Ballina Information Blog

After our story on A volunteer rainfall observer for Ballina at the request of The Bureau of Meteorology, we are yet to get any willing participants.

As the previous article stated, the bureau’s previous Ballina rainfall observer, Jim McDonnell, retired at 99 years of age after doing the official Ballina rainfall readings for over 30 years.

It is an important job that doesn’t require all that much effort. We urge anyone that is interested to contact us here at Ballina.info, or use the contact details listed below:

02 9296 1547
rosnsw@bom.gov.au

This October long weekend the Sun Beach Family Music and Camping festival will be kicking off for its first year, with over 12 live music acts including major headliners like Old Man River and his band, The Boat People, Dan Parsons and the up-and-coming Firetree.

The festival site is set in the pristine eco acres of the Ballina Beach Village at South Ballina.

Ballina Beach Village is a boutique festival site – with an outdoor performance space, intimate cafe venue, pool and dance venue all just a short walk to the beach.

Surrounded by Australian wildlife, the village offers 3.5-star beach cabin accommodation, powered camping sites or wilderness camping sites.

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The Northern Rivers Community Gallery will be celebrating the start of spring with a burst of colour featuring five fresh new exhibitions now on display.

A Journey Through the Seasons travels through the four seasons of fruit and flowers by artist Barbara Tillsley. From her property in Meerschaum Vale, Barbara paints through the four seasons in her unique style, capturing the essence of the flowering and fruiting plants in watercolour.

Although the flowers and fruits are real, their settings are imaginative and evocative.

Somethin’ Fishy by Jane Puzey invites you to view the wonder of life, colour and essence of the ocean.

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Construction of the Harvey Norman Homemaker Centre in Ballina is due to begin soon.

Ballina Shire Council said tenders had been called and the successful contractor had been appointed.

“The development has encountered many months of delays due to legal action taken against Ballina Shire Council which has since been settled in council’s favour,” the council said.

“Earthworks on the site and the Boeing Avenue extension are well-advanced and the successful builder is expected to take possession of the site mid-September.

“The tenders, which included submissions from local builders, were very competitive and whilst prices were very close, the time for construction was the determining factor. Harvey Norman has selected Mainbrace Constructions as the successful contractor and they will move on site mid-September.”

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Jetstar has added an extra five weekly flights from Sydney to the Ballina-Byron route.

Neil Weatherson, Ballina Byron Airport manager, was delighted to receive a phone call from Jetstar last Friday afternoon announcing the five additional weekly services.

“What a great way to end the week. We’re elated to have even more flights to offer our passengers and it also demonstrates Jetstar’s future confidence in the growth of the Sydney to Ballina-Byron route,” Mr Weatherson said.

“These additional flights coupled with the recently installed self check-in kiosks offer more flexibility and convenience for our customers.”

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Ballina Shire Council has announced that five events, including three new ones, have been successfully funded in the 2010/11 Festivals and Events Support Program.

The Festivals and Events Support Program was released 1 July 2010 providing Ballina Shire festivals and events the opportunity to access up to $50,000 in funding for 2010/11.

Council met on Thursday 26 August, 2010, to allocate the funding. The following events have been successful:

• Alstonville Apex New Year’s Eve Family Festival
• Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Boat and Leisure Show
• Lennox National Surfing Reserve Coastal Lifestyle Expo
• Rotary Club of Ballina on Richmond Food and Wine Festival
• Ballina Lighthouse & Lismore Surf Life Saving Club’s The Ballina Island Paddle Challenge

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In a first for the Ballina Shire, 20 residents, selected from an initial group of 2000, will work with the council this week to come up with local ways of responding to the impact of climate change.

They will meet with Council staff on the 27-28 August to listen to presentations from some of Australia’s experts on climate change and discuss different aspects of climate change and the implications for the shire.

The Council’s Civil Services Group Manager, John Truman, said this was the first time the Ballina Council had organised such an event.

“The Council has an obligation to plan for the future and one of the major issues identified by the NSW and Federal Governments is climate change,” Mr Truman said.

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Ballina MP Don Page is encouraging members of the local community to nominate deserving individuals or groups for the 2011 NSW Seniors Week Achievement Awards.

“These awards are about recognising seniors (i.e. 60 years of age or older) for their contribution to the development of the community and their leadership and initiative.  The awards provide an opportunity to formally thank older people for the contributions they make to their communities,” Mr Page said.

Up to 60 awards are available in the following categories:

• Business
• Intergenerational Understanding
• Environment/Science/Agriculture
• Health and Well-being
• Education/Lifelong Learning
• Community Service/Volunteering.

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Ballina Shire residents are being encouraged to support Daffodil Day, The Cancer Council’s biggest annual nationwide fundraiser. Daffodil Day, to be held on Friday, August 27, raises money for The Cancer Council’s research, advocacy, information and support services.

In 2009, more than $9 million was raised across Australia.

“Daffodil Day is one of our most-loved fundraising events,” Cancer Council Project Co-ordinator Debbie Smith said.

Daffodil Day merchandise is currently being sold at a number of local businesses, and can be ordered through The Cancer Council’s Far North Coast office in Alstonville.

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Supa IGA stores in Ballina Shire are on the hunt for community champions with the launch of this year’s Queensland/Northern NSW IGA Unsung Hero Awards.

The awards showcase those who give up their own time for the good of others – usually unpaid and often without thanks.

Supa IGA Ballina is calling on members of the Ballina community to put forward those who deserve to be acknowledged for their efforts.

Joe Pittini, Queensland and Northern NSW IGA Retail State Board Chairman, said: “This is a really great way for our network of IGA stores to help recognise and reward the people in the community that work tirelessly for others.

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