Ballina Information Blog

The troublesome intersection of Bentinck and Norton streets in Ballina has been allocated funds to improve its safety.

Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese and Member for Page Janelle Saffin today announced the allocation of $31,500 to install concrete islands and medians and change the ‘Give Way’ to a ‘Stop’ sign.

Ms Saffin said since being elected in 2007, the Federal Labor Government has allocated more than $3.5 million to fix 21 black spots across the Page electorate.   “This investment is helping to make our local roads even safer for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians, with sixteen of these projects already completed,” said Ms Saffin.

The inaugural Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter, Northern Region, Ballina to Byron Bay Charity Walk is on this Sunday, May 20.

Led off by champion walker Kerry Saxby-Junna, 545 walkers will start the walk at 7am at Missingham Park, Ballina.

The Westpac Helicopter will conduct a fly-over of the Walk start when all walkers will be lined up ready to start. The walkers will give the helicopter a big wave in celebration and thanks for 30 years of lifesaving missions.

DETAILS: The Ballina to Byron Bay Charity Walk, presented by Woollam Constructions, is a new fundraising event for Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter, Northern Region. The Walk is a 37km all-terrain coastal walk, along beach, headline, coastal paths around the iconic Northern Rivers coastline passing around the Byron Bay headline and finishing at the Byron Bay Surf Club.

The event is expected to raise around $20,000.

To coincide with World Environment Day, the 10th Lennox Head Community Tree-Planting Day will once again be hosted by GeoLINK and Ballina Shire Council, with assistance from local community groups, on Friday, 1 June 2012 (from 9 am to 12 pm).

Organisers say that the growth of the sections planted over the last nine years has been amazing, and there are now thick and well-established tracts of littoral rainforest along either side of the walking track, a tribute to all those people who have taken part in the previous tree-plantings.

“We warmly invite all members of the community to come along to the top of the Lennox headland on the day, any time between 9 am and 12 noon, to help to plant some trees,” they said.

“This is a wonderful way to create a lasting legacy for generations to come. It’s also a lot of fun (not hard work!), and there are ‘door’ prizes and a fabulous BBQ at the end, courtesy of local organisations and businesses, when everyone can stand back and admire their handiwork.

“Please wear closed-in shoes, sunscreen and a hat, and bring gardening gloves and/or spades if you have them.”

This 10th anniversary of the Community Tree-Planting day is also a great time to consider sponsoring a tree – this provides a unique way to contribute, especially for those individuals and businesses who cannot attend on the day.

The team at GeoLINK is once again inviting the Lennox business community to help support this initiative. For more information, please contact Catherine Cheyne at GeoLINK on 6687 7666 or email ccheyne@geolink.net.au.

The Rotary Club of Alstonville’s third annual Antiques and Collectables Fair is to be held at the Alstonville Leisure and Entertainment Centre on Saturday and Sunday, May 19 and 20.

Money raised at the fair will go back to the community through Rotary projects.

Among the antiques will be books, collectables and jewellery from all over the world, toys and dolls, oil lamps and figurines and tools.

There will be two wooden farm dioramas carved from Australian red cedar and beech by Lismore man Graeme Ahearn for sale.

The fair is open from 9am to 4.30pm on Saturday, and 10am to 3pm on Sunday. Entry is $5. For more information, phone 0411 952 356.

NRMA Motoring & Services has launched Bowser Buster – an online petrol ranking system for over 50 locations in NSW and Canberra, and has found that Ballina is one of the 10 cheapest areas for fuel in the state.

By analysing weekly data on average unleaded petrol prices, the new Bowser Buster at www.mynrma.com.au/bowserbuster will list from cheapest to most expensive each town’s average price and how the towns have moved along the rankings from their previous week’s price.

The NRMA says tor families embarking on long journeys or businesses running fleets, the NRMA’s new Bowser Buster rankings could help them make considerable savings at the bowser by alerting them to the towns that historically sell petrol at a cheaper price.

Bowser Buster also identifies those towns that consistently sell petrol at a higher average price.

NRMA Director Graham Blight said this sort of information could help drivers plan their petrol stops.

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The call has gone out for restaurants and associated industries to put their wares on show at the annual Ballina Fine Food and Wine Festival.

Restaurants and cottage industries wishing to attend this year’s festival should contact Julie Lee (0414 396 520, cle87586@bigpond.net.au) or Wayne Crawford (0413 292 629, lucycrawford@exemail.com.au).

The organising committee is also seeking sponsors. Contact Col Lee (0417 862 602 or colinlee6@gmail.com).

The charity beneficiary is the Ballina SES.

The event is on Sunday, August 12, at the Ballina Jockey Club.

Essential Energy has completed a major refurbishment to the electricity network in Alstonville, moving powerlines underground along the main street.

The significant project involved local crews constructing both high and low voltage cables underground before removing the overhead powerlines, improving network reliability and increasing capacity.

Essential Energy regional general manager, North Coast, Brian Mclean, said the upgrade has strengthened local power infrastructure while improving the aesthetics of Alstonville’s main street.

“Work on the upgrade has progressed over the past six months with crews from Ballina completing the work a week ago,” he said.

“Essential Energy worked alongside Ballina Shire Council and local contractors who were responsible for the civil works and the placement of conduits for the new cables – once complete the underground network was connected and the overhead network removed.

“The new underground cables will enhance the local power supply increasing capacity and improving both the reliability of the network and look of the area.”

Until 27 May the Northern Rivers Community Gallery is presenting four exciting exhibitions exploring the themes of food and dining.

Table Manners is a spectacular installation, combining the talents of 7 artists and 1 food stylist – Monique Guterres-Harrison (Seaweed Cuisine). Curated by Suvira McDonald the exhibition includes handmade ceramic dinnerware and sculpture by Suvira McDonald and Malcolm Greenwood; ceramic sculptures Susanne Fraser; Ikebana by Di Morison; textiles by Kirsten Ingemar, paintings by Gatya Kelly and furniture by Danny Saks.

“The table is the culinary canvas; the appreciation of food begins with its presentation,”says artist and curator Suvira McDonald.

Short and Sweet is a collection of small pastel drawings by Clunes based artist Katka Adams. Ordinary teapots, scones and eggs on toast become the subject of her seemingly whimsical, yet highly considered, compositions.

These small and velvety pastel drawings give us an intimate glimpse, a new view, of everyday household subjects.

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Fire & Rescue NSW’s (FRNSW) annual Open Day will be held on Saturday, May 5, and families are encouraged to visit their local fire station, meet firefighters and learn more about fire safety.

Open Day provides families with a timely opportunity to learn more about fire risks and fire prevention ahead of winter – the worst time of year for home fires.

A range of activities will be on offer including firefighting demonstrations, station tours and fire safety presentations. Children will be able to see fire engines and firefighting equipment up close.

What: FRNSW Open Day 2012 When: 10am-2pm, Saturday, May 5.

The Inner Wheel Club of Alstonville is holding a Coin for a Cord Day stall at the Alstonville Plaza on Friday, 4th May 4, from 8.30am to 2.30pm.

The money raised from the sale of merchandise such as pens, badges, bears and, for the first time, cupcakes, will give a sick child a second chance by funding further research into Cord Blood.

After the birth of a baby, the umbilical cord and placenta are usually discarded.

Research has found that these are packed with valuable cord blood stem cells which can be used in the treatment of a wide variety cancers and immunodeficiencies, for example, Acute Leukemia, Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Nationally Inner Wheel has raised over $1.6 million for cord blood research and 24 grants have been made Australia-wide.

Inner Wheel is an international women’s organisation which focuses on friendship and personal service.