16 minute read
months, spending $80,000 on renovations of her home on River Street during that time. “My house is single storey but it has never had a flood in it in the past 100 years,” she said. “It went completely under. “I had flood insurance up until October/ November last year, when my insurance company cancelled my coverage.” The disability respite
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Help for Terry the Sssssnake catcher
SAMANTHA ELLEY AND SAMANTHA KENNEDY
Whenever a resident found a snake on their premises and wanted it removed, there was always one person they could rely on for help. Terry the snake catcher.
Terry Collins and his family have lived in Coraki for the past 35 years and like so many others, they lost everything in the two recent floods.
Terry travels between Tabulam, Old Bonalbo, Byron Bay, Mullumbimby, Grafton and the Tweed, catching and releasing snakes when needed.
He only ever asks for fuel money when he is called out and will catch snakes for free for the older pensioners, who often provide him with a home-cooked meal as a gesture of thanks.
The floods have made Terry even busier as he has been catching up to 40 snakes a day, due to the flood waters displacing them, forcing them to find higher ground, which usually means homes and sheds.
Terry doesn’t just release the snakes back into the wild. He often takes them home, cleans them of any ticks they may have and feeds them for up to a week before he finds the right place to free them.
During the second flood, while helping a mother and young child with a brown snake in their car, he was bitten.
Luckily his sister Tamara is a nurse and with the aid of snake compression bandages he survived and is still recovering.
Terry needs a number of snake catching tools to continue his work including proper size medium snake gloves, a fridge, TV, microwave or a small toaster oven and fuel or fuel cards.
“All me boots got washed away, I’ve contacted Blundstone to see if I could get some replacement boots and I’m still waiting for them to come through the mail,” said Terry.
“They need to be proper snake catching gloves, which I will probably never be able to afford again.”
Terry said he has been saving every drop of fuel to be able to catch snakes as he is needed.
“Everyone has a gift, sparkies can do electricals, builders rebuild homes,” he said.
“I was just doing what I could do and that’s catching snakes.”
If you would like to help Terry get back on his feet and equip him properly to keep catching snakes, you can contact him or his sister Tamara on Facebook. His page is Terry Coraki Snake Catcher.
Festivals one-stop shop guide goes live
Music festival organisers now have a one-stop shop to help them plan the ultimate safe and sound event.
The online Music Festivals Guide has been developed to make it easier for operators to organise their events and get on with the job of entertaining communities.
Minister for Hospitality and Racing Kevin Anderson said music festivals are a big part of the State’s entertainment scene and the NSW Government is committed to helping them return with
“Music festivals are a great time for people to enjoy a live performance, but they also provide an economic boost to towns and regions through jobs and tourism dollars,” Mr Anderson said.
“We know organising a festival can be a challenging process and that is why we have developed this website, to cut the red tape and make it easier for organisers to get their events up and running.”
The online resource will enable festival organisers to refer to a simple approvals checklist, understand who to talk to, what approvals are needed, and when, so the festival runs smoothly.
Bluesfest CEO Nadja Konietzko said the music festival guide is welcome because the more guidance there is when obtaining approvals, the clearer the processes.
“The past four years have been challenging, as we’ve had money held in escrow and unavailable to us, shortage of experienced crew who are leaving the industry impacts.”
The NSW Government also launched the Event Saver Fund in January to to organisers of major events, in the event they are cancelled or a direct result of a Public Health Order.
The website can be accessed by visiting: www.nsw.gov.au/top.
First ever Primex People’s Day
As Norco Primex 2022 gears up to be the biggest event in years, organisers have revealed Northern Rivers residents will be able to attend for free on opening day.
The first ever People’s Day will be held on Thursday, May 19, with tickets available online.
Primex director Bruce Wright said after the tragic effects of the floods, this was an opportunity to come together in a positive environment, relax with family and friends, and heal as a community.
“We know many of the businesses who are our exhibitors and friends have experienced heartache because of these floods,” he said.
“However, the message from them is very clear – Primex has to go ahead as a celebration, and a means for these businesses to relaunch and rebuild by engaging with their customers.
“We know how important Primex is for our farming and rural communities, but also the dedicated and resilient companies and family businesses who operate, supply, and deliver throughout the North Coast every day of the year.”
New features, events and attractions at Primex will reinforce all the amazing things we know and love about the Northern Rivers. This includes the new Nourish Food Fest, which will showcase the region’s world-class food and beverage industry. Primex 2022 will have about 400 exhibitors and is expected to attract 30,000 visitors over three days from May 19-21, injecting an estimated $5 million into the local economy.
Discounted early bird tickets are also available online. Further updates and program information will be available leading into the event and on the Primex website: www. primex.net.au.
Primex People’s Day
• Free entry to all North Coast residents on Thursday, May 19. • Tickets are only available online and must be purchased prior to entry. • Eligible postcodes include 2469–2490 and 2450–2464. • Ticket holders must provide proof of residency at the gate (drivers’ licence etc).
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Mayor’s answer sparks more questions
TIM HOWARD
Clarence Valley Mayor Ian Tiley may have broken the rules when he was asked if two councillors had breached the council’s Code of Conduct with comments critical of him in the media.
Part 9 of the Clarence Valley Council Code of Conduct contains guidelines on what can and cannot be said about Code of Conduct complaints.
Under the sub heading Disclosure of information about the consideration of a matter under the Procedures, it says: 9.10 You must not allege breaches of this code other than by way of a complaint made or initiated under the Procedures. 9.11 You must not make allegations about, or disclose information about, suspected breaches of this code at council, committee or other meetings, whether open to the public or not, or in any other forum, whether public or not.
The paragraphs raise questions over the mayor’s answer to a question if Crs Debrah Novak and Karen Toms might have breached the Code of Comments with letters to the editor and a radio interview, critical of him.
He said they definitely had, but also stressed he was not convinced a Code of Conduct complaint was a good idea.
““But that’s all I want to say,” he said last month. “I don’t want to add fuel to the fire. There may be repercussions, but I want to talk about positive things.”
The council’s acting general manager, Laura Black, confirmed in a subsequent interview on breakfast radio Loving Life FM103.1, there was no Code of Conduct complaint against Crs Novak and Toms.
Cr Tiley refused to discuss the issue further.
“All it’s doing is throwing more fuel on the fire,” he said last week. “I won’t make any further comments on the matter.”
But he said Code of Conduct complaints were confidential and he did not know of any before the council now.
The mayor was also incorrect when he said in his radio interview that Cr Novak had breached the code twice.
Cr Novak’s only breach was in 2018 over social media comments she made about some council staff members.
She was formally censured and undertook training courses that cost the council $7450.
She disputed the mayor’s claim that cumulative code breaches could result in stiffer censure.
Cr Novak said because of Part 9 of the code she did not want to comment further and said it would be best to seek clarification from the NSW Office of Local Government
Cr Toms said it was not up to the mayor to discipline councillors.
“A mayor is one of nine equals,” she said. “He was elected by the majority of his peers.
“A mayor’s role does not include making a determination of wrongdoing against his peers conduct then sharing his determination publicly.
“There is a code of conduct and procedures in the event of conduct complaints to the general manager against councillors.
Cr Toms said her letter to the editor was not critical of the council.
“It was standing up for council process,” she said. “My letter corrected the mayor’s statement of his feelings and beliefs on the process so far of the pending sale of the South Grafton Visitor Information Centre.
“The staff were following the former council’s resolutions which included delegations to the general manager.”
A spokesperson for the NSWOLG said the office preferred councils to deal with these sorts of matters, barring exceptional circumstances.
He said the office has a Model Code of Conduct that was a minimum benchmark for all councils.
“Information about code of conduct complaints must be treated as confidential to ensure complaints are dealt with fairly,” he said.
“It is a breach of the code to publicly allege breaches by others, or to disclose information about complaints.
“Councillors are free to comment on council business, but must do so in line with the council’s media policy, and must not disclose confidential information, or they will be in breach of the council’s code of conduct.”
He said prior breaches of the code do not automatically attract stiffer penalties.
“When determining the penalty for a breach of a council’s code of conduct, previous breaches of the code may be considered but would not automatically result in suspension,” he said.
The Model Code of Conduct for Local Councils in NSW, under the Local Government Act 1993 is under independent review now. It is due to be completed in the second half of this year.
WaterNSW and the Natural Resources Access Regulator (NRAR) wish to advise customers and the or
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Byron Shire Mayor, Michael Lyon, and representatives from Landcom, the NSW Government’s development agency announced today a landmark agreement for the development of up to 29 studios, one and two-bedroom units on a Councilowned carpark in
The project received unanimous support from Byron Shire
The location for the proposed development
“To say I am excited by this project is an understatement because the lack of affordable housing is such an incredible burden on our community, even more so now since the
“This affordable housing development will be targeted towards people on low to moderate incomes and be built on one of our existing carparks sites in the town
“Recognising that parking is a premium in Mullumbimby, we will also use the next six months to look at securing land on the fringe of the town’s CBD for additional
Since February 27, more than 4,000 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel have deployed on Operation Flood Assist 2022 in the Northern Rivers region supporting emergency services and local communities in the response and recovery from two catastrophic
As the ADF has continued to complete tasks, there has been a steady reduction in the number and types of tasks requested by local Government and emergency services
By April 14, the vast majority of ADF personnel deployed to northern NSW will have returned to contingent of personnel and assets will remain to support site refurbishment
Chief of Joint Operations, Lieutenant General Greg Bilton, AO, CSC, said the ADF mobilised forces quickly from across Australia to help devastated
“I am incredibly proud of their efforts and their ability to work hand-in-hand with State and local government agencies, who are now in a position to move forward with reconstruction
Lieutenant General Bilton also thanked personnel from the Republic of Singapore and Republic of Fiji for their support in our time of
During Operation Flood Assist 2022, Defence helped people with sandbagging, door knocking and evacuations; aviation support to search and rescue missions, including the rescue and evacuation of 56 residents; the P-8A Poseidon aircraft aerial surveillance of the region to inform damage assessment and task prioritisation; removing debris and cleaning up across the region; and delivering food drops to isolated
During Operation FLOOD ASSIST 2022, the ADF mobilised more than 7000 soldiers, sailors and aviators - deployed Pilbara, Adelaide, Perth They reinforced personnel already positioned within
“Leemo’s View”
“Leemo has views on just about anything”
BROTHER MIKE teaches Mum to drive…
‘Leemo Cat’ again. Ooooh, how nifty life is! ‘Mum Jane’ and me have been living in a most amicable fashion for days now. (She adores me of course.) I decided to ask her some nifty questions in my endeavour to prolong this UNUSUAL state of blissful harmony. ‘Mum, did you truly really see lions when you lived in Africa?’ She looked quite enraptured that I was exhibiting an interest in her life. (It’s called
serious “sucking up”
actually.) ‘Leems my precious, I saw MANY MANY lions, and on one occasion I was so close to a Pride of them, I could almost pat them’. I responded by asking ‘EEEK Mum, weren’t you alarmed? They could have done swift feline pounces, pinned you to the ground and shared you for lunch.’ A kinda ‘curious’ look went across her wrinky countenance, hmmmm? She went on. ‘Leems, I guess I should ‘fess up about this encounter so sit back and listen.’ So, I sat in my most beguiling pose, paws neatly tucked, ears a zealous look on my face. Well, one day, one of Mum’s brothers, Mike, paid her a visit. He came all the way from Australia. Whilst visiting, he asked Mum when she had learned to drive ‘cos there was a big land rover right outside her house. Mum told him she had not learned to drive and was ‘minding’ it for a few months for a friend. So, with kind intent, Mike suggested that whilst he was staying he would teach her to drive. THEN, only an hour later, Mum received a message from the Game Warden saying that there was a Pride of lions feasting on a zebra kill and would she and Mike like to come and see them? ‘Naturally Leems, Mike was most excited about this opportunity.’ He informed Mum that “she” should drive the land rover. He would tell her what pedals & stuff to push. So, off they went into the bush. Mum told me Mike was a rather RARE type of driving instructor. About every 8 minutes he would say ‘OK Jane, STOP! You missed a pothole/ bump…do you want to go back and try again?’ Mum said she was a little confused about these ‘driving commands’ but guessed they must be a way of ensuring she learned to drive in a most excellent manner. Aha, they spied the Game Warden’s vehicle, and he signalled them to follow him. It would appear that Mum took this as an indicator to GO FAST…so she did, straight into a thorn tree, under which 5 very shocked lions had their zebra lunch rudely interrupted. They were not amused and made drooling. From what I could work out, Mum burst into tears and hid under the steering wheel. Mike told her to get up and bloody well drive. OMG, I was story. I’m not going in our little car with her ever ever again. Believe you me.. it gets worse. I’ll tell you HOW Mum actually GOT her Driver’s Licence another time. Most shaky purrsies, Leemo.
Day with the Titans
Saturday, the day with the Titans was a huge success with over 280 attendees from the Northern Rivers going to the Gold Coast for a day of fun with so many prizes and free giveaways
Mr Toys ToyWorld give away 2 pallets of toys and 180 Gift bags
ScooterHut Robina give away 17 Brand new Scooters
And Selfawear Clothing Burleigh give out boxes of T-shirts, hoodies and jewellery
Organiser James Monika said there was so many tears and cuddles from grateful parents and kids from both Coraki primary schools and local football clubs.
