THE TWEED SHIRE The Volume 1 #18 Thursday, January 8, 2009 Gathering Advertising and news enquiries: Arts and culture feature Phone: (02) 6672 2280 pages 18 and 19 Fax: (02) 6672 4933 [email protected] [email protected] www.tweedecho.com.au LOCAL & INDEPENDENT Throwing a line out for friendship Chillingham market kicks off Markets on the Tweed are booming, with the picturesque village of Chill- ingham launching their monthly pro- duce and craft market this Sunday. Local marketgoers can now add the second Sunday of each month to their calendar for the new market, to be held in the spacious garden-like grounds of the Chillingham Com- munity Centre at 1469 Numbinbah Road from 8am-2pm. The new market is part of long term planning for a sustainable local economy, providing an outlet for lo- cal produce, crafts people, artists and businesses. Locals want the market to promote the distinct character of Chillingham as ‘a Natural Village’. As well as bush tucker plants, threatened native plants such as the Richmond Birdwing Butterfly vine will be on sale and organisers are en- couraging people to plant this vine to increase the habitat of this colourful butterfly. A greenhouse in the form of a gi- ant caterpillar at the community cen- tre provides habitat for the butterfly and marketgoers are invited to walk through and have a look. Organiser Barend De Klerk, an ad- mirer of painter Salvador Dali and former operator of a popular café in Murwillumbah called Dali’s, said the Young Jimmy Barnard gets a few fishing pointers from dad Anthony during a sunset bonding session on the Tweed during their holiday from Brisbane. new market would add to the vibrant Photo by Jeff ‘To Kill A Sunset’ Dawson. continued on page 2 Appeal lost: Tweed residents face 9.5% rates hike Ken Sapwell by not making it clear the increases null and void because the council’s tions about the costs of the rate hike He also found that the guidelines would compound each year. application to the Minister was flawed were capable of misleading and in fact only required councils to provide evi- Tweed residents face a 9.5 per cent But Justice Peter Biscoe found that and misleading. He said apart from had misled some people. dence of community support, and not rate rise this year unless councillors allegations of fraud, corruption and concealing the financial impacts of But even though the judge found necessarily of majority community intervene after a court dismissed an criminality levelled against the coun- the plan, the council had doctored the council’s community consultation support, and that anyway Mr Sharp- appeal against increases contained in cil in letters to the Local Government the results of residents’ surveys to in- process was significantly flawed be- les had appraised the Minister of the the council’s controversial seven-year Minister were not maintained during dicate to the Minister that there was cause of this, it didn’t matter because flaws in letters. plan. A Land and Environment Court the proceedings. wide support for the rate rise. the council was not under a statutory Mr Sharples lodged his appeal after judge found the council had misled Retired Tweed Heads accountant Justice Biscoe said the survey results obligation to follow departmental the government agreed to an applica- ratepayers about the true impact the Terry Sharples asked the court to rule were open to subjective interpretation guidelines when seeking Ministerial tion from council’s administrators for plan would have on their hip-pockets rate rises contained in the plan were but the council’s public representa- approval for special rate increases. continued on page 6 NEW YEARS MADNESS!!! NAVMAN S300T SKU ME08349 $194 $295 $589 GARMIN NUVI250 SKU ME06440 LATEST MAPS GARMIN NUVI260W SKU ME06711 WIDESCREEN LIVE TRAFFIC UPDATES Only available at AUTOQLDN02274 STH TWEED HEADS Harvey Norman Centre, Greenway Drive Phone: 5523 2055 SALE ENDS: 14th January 2009. Savings are off regular ticketed price. Local News Chill out at Chillingham market Tess rises to the challenge Former Mt St Patrick College student Tess Graves-Browne has just completed a volunteer- ing program in north-eastern India, teaching young children, and young monks, English at a school in Ghoom, Darjeeling, where she has also been staying. Here Tess gives The Echo an ac- count of her experiences. Imagine yourself gazing out across the snowy mountain tops of the Himalayas, glow- ing with an angelic presence as the first rays of sunlight breaks across the jagged horizon. The small village yawns to life, soft chanting of monks echo throughout the hills as Tess Graves-Browne with some of her young students at the children stretch in their beds, boarding school in Ghoom. preparing for a fresh day at school. lege Murwillumbah but craved people with disabilities and the Nestled on the top of a to experience other cultures, to elderly as well as environmen- hill in the quaint little village step outside my comfort zone tal management. From front page Chillingham Village Market organiser Barend De Klerk and his called Ghoom, sits Clifton Hall and challenge myself in differ- I found a job in my local North Coast market scene son Daniel highlight some of the colour and fresh produce Boarding School, the school I ent ways. area and saved every last cent which attracts locals and tour- available at the inaugural market this Sunday. Barend expects have lived and taught in for the I said goodbye to many of my to raise funds for my trip. But ists in their droves. a big crowd and sunny weather for the very first market in the past four months. friends as they left for univer- my efforts were not without He expects people to come community centre grounds. Staying there I not only sity and contacted an organi- the generous help of the local from all over the shire as well learnt about teaching children, sation called Lattitude Global Lions Club and Rotary, family as across the border from munity based market ideal for raised will help Chillingham but became immersed in the Volunteering, that specialises and friends who assisted me in Queensland, as the village is people wanting a taste of the Community Association carry Indian culture and lifestyle, en- in gap-year volunteering pro- reaching my goal. only 45 minutes from Nerang country,’ Barend said. on its important role as a focal joying Indian festivals known grams for 17-25 year-olds (take I’ve met up with other Lat- along a scenic tourist drive, to The market will help raise point for locals and tourists to as ‘Diwali’ and ‘Dushera’ and a look at their web site www. titude volunteers and we plan buy fresh country food, arts money for local community the area. discovering the exotic taste lattitude.org.au/ for more info). to travel for a month before and crafts, bric-a-brac or just groups who will take turns Interested stallholders can sensations of the East. They offer volunteer programs finally returning to our respec- to have a browse around. in providing brunch each contact Barend on 02 6679 I completed my Year 12 HSC in teaching English, teaching, tive homes and then on to the ‘This will be a natural, com- month. This Sunday, money 1284. in 2007 at Mt St Patrick Col- outdoor activities, assisting challenges on 2009. NEW RELEASE NOW SELLING AFFORDABLE HOUSE & LAND PACKAGES FROM $390,000 < Tweed HeadsKingscliff Town Centre Byron Bay > < love the space and < pace of life at RIVA VUE Land from $180,000* * Average price $222,846 On site inspections available. January: 11am - 2pm Saturdays, 10am - 2pm Sundays Call 02 6672 3723 www.rivavue.com.au Sales & Information: Tweed Property Sales, Post Offi ce Building, Cnr Main St & Brisbane St, Murwillumbah Contact: Terry Papadopoulos 02 6672 3723 [email protected] www.rivavue.com.au 2 January 8, 2009 The Tweed Shire Echo www.tweedecho.com.au Local News Townships to house thousands more residents under $7 billion plans Ken Sapwell homes, two schools and 267ha ‘We expect a judgement later at Banora Point aft er the com- of open space, lakes and envi- this year and we are confi dent pany scrapped plans for an INSANE MAGIC SHOP... Two satellite cities will be cre- ronmental protection areas. of our prospects,’ he said of on-site plant because of tech- ✶ Fun ✶ Games ✶ Fancy Dress ✶ Gifts ated to provide homes for an The Kings Forest project the six-year-old case which nical problems. extra 20,000 Tweed residents covers 850ha and also includes involves a legal bill so far of Environmental groups and lots more! under far-reaching concept a town centre and shops, a 7ha around $10 million. have signalled they will be Shop 8, 43 Greenway Dr (Cnr Corporation Cct) plans lodged with the NSW business park, 4,500 houses, Mr Van Rij said a world renewing their campaign for Tweed Heads South 07 5523 2263 government by billionaire three schools and 400ha of standard environmental man- an ocean outfall, saying that property developer Bob Ell. environment protection and agement plan had been put plans to dispose of treated Mr Ell’s Leda Developments open space areas as well as an forward by Leda for Kings effl uent from the new settle- wants to build the two towns 18-hole golf course. Forest, but Cobaki Lakes was ments into the Tweed River worth an estimated $7 bil- considered the ‘gem’ due to its and Terranora Inlet would lion at Cobaki Lakes near the Two stages proximity to the airport and a overload the waterways with Queensland border and Kings proposed rail link.