Powerline carnage and restoration
By Jonathon Howard
ESSENTIAL ENERGY workers have received heartfelt praise from Tweed Shire residents this week as they battled challenging conditions to restore power after Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
At the height of the storm, more than 43,000 homes across Northern NSW were left without power as fierce cyclonic winds, reaching speeds of up to 120km per hour at Cape Byron, ravaged the region.
From Friday, March 7, to Sunday, March 9, the storm brought down trees, snapped branches, and destroyed critical infrastructure, leaving communities in the dark and at the mercy of relentless weather.
In response to the severe conditions, Essential Energy crews were initially stood down at 3am on Friday, March 7, for safety reasons, with work not expected to resume until the dangerous weather subsided.
“The safety of our crews is paramount,” Essential Energy’s media team said in a statement.
As residents braced for the storm’s full impact, Essential Energy issued a warning to customers, advising that power outages could last for several days due to the extent of the damage to the network, debris from vegetation, and the presence of floodwaters.
Despite the challenging circumstances, Essential Energy crews went above and beyond to restore power.
By Tuesday, March 11, at 6.10am, they had reduced the outage count from 43,000 homes to 7,600, a remarkable feat given the scale of the damage.
While some areas remain without vital power, crews are continuing their tireless efforts, providing regular updates on the progress of restoration work.
The community responded with an outpouring of gratitude for the dedication and hard work of the Essential Energy teams.
Despite facing fierce winds, torrential rain, and treacherous conditions, the Essential Energy teams worked tirelessly to recon-
Essential Energy workers are
nect communities, often working in areas that were difficult to access.
On Tuesday, helicopter patrols were surveying powerlines for damage in hard to access areas.
“As the information about the damage is assessed, crews will be able to estimate times of power restoration for some locations,” Essential Energy said in an update.
“These will be updated on our website outages page (www.essentialenergy.com. au/outages-and-faults/power-outages).”
Carrington Street (PO BOX 52), Lismore NSW 2480 02 6621 3624 I lismore@parliament.nsw.gov.au www.janellesaffin.com.au
The extent of the power outage map on March 8
Some of the jumbled mess taking down power poles
Jenners Corner at Chinderah
working round the clock to restore power
SUNNY NICHOLLS
You have won a single pass* to the film of your
Wealth gap widening
There is an ever-widening wealth gap in Australia between those who are well off or relatively well off and those who are poor.
I believe that the way Australia has developed its school education is exacerbating that gap.
One third of all school-aged children now attend private schools and most of these schools are very generously funded by governments.
They generally enrol children whose parents are relatively better off financially.
Public schools have to be available to all in their locality that wish to attend.
Public schools have to grapple with the many complexities of having students enrolled who have special needs, who come from families that are relatively poor, or from families where English isn’t the first language.
Public schools also have the responsibility of providing a quality education to students who live in remote, rural and regional Australia.
However, the funding of our public schools languishes.
The current federal Labor government has indicated that it will improve this situation in consultation with the state and territory governments, but that full funding, according to need, won’t be reached until 2034.
As there is every possibility that there will be a change of government between now and then, the increase in public school funding will likely be compromised as Coalition governments have consistently favoured private schools in their funding decisions.
Christiaan Goudkamp, Murwillumbah
Reopening Mt Warning
In this era of an ever-expanding nanny state — where restrictive rules are piled on in the name of trying to
keep everyone safe from everything or to accommodate a select few at the expense of the broader community — you’d hope that a citizen could still take a walk in a national park that had been open to the public for nearly a century.
Graham Dietrich, Murwillumbah Reopen summit track
Councillor Kimberly Hone deserves our thanks and support for her efforts to have Mt Warning/Wollumbin reopened.
It may be a state issue, but I would be interested to hear the views of the other candidates for the upcoming federal election on this topic.
I would hope that they have a broader view than that offered by Sue Higginson when the issue was raised in the Legislative Council in May last year: “The matter of public access to Wollumbin, the name of the site that this matter of public importance refers to, has a complex history that is steeped in the genocide that was perpetuated by this State against the First Nations of this country.” What has a desire to walk in a rainforest and climb a mountain got to do with genocide?
She ought to take umbrage at the secret men’s business nature of the management document (page 37):
“The whole of Wollumbin is a men’s site and therefore gender restrictions apply.”
Parliament too was once for men only but she can be thankful we have moved into an age of equality.
Also from the document (page 40)
“The sanctity of Wollumbin AP may also manifest physically (for example make people sick).”
On the many times I have climbed the mountain I didn’t get sick once, and adhere to the belief that exercise is good for physical health.
I don’t think we should be prepared to sacrifice 1500 years of science and
revert to mythology.
I think Cr Hone is on the right track in pushing for a reopening which incorporates ways of facilitating the Indigenous people who do not support the closure.
I would be pleased to see an Indigenous cultural centre at the site.
I wish them well and also look forward to my next climb.
Peter Smith, Round Mountain Floating votes
It never ceases to amaze me the amount of floating votes in this country. The Albanese government has done so much in the short time they have been in power. People soon forget pensions have increased, tax cuts, energy relief, cheaper childcare, increase paid parental leave, making cost of living and Medicare cheaper along with cheaper medicines and free hearing aids for the elderly. There are more people travelling and more new cars on the roads, and many other benefits yet we still seem to moan and are never satisfied with what we have.
Can you imagine the Dutton government doing any of these things?
We live in one of the cheapest countries in the world and we are not in recession as many others are, take a trip across the ditch to NZ.
Petrol $4 a litre, leg of lamb $50 plus, a cabbage $9 and cost of living much higher than Australia. We are free to move about and not be dictated to as many other countries are.
Be assured, a vote for a Dutton government, in my opinion, will see belts tightened and harder times to come. Think carefully how and who you vote for, the Albanese government deserves another term and let him finish what he has set out to do. Labor is for the working man and keeping our country going ahead.
Thomas George, Banora Point
Valley
In anticipation of Alfred the cyclone
A poem by Margaret Cadman
Alfred the cyclone is on his way
We’re all at home on this unprece dented day
What will he do and leave in his wake,
Will he be kind and give us all a break.
Preparing and wondering where the waters will crest
No one can predict this unwelcome guest.
He’s coming inland from east to west,
We’re all hoping and praying for the very, very best. What’s it all about Alfie?
You must be tired too from your cyclone
Why don’t you cool it, calm down turn around and go home.
Prayer from council meeting
The following prayer was read by Pastor Rob Stuttle of the Living Waters Church at Tumbulgum during Tweed Shire Council’s monthly meeting on Thursday, March 6.
“Preparing for the worst outcome, praying and believing for the best. Wind speed and rainfall has not yet reached expectations yet, and we are believing for this to continue. Lord we pray for your mighty hand to calm the winds and the waves as you did when you were on a boat with your disciples.
We pray for this cyclone to cease. We thank you for all the emergency services that are ready and waiting to assist.
Give them and this council wisdom in knowing where to put their time and resources.
I pray for those who are suffering trauma and anxiety at present. May your peace be their portion.
We pray for no devastation and
EIGHT-YEAR-OLD Pottsville
local Sunny Nicholls shared this fantastic shot of himself and a large mud crab he caught in the canals in Pottsville prior to Cyclone Alfred.
Proud father Paul said his son "always catches and releases" and "he cares and understands the impact around the wildlife and how important it is for future generations".
Sunny enjoys getting out amongst nature and loves the wonderful outdoors that the Tweed has to offer. Good on ya Sunny!
no loss of life. Guide this council through this time to help make the right decisions in the days and weeks ahead.
In Jesus name we pray ‘Amen’.” Pastor Rob Stuttle, Tumbulgum
Please note the views on the letters page are those of the letter writer and not of the Tweed V alley Weekly. Letters must include a suburb and contact number for verification. Letters may be edited for length or legal reasons. Send your letters to editor@theweekly.net.au or phone: ( 02) 6672 4443
Beach erosion
By Jo Kennett
THE FIRST cyclone to hit NSW since 1974 whipped up huge seas and tidal surges that have decimated local beaches.
Swells over 12 feet high and winds which gusted over 100km per hour over several days and nights eroded whole frontal dunal systems, with up to 20 metres of sand gone in places, particularly on south facing beaches.
That leisurely stroll to the beach now involves dealing with sand cliffs up to five metres high in some places. Shorty Brown, our favourite kids’ clown, was playing around on the headland at Hastings Point on Friday, March 7, as Cyclone Alfred readied for touchdown and crowds gathered to check out the wild seas, erosion and the craziest amount of foam flying up and over the hill. The Pottsville entertainer said her cyclone prep was done.
“Ready to go,” Shorty, who has a big gig this Easter at Bluesfest, said.
“I’ve been in the rave cave playing my decks, practising for the kids.
“When there’s nothing to do you may as well just practise your skills and your art and have fun and hang off poles.”
Erosion looking towards Hastings Point headland.
Entertainer Shorty Brown clowning around at Hastings Point
Beach erosion Hastings Point south beach
Lucky escapes at coast
By Jo Kennett
THE TWEED Coast has been hit hard by Cyclone Alfred, with sustained winds of 90 to 100 km/h bringing trees down on powerlines, yards and homes across the coast, with several lucky escapes.
Koala Beach at Pottsville, full of mature trees for wildlife habitat, was one of the worst hit areas, with many large trees coming down, several on top of homes.
One house on Lomandra Avenue in Koala Beach copped two big trees but fortunately they didn’t go right through the roof.
Plenty of trees were down in Hovea Drive, including a large tree which landed on a house, crushing part of the roof, but according to another resident, the homeowners were okay.
“No one was hurt, just a little shaken up,” a neighbour said.
The roots on another large gum had lift-
ed, threatening two homes with residents waiting on a Tweed Shire Council arborist to inspect it from Friday, concerned the tree would crush the homes.
Finally, on Monday, their “cries for help were finally heard.”
“An SES crew from Port Macquarie came this morning and deemed it dangerous,” one of the homeowners, who didn’t want to be named, said.
“Within an hour a private tree lopping service from Mullumbimby turned up
around for many years, has also come down.
Locals were devastated when photos of the fig, some called the “Tree of Life”, were posted on the Pottsville community page.
Another lovely landmark, the fig tree outside the popular Black Drop Cafe and Izakaya Potts Japanese restaurant in Philip Street, stood up to days of high wind before cracking. The owners of Black Drop Cafe said they had to close until
It was a lucky escape for the residents of this home in Hovea Drive, Koala Beach
This tree in Euodia Ave, Koala Beach, threatened two homes
This Lomandra Avenue home was hit by two large trees
Swing and near miss for council
By Jonathon Howard
TWEED SHIRE Council General Manager Troy Green has provided a detailed update on the impacts of Cyclone Alfred, reflecting on the significant challenges faced by the community while also announcing a crucial service for residents: free curbside green waste collection.
Describing the cyclone as a “near miss” for most of the shire, Mr Green acknowledged the strain this event has placed on local services and residents, including those due to widespread power outages.
He emphasised that the council was already preparing for future events, particularly addressing the vulnerability of vital infrastructure including power to water and sewer pump stations.
“This could have been a much worse situation,” Mr Green said.
“Had the rain come all at once, we could have been facing a much larger flood event.
“Power issues continue to impact our water and sewer systems, but we’re working hard to address these challenges as soon as possible.”
He praised the council’s dedicated team for their tireless efforts during the storm, which included 24/7 work through the night to refuel generators, inspect critical infrastructure and ensure the safety of essential services.
“We saw the best of our team in this event,” Mr Green said.
“From climbing towers to check sensors to manually pumping where needed, our staff went above and beyond.”
While council was caught off guard by the scale of the power outages, Mr Green emphasised that their preparation following the 2022 floods had put them in a stronger position.
The council is now looking to tackle future power outage challenges headon and raised this with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during his visit to Tweed Heads on Monday.
“The mayor and I met with the prime minister, state, and federal members, and we’re working on securing funding for initiatives to address these issues,” he added.
On the state of the local road network, Mr Green highlighted the ongoing difficulty of repairing a major trunk main at Chinderah.
“Due to its proximity to the river, the repair work is being complicated by tides, groundwater, and power disruptions,” he said.
“This is a challenging fix, and we ask for patience as we work through it.” Free curbside collection coming next week
In response to the damage caused by the cyclone, residents will soon benefit from a free green and hard waste curbside collection service, which will begin next week.
“We know that waste removal is a significant challenge right now, especially since the tip is currently inaccessible,” Mr Green said.
“That’s why we’re bringing the service to you. Residents can stack their green waste out front, and cyclone/ flood impacted hard waste, and we’ll collect it from their homes.”
“Put the green waste and hard waste in separate piles because they’ll be collected by different trucks — and make sure they aren’t in the way of your regular bin collection.”
He also reminded people to use
their green bins for smaller green waste items, and to place their larger piles out over the weekend for collection beginning next week, with each suburb scheduled for pick-up.
For those who’ve used sandbags to protect their homes, Mr Green suggested residents can either empty the sand into their gardens or store the sandbags for future use, placing them in the red bin when ready for disposal.
Mr Green wanted to acknowledge the valuable support the Tweed Shire has received from neighboring councils.
“We’ve had help from Gold Coast City Council, who are assisting with waste removal at Reedy Creek, as well as support from Maitland City Council and Tamworth Regional Council,” he said.
“We’re incredibly grateful for their assistance during this difficult time.”
Despite the challenges, Mr Green assured residents that all council assets were intact and that their machinery had not been lost.
However, he did note that landslips had occurred in several areas, including Tomewin Road, Tweed Valley Way, and Kyogle Road.
“If you come across a landslip or other hazards, please report them to the council as soon as possible,” he urged.
As the Tweed Shire begins to recover from Cyclone Alfred, Mr Green’s message was one of resilience and community spirit, with the council and its partners working around the clock to restore essential services and provide vital support to residents.
“We’re in this together, and we’ll continue working to ensure the safety and well-being of our community,” he said.
A pump station point at Banora Point where council staff have worked tirelessly to reconnect and restart the pump due to multiple breakages
Council staff including GM Troy Green (right) with staff members Josh Martin, Brad French and Brie Jowett alongside Member for Tweed Geoff Provest
By Jo Kennett
IT WAS a week of absolute mayhem on Tweed waterways, with waves up to 12 metres recorded off the coast — the highest on record — cyclonic winds and tidal surges smashing the coast, with water police rescuing a surfer halfway to Cook Island, overturned jet skis and around 20 boats.
Tweed Heads Water Police NSW Marine Area Command Coordinator, Sergeant Andrew Parker, said it started on Sunday, March 2, with a huge swell drawing “from 30 to 50 tow-in surfers on jet skis”, mostly to surf Kirra.
“We had some surfers ripped out of Snapper Rocks past Froggies through Duranbah,” he said.
“One of them got himself onto D’bah and got hospitalised and the other one, a Brazilian, got swept past the pumping jetty out towards Cook Island where we recovered him.
“The conditions at the time were cyclonic swell but the wind and visibility weren’t as bad.”
With boats barred from entering the water in Queensland, jet skis left across this Tweed River bar, which Sergeant Parker said was very dangerous, with several jet skis “lost.”
“We had jet skis overturned and washing up,” he said.
Jet ski search
Water police raced to the rescue offshore on Thursday, March 6, in life-threatening condi-
tions, after an EPIRB activation was detected by the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Canberra (JRCC) along with multiple reports of an overturned jet ski east of Duranbah Beach.
“It was absolutely hectic but we had no choice at the time as we were advised that no rescue helicopter was going to be available to assist,” Sergeant Parker said.
“We had police on the headland trying to spot it for us and at Duranbah and on the break wall.”
Initially the police boat was directed north and then came back into the river, all in absolutely horrendous conditions, and were redeployed south to the pumping jetty.
“We needed to be directed by the land crews right on top of anyone in the water because we had little to no visibility with water breaking over the boat and the weather,” Sergeant Parker said.
There was also concern they may not make it in over the bar and would have to go in at Southport. A Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter arrived to help search.
“We began to have steering failure because we were overheating the steering pump working the boat so hard just because of the cyclonic conditions,” Sergeant Parker said.
An extensive marine and air search failed to locate any vessel or persons. A jet ski chase
(see page 11) involved another jet ski on the water at the time.
Boating chaos
As conditions worsened, boats in the Tweed River started being ripped from their moorings and set adrift, some into rocks or mangroves and some to the bottom of the river.
“There was huge amounts of confusion because there were so many jobs running at the same time,” Sergeant Parker said.
“We had multiple jobs with people on their boats in distress, people that live aboard and people trying to save their vessels.
“We were trying to secure vessels, particularly in Terranora Inlet, which became our evacuation shelter. We had a lot of support from other boaties making room, assisting with lines and anchoring.
“No one complained when we were crowding them in so I’d like to thank them for their assistance.
“We’d like to thank the Point Danger Marine Rescue volunteers who stood by as safety for us on a number of occasions in case we had to jump overboard.”
A houseboat with one person on board almost hit the bridge before the water police towed it to safety.
“There were two people on one of the boats we towed off at Fingal,” Sergeant Parker said.
“There was another big yacht towed from Fingal Head with one person on board who
was going to try and ride it out and then needed help to get him safe.
“Another male at Chinderah was offered voluntary evacuation but declined so we just kept checking on him.”
There were 20 marine emergencies with six search and rescues, nine vessels rescued either aground or adrift, another four vessels remain aground with no persons on board and 11 vessels had “voluntary evacuation.”
“Three vessels have been completely destroyed or sunk with no lives lost,” Sergeant Parker said.
“There’s one at Little Duranbah Beach that has been completely destroyed, one up against the wall at the hospital has been sunk and there’s another one in the Fingal moorings near the golf course that has sunk which is still there.
“The 50 tonne steel cruiser ‘Nancy’ washed away from Fingal and went up on the rocks on the western side of the Tweed River. It was listing dangerously at low tide.
The 30-tonne yacht ‘Kia’ is on rocks at Kerosene Inlet on the eastern side of the Tweed River.”
Sergeant Parker also thanked Seascape Trawler Watch’s (STW) Gary Sutton “for always letting us know when someone is in distress.”
“He’s usually the first one to report it,” he said.
“STW has videos testifying to the incredible bravery of our water police.”
Conditions with debris in our waterways are “still extremely dangerous” with NSW Maritime in charge of the safety of navigation and “working to sort that out.”
Maritime police checking out the cruiser which washed up on rocks in the Tweed River. Photo: Seascape Trawler Watch
A destroyed boat on Little Duranbah Beach
Water police went to the aid of a yacht in trouble
A yacht aground at Tweed Heads
Jet ski chase
By Jo Kennett
POLICE ARE making inquiries after a jet ski was reportedly sighted near Duranbah Beach on Thursday, March 6, as gale force winds and huge seas hit the coast.
At about 1.20pm, police were told a jet ski was seen floating in the surf near the mouth of the Tweed River.
Officers attached to Marine Area Command and Tweed-Byron Police District – in conjunction with Queensland Police and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter — commenced a search of the area.
During the search, a jet ski rider entered the channel from the east before allegedly failing to stop for police and continuing west into the Tweed River.
As inquiries continue, police wish to speak with the rider of the jet ski to ascertain his movements at the time of the initial police report. No other jet skis were located during the search and police have not received any missing person reports at this stage. As inquiries continue, anyone who might have been riding a jet ski at the time of the incident is urged to contact Tweed Heads Police.
Is this your bike?
By Jo Kennett
POLICE ARE asking for the public’s assistance to identify the owner of a blue cruiser bicycle recently recovered by a member of the public in Tweed Heads.
If this is your bike or you have information pertaining to the owner, please contact Tweed Heads Police Station 07 5506 9499, referencing E102036884.
Proof of ownership will be required for its return.
An example image of a jet ski rider in large swell
Anxious wait for water and power
By Jonathon Howard
SPARE A THOUGHT for those Tweed Shire residents who continue to wait for their power and safe drinking water to return this week, as both Tweed Shire Council and Essential Energy scramble to unravel a chaotic jumble of wires and trees.
High winds, some up to 100km per hour, have torn down large trees throughout the entire shire, with some of the hardest hit on the hills of Terranora, Bilambil Heights and Banora Point.
The water supply issues occurred when almost two thirds of council’s water pump stations — of which there around about 220 that handle both drinking water and sewage — lost power and major water pump stations were resorted to power generators.
Boil water alerts were lifted for Bilambil Heights, Terranora and Banora Point on Tuesday. However, generators, as council’s Manager Water and Wastewater Operations Brie Jowett told The Weekly, are only able to support part of the whole system and have been used on critical assets due to the length of power supply interruptions.
“It’s challenging to use generators across the whole network, but it supplies something to keep the water flowing,” she said.
The Weekly joined Mrs Jowett and council’s General Manager Troy Green to visit a major pump station at the corner of Terranora Road and Bilambil Road on Tuesday, March 11.
The site was complete carnage with a large old gum tree landing on the roof of a property and taking powerlines with it.
The situation was similar in many locations across the shire and resulted in trees or branches over dozens of powerlines. In this case, it meant limited access to both power and water for residents in the Terranora, Banora Point and Bilambil areas.
Many remained without power at the time of print on Wednesday, March 12, but Essential Energy was scrambling to restore the network.
Mrs Jowett stressed the importance of conserving water across the whole of the Tweed, until council’s infrastructure was back to running at full capacity.
“The Tweed has around 220 drinking water and wastewater pumps,” Mrs Jowett said.
“Our crews have been working around the
clock to keep reservoirs filled, but we still have major water pumps offline with five big ones on generators running pumps at limited capacity, as well as a major water pipe (trunk main) being broken at Chinderah.
“It’s important residents and businesses conserve water until our systems are back to operating at full capacity, especially refraining from using town water to clean mud and flood debris.”
Mrs Jowett stressed that council takes drinking water quality “extremely seriously” and tests the supply after any pipe breaks or failures before it’s deemed safe for normal use.
Member for Tweed Geoff Provest joined in the look at the pump station.
“This is my seventh storm/flood event,” Mr Provest told The Weekly, outlining his shock when he saw sewer manhole covers floating in water at Banora Point.
“I knew there was a problem with the pumps when I saw about four manhole covers bubbling up from the road.
“It’s been a terrible situation for residents without power or water, but I know Essential
Energy and Tweed Shire Council have put in an extraordinary effort to restore these services, and for that I am grateful.”
Essential Energy has had more than 50 workers across the Tweed’s network rewiring poles and where possible restoring the network.
Mrs Jowett heaped praise on council’s day and night workers, many of whom who have put in very long hours working every day and night both during and after the cyclone to return services.
In fact, Mrs Jowett lives in Terranora and has been without power and safe drinking water since Thursday.
“Two thirds of our sewer pumps were without power and we experienced sewage spills, although these were extremely diluted with the rain and stormwater,” she said.
“It’s still very important for people to remember to stay away from floodwater and the waterways for now.
“It’s been a major challenge for both council and residents, but it’s also been our top priority to restore power, water and wastewater services so residents can continue the recovery.”
The Banora Point pump station under repairsThe council teams and Geoff Provest MP
A big gumtree came crashing down on a home at the corner of Bilambil and Terranora Road. Workers were on site on Tuesday restoring the building's roof
Kerbside clean up coming – skip the trip to the tip!
Tweed residents - we are coming to you, no need to go to the tip! A Shirewide clean up starts early next week following Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Council will conduct a free residential kerbside collection for yard and tree debris and legitimate cyclone-impacted hard waste from the weather event starting next week.
Suburb collection days will be finalised in the coming days and published this to our website and social media channels. Please separate hard and green waste as they will be collected by different trucks. The Stotts Creek Resource Recovery Centre is still closed to the public due to flooding and access limitations. We will advise the community when the facility reopens.
Your clean up options:
• Free kerbside green and hard waste collection –avoid the tip.
• Use your regular green bin service for anything that can fit like leaves, light debris, fronds or unpackaged food waste or your red and yellow bin service for hard waste items that fit.
• Stockpile yard and tree debris; or legitimate cyclone/flood impacted hard waste on your kerb but not on the road. Make sure it’s not going impede your bin collection too.
• If you are on private property and have major safety concerns, or you’re not able to get your yard or tree debris moved to the kerb side for the clean-up, please call the SES on 132 500. Use your household bin collections
• Keep using your regular green, red and yellow bin service. Collections will continue.
• Chat with neighbours ask if you can top up their green bin if there is space.
The tip - avoid where possible Stotts Creek Resource Recovery Centre remains closed due to limited road access. Council will advise when this opens to the public.
• Council asks the community to choose the kerbside pickup and skip the trip to the tip.
• When the tip opens residents of Tweed Shire Local Government Area Only can drop off free waste from the impacts of Ex-Cyclone Alfred from Saturday 15 March until Sunday 23 March 2025. Residents will need to provide a driver’s licence or proof of residency at the weighbridge.
• Eligible items included are: –Legitimate flood affected waste from impacted properties –Green waste from storm damage.
Mosquito warning for the whole of the Tweed Shire
Mosquitoes only need a small amount of water to breed. To prevent breeding, empty all waterholding vessels around your home.
Following the heavy rains from Ex-Cyclone Alfred, Council is urging residents to do their bit to reduce the impacts of mosquitoes.
Council’s Pest Management
Supervisor Brian Falkner said the wet weather has created ideal conditions for mosquito breeding.
“Some mosquitoes only need very small amounts of water to breed,” he said.
“To reduce mozzies around your home, empty all water-holding containers such as buckets, old tyres, poorly–aligned roof gutters and pot plant holders.
Don’t let your home be a haven for mosquitoes and their larvae.”
Avoid bites by covering up as much as possible and using repellent on your skin or clothes. Other things you can do include:
• Mowing lawns regularly and limiting areas of dense vegetation
• Covering all windows, doors, chimneys and vents and other entrances with strong insect screens
• Ensuring all openings to water tanks and septic tanks are screened securely
• Placing sand or fine gravel in pot plant trays, or flushing them out weekly
• Emptying and refilling pet water bowls and bird baths regularly.
For more information visit tweed.nsw.gov.au/mosquitoes
Interstate Council crews help with tree clean up
Tweed has experienced widespread tree falls across Council land, roads and private property due to Ex-Cyclone Alfred. We're working closely with the SES to clear these trees as quickly and safely as possible but please be patient as the recovery process will take time.
The scale of the damage is massive and cleanup efforts will continue into the months ahead but to speed up recovery we’ve organised to bring in
additional crews and equipment from other NSW Councils. We’re very grateful for their support. What to do if you encounter a dangerous tree:
• On a road: Call Council at 02 6670 2400
• If it's near power lines: Call Essential Energy on 13 20 80
• On your property or blocking access: Call the SES at 132 500
• For life-threatening emergencies: Call 000
In brief ...
Ways you can help
a day
Want to help others affected by Tropical Cyclone Alfred? Donating money rather than goods is generally more flexible and provides choice, promoting a self-directed recovery and can more accurately target needs.
It also circulates money in affected communities, which stimulates a quicker recovery for the local economy.
When safe to do so, please assist family, friends, neighbours, groups and organisations you are already connected with.
Consider connecting with local organisations or charities:
• GIVIT - givit.org.au
• Salvation Army - salvationarmy.org,au
• St Vincent de Paul Society (Vinnies) –vinnies.org.au
• Australian Red Cross – redcross.org.au
Community facilities affected by Tropical Cyclone Alfred
Some Council services and facilities were temporarily affected due to adverse weather caused by Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
Swimming pools – Tweed Regional Aquatic Centres (TRAC) resumed regular opening hours at all three locations, including the Starting Block Café on Wednesday 12 March. All programs are back to normal, including Learn to Swim, Squads, and Aqua Aerobics. They are also offering free showers at all centres for those affected by the weather event.
Libraries – Richmond Tweed Regional Libraries at Tweed Heads, Kingscliff and Murwillumbah reopened Tuesday 11 March. Regular programs and activities may still be affected. For further information please visit the events section of the Richmond Tweed Regional Library webpage at rtrl.nsw.gov.au
Cultural facilities – Tweed Regional Museum and Tweed Regional Gallery & Margaret Olley Art Centre have reopened. As has Apex Dining at the Gallery. Cemeteries – To check whether Tweed Shire Council Cemeteries have reopened, please visit emergency.tweed.nsw.gov.au/services-facilities
Community spaces – The following Council operated community spaces have reopened as normal:
• Banora Point Community Centre
• The Activities Room at Tweed Heads South Community Centre
• The Tweed Heads Auditorium, Harvard Room and South Sea Islander Rooms at Council’s Tweed Heads Administration office
• Kingscliff Community Hall
• The Canvas & Kettle Room at Council’s Murwillumbah Administration Building
Please note that the Community Hall at Tweed Heads South Community Centre will be used as a dedicated Recovery Assistance Point From Thursday 13 March, 9am until Sunday 16 March, 5pm.
Council hopes to restore all services as soon as possible. For up-to-date information on affected services, please visit the Tweed Emergency Dashboard at: emergency.tweed.nsw.gov.au/services-facilities
Look after what makes the Tweed the Tweed. Our water.
Tweed Shire Council wishes to acknowledge the Ngandowal and Minyungbal speaking people of the Bundjalung Country, in particular the Goodjinburra, Tul-gi-gin and Moorung – Moobah clans, as being the traditional owners and custodians of the land and waters within the Tweed Shire boundaries. Council also acknowledges and respects the Tweed Aboriginal community’s right to speak for its Country and to care for its traditional Country in accordance with its lore, customs and traditions.
Tweed Shire Council will be providing a clean-up across the Tweed after Tropical Cyclone Alfred wreaked havoc last weekend.
All TRAC centres have have now re-opened to the public.
Development application determinations
Notification of development application determinations for the purposes of Section 4.59 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (as amended).
Application details
Approved
DA24/0378 - Use of Road Reserve for a play area adjacent to South Murwillumbah Public School and ancillary works including the construction of a fence
Lots 16-18 DP 9871, Lot 4 DP 1022089; No. 427-433 Tweed Valley Way & Tweed Valley Road (road reserve), South Murwillumbah
DA24/0550 - Outbuilding (shed)
Lot 8 DP 5726, No. 6163 Tweed Valley Way, Burringbar
DA25/0021 - Dwelling with attached garage
Lot 92 DP 1301249, No. 3 Sugar Mill Road, Cudgen
DA24/0584 - Two storey dwelling, front fence and inground swimming pool
Lot 400 DP 1097757, No. 21 Fairy Bower Street, Kingscliff
DA24/0621 - Alterations and additions to an existing dwelling including swimming pool and associated deck forward the building line, and associated works
Lot 52 DP 30845, No. 40 Cudgen Road Kingscliff
DA25/0007 - Alterations and additions to an existing dwelling
Lot 206 DP 1069887, No. 14 Snapper Avenue, Kingscliff
DA24/0544 - Alterations and additions to existing dwelling
Lot 379 DP 1052082, No. 62 Sassafras Street, Pottsville
DA25/0004 - Swimming pool
Lot 1217 DP 1118282, No. 81 Lennox Circuit, Pottsville
DA25/0027 - Swimming pool
Lot 49 DP 263729, No. 6 Tudor Court, Pottsville
DA24/0468 - Alterations and additions to existing dwelling including use of existing additions
Lot 1 DP 739552, No. 8A Bawden Street, Tumbulgum
DA24/0222 - Dwelling with attached garage
Lot 17 DP 865925, No. 23 Quayside Court, Tweed Heads
DA24/0523 - Dwelling with attached garage including swimming pool and associated works
Lot 159 DP 1281855, No. 12 Tucana Close, Tweed Heads South
The above development determinations are available for public inspection free of charge at the Planning and Regulation Division, Murwillumbah Civic Centre, during ordinary office hours or viewed on Council’s DA Tracking site located at datracker.tweed.nsw.gov.au
Request for offer
RFO – QU3000039 - Watersports – Call for businesses: hire out equipment at 4 creek side locations.
Tweed Shire Council is inviting offers from businesses to provide non–motorised aquatic hire equipment, including kayaks, SUPs and other watercraft at 4 sites: Jack Evans Boat Harbour, Kingscliff, Hastings Point and Pottsville’s Mooball Creek (a new location).
Contract period: 3 years, with potential extension.
Interested businesses must submit offers before the closing date at tweed.nsw.gov.au/tenders
Offers close: Wednesday 26 March 2025, 4 pm AEDST. Offers must be lodged as specified in the offer documentation.
All offers will be opened at closing time and will be considered by Council in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act 1993 and the NSW Local Government (General) Regulation 2005. The lowest or any offer is not necessarily accepted and canvassing of Councillors or staff will disqualify. For further information please contact Amelia Pitt on 02 6670 2400.
Current vacancies
Visit tweed.nsw.gov.au/job-vacancies to view current vacancies. Subscribe to receive Job Vacancy Alerts via email at tweed.nsw.gov.au/subscribe
WATER WEEK 10
Personal Hardship Assistance Grants are available
The Personal Hardship Assistance Grant for individuals and families is part of a range of support aimed at helping people recover from this event.
It provides emergency financial assistance of $180 for individuals or up to $900 per family to cover essential costs such as food, clothing, medicines and emergency accommodation.
To be eligible for the grant individuals must reside in one of the declared affected local government areas including Tweed.
Anyone who wants to apply for this assistance to do so through the Service NSW website. Once your application is approved, you can expect to see this money in your account within days.
Applications will open on Wednesday 12 March and will stay open until 8 April 2025.
Disaster Recovery Allowance
This allowance is available to individuals who live or work in Tweed and other disaster declared areas and have lost some or all of their income due to the disaster.
This allowance offers up to 13 weeks of income support for eligible workers and sole traders
depending on their personal circumstances who have suffered a loss of income as a direct result of the event.
To be eligible for the Disaster Recovery Allowance, a person’s income must have fallen below the average Australian weekly income as a result of the floods.
Applications opened on Tuesday 11 March. People can check their eligibility on the Services Australia website at:
Natural disaster support (Services Australia)
The easiest way to claim is online through myGov. If people need help to claim, they can call the Australian Government Emergency Information Line on 180 22 66.
Disaster Relief Grants
These grants support those most in need and those least able to return their homes to a safe and habitable condition after a natural disaster such as low-income earners and where the damage is not covered by insurance.
For information and eligibility requirements, click here: Disaster Relief Grants or visit: nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/disaster-relief-grants
It's important to stay off beaches until further notice
Tropical Cyclone Alfred caused significant damage to Tweed’s coastline, with serious dune erosion and hazards along beaches.
Residents and visitors are urged to stay off the beaches and out of waterways for at least a week after any significant rain.
Council’s Environment and Sustainability Manager Jane Lofthouse said community safety remains the Council’s top priority.
“This is the worst beach damage we’ve seen in years, and we have a major task ahead to restore the area,” Ms Lofthouse said.
“Our teams are working hard to assess the damage and begin repairs, but in the meantime, it is critical that people stay away. Conditions remain unstable and unsafe.
“We are aware of significant coastal hazards, including large logs in the water, fallen trees, collapsed board and chain, damaged fencing and signage. These pose serious safety risks and should be avoided,” she added.
For your safety, please:
• Stay away from beaches and coastal areas
Conditions are still dangerous and beach erosion cliffs are highly unstable. These cliffs could collapse at any time, causing serious injury of death if someone were trapped and buried.
• Stay off ocean break walls – These structures can be unstable and pose significant risks when there is large swell.
• Avoid swimming or wading in waterways –Floodwaters can contain hidden dangers, debris, and contaminants.
• Stay out of flood waters and sewer overflows –Floodwaters are contaminated with many harmful substances, including deceased animals, fuel, chemicals, and pesticides, all of which can make you very ill.
• Avoid touching or swimming in sea foam – It can hide underwater rocks, making it difficult to spot hidden dangers.
• Keep dogs away from the water
Visit the Tweed Emergency Dashboard to stay up to date with the latest news: emergency.tweed.nsw.gov.au/services-facilities
Flood waters and your health - know the risks
Residents across the Tweed are being urged to take extra precautions if handling flood waters following recent adverse weather.
Dr Valerie Delpech, Regional Director of North Coast Population and Public Health, warned that flood waters could contain harmful substances, including raw sewage and chemicals, and should be avoided.
“If you are involved in clean-up efforts, wear protective gear such as boots, gloves, and eye protection, and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards,” Dr Delpech advised.
“Even minor cuts can become infected, so clean and dress any wounds promptly.”
Those relying on tank water should check for contamination and use alternative water sources until their supply is confirmed safe.
Food safety is another concern. Any food, including
Development proposal for public comment
frozen goods, that has come into contact with floodwaters should be discarded.
“If power is cut for more than four hours, food in fridges is unsafe. Freezers will keep food for around 24 hours if unopened,” Dr Delpech said.
Other flood-related hazards include hidden dangers in homes, contaminated medicines, and potential electrical risks. Mould prevention is also criticaldrying out flooded homes quickly can help reduce health risks.
For flood assistance, call the SES on 132 500. For medical advice, contact Healthdirect at 1800 022 222. For mental health support, call Lifeline at 13 11 14 or Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800.
For more health and safety information, visit the NSW Health website at health.nsw.gov.au
The following Development Application has been received by the Tweed Shire Council and may be viewed on Council’s DA Tracking site located at
for a period of 28 days from Wednesday 12 March 2025 to Wednesday 9 April 2025.
The proposal is not designated development and the Tweed Shire Council is the consent authority. ApplicantLocation Proposal
Shire Council Lot 2 DP 1114894; No. 11 Old Lismore Road, MURWILLUMBAH
Any person may, during the period specified above, make a submission in writing to Council in relation to the Development Application. Where a submission is in the form of an objection, then the grounds of objection are required to be specified. Any person may, during the above period, make a written submission to the General Manager of Council. It should also be noted that Council has adopted a policy whereby, on request, any submission including identifying particulars will be made public. Council will give consideration to the "Public Interest " and requests for confidentiality by submitters in determining access to submission letters. However, the provisions of the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 - GIPAA may result in confidential submissions being released to an applicant.
Please Note- Requirements regarding Disclosure of Political Gifts and Donations
Check when your water meter is read at tweed.nsw.gov.au/meter-reading
A disclosure is required to be made in a statement accompanying the relevant development or planning application by a person who makes the application. In addition, a person who makes a written submission either objecting to or supporting a relevant development or planning application must also make a disclosure if the person has made a reportable political donation. Further information regarding Donations and Gift Disclosure are available on Councils’ website tweed.nsw.gov.au/development-applications
tsc@tweed.nsw.gov.au
SES to the rescue
By Jonathon Howard
AS CYCLONE Alfred battered the Tweed Shire, the local SES branches were overwhelmed with desperate calls for help, particularly from residents dealing with fallen trees.
On Monday, March 10, The Weekly joined the courageous Murwillumbah SES team, led by Deputy Local Commander Jenny Townend, who shared the intense behind-the-scenes response to the challenging storm.
The team, working tirelessly under extreme pressure, answered hundreds of distress calls from across the Tweed, their mission was clear: restore safety, protect homes and help their community.
But Jenny Townend emphasised that the response was far from a one-person job — “it was a unified, all-hands-on-deck effort”.
“The teamwork has been incredible,” she said.
“NSW Fire and Rescue, our own SES crews, police, Essential Energy, Tweed Shire Council — everyone came together to help residents. But the bulk of the work? Tree removals. It’s been a non-stop battle against fallen timber.”
The sheer volume of tree-related incidents surged, with more than half of the cases dangerously involving active or inactive powerlines.
As a result, the process of clearing trees became a dangerous and slow-moving task, with delays in many areas until it was safe to proceed. But the SES volunteers didn’t back down — persistence was key.
“We’re still out there today, finishing those jobs,” Townend added, as crews continued to face the aftermath of the storm.
The dedicated volunteers, including John Murphy, Bill Fitch, Jacob Moore, and Data Kelly, stayed on call, ready to respond to any swift water rescues or emergencies that might arise. Ms Townend couldn’t help but express her heartfelt gratitude for the community’s unwav-
ering resilience.
“It’s been amazing to see how well-prepared and patient the people of Tweed have been, following the guidance of local authorities,” she said.
“Their strength made all the difference during this crisis.”
She also took a moment to acknowledge the unbelievable commitment of the SES volun teers, who have gone above and beyond, putting the safety of others before their own.
“We’ve had to prioritise hundreds of jobs in intense conditions, but our volunteers? They’ve shown what it means to give everything for the community,” she said.
In the wake of the storm, The Weekly is invit ing residents to send in their heartfelt messages of thanks to the local heroes who made it all possible. Let’s make sure our gratitude is heard.
YOUR THOUGHTS: The Weekly is encourag ing residents to submit their thank yous following the cyclone event. Please email the editor via: editor@theweekly.net.au — or phone the editor directly on 0447 300 258.
Thank you to our SES teams!
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2025 NRL signings
DYLAN BROWN will depart the Eels at the end of the 2025 season after being offered the biggest deal in NRL history, according to Eels GM Mark O’Neill.
“Dylan has been offered what I understand to be the biggest deal in NRL history from 2026 onwards,” O’Neill told NRL.
“Dylan is a class player, we understand his decision to take up the offer and no one could begrudge him for accepting this opportunity for him and his family.
“Despite agreeing to terms with another NRL club for future seasons, Dylan remains committed to the Eels in 2025 and we look forward to him playing his role in the team for the remainder of the year.” Brown remains committed to the Eels for 2025, despite agreeing to terms with another club for future seasons.
Sharks forward Tom Hazelton has signed a three-year extension through to 2028. Meanwhile, the Dragons have secured 18-year-old Jacob Halangahu on a long-term deal, promoting him to the Top 30 for 2026 and 2027.
Halangahu, named to the Australian Schoolboys team, played a key role in St George’s 2024 SG Ball grand final win.
The Dolphins have signed
England’s Morgan Knowles on a two-year deal starting in 2026 after he completes his commitments with St Helens in 2025.
Parramatta captain Mitch Moses has re-signed until 2029, marking his 13th season with the club, and Richard Penisini has been upgraded to the Top 30 squad immediately.
The Sea Eagles have extended Lehi Hopoate’s contract, elevating him to the Top 30 for the next three years. Veteran prop Liam Knight will join Hull FC for the remainder of the Super League season.
Dolphins forward Max Plath signed a one-year extension through 2028, and Kurt Donoghoe secured a two-year extension through 2027.
Broncos hooker Tyson Smoothy will depart for Wakefield Trinity in 2026 after signing a three-year deal.
The Roosters have promoted Salesi Foketi, Jake Elliott, and Benaiah Ioelu to their Top 30 for 2025. The Warriors have signed centre Morgan Harper for 2025, and Cronulla extended Oregon Kaufusi’s deal through 2027.
The Bulldogs extended winger Jethro Rinakama until 2027 and released Karl Oloapu.
The Warriors also extended Adam Pompey’s contract
through 2027, while South Sydney extended Tyrone Munro’s deal until 2027.
Wests Tigers re-signed Alex Seyfarth through 2028, and Newcastle extended Brodie Jones’ contract until 2026. The Raiders promoted Owen Pattie to the Top 30 and re-signed him through 2028.
The Cowboys extended Kumuls winger Rob Derby for three more years, keeping him until at least 2028.
Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo signed a three-year extension through 2028, continuing his pursuit of the club’s try-scoring record.
Bulldogs forwards Jack Todd and Jack Underhill also secured contract extensions, with Todd promoted to the Top 30.
South Sydney extended forward Tallis Duncan’s contract until 2027.
Read more on NRL.com
Big deal for Dylan Brown
Tweed survives Alfred
Continued from page 1. THE DAMAGE could have been much worse with other areas copping the full brunt, including Springbrook which received 1329mm over the week to Monday and K’Gari
Eurong (Fraser Island) which recorded 427mm in 24 hours.
The Tweed received between 358mm (Brays Creek) and 632mm (Tweed Heads) over the week to Tuesday, March 11.
Despite earlier warnings of moderate to major flooding of the Tweed River, waters only rose to minor levels at Murwillumbah and Chinderah and moderate at Tumbulgum.
Tumbulgum avoided a major flood by only 12cm after the river peaked at 2.38 metres on Monday morning, just below the major flood level of 2.5 metres.
Murwillumbah peaked in the early hours of Monday at 3.51 metres, above the minor flood level of three metres.
Chinderah also experienced minor flooding. The river
reached a height of 1.6 metres just after 8am on Monday, below the moderate flood of 1.7 metres.
Local MP Justine Elliot has been on the ground across the North Coast meeting with emergency service personnel, ADF, SES, RFS and locals impacted by Cyclone Alfred.
“It’s been such a challenging week for everyone, but we’ve also seen our community come together to support each other,” she said.
“Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles have also been here to meet with SES, RFS, ADF and other emergency services workers and volunteers working so hard to keep everyone safe.
“As your Federal MP, I’ve been providing comprehen -
sive updates for our community and sharing BoM and SES warnings regarding flooding and Cyclone Alfred via Facebook and social media.
“I’ve been in constant contact with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, NSW Premier Chris Minns, Minister for Emergency Management Jenny McAllister, Special Envoy for Disaster Recovery Senator Tony Sheldon and emergency services throughout the weather event.
“The federal and state governments have been on the ground since the beginning, and we’ll be here every step of the way for those who need assistance.
“Our government is here to support you. Full details are on my website: www.justineelliot.com.au/alfred or call (07) 5523 4371.”
Cudgen Rural Fire Service made quick work of a large tree at The Grove in Nunderi that narrowly avoided landing on a Ford Falcon XT. The tree root from the old gum was taller than a man making the tree a good 100 years old.
Fire crews used their vehicle to drag the enormous tree out of the way for residents to gain access to their homes – great work.
TWEED SHIRE Council Mayor Chris Cherry extended her appreciation to the community for their preparation and awareness.
“I’d like to thank the community for being so prepared — removing items and vegetation from their yards which could
have become projectiles in the wind, using sandbags and checking in on their neighbours,” she said.
“Thanks also to the pro-activity of farmers who moved valuable machinery to higher ground, as well as businesses who were able to find safe places for their expensive vehicles, such as semi-trailers.
“While many of us have been lucky and have been spared the devastation that we saw in 2022, let’s not forget there have been those who have been impacted — such as our isolated communities — and offer
them all the support we can.
“I’m so proud of the way our community has bonded together to help those in need.
“This event has shown us clearly how vulnerable our community is to power and telecommunication outages.
“As a council, we’re strongly advocating for the things we need to make our community more resilient, such as powerful generators for our water and wastewater assets, flood pumps, additional flood cameras and more assistance for telecommunications.
Boat Harbour: 545mm
Murwillumbah: 431mm
Tweed Heads: 632mm
Kingscliff: 476mm
Eungella: 490mm
Uki: 412mm
Brays Creek: 358mm
A group of Nunderi locals watched on as firefighters helped clear the path home Floodwaters rose behind properties along Tweed Valley Way A local family took to the water on their kayaks to see the sights
Some of the Murwillumbah SES team members who helped during a challenging time for many residents – thank you team
Byron at Taylors Corner will have clean fuel pumping as soon as the waters drop. Please note the fuel tanks are sealed off from any water inundation
Murwillumbah Showgrounds experienced flooding
Please give blood
CANCELLATIONS OF blood donor appointments across Northern NSW due to Cyclone Alfred have severely impacted blood supplies.
The Australian Red Cross Lifeblood is now making an urgent call for 6,000 more blood donors this week to replenish supplies depleted by Cyclone Alfred.
Lifeblood chief Stuart Chesneau said Lifeblood was particularly focused on replenishing platelets, which are made from blood donations and have a shelf life of just five days.
“We preemptively sent extra supplies of blood products, including platelets, to hospitals in the impacted region ahead of Alfred landing, but many of those platelets are now close to expiring,” Mr Chesneau said.
“They are used to help people undergoing chemotherapy or to stop bleeding during surgery or after a major trauma.”
Lifeblood was forced to cancel 3,500 appoint-
ments with the closure of 22 donor centres in Queensland and northern New South Wales from Thursday to Sunday. A further 330 appointments had to be cancelled this week.
“We’re asking anyone who may be eligible to donate to book an appointment now, and we also need new donors to step up,” Mr Chesneau said.
To book a donation call 13 14 95, visit lifeblood.com.au
Wedgetail nurses go above and
By Jonathon Howard
AMID THE havoc caused by Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which swept through the Tweed Shire from Thursday, March 6, staff at Wedgetail Retreat, operated by Tweed Palliative Support, displayed extraordinary dedication to continue providing essential care for patients.
As Cyclone Alfred’s high winds brought down powerlines, the facility lost electricity, Wedgetail switched to generators to continue the ongoing care of the four patients receiving palliative care at the Dulguigan hospice. However, the team at Wedgetail Retreat refused to let the storm stop them from fulfilling their duties.
With the power out and the situation growing more difficult, the nurses at the hospice worked with the State Emergency Service (SES) to ensure that their patients received uninterrupted care.
SES trucks were used to transport the dedicated nursing staff to the retreat, braving flooded roads and fallen debris to ensure the comfort and safety of patients.
In a display of professionalism and resilience, one nurse stayed overnight at the hospice, working tirelessly to monitor and support the patients through the storm’s most intense hours.
Tweed Palliative Support President Meredith Dennis OAM praised the efforts of both the staff, SES and the local Dulguigan neighbours, who checked in on the hospice during the cyclone and provided essential support.
“We’re so grateful to our nurses, the SES crews and community,” Ms Dennis told The Weekly.
“In times of need, we come together and help each other out, and it shows the resilience through our community spirit.”
Ms Dennis also highlighted the hard work and professionalism of the facility’s staff.
“The guests at the retreat are being well cared
for by our fabulous registered nurses,” Ms Dennis added.
“Their dedication, especially during such extreme circumstances, is a testament to their commitment to the well-being of our patients.”
The combined efforts of healthcare workers, local volunteers, and the SES underscore the strength of the community, ensuring that no matter the challenges, care continued uninterrupted at Wedgetail Retreat.
Thanks to this remarkable community spirit, the patients remained safe and supported throughout the storm’s impact.
Two happy nurses thanks to the SES
SES volunteers cautiously crossing flooded waters to Dulguigan in order to reach Wedgetail Retreat
Native animals suffering
By Jonathon Howard
TWEED VALLEY Wildlife Carers (TVWC) is sounding the alarm for native animals impacted by Cyclone Alfred, which has destroyed habitats and made food sources scarce.
TVWC president Jan Pilgrim said shelters for animals such small mammals, birds as well as aquatic life, have all been displaced or killed in the high winds and heavy rainfall.
The tragedy unfolding for Tweed’s native wildlife is leading to carers calling for residents to aid in the recovery of the small mammals by phoning TVWC if you notice any stricken creatures.
“We are facing a massive collapse of our native animals due to both humans and human-induced climate change,” Ms Pilgrim said.
“While we can all enjoy the beautiful creatures, including the ringtail possums that featured on Facebook, the reality is that many other small mammals did not make it and have perished in the storm.”
The images Ms Pilgrim has referred to were taken by Condong resident Kerryn Law, who discovered three adorable ringtail possums on her verandah during the cyclonic winds.
Ms Law was quick to shelter the creatures and dialled TVWC’s 24hour hotline.
“The possums were on the deck for almost a day, but Kerryn was worried about the waters rising again,” Ms Pilgrim said, who is also the small mammal coordinator.
“Kerryn decided to phone us and we were able to relocate the possum family.”
Ms Pilgrim said the mother and two joeys were exhausted and cold and had given up attempting to hide.
“The mother had clearly decided to break cover and attempt to find help for her joeys due to desperation, it’s actually very rare to see ringtails in the daylight hours,” she said.
“I’d like to thank Kerryn and her family for caring for the possums and calling TVWC.”
Ms Pilgrim said the possum family
are now in good health and have been placed with other ringtails as they are a social species.
“We had extremely busy period through the cyclone with about 50 serious calls to aid wildlife, and many could not be saved,” she said.
“But people were amazing, including Kerryn, who cared for these creatures until we could reach them.”
Ms Pilgrim wanted to update the community on an Australian first with the establishment of the “Northern Rivers Wildlife Network”.
“This network is in direct response
to the collapse of our native species,” she said, highlighting that funding for the network is now vital.
“We are asking for people to donate to save our native wildlife.
“Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, and our wildlife are suffering.”
She said a GoFundMe has been set up for residents to donate and know they are helping wildlife in the best way possible.
“It’s okay to enjoy cute pictures of these creatures, they’re beautiful, but in reality, they are dying and suffering in the shadows and you can help by making a donation to our team to care for them,” Ms Pilgrim said.
To find out more please: https://vist. ly/3mwwmj8
For all wildlife emergencies in the Tweed Shire, call TVWC’s 24-hour hotline: (02) 6672 4789.
A ringtail possum mother-of-two had to seek shelter. Photos by Kerryn Law
Some of the stricken animals caught out by the high winds and cold rain due to Cyclone Alfred including photos by Kerryn Law, who aided a family of ringtail possums who are now safe and recovering with other ringtails
A sugar glider needed help
A flying fox was also found stricken
The mother and her two babies are now in care
Cabarita residents flood fears
By Jo Kennett
BOGANGAR RESIDENTS have had some sleepless nights, concerned not only about wind damage but that the flooding which destroyed many houses in 2022 might happen again, as floodwaters started to rise in the wake of Cyclone Alfred.
Paddocks either side of the M1 at Clothiers Creek, which drains into Cudgen Lake on the northern side of Bogangar and leads to flooding, had disappeared under floodwaters as torrential rain hit on Sunday afternoon, March 9.
Locals kept an anxious eye as water in the lake rose and streets around Tamarind Avenue, Rosewood Avenue and Hastings Road began to fill with water.
The Pottsville-based SES Tweed Coast Unit posted on the Bogangar community page on Sunday, March 9, that their crews “have been back on deck since dawn.”
“We’ve been keeping a close eye on Cudgen Lake levels and what’s happening along Tamarind Ave in Cabarita. Thank you to the locals down there who are providing us with live updates each hour.”
Cabarita Beach Bogangar Residents Association (CBBRA) Flood Mitigation group member Andy Williams’ house on Hastings Road backs onto the canal and was under threat from rising floodwaters (pictured) on Monday morning.
“There is water across Tamarind in various places, and it has just come across Hastings Road at Reef Villas South,” Andy said on Monday.
“It is just over 2.5 metres at the lake and so from now on houses may be impacted.
“I think people are more prepared and the rain is steady enough that water is not spiking, but it is still going up.
“We are fine most likely, but it will be very much touch and go for many along Tamarind. Nearly every house there is sandbagged, plus many of the other houses throughout the streets at the south of Caba.
“People are bored but alert and still very worried, though well connected and fortunate to have water and supplies now Woolies is open.”
Andy said while mitigation delay were unfortunate, the study and modeling being undertaken to look at various solutions was best practice, “so that just needs to happen this year as it is expected to be.”
“I think what is concerning is how long various solutions will take to implement once recommended, so we will be actively seeking a commitment to fund solutions as soon as they are recommended,” he said.
“This is exactly the scenario we were afraid of, and more importantly potentially, what if there is another event in the next month while waters so slowly recede again?”
A house on Hastings Road, Bogangar on Monday, March 10
Locals blocked part of Hastings Road to keep cars from pushing floodwater into homes
Streets across Caba were taking on a lot of water
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Thank you health staff
By Jo Kennett
THE LOCAL health services boss has thanked hundreds of hospital staff who slept on site for up to four days to provide health care services to local patients, and other health staff who came from around the state to support them during Cyclone Alfred. Most planned surgery and outpatient care services at Northern NSW Local Health District resumed on Tuesday, March 11, subject to staff availability.
Emergency departments also remain open 24 hours a day, so people who need to seek emergency care should continue to do so.
On Monday, Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD) Chief Executive Tracey Maisey said healthcare staff “continue to provide ongoing care to the community as ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred continues to impact the region.”
Ms Maisey said patients will be contacted if their planned appointment or surgery needs to be postponed, but any patients not able to make their appointments should inform the relevant health service so these appointments can be made available to others.
“They say when the going gets tough, the tough get going and that is certainly the case when it comes to our workforce,” Ms Maisey said.
“To date, more than 370 staff stayed away from their homes – some for up to four days – to ensure emergency and urgent care services to patients across the NNSWLHD’s eight hospitals and four multi-purpose services.
“Most of these staff slept on-site in the hospitals to ensure they were able to report for duty the next day, lending a hand to unpack and deliver supplies and assisting in evacuation centres.
“While the emergency is not yet
over, we are indebted to all our staff, both clinical and non-clinical, for their incredible efforts to provide the best possible care for our community over the duration of this weather event.
“We are also extremely grateful to those NSW Health staff, including registered nurses, mental health and allied health workers, who have travelled from other locations across the state to provide back-up support in our hospitals – thank you! With their support we are planning to resume normal operations, where possible, from Tuesday.”
Ms Maisey said 130 patients were delivered to emergency departments by NSW Ambulance across the NNSWLHD on Saturday, March 8, following 118 presentations on Friday, both higher than normal. Walk-in emergency department presentations were slightly lower than usual as people chose to stay home
Elle Jones, Emika Denzel, Collette Simmons and Sandy Ball hold fort at Tweed Valley Hospital’s maternity unit over the weekend as ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred impacted the shire
Courses
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Exchange Home
For Sale
NEW 3m x 6m TINY HOME FRAMES STOCK AVAILABLE, IMMEDIATE DELIVERY $3,995. GET IN TOUCH 0435 012 111
BRAND NEW MAKITA POWER TOOLS Package of LXT, 18 volt, Brushless power tools, including attachments plus accessories and a lockable metal chest. Valued over $2.500 open to offers. $1750. Phone 0401 480 109
Public Notice
MONTHLY MEETING
Lion’s Club of Cabarita / Pottsville hold their monthly meetings on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. Commencing 17:30 at Cabarita Beach Hotel. All welcome!
Riverside General Practice in Tweed Heads would like to welcome Dr. Emma Carroll to the practice. Dr. Carroll has worked in the Tweed Shire as a GP since 2018. Dr. Carroll has a special interest in women’s health and paediatrics and Dr. Carroll will be available for appointments on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday. Please phone the surgery on (07) 5599 3993 to make an appointment.
Margaret: 0438 819 809
SALE: IRRIGATION LICENCE 20 megalitres - Pumpenbil Creek water source. Trading permitted into several other unregulated water sources within the Tweed River Area. Details and offers to Ray: 0418 828 039 2016 Avan Aliner Camper Trailer Air-con, double & single bed, 3-way fridge, rego ‘til July, secure - no canvas, fast easy setup & tow. Casuarina $19,500. Phone: 0422 558 974
Funeral Notice
In Memory of Lillian
“Mary” Townsend
03.09.1926 - 28.02.2025
Born into Eternal Life at John Flynn Hospital, Tugun
Beloved wife of Neville (Decd), adored Mother of Bill & Nancye, Narelle, Stephen & Shirley, Peter & Linda, Ian & Vicki. Adored Nan & Big Nan to her Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren.
Family & Friends are warmly invited to a celebration of Mary’s life to be held at Murwillumbah Baptist Church, Eveleigh Street Murwillumbah on Friday 14 March 2025 at 11:30am.
Tweed Heads (07)
In Memoriam
Funeral Notice
Margaret Berryman
Passed away peacefully on 11.03.2025
Margaret was the much loved wife of Peter, Mother to Tony, Simone and Ti any and Grandma to her seven grandchildren
A celebration of Margaret’s life will be held at the Kingscli Beach Bowling Club at 1pm, Friday 21st March.
Family would like to thank the wonderful people at Lifebridge & BUPA Banora Point for their care and support.
Noel Maurice Parker 05/03/2025
Paperbark Deathcare & Funerals 0466 526 156
Jeanne Marie Sjoberg 05/33/2025
Paperbark Deathcare & Funerals 0466 526 156
Graham Frederick Lee 08/03/2025
Paperbark Deathcare & Funerals 0466 526 156
Johanna Wilhelmina Sporton 08/03/2025
Paperbark Deathcare & Funerals 0466 526 156
WILKINS Freda Sheila 24/2/2025
Heritage Brothers O7 5599 1500
Wednesday, 19th March 2025
Thanks to Alfred we have to reschedule Gary’s Celebration of Life to: 11am (NSW time)
Tweed Valley Cemetery & Crematorium Eviron Rd, Eviron
Bernard Rotteveel
‘Ben’ 25.12.1930
passed away peacefully on 1.3.2025
A Memorial Gathering will be held on Friday 14th March 2025 at 10am at Eviron Lawn Cemetery. All are welcome to commemorate Ben, and to share together songs, memories and stories about him.
With grateful thanks to all the sta at Heritage Lodge who cared so kindly for Ben.
Funeral Directors
WALLIS Darren John 26/02/2025
Heritage Brothers O7 55991500
BALL Donald Alfred 04/03/2025
Heritage Brothers O7 5599 1500
INNS Moreen Patricia 07/03/2025
Heritage Brothers O7 5599 1500
O’BRIEN Ronald 02/03/2025
Dolphin Funerals 0427 743 817
ANDERSEN Graeme Harold 06/03/2025
Dolphin Funerals 0427 743 817
BUSHELL Brigitta 08/03/2025
Dolphin Funerals 0427 743 817
MULHOLLAND Bryan Francis 09/03/2025
Dolphin Funerals 0427 743 817
KEEBLE Allen 10/03/2025
Dolphin Funerals 0427 743 817
READ Gail Lyn 10/03/2025
Dolphin Funerals 0427 743 817
5599 1800
4. To avoid confusion or association with the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, 5. The Olive Cotton Award
Real Estate
Agent of the week
By Jo Kennett
THIS ISSUE’S Agent of the Week is Paul Stobbie, cofounder of Northern Rivers Property Group.
Paul made the tree change from the south of Sydney to a small block at Midginbil where he says his kids loved growing up.
More recently he moved to the centre of Murwillumbah which he reckons is “simply one of the best located regional towns in Australia”, “a fact many buyers looking in our area are fast recognising with our ease of access to an international airport, many stunning national parks and some of the best beaches in the country.”
Along with business partner Adrianna Jenkins, Paul now has many industry awards under his belt and is just as enamoured with the beautiful Tweed Shire as ever.
We caught up with Paul to find out more.
What makes a great real estate agent?
Attention to detail and great communication with your vendors and buyers. Honesty and integrity and a love for your job.
What is your favourite part about being an agent?
Marketing we love to come up with new ways to get our vendors’ properties in front of buyers eyes.
Before you were a real estate agent what was the most interesting/ unusual job you had?
Before I went into real estate I was the owner/operator of a Video Ezy franchise which was a great grounding in marketing and customer relations. As an avid movie lover it was also a job that was very satisfying
What’s hot about the Tweed Shire property market?
In a word — location! The Northern Rivers is one of the most beautiful areas in
Open Homes
All times are DST unless specified.
Saturday, March 15
DJ Stringer Property Services
• 5/16 Coyne St, Kirra, 9-9.30am QLD Time
• 1/14 Warrawong St, Coolangatta, 10-10.30am QLD Time
• 2/206-210 Pacific Pde, Bilinga, 11-11.30am QLD Time
• 2/20 Rutledge St, Coolangatta, 11-11.30am QLD Time
• 3/4B Chitticks Lane, Fingal Head, 1.15-1.45pm
Australia and that makes us hot property all year round with people who are increasingly discovering all that our area has to offer.
What’s the biggest changes across the market over the past 12 months?
After many years of the lowest interest rates for property buyers the steady, relentless increase in those rates which hopefully is starting to abate.
How can people get a foot on the property ladder?
Just get in. If at all possible just buy something even if that something does not live up to all of your expectations. Get into the market first and foremost if possible. You can’t climb that ladder until you get a foot on a rung.
If you are thinking of selling now is a great time to get your property appraised and get ready to sell.
JET Real Estate
• 49 William St, Murwillumbah, 9.30-10am
• 303 Crabbes Creek Rd, Crabbes Creek, 9.30-10am
• 33 Farrants Rd, Farrants Hill, 10-10.30am
• 169 Byangum Rd, Murwillumbah, 10.30-1am
MANA
• 55 Kyogle Road, Bray Park, 9-9.30am
• 156 Byangum Road, Murwillumbah, 10-10.30am
• 8 Kyyung Court, Ocean Shores, 10-10.30am
• 1/50 Hall Drive, Murwillumbah, 11-11.30am
• 8 Amarillo Drive, Murwillumbah, 12-12.30pm
Hot property
THIS WEEK’S Hot Property is “Gypsy Queen”, a big, beautiful arts-inspired home at Kunghur with a bubbling brook and views to Sphinx Rock and the Nightcap Ranges.
This sprawling tri-level family home at 6 Cooloon Street has six bedrooms, several living areas and some gorgeous outdoor spaces.
There is even a small studio which overlooks the creek (complete with
resident platypus) and swimming hole below the back deck. You also have exclusive use of the neighbouring 1/2 acre block which has been planted out with an established wide variety of Northern Rivers tropical fruits and veggie gardens. Priced at $1,000,000 to $1,100,000, “Gypsy Queen”, in the friendly community of Kunghur, is for sale with Northern Rivers Property Group.
Tate Brownlee Real Estate
• 50 Border Crescent, Pottsville, 9-9.30am
• 21/13 Parkland Place, Banora Point, 9-9.30am
• 7 Fraser Drive, Tweed Heads South, 10-10.30am
• 7 Ewing Street, Murwillumbah, 11-11.30am
• 12 Seaview Street, Tweed Heads South, 11-11.30am
• 3/7 Advocate Place, Banora Point, 11-11.30am
• 21 Point Break Circuit, Kingscliff, 12-12.30pm
• 38 The Hermitage, Tweed Heads South, 12-12.30pm
• 3/12 Lord Street, Coolangatta, 1-1.30pm
• 12 Golf view Court, Banora Point, 1-1.30pm
• 2/65 Fifth Avenue, Palm Beach, 2-2.30pm
• 2/6 Birkdale Court, Banora Point, 2-2.30pm
We understand
We understand
We understand that
Our
Our
AUCTION
766 Urliup Road, Urliup
“Mount View” An Ideal Tweed Hinterland Escape. The interstate owner’s plans have changed. Here is your opportunity to secure this significant vacant land holding to build your new homestead (STCA) and skip the Tweed Shire Council approval process which can take well over a year. Freehold 60.55ha* (149.62ac*) of mixed country with sections of elevated rural views, native timbers with a rainforest backdrop, clear air, clean mountain streams. It will be a shame if this property sells for a price less than you would have paid. We would highly recommend that you inspect. WHY WAIT?
"Mount View" An Ideal Tweed Hinterland Escape. The interstate owner's plans have changed. Here is your opportunity to secure this significant vacant land holding to build your new homestead (STCA) and skip the Tweed Shire Council approval process which can take well over a year. Freehold 60.55ha* (149.62ac*) of mixed country with sections of elevated rural views, native timbers with a rainforest backdrop, clear air, clean mountain streams. It will be a shame if this property sells for a price less than you would have paid. We would highly recommend that you inspect.
3 3 2
One of the best pieces of real estate on the east coast of Australia, with front row seats to the beach action, this unique two-level penthouse celebrates the beauty of its idyllic beachfront setting with awe-inspiring views that stretch across from Duranbah Beach all the way down to the headland of Cabarita and Northern NSW.
• 330m2 luxury entertainer in a small building of only three apartments with lift access, sprawled over two levels offering open plan living throughout
• Three large bedrooms all with an ensuite and ocean views plus secure underground parking for two cars
• Huge windows and oversized wrap-around covered balcony perfect for entertaining and absorbing amazing views
• A short stroll to Snapper Rocks, Duranbah and the picture perfect Rainbow Bay Beach
• The ultimate beachside lifestyle or idyllic weekender
• Vacant and ready to sell!
156 Byangum Road, Murwillumbah
2 Bed | 1 Bath | 2 Car | 1 Studio | 729m²
Discover the Charm of This Post-War Gem in Murwillumbah
8 Amarillo Drive, Dunbible
4 Bed | 2 Bath | 4 Car | 4,013m²
Spacious and Luxurious Haven in Dunbible
17 Frances Street, Murwillumbah
2 Bed | 1 Bath | 1 Studio/Van | 588m²
A Country Style Gem Minutes from Murwillumbah
Coast to country, we have your property needs covered.
Wendy Rosenbaum
Licensee-in-Charge Murwillumbah 0437 709 993
wendy@manare.au
Murwillumbah 15 Commercial Rd Murwillumbah (02) 6672 4477
Head Office Byron Bay 50 Parkes Ave, Byron Bay (02) 6680 5000 manare.au
