EDUCATION
THE TWEED
Page 12–13
Volume 2 #33 Thursday, April 29, 2010 Advertising and news enquiries: Phone: (02) 6672 2280 Fax: (02) 6672 4933 editor@tweedecho.com.au adcopy@tweedecho.com.au www.tweedecho.com.au
LOCAL & INDEPENDENT
High-rise density comes under fire Ken Sapwell
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Tweed Heads will have more high-rise towers in one concentrated area than anywhere on the Gold Coast under the town’s draft LEP, says a residents’ group. The Tweed District Residents and Ratepayers’ Association has letterboxed hundreds of homes urging residents to object to the plans before the deadline for submissions expires tomorrow, Friday. Association president Laurie Ganter says the so-called 25-year vision for Tweed Heads by the Department of Planning’s Six City Taskforce lacks community involvement and support. ‘The town centre has been treated as if it has the potential to become a city centre like Wollongong or Newcastle by the fly-in fly-out Sydney planners who have ignored local comments and advice,’ he said. ‘The association believes the Tweed City Centre LEP and DCP should be based on the State approved 2004 Tweed Heads master plan which has the support of the great majority of the local community. ‘We totally reject these new plans because they have no community backing and totally change the city centre to a Gold Coast-like precinct.’ Mr Ganter accused mayor Warren Polglase and Planning Minister Tony Kelly of making highly deceptive comments about the draft LEP when the documents were initially placed on display in January. Mr Kelly said buildings would not go higher than those already in the area, ignoring the fact that the draft increased building heights near the border from 15 storeys to 22 storeys and on the town’s southern approach-
es from two storeys to 16 storeys. Cr Polglase had also assured residents that Tweed Heads would retain its unique lifestyle and ‘would never be a Gold Coast-type area’. Mr Ganter said his association was unable to find an area on the Gold Coast that would have a higher living density than the fully built Tweed Heads city centre. He said a good example were the units built west of the Robina shopping centre which everyone passed on the way to the Robina railway station. They were only six-storeys high. ‘However a future drive through Tweed Heads from the Queensland border south down Wharf Street could start beside 16-storey buildings, would then go to a 15 storey Centro, then down to 11 storey for the rest of Wharf Street and up to a 22 storey tower before Boyds Bay Bridge.’
Honouring the fallen
Brian Clarke, centre, holds a framed photograph of his late father Leo, a World War II veteran, while his grandson, seven-year-old Vinny Clarke, proudly wears his great grandfather’s war-service medals during the Anzac Day parade and service at the Burringbar Cenotaph last Community ignored Sunday, the 95th anniversary of the Gallipoli campaign. Mr Ganter said the government’s Veterans Mick Price, left, and Doug Moore, right, look on. Young Vinny’s involvement in the ceremony was typipush to turn Wharf Street into a highrise canyon totally ignored the com- cal throughout Tweed Anzac Day services, with many
munity’s wishes. Mr Ganter said no policy debate or public participation with regard to these proposed massive increases to the community and council approved 2004 Tweed Heads master plan had been undertaken. ‘There is no material accompanying the plans which attempts to justify these significant changes,’ he said. ‘We know of no community demand to live in a more dense Tweed City centre than anywhere you will see on the Gold Coast. ‘The 2004 Tweed Heads master plan which limited building heights in the town centre with lower population densities and preserved view planes should be adopted instead.’
Council ethical investment bid fails Richard Johns
Tweed Shire Council’s investment strategy paid good returns over the past month, with a return of 4.85 per cent annualised, equating to almost $490,000 on an investment of $121.1 million, with 70 per cent of that held in term deposits. Nevertheless, at last week’s council meeting Cr Katie Milne considered there was not only room for possible improvement but wanted council to look at having an ethical investment strategy.
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children of war veterans as well as school students taking part in remembrance ceremonies. Tweed primary and secondary schools also are being urged to take part in the 2010 Anzac Day Schools’ Awards. Richmond MP Justine Elliot said entries, which close on May 21, could include artwork, a collection of wartime stories from local veterans or serving members, class research projects or even a play depicting the story of the Anzacs. For info visit www.dva.gov.au Photo Jeff Dawson
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improved outcomes for the environment, waterway health and impact on the community’; and looking at setting up a food policy to ‘promote health… and improve access to fresh local foods’. She was also unsuccessful in having a workshop set up to look at wetlands, particularly those facing pressure from developers, such as that at Waterlilly Close, Nunderi. The motion was seconded by Cr Barry Longland and although supported by Cr Dot Holdom it was lost 4 to 3.
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Cr Milne proposed engaging an investment consultant who would ‘focus on sustainable, ethical and low impact activities, potentially partnering with disadvantaged groups’. The motion was just one of a handful Cr Milne put up that failed to attract a seconder, meaning they were lost without further debate. Others included establishing a committee to ‘address population issues for the Tweed Shire’; preparing a report on sustainable water options, detailing ‘legislative impediments that inhibit council from achieving
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