$12.65 million infrastructure boost for Ballina Shire
January 27, 2010
Ballina Shire Council has successfully applied for $12.65 million through the NSW Government’s Local Infrastructure Fund.
This fund is designed to provide interest-free loans that will assist in the delivery of roads, sewerage treatment and water reuse facilities.
In announcing the funding, Premier Kristina Keneally said: “This funding is designed to serve dual purposes: providing an economic stimulus, and providing infrastructure for NSW’s growing number of homes.
“We are directing the funding at areas that will grow in population, with a specific focus on fast-tracking projects that will stimulate urban development and local jobs. This is a practical and immediate step the State Government is taking to help councils respond to their changing communities.”
The projects approved for the council are:
Lennox Head-Alstonville wins Country Surf Lifesaving championship
January 17, 2010
Far North Coast clubs have dominated on the final day of the 2010 Stramit NSW Country Surf Life Saving Championships at South West Rocks.
With the final teams events contested today, Lennox Head-Alstonville claimed the top spot in the overall pointscores, followed by Byron Bay in second place and Cudgen Headland in fourth place.
Defending title holder for the last two years, Warilla-Barrack Point, slipped to third position.
Sawtell was the best performing club from the Mid North Coast region, while the host club, South West Rocks, finished up in 11th spot.
Lennox Head-Alstonville makes great start to Country surf titles
January 16, 2010
The 2010 Stramit NSW Country Surf Life Saving Championships kicked off yesterday under blue skies and smooth seas at South West Rocks.
With almost 2000 competitors expected to take part in the three-day event, the juniors took to the beach and water to contest a range of individual and teams events.
Competitors as young as seven battled it out, with championship title holder Warilla-Barrack Point SLSC ending the day on top in the overall pointscore.
Northern club Lennox Head-Alstonville finished up second after great performances from a particularly strong junior contingent.
Ballina/Byron U3A to hold course sign-ons
December 28, 2009
The University of the Third Age (U3A) has nothing to do with the modern idea of a university with its connotations of qualifications and prior studies.
Rather, it is a group of like-minded people satisfying an inner urge to learn. It offers low-cost, self-paced learning opportunities and the sharing of interests, skills and knowledge.
This voluntary, self-help learning movement started in France in 1973, and has since spread world-wide.
The Ballina/Byron branch, using the same guidelines as the international model, began in 1994.
Ballina Electorate grants total $398,950
December 17, 2009
Member for Ballina Don Page today announced the successful applicants for the Community Building Partnership Program, totalling $398,950.
Mr Page said there were a large number of applications for the program, which was designed to stimulate the local economy and provide jobs.
The successful recipients were:
Richmond electorate volunteer grants announced
December 10, 2009
Member for Richmond MP Justine Elliot has announced that 75 volunteer organisations in the electorate will receive funding from the Rudd Government’s Volunteer Grants 2009 initiative.
“Under this initiative, grants of between $1000 and $5000 are provided to non-profit organisations to support their volunteers and encourage volunteering,” she said.
Volunteer organisations in the Richmond electorate will benefit from volunteer grants totalling $236,834.
“Every day volunteers are out in our local community doing what they do best – helping those in need, nurturing our environment and fostering our nation’s sporting and cultural life,” Ms Elliot said.
Marcus Baker’s new surf movie to premiere at Ballina RSL Club
December 8, 2009
A premiere showing of Marcus Baker’s new surf movie, Nowhere Going Somewhere, at the Ballina RSL Club on Saturday night, December 12, chronicles the rise of three young Lennox Head surfers who are chasing careers on the world professional circuit.
It will be a fundraiser for the Lennox National Surfing Reserve Association, which in turn donates any money it raises to groups such as Australian Seabird Rescue and landcare and dunecare groups.
The featured surfers are Adam Melling, Stuart Kennedy and James Wood.
Lennox Head Soccer Club furthers links with Balinese club
December 7, 2009
Win, lose or draw, Lennox Head Soccer Club will always be remembered for its championship qualities, by players in the impoverished eastern province of the Indonesian island of Bali.
The club celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2008, the same year the first links were forged with the coastal town of Candi Dasa, a Balinese fishing village with a big reliance on tourism.
Lennox National Surfing Reserve chips in to help ASR
December 3, 2009
Australian Seabird Rescue today received a $500 donation from the Lennox National Surfing Reserve Association.
The money was raised from sales of a commemorative booklet produced to mark the opening of the surfing reserve in February 2008, and other fundraising activities.
Men fined for illegal pig hunting in Ballina Nature Reserve
November 23, 2009
Two men have been fined for illegal pig hunting in Ballina Nature Reserve near Lennox Head.
National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Ranger Brian McLachlan said that the two men were detected with remote cameras used as part of the pig monitoring program in the reserve.
“They were subsequently interviewed by a NPWS investigator and admitted to the offence,” Mr McLachlan said. “The men were fined $500 each, but the penalties could have been much greater if the matter had been heard in court.
“Any form of hunting is illegal in national parks and nature reserves, as is taking dogs into these areas. Apart from the disturbance to wildlife, the dogs are at risk of being lost and becoming feral, while hunters can jeopardise legitimate pig control programs by dispersing the animals.
