The Northern Rivers Echo Main News

New train hope

Fresh hopes for the return of rail services between Casino and Murwillumbah emerged this week with news that NSW transport minister Michael Costa had written to deputy prime minister John Anderson seeking a meeting later this month to discuss funding for the service.

Mr Costa wrote to the federal Transport Minister on October 19 hoping to follow up on the federal Coalition's election promise of $30 million over two years, plus additional funding subject to negotiation.

The move has been welcomed by local council organisation NOROC, which has been lobbying both the state and federal governments to restore the service as well as establish a new commuter service.

NOROC chairman Ernie Bennett urged the two sides to come to a deal, calling Mr Costa's efforts a "welcome breakthrough".

"The NSW Government does not want to fund maintenance, but appears happier to talk about a train service - the cost of any arrangement should be sorted out between governments as a priority," he said.

He said that with the Commonwealth's current pledge, action was possible.

"The report by PricewaterhouseCoopers estimates that a commuter train could be returned to the line if $28 million is spent on line upgrading, plus an annual running cost of between $4 million and $7 million over the next seven years. The money is available. It is now a case of political will," Cr Bennett said.

A Ministerial working party looking into the issue has delivered a draft recommendation that the Ministry of Transport (MOT) and RailCorp develop a feasibility study and business case into a light rail passenger service. The committee also recommended that the Department of Infrastructure Planning and MOT fund an integrated transport plan for the region. Other draft recommendations include that no action be taken on dismantling the line, and that it be preserved and retained in public ownership.

The saga also took a new twist this week with Queensland Premier Peter Beattie announcing plans to extend rail services across the border to Coolangatta.

NOROC has argued that the local rail system should be linked into the Queensland rail network for coastal access to the rapidly growing southern Queensland region. The expansion would put the state's rail system within striking distance of the Murwillumbah branch line.

Mr Costa hopes to meet with Mr Anderson within a fortnight to discuss the funding arrangements to return local rail services.

Last break for Brent

Brent Hall being presented with his $25,000 prize from Nestle Australia managing director Jorge Sadurni (left) and Nestle Australia coffee marketing manager Mark Beales.

Time is running out for young local inventor, Brent Hall, to get the votes that will help him win a $50,000 Nescafé Big Break.

The 19-year-old from Meerschaum Vale has developed a revolutionary macadamia harvester called the 'Bush Rat' and if he's a winner, will use the money to get his invention off the ground.

To win, Brent needs the support of his local community and is hoping that everyone will send a vote his way before entries close on November 12. By voting, you'll also get the chance to share in $25,000 worth of prizes for yourself.

To vote for this ambitious young local simply SMS 'Brent' to 1994 3355 or vote online at www.nescafebigbreak.com.au. At the website you can also find out more about Brent and his remarkable invention.

Drop by the cop shop

Top cops Sergeant Mick McCrory and Senior Constable Grant Savage welcome the public to the Ballina Police Station this Sunday for an open day.

If your kids have been mucking up, you might want to take them to Ballina Police Station this Sunday. They'll be fingerprinted, photographed, put in the cells and the back of a paddy wagon. Alas, you don't get to leave them there - it's all in the name of fun and good relations as part of Police Open Day.

The Ballina station will be open on November 7, from 10am to 2pm, to give people the chance to see behind the scenes.

Crime prevention officer Senior Constable Michael Hogan said the open day was a chance for the public to see how modern policing operates.

"It gives people who, thankfully, don't normally have to visit a police station, the chance to see what happens. It's not all Blue Heelers!" he laughed. "We want to work with the community to ensure everyone's safety and this is a great opportunity to meet your local police."

There's a sausage sizzle for lunch, and giveaways for the kids. The accident squad and highway patrol will be there to answer questions and demonstrate their vehicles, and as a special attraction, you can meet Rommel the police horse, and his handler, Senior Constable Lois Gavan, who'll explain mounted police work.

"You'll also be able to see the new online computer fingerprint scanner, which automatically checks prints against the Australia-wide police database. And there'll be plenty to entertain the children, including a jumping castle," Snr Const Hogan said.

The local Bunjum community is also supporting the open day, along with the Aboriginal liaison officer, to build stronger links with local indigenous people.

Buy a poppy to remember

City of Lismore RSL Sub-Branch office volunteers (l-r) Frank Egan, Barry Antill, Wilson McClelland and Warren Rose with some of the merchandise that will be on sale today and tomorrow for Poppy Day.

With a population of just five million people in 1918, there was hardly a town or family in Australia that was not affected by World War I. Unbelievably, Australia lost more soldiers per capita than any other nation during the four-year war: 61,000 paid the ultimate sacrifice and 155,000 returned home injured.

Next Thursday, November 11, marks the 86th anniversary since the historic signing of the Armistice, which is now known as Remembrance Day.

The City of Lismore RSL Sub-Branch will pay tribute to those who served with a special commemorative service next Thursday at the Lismore cenotaph from 10.30am.

Members of the public are urged to attend the service and show their support for the thousands of soldiers who fought and died.

"The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month is a significant time in our country's history and I believe it's important to continue to honour those men and women who served," said City of Lismore RSL Sub-Branch secretary Wilson McClelland. "Their bravery and sacrifice will be remembered long after they have gone."

Today, November 4, volunteers will be selling merchandise for Poppy Day at all local industrial estates. Poppies will also be sold in Lismore CBD on Friday, November 5. All money raised will go towards providing welfare for the ex-service community.

For more information on Poppy Day or Remembrance Day phone Wilson on 6621 3851.

• The City of Lismore RSL Sub-Branch is also holding a re-dedication service for the North Lismore War Honour Roll this Sunday, November 7, at the South Lismore Railway Station from 10.30am.

Life (saver) of the party

Life Saver Rescue Helicopter crew chief Roger Fry, office manager Tonia Gardner, chief pilot Lynton Beggs with his wife Maureen are getting in the mood for Ballina's Biggest Ever Cocktail Party next Friday.

Did you know that a daiquiri could save a life? Ballina's Biggest-Ever Cocktail Party‚ next Friday, November 12, promises to be one of the region's great social events and will be raising funds for the Life Saver Rescue Helicopter.

The cocktail party promises a night of elegance, good entertainment, surprises and fun at the Ballina RSL Club. Dress up in your finest for an elegant cocktail party from 6.30 to 9pm, then boogie the night away to funk-soul music until midnight.

Tickets are just $45, including free premium beers, wines and champagne, plus finger food, entertainment and the chance to win great prizes.

Get your tickets from the Ballina RSL Club.

Alstonville remembrance

The Alstonville RSL Sub-Branch will hold a special ceremony in Elizabeth Anne Brown Park in Alstonville next Thursday, November 11, to unveil a community Stone of Recognition.

The stone pays tribute to all members of the Plateau community who were involved in the war effort, including members of the armed and auxiliary forces, as well as police, fire brigades, emergency services, the CWA and all other voluntary organisations who assisted.

The dedication of the Stone of Recognition begins at 10am, followed by a Remembrance Day ceremony at the adjacent war memorial from 10.45am. All are encouraged to attend.

Health boss

Former Northern Rivers Area Health Service CEO Chris Crawford will be the new chief executive of the merged North Coast Area Health Service (NCAS). Mr Crawford has been administrator for the new health service, which stretches from Port Macquarie to Tweed Heads and comes into effect on January 1, 2005. Mr Crawford has reiterated that the NCAS head office will be based in Lismore.

Meanwhile, local nurses are currently waging a campaign to maintain the role of the director of nursing (DON) on the regional executive following suggestions that the position may be downgraded. The nurses have threatened to strike if the position is removed from the top level of decision-making. Mr Crawford said no decision has been made on the future of the DON role.

The ordinary hero

Lismore builder Wayne Bird says he's delighted to be acknowledged for his bravery but said he will remain as an ordinary bloke rather than a hero.

Heroic deeds seem to run in the Bird family of Lismore.

Two months before Wayne Bird rescued a Ballina mum and her two-year-old son from their sinking car in April last year, Wayne's father, Roger, pulled a man from a burning vehicle.

Wayne's quick thinking and unselfish behaviour earned him a Bronze Medal from the Royal Humane Society of NSW, but the Lismore builder reckons he's just an ordinary bloke and anybody in his situation would have done the same thing.

Wayne, 37, and his pregnant wife Monique were visiting his sister at Wardell when the accident occurred.

"I ran outside and saw that a car had crashed into the river," he recalled. "I dived in fully-clothed, then swam out to the car and got the toddler out, then I took him to Monique who was waiting at the shore. I swam back to the car and realised that the woman was trapped and also panicking, but I worked frantically and got her out before the car sank.

"I cut myself on broken glass and got a fat lip in the process when the woman hit me but I copped it sweet and kept going until I had completed the rescue."

Since the ordeal, news of Wayne's deeds have given him celebrity status.

"When the boys and I go out to the pub they tell everyone in the bar and then everyone shouts me beers," he chuckled.

Another local recognised for bravery was Rod Harvey of Ballina, who was awarded a Silver Medal and the Galleghan Award after he rescued a swimmer from treacherous surf at Diggers Beach in January 2002.

Mr Harvey accepted his award from NSW Governor Marie Bashir at an official ceremony at Government House in Sydney last Wednesday. Mr Bird was flat out working, like an ordinary bloke, and was unable to attend.

Business as usual

The Northern Rivers Business Advisory Service, NORBAS, now delivers business assistance previously provided by Business Enterprise Centres.

NORBAS is a not-for-profit, community based organisation, contracted by the NSW Department of State and Regional Development to provide free, confidential and competent business advisory services across the entire Northern Rivers region.

NORBAS has offices in Tweed Heads and Lismore as well as mobile services available across the region. Tony Zillig, manager of the Lismore office, said "The advisory services are a readily accessible, effective resource for businesses and are designed to assist people who want to start their own business as well as those who are keen to expand, develop or better manage their existing businesses."

For information phone 1300 650 058 or email lismore@norbas.com.au.

Hotel plan fails (again)

After three attempts, plans for a boutique hotel opposite the Lismore Courthouse came to an end this week, with developer Scott Harvey announcing that he was putting the land on the market.

His six-year dream to build the 36-room Hotel Siena in Zadoc Street ended following a three-month attempt to raise $5 million for the project in $5000 lots from local investors.

Mr Scott said public enthusiasm for the project had not translated into the investment needed to get the $7.5 hotel off the ground.

"While I am disappointed, I am thankful to those people who were willing to invest," Mr Harvey said.

Mr Harvey had made two previously unsuccessful attempts to raise capital, believing their was strong demand for quality in the city. He thanked Lismore City Council for its support of the project and said money from investors is now being returned.

The commercially-zoned land is now for sale and development approval for a hotel remains in place.

This latest unsuccessful attempt to build an upmarket hotel in Lismore follows similar failed plans on a site on Ballina Road, which is now being offered for sale or lease. While a development application remains in place for a hotel in Molesworth Street, adjacent to the Centrepoint Motel, work has yet to begin five years after plans for the project were approved by Lismore Council.

Storm in a coffee cup over imports

Julian Ryan

Plans by a Newrybar coffee company to roast imported coffee have been put on hold after a rival local grower claimed that the overseas beans could bring disease and decimate the local industry.

The Byron Bay Coffee Company has applied to Ballina Council to process and package imported coffee at their Newrybar property.

Local coffee grower and neighbour June Zentveld of Zentveld's Coffee told Council's meeting last week that the imported product may carry the fungal disease coffee rust. Australia is one of the few coffee growing regions free of the disease.

"We urge Council to reject the application because imported coffee will bring disease and has the potential to destroy our industry," she said. "There is a very real danger to the industry if overseas coffee is roasted next to an existing plantation."

But Byron Bay Coffee Company proprietor Franco Ivancich said only a percentage of the coffee to be roasted at his property is imported and his proposal posed no threat to the industry.

"We want to roast up to 25 per cent imported coffee and technically we are on the right side because our proposal has been endorsed by the Department of Primary Industries," he said.

Council has requested that the Byron Bay Coffee Company prepare an independent report on environmental risks before the matter can be further dealt with.

Ballina mayor Phil Silver commented that he believed there would be reasonable grounds to refuse the DA because importing coffee did not help the local industry.

Australia imports more than 99.5 per cent of the whole green beans it consumes.

Wash away their pains

Lachlan Smith from Focus Detailing will be holding his second charity car wash this Saturday to raise money for the St Vincent's Hospital Rehabilitation Unit.

After a successful charity car wash some months ago, 19-year-old Lachlan Smith is holding a similar event this weekend to raise funds for the St Vincent's Hospital Rehabilitation Unit.

Using equipment from his newly established mobile business, Focus Detailing, Lachlan will provide a full car wash for just $5, and has roped in his girlfriend and a few good mates to help him on the day.

"He raised $400 last time, which went toward a new widescreen TV for the dining room, and this time we plan to put the money toward electric beds," said his mother Marcia, a diversional therapist at the rehab unit. "It's just so wonderful to see these young people doing something for older people in the community. I'm really proud of them."

Lachlan's car wash is on this Saturday, November 6, at the Caltex service station on the corner of Dawson and Woodlark streets, Lismore. It runs from 8am to 1pm.

National award for local green thumb

Lismore man Phil Dudman with his Australian Horticultural Media Award that he won for his weekly radio program 'The Garden Guru Files'.

Lismore based garden writer and presenter Phil Dudman has won a national media award for a radio program he presents each week from the ABC radio studios in Lismore.

Last week Phil's program 'The Garden Guru Files' was judged the best in the inaugural 2004 Australian Horticultural Media Awards at a gala presentation dinner in Adelaide.

The Garden Guru Files is a two-minute segment that features tips and advice for gardeners and is broadcast all over Australia.

When asked about the success of his program Phil said he was delighted with the win and keen to expand on further gardening projects in the media.

"I'm writing a book called In Search of Gardening Wisdom," he said.

The book is due for release in August next year.

Pay for passing by Ballina?

Julian Ryan

A paid tollway between Hexham and Tweed Heads is one way of getting B-double trucks off the Pacific Highway according to Ballina mayor Philip Silver.

A tollway was one of the ideas discussed by Cr Silver at the NSW Local Government Association conference in Armidale last week.

"There could be some merit for a tollway for heavy transport so as to provide incentive to remove B-doubles from the Pacific Highway," Cr Silver said.

The Mayor said the general consensus with other mayors along the coast was that all options for a safer highway should be considered, but the general public should not be left out of pocket.

"The tollway concept is simply an idea, however the Northern Rivers community should not be disadvantaged by having to pay for infrastructure twice."

Meanwhile, keeping with the theme of transport, Mr Silver travelled to Canberra yesterday as the chairman of the NSW Country Mayors Association to attend the NSW Regional Aviation summit.

Mr Silver said the summit would look at ways to develop a number of strategies designed to improve regional airlines access to Mascot Airport in Sydney, where the airport's private owner is looking at downgrading the existing facilities of regional carrier Rex.

"I hope that we will be in the early stages of developing a regional aviation policy for NSW," he said. "We need some degree of regulation in place to ensure equitable access for our regional carriers in Sydney."

Mozzie danger

The Northern Rivers Public Health Unit is warning people of the dangers of the mosquito-borne illnesses like Ross River Virus and Barmah Forest Virus after recent rains appear to have triggered an increase in mosquito numbers.

Director Greg Bell said there is no known cure for the increasingly common viruses, whose symptoms include pains in the joints and tiredness, followed by a rash and fever.

He said the symptoms appear within three to 11 days of someone being bitten and if they occur see your GP.

"Use insect repellent, wear long, loose, light coloured, protective clothing when outdoors, especially during early morning and early evening. Screen living and sleeping areas or use mosquito nets, and remove any containers or rubbish that can hold water from around the home."

People wishing to obtain virus fact sheets can visit the NSW Health website - www.health.nsw.gov.au

More power to Irish dance

Science whiz Dr Karl Kruszelnicki presents Lismore High School student Alexandra Hahn with the NSW Intel Young Scientist Award.

Irish dancers burn more energy than any other dancers, and more than most sportspeople, a scientific report by a Lismore High School student has revealed.

For her efforts, Alexandra Hahn won the NSW Intel Young Scientist Award and a special award - the Powerhouse Museum's Experimentations Award, for her clear explanation of her findings.

Her project -'Establishing a MET value for Irish Dancing' - compared the exercise intensity of Irish dancing to other activities. Alexandra, a member of the Lismore School of Irish Dance, knows firsthand how much effort Irish dancing takes, but it was one of the few activities for which no MET (metabolic) value had been established.

"I wanted to study the exercise intensity of Irish dancing because some of my friends didn't seem to think it took much effort," said Alexandra. "A lot of people don't know very much about it apart from what they've seen on Riverdance and most people would see it as a cultural activity rather than a form of intensive exercise or sport. It turned out that Irish dancing has a MET value of 8.2, which means it takes more energy than high-impact aerobic dance (7 METs) or ballet (6 METs)."

Alexandra's prizes included two trophies, $300, science books, Imax theatre tickets and a whiz bang calculator for her school.

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