Community Connect | Ballina Shire Council | Issue 33 | December 2018

THE MAGAZINE OF BALLINA SHIRE COUNCIL DECEMBER 2018 ISSUE 33

inside...

communityconnect See inside for your Recycle Right Lift-Out

Australia Day Award Nominees

Matt Burke Australia Day guest speaker

Captain Cook Park lights the way

Shaws Bay Beautification Shaws Bay is set to be our shire's hot spot these school holidays...

See page 26 for details...

from the mayor's desk

From the Mayor's Desk

2018 has flown by so quickly and much has changed in the shire since last Christmas.

It has been a year of growth in visitors, land and house purchasing, new facilities and other projects just about to start.

Based on the last school break, the upcoming holiday period will be full of visitors from Queensland and other states accessing our beautiful beaches, plateau rainforests, primary production farms, river, heath lands and waterfalls on an ever-improving road network. Welcome to you all.

Most businesses look forward to December/January as their biggest trading time so, hopefully, the weather will be great and visitors and locals will use our growing variety of shops and food outlets for their spend instead of going elsewhere.

When I’m asked what I’m doing over the break, it’s easy to reply, staying in paradise. I urge you to do the same.

I wish to thank the NSW State Government, through the hard work of our local representatives, for major grants for the airport, Ballina Indoor Sports Centre, coastal paths and cycle ways through to Pat Morton lookout, Wollongbar Sport Fields, upgrade of Ballina Road and the Bruxner Highway intersection as well as a large number of smaller grants to sporting and volunteer groups.

I also want to thank the DPI and Surf Life Saving NSW for continuing to update their safety strategies and technology for our beautiful beaches.

The dedicated life savers and life guards will be on hand to help visitors unsure of rips, sweeps and beach conditions and new signage will explain safety measures in place.

I’m proud that Council has been able to deliver two amazing swimming pool complexes in Ballina and Alstonville. The large numbers that have used the heated outdoor and indoor pools so far has exceeded expectations and I know these facilities will be well used over the holiday period. The new facility at the Ballina Surf Club, Lake Ainsworth and Shaws Bay improvements are just a few things that will improve the amenity of the shire for visitors and residents this summer.

I have again been fortunate to visit many incredible groups over the last twelve months and on behalf of the whole community, I thank those organisations for their great work helping so many others.

See what you can do to make someone’s Christmas and holiday period a little better.

Whether it’s a few words of greeting, an offer to help, an inclusion to join in a meal or a small gift – your generosity might be the exact thing that helps someone experience a time of joy and fellowship.

Please take care, ‘Slip, Slop, Slap’ and be safe.

Cr David Wright

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THE MAGAZINE OF BALLINA SHIRE COUNCIL

contents prosperous economy Lake Ainsworth – foreshore improvements works 3 Road Projects / Civil Projects 4 Ballina Indoor Sports Centre 4 Making pedestrians safer 5 Captain Cook Park lights the way 6 Shade better in time for summer holidays 6 Skennars Head Sportsfields expansion 6 Check your rates balance online 6 Lennox Village Vision – project update 7 The latest news from the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport 8 – 9

connected community Ballina Shire Australia Day Celebrations Community Events – What's on?

Market Calendar Ballina Coast and Hinterland Community Spaces Arts Connect – Northern Rivers Community Gallery

10 – 11 12 – 13 13 14 15 16 – 17

healthy environment Waste Watch Would you give it to a friend?

Healthy Waterways Waste changes for multi-unit properties Lake Ainsworth is a no dog zone What is mould?

Did you know only female mosquitoes bite?

Water Talk

18 – 23 24 25 – 27 28 28 29 29 30 – 31

engaged leadership Food Safety Champion 32 Starting a new home based business?

32 Workshops helping older people 33 BreastScreen 33 Be pool safe 34 Pooches in public places to be on a lead 35 Patrols for 2018/2019 Swimming Season 35 Holiday Parking 35 Staff Matters 36 – 37 Merry Christmas from the Staff and Councillors 38 – 39

Community Connect eNews is Ballina Shire Council’s electronic newsletter. Sign-up today to receive your Community Connect and other Council news via email.

To subscribe visit ballina.nsw.gov.au (search eNews).

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Lake Ainsworth is looking better than ever with stage one of the improvement works well underway.

The team has reconstructed the southern road and formalised the roadside parking. Early in the new year works will continue with the bitumen sealing of Camp Drewe Road, new picnic tables, landscaping and sand replenishment.

project update

View drone footage and foreshore improvement plans on Council's website ballina.nsw.gov.au (search Lake Ainsworth)

DECEMBER 2018 ISSUE 33

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Lake Ainsworth foreshore improvement works

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road projects / civil projects update

BALLINA INDOOR SPORTS CENTRE BALLINA INDOOR SPORTS CENTRE

COMPLETED PROJECTS BYRON BAY ROAD (North of the Ross Lane Roundabout) As part of the Ross Lane $1.9 million Australian Black Spot funding this three kilometre project which included curve correction, pavement rejuvenation and general safety improvements.

DUCK CREEK MOUNTAIN – Bike Park Entrance. Driveway construction (on behalf of Roads and Maritime Services).

BALLINA SURF CLUB STORAGE BUILDING The Ballina Lighthouse and Lismore Surf Life Saving Club 2018/2019 will enjoy new facilities this summer patrol season. The building includes a gymnasium, storage, office and meeting spaces.

CURRENT PROJECTS

A 00-01 A 00-02 A 01-01 A 01-02 A 01-03 A 01-04 A 01-05 A 01-11 A 01-12 A 02-01 A 02-21 A 02-22 A 02-23 A 02-24 A 02-25 A 03-01 A 03-02 A 03-31 A 03-32 A 04-01 A 04-02 A 05-01 A 05-02 A 05-03 A 05-10 A 05-21 A 05-31 A 06-01 A 06-02 A 06-03 A 06-04 A 06-06 A 06-07 A 06-10 A 07-01 A 07-02 A 08-01 A 09-01 A 09-10 A 09-11 A 09-12 A 09-13 A 09-14 A 11-01 A 11-02 A 11-03 A 11-04 A 11-05 A 12-01 A 12-02 A 12-03 A 12-04 A 12-05 A 14-01 A 14-02

SHEET NAME

COVER SHEET & DRAWING LIST LEGENDS SHEET LOCALITY PLAN SITE PLAN OVERALL SITE PLAN - SHEET 1 SITE PLAN - SHEET 2 SITE GRID SETOUT PLAN SOLAR STUDY - EXTERNAL SOLAR STUDY - INTERNAL EXISTING & DEMOLITION PLAN GROUND GENERAL ARRANGEMENT PLAN (PART A) GENERAL ARRANGEMENT PLAN (PART B) GENERAL ARRANGEMENT PART PLAN - LINK ROOF PLAN (PART A) ROOF PLAN (PART B) SLAB SETOUT PLAN (PART A) SLAB SETOUT PLAN (PART B) PARTITION SETOUT PLAN (PART A) PARTITION SETOUT PLAN (PART B) REFLECTED CEILING PLAN (PART A) REFLECTED CEILING PLAN (PART B) FLOOR FINISHES PLAN (PART A) FLOOR FINISHES PLAN (PART B) COURT MARKING PLAN WALL FINISHES PLAN (SHEET 1) JOINERY PLAN (SHEET 2) FURNITURE PLAN (SHEET 3) OVERALL BUILDING ELEVATIONS - SHEET 1 OVERALL BUILDING ELEVATIONS - SHEET 2 INTERNAL BUILDING ELEVATIONS - SHEET 1 INTERNAL BUILDING ELEVATIONS - SHEET 2 DETAIL ELEVATIONS DETAIL ELEVATIONS DETAIL ELEVATIONS OVERALL SECTIONS - SHEET 1 OVERALL SECTIONS - SHEET 2 DETAIL FLOOR PLAN - BIN ENCLOSURE DETAIL WALL TYPES DETAIL SECTION SHEET 1 DETAIL SECTION SHEET 2 DETAIL SECTION SHEET 3 DETAIL SECTION SHEET 4 DETAIL SECTION SHEET 5 WET AREAS DETAILS SHEET 1 WET AREAS DETAILS SHEET 2 WET AREAS DETAILS SHEET 3 WET AREAS DETAILS SHEET 4 WET AREAS DETAILS SHEET 5 CONSTRUCTION DETAILS SHEET 1 CONSTRUCTION DETAILS SHEET 2 CONSTRUCTION DETAILS SHEET 3 CONSTRUCTION DETAILS SHEET 4 CONSTRUCTION DETAIL SHEET 5 INTERNAL JOINERY DETAILS SHEET 1 - TYPICAL DETAILS AND NOTES INTERNAL JOINERY DETAILS SHEET 2

BALLINA INDOOR SPORTS CENTRE project has commenced with ground works

including installation of services such as power, water and wastewater. For project details see story below or Council's website ballina.nsw.gov.au (search Sports Centre).

WARDELL ROAD, Seg 70-80 – Road reconstruction.

LAKE AINSWORTH FORESHORE IMPROVEMENT WORKS – currently underway, see page 3 or visit council's website ballina.nsw.gov.au for foreshore plans and improvements.

FUTURE PROJECTS

LINKS AVENUE, Seg 20 – Road reconstruction and footpath construction BAGOTVILLE ROAD, Seg 50/Seg 30-3 – Road reconstruction SIMMONS STREET, Seg 20 – Road reconstruction.

Ballina Indoor Sports Centre The new Ballina Coast High School is really taking shape and will welcome students at the beginning of the first school term in 2019.

Thanks to $3.5 million NSW Government funding and along with approximately $5 million from Ballina Shire Council, construction of the new Ballina Indoor Sports Centre has commenced.

This two-court facility will adjoin another two-court facility under construction by the NSW Department of Education. The two facilities will be linked by an enclosed passageway and combined they will form a four-court regional scale sports facility.

Sports infrastructure is essential for creating an active community and will boost participation in sports such as basketball, netball and futsal.

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LAKE AINSWORTH FORESHORE A 00-00 DRAWING LIST

A 00-00 DRAWING LIST SHEET NUMBER

THE MAGAZINE OF BALLINA SHIRE COUNCIL

REVISION

8 2 8 9 6 9 2 4 2 2 8 9 4 8 8 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 4 2 2 1 8 8 7 4 2 2 2 8 8 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 3

SHEET NUMBER

A 14-03 A 14-04 A 14-05 A 14-06 A 15-01 A 15-20 A 15-21 A 15-41 A 15-81 A 15-82 A 16-01 A 20-01

SHEET NAME

INTERNAL JOINERY DETAILS SHEET 3 INTERNAL JOINERY DETAILS SHEET 4 INTERNAL JOINERY DETAILS SHEET 5 INTERNAL JOINERY DETAILS SHEET 6 DOOR SCHEDULE SHEET 1 DOOR DETAILS TYPICAL CIRCULATION AS1428.1_2009 DOOR DETAILS SHEET 1 DOOR JAMB DETAILS SHEET 1 DOOR PANEL DETAILS SHEET 1 DOOR PANEL DETAILS SHEET 2 WINDOW & LOUVRE SCHEDULE SHEET 1 SIGNAGE DETAIL SHEET 1

REVISION

3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

For updates on road closures visit myroadinfo.com.au

CHERRY ST, BALLINA ISLAND SUVLA ST/ SHELLY BEACH RD SOUTHERN CROSS DR, BALLINA NORTH OLD PACIFIC HWY, TINTENBAR SKENNARS HEAD RD, SKENNARS HEAD CEDAR ST, WARDELL GIBBON ST, LENNOX HEAD GAP RD, ALSTONVILLE

Ballina Shire Council has endorsed a new Pedestrian Access and Mobility Plan (PAMP) for the shire.

• Vulnerable pedestrian groups (such as children or older pedestrians)

The PAMP is a strategic action plan to build pedestrian facilities, such as footpath connections and pedestrian refuges. The important planning document focuses on providing safe, convenient and connected pedestrian routes that create a more accessible footpath network.

• Community need and benefit

“The Plan includes 96 priority footpath and pedestrian projects across the shire from 2018 to 2029,” said Ms Helen Carpenter, Ballina Shire Council/Roads and Maritime Services Road Safety Officer.

Community consultation The PAMP was developed following a review of existing pedestrian projects, pedestrian crash data and community consultation. Over 300 community submissions were received and found the community was most interested in improving connections to key community activity areas, such as business, education and recreation areas.

Project funding and priorities Projects included in the PAMP are used to develop Council’s Delivery and Operational Plan, and inform grant funding applications made

by Council. The PAMP Delivery Program is also linked to the annual footpaths and shared paths capital works program.

The PAMP prioritises footpath projects to ensure all available funding is used effectively to improve the pedestrian network. Factors used to develop the priority order include: • Location of pedestrian crashes

• Land use and traffic • Feasibility.

Projects in the pipeline Below are some projects included in the new PAMP.

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Making Pedestrians Safer

• CHERRY STREET, BALLINA ISLAND: Upgrade 410m of the existing footpath (2018-2019) • SUVLA STREET SHELLY BEACH ROAD, EAST BALLINA: 553m path, four kerb ramps and two centre medians (2019-2020) • SOUTHERN CROSS DRIVE, BALLINA NORTH: 400m path, three kerb ramps and two centre medians (2018-2019) • OLD PACIFIC HIGHWAY, TINTENBAR: 450m path (2020-2021) • SKENNARS HEAD ROAD, SKENNARS HEAD: refuge and kerb ramp on southern side of the Road (2022-2023) • CEDAR STREET, WARDELL: new 310m path (2024-2025) • GIBBON STREET, LENNOX HEAD: new 167m path (2025-2026) • GAP ROAD, ALSTONVILLE: 1250m path and two kerb ramps (2027-2029).

To view the full list of projects and completed Plan, visit Council’s website ballina.nsw.gov.au (search PAMP).

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CAPTAIN COOK PARK LIGHTS THE WAY The lights have been switched on just in time for the festive season and evening walks on the Richmond River.

The new lights have been installed as part of the Captain Cook Park Masterplan development.

shade better in time for summer holidays Pool patrons will be welcomed with a new shade structure when they visit the Ballina Memorial Pool these school holidays.

The shade structure will be installed between the kids splash pad and pool kiosk.

Skennars Head Sportsfields Expansion Works to expand the Skennars Head Sporting Fields are expected to commence shortly. The project includes the construction of additional car parking, senior and junior fields. The expansion of the facilities was identified as a key priority in the Ballina Shire Open Space Strategy to cater for population growth.

Drainage, lighting and irrigation are also part of the project. This project is possible due to $1,285,000 in funding by Ballina Shire Council and $990,000 from the NSW Government.

rates & charges notice

Check your rates balance online!

01/07/2017 - 30/06/2018

payments ph 1300 276 468

Use Ballina Shire Council’s new online services to check your current rates and charges balance and make credit card payments online. *credit card payments will incur a surcharge of approximately 0.5%

40 cherry street, po box 450, ballina nsw 2478 rating team ph 02 6686 1299 general enquiries ph 02 6686 4444 council@ballina.nsw.gov.au abn 53 929 887 369 ballina.nsw.gov.au

assessment number

rating category

property details

valuation amount

area

billing details

first

second

third

fourth

notice total: due this quarter: date due:

messages

Instalments 2, 3 & 4 do NOT include future water based charges

your payment options Call 1300 276 468 to make payments using Visa, Mastercard or American Express.

BPAY this payment via internet or phone banking

Biller Code: 20404 Reference No:

Biller Code: 20404 Reference No:

www.ballina.nsw.gov.au Make payments online using Visa, Mastercard or American Express.

An authority form is available by phoning 02 6686 4444, or by visiting www.ballina.nsw.gov.au

*Service fee applies

*Service fee applies

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BPAY View View and pay this bill using internet banking (Credit cards not accepted)

Completed authority forms must be received by Council two weeks before the next rate due date.

*credit card payments will incur a surcharge of around 0.5%.

THE MAGAZINE OF BALLINA SHIRE COUNCIL

Any Post Office throughout Australia. Cash, cheque and EFTPOS only.

Alternatively, register online to receive and pay your notices digitally with your MyPost Digital Mailbox www.digitalmailbox.com.au Detach slip at the perforation and post your cheque payable to Ballina Shire Council to the PO Box above, or pay at our Customer Service Centre.

If paying by mail, please tick if receipt is required.

name: assessment: total amount: first instalment:

mo paymree optionsnt

One Way Traffic Trial Phase 1 - Consultation Between March and June this year Council’s Strategic Planning staff undertook community consultation as part of phase one of the Lennox Village Vision (LVV) project. The purpose of this consultation was to better understand the community’s priorities for the Lennox Head village centre’s renewal works.

Thank you to everyone who responded to our online survey! We received over 500 responses and some great feedback that has been used to determine the project’s next phase. One of our key findings was that respondents recognised the village centre has traffic and parking issues, but they didn’t believe these issues should take precedence over the needs of people and the community.

When asked if a one way traffic flow option should be explored for street upgrade works, 68% supported investigation, 23% were against further investigation and 9% were unsure.

These outcomes, together with the other findings of the consultation, were reported to Council at the September meeting with Council endorsing phase two of the LVV project.

Phase 2 – One way traffic trial Phase two of the project will be to implement a trial of a one way local road for the Lennox Head village centre. This will help Council and the community ‘test drive’ this option to gain a greater understanding of how a one way traffic flow will operate in a very practical way.

The trial period will allow us to monitor traffic movements while gauging community sentiment to determine if a one way flow is a practical solution for the centre’s future. We expect the one way trial will operate for a minimum period of three months and include the 2019 Easter school holiday period. Running the trial for this length of time and over a busy period will help us gather important traffic data for the assessment process. It is expected that this trial, together with additional traffic modelling, will provide valuable information to inform the selection of future traffic management options within the village centre.

project update

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lennox VILLAGE vision

Temporary infrastructure As the trial is temporary we will be using sandbag blisters, removing existing line marking, adding new signage and creating new road markings to improvise a one way traffic flow. This arrangement is relatively inexpensive to implement and remove if the one way traffic configuration proves unsuccessful. Alternatively, if the project is endorsed, it may be practical to leave some of the infrastructure in place until permanent works begin.

Council is currently refining the design for the trial and we expect to have the plan and community information available on our website and at the Lennox Head community in early 2019.

To find out more about this Lennox Head Village Vision, visit ballina.nsw.gov.au (search Lennox Vision).

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LATEST NEWS FROM

ballina byron gateway airport Terminal Project Update The terminal expansion project is on schedule and humming along with stage two of the works almost complete. The terminal now boasts a new café, bar and extra toilet facilities for the arrivals hall.

Shortly, the expanded departures and arrivals concourse will also open, although there will still be some limited access while stage three of the works continue.

The growth in passenger numbers and the expansion of the airport is critical to increasing tourism, employment and business opportunities within the Northern Rivers.

Stage three works will commence in January and will include the demolition of the old café and toilet facilities. At this stage, we are on track to complete the upgraded terminal by mid-2019.

This project has been allocated $4.5 million from the NSW Government’s Regional Tourism Infrastructure Program, and $2.4 million in loan funding from Ballina Shire Council.

The progress of the project is being recorded on time-lapse-video and can be viewed on the Byron Ballina Gateway Airport website ballinabyronairport.com.au/expansion-projects/

Below is a sneak peek of the new café/bar area.

opening soon!

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THE MAGAZINE OF BALLINA SHIRE COUNCIL

Travelling to see family or friends this Christmas? We have good news, the airport’s two major airline partners, Jetstar and Virgin Australia have increased their weekly flight schedule from Melbourne and Sydney over December and January.

Jetstar’s schedule will feature daily direct Ballina Byron Bay/Melbourne flights and up to 24 flights weekly from Ballina Byron Bay/Sydney. Virgin has almost doubled their Sydney flight schedule of up to 14 direct flights a week. These changes demonstrate a positive airline commitment to the growing demand for local Northern Rivers flight services.

Climbing the ranks

Airport Dining

The Ballina Byron Gateway Airport is now the third busiest airport in New South Wales after Sydney and Newcastle, with

Meet Jake and Nerida, the dynamic team behind the muchloved Horizon Airport Café and the owners of the exciting new Beach Grill and Saltbar opening soon!

536,000 PASSENGERS per annum (as at October 2018).

Airport soars on social media

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Extra Summer Flights into Ballina

106,1 reache14 d

The airport has been running a series of targeted social media ads that feature beautiful imagery of our local area to entice visitors to the Northern Rivers. This campaign aims to increase inbound passengers through the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport and includes a direct booking link to our airline partners’ websites.

The campaign’s first two weeks received great feedback and has:

4,680 clicks

• reached 106,114 people • received 4,680 clicks to airline websites • had 2,200 people watch the video We’ve also been running a local campaign on social media and radio to reach local Northern Rivers travelling outbound. Keep a look out for these campaigns online and support local by choosing the Ballina Byron Gateway Airport for your next escape.

To find out more about the terminal expansion or flight specials visit ballinabyronairport.com.au

2,200 views #ballinabyrongatewayairport

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ballina shire

Australia Day CELEBRATIONS SATURDAY 26 JANUARY 2019

ballina shire australia day ceremony The official Australia Day Ceremony will commence at 9am inside the Lennox Community Centre and everyone is invited to attend.

The ceremony includes a Special Guest Address by Matthew Burke OAM, Australian former international rugby great and television sports presenter with Sydney’s 10 News First.

Audience members will be entertained with dynamic performances by local performers and local singer Katie Rutledge. Join us in providing a warm welcome to our new Australians in the Citizenship Ceremony, and thanking and congratulating the nominees in the highly anticipated 2019 Ballina Shire Australia Day Awards.

More information telephone 1300 864 444 or visit ballina.nsw.gov.au

2019 Ballina Shire Australia Day Awards The Australia Day Awards recognise the achievements of groups and individuals who inspire us through their accomplishments and contributions to our community, arts/culture and sports, and who are great Ballina Shire ambassadors. Congratulations to all our nominees:

YOUNG CITIZEN OF THE YEAR (30 YEARS AND UNDER) • • • •

Alexandra Lapham Chloe Pratt Finn Ball Tara Coughlan

SENIOR CITIZEN OF THE YEAR (60 YEARS AND OVER) • • • • • • • • • •

Anne Sharpe Bonnie Donnelly (posthumous nomination) Jane Hunt (posthumous nomination) Joan Hurley John and Helen Niven Lloyd Jansson Marie and Gordon Jarrett Marie Caldwell Pat and Jean Kennedy Volunteer Team – Tweed, Byron and Ballina Community Transport

LOCAL HERO AWARD • • • • • • • • • • •

Carol Stacey Damon Moloney Geoff Alexander Jenny Ellenbroek Jack Barden Karen Wilson Kevin Anderson Maria Matthes Marjorie Steinhard Robert Sword Sarah Gent

SPORTS AWARD • • • •

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Helen Rankin-Jarvie (Hockey) Kyle Underwood (Golf) Jennie Duffield (Athletics Coach) Samantha Brophy (Ice Hockey)

THE MAGAZINE OF BALLINA SHIRE COUNCIL

ARTS/CULTURAL AWARD • • • •

Ballina Arts and Craft Centre Inc (BACCI) Brian Pamphilon Sprung!! Integrated Dance Theatre Suzanne Whiteman

COMMUNITY EVENT OF THE YEAR •

• • • • • • • •

2018 Australian National Men’s Masters Hockey Championship (Ballina Hockey Club) Ballina Community Market (East Ballina Lions Club) Boomerang Bags Duck Race (Ballina Rotary Club Inc) Love Lennox Festival (Lennox Chamber of Commerce) Melbourne Cup Luncheon (Meals on Wheels) Our Kids Day Out Rainbow Region Dragon Boat Regatta (Rainbow Region Dragon Boat Club) Rebuilding from the Rubble (Rotary Club of Ballina-on-Richmond)

The Citizen of the Year will be chosen from all the nominees across the six categories.

Thank you to the groups and individuals who took the time to nominate these deserving nominees. The contributions and accomplishments of all nominees will be celebrated at the Australia Day Ceremony on Saturday 26 January 2019 at the Lennox Head Community Centre.

Matthew Burke

Ceremony program 9.00am

CULTURAL WELCOME AND FLAG RAISING CEREMONY

TS Lismore Navy Cadets and the

Ballina Pipe Band.

Advance Australia Fair to be performed

by local singer Katie Rutledge

9.15am

PERFORMANCE

9.15am

WELCOME TO COUNTRY

9.20am

WELCOMING ADDRESS

Mayor David Wright

BALLINA SHIRE CITIZENSHIP CEREMONY 9.30am

PERFORMANCE

9.45am

2019 BALLINA SHIRE

AUSTRALIA DAY AWARDS ANNOUNCEMENT 10.00am

10.40am

SPECIAL GUEST ADDRESS

Wallabies Rugby great Matthew Burke

11.00am

CEREMONY CLOSE

TAKE THE FREE BUS THIS AUSTRALIA DAY Our special guest for Australia Day is Matthew Burke.

Matthew is one of Australian rugby's most celebrated backs having played seven sensational seasons with the Wallabies.

Post his time with the Wallabies, Matt played with the Newcastle Falcons for three years in the United Kingdom before turning his attention to the media, with equal success. He quickly became the face of international rugby coverage for Network Ten. Highly professional, articulate and personable, Matt is a great role model for young sportspeople and an inspiring keynote speaker.

Australia Day for Matt “is all about the simple things...spending the morning at the beach with my family and then a barbecue with friends.

It’s a great day to reflect on how lucky we are and how wonderful this country is.”

fre shuttele bus

Leave the car at home and catch the bus to the Australia Day Ceremony at the Lennox Community Centre.

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Special Guest Speaker

The FREE wheelchair accessible bus will pick-up from the following locations:

7.30am Main Street bus stop, Alstonville 7.45am West Tower Shopping Centre,

Kalinga Street, West Ballina

8.00am Ballina Visitor Information Centre,

6 River Street, Ballina

8.05am Angels Beach Drive bus stop

(opp Flat Rock Road)

8.15am Arrive at the Lennox Community Centre Seats are limited. Call the Ballina Visitor Information Centre on free call 1800 777 666 to book your seat.

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What’s on? COMMUNITY EVENTS SUMMERTIME AT CRAWFORD HOUSE

BOXING DAY RACES

ALSTONVILLE NYE FAMILY FESTIVAL

UNTIL SUNDAY 27 JANUARY 2019 Crawford House Museum 10 Wardell Road Alstonville

WEDNESDAY 26 DECEMBER 2018 Ballina Jockey Club

SUNDAY 31 DECEMBER (5PM – 10PM) Alstonville Showground

SUNDAY 13 JANUARY 2019 Ballina Rugby League Football Grounds

ballinajockeyclub.com.au

Like us on Facebook

aphsmuseum.org.au

Family fun racing is what the Boxing Day Races have come to be known for. The Ballina Jockey Club has a history dating over 110 years and has been an important part of the Ballina community.

The popular Alstonville New Year's Eve event is back on again this year.

northcoaststreetmachines. com.au

This exhibition reflects our memories of this most loved season.

It is true that in summertime "the livin' is easy" and it is associated with swimming and spending time with friends around the barbecue, but the mossies are buzzin' and the snakes are on the move. What else does it mean to the Northern Rivers? To find out, you’ll have to visit the exhibition, it runs until Sunday 27 January 2019.

Crawford House Museum will be closed from 22 December 2018 until 3 January 2019.

There’s so much to do in the school holidays

The Boxing Day Races are a great local annual tradition that brings many former residents back together to celebrate and it’s also a chance for visitors to enjoy the warm and friendly atmosphere.

Free entertainment for the kids, including jumping castle and face painting. Free bus transfers to and from the racecourse.

Under 18s must be accompanied at all times by a responsible adult (parent or guardian). Please drink and gamble responsibly.

The Family Festival is being organised by the local Alstonville Agricultural Society with past festivals attracting up to 5000 people.

The event starts at 5pm and is a perfect celebration for the whole family with fun activities including great rides, kids character shows, food and drink stalls and live music and entertainment.

It is an alcohol-free event and there is plenty of parking (entry is only $2 per person).

Don't miss the fantastic fireworks display, which is scheduled to start at 9pm.

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There will be street machines, vintage and veteran cars, hot rods and special interest vehicles, trade displays, full catering, tappet cover racing, a wheel changing competition and plenty to keep everyone occupied.

The Retro Fashion Pageant also makes a return.

Australian Street Machine Federation members will be judging the top 10 vehicles, with many other trophies up for grabs.

It truly is a show not to miss!

Cars setup from 7am, with gates opening to the public from 9am.

North Coast Street Machines is a local not for profit car club based in Alstonville.

School holidays have arrived and you’re probably looking forward to a break from the end of year rush. If you’re looking for activities to keep the kids entertained you will be happy to know there is plenty to do across the Ballina Coast and Hinterland these holidays.

If you’re hostin g a holiday activity in the Ballina Shire contact the Vi sitor Information C entre on 1800 777 666 or em ail your details to disc over@ballina. nsw.gov.au

There’s something to please all interests including education, sport, family fun and creative activities to keep the kids, and you, entertained.

Visit the Ballina Visitor Information Centre, 6 River Street, for your copy of the School Holiday Program or download a copy from discoverballina.com

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28TH NORTH COAST STREET MACHINES ANNUAL SHOW N SHINE

THE MAGAZINE OF BALLINA SHIRE COUNCIL

The Northern River

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EXPERIENCE THE UNIQUE

The Market On Dusk Missingham Bridge Amphitheatre Kingsford Smith Dr, Ballina knowneffects.com/events/ Gather your tribe for four evenings of summer fun & good vibes at The Market ON DUSK. With a collaboration of local designers, artists, foodies and musicians on the river at Missingham Bridge Park this market is one not to miss!!

Market dates from 4-8pm at Missingham Park Amphitheatre:

THURSDAY 20 DECEMBER 2018 THURSDAY 3 JANUARY 2019 THURSDAY 10 JANUARY 2019 THURSDAY 24 JANUARY 2019

There’s a craft market, a car-boot market or a farmers market, somewhere in the Northern Rivers, every weekend.

Discover original artworks, handicrafts, fashion, jewellery, secondhand goods, as well as fresh local produce…or just sit back, relax and enjoy the sights and sounds of your local market.

BALLINA FARMERS MARKET (Weekly)

Every Sunday morning 7am – 11am Commemoration Park, Bentinck Street, Ballina

EAST BALLINA LIONS CLUB COMMUNITY MARKET (Monthly)

Every third Sunday of the month 7am – 1pm Canal Road (between Saunders Oval and Ballina RSL Bowling Club), Ballina

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Market Calendar

LENNOX HEAD COMMUNITY MARKET (Monthly)

Every second and fifth Sunday of the month 8am – 2pm Williams Reserve, Lennox Head

Events listed are correct at time of publication. For details on these and other events visit discoverballina.com or call 1800 777 666.

View the Northern Rivers Market Guide at discoverballina.com to see where the markets are this week!

DECEMBER 2018 ISSUE 33

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communityconnect

ballina coast & hinterland

It is the perfect time of year to get out and enjoy the beauty of the waterways on a river cruise. So set sail on the mighty Richmond or Brunswick Rivers this summer and immerse yourself in nature while enjoying friendly, local hospitality.

Local Cruise to Discover the Richmond River a fun wildlife safari on sunset

Out of the Blue Adventures offers a two hour scenic river cruise on the tranquil waters of the Richmond River around Ballina Island. You’ll explore the mangrove forests, the richly diverse flora and fauna and the creeks that branch off it.

Sit back and bask in a glorious sunset over the river as you enjoy a cold beverage, tasty snack and some local history. This nature reserve will never cease to amaze you. Cruise departs from the Lance Ferris Wharf in the centre of Ballina. Adults $65, Children under 12 years $50.

Rainforest River Cruises

with your friendly Brunswick River experts Multi-award winning Byron Eco Cruises offer both morning and sunset cruises on the Brunswick River, departing from Brunswick Harbour (just a thirty minute drive from Ballina).

You can choose from daily cruises in the morning that include tea, coffee and cakes or a two-hour sunset cruise providing tapas, a complimentary drink and licensed bar.

Their spacious vessel with three wildlife viewing decks allows passengers to move freely around the boat to take advantage of different photo opportunities and to view the amazing marine life and wildlife. Both cruises are fun and informative, allowing passengers to get up close to nature, enjoy the beautiful birdlife, wildlife and marine life.

Morning cruise - Adults $50, Children $45, Sunset cruise – $70 per person.

Exclusive charters are also available. Consider hosting your next event on board one of the vessels cruising the Richmond or Brunswick Rivers.

To enquire or book any of these experiences call the Ballina Visitor Information Centre 1800 777 666 or visit discoverballina.com. Vouchers are available for gifts.

Tell us your festive season hours 14

communityconnect |

Will your business be open on the public holidays over the festive period?

If your operating hours are changing over the summer, let the team at the Visitor Information Centre know, so they can help locals and visitors enjoy the festive season.

If you are hosting a special Christmas day lunch are open for dinner on Christmas evening, or having a special New Year's Eve party! The Ballina Visitor Information Centre wants to know all about it; so they can help to promote it and respond to all the enquiries.

Email the team at discover@ballina.nsw.gov.au or telephone 1800 777 666.

THE MAGAZINE OF BALLINA SHIRE COUNCIL

Exclus iv Offer e

VE LI IC US M

JAMES REYNE

Ballina Shire Get Active Expo and Activity Sign On SATURDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2019 Alstonville Leisure and Entertainment Centre 42-46 Commercial Road, Alstonville Communityspaces.com.au

Are you are looking for a new way to keep fit, lose some Christmas weight and be more active in the New Year?

A Crawl to Now DOORS: 6PM // SHOW: 7.30PM James is back by popular demand. Last show, a sell-out, is still the talk of the town. The lead singer of Australian Crawl, James has a very successful solo career. Come down to Park Lane Theatre, Lennox Head, you will be blown away by the acoustics and atmosphere. A Crawl To Now is a 90 minute live show featuring songs from over twenty albums. James will be joined on stage by renowned guitarist Josh Owen in acoustic duo format.

Food and beverages available to purchase. The show is a licenced event.

For tickets visit communityspaces.com.au

VE LI

Ballina Shire Council is holding our first ever Get Active Expo and Activity Sign On day at Alstonville Leisure and Entertainment Centre on Saturday 2 February from 10.30am to 2.30pm.

8 MARCH 2019

IC US M

With representatives from various sporting clubs throughout the Ballina Shire, the day will provide an opportunity for families and individuals to take part in sporting demonstrations, meet with sporting identities and work out the best way for them to Get Active in 2019.

connectedcommunity

park lane theatre

Ballina Shire Council will be providing information on the Ballina Indoor Sports Centre Development, Alstonville Leisure and Entertainment Centre Plans and our Community Facilities.

For further details, or if you’re club or business is interested in promoting your activities, please contact our Community Facilities Team on 02 6681 0528.

ABSOLUTELY 80S

22 JUNE 2019

DOORS: 6PM // SHOW: 7.30PM

t what To find ou r ing in you is happen visit e c a p s y munit m local com o .au yspaces.c communit n Facebook. o or Like us

Brian Mannix (Uncanny X-Men) Scott Cairns (Kids in the Kitchen) and Dale Ryder (Boom Crash Opera) bring the Absolutely 80s to Lennox Head. So bring out those bubble gum jeans, jelly bean shoes and big hair styles, 'cause your dead set in for a treat.

Tickets on sale from 2 January 2019. Visit communityspaces.com.au

DECEMBER 2018 ISSUE 33

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current exhibitions Exhibition Dates: 16 January 2019 - 10 March 2019 Launch Event: Thursday 17 January

Myth and Magic | Ann Belle and Philippa Leader

Image: Carmel Watts, Inside the Cell, 2017

Swinging The Lamp | Penny Bennett Working in stippling, Penny Bennett has created a body of work around boats—serene and yet full of movement, life and history. Boats are transient and permanent, built for longevity and yet nomadic.

Image: Penny Bennett, The Boat, 2018

"O" to be a young poet in Paris - T.S.Eliot | Kerry Elias Moore In the autumn of 1910, the poet T.S. Eliot spent a year in Paris, writing the first fragments of his poem, 'The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock". This poem was the inspiration for artist Kerry Elias Moore for the concept of paintings as poems.

Set in Paris and on the road in France, this series of emotive, nostalgic and celebratory paintings map Kerry Elias Moore’s own journeys, both cultural and personal.

Image: Kerry Elias Moore, Let us go then, you and I When the evening is spread out against the sky, 2017

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communityconnect |

THE MAGAZINE OF BALLINA SHIRE COUNCIL

2 0 19

From the rainforest to our back yard, we’re passionate about the serendipitous nature of colour and form in Australia’s flora and fauna. Our kismet is to portray our past and our present, influenced by what we see and what we feel.

F E B R U A R Y

Peregrine to Platypus | Carol Gray and Carmel Watts

/

Image: Philippa Leader, Frida’s Imaginary Journey to Brisbane Botanical Gardens, 2018

J A N U A R Y

Ann Belle presents a series of pastel drawings. Her art relates to her lifelong absorption with myth and mysticism. While the works by Philippa Leader explore her response to the lifestyle she lives in the lush subtropical bush on a community in the Nimbin region. Philippa paints figures using motifs and designs connected to the alternative scene and its roots.

Exhibition Dates: 13 March – 5 May 2019 | Launch: 14 March 2019

Coastal Living: A New Perspective | Sheree Nelson

/ A PR I L 2019

Image: Sheree Nelson, Sands of the Serpentine, 2018

M A R C H

Sheree Nelson was born and raised on the North Coast, but spent close to 28 years away from her home town. Sheree has recently returned and rediscovered the beauty in the coastline. The photos in her exhibition are a representation of the North Coast, with the intention of guiding the viewer to take a deeper look and discover the content from a new perspective.

Ions | Ben Bugden Ben Bugden’s work is a somewhat abstract and deeply personal exploration of the infinite moods, beauty and healing power of the ocean.

Image: Ben Bugden, Hope, 2018

STUDIOS | WORKSHOP SPACE | RESIDENCY

Ignite Studios @ NRCG is Ballina Shire's newest creative space offering subsidised studios and event spaces.

To Be Seen | Karryn Argus At a time when the ‘selfie’ dominates personal photography and portrays the self as always happy, confident and adventurous, even if the subject feels otherwise. To Be Seen investigates vulnerability, loss and sadness as captured in the selfie portrait format.

Image: Karen Argus, Self Portrait, 2018

Located in the heart of the Ballina CBD, adjacent to the NRCG and housed in the historic former Ballina Fire Station, Ignite Studios provides a dynamic shared access space supporting the development and participation of creative pursuits. Facilities include three studio spaces, a visiting artist-inresidence (AiR) studio and two access spaces for workshops, creative events, pop-up exhibitions, meetings and special projects.

Be sure to sign-up to our E-News, follow us on Facebook or like us on Instagram to be kept in the loop on ‘what’s On’ in Ignite Studios.

connectedcommunity

upcoming exhibitions

Visit www.nrcgballina.com.au

Beyond the Image | Richard Tabaka

Image: Monkey Monkey - Shake Shake performing at

Ignite Studios, 2018

Beyond the Image presents four transformations of one original artefact. A digitally registered image is presented as the original graphic, hexadecimal computer code exposed in printed form on large panels, audio of hexadecimal code as well as in 10 volumes of printed books. These four transformations are the manifestation of “invisible”, inherent “neglected” site of digital registration.

Image: Richard Tabaka, Visibility of the Image, 2016

thanks to our sponsor The Ballina Shire Council and Northern Rivers Community Gallery gratefully acknowledge our exhibition sponsor Stone & Wood Brewing.

44 cherry street, ballina nsw 2478 | ph 02 6681 6167 open wed – fri 10am – 4pm | weekends 9.30am – 2.30pm (closed public holidays)

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waste

watch

communityconnect

Recycle Right to keep it coming ‘round North East Waste and Northern Rivers Councils have launched a new Recycle Right Campaign to educate the community about important changes to recycling and reinforce the message that waste is everyone’s responsibility.

“This new campaign and recycling changes are a result of China’s National Sword Policy, which came into force in January this year. The campaign aims to simplify recycling messages, highlight recent changes and support the Australian Government’s call for movement towards a circular economy,” said Ballina Shire Council Waste Education Officer, Ms Samala Heart.

The Northern Rivers campaign will be rolled out to the community through print, social media, TV, radio and cinema advertising.

So what does this mean for the community?

There are some positive changes for our recycling industry that will benefit our local industry and environment.

China’s National Sword Policy is a catalyst for change forcing Australia to recycle better, develop new technologies and a new industry that supports the processing and manufacture of goods that use recycled content.

Australia’s long-term goal will be a larger reduction in material sent to landfill, less mining of primary resources and ultimately less environmental pollution.

Circular economy

Meet the Cast Members of the Recycle Right campaign The Recycle Right campaign is a collaborative effort between North East Waste and Northern Rivers Councils and the campaign cast certainly proves it! Have you spotted anyone you know in our TV commercials, newspaper ads, social media clips, posters or somewhere else?

GREG, MICK AND ROSE – Staff at Lismore's Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) showing us how it's done! Greg and Mick are employees from Alstonville's House with No Steps in partnership with Lismore's MRF and supervisor Rose is a university student.

NAT – a young Byron resident examines lids.

CHARLIE – Lismore’s Waste Operations Supervisor finds himself in a tangle at the recycling centre.

SAMALA – Ballina’s Waste Education Officer tut-tuts boxed recyclables.

WES – Tweed’s Waste Operations Officer and his family go through the rigours of nappy management.

PETER – a performer for North East Waste’s Wipe Out Waste chats about plastic bags.

In addition to refining our recycling practices, as a community we need to provide greater support towards buying items manufactured from recycled materials and choosing to purchase items with either no packaging or packaging that can be recycled.

This is where the term circular economy comes into play. Rather than making an item, using it and disposing of it in landfill, circular economy keeps items in continuous use by supporting long-lasting designs, maintenance and repair, reuse, re-manufacturing, re-furbishing, recycling and up-cycling.

Greg, Rose & Mick Nat

China’s National Sword Policy For a long time China has been the largest importer of the world’s recycling, accepting over 30 million tonnes every year and ultimately having the capability to drive recycling prices and practices world-wide. Until a few years ago, China accepted recyclables with a relaxed contamination level of around five per cent (contamination being incorrect items mixed in with the material to be recycled).

This relaxed tolerance meant China accepted a large portion of the world’s waste, which was then their problem to deal with. The National Sword Policy now enforces a strict contamination limit of 0.5 per cent, which has sent the global recycling industry into shock. Now the world's recycling can no longer meet this new export standard.

North East Waste Coordinator, Jeanie McKillop said, “It’s important to remember our recycling is a product that forms part of a continuous cycle. Unlike landfill, a closed system where items are buried in the ground and lost forever, recycling keeps coming around.”

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communityconnect |

THE MAGAZINE OF BALLINA SHIRE COUNCIL

Charlie

Samala

Wes

Peter

Keep it simple. Keep it clean. Keep it coming ‘round.

G T N U LI TO YC LIF EC R ID E U G

#RecycleRight

There are some changes to the way we recycle in the Northern Rivers.

Please follow the below so we can all recycle right.

Keep it Simple

Keep Out Soft Plastics

Only recycle these items

No plastic bags or wrapping

Keep Out Small Items Nothing smaller than a credit card

LIDS OFF!

Keep it Safe

Keep it Clean

Keep out strapping, hose, netting,wires, cords and cables

Rinse or wipe out containers

Keep it Loose Don’t bag or box your recyclables

•

KEEP OUT:

• Nappies • Food • Fabric

• • • •

Soiled paper & cardboard Coffee cups & lids Meat & biscuit trays Polystyrene

For more information visit the Ballina Shire Council website at www.ballina.nsw.gov.au

A-Z Recycling Guide Put in your yellow Recycling Bin

What goes in each bin?

A Aerosol cans (empty) Aluminium cans (clean) Aluminium foil (clean) Appliances Ash (cold)

B Baking paper Bamboo food containers and cutlery Batteries (household) Biscuit and cake trays (foam or plastic) Bones (meat and fish) Books Bottle tops (smaller than a credit card) Branches Bread tags Broken toys

Put in your green Organics Bin Put in your red Landfill Bin Organics

Recycling

Cellophane Cereal box inserts Chip and snack food packets Cigarette butts Cling wrap Clothing Coffee cups and lids (takeaway) Coffee grinds Coffee pods Compostable bin liners (Council approved) Corks Crockery and ceramics (broken ok) Cutlery steel and plastic

D Disposable nappies

E

Building materials (e.g. timber, tiles and tin etc.)

Eggshells

Car batteries Cardboard boxes and rolls Cardboard egg cartons Cardboard takeaway food containers

Envelopes (including windows)

F Fire extinguishers Flowers and dead plants Foam underlay Foiled lined packets Food pouches

Cartons milk and juice

Food scraps (all)

Cassette tapes

Fruit and vegetable scraps (all)

CD covers

Furniture

CD and DVD discs

G Garden trimmings Garden waste (bulk) Gas bottles Glasses (eye/reading) Glass jars and bottles Glass plates/Pyrex/mirror glass Grains (e.g. pasta, bread, rice, noodles) Grass clippings

H Hair Hose and pipe

Bubble wrap

Cables, cords, rope

Ballina Waste Management Centre Resource Recovery Satchel

E-waste eg computers, printers, TVs

C

Landfill

Household items (e.g. bikes, mowers, furniture, toys, crockery etc.)

J Junk mail (paper)

K Kitty litter

L Laminated paper Leaves Lids (larger than a credit card) Lids (smaller than a credit card) Light bulbs and tubes Lighters

Collect a Resource Recovery Satchel from the shire libraries, council offices, or the Waste Management Centre.

Fill it up and seal it, then put it in your recycling bin.

M Magazines

Manure (animal and wrapped in paper)

Plastic bags and soft plastic - OR these items can be dropped-off to participating Coles and Woolworths for recycling in the REDcycle Program.

Timber off-cuts (SMALL – Not Treated, No paint and No nails or fittings) Tissues Tooth paste tubes

Matchboxes

Plastic containers and bottles (all hard plastic)

Material (e.g. sheets and towels)

Plastic cups, plates and cutlery

Treated Pine

Meat scraps (animal and fish)

Plastic plant pots

Treated timber (small off - cuts)

Meat trays (foam and plastic)

Polystyrene

Tyres

Medicine bottles

Poppers (other tetra packs)

Mesh and netting

Printer cartridges

Milk and drink boxes Mobile phones

N Newspapers Nappies (disposable and degradable)

O Office paper Oils <20 litres

P Paint (less than 20 litres) Paint tins (dried out & up to 4 litres) Paper (dirty or wet) Paper Paper towel (used) Pens and pencils Pill packets (all) Pizza boxes (used) Placemats

R Resource Recovery Collection Satchels Rubber bands

S Seafood Serviettes and napkins (used paper) Shoes Shredded paper Soil (small amounts only) Steel tins and cans Strawberry and other fruit punnets Straws (plastic)

Toothbrushes

V Vacuum Cleaner Dust Videos Vinyl (e.g. school bags)

W Wallpaper Waxed paper and cardboard Weeds White Goods Window Glass Windscreen glass Wine casks inners Wine corks Wipes Wrapping paper (paper) Wrapping paper (plastic)

String and twine

T

X X-Rays

Takeaway foam containers and cups Tea bags Telephone books

#RecycleRight

21

Frequently Asked Questions

#RecycleRight are these changes 1 Why being made?

In recent years, most of our recycling (paper and cardboard, plastic and metal products) was sent to China for manufacturing.

In 2017, China implemented their National Sword Policy which has placed much tighter restrictions on unsorted and contaminated (incorrect/dirty) items in recycling.

The impacts of this policy have been felt worldwide and forced significant changes in the recycling market, including reduced demand and lower commodity prices for some materials.

While we are now faced with the challenge of adapting to these changes in the market, there are also many opportunities.

We are hopeful these challenges will create support for new industry, technology and innovation within Australia, along with better recycling practices.

We all need to think about the products we purchase, how much household waste we generate and how we can avoid creating waste.

2

Why is it important that my recycling is ‘safe’?

When incorrect items are placed in the recycling bin, they can reduce the capacity of our region to recycle adequately and place a strain on the sustainability of the recycling industry.

Items like hosing, netting and strapping can jam machinery. Apart from contaminating the recycling stream, they also place our Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) staff at risk as they attempt to unjam machinery.

3

Why should I keep recycling?

Don’t these changes take us back 10 years?

We understand some of these changes might be disappointing, they are for us too. Northern Rivers councils understand this is an important community issue and we are working hard to recycle as much as possible.

We would rather have all of the items in our recycling bins recycled effectively, rather than sending them to landfill.

We understand recycling can get a bit confusing, so we’ve simplified the message to improve our recycling practices.

We all need to do our bit and think about our own waste generation. We can begin by being responsible for waste disposal, purchasing products that include recycled content and are recyclable, and of course avoid waste where we can.

22

4

Why can’t I put bagged soft plastics in the recycling bin anymore?

There are a few reasons: 1. There is currently limited markets for soft plastic recycling.

2. They often come loose in the truck and get caught up in the other recycling streams, causing contamination. We need our recycling to be as clean as possible, otherwise it will be rejected by the recycling markets.

3. They get tangled in the machines, which slows or potentially stops the sorting process.

5

What can I do with my soft plastics now I can’t put them in my yellow recycling bin?

Please continue to collect and recycle your soft plastics through supermarket soft plastic recycling programs such as Redcycle.

Collection bins are located at Coles and Woolworths stores in Ballina and Alstonville.

can’t I recycle takeaway 6 Why coffee cups anymore?

The linings in some takeaway coffee cups are plastic which makes them difficult to recycle.

Our recyclers no longer accept them in the paper and cardboard stream, and now that our recyclables need to be clean they are considered to be contaminated.

We encourage residents to use reusable coffee cups or alternatively enjoy your beverage relaxing in your favourite café using their washable cups.

7

Why can’t I recycle my meat and biscuit trays anymore?

Meat and biscuit trays are made from a mixed plastic and cannot be separated for recycling.

8

Why can’t I put items smaller than a credit card in the recycling bin?

Small items such as bottle and jar lids will often fall off during transportation or in the sorting process at the MRF. This can cause problems by jamming machinery.

9

Why do I have to wash containers?

Keeping recyclables clean is our main goal.

Rinse out food and drink from containers before placing them in the recycling bin.

Help save water by adding empty containers to your dishwashing pile.

community connect the magazine of ballina shire council

Why can’t I put recyclables

bag or cardboard 10 inboxa paper and put into my recycling bin?

Our MRF machinery and staff cannot easily sort recyclable items that are boxed or bagged.

Please keep items loose in your kerbside bin to keep the system working well.

recycling going 11 Isto my landfill?

No. Councils in the Northern Rivers aren’t sending your recycling to landfill. Our kerbside recycling continues to go to Lismore City Council’s Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) where it is sorted, bailed and transported to various local and international markets for recycling.

12

Can I still use my resource recovery satchel in the kerbside recycling bin?

Yes. Residents can still recycle household batteries, reading glasses, corks, CDs and DVDs, X-rays, mobile phones and accessories, small electronics (eg. cameras, iPods and calculators) and printer cartridges using their Resource Recovery satchel. Satchels are available at shire libraries, council offices and the Waste Management Centre.

13

Can I recycle all items with a recycling symbol?

No. Not every item with a recycling symbol can be recycled in the Northern Rivers. Food, drink or other containers are imported and exported around the world and there isn’t a global recycling symbol.

Planet Ark has developed an Australian recycling label that you will notice on products (https:// planetark.org/recyclinglabel/) but this is still not foolproof as different council areas can recycle different things.

The best thing you can do is to follow the #RecycleRight recycling routines and you can’t go wrong!

For more information visit the Ballina Shire Council website at www.ballina.nsw.gov.au or phone Customer Service on

1300 864 444

MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR CHRISTMAS WASTE SERVICE

top tips

Lime-lidded organics bin Christmas is a time for sharing food with friends and family. Studies show that an average NSW household red-lidded waste bin will consist of up to 38% food waste. Be sure to separate your food scraps and place them in your organics bin. Having seafood? Simply wrap them up, pop in the freezer and place in your organics bin prior to collection.

Red-lidded waste bin Create more space in your waste bin by collecting soft plastics and taking them to leading supermarkets as part of their REDcycle program.

Make sure all polystyrene, rope, cabling, gift ribbons and nappies go in the red bin.

Yellow-lidded recycling bin Wrapping paper and cardboard packaging create the majority of recycling at Christmas.

Place a container for recyclables nearby before gift unwrapping begins so that separation is easier. Keep all your recyclable items loose in the bin. Be sure to keep soft plastics out of the recycling bin and only place glass bottles and jars, plastic containers, paper and cardboard, and steel and aluminium cans in. This is easier to do with a designated container to collect recyclables inside your home.

2018

WASTE SERVICES

Christmas Waste Service FAQs What happens if my garbage collection day is a public holiday?

All kerbside waste collection services will not change over the holiday period. We’d like to acknowledge our valued collection drivers for the reliable service they deliver. Why not give a friendly wave as you see them out and about?

Will the landfill close over Christmas?

The Ballina Waste Management Centre will be closed on the following public holidays: • Tuesday 25 December • Wednesday 26 December • Tuesday 1 January 2019.

engaged leadership healthy environment healthyenvironment

Waste Management Centre Open 8am-4pm 7 days a week (excluding public holidays) Southern Cross Drive, Ballina ph 02 6686 1287

It will be open from 8am to 4pm all other days.

What collection week does Christmas fall on?

This year, Christmas falls on a recycling and organics bin collection week. There are a number of ways residents can maximise their bin service to ensure the week runs smoothly.

Resource Recovery Collection Satchels Resource Recovery Collection satchels are designed to help you collect tricky yet common household wastes that need to be kept out of landfill. These include household batteries, prescription glasses, printer cartridges, mobile phones, smoke alarms, corks, CDs and DVDs, electrical cables, small E-waste like computer mouse and calculators, mobile phones and X-rays.

With items like corks and batteries often in higher use at Christmas, please collect a free satchel from the Council Customer Service Centre or your local library. When filled, seal the satchel and place it in your yellow-lidded recycling bin where they’re separated at the recycling facility, individually sorted and sent off to be recycled or disposed of safely.

DECEMBER 2018 ISSUE 33

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communityconnect

Would you give it to a friend?

Volunteers at St Vincent de Paul, Ballina.

The New Year is the perfect time to de-clutter and donate your used goods to charity. But before you pack your boot, ask yourself "would I give these items to a friend or family member?"

Unfortunately broken goods, ripped clothes and rubbish are commonly donated and the cost of disposing of these items is borne by charities.

Ballinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s St Vincent De Paul recently started a three-month trial removing their charity bins located on Winton Lane. The aim of this trial is to reduce the amount of money the charity spends disposing of the items and help protect their volunteers who spend a lot of time sorting through the unsellable items.

St Vinnies and other charity shops are asking the community to donate to the store within business hours The rear entry in Winton Lane can still be used during business hours to drop of goods. Ring the bell if the back doors are closed. This decreases illegal dumping, scavengers or the items being exposed to the elements.

Second-hand charity stores do great work in our community and give our unwanted items a second life!

So remember, check the quality of your items, donate within business opening hours and keep donating.

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THE MAGAZINE OF BALLINA SHIRE COUNCIL

East Ballina bush regeneration East Ballina bush regeneration November 2018

healthyenvironment

Love it or Lose it

Council has received an Environmental Trust Grant to undertake bush regeneration and supplementary planting at Prospect Lake, Chickiba and on the banks of North Creek. This project complements other works underway at Chickiba Creek and is designed to improve the water quality and riparian vegetation.

Want to help with East Ballina’s bush regeneration?

What is planned?

Council has commenced a new project to enhance Prospect Lake and North Creek bushland and we and Prospect Lakes areNorth lookingCreek, for localChickiba flora and fauna lovers to help.

are popular Therecreational project focusesareas on vegetation alongthese Angelsactivities we and tolocated support Beach Drive and the banks of Prospect Lake and are continuing to improve the water quality and riparian riparian areas along North Creek. The works will include vegetation. removing weeds and planting new native shrub and trees.

Much of this work will involve the removal of weeds in

A unique aspect of this project will focus on how birds, the mangrove, saltmarsh and creekbank areas, and lizards and other native animals can be accommodated supplementary planting along the edges of Prospect to enhance our native populations.

Many birds and lizards are daily visitors to our backyards and they help Lake. The work areas are shown overpage. keep our local environment in balance. Replacing naturally occurring built structures Volunteers like Council has vegetation engagedwith Conservation Australia ourto homes means their ‘ecological niche’ has been undertake this work, who will liase with the Ballina altered which can lead to reduced populations.

Triathlon Club and local schools to participate in

To help grow these populations, we are looking for local planting volunteers whodays. live near the bushland to watch over or host extra bird boxes or plantings that will support our native fauna. We’ve already heard from local residents expressing their interest in this project. Council has engaged a contractor to work on this project, who can The 2015 Richmond Ecohealth Report, assist interested residents to explore how they can bestwhich reviewed be involved. the health of the Richmond River catchment, gave

Are our creeks healthy?

If you are interested, please contact Council’s Public and North average scores of D+ for both Chickiba and Environmental Health section on 1300 864 444 or Creeks. These scores were due to the poor water council@ballina.nsw.gov.au.

quality and lack of riparian vegetation. Phosphorus and nitrogen were also at elevated levels - these common nutrients come from residential areas.

Chickiba Creek scored F for water quality and the Ecohealth report concluded this was likely due to the

Will this project impact my property?

There should be no impact to your property and no works are proposed on private land. Our contractors are experienced in bush regeneration projects and working with the community.

As part of this project there is an opportunity to consider bird boxes or provide homes for other wildlife such as frogs and lizards. If you are interested please contact Ballina Shire Council.

Why is riparian vegetation important?

Riparian vegetation is located on the banks of creeks and lakes. A healthy area of riparian vegetation will include native reeds, shrubs and grasses in and along the waterline and native trees on top of the embankment.

Riparian vegetation provides: •

bank stabilisation

•

shading that gives a thermal cover to shield creeks and fish

DECEMBER 2018 ISSUE 33

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communityconnect

Shaws Bay Beautif ication

Shaws Bay is set to be our shire’s hot spot for Christmas with works from the Coastal Zone Management Plan improving the health of the ecosystem and local amenity.

Since June this year, users of the Western foreshore have been enjoying new parking, access ramp, showers, new path, seating and landscaping.

The Eastern foreshore along Fenwick drive has improved public access to the water with the creation of new sandy beach areas. The erosion control works with new rocking has stopped erosion into the Bay and provided improved landscaping.

Fingers crossed two shade shelters will be installed on each side of the Bay, off Compton and Fenwick Drives, in time for Christmas. Runners, walkers and cyclists can now travel along the shared path which has been continued from Fenwick Drive along the eastern side coming out a Pop Denison Park.

Signage To further increase the amenity of Shaws Bay, six interpretive signs have been installed along the foreshore. The images and information on these signs promote the history and the ecology of the Bay and also tie into the historical river walk signage, which extends from Captain Cook Park through to North Wall.

Council has also invested in signage to encourage responsible dog ownership practices and behaviour so everyone can enjoy the upgraded recreational area.

These works are a fantastic Council investment and will be enjoyed for years to come. But don’t take our word for it, here’s what you had to say…

“We have been coming for holidays for over 25-years and it’s never looked better. The staff responsible for all the wonderful work at Shaws Bay should be congratulated. My family will be really pleased to use all these great facilities when we visit again over the summer break” – Kyogle visitor.

“I wish to congratulate your Council for the planning and execution of the improvements to the access at the swimming area of Shaws Bay. The grassed area, pathway and designated parking areas are a huge improvement” – Ted, Ballina resident.

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communityconnect |

THE MAGAZINE OF BALLINA SHIRE COUNCIL

There’s no such thing as the Dog Poo Fairy!

You own a dog, you own its poo!

Bag the poo, bin it or take it with you.

Penalties apply for non-compliance.

Keep Ballina Shire Beautiful!

healthyenvironment

tell us your thoughts

How do you use Lake Ainsworth?

Council’s Public and Environmental Team have launched a community survey to better understand how the community use Lake Ainsworth and how they think it should be managed into the future.

The survey, being conducted by Hydrosphere Consulting, is part of the community engagement to develop the Lake Ainsworth Coastal Management Program.

Ms Rachael Jenner, Council’s Environmental Health Officer, explained the survey seeks to find out how people use Lake Ainsworth and its surrounds and what they value most about the Lake.

“We are also asking the community’s thoughts about the Lake’s health and the various practices to manage it,” she said.

“The goal of the Coastal Management Program is to develop a long-term strategy for the management of this much-loved water body, so we are also seeking the community’s vision for the Lake and how they want to see it ten years from now,” explained Ms Jenner.

To complete the survey visit hydrosphere.com.au/ lakeainsworth Printed copies of the survey are also available at Council’s Customer Service Centre, Lennox Community Centre and Ballina Library.

The survey closes Friday 18 January 2019.

For more information and to contact the project team directly visit the project portal at hydrosphere.com.au/lakeainsworth

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Waste changes for multi-unit properties Council has produced a new policy to offer clear waste guidelines for developers, planning consultants, contractors and other key stakeholders involved in multi-unit developments, such as apartment blocks.

The Waste Management for Multi-Unit Developments Policy was produced to help address the management of solid waste from all multi-unit developments within the Ballina Shire including residential, commercial, industrial and mixed use developments.

The policy will assist Council staff, developers, consultants and contractors by providing clear and concise information in relation to servicing and designing waste management facilities for multiunit developments.

It will also improve the assessment of proposals and information provided at the development application stage with the aim of having fewer operational waste management issues post development.

For more information the policy is available on Councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website ballina.nsw.gov.au (search policies).

If you have any enquiries please contact Councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Public and Environmental Health Section on 6686 1210.

Lake Ainsworth is a NO DOG ZONE

Lake Ainsworth is an important recreational area and is situated in a sensitive ecological location.

For this reason, dogs are banned from swimming in the Lake, however Council continues to receive complaints about owners ignoring this request.

To respond to these community concerns, Rangers have increased patrols in and around the Lake Ainsworth area. If a dog is found to be on the Lake side of the bollards, the owner or person in charge of the dog may be issued a $330 penalty infringement notice.

Ballina Shire Council would like everyone visiting the Lake to enjoy its natural beauty, so please remember to do the right thing.

The adjacent map shows where dogs are prohibited and permitted in the Lake Ainsworth precinct.

For more information contact Public and Environmental Health 1300 864 444 or email: council@ballina.nsw.gov.au

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THE MAGAZINE OF BALLINA SHIRE COUNCIL

Mould is a type of fungus which can grow in wet or moist areas lacking adequate ventilation. If moisture accumulates in a building mould will occur often.

What are the possible health problems from mould?

Spores produced by mould are carried in the air and can cause health problems if inhaled by people who are sensitive or allergic to them.

If you or a family member suffer health problems after coming in contact with mould, contact your doctor. In case of an emergency, phone 000.

How can I prevent mould?

Although mould can be found anywhere, it needs moisture and nutrients to grow. The key to preventing mould is to reduce dampness in the home. This can be done by: • Maintaining proper ventilation • Reducing humidity • Controlling moisture or dampness

What can I do if I have mould in my home?

• Remove mould as soon as it appears • Take steps to treat the cause of the problem otherwise mould is likely to return • Let in fresh air and light, clean regularly and control moisture in your home.

Should I get tests for mould in my home?

Since most mould is visible, it is generally not necessary to test for mould in the home.

However, some mould contamination may be present in cavities or the ceiling.

If you think you have mould in your home but cannot find the source of the problem, you could employ an occupational hygienist. For a fee, these professionals provide specialist mould testing and consultancy services.

Did you know only female mosquitoes bite?

It turns out not all mosquitoes are hunting you down for a drink, just the female mosquitoes. In fact, our blood is very important for female mosquitoes who need to develop their eggs.

No doubt you’re familiar with mosquitoes and the nuisance they sometimes cause, but here’s some facts you might not know: 1. There are over 300 mosquito species in Australia, but only about a dozen pose any significant public health risk.

2. Ross River virus and Barmah Forest virus are the most common viruses spread in Australia.

3. Mosquitoes are dependent on water, with the immature stages being totally aquatic.

If you are a tenant who has already taken measures to ensure your property is ventilated but mould is still growing, you should raise the issue with your property manager or landlord.

4. Any water sitting around your home can be used by mosquitoes. Removing, emptying, covering or screening water-holding containers can reduce mosquitoes.

For more information contact Ballina Shire Council’s Public and Environmental Health Team on 1300 864 444 or visit ballina.nsw.gov.au. For advice on mould health risks telephone North Coast Public Health Unit on 02 6620 7585.

5. Mosquitoes can breed in any type of water - salt water, fresh water, clean or polluted, permanent to temporary water.

What if I am renting?

healthyenvironment

WHAT IS MOULD?

6. In the warmer months some mosquitoes can hatch from eggs and emerge from water as adults in less than a week.

7. Here’s the good news, most mosquitoes don’t live longer than three weeks.

8. Mosquitoes love cool shady areas out of the wind. Keep your garden well maintained to increase air flow and help reduce the appeal of your backyard.

For further information visit ballina. nsw.gov.au or telephone Public and Environmental Health on 1300 864 444.

Information sourced from A Guide to Mosquitoes of Australia, Cameron Webb, Stephen Doggett and Richard Russell.

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WATER WEEK WELCOMES A CROWD Thank you to the fantastic community members who joined us for this year’s Water Week Treatment Plant tour. We had a record crowd, beautiful weather and some great questions from the group. Our Treatment Plant Operator, Ethan, did a great job explaining wastewater and recycled water treatment and showing the group around the large facility.

National

WATER WEEK 21-27 OCTOBER 2018

Water fo water

r me,

for all

For more information about wastewater treatment or group tours, visit ballinawater.com.au

Winner, winner Wet N’ Wild winner Our October National Water Week initiative and competition was a great success. We had over 200 community members complete our water survey and enter our competition to win a Wet N’ Wild double pass, community pool pass and a Ballina waterslide voucher.

Congratulations again to our winners Wendy, Dean and Jacqui.

This competition included a short survey on water use around the home, and we were pretty impressed with your answers.

Over 95% of people knew that ear buds, wet wipes and sanitary items cannot be flushed. Most people also knew that bathrooms and toilets use more water than any other household area.

For more information about saving water and water usage visit ballinawater.com.au

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THE MAGAZINE OF BALLINA SHIRE COUNCIL

ber if you have recycled water don’t use it to top up your pool. Instead, us e your potable drinking water ta p.

To find out mor e about recycled water and its us es visit ballinawater.c om.au

Water working smarter not harder Get weekly water usage data and catch un-wanted water leaks early!

Water meters across the shire are read manually, four times a year, on a quarterly basis. Now Council is offering residents and businesses a smarter way to track their water usage in detail.

What is smart metering?

Smart water meters attach to your water meter and record hourly water usage data. The devices use radio technology to store and send this data to a secure Council database.

Smart meter devices can be used to: • collect water usage data that is timely, accurate, reliable and secure • help water users become aware of their consumption habits • detect leaks rapidly (rather than waiting for quarterly readings) • review consumption patterns and apply changes to save on water bills • receive weekly water monitoring data via email.

The cost This optional service is an additional charge on top of a ratepayer’s annual water charge and usage costs. Council will install a smart meter on your existing water meter for a one-off charge of $150.

After installation you can subscribe for $20 per year to access your water usage data.

How to apply Complete our online smart metering form at ballinawater.com.au or call Council’s Water and Wastewater Team on 1300 864 444.

Water savings just below the surface Reflections Caravan Park were early adopters of Council’s new smart water metering program and it quickly paid off.

Just weeks after installation the park’s new devices helped detect and fix two hidden water leaks. One of these was leaking 600 litres per hour and if gone unnoticed could have result in annual water bill of around $18,000.

healthyenvironment

Toppin up the poog l is summetrh ?

Remem

The park’s ageing underground infrastructure and sandy soil creates the perfect storm for undetected leaks. “A few years back we experienced a significant water leak that was later found several metres underground. Because there was no visible water puddles it went undetected for months and cost a lot in water usage,” explained Reflections Park Manager, Deb. This experience was one of the reasons the park decided to install smart water metering and, for them, the benefits far out-weigh the cost. “For just $150 per meter it was the best thing we did and it’s not just helping detect leaks faster. The regular data we receive is a great tool to show hourly water use and will help with future business and water efficiency planning,” added Deb. For more information about smart water metering visit ballinawater.com.au

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communityconnect communityconnect

F

D SAFETY champion

We have invited local food premises who pride themselves as Food Safety Champions to be profiled in Community Connect.

Starting a New Home Based Business?

this edition's profile

Operating a small business from home is growing in popularity as people look for ways to supplement their income without the overheads.

Angela Bowden from All That Platters is our latest food safety champion. Angela operates from her home kitchen and provides catering to functions in the Northern Rivers.

Tell us a bit about the type of food you provide?

I specialise in gourmet platters and grazing tables for various occasions such as weddings, parties and festivals. The idea of a grazing table is to bring guests together and provide grazing type of food such as breads, cheeses, meat, fruit and nuts. The platters are a smaller version of the grazing tables.

What is your favourite platter to create?

The grazing tables! The tables take a lot of work, they can take a couple of hours to build and can be up to four metres long. I love the process of creating and seeing the faces of clients and guests when the table is revealed; the tables really make a mark on a function and we get amazing feedback.

What was the earliest food safety message you learnt that you continue today?

If in doubt throw it out. If something doesn’t look or smell right, get rid of it. I learnt this basic message in my apprenticeship days and continue it today – you just can’t risk guests getting ill.

How do you find the process of working with Sue Anderson, Council's Food Surveillance Officer?

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Sue is really helpful. People who work in this industry often fear food inspectors, however if they are doing the right thing they don’t have anything to worry about. Sue is very thorough and informative and has years of experience which can only be a good thing for local kitchens and their customers.

How has food safety changed in the time you've been in the food industry?

I’ve been involved in the food industry for 22-years. I definitely think safety standards are lot better than they used to be. We are more conscious of doing the right thing too for the sake of our reputation and customers.

How is having a home based kitchen different to having a commercial kitchen?

There’s not as much pressure! It’s a more relaxed atmosphere, however there are times when I’m under the pump to meet deadlines and balance other activities happening at home.

What makes you a Food Safety Champion?

I pride myself in supplying a premium product to my clients. I always go by the motto, Fresh is best!

The Food Safety Champion profile will run for four editions of Community Connect, and then annually. If you see yourself as a Food Safety Champion and would like to be profiled contact Sue Anderson, Environmental Health Officer, 1300 864 444.

THE MAGAZINE OF BALLINA SHIRE COUNCIL

If you are considering starting a home based business be aware that it may be subject to Council regulation.

Activities that require regulation include: • Food preparation including cooking classes • Hair and beauty services • Tattooing and body piercing • Acupuncture • Learn to swim lessons • Consultation services where the clients visit your home Activities with the potential to impact on neighbouring properties by way of odour, noise or vehicular movements, may not be permitted in residential areas.

A form to operate a home based business can be downloaded from Council’s website ballina.nsw.gov.au.

For further advice about the requirements for home based businesses contact Council’s Development and Environmental Health Group on 1300 864 444.

The BreastScreen bus will be screening in Ballina until the 10 January 2019.

Please note the service is closed over the Christmas and New Year period.

Don’t miss the opportunity to book your free screening mammogram.

Recommended every two-years for women aged 50 - 74. However, all women aged 40+ are eligible to be screened.

WORKSHOPS HELPING OLDER PEOPLE In October and November Council ran a series of workshops for older people. The aim of the workshops were to keep people socially connected, independent, mobile and safe.

Don’t miss the bus! It’s important. It’s free.

20 minutes every two-years could save your life.

Appointments are open for booking.

Call 13 20 50 to book now!

Online safety Almost 60 seniors attended the Be Connected Get Online week events in Ballina and Alstonville.

The workshops aimed to help participants overcome barriers to getting online and learn new digital skills. The participants brought their own devices along and were committed to learning new digital skills so they can stay in touch online.

Road safety

Every 2 years

FREE SCREENING MAMMOGRAMS

The Safety on the Road Over 65 workshops were also popular with 35 people in attendance.

These workshops focused on road safety for older people.

Presentations were provided by Ballina Shire Council/Roads and Maritime Services, Tweed Byron and Ballina Community Transport, Buslines, and Home Assistance and Regional Transport. The workshops included: • Licencing for people over 75 and over 85 • Safety tips for drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and mobility scooters • Commonly misunderstood road rules • Community transport services • Local bus timetables • Driver refreshers and travel planning services

Recommended every 2 years for women aged 50 – 74

The BreastScreen van is screening in

BALLINA

7 Nov 2018 — 10 Jan 2019 (Closed over Christmas & New Year 21 Dec 2018—2 Jan 2019) Moon Street (river end)

engagedleadership

BreastScreen

did you know? Planning your retirement should include

planning for your transport needs.

• Start by talking to your family, friends and GP • Register with the national MyAgedCare (myagedcare.gov.au) to access local governmentfunded transport services.

• Community transport can help you get to medical appointments, shopping and social outings.

• Regional Excursion Daily (RED) bus tickets provide unlimited local daily bus travel for just $2.50. These are available for anyone with a NSW Seniors Cards, Pensioner Concession Cards, and NSW War Widow/er Transport Concession Cards.

• Home Assistance and Regional Transport (hartservices.org.au) offer seniors driver refresher lessons and travel training for public transport.

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communityconnect

be pool safe...

Are you thinking of leasing or selling your property?

Properties with a pool or spa must have a valid pool certificate of compliance or final occupation certificate (each valid for three years).

Properties cannot be advertised for sale or lease unless a valid pool certificate of compliance or final occupation certificate is attached to the sale contract or tenancy agreement.

Check your fence and register Owners of private swimming pools should regularly check the fence around their pool complies with the relevant Australian Standard. It’s safe practice to regularly check and maintain your pool barrier by making sure: • all gates work, open outwards, self-close and latch • all tree branches are cut back, and garden furniture, BBQ and pot plants have been relocated to prevent anyone climbing into the pool area • all gaps under the fence are less than 100mm in diameter • a resuscitation chart is clearly displayed within the pool enclosure • children are always actively supervised when in or around the pool • your pool is registered on the NSW Government’s Pool Register website swimmingpoolregister.nsw.gov.au

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THE MAGAZINE OF BALLINA SHIRE COUNCIL

register online

SWIMMING POOL REGISTRATION REMINDER All pool owners are required to register their pool on the NSW Online Swimming Pool Register. On the spot fines of $220 will be issued if landowners do not register their pool.

Council is currently identifying pools within the shire that are not registered and will be following up with property owners.

To access the on-line register visit swimmingpoolregister.nsw. gov.au or telephone Council's Compliance Section on 1300 864 444.

Dogs in public places must be on a lead that is controlled and held by a competent person over 16 years of age.

Dogs are not allowed in areas termed 'prohibited' such as playgrounds, The Serpentine, Shelly Beach, Lighthouse Beach, Flatrock Platform and the southern end of Seven Mile Beach, Lennox Head.

Dogs are allowed on Angels Beach, Sharpes Beach and Flat Rock Beach but they must be on a lead. It’s a good idea to check the signs in public places to see if dogs are allowed in that location.

Patrols for 2018/2019 Swimming Season BEACH

PATROLS START

PATROLS FINISH

DETAILS

Seven Mile Beach Lennox Head

29/09/2018

28/04/2019

9am – 5pm* Professional Lifeguards Mon-Fri (5 days) Volunteers on weekends and public holidays

Flat Rock East Ballina (roving guard)

22/12/2018 13/04/2019

28/01/2019 28/04/2019

9am – 5pm Professional Lifeguard 7 days a week

Sharpes Beach Skennars Head

22/12/2018 13/04/2019

28/01/2019 28/04/2019

9am – 5pm Professional Lifeguards 7 days a week

Shelly Beach East Ballina

22/12/2018 13/04/2019

Lighthouse Beach Ballina

22/12/2018 13/04/2019

28/01/2019 28/04/2019

9am – 5pm Professional Lifeguards 7 days a week

28/01/2019 28/04/2019

9am – 5pm Professional Lifeguards Mon-Fri (5 days) Volunteers on weekends and public holidays

* Lennox Head is 9am - 6pm during NSW Summer school holiday period

HOLIDAY PARKING

engagedleadership

Pooches in public places to be on a lead

The Christmas holidays are looming and that means parking is in great demand in our town centres. To ensure people have access to parking, restrictions are in place in these areas.

Please check timed parking restrictions to avoid receiving a Penalty Infringement Notice (PIN). Council Rangers and Parking Officers conduct regular patrols in these areas, including weekends.

Fines of $112 will be issued for overstaying the sign posted time limit and there is a $561 penalty plus 1 demerit point for parking in a disabled parking space without a current permit displayed.

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staff matters SAFETY, WORK, L!FE Every worker has the right to a safe and healthy workplace, regardless of their industry, occupation or background.

Ballina Shire Council takes safety very seriously with our motto being Safety, Work, Life.

We have been recognised at the NSW SafeWork Awards. Congratulations to our teams for setting the standard in work place safety, and taking out the following:

HIGHLY COMMENDED - Excellence in recovery at work for business

FINALIST - SafeWork NSW leadership in safety award FINALIST - Excellence in recovery at work for business.

SAFET Y WORK L FE •

•

International Day of People with Disability As part of International Day of People with Disability celebrations, Council recently held a morning tea at the Alstonville Nursery to recognise the achievements and contribution made by our Regional Works Crew.

Council currently employs 10 staff with disabilities within the Open Spaces team, working in the nursery and undertaking horticulture maintenance duties throughout the shire. Well done team!

Novaskill Awards Novaskill recently hosted their annual awards night to celebrate and acknowledge local trainees and apprentices.

Among the celebrated nominees were four of Council’s very own, congratulations to:

APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR WINNER – Kyle Kingston (Apprentice Electrician) TRAINEE OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNER – Shayne Hall (Trainee Civil Construction Pipelaying Water and Wastewater)

INDIGENOUS APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR WINNER – Mark Pitt (Apprentice Civil Construction)

COURSE PARTICIPANT AWARD NOMINEE – Laura Dean (Customer Service).

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THE MAGAZINE OF BALLINA SHIRE COUNCIL

Council’s Workshop Team is diverse and so is their work. They look after hundreds of different plant (vehicles and equipment) and critical facilities to keep Council’s operations running smoothly for our community.

The team maintains large plant (e.g. excavators, garbage trucks), small plant (e.g. whipper snippers, chainsaws), and everything in between.

With Council owning over 250 items of plant, the mechanics are kept busy. The workshop also maintains and repairs Council’s five water and wastewater treatment plants, pump station equipment, Burns Point Ferry, waste centre bailer and treatment plant, along with providing fabrication and metal work services to various areas of Council.

This variety means no two days are the same and the team’s skills reflect this diverse workload. The team has 11 tradespeople including welders, fitters, mechanics, metal fabricators, small plant store mechanic and fitter machinists. This year the team welcomed three new staff and four new apprentices. They are led by Larry who has been team leader for eight years and has been with Council for almost 26 years – an outstanding achievement!

The team says some days can be challenging but they also enjoy the sense of achievement when they work together to complete a job or fix a particularly tricky problem that requires their different experience and skills.

Rain, hail or shine they are on-call and must be ready 24/7 for any breakdown.

The team is also proud of the larger projects they’ve contributed to, including the upgrade of the Cumbalum reservoir. This large job involved fabricating eight large stainless steel legs at Council’s depot workshop, transporting them, using a large crane to place a smaller crane inside the reservoir and then installing the large beams. This was one job where the saying ‘measure twice, cut once’ was crucial.

The fabrication team is currently putting the finishing touches on a hydraulic tipping trailer for the cemetery.

This custom design by Graeme will allow Council’s Open Spaces and Reserve staff to fill in graves much faster. It also eliminates the need for staff to manually shovel the dirt from a normal trailer — a WHS win for Council!

The team’s ongoing achievements and service shows their commitment to Council’s values of creativity and safety.

engagedleadership

Workshop keeps Council purring along

COUNCIL AN ENVIRONMENTAL WINNER Ballina Shire Council was recognised at the recent Local Government NSW Excellence in Environment Awards across three different award categories.

Our Integrated Asbestos Management Program was the overall winner for Asbestos Management, Smart Metering also came out on top winning the Water Management category (division b) and our Love it or Lose it campaign was highly commended for the communication, education and empowerment category.

Congratulations to all the staff involved in these innovative projects.

For more information about these project visit ballina.nsw.gov.au

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the ballina shire is safe with a connected community, a healthy environment and a thriving economy.

s n o s a Se

s g n i t e e Gr from

ire h S a Ballin

... f f a t S d n a s r o l l i c Coun

38

Treatment Luke (Community Facilities Officer), Jim and Vern (Water and Wastewater Group) Loads of Weight East North Leader, (Team Operators), Stephen

Kylie, Jamie & Terry (Ballina Byron Gateway Airport), Steve, Greg & Louise (Ballina Waste Centre Team), Councillors 2018

Daryl (Ferry Engine Driver), Jason (Building Maintenance Carpenter), Michael (Horticulturalist Tradesperson) & Arrabella (Open Spaces and Reserves Work Experience)

Peta (Team Leader Customer Service) & Lexi (Trainee Customer Service and Administration Officer), Vicki and Lee(Ballina Memorial Pool), Art, Larry & Scott (Cleaners)

39

phone 0415 965 403 david.wright@ballina.nsw. gov.au

Cr Phillip Meehan

what ward are you in?

phone 0408 349 833 phil.meehan@ballina.nsw. gov.au

phone 0435 759 987 stephen.mccarthy@ballina. nsw.gov.au

Cr Nathan Willis phone 0434 154 782 nathan.willis@ballina.nsw. gov.au

WARD A

Cr Stephen McCarthy

WARD B

DEPUTY MAYOR

your councillors

MAYOR

Cr David Wright

LENNOX HEAD

WOLLONGBAR

Cr Sharon Cadwallader

CUMBALUM SKENNARS HEAD

phone 0413 091 440 sharon.cadwallader@ ballina.nsw.gov.au

ALSTONVILLE

Cr Keith Williams

BALLINA

phone 0418 504 644 keith.williams@ballina.nsw. gov.au

WARD C WARD A

Cr Jeff Johnson phone 0407 651 948 jeff.johnson@ballina.nsw. gov.au

Cr Sharon Parry phone 0408 683 052 sharon.parry@ballina.nsw. gov.au

phone 0415 482 412 ben.smith@ballina.nsw. gov.au

WARD C

Cr Benjamin Smith

WARDELL

Don’t dispose of me yet

Cr Eoin Johnston phone 0407 416 149 eoin.johnston@ballina.nsw. gov.au

Use this issue of Community Connect to wrap kitchen waste and dispose in the green organics bin. © NSW Spatial Services 2018.

This map is illustrative and not to scale.

Councillors are here to represent your views. Councillors are elected in Wards, however each Councillor represents the entire community and can be contacted on any matter. You can contact Councillors in person, by phone or email.

council contact information Ph: 1300 864 444 | Email: council@ballina.nsw.gov.au | Web: ballina.nsw.gov.au Street Address: 40 Cherry Street, Ballina | Postal Address: PO Box 450, Ballina 2478 Office Hours: 8.15am to 4.30pm Mon-Fri (excluding public holidays) | After hours contact: 02 6626 6954 Council’s Community Access Points: Meeting agendas and documents on exhibition can be viewed at Council’s Customer Service Centre; Alstonville, Ballina and Lennox Head Libraries and Council’s website ballina.nsw.gov.au Photo contributors: Ben Wyeth, Tony Partridge, Trevor Wordern, NSW SafeWork, Newaste, Celebrity Speakers, Richard Mason, Pandanus Productions, Harbour Agency, Kurt Thomson.

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