The Good Guys Tweed Heads South

THE TWEED SHIRE Volume 2 #14 Thursday, December 3, 2009 Advertising and news enquiries: Phone: (02) 6672 2280 Fax: (02) 6672 4933 Our new [email protected] property guide [email protected] starts on page 23 www.tweedecho.com.au LOCAL & INDEPENDENT Eagle soars to freedom Councillors’ expenses to be revealed? Ken Sapwell A bid to hide councillors’ expenses from public scrutiny appears set to come unstuck at this month’s council meeting. Greens councillor Katie Milne is expected to win majority support for a push to re-instate a list of councillors’ individual expenses tradition- ally published in an annual report. Senior council staff quietly axed the list fol- lowing the return of the new council in Sep- tember last year after the previous council was sacked in 2005 and administrators appointed. Chinderah-based councillor Kevin Skinner blew the whistle on the change when he de- scribed expenses being claimed by some councillors on their trips away as ‘exorbitant.’ ‘I just don’t think it’s necessary for all the councillors to be going off to these things all the time,’ he complained, adding he had attended just one. Although he did not name names, he told the Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary animal trainer Luke Chigwidden with the three-year-old Wedgetailed eagle nicknamed Miss Toby just before he last council meeting there should be a limit on released her in the Cudgera Creek area on Tuesday. Photo Luis Feliu the number of councillors attending conference and seminars and that they provide a report for Luis Feliu all the birds around here were harassing her, she they can chase their prey and scavenge. those who didn’t attend. would have starved to death or attacked by dogs ‘We’ve had a surge of injured raptors brought A three-year-old Wedgetailed eagle had its first or other animals.’ into the sanctuary recently, the end of spring and ‘Warped view of reality’ taste of freedom in almost six months when it Sanctuary animal trainer Luke Chigwidden, a start of summer is the peak season because that’s Council’s corporate services chief Troy Green was released by carers into the wild at Cudgera TVWC volunteer himself for several years before when all the offspring are leaving their nests, we says it was decided to publish an aggregate list of Creek on Tuesday after it was rehabilitated for joining the sanctuary, released ‘Miss Toby’ as the had 30 Brahminy kites in recently. expenses because listing them separately would an injured wing. eagle is known, before an enthusiastic group of ‘Australia Zoo is sending us all their raptors, be too complicated and ‘would give a warped The eagle was rescued by Tweed Valley Wild- locals and wildlife carers on Tuesday morning, as we have a new facility designed for them with view of reality’. life Carers (TVWC) last July on a property at using a dead rabbit as a lure to keep her fed and a large enclosure so they can fly around,’ he said. This was because the figures included the Cudgera Creek and had been rehabilitated at in the area where she was last seen with her male Ms Joakim said TVWC could only dream of wages of the mayor’s and councillor’s personal Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary since then. partner and till she is strong enough to hunt. having such a purpose-built facility to care for assistants for the first time as well as the distance ‘She was found by locals struggling to fly, she ‘This one was lucky in that her wing was not the many birds of prey brought in. travelled between each councillor’s home and seemed to have a dislocated shoulder, so we permanently damaged, injured wings are a big ‘We’ve rescued four eagles in the past few years council offices. looked after her for a couple of days then rang problem for birds of prey because as soon as in the Tweed Valley including a sea eagle and Total costs racked up by councillors in the the Currumbin Wildilife Sanctuary as they have you do any damage to them they’re out, flying we really need a proper shed for the raptors,’ nine months to June 30, not including their proper facilities and enclosures for rehabilitating and fitness is most important for their survival,’ she said. meeting fees, was $86,295, including nearly raptors’, TVWC president Helen Joakim said. Luke said. Not only a shed, but TVWC is always looking $25,000 spent on conferences and training ‘As she couldn’t fly, she could not hunt for food, ‘The biggest problem in caring for raptors is for volunteer carers to train. For info or to join, seminars. and the eagles are the top of the food chain, so that they have to be fit when they’re released, so call 02 6672 4709. continued on page 2 THE GOOD GUYS TWEED HEADS SOUTH WHIRLPOOL 7.5kg WASHER UÊ£äää,*ÊÃ«ÊÃ«ii`` UÊ"ÞÊÈ{ÊÌÀiÃÊ«iÀÊÜ>Ã If£xäÊÛ>ÊÀiì«ÌÊ NOW $686 vÀÊ -7ÊÛiÀiÌÊ OR $486 vÀÊ -7ÊÀiÃìÌÃ]ÊfxäÊ V>Ã ÊL>VÊvÀÊ->ÃÕ}Ê ìÊ>ÞÊÛ>ÀÞÊ * vÀÊiÊÃ Ü° AFTER CASH-BACK Û>ÊÀiì«Ì° CNR SHALLOW BAY DRIVE & MINJUNGBAL DRIVE HOMEMART ON THE TWEED äÇÊxxÓ{Ê{{{{ÊUÊwww.thegoodguys.com.au <echowebsection=Local News> Local News Clarrie Hall dam given all Huge pool of swimmers raises charity funds clear over algal blooms The recent outbreak of blue- farmers and helped flush the green algae in Clarrie Hall algae from both the weir and Dam has almost dispersed with dam. a red alert which had been in The huge bloom of the blue- place for most of spring lifted green algae was found in the by authorities. dam in September after a long But users of the dam are dry spell with another bloom urged to remain vigilant for spotted in the weir shortly af- any recurrence of the algae as terwards. the weather heats up. Blue-green algae usually ap- According to Tweed Shire pear as green paint-like scums Council, the waters of the dam on the water and foreshore are currently recording low edges or clumps throughout levels of blue-green algae and the water. The algae makes the the public warnings have now water appear dirty, green or been lifted by the Regional Al- discoloured and the water is gal Coordinating Committee. often a strong musty or earthy The red alert for the algal odour. Above: The ninth annual outbreak at the Bray Park weir Contact with the contami- Tweed River Swim Classic last pool, where the shire’s drink- nated water poses a health Sunday was a big success and Mythology and circuses explored ing waters is extracted from, risk. drew a record 160 swimmers was also lifted recently. For more information call of all ages. Recent rain filled water 1800 999 457 or visit the web- The male winner of the storages for council and local site www.water.nsw.gov.au. 2.5 kilometre race was Colin Braund with a time of 31 mins 44 secs while the women’s winner was Julia Grilly (37 $1200 FREE mins 37 secs). The men’s winner of the 1.2km race home insulation package was Brad Saden (23 mins 15 secs) while Genevieve Alder This includes owners, occupiers, rentals and investors (27 mins) was the women’s Take advantage of the $1200 free insulation winner. before it is discontinued altogether. Organised by the Murwil- Call Chelsea at lumbah Brass Monkeys swim SKYLINE INTERIORS P/L club, the money raised by the on 0401 414 681 swimmers goes to Murwillum- or 6680 2231 bah Scouts and Fingal Rovers Surf Life Saving Club. Photo We are your local insulation company, please support us. Larissa Nicholson The Murwillumbah and Tweed Heads Above: Artist Michelle Dawson ‘Here be Monsters’ is an exhibi- imaginings of the artist’s own in her studio with some of her tion of work by Bangalow artist mind’. artworks inspired by mythol- Michelle Dawson inspired by Michelle’s work runs with EKO Community is ogy and science. Her exhibi- mythological creatures. two new collective exhibitions, tion called Here Be Monsters is Michelle’s work, according to all grouped under the title of now officially open one of three major exhibitions the gallery, ‘explores the place ‘Fertile Ground’. ‘Step Right going on display at the Tweed of monsters in the human ex- Up!’ explores the circus in Join the Lismore and Ballina EKO Community and get: River Art Gallery from next perience across the spectrum Australian art, and ‘Drawing A Solar Power System for as little as $3,499* Friday, December 11. Photo of history, mythology, fairy Breath’ is a collaborative proj- Jeff Dawson tale, modern science and the ect by four Tweed artists. A Solar Hot Water System for as little as $1,449* No free no obligation quote Councillors’ expenses to be revealed? Free home sustainability assessment may give you access to Green Loans of up to $10,000 continued from page 1 attending conferences because parent. We are not a private Veteran mayor Warren Pol- I believe we learn a lot from concern – we’re a business and *for a 1KW System in a Super Neighbourhood of 100 homes glase says publishing a list of them.’ should not be afraid of public individual expenses would give Cr Milne said she gave a re- scrutiny,’ she said, claiming that a distorted picture. port to the council about her she also had not claimed some ‘I am sure that individual first conference but didn’t fol- expenses she was entitled to.

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