About 9pm last Saturday (28 August), a 49-year-old man was home alone when he responded to a knock at his front door.

Upon opening the door he was confronted by a man pointing a firearm toward his head. The man was wearing white clothing and his face was covered.

Police were told the occupant attempted to close the door but was unable to, as the intruder was kicking the door.

At this time four other men in similar white clothing, with their faces covered, arrived at the front door of the house.

It is alleged one of the men smashed a front window of the home. Police later located a magazine from a firearm inside the broken window.

Meanwhile, it is alleged the three remaining men banged on the windows and external blinds of the home, and smashed the window of the car parked on the front lawn.

The occupant of the house fled out the back door into a neighbour’s yard for safety, at which point the five men ran from the location.

Detectives from Tweed/Byron Local Area Command are investigating all circumstances surrounding the incident, including a possible motive for the attack.

They would like to hear from anyone who has information that might assist their investigations to contact Tweed Heads Police via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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NPWS Richmond River Area Manager Mark Pittavino said that the burns will help to reduce risk to property and protect the natural and cultural values of the national parks.

“The purpose of the burns is to provide fuel-reduced areas which will help to prevent the spread of wildfire,” Mr Pittavino said.

The burns are as follows:

• Twenty hectares in the Evans Head Defence Air Weapons Range in Bundjalung National Park to help stop the spread of fire from military activities and protect assets.
• Seven hectares in Broadwater National Park off Wallum Drive, near Evans Head to protect properties.
• Five hundred hectares in Bundjalung National Park (West) adjacent to the Pacific Highway, fifteen kilometres south of New Italy, in order to provide a hazard reduced area to reduce the spread of wildfire across the landscape.

During the burns, roads will remain open but drivers should be aware of the potential for smoke across the roads.

“Strategic wildfire control is a high priority and this hazard reduction burning will lower fuel loads in the areas in order to reduce potential wildfire intensity in summer,” Mr Pittavino said.

“The area identified for strategic burning is a result of fire modelling as part of the NPWS’s fire management planning process.”

“The burns will commence in the middle of the day and be completed by nightfall. People should avoid the area where the burns are being conducted.

“The burns will be conducted by NPWS staff with the assistance of the Rural Fire Service.”

To allow these hazard reduction burns to proceed with a minimum of inconvenience, nearby residents are asked to undertake the following precautions and preparations before and during the burn:

• Ensure all windows and doors are closed, especially if you will be absent from your home at any time during this period.
• Ensure all children are supervised during the burn operation.
• Ensure pets are secured
• It would be best to not leave washing on the line if you will be absent from your home during this period.
• Do not create vehicular or pedestrian congestion near the operation.
• Only authorised personnel are permitted on the fire-ground for the duration of the operation.

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NPWS Pest Management Officer Lisa Wellman said that prior to the start of each program, which began in 2006, advertisements are placed in local newspapers to advise people that the baiting is commencing.

“The program is undertaken twice a year in spring and autumn and looks for evidence of wild dogs which can then be controlled,” Ms Wellman said. 

“Control programs are based around baiting programs, and monitoring is also undertaken to determine how successful the program has been.

“The reserves to be targeted this spring are Maryland, Toonumbar, Richmond Range, Mebbin, Mt Jerusalem, Bundjalung, Nightcap, Mt Pikapene, Fortis Creek and Goonengerry National Parks, Whian Whian State Conservation Area and Bungabbee and Muckleewee Mountain Nature Reserve.

“In Mount Pikapene National Park, south-west of Casino, the wild dog program is being conducted as a collaborative program with adjacent landholders for the first time. Monitoring will commence next week, with baiting to follow if required.

“About a dozen enthusiastic landholders are already involved in the program and will conduct baiting on their own properties in conjunction with control in the national park. We would like to encourage other landholders to join in.

“Landholders in areas nearby who wish to conduct baiting on their own properties should contact their local Livestock, Health and Pest Authority.

“Our monitoring allows us to target wild dogs in specific areas where they are found and in the past has shown that control has been effective.’
 
“We have received very positive feedback from the community in response to our programs. We encourage park neighbours to report wild dog incidents to the NPWS and the LHPA.”

For information on where wild dog control programs are taking place, contact your local NPWS office: Kyogle Area 6632 0000, Tweed Area 6670 8600, Richmond River Area 6627 0200, Clarence North Area 6641 1500.

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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.

Dan Burns said the whale research group was excited to be releasing this powerful new technology to the research community.

“Researchers from Australia and around the world have been collecting hundreds and sometimes thousands of fluke photographs to identify individual humpback whales over many years. We recognise whales by their tail fluke pigmentation and scarring patterns,” Mr Burns said.

“This is a valuable collection of data but because of the difficulty we have had comparing images within different catalogues, the potential of this resource has not been fully realised. Traditional methods have required substantial time, effort and expertise.

“With this computer-aided matching system, our knowledge and understanding can grow significantly from here. At present different research groups tend to use different programs, but we think Fluke Matcher will take photo-identification analysis to new levels and get everybody onto the same page, allowing different groups to collaborate and match their data more efficiently in a standardised way.

“We have already received interest from researchers around Australia and all over the world. We will be conducting training in Australia soon, and I will be travelling to Auckland in a few weeks to train researchers from the South Pacific Whale Research Consortium, of which I’m also a member, in the use of the program. We also hope to collaborate with Northern Hemisphere scientists in the future.”

Mr Burns said that while computer-based matching systems had been developed for other marine species, including some cetaceans, Fluke Matcher was the first successful computerised system for humpback whales.

“The program uses various characteristics of humpback whale flukes to identify individuals, including black and white pigmentation distribution; angles and distances describing the shape of the fluke; and the location of distinctive features such as spots, lines and areas of damage,” Mr Burns said.

“When searching for a given fluke, the program then ranks all of the images in the database from the most likely to the least likely match for that fluke, and the operator then visually checks the ranked images to find any matches.

“Photo-identification is a valuable tool that allows whale researchers to determine various aspects of humpback whale biology and ecology, including estimates of abundance, migration patterns and interchange rates, and biological parameters such as calving and mortality rates.

“The collaborative aspect of this project is particularly important for improving our understanding of the movements and mixing of humpback whales on and between their feeding grounds in Antarctica and their breeding grounds in tropical and sub-tropical waters.

“This will help to determine the relationship between the endangered Oceania population and the faster-recovering east Australian population, the amount of mixing in the Antarctic and improve the accuracy of pre-whaling population estimates and recovery assessments.”

Professor Peter Harrison, director of the Marine Ecology Research Centre, said this was a significant development which would lead to greater international collaboration.

“This revolutionary tool will enable a much more efficient and collaborative use of data that is collected from around the world and will lead to improved management and conservation outcomes,” Professor Harrison said.

To find out more you can visit the Fluke Matcher website at: www.scu.edu.au/research/whales/fluke-matcher/index.php/3

PICTURE: The new Fluke Matcher computer program will enable researchers from around the world to collate humpback whale photographic catalogues.

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Ballina Shire Council said tenders had been called and the successful contractor had been appointed.

“The development has encountered many months of delays due to legal action taken against Ballina Shire Council which has since been settled in council’s favour,” the council said.

“Earthworks on the site and the Boeing Avenue extension are well-advanced and the successful builder is expected to take possession of the site mid-September.

“The tenders, which included submissions from local builders, were very competitive and whilst prices were very close, the time for construction was the determining factor. Harvey Norman has selected Mainbrace Constructions as the successful contractor and they will move on site mid-September.”

Michael Shay, principal of LJ Hooker Ballina, assisting with the local leasing of the project, said: “The Harvey Norman-anchored development will provide for both national and local retailers.

“The size and range of tenants in the development when added to the many support traders already in the precinct will make this the dominant bulky goods precinct on this section of the coast.”

Ballina Shire Mayor Cr Phillip Silver said: “Council was pleased that all the barriers to the development have now been removed. Harvey Norman has been patient throughout this process and now the project can move forward.

“The development will establish Ballina’s position in the retail hierarchy and on completion will provide around 110 direct positions, both full-time and part-time. When the downstream jobs are taken into account it will inject around $5 million in wages into the community, giving a measurable boost to our local economy.

“The establishment of this precinct will attract expenditure currently escaping the area and is consistent with the Far North Coast Regional Strategy which identifies Ballina as an emerging regional centre.”

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Russell Mills, Deputy Chair of Pacific Coast Touring Route and CEO for Northern Rivers Tourism, said: “Collectively industry and stakeholders are encouraged to be involved in The Legendary Pacific Coast project to strengthen the vibrant brand conceptualised for the road itself and in turn maximise the economic potential for the coastal and hinterland towns and communities along this legendary stretch of road.

“Together, as part of the self-drive campaign, travellers along The Legendary Pacific Coast will be encouraged to travel at their own pace and create personal memories and legendary experiences to increase the prominence of this popular touring route, establishing The Legendary Pacific Coast as a top tourism drive in Australia.

“Partnership workshops, for the tourism industry, will be held in four locations and provide industry the opportunity to learn first-hand the innovative developments secured for this project and also take part in a ‘traveller’s technology’ presentation.”

The workshop for the Northern Rivers will be held at the Ballina Beach Resort on Tuesday, 31st August. Places are still available – call 66870695 or rsvp@northernriverstourism.com.au

The Legendary Pacific Coast project began earlier in the year and has focused on developing a new brand for the touring route, previously known as the Pacific Coast Touring Route, and developing a suite of innovative and targeted opportunities for both industry and travellers. 

These include a new website, campaign photo shoot, tourist signposting, brand communications and media and a leading role in innovation and technology.

Collectively The Legendary Pacific Coast accounts for nearly 22 million visitors to NSW, and over 33 million visitor nights.  Total expenditure was $5.4 billion in 2008.

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The second was a serious incident and resulted in the successful rescue of a body-boarder who was swept around the point and on to rocks.

At around 7.30am surf lifesavers were called to respond to two swimmers in trouble at the northern end of Tallow Beach.

Rescue craft were dispatched to the scene but were stood down before they arrived after a boardrider managed to assist the swimmers back to shore.

Less than an hour later they received a call to the same location to rescue the stranded body-boarder.

“Rough seas and strong winds made for dangerous conditions along this stretch of coastline today and the body-boarder was being pushed up against rocks,” Surf Life Saving NSW said.

“The only rescue craft which could safely reach the body-boarder was the Surf Rescue Jet Ski, which did well to retrieve the person in extremely difficult conditions.

“The patient was returned to the shore and was treated for cuts and abrasions.”

The Jetski remained in the Tallow Beach area for some time after, warning swimmers and surfers to leave the water as large movements of rough water continued to make conditions very dangerous along the unpatrolled stretch of coast.

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The Goonellabah-based Southern Cross University Bachelor of Business in Sport Tourism student has won a prestigious internship with the Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development (AYAD) program. The 12-month internship has taken him to Papua New Guinea to help establish junior cricket as a sport.

AYAD is a highly competitive national program that selects only the best and brightest young Australians to work in developing nations, giving them a unique opportunity to help build that nation’s capacity, through applying their own special talents in selected fields.

Joshua, who has played cricket since he was six and has captained the university’s cricket team, is over the moon at the internship which forms part of his degree. He has also won the $2000 School of Tourism and Hospitality Management International Internship Scholarship for his great academic results.

Joshua’s internship is with Cricket PNG, a new and rapidly growing organisation dedicated to promoting cricket to youngsters across PNG.

“There are countless different projects being undertaken in PNG, making it a really exciting place to be right now,” said Josh, while on a brief visit back to Lismore last week.

“One of the cricket projects I am directly involved with is the launching of cricket in Goroka, which is a major city in the Eastern Highlands region, and also in Mt Hagen, in the Western Highlands.

“This involves designing and delivering a major school cricket program aimed at reaching 6000 students before June 2011 and supporting locally-based cricket development officers to deliver it.

“As the cricket development manager, I’ll be working to build the game in these areas as well as helping to implement PNG’s largest sporting program, the Bank of South Pacific Schools Kriket Program.

“The aim is to introduce 150,000 students across the country to the sport of cricket over the next three years.

“I’ll also be working with the PNG Government to attract increased funding for facilities and to boost the junior program.

“Cricket is almost unheard of in many remote areas of PNG and is rarely played. Most villages don’t have a cricket pitch or a cricket ground, or even cricket gear and no idea about the rules of the game.

“When I turn up at a village school there is generally great excitement and everyone wants to play. They are very keen to learn and that makes the teaching part of my role very rewarding.

“But there are also many other exciting projects that I have already been involved with, including being the main co-ordinator and host for the recent Australian Indigenous guest cricket match in PNG.

“Cricket PNG is a very exciting organisation with some major development plans and I am very excited to be a part of its future.

“My other areas of focus include organising a major Cricket PNG competition, and establishing recruitment, financial management and fundraising procedures.”

Joshua, who came to university straight after finishing Year 12 at Lismore High School, will finish his AYAD internship next May.

Joshua said he was glad a school teacher had encouraged him to apply for an early entry position at Southern Cross University through the Star Entry Scheme.

“I chose my degree because it offered a lot of broad job outcomes. I could branch out into tourism management, sport management or business, and that was very appealing as I wasn’t exactly sure where I wanted to end up,” he said.

“The internship has definitely been the best part of the degree. It has given me the opportunity of experiencing a real job in the real world. It is absolutely hands-on and you get the opportunity to put all the theory you have learnt into practice.

“I have been using the learning from my professional development and human resources management units during this internship and the material I studied has proven invaluable.

“At times during my internship, I have already had to train and manage staff, manage large budgets, recruit and manage volunteers, develop financial accounting spreadsheets, and organise marketing, publicity and fundraising – so everything I have learned is being put into practice.”

PICTURE: Joshua Mapstone is looking forward to introducing the game of cricket to remote PNG communities.

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The UNITY festival on 2 October at the Murwillumbah Showground is all about celebrating the dance, music, cuisine and culture of the Tweed’s diverse heritage.

The Caldera Artfest at the Murwillumbah Civic Centre from Friday 1 through to Monday 4 October showcases the region’s bio-diversity through photography, paintings, sculpture, films and displays.

The UNITY festival is a colourful mix of rich and diverse cultural influences from the Tweed and Bryon Shires, infused to create an exciting family event.

The theme for this year is Celebrating Diversity.

Deya Dova (pictured) headlines the Echo Main Stage with her bright and energetic mix of Dance, World and Electro with an Indie Pop twist.

Her exotic sound is based upon her extraordinary vocal talent and draws from indigenous influences from around the world and those echoed in her own ancestry.

The Country Energy Dance Stage showcases African, Indonesian, Filipino, Torres Strait Island, Indian and South Sea Island performers dancing in traditional and striking costume.

For the taste buds, the UNITY festival offers a multicultural menu including Indian curries, Indonesian satays, vegetarian gourmets, bush tucker, Maori burgers and North African Gypsy meatballs and kebabs to name a few. Tickets now on sale at: www.unityfestival.com.au.

The 2010 Caldera Artfest is part of a world-wide celebration of the International Year of Biodiversity.

The exhibition at the Murwillumbah Civic Centre showcases the work of artists concerned about the natural environment and promotes awareness of the significant biodiversity values within Australia’s Green Cauldron.

Artwork and associated product sales will generate revenue for specific land-care projects and artists. Entry to the exhibition if free. For more information visit www.calderaart.org.au

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Neil Weatherson, Ballina Byron Airport manager, was delighted to receive a phone call from Jetstar last Friday afternoon announcing the five additional weekly services.

“What a great way to end the week. We’re elated to have even more flights to offer our passengers and it also demonstrates Jetstar’s future confidence in the growth of the Sydney to Ballina-Byron route,” Mr Weatherson said.

“These additional flights coupled with the recently installed self check-in kiosks offer more flexibility and convenience for our customers.”

Simon Westaway, Jetstar’s Head of Corporate Relations, said: “Jetstar has reverted to its strongest market position in the Sydney to Ballina Byron market with this announcement.

“The additional flights will be a new Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday morning service.

“Jetstar will grow its Sydney to Ballina Byron operations by a further 92,000 seats on an annual basis.

“From 2 December, ahead of the busy Christmas and January school holiday period, Jetstar will revert to a double daily return A320 service by permanently raising our flight schedule.

“The Sydney-Ballina route continues to perform ahead of expectation and this capacity growth is clearly warranted. We believe the introduction of these flights are well-timed ahead of the summer peak season and then to provide a consistent twice daily return service with convenient morning and afternoon departure times from both Sydney and Ballina Byron Airport.”

Flight and fare information is available at www.Jetstar.com

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