The Northern Rivers Times
February 22, 2024!!!
42 NEWS
GRANT FOR MURWILLUMBAH COMMUNITY FLOOD PREPAREDNESS
Janelle Saffin MP (centre) with (from left) Kerry Pritchard, Murwillumbah Core President, and committee members Jennifer Booth, Sarra Robertson and Kath Nolan.
Member for Lismore, Janelle Saffin, has unveiled a $40,000 grant for Murwillumbah Core aimed at bolstering community resilience in the face of future disasters. The funding, part of the NSW Government’s Local Small Commitments Allocation Program, will support programs to equip communities with the tools and resources needed to effectively respond to emergencies. Ms. Saffin underscored the significance of Murwillumbah Core, a vital component of the Hub 2484 initiative, as a deserving recipient of the grant. Stemming from the dedicated efforts of volunteers who played a pivotal role in supporting communities during the 2022 floods and beyond,
Murwillumbah Core has emerged as a beacon of resilience in times of crisis. Highlighting the invaluable contributions of local volunteers during the 2022 natural disaster, Ms. Saffin emphasized their tireless efforts in providing essential support to ensure the safety, sustenance, and well-being of affected communities. The funding will empower Murwillumbah Core to enhance its preparedness for future emergencies by implementing initiatives such as training local leaders, establishing resident assistance registers, improving communication channels, and bolstering risk assessment capabilities.
Commending the leadership of coordinator Kerry Pritchard and the collective commitment of the Murwillumbah Core team, Ms. Saffin applauded their unwavering dedication to community welfare and their proactive approach to disaster preparedness. The grant exemplifies the transformative impact of grassroots projects supported by the Local Small Commitments Allocation Program, showcasing how targeted investments can foster resilience and strengthen community cohesion. For more information on the Local Small Commitments Allocation Program, interested parties can visit https:// www.nsw.gov.au/grantsand-funding/lsca-home.
Hotel sale with $30 million price tag in Byron Bay
Only four blocks from the beach in Byron Bay, the Vali Hotel, acquired by Scott Didier, founder and CEO of ASX-listed Jons Lyng Group in 2021, has sold again. It is the first hotel transaction above $20 million since 2019 and it was after a highly competitive campaign that held a price guide of $30 million. Mr Didier had completed extensive renovations on the 52-room hotel creating a Palm Springs and California coastal aesthetic in the heart of the tourist town. Gareth Closter, Senior Vice President at JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group said the sale aligned with recent regulatory changes
made by Byron Shire Council for short-term rental accommodation. This involves a 60-day cap on residential properties, which is expected to redirect visitors towards hotels, motels, and traditional forms of accommodation. “This huge regulatory change will provide an exciting opportunity for improved trading performance for existing operators. Especially in an accommodation market like Byron Bay which has such a strong presence of ‘holiday rental’ operators such as Airbnb,” he said. Andrew Langsford, Senior Vice President at JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group said the sale attracted
significant interest from local, domestic, and offshore investors. “Byron Bay is an incredibly unique market with extremely strong demand fundamentals and limited large-scale hotel and accommodation offerings,” he said. “The majority of hotel investors and operators are interested in having a presence in the region which was reflected in the Vali Byron Bay sale process.” Byron Bay is seeing a flourish of upscale boutique hotels which include the newly opened Marvell Hotel and Swell Hotel, Byron Bay. A new establishment, Basq House is planned to open later this year.
Enhanced Support for Early Childhood Health and Development Checks Early childhood education and care providers are being encouraged to avail themselves of grants aimed at facilitating free health and development checks for 4-year-olds. In collaboration with NSW Health, the NSW Department of Education is spearheading the Health and Development Checks in Early Childhood Education (HDC) Program, aimed at making these checks readily accessible to all 4-year-olds attending participating services, including public
preschools, community preschools, and long-day care centres. Recent data from the 2021 Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) revealed that over 44 percent of NSW children do not meet developmental milestones upon commencing school. Additionally, almost half of all 4-year-olds miss out on their recommended health and development assessments. The HDC program represents a strategic investment, with local health district
professionals teaming up with early childhood services to schedule these checks and identify any necessary support ahead of school entry. The assessments cover various aspects of children’s health and development, including cognitive, social, and emotional development, speech and communication skills, motor skills, and physical growth. Furthermore, the HDC program aims to boost the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children meeting developmental
milestones across all five Australian Early Development Census domains to 55 percent by 2031, aligning with Closing the Gap target 4. To facilitate the HDC program, the NSW Department of Education has allocated over $4 million to its HDC Participation Grant Program. This initiative aims to aid eligible services in accessing the HDC program more efficiently. Eligible services participating in the HDC program in 2024 can apply for grant funding across three categories,
with a total of up to $7,500 in available funds. These categories include: 1. Staffing support for the health and development checks program, such as providing relief for educators to complete pre-assessment questionnaires or support children during the checks. 2. Space development for the health and development checks, including repurposing or refurbishing rooms within the service. 3. Capacity-building
initiatives to support children’s health and development post-check, such as attending workshops or completing training. Interested services can check their eligibility for the grant and submit applications through the department’s website using the SmartyGrants platform. The application window closes on March 31, 2024. Simply scan the QR Code
