About 9pm last Saturday (28 August), a 49-year-old man was home alone when he responded to a knock at his front door.

Upon opening the door he was confronted by a man pointing a firearm toward his head. The man was wearing white clothing and his face was covered.

Police were told the occupant attempted to close the door but was unable to, as the intruder was kicking the door.

At this time four other men in similar white clothing, with their faces covered, arrived at the front door of the house.

It is alleged one of the men smashed a front window of the home. Police later located a magazine from a firearm inside the broken window.

Meanwhile, it is alleged the three remaining men banged on the windows and external blinds of the home, and smashed the window of the car parked on the front lawn.

The occupant of the house fled out the back door into a neighbour’s yard for safety, at which point the five men ran from the location.

Detectives from Tweed/Byron Local Area Command are investigating all circumstances surrounding the incident, including a possible motive for the attack.

They would like to hear from anyone who has information that might assist their investigations to contact Tweed Heads Police via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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The UNITY festival on 2 October at the Murwillumbah Showground is all about celebrating the dance, music, cuisine and culture of the Tweed’s diverse heritage.

The Caldera Artfest at the Murwillumbah Civic Centre from Friday 1 through to Monday 4 October showcases the region’s bio-diversity through photography, paintings, sculpture, films and displays.

The UNITY festival is a colourful mix of rich and diverse cultural influences from the Tweed and Bryon Shires, infused to create an exciting family event.

The theme for this year is Celebrating Diversity.

Deya Dova (pictured) headlines the Echo Main Stage with her bright and energetic mix of Dance, World and Electro with an Indie Pop twist.

Her exotic sound is based upon her extraordinary vocal talent and draws from indigenous influences from around the world and those echoed in her own ancestry.

The Country Energy Dance Stage showcases African, Indonesian, Filipino, Torres Strait Island, Indian and South Sea Island performers dancing in traditional and striking costume.

For the taste buds, the UNITY festival offers a multicultural menu including Indian curries, Indonesian satays, vegetarian gourmets, bush tucker, Maori burgers and North African Gypsy meatballs and kebabs to name a few. Tickets now on sale at: www.unityfestival.com.au.

The 2010 Caldera Artfest is part of a world-wide celebration of the International Year of Biodiversity.

The exhibition at the Murwillumbah Civic Centre showcases the work of artists concerned about the natural environment and promotes awareness of the significant biodiversity values within Australia’s Green Cauldron.

Artwork and associated product sales will generate revenue for specific land-care projects and artists. Entry to the exhibition if free. For more information visit www.calderaart.org.au

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Around 100 volunteers from the Tweed Valley Community Church and five local high schools will join forces to remove unsightly graffiti at three sites around Tweed Heads South on Saturday.

Three crews will use council equipment to clean up sites Boyds Bay Bridge, the bypass bridge and the skate park at Tweed Heads South at the ‘For the Love of Tweed Community Clean-up Day’.

Students from Tweed River High School, Banora Point High School, Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School, Pacific Coast Christian School and St Joseph’s College have volunteered to assist.

“I think this is a marvellous initiative and shows that our young people are community-minded and up for a challenge, not matter how daunting it may seem,” Councillor Polglase said.

“Instead of just complaining about the graffiti problem, these young church members and students from five local high schools are rolling up their sleeves to do something about it – as they say, ‘For the Love of Tweed’.

“Council has joined forces to assist with the community clean-up by providing training in graffiti removal and safety issues, as well as supplying equipment such as brushes, graffiti removal products and paint.”

Co-ordinator Samara Gray from the Tweed Heads South-based Tweed Valley Community Church said she and her fellow church members believed they had a responsibility to look after the community, as well as each other.

“It’s about honour as well – teaching the young ones to respect property, and they get this from a sense of ownership,” Ms Gray said.

PICTURES: Tweed River High students Jamie Durnford, Jason Winsor, Lewis Fisher and Jack Maclean have volunteered to help the Tweed Valley Community Church’s Anthony Kypreous; Mayor of Tweed Councillor Warren Polglase ready to get his hands dirty removing graffiti at the Tweed Heads Skate Park with Tweed Valley Community Church’s Anthony Kypreous and youth pastor, Sam Spry.

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The discovery was made by a passer-by about 6pm (Monday 23 August 2010) on the bank of the river about 100m east of Broadwater Esplanade in Bilambil Heights.

Police believe it may be the body of an 85-year-old man who was reported missing to police over a month ago on July 16.

A post-mortem examination will be conducted to confirm the man’s identity and cause of death.

At this stage police believe there are no suspicious circumstances.

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Tweed Heads police have been investigating a number of alleged break and enter offences around Tweed Heads and Murwillumbah over the past few months.

As a result of DNA tests police allegedly identified a 20-year-old man of no fixed abode who they wished to speak to.

On Monday 16 August police attempted to arrest the 20-year-old after a motor vehicle collision at Tumbulgum. However, the man jumped in the Tweed River and escaped.

Yesterday police attended a home on Eviron Road at Condong where they arrested the man.

He was taken to Tweed Heads Police Station where he was interviewed and charged with:
· Break, enter and steal x 10
· Receive property stolen outside the state of NSW
· Steal motor vehicle
· Goods in custody
· Possess housebreaking implements
· Unlicensed driving
· Negligent driving

He was also charged with 10 outstanding arrest warrants relating to 40 similar offences.

He was bail refused to appear at Tweed Heads Local Court today.

“This arrest is part of the Tweed/Byron Local Area Command’s continued focus on property crime. Investigations are continuing into numerous incidents and offenders should be warned – we will track you down and we will charge you and put you before the courts,” Detective Inspector Shane Diehm, Crime Manager, Tweed/Byron Local Area Command, said.

“Any member of the public who has seen any suspicious activity or who has any information that may assist police is urged to contact Tweed/Byron police via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.”

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The crash happened about 7.50pm on the Tweed Valley Way at Stotts Island, near Tumbulgum, and involved a southbound silver Mitsubishi sedan and a northbound white Nissan Navara tray top utility.

A bicycle found at the crash site had been dislodged from the rear of the utility during the collision.

A 34-year-old woman from Murwillumbah, the driver of the sedan, died at the scene, as did the driver of the utility, a 27-year-old Yamba man.

The passenger of the utility, a 36-year-old man from the Clarence area, was ejected from the vehicle and also died at the scene.

Officers from the Ballina Crash Investigation Unit remained on site for several hours overnight, with the road reopening about 1am.

They are still working to determine the exact cause of the crash and would like to speak to anyone who observed either of the vehicles prior to the crash.

Anyone who can assist the crash investigators should phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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The group was formed to guide the development of a comprehensive Koala Plan of Management (CKPoM) to address growing concerns in the community and Tweed Shire Council about dwindling koala numbers.

The project aims to establish the current distribution, status and future prospects for koalas on the Tweed Coast and provide a CKPoM consistent with State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) 44 and state and national koala recovery plans.

Ecological consultant Dr Stephen Phillips from Biolink presented a progress report on a Tweed Coast Koala Habitat Study (commissioned by Council with funding support from the Department of Environment Climate Change and Water) which found that the range and numbers of koalas had declined substantially in recent years.

“All evidence points to a relatively recent escalation in the rate of range contraction and decrease in occupancy rate that now places the long-term viability of the Tweed Coast koalas in real jeopardy,” Dr Phillips said.

He advised that the proposed CKPoM would need to ‘actively and aggressively engage population protection, management and recovery as the security for the remaining source populations is vital’.

Dr Phillips said the causes of decline and ongoing threats to the remaining populations are: habitat fragmentation, fire, the limited opportunity for koalas to migrate from other areas, dogs and motor vehicles.

Group member Lorraine Vass said Dr Phillips confirmed what other committee members thought – that coastal koalas in the Tweed are in dire trouble,

“However, we have the tools and the community support to turn the situation around and every member of the group is keen to get on with job,” Ms Vass said.

Tweed Council’s Biodiversity Program Leader Dr Mark Kingston said the Koala Habitat Study was the first comprehensive and scientifically-based study of koalas on the Tweed Coast since the Tweed Coast Koala Habitat Atlas, which was completed in the mid 1990s.

“Although the results paint a bleak picture, we need to know what we’re dealing with so we can act appropriately to protect and encourage the remaining koala populations into the future,” Dr Kingston said.

Dr Kingston said he anticipated the CKPoM would take about a year to prepare and the next step was to finalise the Koala Habitat Study which will provide the science necessary to underpin the CKPoM.

“In the meantime council will continue to carefully scrutinise any development proposals in or near areas of koala habitat and support habitat restoration projects and other works designed to improve the prospects for koalas in the Shire,” he said.

The full results of the Koala Habitat Study will be presented to a Council meeting in the next three months.

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About 8.20am emergency services attended a caravan well alight at a caravan park at Chinderah.

NSW Fire Brigades officers extinguished the blaze and the body of a woman was located inside the caravan.

A crime scene was established and police and fire officers will investigate the cause of the blaze.

The body is yet to be formally identified, however, is believed to be that of a 69-year-old woman.

A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

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Councillors voted unanimously at Tuesday night’s meeting to tell the NSW Department of Planning that choked access roads will substantially reduce the number of approvals they can issue at Cobaki Lakes near Tweed Heads, Kings Forest near Kingscliff and ‘The Rise’ development at Bilambil Heights.

Mayor of Tweed Councillor Warren Polglase said the planned road infrastructure required to service the three major land releases in the Tweed could not be built due to a projected funding shortfall caused by the new cap.

“The NSW Government has said we can raise annual rates to fund the shortfall. It is morally abhorrent that we should hit up ordinary ratepayers to fund developer’s infrastructure, and we won’t do it,” Councillor Polglase said.

“Growth in the Tweed Shire is twice the State average and three times the national average. We have a tremendous responsibility as elected members to deliver the infrastructure required for that type of growth.

“It would be irresponsible of us as a council to allow development to occur when we are unable to meet infrastructure needs. And it’s not just roads under threat – it’s public libraries, parks, community facilities and bus shelters.”

Without the additional road connections being provided by council, the developments will be constrained indefinitely. Other implications are that housing land availability will be reduced and the cost of residential land in the Tweed will rise substantially.

“The irony is that the State Government’s own population projections tell us to plan infrastructure to provide for substantial population growth on the next 25 years – yet they make it impossible for us to service that growth,” Councillor Polglase said.

“We have spent just $76 million on a new water treatment plant and committed another $35 million on sewer treatment infrastructure to service the growth we’ve been told we must have – and now this government’s own policies threaten to make those facilities expensive white elephants.

“This council has made a very bold and courageous decision in maintaining the growth in a sensible manner and that is now under threat.

“A large proportion of the people who live in the Tweed Shire are involved in some way with the construction industry and it is one of our major employers.

“We want to encourage young families to live in our beautiful shire and they also need jobs and affordable housing.”

Cobaki Lakes is being considered by the Department of Planning as a Part 3A Development Proposal with 5300 lots planned. Council estimates show that only 3007 lots could be serviced before access roads choke.

The unfunded infrastructure for Cobaki Lakes includes the duplication of the bridge over the Tugun Bypass to four lanes (with later upgrade to a full interchange) and the extension of Cobaki Parkway to the south with a bridge over Cobaki Creek connecting to Piggabeen Road.

Kings Forest is also being considered by the Department under Part 3A legislation, with 4500 lots planned. Council estimates that only 1267 lots could be serviced before the Tweed Coast Road is choked.

Under the cap, future developer contributions would not be sufficient to provide for the required duplication of the Tweed Coast Road to four lanes from the Chinderah Interchange to Casuarina.

The existing network connecting ‘The Rise’ to Scenic Drive and Piggabeen Road is constrained by the capacity of Kennedy Drive.

To view the Council reports and minutes, visit Council’s website www.tweed.nsw.gov.au and click on ‘Council meetings’.

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About 7pm yesterday two men who had their faces covered with stockings entered a shop on Wharf Street.

One of the men was armed with a knife when they allegedly threatened the two women and one man in the store.

The 42-year-old man was assaulted and knocked to the ground before the two offenders stole a quantity of cash and controlled drugs.

The injured man was later treated at the Tweed Hospital, receiving several sutures in his mouth for lacerations from the incident.

Both men fled on foot and police were contacted, arriving a short time later.

With the assistance of a police dog and handler from Queensland Police, the NSW Police Force investigators attended a room at a nearby motel while forensic experts examined the crime scene.

Two men were arrested at the motel without incident and officers seized a quantity of cash, drugs and clothing which police will allege relate to the robbery.

A 31-year-old Wollongong man and a 24-year-old Wollongong man were both charged with assault with intent to rob and robbery whilst armed or in company.

Both men have been refused bail to appear at Tweed Heads Local Court today.

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