safety advice.
Woman drives 5km wrong way on highway
September 19, 2010
Police from Tweed/Byron Local Area Command have charged a woman after she drove 5km on the wrong side of the Pacific Highway on the Far North Coast overnight.
Highway Patrol police were patrolling the town of Billinudgel, near Brunswick Heads, about 8.30pm when they saw a white Ford Falcon station wagon turn left onto the highway, travelling south in the northbound lanes.
The officers activated lights and sirens and followed the woman, trying for 5km to attract her attention to stop.
Numerous vehicles travelling in the opposite direction were forced to take evasive action as the woman reached speeds of up to 100kmh.
Watch out for shorebirds in the school holidays
September 15, 2010
With the Queensland school holidays starting next week, beach visitors are asked to steer clear of nesting shorebirds.
National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Pest Management Officer Lisa Wellman said that threatened Pied Oystercatchers are currently nesting at a range of sites throughout the Northern Rivers region.
Fluke Matcher uncovers a world of knowledge about whales
August 30, 2010
Southern Cross University has launched a powerful new software program that will enable researchers from around the world to collate humpback whale photographic catalogues and gain new understanding of the marine mammal’s biology, ecology and behaviour.
Fluke Matcher was developed by a team of researchers including Daniel Burns and Professor Peter Harrison, from Southern Cross University’s Marine Ecology Research Centre, and Dr Eric Kniest, from the University of Newcastle and was funded by the Australian Government.
