The Northern Rivers Echo Main News

Lismore pushes (again) for firefighters

Shane Hulbert, NSW Fire Brigade Employees Union delegate calls on the State Government to deliver on its promise of a 24-hour fire station for Lismore.

Lismore Council will try once again to force the NSW Government for honour a broken promise to fund permanent firefighters in the city's CBD following revelations that it can take up to 15 minutes for part-time officers to respond to a fire.

The delay occurs because the 'retained' firefighters are part-time and are only paid for attending emergencies. While the Lismore station has permanent staff between 6am and 6pm, it is closed at night. In an after hours emergency, firefighters first have to travel from their homes to the station, adding five minutes or more to their response time. It has resulted in Lismore having some of the slowest response times in NSW.

Council will collect statistics on response times to press their case for around-the-clock staffing.

At Lismore Council on Tuesday night, Cr Ros Irwin described the situation as "horrendous" with response times almost double the state average. She said community concern had grown to the point were a petition calling on the NSW Government to act was currently being organised.

In 2001, the former fire commissioner pledged that the Lismore station would be staffed 24-hours a day within two years, but last July, emergency services minister Tony Kelly wrote to Council saying that 24-hour staffing was no longer a priority. Instead, Mr Kelly offered to give the proposal "every possible consideration" in this year's budget.

Lismore Council has agreed to contribute $84,000 towards funding the positions and Lismore MP Thomas George has lobbied, thus far unsuccessfully, for the Government to reverse its decision.

Lismore-based NSW Fire Brigade Employees Union delegate Shane Hulbert said that while the part-time firefighters gave 100 per cent, they were starting behind the eight-ball.

"The average response time is currently close to 11 minutes, with some fire calls being registered in excess of 15 minutes within 2.5 kilometres of the station," he said.

"The risk of loss of life and property would certainly be decreased with a permanent fire fighting presence, as the average fire call time would be reduced by five minutes," Mr Hulbert said. "Having a 24 hour station would also relieve the pressure on the retained staff who are in a unique situation in comparison to their country counterparts. They are living further away from the station because of Lismore's flood basin than most other retained fire fighters throughout NSW and that has an impact on the time it takes for them to respond effectively."

Mr Hulbert welcomed the support of Lismore Council and Mr George.

We now need the Fire Brigade and the Government to honour their commitment because this is an issue that will never be dead and buried. The fact the NSW Fire Brigade management are 'continually reviewing the situation' means little in real terms as all the risk and problems unique to Lismore - and acknowledged by the brigade - are still here. These issues can only be addressed the by the placement of 24 hour permanent staffing at Lismore fire station."

Plateau developers claim council conspiracy

Potential developers on the North Lismore plateau have accused Lismore Council of "manipulating the market" to favour certain developers and have lodged complaints with federal authorities, as well as the state government.

The group lodged their complaints, along with a 900-page dossier, with the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) before Christmas.

The group also plans to lobby the NSW local government minister, Tony Kelly and planning minister Craig Knowles, to block Lismore Council's urban land release strategy, approved by Council on Tuesday night.

The strategy includes a 12-month sunset clause in an attempt to force developers to lodge a development application once land is rezoned to stop them from speculating for long periods.

Spokesperson for the group, Cairns-based chartered accountant Bill Sexton, claims Council has breached the Trade Practices Act and Local Government Act in its proposal.

Council has been grappling with the conflict between noise from the speedway at the showground and proposals to develop the North Lismore plateau for some time.

Mr Sexton, whose mother lives on the North Lismore plateau, said the group were not "big time developers" but "farmers who've been stymied by a series of excuses from Lismore Council for more than 15 years".

"Lismore is being kept in the doldrums while some development interests make huge profits selling land on the Coast to buyers who have been forced to go elsewhere because this city has had virtually no first class land to offer," he said.

"Our development has been strategically excluded from the market by false claims regarding noise issues related to the Lismore Speedway operation and the interpretation of supply and demand statistics.

"The Council has always been legally obliged to manage the noise issue with the speedway but has refused to do so, and the NSW Department of Infrastructure, Natural Resources and Planning has been fed figures that have been produced as part of the controlled process that has been going on here for years," Mr Sexton said.

"We are anything but surprised about the Council's decision to reintroduce stalling tactics including the noise issue," Mr Sexton said.

"We need a Fitzgerald-style Inquiry in NSW. Nothing came of the ICAC Inquiry [into north coast land deals in the early 1990s] and it seems like we learnt nothing."

But Lismore general manager Paul O'Sullivan has hit back at the group's claims, labelling them "a media stunt" and "desperate stuff borne out of frustration" to pressure Council into fast-tracking development on the plateau.

"The people of Lismore will see past the extremist conspiracy theories. The charge that the Council has deliberately created obstacles to this development is ludicrous," he said.

Mr O'Sullivan said Council was seeking a way forward that balanced competing interests.

"It would be extremely poor planning and gross civic irresponsibility to allow a subdivision to be built in the full knowledge that the residents would be badly affected by the noise of the Speedway or other major events held at the Showgrounds," he said. "On the other hand, Council does not want to see a subdivision built which kills off the Speedway -a very popular attraction with its own linked industry in Lismore."

Mr O'Sullivan said accusations that Council was colluding with coastal developers was "a twisted fantasy" and rejected claims of market manipulation in the 'use it or lose it' clause to act upon a zoning approval within one year.

"Every single Councillor supported this measure due to their awareness that speculative land banking must be controlled. Any manipulation has been very much in the hands of the developers until now," he said.

This woman's army

The first female officer commanding of 216 Army Cadet Unit in Lismore, Sarah Jurd, with Australian Army Cadets NSW area liaison officer North, Mike Paige, shortly after the presentation on Monday.

Sarah Jurd's mother, Jenny, couldn't join the army cadets as a teenager because girls were not allowed, so she is justifiably proud to now see her daughter become the first female officer commanding of the 216 Army Cadet Unit in Lismore.

Sarah's parents suggested she join the cadets when the unit was established in 1992, and she hasn't looked back since.

After joining the first intake of cadets Sarah became the first female cadet under officer (a cadet's highest rank) in NSW.

On Monday she became only the second female in NSW to achieve the rank of officer commanding (OC), taking over the position from Major Greg Cooke.

"My parents said I should try out cadets for a month and I'm still here 12 years later!" Sarah laughed.

It seems Sarah was destined to join the army. Her father, Allan, was a cadet in the 70s, two uncles were involved in the air force and both her grandfathers were in the army during WWII.

Even the GP who delivered her at Lismore Base Hospital 25 years ago was an army doctor.

"There's an amazing camaraderie between all the members of the cadets and it's a great chance for young people to try something different and challenging in their life. I'm so glad my parents encouraged me to join - I know they're proud of what I've accomplished," she said.

The 216 ACU will have a recruit information and demonstration night on Monday, February 23, at the Byron Barracks, Military Road, Lismore, from 7pm.

Young people aged 12.5 to 18 years are welcome. For info phone 6622 8158.

A golden time for Queen's visit

Story & photo: Terra Sword

The Gollan Hotel holds fond memories for John and Shirley Stretch, who celebrated two of the most memorable occasions of their life together there.

On Monday, as part of an ABC radio broadcast, John and Shirley were at the hotel reminiscing about the 50th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Lismore, during which she and Prince Phillip stayed at the pub - their only hotel sleepover.

It was the second biggest event in John and Shirley's lives - the other was their wedding reception at the Gollan Hotel just four months earlier.

"There was a great feeling of excitement in Lismore, because in those days just about everybody was a monarchist," Shirley said. "No city or town knew just where the Queen would visit and we spent months waiting to hear the news - when Lismore was finally chosen there was a great sense of jubilation. It's a memory I don't think either of us will ever forget."

The Gollan still features in many old photographs, as countless people lined the streets to see their Queen as she greeted the townsfolk from the hotel's balcony. The following day she gave a speech near the Memorial Baths, addressing tens of thousands who travelled to Lismore to hear her speak.

"People didn't just turn up out of curiosity - there was a genuine love for the Queen," Shirley said. "She carried out her duties with such dignity, ease and charm and you couldn't help but admire her - she had a way of making everyone in the crowd feel as if she was looking and smiling at them. It was such a happy spectacle after the war."

Her father, Ray Granger, was mayor and Shirley's house was a hive of activity. The only thing clouding the event was the threat of rain, but despite a downpour that eventually became Lismore's worst recorded flood, nothing could dampen people's spirits.

"We needed the rain and hoped it would come, just not during her visit," Shirley remembers. "It made it a little uncomfortable, but it didn't change the feeling of happiness and excitement in the town. It came down heaviest during the final motorcade, when my father and the Queen were to farewell one another under the huge crown that had been erected on Woodlark Street for the occasion. The rain was torrential - it was just coming down in sheets - so they simply smiled and waved at each other and that was the last time we saw her."

Fisherman drowns

The body of a 43 year-old former Evans Head resident who disappeared on Friday was found near the North Wall at Evans Head on Sunday.

It is believed William (Bill) Evans Colless was collecting oysters from the break wall on Friday when he disappeared. Police were alerted to the situation at around 2.15pm Friday after witnesses reported seeing a man floating face down n the river.

A canvas bag and an abandoned bicycle were found near the North Wall.

Police are now preparing a report for the coroner.

Thieves caught

A 19 year-old Alstonville man and his 16 year-old brother appeared in Lismore Local Court last Friday on charges of breaking and entering.

It is believed the break and enter occurred in Ballina on the evening of January 28, when the brother, a female accomplice and two other males entered a dwelling and began damaging property and threatening the occupants.

Inquiries into the incident are continuing.

Crash kills two

Two people were killed when a semi-trailer collided with a broken-down Kombi van 3km north-east of Lismore on Saturday morning.

Police say that at around 5.20am, the VW Kombi was travelling east along Bangalow Road when it had a flat tyre. The driver stopped just near the Lagoons Creek Bridge to inspect the tyre when the east-bound semi collided with the rear of the van. There was heavy fog in the area at the time. The truck continued rolled into a paddock and colliding with a tree. The driver of the truck, Derek Anthony Waugh, 46, of Currumbin, died at the scene.

The passenger of the Kombi, Francesca Salvia, 32, of Cougal, received serious injuries and died on the way to hospital. The Kombi driver, a 33-year-old man, also from Cougal, was taken to Lismore Base Hospital suffering injuries to his arm and was in a stable condition.

Investigations are continuing by Ballina Crash Investigation Unit and a brief is being prepared for the Coroner.

Harvest starts for local drop

The harvest has begun at Flood Reserve winery, near Tatham, the only commercial winery in the region. Pickers displaying their first trailer load are (rear l to r) Dave Ritchie, Tim Whitney, Lance Shitney, owner and winemaker Brian Mull and Sheila Martineau with (front) Angus Ritchie and Jimmy Martineau.

Flood Reserve Winery, near Tatham, has begun picking this season's grapes and is looking forward to another good vintage, but owner Brian Mull is worried about the long-term viability of his winery.

Brian established Flood Reserve Winery in 1997 and began taking the wine to regional markets and exhibitions, only to find that NSW Liquor laws banned sales.

"People like the wine and come ready to spend, but we have to tell them we aren't allowed to sell to them," Brian said. "Unfortunately most people do not take the trouble to drive down and buy from the cellar door."

The NSW Wine Industry Association is lobbying the NSW government to allow producers to charge for wine tastings and as well as letting winemakers like Brian to sell bottled wine.

"We'd like to develop a full scale winery to attract tourists, but because we can't sell at market days and shows, we can't reach a viable level," Brian said.

The winery gets its name from its location, an old flood reserve, which the government provided so landowners could take their cattle to high ground during floods.

Brian said the grapes are ripening later this year and thinks the dry season may be responsible for the late pickings.

Brian's interest in wine dates back more than 30 years and he's optimistic about the local drop, saying the flood reserve has an excellent climate for grapes.

"I found out you can grow grapes here from an Italian friend from Bora Ridge, who taught me everything I know. The red soil here is extremely deep," he said. "We have a microclimate here that gets a lot less rainfall than areas close by."

Farmers see little in trade deal

Local farmers see little benefit in the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the USA, announced this week by the federal Government.

While the full extent of the agreement will not be revealed for a fortnight, Government MPs Larry Anthony and Ian Causley have welcomed the FTA, but both said they were "disappointed" that sugar was excluded from the deal.

Mr Anthony called the US market "corrupt", adding that the deal was "a blow" for local sugar farmers.

Local cane growers are angry that only a few weeks after National Party leader John Anderson declared that leaving sugar out of the FTA would be "un-Australian", the Government bowed to US pressure from the heavily subsidised US sugar market and left sugar out of the deal. NSW Sugar Co-operative CEO Greg Messiter said he was "very disappointed".

He said the sugar industry had been "sacrificed" at a time when global sugar prices were at an all-time low.

"As the Prime Minister said, we're no worse off, but currently we're in a year-long price trough and all producers are feeling enormous pressure at the moment," he said. "Currently, 20c a kilo is the world price for sugar, but we could sell into the US market for three times that price. That would make a big difference."

Mr Messiter will meet with the federal MPs on Friday to voice their concerns.

"We will be pressing for more rapid implementation of the federal sugar industry reform program," he said.

Mr Messiter said that while the Government had been collecting a 3 cents a kilo sugar levy for more than 12 months, promised funding had yet to appear.

"We have projects ready to be implemented, but as yet, no money has been forthcoming," he said.

Larry Anthony said other industries will benefit from the trade deal. He said an immediate zero tariff will apply to mangoes, macadamia nuts and seafood, and that avocado growers will have access to the US market for the first time.

"Overall, there are more plusses than minuses for the people of Richmond. And those benefits will lead to more jobs and more investment in our region," Mr Anthony said.

But the beef and dairy industries will have to wait for more than a decade to see any major benefits. Increases in quotas will be phased in over a number of years. It will take 18 years before Australian beef producers can export tariff free to the US. The quota for dairy exports will be allowed to grow by just five per cent a year before punitive tariffs come into force.

Norco chairman Greg McNamara said the diary industry was cautious while waiting to see the details of the agreement.

"At this point in time, we can't see any benefit," he said. "Beef will take 20 years before they see any real benefit and even then it's only natural growth in the market anyway. And the US market is very patriotic and they buy their own products.

"Anyone going into that market has got to spend a lot of time and money to gain access."

Despite finally hammering out a deal between the two countries, the Free Trade Agreement's future still remains uncertain, since it has to be ratified by both the US Congress and the Australian parliament, where the Labor Party has already signalled its opposition to the deal.

Virgin creates threesome at Ballina

Virgin Blue airlines will begin daily flights between Ballina and Sydney from August, meaning three airlines will now be competing for the 100,000 passengers who fly through Ballina.

The announcement comes in the week Regional Express (Rex) increased direct flights to Sydney from both Lismore and Ballina, adding an additional 884 seats a week.

The 70-minute Virgin Blue jet service will begin on August 5, departing from Sydney at 11.35am. The 144-seat flight leaves Ballina at 1.15pm. The one-way fare will range from $79, booked on the Internet, to $229.

Ballina mayor Phil Silver welcomed the announcement, revealing that he first approached Virgin 18 months ago.

"We've been negotiating for some time, including a major presentation to them six months ago. It's a credit to Virgin and Council that we've reached an agreement that's lucrative for the airport."

Cr Silver said Ballina airport security will be reactivated, with Virgin Blue picking up the cost. He said he hoped that the other airlines flying to Ballina, Qantaslink and Rex, will see the benefits in Virgin's arrival.

"Virgin's decision is an endorsement of the support from Rex and Qantas to build a regional market. Virgin is targeting the leisure sector - creating air travellers out of people who otherwise use the bus or highway, or just didn't go - and there is still a strong demand for business air travel in the mornings and evenings," he said.

The mayor said he was confident the extra capacity created by Rex this week would be taken up.

Rex regional manager Maurice Gahan said passenger numbers had grown dramatically since both Ballina and Lismore councils waived passenger landing fees for Rex, reducing fares to as low as $99 one way.

"In December alone, passenger numbers in the Northern Rivers were up by 60 per cent on 12 months ago. Lismore and Ballina councils have taken a pro-active approach to encourage people to use their local airport and our new schedule reflects the success of the joint initiatives."

On Tuesday night, Lismore Council agreed to continue waiving the $11 tax on each seat until June 2005, subject to review at the end of the year. The move will save money for almost half the passengers on Rex flights, but cost ratepayers around $300,000 in lost income. Concerns over the loss of revenue at the $2 million airport provoked Cr John Chant to lead a successful push to look at introducing "modest" tax on some of the fares. The move split the Council, although Mayor Merv King said council was offering its support until a return to pre-Ansett collapse passenger numbers to make Rex self-supporting.

Trinity's smart cookies

Trinity Catholic College students who excelled in last year's HSC were recognised last week during a special Academic Awards Ceremony at the school.

The 2003 HSC class achieved some of the best results in years, with16 students scoring a UAI greater than 95 and 30 scoring above 90.

The school also had 109 entries on the Board of Studies Distinguished Achievers Merit List (students scoring 90% or greater in a course), while three students - Stephen Pick, Louise Brown and Gerard Moynihan - were all placed on the Premier's All-Rounders Merit List of Excellence for scoring above 90 in 10 or more units of studies.

A number of students were awarded scholarships and Stephen Pick from Byron Bay, with a UAI of 99.65, was named 2003 Dux.

Stephen is doing a double degree in commerce and law at the University of Queensland.

Pool construction starts

Work on the Lismore memorial baths redevelopment began on Monday, with roadworks in Market Street. The baths will remain open until the end of February, but Mayor Merv King said that by the end of March, the site will be virtually unrecognisable.

"From April, site preparations will be in full swing, and construction will start on an 8-lane Olympic-sized pool, a shaded 25m warm-up pool, and a shaded toddlers' pool," he said "Construction of new grandstands and facilities for swimmers will begin towards the end of the year."

Host a foreign student

For the past seven years, Southern Cross University (SCU) has been providing English classes to foreign students from non-English speaking backgrounds.

The increasing popularity of these courses is creating extra demand for 'Homestay' families to accommodate students.

Homestay Co-ordinator Lisa Bartholomew said 'Homestay' accommodation was needed for one and 17 weeks for students aged 16 to 60. The majority come from Japan, China, Korea and Vietnam.

"The 'Homestay' component of these courses is often just as important as the study itself, especially for short-term students, as it helps them to improve listening and speaking skills. It also helps them adapt to our culture a lot quicker," Ms Bartholomew said.

"Hosting a foreign student is a good excuse for anyone to re-discover our local area."

As part of the programs, students also make day trips to a number of local and regional tourist attractions. Some students also undertake volunteer work and have experienced volunteer work. Students also spend a lot of money on souvenirs, so local businesses benefit.

"Butchers in particular are kept busy with Aussie barbecues being high on the priority list for most foreign students," Ms Bartholomew said.

To become a Homestay family you must be able to provide your student with a bedroom of their own, with desk, lamp and linen and be in a position to drive and collect students to and from class each day. Families receive $160 per week to help cover costs.

For more information, contact Lisa Bartholomew on 6620 3429.

Kylie's Brazil bound

Alstonville High School student Kylie Burke embarked on the adventure of a lifetime last Friday, heading for Lajeado in Brazil where she will spend 12 months as part of an AFS Intercultural Programs exchange.

The 17-year-old will live with a Brazilian family, learning to speak Portuguese and absorbing herself in the rich culture of South America.

"I'm so excited - I can't wait," said Kylie before leaving Australia. "I've always been really adventurous and this will be the biggest adventure of my whole life."

Kylie's parents, Barbara and Bryan, are equally thrilled about the exchange.

"Even at an early age Kylie was enthusiastic about meeting new people and getting to know them as her friends," Barbara said. "We're sure she will embrace this experience with the same enthusiasm."

AFS Intercultural Programs helps approximately 10,000 high school students participate in exchange program across the world each year.

For more information, phone 9215 0077.

But wait, there's more...

Story & photo: Simon Thomsen

Opposition leader Mark Latham and local Labor candidate Kevin Bell (left) meet with Northern Rivers Trains for the Future representatives in Lismore last Friday to discuss plans for a Gold Coast rail link with the North Coast.

Opposition leader Mark Latham left his beloved western suburbs of Sydney last week keen to hear from the bush and prove his rural credentials.

His four-day bus tour through Northern NSW, dubbed the 'opportunity express', featured a series of community forums, meetings with farmers, local radio interviews and door stop press conferences for the Canberra press gallery who travelled behind him in a second bus.

On the Central Coast, he received the "kick in the shins" he'd asked for when a youth worker called him a "silver spoon" and ridiculed his plans for tougher discipline for both negligent parents and free books for newborn babies to encourage reading. Mr Latham used the moment to push his support for middle-class parents trying to put their kids through TAFE or university.

The next day he was in the New England region, meeting with farmers and regaling reporters with his teenage experiences of checking for pregnancy in cows, by sliding his arm in the "appropriate opening".

"After you've inserted the gloved hand you stand back and avoid the discharge," he advised, before going on to explain that he'd consider maintaining multi-million dollar support for the sugar cane-based ethanol industry. His meeting with a farming families had brought home the importance of boosting agricultural courses in schools and dealing with the transition of the farm to next generation.

He also admitted that he had "a long way to go in many regards" on Labor's rural policies, but didn't miss the chance to say country people wanted to keep Telstra in public hands.

Mr Latham also had a generational dig at Prime Minister John Howard, saying he wouldn't call him old, but he was "worried about the age of Howard's ideas and that they've gone stale".

A photo opportunity in the back of a ute led conservative commentators to complain he was setting a bad example for kids.

On Thursday evening, he came along the Bruxner Highway from Tenterfield to Lismore, where he had a late night beer with a supportive crowd at the Gollan Hotel in his only chance meeting with the public. He has promised to return and spend more time meeting the public.

On Friday - after an early morning jog around a fog-bound Lismore - he gave local radio interviews, telling 2LM breakfast host Neil Marks that serious doubts remained over the war on Iraq.

"The war on terror was primarily an intelligence, but something's gone wrong between the intelligence and the advice. We need to get to the truth of it," he said, before returning to familiar themes, like education and opportunity.

Outside, after greeting local Labor candidate Kevin Bell, Mr Latham stopped to talk with a trio from lobby group Northern Rivers Trains for the Future, who are pressing for a rail link from this region to the Gold Coast.

Mr Latham pledged to Mr Bell that he'd send Labor's infrastructure spokesman, Martin Ferguson, to the region to discuss the proposal. Then it was off to Tweed Heads, where, after a hospital tour Mr Latham said Australia has become "a waiting list country" where the collapse in bulk billing rates led to a dramatic increase in demand at hospital accident and emergency wards.

At another community forum at Banora more than 500 people quizzed him for 70 minutes. He repeated his popular $300 million promise to restore the commonwealth dental program for the more than 500,000 people waiting for dental care. He said Labor's aged care policy will be out later this year.

"A measure of a civilised society is treating our elderly well," he said.

And then he was gone, leaving Richmond MP Larry Anthony to point to 2.5-year-old Daily Telegraph article as proof that he didn't care about regional Australia. It's going to be a long election year.

War whistleblower visits

Iraq war whistleblower Andrew Wilkie will speak in Byron Bay next week as a guest of the Byron-Ballina Greens.

Mr Wilkie is a former Lieutenant Colonel and Senior Intelligence Officer in the Office of National Assessments. On 11 March 2003, he resigned in protest over the looming Iraq war, attracting international media attention. Since then has become a leading critic of the Howard government.

Late last year, the United Nations Association of Australia (UNAA) presented Mr Wilkie with its Whistleblower of the Year Award.

Mr Wilkie will speak at the Byron Bay Community Centre on Saturday, February 21, at 3pm.

TAFE dispute

A protest against TAFE fee increases, which has seen local TAFE teachers enrolling students but refusing to collect course payments could escalate following reports that managers will take action against teachers supporting the campaign, a local teachers union official has warned.

Laurie Green said Teachers Federation members at Wollongbar Campus met on Wednesday and voted to take further industrial action if any teachers were threatened by TAFE management.

"TAFE Teachers have taken industrial action in protest at the State Government's TAFE fee increases, but will continue enrol students and run classes as normal," Mr Green said.

"Teachers at Wollongbar are incensed at the NSW Government's intransigence on the TAFE fee issue. Some courses have risen to $10,000, making a mockery of the notion that TAFE is the pre-eminent provider of public, low cost and second chance education and training."

Mr Green said that NSW Premier was undermining the promise of "ladders of opportunity" by federal opposition leader Mark Latham.

"Bob Carr is following close behind with a hacksaw to cut away the rungs for the people of NSW," he said.

Park ready to roll

After 18 months redeveloping Heritage Park on Lismore's riverbank, the final finishing touches being done.

Celebrating the park's completion recently were Work-for-the-Dole participants Wayne Bloxsom (left) and Aaron Barry with Lois Kelly from the Economic Development Unit and mayor Merv King.

Cr King said the work in Heritage Park has highlighted one of the city's most visible public areas.

"It is certainly becoming one of the city's major recreation areas and I can see many successful public events being held there in the future. It will also become a very pleasant place for family get-togethers and celebrations," he said.

During the next two months, with the help of TURSA Employment and Training, Council will also install barbecues, shelters, boating facilities and an off-leash dog area.

"Our plans are to create pleasant, tranquil areas with modern facilities that will highlight the beauty of the area, and ensure the river becomes a feature of our city," Cr King said.

DIY super advice

Investors and retirees tired of seeing investments eroded by fund managers' fees will soon be able to take a "Do It Yourself" approach to investing, thanks to a local educational DIY Retirement and Investment workshop and support program.

The DIY workshop, supported by regional accounting firm Rutherfords, will be held in Ballina and Lismore next week, and is the brainchild of local financial planner, John Allenspach.

The workshop features a keynote presentation from noted financial writer Noel Whittaker.

Mr Allenspach said his DIY idea evolved over a number of years as he watched many of his clients' investments stagnate or go backwards, in part due to high management fees and poor investment choices by fund managers.

He used the example of a fund manager who could charge as much as $6,000 per annum in administration of a $300,000 investment.

"Clearly the fund manager is the one making a good return on this investment!" Mr Allenspach said. "Investors and retirees could save thousands of dollars in fees by making investments directly into assets such as property and shares rather than through fund managers. The only thing preventing them from doing so is the fact that many of them don't know how."

His workshop will demystify the investment markets and superannuation.

"These workshops cater for people with a long term view, who are looking for steady growth as well as control over their nest eggs or for people who are in or near retirement who would like to manage their funds on their own," he said.

Industry experts will cover investment areas such as shares, property, fixed interest, mortgages, agribusiness and specialist investments. The workshop also addresses areas such as taxation, asset protection, estate planning and financial management software.

For details and to attend the workshops later this month, call 1300 557 882.

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