‘Memory Van’ visits Ballina, Mullumbimby, Byron Bay and Ocean Shores
March 7, 2010
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.
Wild dog control program to begin
February 24, 2010
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) is commencing its annual autumn wild dog monitoring and control program across the Northern Rivers Region conducted in conjunction with the local Livestock Health and Pest Authority (LHPA) and NSW Forests and interested private landholders.
NPWS Pest Management Officer, Lisa Wellman, said prior to the start of each program, which began in 2006, advertisements are placed in local newspapers advising people.
“The program is undertaken twice a year in autumn and spring 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 after control to determine how successful the program has been.
New website lists road closure information
February 24, 2010
Motorists travelling in the Northern Rivers area now have ready, reliable access to roads information with the launch of a new website called RoadInfo www.myroadinfo.com.au
“This is especially important in times of emergency,” said Cr Jenny Dowell, president of the Northern Rivers Regional Organisation of Councils (NOROC).
“Although the new system will show roadworks and scheduled road closures on an everyday basis, it will come into its own during a flood or in other emergency event.
“It is the experience of most councils that the information people request most is ‘what roads are closed?’ and ‘how can I travel from A to B?’
$35,000 Country Energy Art Prize regional launch
February 13, 2010
The prestigious $35,000 Country Energy Art Prize for Landscape Painting will soon be open for 2010.
A regional launch of the prize will be held at the Tweed River Art Gallery at 11am on Tuesday 16 February to officially launch the 2010 prize and invite artists to enter.
Murwillumbah Street shows the way in Sustainable Street program
February 10, 2010
The Mayor of Tweed Shire Council has congratulated residents of a Murwillumbah street who have broken down barriers and improved community life through a groundbreaking project to improve sustainability at the grassroots level.
“The Sustainable Street program is a joint initiative of Tweed and Byron shire councils which aims to bring neighbours together for local environmental improvements,” Councillor Warren Polglase said.
“This project has been so successful that Tweed and Byron shire councils are now seeking more streets to take part.
“Tweed and Byron councils are pleased to announce that we have secured State Government funding through the Tweed-Byron Bush Futures Program to deliver the Sustainable Streets package to two streets in each shire in 2010.”
Police seize around $5m in cannabis during drug squad raids
February 7, 2010
Police have seized cannabis valued around $5m during a major drug squad operation on the State’s Far North Coast.
Strike Force Farrelly comprised detectives from the State Crime Command Drug Squad, the Tweed/Byron Local Area Command, the NSW Police Air Wing, the Dog Squad and the Radio Electronics Unit.
The Cannabis Eradication Program (CEP) targeted the areas of Burringbar, Murwillumbah, Mullumbimby, Uki and surrounding national parks over five days last week.
A total of 2446 plants, ranging from one to five metres in height, were located.
Woolworths Mullumbimby approval granted for five years
January 29, 2010
The Land and Environment Court has given approval for Woolworths to install and operate their proposed on-site sewerage management system which is to service the supermarket development at Mullumbimby.
Byron Shire Council’s executive manager of environment and land use Ray Darney said the approval was valid for five years and subject to conditions granted by the court.
“One of the conditions included is that installation cannot commence until the approval issued by the Minister has been modified to incorporate the redesigned on-site system,” Mr Darney said.
He said the council was yet to see a final copy of the court’s conditions of approval.
Clandestine drug lab uncovered at Bangalow; two men arrested
January 28, 2010
Two men have been arrested today following a joint interagency operation at Byron Bay after police uncovered the first ever clandestine laboratory manufacturing safrole oil, used in the production of MDMA.
Strike Force Barsden comprises investigators from the State Crime Command’s Drug Squad, Tweed/Byron Local Area Command and Queensland Police.
The Strike Force was established in June 2009 to investigate the supply of cocaine, as well as the manufacture of safrole oil, which can be used as a precursor in the production of MDMA.
Two men have been arrested by police today including a 23-year-old man at Bangalow and a 24-year-old man at Mullumbimby. Both men were taken to Byron Bay Police Station.
Memories sought for oral history of Northern Rivers
January 28, 2010
A Southern Cross University researcher is searching for older people living from Tweed Heads to Kyogle who can share their memories of the region’s early history.
Theresa Mason has embarked on her PhD research project – an oral history of the Northern Rivers – and already has many a fascinating tale to tell, thanks to locals sharing their stories for her earlier Honours project.
Her interest in the region’s history began when she was editing and writing for The Village Journal, a local newspaper based in Rosebank, serving the rural areas between Dunoon, Federal and Bexhill.
“I came across all of these older people who had fascinating stories to tell,” she said. “Many of the stories around people’s experiences during the Great Depression and in times of war were particularly interesting.
Byron Shire councillors don’t ‘live it up’
January 14, 2010
An article in the Daily Telegraph on councils ‘living it up’ does not apply to Byron Shire Council, the council’s general manager, Graeme Faulkner, said.
He said the Byron Shire’s councillors are a hard-working group of individuals dedicated to the community.
“They are paid less than $15,000 each per year, with an additional Mayoral allowance of $33,000,” he said.
The Daily Telegraph news article reported a figure of up to $47,000 spent on ’sustenance’ within Byron Shire for the period 2008-09.
