Man’s body identified – Brunswick Heads
January 30, 2010
Police have positively identified human remains located in bushland at Ocean Shores as missing man Kevin Kirk.
Mr Kirk, 70, was last seen walking a small Staffordshire dog through Ferry Reserve Caravan Park at nearby Brunswick Heads on 18 January.
A series of searches for Mr Kirk were conducted in the area by police and other emergency services after he was reported missing but failed to locate any trace of him.
His remains were found during a search on Thursday.
A post mortem examination will be conducted on Monday to try to establish the cause of Mr Kirk’s death.
A report is being prepared for the Coroner.
NRRRL gears up for pre-season Ballina RSL Charity Shield
January 29, 2010
The Men of League Foundation will be one of the beneficiaries of the Northern Rivers Regional Rugby League’s 2010 pre-season competition.
The competition, known as the Ballina RSL Charity Shield, will begin on March 28. It will culminate with a presentation night at the Ballina RSL Club on April 23.
NRRRL secretary Doug Harrison said that the Men of League Foundation and breast cancer research would be the beneficiaries of the competition.
The total prize pool for the competition is $10,500, donated in part by the Ballina RSL Club.
Tony Zann’s weekend fishing report
January 29, 2010
Bruce at Dave’s Bait Shop in Ballina says there have been squire either side of legal length out at the 32-fathom reefs, along with some pearlies and nice flathead.
Out wider for some mahi mahi and small yellowfin tuna. Flathead in closer.
Off the beaches for flathead, dart, big tailor to about 5kg, plus the occasional jewfish.
The river has plenty of flathead, some whiting up to Keith Hall or Pimlico but they’ve had the hell netted out of them this week, with some nice bream and school jewfish up around the ferry.
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.
Southern Cross University to lobby for broadband on North Coast
January 29, 2010
Federal Member for Page Janelle Saffin will champion a Southern Cross University submission to get the Australian Government’s $43 billion National Broadband Network (NBN) rolled out early to the NSW North Coast.
Southern Cross University’s Professor of Information Technology and Information Systems, Professor Peter Croll, today handed the submission to Ms Saffin during a ceremony at the Student Services Centre, at the Lismore campus.
NSW Minister for Planning, Infrastructure and Lands, Tony Kelly, who was in the region for a series of infrastructure funding announcements, also attended to receive a briefing from Professor Croll.
The submission was simultaneously electronically lodged for assessment with NBN’s government relations and external affairs chief Mike Kaiser and with Federal Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy.
Planning approval given for Tintenbar-Ewingsdale Pacific Highway upgrade
January 29, 2010
Ballina MP and Shadow Minister for North Coast Don Page has welcomed the announcement today of planning approval and construction funding for the Tintenbar to Ewingsdale upgrade of the Pacific Highway.
He especially welcomed the announcement of construction money at the same time as planning approval was given, as quite often this is not the case.
“Usually planning approval is given and it can be years before construction money becomes available,” Mr Page said.
These delays occurred for both the Ballina bypass and Alstonville bypass projects.
Man’s body located near Brunswick Heads
January 28, 2010
Police will prepare a report for the Coroner following the discovery of a man’s body at Ocean Shores.
About 8am today (Thursday 28 January 2010), a co-ordinated search utilising a specialised police dog commenced in bushland.
About 12.55pm, human remains and a number of personal items were located near Oola Place.
The body has not been positively identified and investigations are continuing.
Since Wednesday 20 January, police from Tweed/Byron Local Area Command have conducted a series of searches for a 70-year-old man.
Kevin Kirk was last seen walking his dog through the Ferry Reserve Caravan Park at Brunswick Heads at 9.30am on Monday 18 January.
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.
Three men survive helicopter crash at Mount Barney
January 28, 2010
Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter was tasked to search for a helicopter reported crashed somewhere in the Kyogle area.
Three males in their 30s and 40s on board the helicopter were located in Mount Barney National Park, north of Woodenbong (n/w of Kyogle).
Lismore MP to join the ‘teal team’ during Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
January 28, 2010
The Nationals Member for Lismore, Thomas George, says it’s time to join the teal team and wear a ribbon during Ovarian Cancer Australia’s Awareness Month in February.
Mr George said politicians will be joining the cause and wearing their teal ribbon on Wednesday 24 February 2010 to support sufferers and raise the importance of prevention.
“There are 1500 women in Australia diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year and more than half will die from the disease,” Mr George said.
“The goal of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month is to see that every woman in Australia knows the symptoms of ovarian cancer because an early detection significantly increases the chances of a full recovery.”
