THE TWEED SHIRE Coastal Volume 1 #29 pirit Thursday, March 26, 2009 S Advertising and news enquiries: Phone: (02) 6672 2280 Fax: (02) 6672 4933 [email protected] Pages [email protected] 10 & 11 www.tweedecho.com.au LOCAL & INDEPENDENT High-rise on Food and power concerns flare up the horizon Ken Sapwell higher order social and infrastruc- ture services such as health and edu- Building heights in Tweed Heads, cation commensurate with a larger Kingscliff and Murwillumbah will be population. reviewed as part of a far-reaching land The report acknowledges that release strategy adopted by Tweed higher densities bring social problems Shire Council last week. which would need to be monitored ‘as The review, which is certain to they evolve and grow.’ spark strong opposition from com- munity groups, is a major plank of Immediate visual impacts the council’s urban and employment ‘It would also have immediate vis- land release strategy which will guide ual impacts as taller buildings appear the shire’s development over the next and the urban landscape changes,’ the 22 years. report says. Under the strategy the council will ‘Traffic and public transport issues rely on existing stocks of zoned resi- will increase in importance as density dential land to accommodate future increases and congestion problems population increases over the next 22 occur.’ years in a bid to protect the shire from Chief planner Vince Connell said urban sprawl. the review would not necessarily Organic farmer John Morgan-Lowe with organiser of this weekend’s sustainable co-operative workshop, Irene translate into high-rise buildings ap- Brown, at Uki’s Castle on the Hill. Photo Jeff ‘End Times’ Dawson Three key urban areas pearing in Kingscliff and Murwil- It will do this by encouraging high- lumbah. Roxanne Millar 2012, playing havoc with electricity, ability Research Institute of Australia er density living in three key urban He said while increasing building plans and cars. director Dudley Leggett and expert areas through more home units in heights was one way of increasing A group of scientists want Uki resi- Although recognised by many sci- Paul Wildman. taller buildings. densities, there were other options dents to set up a sustainable co-op- entists, there is much debate on how Presenting the path towards sus- Until the findings of a shirewide which would also be investigated. erative supplying power and food to bad the flare could be. tainability will be solar installation ex- flood study are considered, the coun- The strategy also supports the re- ensure the town is protected from the ‘I am optimistic that it won’t be that pert Syd Welling, Tweed Shire Council cil will review densities in Tweed zoning of six sites identified as suit- effects of a solar flare predicted for bad,’ said Ms Brown. sustainability officer Dan Walton and Heads, Murwillumbah and Kingscliff able for light industrial uses and the 2012. through a process of locality planning provision of more office space by in- A seminar on sustainability at Cas- Live self-sufficiently with solar power, as an ‘interim approach.’ creasing densities in the commercial tle on the Hill this weekend will aim ‘This would likely involve increas- areas of Tweed Heads, Tweed Heads to kick start the co-op by teaching lo- organic gardens and water saving. ing the height limits in these areas South and Murwillumbah. cals how they can live self-sufficiently to accommodate the additional ex- with solar power, organic gardens and ‘But we can still work together to organic farmer John Morgan-Lowe. pected population,’ a comprehensive Economy at ‘crossroads’ water saving. buffer any pain we might experi- ‘Hopefully we will be able to work report on the strategy says. The report describes the Tweed Organiser Irene Brown said the ence. Now is the time to live self- out who has what and how we can get ‘The advantages are that it could economy as being at the ‘crossroads.’ hope was that communities and in- sufficiently. a co-op started,’ said Ms Brown. be used as a tool to revitalise these ‘It is critical that all available av- dividuals around the Tweed would ‘We can set up co-ops in local vil- The seminar will be held March 29 centres, especially Tweed Heads, and enues to assist the Tweed economy to begin to live sustainably to ensure they lages because they are small enough between 9am and 5pm at Castle on the bring investment which will also con- mature and diversify must be pursued,’ would still function in the event of to succeed.’ Hill, Bonny Doon Road, Uki. Book- tribute to public infrastructure. the report says. ‘Otherwise stagnation atmospheric instability. Explaining the need for self-suffi- ings can be made by calling 02 6679 ‘It would also increase the likeli- and unemployment will follow.’ Ms Brown said scientists had pre- ciency at the seminar will be Harvard 5442 or by emailing irene@castleon- hood of these centres achieving continued on page 2 dicted a solar flare would strike in research scientist Paul Taylor, Sustain- hill.com. BUY NOW – PAY NEXT YEAR RECESSION BUSTER INTEREST FREE CONDITIONS APPLY Acacia Carved Bench Seat was $1149 TWEED HEADS SOUTH Shallowal Bay Drive now Shop 7 Homemart on Tweed, The Good Guys WEE $6499 KFC AREE Acacia 5 Minjungbal Drive HERERE Bali Carved Drawer Chest 07 5524 4706 Teak Doors was $550 Minjungbal Drive now $275 www.vastinterior.com.au Hungry Jacks $6999 Local News Duelling divas love their duets FRI 27 LOADED DICE 7:30PM - 10:30PM SAT 28 KAFFENE 7:30PM - 10:30PM MON 30 CRAIG SHAW 12:00PM - 3:00PM Liza Beamish tests the acoustics at the art gallery for her performance there next week. Photo Jeff Dawson Roxanne Millar ‘We met through an acquain- realised there was more to life tance when we were soloists,’ than spending eight hours at a It might be good enough for said Liza. piano every day,’ she said. SING & WIN! 1st $1,500 2nd $1,000 3rd $500 Madonna and J Lo or Chris- ‘We both found out we were She then trained in London Search for a Star competition (contested over 10 weeks: 7 weeks of heats, tina Aguilera and Mariah ex-Opera Australia people so and Vienna, relocating to Ter- 2 weeks of semi-finals & Grand Final 3rd May). Carey, but two opera singers when I needed a partner for a ranora six years ago after some on the Tweed have promised Brisbane show, I asked Kath- time spent in Sydney. Sundays from 4pm in our Waves Lounge. to avoid a showbiz-style diva leen and it went from there.’ ‘When I stopped perform- battle when they perform next The duo’s show is a mixture ing, the glamour of Sydney was OPENING HOURS week. of popular music sung in op- over and and we really wanted Marine Pde, Kingscliff Sunday: 8:00am - 9:00pm Opera duo Liza Beamish era style and wellknown opera to move,’ she said. Phone: 02 6674 1404 Monday: 9:30am - 9:30pm Tuesday & Wednesday: 10:00am - 10:00pm and Kathleen Procter-Moore, songs. ‘When I came to the Tweed Fax: 02 6674 0089 Thursday: 10:00am - 10:30pm of Duo Diva, have promised ‘Most are favourites that peo- I started singing again. I gave www.kingscliffbeachclub.com.au Friday & Saturday: 9:30am - 11:30pm to confine the diva behavior ple know. People get a smatter- it up 12 years ago when I had to their band name only when ing of opera and love it, but it is children. I wasn’t going to be a they perform at the Tweed Riv- not three or four hours of clas- supermum and try to do it all.’ er Regional Art Gallery. sical music because many do She now tours with various Terranora-based Liza said not like that and I don’t blame groups and has performed there would be no diva de- them – you really have to have at QPAC. Duo Diva’s version mands as there was nothing a leaning towards it.’ of Lakme’s Flower Duet has but a love of good music be- Liza never intended to be- reached number one on the in- tween her and Mount Tambor- come an opera singer and was dependent music charts. ine-based Kathleen. actually studying the piano at Duo Diva is performing at The two formed Duo Diva the Conservatorium of Music the Tweed River Regional Art three years ago and have per- in Brisbane when she picked Gallery from 11am next Tues- formed their popular opera opera as a secondary study in- day, March 31. Bookings are and ‘popera’ at venues around terest. With hardly any experi- essential and can be made on the Gold Coast and Brisbane, ence, she entered a competi- 07 5599 2274 or 07 5524 5409. including a sold-out show at tion and won. the art gallery once before. ‘It spiked my interest and I High-rise on Funding boost speeds the horizon continued from page 1 up Sexton Hill upgrade The report notes that the loc- al economy in 2004/05 gener- The long-awaited Sexton Hill ‘The upgrade will provide a ated an estimated $1.2 billion, upgrade of the Pacific High- 2.5 kilometre dual carriageway representing just 0.4 per cent of way will start six months ahead from the northern end of Bar- the state’s total output. of schedule as a result of the neys Point Bridge through to In the same year the value national funding boost by the the southern end of the Tweed adding per capita in the Tweed Rudd Government.