Free parking at new Tweed Hospital

Aslan Shand

It was with relief that local Tweed councillors and members of the Kingscliff and Cudgen communities heard the news that parking at the controversial new Tweed Valley Hospital, when it opens, would be free.

The hospital is being built on what was State Significant Farmland (SSF) in the small coastal town of Kingscliff, a decision that divided the community. The government promised that no further SSF would be opened up to development at that site. This has not stopped developers attempting to do just that with the proposed Cudgen Connection development.

One of the promises provided was that all parking for staff, visitors and patients would be free; however, the final commitment was a long time coming. The commitment, announced on Wednesday, 26 July at the site of the yet-to-open Tweed Valley Hospital (TVH) by NSW Regional Health Minister Ryan Park, was for all regional hospitals.

‘While the minister’s free parking announcement is good news for all regional

Lismore’s ‘Two Rooms’ project goes past the 100 homes mark

Paul Bibby

Resilient Lismore has reached a significant milestone, clocking up more than 100 completed ‘Two Rooms’ jobs thanks to the many dedicated and passionate volunteers who have worked on the project.

The Two Rooms project began in the aftermath of the 2022 flood as a practical way to get people back in their homes. The idea was to build two rooms’ worth of walls to give people a safe, secure and warm place to live in.

The project is led by Resilient Lismore Field Coordinator Jonathan Smith, with Project Manager Grant Huggins, and team leaders Stone May, Tony Lee and Felipe Olaondo, and is powered by an amazing group of volunteers.

The crews spend about 20 hours a week on each job, over three days, sheeting walls and making other running repairs to ensure the space is liveable.

The group has completed 129 Two Rooms jobs, with a further 180 jobs on the go.

The project has spawned spin-offs, with the ‘Two Rooms and a Bathroom’ project in partnership with the Reece Foundation restoring essential plumbing to more than 70 homes. And the group is now moving onto kitchens.

If you or anyone you know needs help, come in to The Hub at 215 Keen Street, Limsore, or register online https://tinyurl.com/ yrvvkc5m.

NSW communities, it is particularly important for our local Kingscliff and surrounds community given that the provision of free parking was promoted as a key component of the Tweed Valley Hospital’s infrastructure in alleviating impact on our local community,’ Peter Newton, President of the Kingscliff Ratepayers and Progress Association (KRAPA) told The Echo

‘This was due to the fact that this major piece of regional infrastructure was being sited, not in a major regional centre, but a small coastal town and farming community – literally the equivalent of a small town being plonked above another small town.’

Speaking to The Echo Tweed Mayor Chris Cherry said, ‘This is a massive relief for our community to hear the announcement! Council has been advocating since “Day One” to have parking free at the new hospital site. It was committed to by the previous state government but it was not clear what would happen after the election so we are delighted to have this commitment made to our community today.’

Centre Plans Withdrawn

Mia Armitage

Developers of a proposed childcare centre in Ballina say they have withdrawn their council application in response to community concerns over associated tree removals.

A media representative confirmed the formal withdrawal of the controversial development application (DA) on Monday.

The developers, a company called RAM, had issued a media statement on the decision four days prior but said its formal process was held up owing to technicalities.

‘We have listened to community feedback and decided – based on concerns regarding the removal of two fig trees and one paperbark tree on the site – not to proceed with our application to develop a childcare centre in Ballina,’ RAM Head of Real Estate Matthew Strotton was quoted in the media release. Dire childcare availability

Stats

The decision in favour of the trees came despite a recent study by the Mitchell Institute for Education and Health Policy describing Ballina as a ‘childcare desert’, RAM said.

The company quoted data in the report showing only one childcare spot is available for every 4.67 children in the Ballina area surrounding the proposed centre.

Initial plans had featured a two-storey building to cater for around 60 children and 15 staff.

But some objectors to the proposal had expressed concern over child safety in the heavily trafficked area near a popular fast-food chain and a large shopping centre.

Read full story on The Echo online: www.echo.net.au.