THE TWEED SHIRE The Echo Volume 2 #16 has a Thursday, December 17, 2009 NEW TV GUIDE! Advertising and news enquiries: Bigger and better than ever Phone: (02) 6672 2280 with the new digital channels Fax: (02) 6672 4933 See centre pages [email protected] [email protected] www.tweedecho.com.au LOCAL & INDEPENDENT Pottsville industrial rezoning overturned Ken Sapwell appropriate to seek council’s endorse- But the matter came to a head in issues. When administrators gave a water reservoir ‘included into the ment of the final draft plan,’ he said. September last year when the de- the green light they accepted assur- proposed LEP amendment.’ Plans for an industrial estate near The planning chief also raised red veloper, Heritage Pacific, through ances from the then chief planner, ‘As a matter of probity any council- Pottsville are in disarray after coun- flags about the capability of the exist- its consultants, Planit Consulting, Noel Hodges, that constraints on the owned land considered for an LEP cil planners raised a raft of concerns ing sewage treatment plant to handle formally lodged a rezoning applica- provision of water and sewage were Amendment must be assessed inde- about moves by administrators to re- the load from the proposed industrial tion for the land located between the ‘considered surmountable’. pendent of any land dealings. These zone the site three years ago. estate. He said because of the lack of Pottsville Road and the motorway. Mr Hodges said it was ‘considered matters will need to be considered,’ The council this week took the capacity at the Hastings Point plant an Since then the application has a suitable outcome’ to have parcels Mr Hodges added as a rider. unprecedented step of overturning on-site treatment plant would need to bogged down in sewage treatment of council-owned land being used as ■ Land Illegally cleared, see page 2 administrators’ decisions relating to be installed until alternative solutions the rezoning of the 23 hectare-site were investigated and adopted. in 2006 and will restart the process Mr Connell also revealed that recent from scratch. inspections had exposed widespread A green thumb for red soil Among concerns raised by chief clearing of vegetation on the site which planner Vince Connell was a decision was allegedly unauthorised. to include in the rezoning council- He said the matter needed to be investigated and resolved before the ‘vegetation management issues’ of the rezoning could be addressed. ‘Huge bungle’ The Pottsville Community Associa- tion has described the 2006 decision to seek government approval for the rezoning as a ‘huge bungle’. ‘The report to this week’s council meeting also confirms what residents have long suspected, that our sewage infrastructure is operating close to full capacity,’ said association vice- Council’s chief planner Vince Connell president Terry O’Toole. ‘There are hundreds of more homes owned land on which water reservoirs set to be hooked up to the sewage supplying Pottsville were located, pos- plant on the new estates around Potts- sibly putting supplies at risk. ville and we have serious doubts about ‘It has been recognised that there whether the existing pipes will be able is a need for council to protect the to cope with the new load,’ he said. Kim Cousins terested in buying land around here,’ ‘It’s a bit of everything,’ Michelle operational status of its land for wa- ‘There is already strong evidence Michelle said. said. ‘We’re looking to open a shop ter supply infrastructure,’ Mr Connell that sewage is being discharged into Michelle Stevens used to work in a A friend encouraged Michelle to get here and do direct marketing.’ said in a report to the council, adding Cudgera Creek because of frequent paediatric ward but now she cares into farming, telling her ‘they would They used to sell to the fruit and that including the council land in the breakdowns of a pumping station.’ for different types of newborn on her be the best days of your life’. vegetable markets in Sydney, Mel- rezoning would provide little finan- In his report Mr Connell said the farm at Cudgen. ‘You do have days like that,’ Michelle bourne and Newcastle but have cut cial benefit. council notified the Department of Five years ago Michelle (pictured at said. ‘It’s a great life.’ back and now just sell their produce Mr Connell also questioned the de- Planning of its resolution to rezone work on her farm) and her husband Michelle and Dennis grow small locally. cision by administrators to give the the site for industrial uses in June Dennis bought 52 acres of the famed crops including tomatoes, beans, egg- ‘It’s not about selling to big chains, green light to the rezoning without 2006. red-soiled farmland at Cudgen and plants, capsicums and avocados as it’s about letting people, especially seeing or endorsing a final draft of A year later the department’s direc- decided to give sustainable farming well as raise a few cattle. kids, know where their food comes the document. tor general ordered that the rezoning a go. Farm interest groups, such as Soil- from.’ ‘This does not accord with the cur- be put on hold pending talks between They named their enterprise Cudg- care and the Department of Primary ‘We’re still learning, it’s a huge learn- rent practice of the council’s planning the department and council about en Fresh To You. Industries, use the farm for work- ing curve,’ Michelle said. It’s a bit of a department and as such it would be planning issues. ‘My husband had always been in- shops and demonstrations. challenge but I like a challenge.’ MOTORCYCLE STOOL LIMIT 3 PER CUSTOMER. ARMOR ALL Includes heavy duty castors NO RAINCHECKS. COMPLETE CLEAN with optional stationary feet, GIFT PACK CATALOGUE OUT NOW Contains Car Wash 1Lt, adjustable height, welded Protectant 250ml, steel frame & adjustable Glass Cloth, Wheel $ Cleaner 500ml back rest. 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AUTOQLDN3104 <echowebsection=Local News> Local News $1200 FREE Longtime travel agent takes new role Kim Cousins ‘I don’t get away much home insulation package at all,’ he said. ‘We’ve been This includes owners, occupiers, rentals and investors When David Devine (pictured) to the US lots of times. Take advantage of the $1200 free insulation started working at Kirklands Hawaii is nice. before it is discontinued altogether. Travel Centre (now Travelscene ‘I was here for four Call Chelsea at Tweed Valley) on June 29, 1983 months and they sent me SKYLINE INTERIORS P/L he was just biding his time and to Europe, then Thailand. on 0401 414 681 waiting for a phone call. It’s a good industry.’ ‘It was an interim job, I’d al- or 6680 2231 David, a ‘moderate’ ready applied for the Queens- Elvis fan, said the most We are your local insulation company, please support us. land police,’ David said. memorable tour he or- The police force’s loss was a ganised was for 36 Elvis Happy Holidays from Lightforce gain for Murwillumbah with nuts who travelled to ☃ David clocking up 26 years as Memphis for the 25th an- Santa has Just Delivered a Sledload of Previous a travel agent. He has now de- niversary of the singer’s cided it’s time for something death. model Macs and other Apple Kit at different and is getting ready to ‘Not one local went, the GREATEST SAVINGS this YEAR! run his own insurance business they were from all over (GIO, ironically from the same /1 /1 ( 2 %+ Australia and New Zea- " % /1 . /$ 3- . / office as Travelscene). land,’ he said. 0 !/ , )( 45 ‘Time was up for me,’ he South America and Africa are holidays for a living, David Andrew Moloney has taken & "$ ""$ said. ‘I wanted to get out before popular.’ reckons he’s not the adventur- over David’s old job at Travel- // 6& &7 8 % /1 it got too stale for me. It was a For someone who planned ous type. scene Tweed Valley. !$,- . 0 . " , ( marvellous career.’ 45 & "/ 90 David said he had been !+ "$ through some interesting times Land up for rezoning illegally cleared in the travel game, including the !"#$ pilot’s dispute of the late 80s, Ken Sapwell dertaken some time ago.. nell said the alleged illegal " !$ SARS and swine flu, but the ‘One hoop pine greater clearing was being pursued %&&' ( )& )**+ biggest thing to happen to the Tweed Council will initiate than 20 metres long was evi- with the landowner who ‘was "! "$#,- . / 0 "/# industry was September 11. legal action over the alleged dent due to the bark-type in not a party to the rezoning !+ "#$ ‘It was all doom and gloom illegal clearing of trees and one of the fire piles.’ application.’ :& & % for travel for a while but by other vegetation on land near The ecologist said one of It is the second major clear- # & :( &( ;&2 "+ 2002 it was better.