Ballina Information Blog

Imagine trying to make your way around town using a 1987 street directory in your 1987 car wearing your 1987 clothes listening to 1987 music?

GPS was a futuristic fantasy, your car would possibly have had a carburettor and wind-up windows, Kylie Minogue would have been topping the charts with ‘Locomotion’ and let’s say no more about the fashions …

You’d be long overdue for an update. Similarly, Ballina Shire Council realises that land use planning has changed since 1987.

In consultation with the community it has reviewed its local environmental plan (LEP) released in that year, and is seeking comments on its new Draft Ballina Local Environmental Plan 2010 until Friday, 4 June.

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Minister for Police Michael Daley today announced that a $100,000 reward would be offered to help Police solve the disappearance and suspected murder of Lennox Head woman Bronwyn Winfield.

Mr Daley said there are grave concerns for the welfare of the 31-year-old, who disappeared 16 years ago.

“Ms Winfield was last seen at her Lennox Head home at 60 Sandstone Crescent on the 16th of May 1993,” he said.

“Her estranged husband reported her missing to police on the 27 May 1993.

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Water quality of a Third World country at our doorstep

Jancine Harrison lives alongside Rocky Mouth Creek at Woodburn, and holds great fears of another major fish kill in the Richmond River. She submitted these thoughts and pictures to Ballina Info …

In my opinion conditions are ripe once again for another fish kill in the Richmond River, just as Rocky Mouth Creek is currently experiencing.

As I sit beside Rocky Mouth Creek which flows into the Richmond River less than two kilometres downstream, I can barely stand the stench of the black water coated in a film of white scum, and the sight of three small fish struggling with their heads totally emerged, going by.
This is the result of the recent rises in the river levels of last week and water backing up on the surrounding floodplains, in particular, drains which were implemented mainly in the 1960s as part of the government’s Flood Mitigation program. The aim was to drain wetlands to make way for farming.

The water is trapped and in this case blocked by floodgates in these drains which are deep and exposed to acid sulphate soils until river levels recede.  This also appears to be exacerbated by warm temperatures that cause the rotting of introduced vegetation not native to wetland areas, being submerged by water. This rapidly deoxygenates the water and makes it impossible to sustain any form of life.

Many scientific studies have been funded by governement departments over the past twenty years or more at great expense.  Do we have to wait until damage is irreversible for another twenty years and all life has ceased to exist in and along these rivers and tributaries? I feel the governments and powers-that-be have an obligation to this country to put right the past uninformed decisions to drain these delicate eco-wetland systems that are an integral part of the health of our environment.

With predictions of climate change, rising sea levels, temperatures and more regular flooding predicted for our area, I don’t think that we have the luxury of time to ignore this problem.  The remedies for the recovery of these wetland areas is a slow process as they need to be rehabilitated with native wetland species of grasses and trees, as well as reducing depths of drains on agricultural land.

We all need to push goverment departments as a matter of urgency to begin to implement and fund these issues, or there will be no such thing as clean water, fishing or tourism in our area for future generations to enjoy.

The Far North Coast Canoe Club is running the 8th Paddle for Life – supported by local businesses and community organisations. 

This year’s fundraising slogan is ‘$20,000 in Twenty Ten’ to be distributed equally between two local charities, Summerland Early Intervention and Southern Cross LADS. 

Summerland Early Intervention Programme (SEIP) provides essential support for children from birth to age 5 with developmental delays and disabilities. 

Educational and therapy programs such as physiotherapy, speech therapy, gross and fine motor skills are delivered at the Centre and local pre-schools. 

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Ballina Shire Council is seeking Registrations of Interest (ROI) for the production, co-ordination and/or sponsorship of Rivafest 2010, including an option, to council, to continue any contractual arrangements from the period 2011 to 2014.

The key outputs of the event are to remain consistent with the event’s current aims:

• Develop a strong sense of place, pride and community spirit
• Share, respect and reflect on Ballina’s heritage which recognises Aboriginal cultural heritage
• Raise awareness of the importance of our natural assets and waterways
• Celebrate the rich culture and lifestyle of the local community
• Raise the profile and brand awareness of Ballina Coast and Hinterland.

The ROI will open today, 10 March 2010, with applications being received until Wednesday 7 April 2010.

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Recycling and reusing items in materialising artworks will be the focus of free art workshops to be held at the Northern Rivers Community Gallery during March.

Sculptor Teah Fort will be running two workshops sponsored by the Ballina Shire Council Waste Education Program on Saturday 13 March in conjunction with her exhibition, ‘Rare Plastics’.

The first session will be: 10am until noon and the second from 1pm until 3pm.

In these fun workshops you will use recycled plastics to create your own sculptures. Participants are encouraged to bring along their own materials.

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Kevin Purtill (38), of Blue Seas Parade, Lennox Head, was arrested for the murder of missing Byron Bay man John ‘Jack’ Garda (54) at Lennox Head on Monday, February 8. His brother Warren Purtill (46) of Byron Bay has been charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder.

The Byron Bay businessman went missing on February 8, after going to a meeting in Lennox Head. Mr Garda’s body was found near the Pacific Highway at Broadwater on Saturday 27 February in a shallow grave.

ASR is holding a marine wildlife rescue workshop on March 13, at their headquarters on North Creek Road. This is a great opportunity to learn very important skills to help our native marine wildlife, from such a great team. We’re all aware of the job that ASR does.

The workshop runs from 8.30am – 4.30pm, and please register before tomorrow,  March 5 by calling 6686 2852 or emailing admin@seabirdrescue.org. The cost is $20 for members and $30 for non members, which includes lunch and a manual.

It’s Clean Up Australia Day on Sunday, March 7, and there are various locations around Ballina Shire where you can help out.

East Ballina Landcare will clean up the paperbark wetland next to Southern Cross School K-12, Links Avenue, East Ballina, from 8.30am to about 10am.

A clean-up will take place at South Ballina Beach Road from 7.30am to 12.30pm, meet at the floodgates, 3.4km from the intersection of Riveriew Drive.

Fishery Creek carpark in Ballina will be cleaned up from 8am to noon.

Perrys Hill, at Alstonville, will be cleaned up from 8am to 11am, meet at the 60km/h sign at the eastern entry to Alstonville.

A clean-up will be held at the Elders carpark opposite the Federal Hotel in Alstonville from 10am to 11am.

See the website www.cleanupaustraliaday.org.au.

Events will be held in Ballina and Lennox Head next week to mark International Women’s Day.

On Wednesday, March 10, the Ballina International Women’s Day lunch will be held at the Ballina RSL Club from noon.

The theme of the event is alleviating poverty.

The event is organised by the Ballina Chamber of Commerce and tickets, costing $45, can be purchased from the chamber, phone 6681 5049.

A Lennox Head event will be held on Thursday, March 11, at Blackboard on the Beach from noon.

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