Greens MP questions Rally Australia’s financial impact
March 11, 2010
Greens MP Ian Cohen today asked the Minister for State and Regional Development, Ian Macdonald, about the ‘negligible impact’ the Repco Rally had on the coffers of the Tweed Shire.
Mr Cohen said that according to figures provided by Tweed Tourism, in September 2009 – the month of the Repco Rally – there was an increase in visitor nights by only 867 compared with September of 2008 and an increase in takings from all accommodation by only $850,000 compared with the previous year.
“In the house today I asked the Minister whether he would agree that the Rally’s Socio-Economic Impact Assessment was grossly overstated. The Rally’s SEIA claimed the event ‘is estimated to increase tourist visitor nights by up to 92,000′ and would bring $30 million to the area,” Mr Cohen said.
“I also asked whether the Minister would agree that, comparing visitor numbers recorded by Tweed Tourism in September 2008 and September 2009 – an increase of only 626 people across the whole month – is a negligible impact unlikely to generate the touted $30 million in revenue for the area.
Seventh person arrested, charged over Saaid Zaiter’s death
March 10, 2010
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.
Tweed Shire projects give green light
March 7, 2010
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:
Cyclist critical after collision with parked car – Tweed Heads
February 27, 2010
A woman is in a critical condition after falling off her bicycle following a collision with a parked car at Duranbah, near Tweed Heads, yesterday.
About 2.20pm, the 27-year-old woman and a male friend were cycling north along the shoulder of the Pacific Highway at Duranbah when the incident occurred.
Police have been told the pair was on a training ride from Southport in Queensland to Byron Bay and back when the woman hit the rear of a red four-wheel-drive which was parked on the shoulder.
The driver of the car and the woman’s friend rendered first aid to her before emergency services were called and she was taken by ambulance to The Tweed Hospital.
Tourism Australia Global PR Team visits Byron
February 27, 2010
Tourism Australia is holding their annual Global Public Relations Conference at The Byron at Byron Resort and Spa this week.
The public relations representatives, who arrived in Byron Bay this week (25 February), work to promote Australia as a tourism destination internationally and domestically. They are making the most of their first visit to Byron by undertaking a famil of Byron and the broader Northern Rivers region.
Cohen pushes Minister to ensure ‘proper’ Repco Rally review
February 25, 2010
Minister for State Development, Ian Macdonald, today conceded to pressure from the Greens’ Ian Cohen and committed in the House to a ‘proper economic review’ of the Repco Rally – in compliance with the Motor Sports (World Rally Championship) Act – with a statement in the Parliament today.
“My office was alarmed to hear that Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), the company contracted to review the Repco Rally, was not going to be undertaking an economic cost benefit analysis. Mike Cahill, the managing director of IMC, confirmed this in correspondence with a resident in the Rally area,” says Ian Cohen.
“I asked the Minister in Question Time today why IMC was not doing an economic analysis and how IMC could possibly recommend the continuation of the Rally to the Minister if such an analysis has not been done.
“The Minister’s initial response was his usual bluster about what a great event it was and how local businesses did such good trade over that weekend.
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?’
Northern Rivers carpooling network launched this week
February 17, 2010
Australia’s first regional carpool network launches to the NSW Northern Rivers community this week.
Already, partner organisation Southern Cross University has 78 staff and student members registered with the scheme and using it regularly, following a successful pilot program last year.
Life and work of Fred Hollows on show at Tweed Heads Library
February 15, 2010
The Tweed Heads Library is hosting a touring exhibition which celebrates the life and work of the late Professor Fred Hollows, from 17 February to 3 March.
In Fred’s Footsteps uses pictures and stories to outline the life and achievements of Fred Hollows and the continuing work of The Fred Hollows Foundation.
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