THE TWEED www.tweedecho.com.au Volume 4 #4 Thursday, September 22, 2011 kids Advertising and news enquiries: all about Phone: (02) 6672 2280 [email protected] [email protected] P12 #!" 21,000 copies every week !5$)4 LOCAL & INDEPENDENT Longland takes the mayoral helm Steve Spencer important issues in the past. ‘I thought Barry would do a good job; he’s Uki-based councillor Barry Longland (pictured) quite an accomplished bloke, an accountant and has been elected mayor aft er a shock switch of well qualifi ed for the top job,’ Cr Youngblutt told allegiance by former political rivals. The Echo aft erwards. Th e surprise poll on Tuesday put the future Th e most critical issue looks set to be the Byr- of the controversial bid to build a dam at Byrrill rill Creek dam proposal, which saw the council Creek further in doubt, with Cr Longland vow- spit down the middle last year aft er Cr van ing to use the mayor’s casting vote to break any Lieshout decided to abstain from the vote be- deadlocked vote on the project. cause her husband owns land near the dam site. Cr Phil Youngblutt was elected deputy mayor, Th at led to the then mayor, Cr Skinner, twice even getting support from political rival Cr using his casting vote to push the dam project Katie Milne, who also voted for Cr Longland. forward. Although a longtime ally of Cr Warren Pol- Now any future deadlocked vote on the dam glase, Cr Youngblutt switched his vote to Cr will be decided by Cr Longland, who has op- Longland, giving the new mayor four votes out posed a Byrrill Creek dam from the start. of seven. He said he would ‘agitate’ for the state gov- ernment to fi nalise the review on the water-sharing plan ga- zetted last year which bans the new dam and then expected the issue to come before coun- cil again. Cr Longland denied any deals had been done to secure his election, saying he repre- sented the ‘middle ground’. ‘I believe in protecting the New life Tweed’s environment along with increasing the shire’s rate base so we can fund important breathed infrastructure projects. The challenge is to fi nd a balance between those two things,’ he said. into cinema ‘Th ere will be a greater em- phasis on listening to commu- Cr Polglase received only his own vote in the nity opinion during my term as mayor. Seven Story and photo by Luis Feliu Sandra Flannery on the balcony of the revamped show-of-hands election, while deposed mayor councillors don’t hold all of the wisdom in the Regent Cinema and Cafe in Murwillumbah Kevin Skinner and former mayor Joan van shire.’ Th e historic Regent Cinema in Murwillumbah which she hopes will reignite interest in going to Lieshout nominated and then voted for each Cr Longland, a 62-year-old former accoun- will once again see a grand opening of sorts the movies and foster a new community spirit. other for mayor (Cr Skinner) and deputy mayor tant, said his family had long links to the Tweed. tomorrow, Friday, September 23, when it opens (Cr van Lieshout). His grandmother was born at Condong. aft er a major facelift , which new management longtime Murwillumbah locals, Sandra Flan- Cr Youngblutt said he thought it was time Q Greens ramp up Byrrill Creek dam campaign, hopes will revive the good old days of going to nery and Sheraden Robbins, who are putting for Cr Longland to be mayor, despite admit- page 2; Anti-dam group welcomes new mayor, the movies as a social pastime. their life and soul into the venture to bring back ting the two had been at loggerheads over page 2 Th e cinema business was recently bought by continued on page 2 EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST ARE BEING SOUGHT FROM PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY WHO ARE: s 0ROFESSIONALS TERTIARYANDORTRADEQUALIlED If you meet this criteria we s !CTIVELYSEEKINGEMPLOYMENTORACAREERCHANGE would love to hear from you. s !RECIPIENTOFORELIGIBLEFORTHE$ISABILITY3UPPORT 0LEASECONTACT 0ENSIONOR.EWSTART!LLOWANCE +AREN$ALEYON s 2EADYTOEMBRACELOCALEMPLOYMENTOPPORTUNITIES OREMAILINFO ONQHRCOMAU ONTHE.37.ORTHERN2IVERS1,$'OLD#OAST TOREGISTERYOURINTEREST ON-Q Human Resources® <echowebsection=Local News> Local News Lightforce Computers Greens ramp up Byrrill Creek campaign Your Mac Service Centre Luis Feliu sive, unnecessary and environ- O’Farrell government wasted logging commenced in a dam- Serving Tweed Shire mentally destructive. no time in announcing a re- aff ected area. Th ese trees were Greens NSW MP John Kaye ‘Both have been driven by view of the provisions of the not supposed to be logged until will visit the Tweed region a small group of individuals water-sharing plan that pro- after the dam was approved. Lightforce is Rated One of the Top tomorrow (Friday) to discuss desperate to leave their mark hibited the dam. Alarm bells are ringing as resi- Apple Service Providers in NSW... the contentious Byrrill Creek with an enormous supply pro- ‘Th e Greens have twice tried dents question the need for • We Do Warranty & Non-Warranty Service dam plan, accompanied by a ject. Neither can be justifi ed, to move a motion in parlia- such haste. key player in the community especially aft er opportunities ment calling for the release of Dr Kaye said Linda Bowden, • Our Service is Fast, Thorough, and Reliable campaign that defeated the for lower-cost water conserva- all documents relating to the who played a key role in the No • We Have Three Apple Certified Technicians Tillegra dam proposal in the tion, effi ciency and recycling review. On both occasions the Tillegra Dam Group, would with 42 Years Combined Apple Experience Upper Hunter. are taken into account,’ he said. attempts were blocked by pri- visit the area and talk to locals • Courier Pickup and Delivery Available Dr Kaye said the Greens ‘Since the March state elec- mary industries minister Kat- about their campaign. Free Phone Tech Support for Our Clients would move a motion when tion it has become very clear rina Hodgkinson’s colleagues Dr Kaye will meet with • parliament resumes on Octo- that local residents in Byrrill in the Upper House. campaigners at the Uki Cafe • And NO Appointments Necessary ber 11 for primary industries Creek have a similarly huge ‘Recently residents in Byr- in Rowlands Creek Road from minister Katrina Hodgkin- fight on their hands. The rill Creek watched in horror as 1.15pm to 4pm on Friday. So, if you need service, son to drop the review on the a routine tuneup or just water-sharing plan which bans Anti-dam group welcomes new mayor some friendly advice, the Byrrill Creek dam. ‘This review creates more Save Byrrill Creek campaigners Spokesperson Andrea Vick- as soon as possible – to come in and see me. uncertainy; we’re concerned it have welcomed the election ers said it appeared ‘the truth stop the waste of ratepay- I’ll keep an eye on your needlessly continues a battle of Barry Longland as mayor about the dam’s cost, and its ers’ money on preliminary job from start to finish. thoroughly exorcised by the of Tweed as ‘a very positive inevitable rejection under processes, to allow a sensible previous government,’ he told development, not just because federal laws, is starting to make water augmentation policy I’m not happy if you’re The Echo yesterday. he holds a critical casting vote itself felt. to be developed with proper not happy with our work! He said there were lots of on the dam, but because he ‘The plan to press ahead reference to expert advice, Beau Hansen similarities between the pro- was supported by four fellow with the dam, against expert and to give all residents some Service Manager posed Byrrill Creek dam and councillors who must have advice and community senti- peace of mind on this issue,’ Tillegra. Both would be expen- taken that into account’. ment, needs to be discarded she said. Authorised Reseller Authorised Service Provider Students are shown how to draw on experience Authorised iPad Reseller Murwillumbah High School year 9 student Emily White and Murwillumbah Primary School year 5 student Jared Delyon are shown decorating Lightforce Computers a shadow puppet during the 3/84 Centennial Circuit in the Arts & Industry Estate high school’s annual Connect- easy Byron Bay 02 6685 8796 • See Website for Directions ing with Asia day last week. hrs: m-fri 9-5 • sat 9-1 www.lightforce.com.au Eighty-fi ve year 5 primary- t Accredited high quality care in a Northern Rivers home environment Family Day Care t Supported by the largest scheme in NSW t Flexible hours t Childcare benefi t available t Become a carer and work from home t Free training & fi nancial support provided school students from around school to the high-school ex- of activities from constructing the shire participated as spe- perience. shadow puppets and ink dying cial guests. Th e day was part of Th e younger students were carp fl ags to producing sushi a broader transition program guided through the day by and dancing up a Bollywood which introduces students in student leaders from year 9 storm. TWEED 4 Park Street Tweed Heads their final years of primary and rotated through a range Photo supplied Phone 07 5536 1865 LISMORE 150 Laurel Avenue Lismore (from page 1) Phone 02 6621 6437 Serving the Community since 1980 New life breathed into cinema ‘A division of Northern Rivers Childcare Services Inc.’ the glory days of moviegoing. 1947 by the owners of the old week,’ Sandra said. ‘We really want to create a Regent cinema then located in Th e new owners will also re- vibrant community meeting Alma Street, South Murwil- place the old-fashioned movie ATTENTION HOME OWNERS, FARMERS, place at the Regent, where peo- lumbah, which burnt down in reels with digital discs.