PhD student Toby Piddocke from the University’s National Marine Science Centre based at Coffs Harbour is using acoustic telemetry to follow the movements of mangrove jack in northern New South Wales. Anglers are being offered a gift voucher to the value of $50 for each of the first 20 live specimens donated to the study.

The research is funded by the NSW Saltwater Recreational Fishing Trust.

At this stage, the research team is seeking live fish from the NSW North Coast locations of Deep Creek (near Valla) and the Clarence River.

“The use of acoustic tags will enable us to track the jacks over a two-year period,” Toby said.

“We’re particularly interested in seeing whether they move from estuaries to offshore reefs once they reach maturity. As well as that, we’re interested in seeing how jacks move around within an estuary. For example, where they spend the day as opposed to the night, and where they go on high tide versus low tide.”

Mangrove jack (Lutjanus argentimaculatus) are found in estuaries, coastal swamps and rivers across northern Australia, stretching from northern NSW into Queensland, the Northern Territory and down to Shark Bay in Western Australia.

Toby said that southern mangrove jack possess some unique characteristics that make them highly prized by recreational anglers.

“In North Queensland estuaries, mangrove jack are relatively abundant but their average size is fairly small, around 45 centimetres. However, in southern estuaries, between Coffs Harbour and the Queensland border, they tend to be fewer in number but considerably larger, up to about 60 centimetres and three kilograms in weight,” he said.

The research will determine whether the size difference might reflect longer inshore residence times by adult fish.

“Not only does the size of mangrove jack in northern NSW waters make them popular with anglers, but they’re seen as being really challenging. They’re elusive and when you do snare one it puts up a good fight,” said Toby.

In addition to the tagging component of the research, mangrove jack frames (filleted skeletons with head and guts intact) are also being sought to study the age, growth, diet and reproduction of the species.

The outcomes of the research will be used to help ensure the long-term viability of the recreational mangrove jack fishery in Northern NSW.

Anglers interested in taking part in the research can find out more information by contacting Toby Piddocke at the National Marine Science Centre on 02 6648 3900 or via email mangrovejackresearch@gmail.com

PICTURE: Toby Piddocke measuring a mangrove jack.

About 9.50pm yesterday (Tuesday 31 January 2012), a 66-year-old man from Coutts Crossing was driving towards Grafton and tried to drive across a low-lying flood-affected road.

The car he was driving has become immersed in water and stopped. It appears the man got out the car and entered the water which was approximately 160cm deep and was swept into a culvert and washed underneath the roadway. A passing motorist has seen the car in the water, stopped and commenced to search for the driver.

Police attended the scene and discovered the owner of the car was a local man. They commenced a search and located the body of the man about five metres from the car and attempted to revive him without success.

Police are now preparing a report for the Coroner.

Superintendent Mark Holahan, Coffs/Clarence Local Area Commander and Local Emergency Operations Controller, said this was a tragic incident which could have been avoided.

“Along with the NSW State Emergency Service we have been urging people whether they are driving, walking or riding, to never enter flood-affected areas,” he said.

“Our simple message is – if it is flooded, forget it.

“With rain continuing to fall we are urging the community not to take risks, to listen to the emergency services and to take care.”

Members of the public seeking emergency assistance during a flood or storm should call the NSW State Emergency Service on 132 500 or visit their website www.ses.nsw.gov.au.

For the latest on road closures members of the community can visit the website www.livetraffic.com or contact their local councils. Members of the public can also visit www.emergency.nsw.gov.au for a range of flood-related information. For all other emergencies, the public should contact Triple Zero.

The event had been scheduled for Australia Day last Thursday at Tyalgum, however, the event was postponed due to heavy rains and flooded roads.

The recipients of the Tweed Shire Australia Day Awards will be:

• Doreen Welsh (Citizen of the Year)
• Rosie Kahl (Young Achiever)
• Pottsville Beach Public School musical (Arts and Cultural Achievement Award)
• Kane Townsend (Sporting Achievement Award Individual)
• Kingscliff High School’s 17-19 years male 4 x 50 metre freestyle relay team (Sporting Achievement for Team)
• Tweed Valley Equestrian Group – Power of Pink Dressage (Community Event of the Year)
• Claire Chauvier and Georgina Harbottle (Academic Achievement Award)
• John Lee (Volunteer of the Year).

The Tweed Shire Awards will be presented by the Mayor of Tweed Councillor Barry Longland and the Chair of the community-based Tweed Shire Australia Day Committee, Don Beck.

Meanwhile, 40 Tweed residents are set to become Australia Citizens on Saturday, originating from 16 nations across the globe.

Emergency services were called to Duranbah Beach shortly after 5pm responding to reports that five flares had been activated from the 54ft timber trawler.

Police arrived to find two crewmen, aged 29 and 33, still on board but with the boat smashing against the rock wall.

The men jumped into the water and were assisted to shore by local surfers before being checked by NSW Ambulance Paramedics.

The younger man was taken to Tweed Heads Hospital with chest and shoulder injuries.

The vessel was unable to be retrieved.

While a ban on outdoor water usage has been lifted, Council encourages residents across the Tweed to continue to minimise water use as much as possible today to allow the system to recover.

The damaged water pump station is critical pumping infrastructure which delivers treated water through the distribution centre to 75,000 residents across the Tweed, including the major centres of Tweed Heads, Banora Point, Tweed Coast, Murwillumbah and all other surrounding residential areas.

Vital equipment in the pump station was damaged following a power surge caused by an electrical failure on Wednesday.

Mayor of Tweed Barry Longland said he hoped residents would co-operate in continuing to minimise their water use for at least today.

“While treated water is now being pumped into the distribution system, we’re still recovering from the low levels due to the outage since Wednesday,” Councillor Longland said.

“The situation reached a serious level with around 24 hours of water left in the system.

“I had every confidence our technical staff would be able to fix the problem in time, and they did.

“I’d like to thank all the Council staff, suppliers, contractors and external agencies who were involved in achieving this outcome.

“In particular, I’m proud of the professionalism and commitment of our technical and field-based staff.

“We also thank our water customers for their co-operation during this water shortage.”

Council staff are today monitoring water supply levels and distributing water to reservoirs as required.

There are also measures still available should the single pump fail to deliver water.

Council is still carting water to the village of Tyalgum, as the water from the Oxley River is too dirty for the local water treatment plant to operate. Tyalgum residents are also asked to minimise their water use as much as possible until further advised.

Uki village residents remain unaffected as the village has its own water supply.

About 10am (Wednesday 25 January 2012), emergency services were called to the intersection of Evans Head Road and Broadwater Road after a Land Rover 4WD collided with a tree.

A 66-year-old woman, who was the front seat passenger, died at the scene.

The 37-year-old male driver was removed from the wreckage before being taken to Ballina Hospital for treatment. He was later transferred to Lismore Base Hospital where he is currently in a stable condition.

Officers attached to Richmond Local Area Command attended and are attempting to establish the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Anyone who witnessed the incident, or the events leading up to it, should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Assistant Commissioner Mark Murdoch, Deputy State Emergency Operations Controller, said the centre is staffed by emergency service workers and volunteers and is available to provide information to affected communities.

“The centre is able to provide information regarding displaced families, road closures, welfare assistance and all other general enquiries,” he said.

The Public Information and Inquiry Centre can be contacted by telephone on 1800 227 228.

It should be noted this inquiry hotline does not replace the State Emergency Service emergency hotline.

Members of the public seeking emergency assistance during a flood or storm should call the NSW State Emergency Service on 132 500.

Additional information can be obtained by visiting the NSW State Emergency Service website at www.ses.nsw.gov.au or Emergency NSW at www.emergency.nsw.gov.au.

For all other emergencies, the public are advised to contact Triple Zero.

The majority of community events at towns and villages across the Tweed have been cancelled or postponed because of the rain and flooded roads.

Mayor of Tweed Councillor Barry Longland said it was unfortunate that events would not go ahead as planned tomorrow, but the safety of residents was paramount.

“It’s a great disappointment for all the volunteers from a variety of community organisations, including the Tweed Shire Australia Day Committee, who have worked tirelessly to organise these events,” Councillor Longland said.

“However, given the circumstances, it would be unwise to plan events which many residents would be unable to attend.

“We will take the first opportunity to organise another citizenship and award ceremony where everyone can receive their certificates.”

The one bright bit of news is that if the weather improves, the Mad Sports games and other activities planned for Jack Evans Boat Harbour will go ahead tomorrow, starting at 10am (NSW).

Many roads have been cut across the Tweed due to the rain. Road closures are being kept updated as information comes to hand via Council’s website www.tweed.nsw.gov.au. This links through to the regional site, www.myroadinfo.com.au. This regional site provides road closures for Tweed, Ballina, Byron, Kyogle, Lismore, Clarence Valley and Richmond Valley councils.

“Any residents wanting to know about road closures are asked to go to this site for information, bearing in mind that it covers major roads only and some minor roads will not be listed,” Councillor Longland said.

“I’d like to remind residents to follow the direction of Council, Police and the State Emergency Service (SES) if you have to be out on the roads during the wet weather and please don’t drive through flood waters,” he said.

Here is information about other Council services affected by the weather:

Water restrictions at Uki and Tyalgum

Due to the extreme weather, Council is currently unable to operate the water treatment plants at the villages of Tyalgum and Uki, or cart water due to road closures.

Residents who are connected to these supplies are requested to minimise their water use as much as possible in order to conserve the limited reservoir supplies until the weather eases.

Garbage, recycling and green waste collections

Council requests that residents whose garbage, recycling or green waste collections occur on Thursday 26 and Friday 27 January (and those missed on Wednesday 25 January) to please leave your full bins out on the kerb until they are emptied.

Council intends to service all bins on the normal service day, however, due to uncertain access and weather conditions, it may not be possible to service the bins on normal collection day.

Garbage, recycling and green waste collection services will be conducted over the weekend to catch up if required. Please leave any full bins out on the kerb.

Stotts Creek Resource Recovery Centre is closed today (Wednesday 25 January 2012) and will be open Thursday 26 January 2012 and Friday 27 January 2012 (dependent on access).

Tweed Regional Aquatic Centre

Please note that the Tweed Regional Aquatic Centre (TRAC) in Murwillumbah will close today at 3pm, as it is unable to comply with regulations due to staff shortages because of the rain. At this stage it is proposed to reopen 9am to 5pm tomorrow (26 January).

Sportfields

All Council-owned sports field in the Tweed are closed until further notice. For sports field closure information, go to Council’s website www.tweed.nsw.gov.au

With rainfalls of up to 200mm overnight, flooding continues across the area. Rainfall averaging 80-100mm is expected, with the potential for very heavy, localised falls up to 250mm in the Tweed area.

There is a high potential for flash flooding in the area and the Bureau of Meteorology has a Severe Weather Warning in place.

There are also eight Flood Warnings, a Flood Watch and a Severe Thunderstorm Warning in place. People in the affected areas are advised to check the Bureau of Meteorology’s website for updates on the warnings.

The NSW SES has deployed members to the areas of concern, including Flood Rescue Technicians and Incident management Teams. At present there are over 110 requests for assistance that have been received and multiple flood rescues have been undertaken.

The Northern Rivers will continue to be the focus for today, with the Tweed and Chinderah areas of particular concern. Holiday makers in the area are asked to listen to local radio stations for updates on the situation and be prepared to act.

With heavy rainfall, motorists are urged to drive to the conditions of the day, and to avoid any unnecessary travel. Road information can be obtained from the RTA through the Live Traffic website or by calling 131 700.

If you require flood or storm help, call the SES on 132 500.

Remember, never ride, drive or walk through floodwater and stay clear of rivers, creeks, stormwater drains and causeways as heavy localised falls may cause flash flooding.

Road closure information.