THE TWEED SHIRE Volume 2 #20 Thursday, January 28, 2010 The Liveliest Advertising and news enquiries: Phone: (02) 6672 2280 letters in Fax: (02) 6672 4933 The Shire [email protected] [email protected] www.tweedecho.com.au LOCAL & INDEPENDENT Highrise plans spark backlash Ken Sapwell suddenly appearing in the southern part of town which was earmarked Plans to turn Tweed Heads into a mir- under the master plan for three sto- ror image of the Gold Coast with twin reys, well that’s only going to serve to towers book-ending both ends of the block the views and breezes of those town have begun to trigger a major living on the hill behind.’ public backlash. Mr Ganter said of all the stakehold- Residents have swamped The Echo ers providing input to the taskforce with inquiries since the government’s appointed two years ago by Planning 25-year vision for the town was un- Minister Frank Sartor, only the Tweed veiled to a handful of councillors and Economic Development Corporation media in a secretive flying visit by championed higher building heights. Lands Minister Tony Kelly last week. ‘Everyone else was telling them Laurie Ganter, a community repre- that the community’s views had not sentative on the government’s six cities changed since an inquiry in the early Celebrating a nation taskforce and president of the town’s 1980s established that highrise build- residents’ association, said feedback ings should not block any views from from locals to the draft Tweed Heads the top of Razorback. Tweed mayor Warren Polglase and brand new Aussie, Renato Postumo, of Fingal Head, not only share a common LEP so far had not been positive. Italian heritage, but they also shared a joke after the citizenship ceremony. Renato, a 30-year-old industrial electri- He said residents were coming out ‘Still a country town’ cian from Italy, has spent seven years in Australia before becoming an Australian citizen on Tuesday. Friends includ- strongly against some of the building ‘We believe Tweed Heads is still ing girlfriend Tamara gave Renato a loud cheer when he was presented with his citizenship certificate. Cr Polglase’s height changes in the southern part of a country town and should not be grandfather migrated from Italy to South Australia before World War II. Photo Luis Feliu the town at odds with those contained swamped with wall-to-wall highrise in the widely accepted 2004 master in an attempt to make it an extension Luis Feliu Many other residents enjoyed the about barbecues and beaches... learn plan which the government refused of the Gold Coast. But it appears that sunshine-filled holiday with families our culture then you can say you are to implement. Department of Planning bureaucrats Thousands of Tweed locals hit the and friends at home, in the backyard, Australian,’ she said. ‘Most of the concern centres on working in some dungeon in Sydney great outdoors to celebrate Australia at a park or the beach. Reverend Andrew Unwin said the plans for two 24-storey high rise tow- have decided to ignore the commu- Day on a warm and summery Tues- A crowd of more than 600 people day marked the arrival of the First ers to straddle the southern approach nity’s views.’ day this week, enjoying some typical turned out to the Burringbar Public Fleet and beginning of a new culture to the town surrounded by new elev- A council spokesman said staff Aussie culture, fun, fare and a little School ceremony, including Rich- and colony with ‘eleven ships full of en and nine-storey buildings west of would hold information sessions reflection. mond MP Justine Elliot, Tweed MP unwanted boat people who didn’t Wharf Street,’ he said. about the draft Tweed Heads LEP as A naturalisation ceremony for the Geoff Provest and Tweed mayor War- even want to be here’. ‘While people don’t seem to be too well as a more broad-ranging draft shire’s 27 new Australian citizens and ren Polglase, who conducted the citi- Tweed Shire Australia Day Com- worried about higher buildings in the shire-wide LEP, starting next month. presentation of the shire’s Australia zenship ceremony. mittee chairman Don Beck and the commercial centre they believe a three- ‘There will also be static displays Day Award winners was the high- Cr Polglase said the new citizens shire’s Australia Day Ambassador storey height limit should be retained at various locations across the Tweed light of the official event at Burringbar came from nations around the globe, Glenn Sargeant presented the shire’s for the southern part of the town. and the LEP documents are available Public School while breakfast barbe- including Russia, New Zealand, Ire- Australia Day awards, with the citi- ‘There are also other anomalies now through Council’s website www. cues, tea and damper, local award pre- land, Thailand, US, Italy, Germany zen of the year award going to Mur- in the plan, including a three-sto- tweed.nsw.gov.au,’ he said. sentations, flag raising, cricket games, and Brazil. willumbah resident Chris Chrisos- rey height restriction on the Tweed ‘The website provides the oppor- cycle races, novelty events and sports, He said they had joined four mil- tomos. Heads Bowls Club and the council tunity to view all the Draft LEP 2010 bush music and poetry and tradition- lion other migrants from over 200 Mr Beck said Chris was a highly civic centre which has been classified information and search out details al craft displays were the order of the countries who now call Australia valued and very active member of as a heritage building ,’ he said. relevant to your particular interest. day at Tweed Heads, Murwillumbah, home. Murwillumbah Central Rotary and ‘At this stage it appears there is little ‘A CD with all the relevant informa- Kingscliff, Pottsville, Cabarita/Bogan- Bundjalung elder Aunty Kath Lena, had given generously of his time and scope for any expansion of the civic tion can also be obtained from coun- gar, Tyalgum, Tumbulgum and Uki who conducted the welcome to coun- effort on a whole range of projects, centre to meet future needs. cil by telephoning or visiting one of celebrations. try, said Australia Day was ‘not just continued on page 4 ‘As for a couple of phallic symbols council’s offices.’ LIMIT 3 PER CUSTOMER. NO RAINCHECKS. LIMIT 3 PER CUSTOMER. $ 99 NO RAINCHECKS. Oils Oils 19 $ 99 SAVE $5 19 SAVE $12 Oils LIMIT 3 PER CUSTOMER. NO RAINCHECKS. $ 99 Don’t LIMIT 3 PER CUSTOMER. NO RAINCHECKS. 22 Miss $11 99 AWESOME! 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SKU OA01485 SOUTH TWEED HEADS Harvey Norman Centre, Greenway Drive Ph: 5523 2055 AUTOQLDN03181 SALE ENDS: 5th February 2010 or while stocks last. <echowebsection=Local News> Local News $1200 FREE Bottlenose dolphins up the creek Luis Feliu home insulation package This includes owners, occupiers, rentals and investors Marine authorities expect a Take advantage of the $1200 free insulation small pod of dolphins which before it is discontinued altogether. have been in Cudgen Creek at Call Chelsea at Kingscliff for almost two weeks SKYLINE INTERIORS P/L and become a major attraction on 0401 414 681 for many locals and visitors, to move back out to sea later this or 6680 2231 week. We are your local insulation company, please support us. NPWS Tweed area manager Nathan Oliver said the dolphins appeared reluctant to move from an area of deep water un- der the Cudgen Creek bridge, !"#$% almost a kilometre from the &'( )*+, % creek mouth. (%*-. /0 The bridge is a popular jump- Marine authorities and volunteers attempt to herd the dolphins (inset) back out to sea. ing and dive-bombing spot for Photo Jeff ‘Flipper’ Dawson youngsters and signs warn- ing people not to jump off the from Australian Seabird Rescue A fourth dolphin with the pod they’re stranded but we hope bridge for fear of stressing out since they arrived on January 16 had already made its way back they move out soon with up- the dolphins, were erected last on a high tide. out to sea. coming high tides,’ he said. week. Last Friday afternoon an un- NPWS ranger Lance Tarvey Mr Oliver said the dolphins An exclusion zone to keep successful attempt was made by said the dolphins probably en- have been assessed by experts sightseers and boats away has marine authorities and volun- tered the creek while chasing from SeaWorld and Southern been established in the creek teers to lead the dolphins out fish and they had stayed behind Cross University and appear to around the three inshore bottle- to sea, by lining up boats and because of the calf. be in good health. nose dolphins, two adults and kayaks and making noise. ‘The young dolphin may have He said it was important that a juvenile. The dolphins have Authorities are concerned been too timid to swim back people do not approach the dol- been monitored daily by Na- about the dolphins’ welfare af- over the shallow water along the phins. A person entering water tional Parks and Wildlife Ser- ter they had stayed in the creek creek. The longer they stay in within 50 metres of a dolphin vice (NPWS) and volunteers for much longer than normal.