Northern Rivers flood rebuild $7.9 billion and rising
The cost to rebuild and repair more than 2500 projects of flood ravaged public infrastructure on the Northern Rivers following the devastating 2022 floods is estimated at $7.9 billion and is predicted to increase ... NRRC head David Witherdin said the increase in costs was expected as the corporation identified more projects.
But, protesters support West Yamba rezoning
"Stop the fill, don’t drown our town" were the familiar chants of about 40 protesters who were joined by Greens MLC and environmental lawyer Sue Higginson to support Cr Greg Clancy’s motion to rezone land at West Yamba not already subject to development approval at Clarence Valley Council’s April meeting. Joined by members of Yamba Community Action Network Yamba CAN, who were armed with a 3.01 metre pole to indicate the height of fill at Carrs Drive, Ms Higginson said Cr Clancy’s motion was trying to put the brakes on development on the floodplain for all the right reasons.
Class action planned over White Spot
A fisherman who has been trawling the Clarence River all his life is behind a legal class action hoping to compensate fishermen who haven’t had any income since February due to a White Spot control order preventing the harvesting of uncooked prawns ... "We are on our asses, we’ve had no compensation, the only compensation we were given by the Department of Primary Industries was a one-third reduction in our management fees, which is nothing": Bruce Clark.
West Yamba rezoning motion defeated
A motion to rezone land at West Yamba not already subject to development applications from residential to conservation and rural status has been defeated, with many Clarence Valley Councillors indicating they want to wait for the latest flood modelling to be released before deciding on the issue ... Prior to the CVC meeting, councillors heard deputations supporting the rezoning from Greens MLC and Environmental Lawyer Sue Higginson, Lynne Cairns from Yamba CAN, Engineer Peter Maslen and Yamba Local Craigh McNeill.
Emu greeting visitors and locals to Yamba
Visitors to Yamba this Easter may be greeted with the same inquisitive looks that have been exciting locals over the past couple of months from a Coastal Emu that has taken up residence in paddocks near Wynyabbie House at Palmers Channel. Social media has been abuzz with sightings and photos of the critically endangered, world’s second tallest bird, which is only found on the NSW North Coast.
Mobile phones banned in NSW High School’s from term four
Emma Pritchard, Rodney Stevens. High school students will be banned from using mobile phones at school from Term Four 2023 in an election commitment from the Minns Labor government designed to improve students learning and social development ... While students will still be able to carry their mobile phones to and from school, the ban will apply during class, recess, and lunch ... I don’t really agree with it: Cooper.
Mystery still surrounds 2020 disappearance of woman at Brooms Head
Mystery still surrounds the disappearance of a woman who went missing while camping at Brooms Head in 2020 after the NSW Deputy State Coroner found she died close to where she went missing after going to amenities less than 200 metres from her camp. Annmarie Jeffery was last seen around 9am on Tuesday, August 25, 2020, at the Lake Arragan campground near Brooms Head.
Clarence and Coffs councils’ disagreement over water supply agreement
A decision on a bulk raw water supply agreement with Coffs Harbour City Council has been deferred by Clarence Valley Council at its March meeting to allow the mayors of both councils to discuss an arrangement that is mutually agreed on. At the March 28 Clarence Valley Council (CVC) meeting councillors were advised a dispute resolution process that council resolved to enter at the December 2022 meeting had failed to negotiate an outcome both parties agreed on.
Cheryl and Bill hit the road for 16th Variety Bash
Yamba locals Cheryl and Bill Randall hit the road for the greater good when Variety – the Children’s Charity NSW/ACT’s feel-good 4WD Adventure kicked off in Coffs Harbour on Sunday ... Variety’s feel-good 4WD Adventure raises funds for children who are sick, experiencing disadvantage or living with a disability.
Candidates sign pledge against mining in Clarence
Five candidates for the seat of Clarence in the March 25 state election have signed a pledge launched by the Clarence Catchment Alliance to oppose and ban mineral mining developments in the Clarence catchment ... The pledge, Ms Fleming said came about after the CCA attended a meet the candidates’ night in Grafton and every one of the local candidates said they were anti mining in the Clarence catchment.
