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News ▶ p6
News from across the North Coast online www.echo.net.au
Saffin calls on NRCC to improve flood recovery communication
Community frustration with the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation’s (NRRC) approach to communication and information distribution was clear from the outset; but now Lismore MP Janelle Saffin is calling for clearer communication from them.
Ballina community legends to be recognised
Ballina will recognise members of the local community who have stepped up in the last twelve months, with their Australia Day Awards.
What’s next for Ballina? Mayor Sharon Cadwallader’s view
This is part two of an in-depth interview with Ballina’s Mayor, Sharon Cadwallader. The first part examined what’s happened since she was elected in 2022.
Soft Circus in Lismore’s Quad
The Soft Circus project is coming to the Lismore Quad next week and organisers SEEDArts are very excited.
The best and biggest Tweed Seniors Festival
Seniors have reason to celebrate with this year’s Tweed Seniors Festival being the best and biggest yet, with a full program of more than 40 exciting events.
Celebrating regeneration on March 4
Planting trees to restore ecosystems is one of the most positive stories of our time, and perhaps the best antidote to climate despair
North Coast farmers come together for newest branch of NSW Farmers
NSW Farmers have a new branch for their organisation and it is based here on the north coast ‘heralding a new era for agriculture in Byron Shire and the Tweed Valley’.
Young person arrested after spate of alleged vehicle thefts – Kingscliff
A teenager has been charged with 26 offences after an investigation by the Tweed/ Byron Police.
Calls for govt agency, NRRC, to act
Photo & story Aslan Shand
Around 50 people gathered outside the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation’s (NRRC) office in Lismore on Monday morning to call for action for flood victims.
‘We are reclaiming your recovery eleven months on from the flood,’ said organiser, Miriam Torzillo.
‘This is a gathering of people who are bringing our frustration to the NRRC. We are calling for transparency, and socially just intervention by the NRRC’.
‘Homes hang in the balance, and the NRRC have not provided the basic answers so that we can move on with our lives.’
Speakers called for transparency and clarity around who was eligible for house buybacks, publication of the maps that identified the red zones, and for the NRRC to engage in constructive consultation with the community.
Multiple speakers also called for intervention into the housing market by the NRRC and government, to ensure fair and equitable outcomes for residents, landowners and renters impacted by the floods.
‘Many people are living back in their flood-affected homes,’ explained local, Harper Dalton. ‘The most cost-effective way forward, and to keep communities together, is to relocate Lismore homes,’ said Harper.
Lismore Councillor, and Greens candidate for the state election, Adam Guise, told the gathering, ‘We are fighting for a community-led recovery. We don’t want an autocratic regime that’s top down. We don’t want Sydney bureaucrats telling us what we should do’.
‘We need safe, affordable land and relocation,’ he said.
Guise said, ‘It can’t be left to an open free market recovery. The free market has not delivered social or affordable housing for decades.
‘We need the government to purchase land and facilitate land swaps, relocation [to] and affordable and social housing that is out of the flood areas.’
Full story online at www.echo.net.au.
Flood-affected residents in Lismore say the government corporation tasked with reconstruction, the NRRC, is not doing enough to help them. Floods and landslides hit the north coast almost a year ago on February 28, 2022.
The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has released a Climate Change Policy and Action Plan 2023–26, ‘outlining a bold set of actions that will help NSW reach net-zero emissions by 2050’.
NSW EPA Chief Executive Officer, Tony Chappel, said the plan ‘provides a roadmap for how the state’s environmental regulator will address the causes and consequences of climate change.’
On page 14 of the EPA’s Climate Change Policy, a breakdown of NSW greenhouse gas emissions (2018–19) – and description of coverage by the EPA’s regulatory remit – is provided.
Emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels for electricity generation are the most significant of emissions, accounting for 52Mt, or 38 per cent. Fossil fuel combustion emissions used in transport (road, rail, aviation and shipping) make up 28Mt, or 20 per cent.
Agriculture is 16Mt, or 12 per cent (methane emission etc). Emissions from fossil fuel combustion used in manufacturing is 15Mt, or 11 per cent, while emissions from the extraction and distribution of coal and natural gas is also 13Mt. Emissions owing to waste disposal, treatment and processing, including domestic and industrial wastewater, is 5Mt, or four per cent.
The 71-page Action Plan outlines what the NSW government is already doing with regards to addressing climate change, and proposes new actions to undertake over the next three years.
These actions are informing and planning, mitigation, adaption.
One action cited is ‘Requiring net-zero emissions from new electricity infrastructure’.
Both PDF documents are available via www.epa.nsw. gov.au.
Lismore hospital works completed
The final stage of the Lismore Base Hospital redevelopment is now complete, says the NSW Liberals and Nationals government.
Minister for Regional Health, Bronnie Taylor, and ‘Duty MLC for Lismore’, Ben Franklin, officially opened the new buildings last week saying it completes ‘almost a decade of construction throughout the many stages of the $312 million project’. Stage 3C
Mrs Taylor said the new health facilities ‘will allow for contemporary models of care that clinicians and staff are excited to deliver in their local community’.
Stage 3C of the Lismore Base Hospital redevelopment includes: ‘A refurbished medical ward with stroke, acute delirium beds and general medical beds with a gym and an activities of daily life kitchen; new outpatients department; a new cardiology unit, with co-located coronary care beds and step-down cardiology beds in the one unit, making it easier for staff to provide ongoing care to these patients; community health facilities on the main hospital campus; an auditorium; a new front entrance and reception area; and a new library, education centre, meeting and training rooms’.
NSW Police say a ‘critical incident investigation’ is underway after Tenterfield police shot an armed man who entered the police station.
At around 5.45pm on Thursday January 19, police say the 48-year-old man entered Tenterfield Police Station and pointed a firearm at officers from New England Police District, before he was shot.
They say, ‘Despite the efforts of responding police and NSW Ambulance paramedics, the man died at the scene’.
‘A critical incident team comprised of officers from State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad will now investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the discharge of a police firearm.
‘That investigation will be subject to independent review’.
for councils from state and feds
Additional federal and NSW government funding is now available to help councils repair community infrastructure damaged by the floods in February and June last year.
In a rare bipartisan press release, local Labor MP Justine Elliot joined NSW MP for Tweed, Geoff Provest, in announcing $70 million has been allocated to the Community Assets Program, under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
She says impacted councils can apply for funding to ‘repair parks, playgrounds, walkways, places of cultural heritage, and other community assets like libraries, pedestrian bridges, and community-based preschools’.
She says, ‘While all NSW disaster declared LGAs from the February and June 2022 events are eligible, funding would be targeted to those councils that had experienced the greatest damage’.
‘The floods last year were devastating for our region, and nearly a year on, we know there is still so much work to be done’.
State Member for Lismore, Janelle Saffin, also welcomed the additional funding.
NSW Blue Zone declaration frees up bees across nation
The NSW Varroa Mite General Emergency (Blue) Zone has now been declared Varroa mite-free, with all states and territories across Australia reaching a unanimous agreement.
Minister for Agriculture, Dugald Saunders, said in a statement the agreement means states will reopen their borders in the coming weeks for the movement of bees and hives for pollination.
‘This is a significant step in the fight to eradicate the mite, and for our beekeepers and pollination-reliant industries that have done it tough over the past seven months,’ said Mr Saunders.
Mr Saunders said people still need to be aware. ‘This is not the time for complacency; now more than ever, we need beekeepers to make sure they continue to do the right thing and maintain their alcohol wash surveillance so we continue to move in the right direction.’
The Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pests (CCEPP) recently endorsed a paper presented by NSW providing epidemiological data supporting the proof of freedom requirements.
NSW will now work with South Australia, Victoria, and Queensland to develop a set of conditions to facilitate interstate movement.
Australian Honey Bee Industry Council CEO, Danny Le Feuvre, said this is a major milestone for the response and the beekeeping industry. ‘While the industry will continue to be impacted by the Varroa mite’s incursion, endorsement of this paper is a critical step forward in achieving business continuity, as best we can, for the industry,’ said Mr Le Feuvre.
For more information visit: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/ varroa.
What does the current federal government solar discount mean for you?
The federal government provides a solar discount to home owners and businesses in Australia that install a small scale renewable energy system (solar, wind or hydro) under the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) to help with the purchase cost. Installing an eligible system allows the creation of Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs). Thenumber of STCs created is based on:
• The amount of renewable electricity the system produces or the amount of electricity consumption it reduces. • The climate region where it’s installed. Under the package, the federal government will pay around $300 per kilowatt towards the cost of a solar system.
Let’s break it down
Maxine and Daniel are considering a 5.81kW solar system, supplied and installed by ProSolar for $8170. The federal government discount for this system is $2432 (at time of publishing). This brings their system cost down to $5738 saving them $1750 per year enabling them to pay back their investment in 3.13 years! ProSolar provides advice and guidance in a simple and easy way, to ensure you select the optimal solution for your home and budget. This is the best opportunity Northern Rivers families and business owners have ever had to generate our own power. For more information, call ProSolar on 0418 240 282.
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The above prices include supply, installation (standard installation on a tin roof) and GST. The federal government discount is subject to change at anytime.
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Local News Cheshire brings home a Golden Guitar
Eve Jeffery
At a country star-studded event on Saturday evening in Tamworth, local artist, Kim Cheshire, ascended the stairs of the Tamworth Regional Entertainment Centre to take the Golden Guitar for Alt Country Album of the Year – Looks Like Heaven.
Presenting the award was Henry Wagons. Cheshire was up against some pretty tough competition to take home the win – also recognised for his work on the album was producer, Rod McCormack.
As Cheshire strode across the front of the stage it was announced that this is Kim’s first album in ten years, and his first Golden Guitar as a solo artist.
Cheshire started his speech by saying he hadn’t been on the Golden Guitar stage for 25 years. ‘It’s nice to be here, and like Keith Richards says, “at my age, it’s nice to be anywhere”.’
Cheshire thanked the awards organisers, his fellow nominees and the people who voted for him. ‘I should tell you my first band was when I was 12 years old in 1964. And I had my 71st birthday just about four days ago. So don’t throw in the towel anyone. Hang in there.’
With an auditorium chockfull of thousands of people, Cheshire started his ‘thank yous’ with his family.
‘I’d like to thank my lovely wife and my best friend Anna, my gorgeous daughter Polly and my boy Johnny, for putting up with me all these years – because it’s a challenge living with someone as singleminded and as philosophically uncompromising as I am. Thank you, guys’.
‘Now, next, the main person I want to thank for making this record is this guy standing next to me. [Rod McCormack] I’ve been in two bands with this guy. We’ve been friends for 35 years.’
Rod McCormack said that he and Cheshire had made beautiful music together for several decades.
‘It’s always a treat’.
‘We’re really really grateful to everybody involved and the musicians. We’ve had some incredible players contribute.’
Photo from www.kimcheshire.com. Win dedicated to Sara Tindley
Cheshire finished his speech by thanking everyone who contributed to the win and then with a short tribute to another local muso.
‘Lastly, I would like to thank and dedicate this award to my fellow Northern Rivers singer-songwriter, and precious friend, Sara [Tindley], who we lost last week.’ at brunswick valley funerals
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Local MP defends cuts in mental health
Local federal Labor MP, Justine Elliot, has defended her government’s recent cuts to Medicare-supported mental health sessions.
Federal Member for Page, Kevin Hogan called for the cuts to be reversed, and said, ‘Under the previous Coalition government, you could get 20 Medicare-subsidised psychology sessions. Now the Labor government have slashed it to ten’.
He added, ‘This is not okay, especially in our region for people who are still feeling the trauma experienced from the biggest natural disaster in Australia’s history. This leaves those and many other members of our community without crucial access to accessible mental health support’.
Mrs Elliot’s office replied, ‘In December 2022, the Australian government released the independent evaluation of the Better Access Initiative, which showed that while the scheme has broadened access to mental health services, it is not delivering for all Australians equally’.
‘The independent evaluation by the University of Melbourne has concluded that Better Access has had positive outcomes for those accessing the scheme, however it is serving some groups better than others, and these gaps are widening.
‘People from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, those living in regional, rural, and remote areas and aged care residents, are missing out.
‘In light of these findings, the Australian government will not be extending the temporary additional ten sessions beyond the former government’s expiration date of December 31, 2022.
‘Gap fees are at an alltime high. People are paying more for their care, and when they can’t afford those fees, they go without. GP shortage
‘On the north coast, we have a struggling health workforce, a GP shortage and escalating health costs, which have been ignored by a decade of LiberalNationals state and federal governments.
‘This report is more evidence that we need appropriately targeted mechanisms to address this growing problem.
‘At the end of this month, the government will convene a forum of key experts and people with lived experience of mental illness to provide advice on how to improve Better Access, so all Australians have access to the same level of evidence-based care, so it doesn’t leave disadvantaged people behind.
‘In the first half of 2023, the government will strengthen the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) to facilitate family and carer involvement in Better Access treatment and fund mental health case conferencing’.
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