Is the big prawn a red herring?

The recent uproar regarding the attempt to salvage the Big Prawn has drawn strong emotions from the local community, but is it all head and no meat?

Sadly saving the Big Prawn is only a small part of the battle in attracting tourists to the area. Whilst the debate over the prawn has generated buzz there is no concerted follow through on behalf of the region to take advantage of the free publicity that occurred. Rather than debating the merits or saving the Prawn shouldn’t our elected representatives be now focusing on how to use this free publicity? Rather than just providing a conga line of platitudes about how a rejuvenated prawn will be the a drawcard to the area. Realistically is anyone going to travel from Sydney or Brisbane just to see a fibreglass prawn? The consumer demands more.

The communities of the Far North Coast region are heavily reliant upon tourist trade, but there appears to be more focus on the veneer than providing a robust program for drawing people to the region. All marketing should be coordinated with a view of promoting the significant advantages that the area has to offer, from the amazing beaches, National Parks and marine activities to the desirable local produce, world class restaurants and excellent accommodation options. Within the Far North Coast region we have one of the best Marine Parks in the world some of the most fruitful fishing grounds in the State and yet we are debating the merits of a fibreglass prawn.

Are we so bereft of ideas that this is the best we can come up with?

Repco Rally boss says thanks

Through your media organisation I would like to thank, on behalf of the Organising Committee of Repco Rally Australia, the following groups which helped make the event the huge success it was:

Firstly, the residents of the Kyogle and Tweed shires, who overwhelmingly gave support for an event which was, to most, an unknown quantity. 

We intend to engage with the community in greater depth in the future in order to improve the event and to rectify any problems from this year. 

Your support and enthusiasm at spectator points, private parties on properties along the route, the Rally Show in Murwillumbah and the Service Zone in Kyogle indicated to us how much you were enjoying the event.

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Stroke care treatment on Far North Coast is lacking

One issue that needs inquiry is why don’t we have stroke care unit on the Far North Coast with access to tissue plasminogen activator (clot dissolving treatment), given the growing population of ageing people?

Many Sydney hospitals have this specialised treatment available but rural hospitals do not.

It can mean that if one can access this treatment, one has a chance to continue living a normal life instead of being non-functional and costing huge $$ supporting the deterioration of one, rather than a chance of a normal life.

Have a listen to ABC Radio National program Health Report by Norman Swan.

It’s outrageous that rural areas are unable to access this treatment which is commonplace in US hospitals and in Sydney.

– Maree Fowler

It’s time for a national standard gauge rail system

I have just read your on-line article on the North Coast rail line that runs from Casino to Murwillumbah.

I have read with great interest various articles on this matter and I have been in regular contact with Philip McKenzie of Tweed rail.

I have researched community rail partnerships in Britain and I believe that a community rail operated passenger train could serve the localities situated on that line and a high-speed inter-city service operating on longer journeys.

QR has proposed running a standard gauge track from Salisbury to Robina (their current narrow gauge line is being extended to Varsity Lakes).

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Pension changes confusion

Dear sir,
 
I wrote an email to you regarding the article by The Hon Jenny Macklin MP in the Winter editon of NEWS FOR SENIORS.

The article is so poorly written that I couldn’t determine just what was to happen to the age pension from 20 September 2009.
I was so disturbed by the gobbeldy gook I came to what I now find to be incorrect conclusions.
 
Today I logged on to Centrelink and found a much clearer explanation of the pension changes.

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