THE TWEED SHIRE LOADS OF LETTERS pages 8 and 9 Volume 1 #14 Thursday, November 27, 2008 Advertising and news enquiries: Phone: (02) 6672 2280 Fax: (02) 6672 4933 [email protected] [email protected] www.tweedecho.com.au LOCAL & INDEPENDENT Locals set to lap up new aquatic centre Tweed tops the DA list Ken Sapwell Tweed Shire remains one of the state’s leading development hot-spots, attracting more devel- opments than any other local government area in the NSW North Coast region, according to a report to the council. Th e council determined 1,340 development applications (DAs) worth a total of $285 million during 2007-08, compared with 799 DAs worth $143 million processed by its next busiest rival, Ballina Shire Council. Th e report, which comments on the results of the Department of Planning’s annual perfor- mance monitoring review, acknowledges that the average time determining development ap- plications is 103 days compared to the NSW average of 74 days. But when compared with staffi ng levels, the Tweed performed well with 84 DAs per staff member compared to the state average of 69, the report by chief planner Vince Connell says. Mr Connell also noted that the council had a relatively low number of four legal appeals de- termined in the Land and Environment Court Mayor Joan van Lieshout walks the plank of the diving pool as she enjoyed one of the perks of offi ce this week sampling the Tweed’s new Re- during the 12-month period, with all but one of gional Aquatic Centre, which opens to the public tomorrow Friday (November 28), with free entry from 3pm. Photo Jeff ‘Nine Point Nine’ Dawson the cases won by the council. Madeleine Doherty hydrotherapy pool. Th e hydrotherapy pool is Café – which will be accessible from inside and He said one of the main reasons for delays the only public hydrotherapy pool in the region, outside the facility. in processing DAs was because more than half Grab your togs and towel and head to the and meets all the relevant standards for use for Th e Tweed Regional Aquatic Centre will be of them were lodged with inadequate details, Tweed’s brand spanking new Regional Aquatic rehabilitation by the aged and those with dis- offi cially opened by the mayor, Cr Joan van requiring council staff to seek more information Centre in Murwillumbah tomorrow at 3pm abilities. Lieshout, at a ceremony tomorrow morning, from the applicants. (Friday Nov 28) and make a splash. Outside, the 50-metre pool has been refur- before a crowd of invited guests. If the clock was stopped to allow for the time To celebrate the opening, admission to the fa- bished and upgraded to eight lanes. President of the Murwillumbah Sub-branch spent waiting for the additional details, the ave- cility will be free for the fi rst weekend, including A new children’s leisure pool with interactive of the RSL, Derek Sims, will rededicate the 50- rage time for processing DAs would be reduced tomorrow aft ernoon and evening until 8pm. features should prove to be a real drawcard for metre pool to honour those from the Tweed from 103 to 60 days. Th is will allow everyone the opportunity to families, while the existing water slide will be district who have fallen in all confl icts since He suggested that to overcome the problem explore the facility and discover the broader even more popular as it will now be free (admis- World War I. applicants should be provided with a clearer range of membership options now available. sion fee still applicable). The hydrotherapy pool will be officially check list before they submit their DAs and that Visitors are asked to be patient, as there is a A creche is planned to give busy mums and opened at a separate ceremony next Friday, staff should be a ‘lot stricter in refusing to accept maximum number allowed in the facility for dads an opportunity to participate in some of December 5, by Richmond MP and Minister defi cient applications at the time of lodgement.’ safety reasons. Staff may ask people to wait until the fi tness and other programs off ered at the for Ageing, Justine Elliot, and Janette Glynn, Mr Connell said there were also a ‘unique others leave. centre. president of the Rotary Club of Mt Warning combination of factors impacting on the Tweed Th e new $16-million complex is a state-of- Programs will include aqua aerobics, group AM (Murwillumbah). over recent years’, including: the-art facility featuring a year-round, indoor swimming lessons for older adults, tethered Th e hydrotherapy pool will be available for t"OFYUFOTJWFSBOHFPGIJHIMZTFOTJUJWFBOE building with heated 25-metre lap pool incor- swimming and gentle walking. use by the public (subject to programmed class- complex development constraints in the shire. porating diving pool, a learn-to-swim pool and Th ere is also a new café – the Starting Block es) before the offi cial opening. continued on page 2 300W 3 WAY 6X9” SPEAKERS SKU ME08133 $ $ $ 49 fh 87 99 )&&M7JJ FRONT AUX IN 200W AM/FM CD/TUNER :EDÊJC?IIEKJ FRONT AUX IN 200W MP3 CD/TUNER D;MH;B;7I; Selectable rear/sub RCA out and AUX in for MP3/iPod™ etc. SKU ME06470 50W x 4 power, phone mute, sub X/O & level. SKU ME08197 MP3 CD TUNER Music playback from HARVEY iPodTM & MP3 players, NORMAN 50W X 4 MOSFET power. SKU ME06956 BBQ GALORE TWEED HEADS STH $ Harvey Norman Centre, Greenway Drive 127 BUNNINGS AMART PH: 5523 2055 =H;7J8KO FURNITURE AUTOVICNO2211 Sale ends 4th Dec ‘08 Local News White Ribbon Day marks eff orts against domestic violence White Ribbon Day (November bullied at school and learnt to Tweed Family Centre. 25) was marked last Friday by a fi ght back – he was the abused Th e White Ribbon Founda- breakfast at Currumbin Wild- as much as he was the abuser,’ tion of Australia aims to elimi- life Sanctuary. Cr Lieshout said. nate violence against women Tweed’s top cop Michael ‘It is important to recognise by promoting culture-change Kenny was joined by police that everyone, including the around the issue. Th e founda- officers who work in the abuser, needs help and I ap- tion works to educate male lead- frontline of domestic vio- plaud all the men here today at ership programs aimed at men lence, politicians from both this breakfast,’ she said. and boys around Australia. sides of the border, Tweed Her personal story outlined White Ribbon Day was mayor Joan van Lieshout, the shame she felt and the si- created by a handful of Cana- business people and Tweed lence she kept. dian men in 1991 on the sec- community workers, for a ‘As a family we looked good ond anniversary of one man’s fundraiser to help eliminate and I assumed that this was massacre of fourteen women violence against women. just how it was going to be.’ in Montreal. Th ey began the It started as a lighthearted But Cr van Lieshout found White Ribbon Campaign to event with door prizes, raffl es her strength in her Christian urge men to speak out against and an auction but the crowd beliefs and with the help of violence against women. was moved when Cr van Lie- friends gathered strength over In 1999, the United Nations shout told her personal story 12 months to get the courage General Assembly declared of surviving aft er escaping do- to leave her husband and her November 25 the Interna- mestic violence with her four home, walking out on to the tional Day for the Elimination children. streets with nothing but her of Violence Against Women ‘Domestic violence is about clothes and her children. Tweed police offi cers Andrew Eppelstun, Sarah-Jane Robertson joined Currumbin Wildlife Sanc- (IDEVAW) and the White Rib- power and the woman becomes ‘I hadn’t worked for 20 years tuary Worker Shelly Highland for a koala cuddle at the White Ribbon Day breakfast last Friday. bon has become the symbol a possession. My husband but I picked myself up, lined for the day. Today hundreds wasn’t a bad man. He’d been up at Centrelink, found work, did charitable work and even- Endorsed) to help her fellow an ised by Superintendent of thousands of white ribbons tually set up the Eve Founda- sisters. Michael Kenny with the are worn by men and women tion (Every woman’s Value The breakfast was org- money raised going to the across Australia. Where do you get your copy? Kate’s got her hands full and loving it If you don’t receive The Echo at home or the weather Bilambil Heights mum and erates and the diff erent ways is too bad for house to house delivery, pick up a volunteer wildlife carer Kate people can be involved. copy of your Echo from the following places: Chisholm has had a fascination It also introduced her to ba- Banora Point: Banora Point Shopping Mullumbimby: Echo offi ce and love of animals since she sic rescue techniques that she Village, Tweed Heights Shops Murwillumbah: Echo offi ce, Visitor was a youngster. has had to put to use when Burringbar: Real estate agent and Centre, Sunnyside mall stand She remembers outings as a being called out by the duty service station Pottsville: Supermarket, bottleshop, Byron Bay: Echo offi ce, Visitors Centre, newsagent child to Melbourne Zoo or even phone volunteer. Since then, newsagent, Community Centre South Tweed Industrial Estate: Casa just sitting for hours watching she has attended specialist Cabarita Beach: Beach Bar, SLSC and Del Cafe, Dolphin Juice Café, Eat Me the animals in pet shops.