THE TWEED SHIRE Volume 1 #20 Thursday, January 22, 2009 Advertising and news enquiries: Phone: (02) 6672 2280 Fax: (02) 6672 4933 [email protected] [email protected] News page 3 www.tweedecho.com.au LOCAL & INDEPENDENT Feature page 16 Tweed’s On top of the world water assets secured Ken Sapwell Tweed Shire Council appears to have fended off a threatened takeover of its water assets valued at $1 billion. An independent inquiry into regional water supplies and sewerage service has recommend- ed that the Tweed remains as a stand-alone entity. Its fi ndings have been hailed by council’s gen- eral manager, Mike Rayner, as ‘good news’ for the Tweed – but not everyone agrees (see page 2). ‘It means that the council will continue to manage, own and operate our water supply and sewerage services,’ said Mr Rayner. Th e inquiry, initiated by then Water Minister and now Premier, Nathan Rees, examined op- tions to improve the organisational structure of local water utilities to overcome supply short- ages during droughts. It found that the Tweed – along with just seven other councils in the state – should re- main as stand-alone utilities. The remainder would form alliances with neighbouring councils or operate under the Valerie Skinner, a Kingscliff retiree who started mountain climbing late in life, inches her way up the spectacular but treacherous Eiger in the umbrella of newly established water corpora- Swiss Alps last year. The 70-year-old is pictured climbing up via the Mitteleggi Ridge, the easterly and second most dangerous route to the tions. summit. She was accompanied by her 37-year-old French guide Alexandre Périnet, who took this picture. The north face of The Eiger is called the Mr Rayner, in a memo to councillors follow- Wall of Death because so many mountaineers have died attempting it. The tragic conquest of the Eiger via its north face in the 1930s and other ing the report’s release this month, warned of mountaineering dramas featured in a gripping ABC TV documentary this week called The Beckoning Silence with British climber Joe Simpson. In the possible consequences if the government next week’s Echo we profi le Valerie and her exciting exploits as told in her new book Mountains My Passion. failed to adopt the inquiry’s stand-alone recom- mendation following the public consultation It says the current drought has had little im- Th e submission notes that a recent analysis be required within the next 10 years, and that process. pact on the ability of the council to supply water of the latest data has required the council to the council is looking at two options which ‘If options other than those recommended in to its consumers. downgrade its yield from 27,000 to 13,750 mega include the raising of the existing dam and con- the report are ultimately adopted Tweed’s water ‘In all, over the last 25 years restrictions have litres per year which will support a population struction of a new dam on council-owned land supply and sewerage services could be aggre- been imposed for a total period of four months of some 94,000 people. at Byrrill Creek. gated with the Richmond Valley resulting in the which occurred on one occasion from October ‘Th is revised yield has been adopted on an Long-serving former councillor Max Boyd potential loss of asset ownership,’ he told them. 2002 until February 2003,’ the council’s submis- interim basis and will be reassessed in the near said the report’s fi ndings were a tribute to the Th e council argued against removal of water sion said. future following the completion of a demand forward planning of the council’s engineering and sewerage services from its control in a sub- ‘Historically the Tweed district water supply management strategy and an assessment of cli- staff . mission to the inquiry, saying it would create has been very reliable and the council is well mate change,’ it says. ‘It means that the council remains as master ineffi ciencies and lead to higher water costs. placed to handle the eff ects of climate change.’ It also notes that additional dam storage will continued on page 2 NUMBER 1 FOR TRAVEL ACCESSORIES ROLA & RHINO-RACK ROOF RACKS, BASKETS, PODS & ROOF RACK ACCESSORIES % OFF! 15REGULAR TICKETED PRICES AUTOQLDN02313 EdboWlW_bWXb[Wj STH TWEED HEADS Harvey Norman Centre, Greenway Drive Phone: 5523 2055 SALE ENDS: 1st February 2009. Local News Joan and the power of one Tweed River Sheds ‘Covering your family’s needs’ Custom made sheds made to suit your requirements. Any shed, Any size. Joan Daniels is very happy about her panels, her low power bill and her gift to the environment. Eve Jeff ery people installing panels with Energy returned to the grid grid connect capabilities. can be used by others and will We oft en hear of people ‘giving ‘A ft er the rebate it cost me create a credit on home power back to the community’ and $5,500 to have the panels in- bills, so not only do you save Murwillumbah resident Joan stalled,’ said Joan. ‘I don’t con- money and the environment, Daniels is giving back in the sider that a lot to pay for a you can subsidise your grid most practical way possible. power source which can also energy use. FREE EXTRAS OFFER She is helping you cook your help the environment. I am en- Tweed Shire sustainability Mention this ad and receive one of the following extras toast, wash your clothes and deavouring to be self suffi cient officer Dan Walton says the she’s a dab hand in the shower. and I am guilt free. I don’t feel federal government rebate of free with each one extra that you purchase – Roof Vent, For the past 18 months Joan bad every time I switch on the up to $8,000 for solar panel PA door kit, Skylight sheet or window 790 x 1270. has been using solar power light.’ installation will continue until Off er ends 28/02/2009. for her home and the excess Joan, who has been using June 30. electricity she is generating is solar hot water for 30 years, Lisa Blackwell is the coordi- going back to the grid and into says she is very happy with nator for a local group who are 1800 654 933 07 5523 0266 your house. the panels and has the per- preparing to do the fi rst bulk Joan got the idea from a Four fect answer for those who say buy for the area which will in- www.tweedriversheds.com [email protected] Lic: 115623C Corners program about a Chi- green power is a furphy. ‘I creased savings yet again nese company producing small can put my mouth where my For more information solar squares for fifty cents money is. When people tell visit: www.tweed.nsw.gov.au each. When she approached me it doesn’t work I can show and follow the links to Re- an Australian manufacturer then my electricity bill for the bates under the Your Envi- she was told that the Chinese August to November quarter. ronment heading. To contact technology was a long way off How does $45.94 sound? I’m Lisa about the bulk buy phone Go solar for as but that there were rebates for happy with that.’ 6672 6289. little as $1600 Waste-water dumping ‘unsustainable’ Not everyone is in favour of sewerage treatment strategies, quality in the Tweed River Ter- FULLY INSTALLED NO HIDDEN COSTS Tweed’s stand-alone status. The saying the council’s current ranora Inlet system. only submission to the inquiry policy of dumping more than ‘The continued dumping of to come from the Tweed apart 95 per cent of its reclaimable reclaimable water is wasteful from the council’s was one sewage wastewater from its fi ve and unsustainable. from the Tweed Heads Environ- main treatment plants into the ‘ If more funding and techni- $300 ment Group Inc. Tweed River is unsustainable. cal advice was available from a trade-in on It supported Tweed council ‘The Tweed and Rous Rivers’ properly constructed organisa- your old adopting a regional water sup- marine ecosystem is loaded tion then Tweed sewage waste- ply system similar to south-east with nutrients from sewerage water could be reclaimed for electric hot Queensland where a govern- treatment plants and also from potable reuse, and water qual- water tank ment authority oversees the a high input from farming and ity of the Tweed River could sharing of regional water background sources,’ secretary improve to again allow oyster supplies to protect those most Richard Murray wrote. production,’ it concluded. Conditions apply. in need. ‘This claim is supported by Subject to change Under the scheme, the data from the Tweed River Es- without notice. Water report from page 1 Queensland Water Commission tuary Ecosystem Health Moni- acquired councils’ water assets toring Program collected over of its own destiny by being in Government before dividing them into twelve months (2000-2001). charge of its own catchment,’ rebates separate entities of bulk supply, ‘The monitoring program he said. ‘It can get on with the end soon! distribution and retail sales, showed that substantial job without too much outside Take advantage but allowed councils to retain quantities of sewage nitrogen bureaucratic interference or the water supply distribution are present in the leaves of the having to argue with other NOW! systems. mangroves and in the phyto- councils about what you want It says an upside of the ar- plankton up to nine kilometres to do.