Tweed Regional Museum Wins Top Prize for “Supertonic” Exhibition

ROBERT HEYWARD

The Tweed Regional Museum has claimed the top prize for its innovative exhibition, Supertonic, a captivating showcase that explores the rich history and cultural signifcance of music in the region.

The award recognizes the museum’s excellence in curating an engaging and interactive exhibition that highlights local talent, music heritage, and the impact of sound on the community. Through immersive displays, rare artifacts, and multimedia presentations, Supertonic invites visitors to experience the transformative power of music and its enduring infuence on the Tweed region.

The recognition underscores the museum’s commitment to preserving and celebrating local culture while providing educational and entertaining experiences for visitors of all ages. This award further cements the Tweed Regional Museum’s reputation as a leader in the cultural sector, offering high-quality exhibitions that resonate with both the community and visitors from afar.

The Supertonic exhibition at the Tweed Regional Museum explored the profound impact of music on the Tweed community, showcasing the region’s vibrant musical heritage. Through a variety of immersive displays, interactive elements, and rare historical artifacts, the exhibition delved into how music has shaped local culture, from early Indigenous sounds to contemporary musical movements.

Supertonic highlighted the role music plays in connecting people, celebrating regional talent, and documenting the evolution of musical styles in the Tweed area. Visitors could explore instruments, recordings, photographs, and stories of iconic musicians from the region, offering a deep dive into the personal and collective experiences surrounding music in the community.

The exhibition also emphasized the therapeutic and unifying power of music, refecting on how it brings individuals together and provides emotional support through challenging times. With an engaging mix of historical content and modern musical infuences, Supertonic captured the enduring legacy of sound and its infuence on regional identity and social cohesion.

New 60-Day Cap on Unhosted Holiday Letting Takes Effect in Byron Shire

In a groundbreaking move for New South Wales, the Byron Shire Council has implemented a new regulation that limits unhosted short-term rental accommodation (STRA) to 60 days per year. The rule, which came into effect on 23 September 2024, applies to most of the Byron Shire, excluding some areas in Byron Bay and much of Brunswick Heads.

This new cap restricts property owners from renting their unhosted properties for more than two months annually for holiday accommodation. The decision follows years of advocacy by the Council, aimed at addressing the housing shortage and providing more stable, long-term accommodation for residents, including key workers.

Shannon Burt,

Director of Sustainable Environment and Economy for Byron Shire Council, said, “Getting this 60-day cap approved by the NSW Government took many years of work and is recognition of the diffculty many people, including key workers, face in fnding stable, long-term accommodation in the Shire.”

Monitoring and Enforcement Council staff will spend the next few months consolidating data on unhosted properties, focusing on those registered on the NSW Government Short Term Rental Accommodation Register as well as public and private listings on various online booking platforms.

“While we have already done a lot of background work in preparation for this, we need to review and refresh the work we have done since the cap came into effect earlier this week,” said Ms. Burt. “Once we are confdent our data is robust, we will begin looking closely for property owners who are breaching the new regulations.”

Community Involvement

Residents are also encouraged to play a role in ensuring compliance. If neighbors suspect any breaches of the new regulations, they are encouraged to report them to the Council.

“This is new territory for us, and there is no rule book to follow, so we will be reviewing and refning our approaches as we go,” added Ms. Burt.

For more information about the new STRA regulations, residents and property owners can visit the Byron Shire Council website.