Far North Coaster Magazine » News

Seventh person arrested, charged over Saaid Zaiter’s death

Barry Cheadle — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:13:48 +0000

Homicide Squad detectives have arrested and charged a seventh person over the death of a man at Chinderah, on the State’s far north coast, 15 months ago.

Saaid Zaiter was last seen at Chinderah on Tuesday, 16 December, 2008.

Mr Zaiter’s remains were found in bushland near The Pinnacle lookout in the Border Ranges National Park, west of Murwillumbah, exactly one year later.

Strike Force Rohan was established by State Crime Command Homicide Squad and Tweed/Byron Local Area Command detectives to investigate the circumstances surrounding the 47-year-old man’s death.

Yesterday (Tuesday 9 March), a 28-year-old Tweed Heads man was arrested at his Kennedy Drive residence and taken to the local police station for questioning.

He was subsequently charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder and refused bail to appear in Tweed Heads Local Court yesterday.

The man – who is the seventh person charged by police in relation to Mr Zaiter’s murder – has been remanded in custody to appear in Lismore Local Court on 16 March 2010.

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Indigenous artists encouraged to enter Telstra Award

Barry Cheadle — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 04:35:53 +0000

Indigenous artists from the New South Wales North Coast region are encouraged to enter their work in the 27th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award which is now open for entries.

In 2010 the Telstra Art Award will celebrate its 27th year and is the longest-running art award dedicated to the work of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.

It is considered the premier national event in the Australian Indigenous arts calendar. Telstra has been sponsoring this Award for 19 years.

The Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT) and Telstra are proud to announce the inaugural Telstra New Media Award with the theme of ‘connections’ as a new category this year.

Telstra Local Area General Manager, North Coast, Michael Sharpe, said new media is an emerging category with more and more artists incorporating technology into their works, and is an exciting evolution of the Telstra Art Award.

“The award presents a fantastic opportunity for local artists to gain national exposure for their artworks, as well as take advantage of the financial benefits that can flow-on to their local communities from a win in these prestigious awards,” he said.

“Telstra is committed to supporting the growth of the Australian Indigenous arts community, by continuing to increase the opportunities for established and emerging artists across the country.”

Telstra will provide an additional $3000 prizemoney for this New Media category.

Telstra will continue to award the $40,000 Telstra Award and $4000 to other categories including the Telstra General Painting Award, the Telstra Bark Painting Award, the Telstra Work on Paper Award and the Wandjuk Marika Memorial 3D Award in addition to the New Media Award ($3,000).

Last year’s $40,000 Telstra Award winner Danie Mellor (pictured) has had his winning entry, From Rite to Ritual, acquired by the National Gallery of Australia.

In 2010 the Telstra Art Award will celebrate its 27th year and is the longest-running art award dedicated to the work of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. It is considered the premier national event in the Australian Indigenous arts calendar.

The 27th Telstra National Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Award exhibition opens, and award presentations will be made, on Friday, 13 August 2010.

Entries for the 27th Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Award close on Friday, 2 April 2010.

Entries for the inaugural Telstra New Media Award will close on Friday, 30 April.

For an entry form, contact the Award Co-ordinator at the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, GPO Box 4646, DARWIN NT 0801, phone 08 8999 8203 or email natsiaa@nt.gov.au or go to www.magnt.nt.gov.au/natsiaa

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Tweed Shire projects give green light

Barry Cheadle — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 04:28:30 +0000

Four local infrastructure projects have been given the green light after Tweed Shire Council was successful in Round Two of the Australian Government’s Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Grants.

Mayor of Tweed Councillor Warren Polglase recognised the commitment to the Tweed from the Member for Richmond, Justine Elliot.

“The four projects are important to improving our community infrastructure and without this funding, these are activities that council would otherwise not be in a financial position to complete,” Councillor Polglase said.

The projects are:

Playground Audit and Fencing $67,500
Implement the recommendations from the Playground Audit including fencing and signage upgrades.

Chinderah Rock Wall Revetment $180,000
Revetment of the remaining 430 metres which is predominantly fretting at the intertidal level. Detailed design is complete and approval for construction has been granted.

Tweed Heads Auditorium $152,500
Install improvements to ageing infrastructure including curtains, trusses and staging, flooring and new furnishings.

Southern Fingal Boat Harbour Upgrade $150,000
Provide improved amenities including shaded seating and barbeques, drinking fountains and a playground facility.

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‘Memory Van’ visits Ballina, Mullumbimby, Byron Bay and Ocean Shores

Barry Cheadle — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 04:21:31 +0000

Are you worried about your memory?

The Alzheimer’s Australia NSW Memory Van is a mobile education resource that travels statewide to help raise awareness on the importance of brain health and dementia risk reduction.

The Memory Van provides communities with information designed to help educate and assist people living with dementia, their carers and health professionals.

Staff can also assist with enquiries about memory loss.

The Memory Van is fully equipped with Help Sheets, Fact Sheets, DVD and video resources and a Nintendo Brain Game.

The Alzheimer’s Australia NSW Memory Van and experienced staff will be at:

Ballina District Community Services Association Community Centre, 20 Bangalow Rd (next to IGA) on Tuesday, 9 March, from 1.30pm – 4pm
Mullumbimby Ex-Services Club, Dalley Street, Mullumbimby, on Wednesday, 10 March, from 1pm – 4pm
Byron Bay Plaza carpark, Jonson Street, on Thursday, 11 March, from 2pm – 4.30pm
Ocean Village Shopping Centre, Rajah Road, Ocean Shores, on Friday, 12 March, from 9.30am – 12.30pm

1300 new cases of dementia are diagnosed a week in Australia and 1 in 3 Australians with dementia live in NSW. Dementia is a fatal disease and there is, as yet, no cure.

The Memory Van visit has been made possible by Community Development Support Expenditure funding from the Mullumbimby Ex-Services Club.

Alzheimer’s Australia NSW is the peak body for people with dementia and their families and carers. It provides advocacy, support services, education and information.

Currently 257,000 people have dementia in Australia. This number is projected to double by 2030.

National Dementia Helpline: 1800 100 500

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‘Skinny dip’ swimmers found safe – Byron Bay

Barry Cheadle — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:19:45 +0000

Two ‘skinny dippers’ sparked an emergency sea and air search at Byron Bay yesterday.

Fears for the pair’s safety began after their clothing and personal items, including wallets, were found abandoned on Belongil Beach at Byron Bay yesterday at 7.45am.

During the course of the day, an extensive search was conducted for the two men, aged 31, by officers from Tweed/Byron Local Area Command, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service and Byron Surf Lifesaving Club.

Shortly after 4pm, the two men walked into Byron Bay Police Station after hearing reports of the search under way for them.

The men told police they had decided to go for a ’skinny dip’ about 2am that day, after a night out in Byron Bay.

When they got out of the water a short time later, they could not find their clothes and assumed they had been stolen.

They gave up searching and returned to their nearby accommodation.

Police wish to remind the public about the dangers of swimming in open waters at night, particularly under the influence of alcohol.

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Woman dies in crash near Grafton

Barry Cheadle — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 04:47:27 +0000

Police from Coffs/Clarence Local Area Command are preparing a report for the information of the Coroner after the death of a woman in a crash near Grafton this morning.

The crash occurred about 11.40am when a Subaru left Rogans Bridge Road, near Seelands, about 16km north-west of Grafton.

The vehicle crashed through three fences before continuing a further 200m across paddocks, became airborne over a creek, struck a tree and slid backwards into the water.

A woman travelling in the front passenger seat died at the scene.

Three police officers entered the creek in chest-deep water in an attempt to release the male driver but were unsuccessful.

SES volunteers were called to the scene and used hydraulic equipment to open the driver’s door, freeing the man about 20 minutes after the crash.

He was airlifted to Lismore Base Hospital in a stable condition with head and chest injuries.

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Elderly man’s body found at Coraki

Barry Cheadle — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 01:06:25 +0000

Police have found the body of a man located in flood waters in the Northern Rivers region this morning.

Just after 9.30am, the body of an elderly man was found by police near a causeway off the Coraki to Ellangowan Road.

At the time of the discovery police had been conducting a search in the area for a missing 74-year-old local man. State Emergency Service and Westpac Lifesaver Helicopters were involved with the search efforts.

The deceased is yet to be formally identified, and a post-mortem examination will be conducted in coming days to determine a cause of death.

Officers attached to Richmond Local Area Command are investigating the circumstances surrounding the man’s death and a report will be prepared for the information of the New South Wales Coroner.

Anyone with information should contact Lismore Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Pioneering green technology developed by local coffee company

Barry Cheadle — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 03:27:41 +0000

Byron Shire coffee producer Green Cauldron Coffee has designed and installed the Australian coffee industry’s most environmentally friendly and advanced waste water facility.

Following three years of planning, installation and approval by the Byron Shire Council, the coffee plantation in Federal is now fully utilising the $135,000 facility.

“We’re pretty over the moon about it,” said Richard Kelly, pictured, General Manager of Green Cauldron Coffee.

“With this recycling facility we’ve basically achieved a closed loop for water usage and waste and we are able to capture and use every part of the coffee cherry, not just the bean.”

Leading Environmental Health scientist Tim Fitzroy worked with Green Cauldron Coffee to plan and build the facility.

“The design is both contemporary and best practice,” Mr Fitzroy said.

“So it’s fitting that the Byron Shire should be home to such groundbreaking work. It’s been a joy to work with such an innovative company willing to invest in green technology.”

Most Australian coffee producers use a wet process to wash and separate coffee.

However, the natural sugars found in coffee, together with debris from leaves and branches, deplete oxygen levels in the waste water and increase biochemical oxygen demand (BOD).

Water in this state is unsafe to release into waterways and is too strong to be used for irrigation.

Green Cauldron’s bespoke water recycling facility uses a sand filtration process combined with anaerobic bugs to significantly reduce BOD and increase oxygen levels – making the water safe to use.

Any solid waste is composted and used to fertilise the coffee trees. The net effect is a reduction in water consumption and protection of waterways and catchment areas. The process takes four to five weeks.

“Optimal health and vitality for our coffee trees is what we’re after” said Mr Kelly.

“And we hope that people can taste this in our single origin coffee.”

For more information, visit the Green Cauldron website .

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Detectives locate body near Broadwater and appeal for information

Barry Cheadle — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 03:05:11 +0000

Homicide Squad detectives have located the body of a man near Broadwater and released further information regarding an alleged murder.

Following extensive investigations, Homicide Squad detectives with assistance from officers at Tweed/ Byron Local Area Command located the body of a man yesterday.

The body was located in a shallow grave in the Broadwater area. Formal identification is yet to be completed.

This follows investigations by police into the alleged murder of a man who was reported missing on Wednesday 10 February. The 54-year-old was last seen at Lennox Head on Monday 8 February.

Detectives are conducting further investigations and are appealing for public assistance to locate the man’s car, which is described as a 2003 model silver-coloured Holden Astra, with NSW registration plates AON-89L.

This follows the arrest of a 38-year-old man on Friday 26 February. He was subsequently charged with murder.

Strike Force Whip comprises detectives from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad and Tweed/Byron Local Area Command, and was established to investigate the man’s disappearance.

Inquiries are continuing and investigators are appealing for anyone with information about the incident or the vehicle described to contact Byron Bay police on (02) 6685 9499 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Police investigate suspected arson attack at Grafton

Barry Cheadle — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:45:25 +0000

Police are investigating a suspected arson attack at a swimming centre at Grafton.

Around 11.20pm yesterday, officers from the Coffs/Clarence Local Area Command were called to the swimming complex in Armidale Road, South Grafton.

Upon arrival, police found the centre’s office area well ablaze.

NSW Fire Brigades units from Grafton and South Grafton responded and brought the blaze under control at 11.50pm.

Initial investigations by police indicate signs of forced entry to the premises.

A crime scene was established as officers carried out a preliminary canvass of the area.

Coffs/Clarence detectives are appealing for anyone with information about the incident to contact the Grafton Police Station on (02) 6642 0222 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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