Watch out, snakes about

Published

11 months ago

23 August 2023

Liam

Reptile enthusiast Ben Fisher shows he has mastered techniques for dealing with venomous snakes during his venomous snake handling course he attended in June.

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Watch out, snakes about

By Tim Howard

Northern Rivers residents should be aware snakes are on the move about a month to six weeks earlier than normal.

A Clarence Valley snake and reptile enthusiast, Ben Fisher, said he had been called out three times since July 31 for snake sightings, which was surprising.

Mr Fisher who has a life-long connection with reptiles, completed a course training him in the handling of venomous snakes.

He hopes to turn his passion and training into business later this year.

“Usually it’s about mid-September – spring – when they start moving around,” he said.

“Now that it’s starting to warm up the male snakes are often travelling in yards, schools and in towns in search of a mate. You may find them fighting.”

Snakes can surprise residents in their yards, but often other animals can give people a warning one is near.

“There are signs that you can look out for,” Mr Fisher said.

“Two of those signs are local birds and your dogs. If you hear your dog’s barking please go and check.

“If you hear the local birds making a racket please go and check it may be that there is a snake close by.”

He said while the usual suspects were non-venomous carpet pythons, he had been shocked at the large number of red-bellied black snakes that had taken up residence locally.

Finally it became necessary to pick the snake up and lower it into the depths of the bag to ensure its safe capture.

“They’re a snake that loves the water,” he said. “Since the floods are lot more of them have been around.

“They’re generally found around pools, water pumps or the river.”

There are steps people should take if they come into contact with a snake.

“Unfortunately these beautiful creatures come in contact with pets,” he said.

“If you believe that your pet has been bitten please contact your local vet asap.

“If you have a snake in your yard or around the home please keep a safe distance and try to take a photo.’

“The local agency will be able to identify and let you the appropriate steps to follow.

Mr Fisher said snakes were found in and around town.

“Already this year I’ve seen the biggest red belly I’ve ever seen and it was in town,” he said.

He said pythons, red bellies and the occasional brown snake were the most common snake sightings.

He said he had also been called out to a snake sighting near the bus interchange at South Grafton.

“If anyone sees a snake, keep a safe distance from it and watch to see where it goes,” he said.

“Don’t take your eyes off them for more than a few seconds.”

A 1.5m carpet python came calling at a Grafton residence last week. The residents called a local snake catcher who safely caught and removed the animal.

He said it was a misconception snakes hibernated.

“They go dormant during the colder months and find a safe place like a roof space, a tree or rabbit warren to nest,” he said.

“Because they’re cold blooded they can’t regulate their body temperature, so they want the sun to warm them up and get their blood circulating.

“If its cold lactic acid builds up quickly in them, which is like a massive cramp for them.”

He said the snake mating season was during mid summer, but snakes moving about could come into contact with each other.

“Two males could come into contact and begin fighting,” he said. “They coil around each other to assert their dominance.

“Some people mistake it for mating, but at this early stage of the season it’s likely to be males fighting.”

A snake catcher on arrival will use a stick with a wire crook and a long, black bag on a pole to capture the snake.

If the snake is on the ground it is relatively quickly pushed into the bag and secured.

Sometimes they might need to pick the snake up by the tail and lower it into the bag.

He said people who sighted a snake could call WIRES or the National Parks and Wildlife Service but they might not always be able to help.

It is illegal to capture or kill a native snake in Australia even if it is on your property.

A fine of $10,000 and jail time could result for anyone who kills a snake not deemed to be a threat to safety.

For more environmental news, click here.

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Community group’s council audit delayed

Published

2 days ago

24 July 2024

Liam

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Community group’s council audit delayed

By Tim Howard

A community group supposedly the target of a Clarence Valley Council audit in February 2024 over the cost of its interactions with council has pointed out the audit has not been completed. The General Manager, Laura Black commented, “I anticipate it will take a couple of months.”

The secretary of Yamba Community Action Network (YambaCAN), Lynne Cairns, said this week’s council business paper included a report, Council Meeting Checklist – update on actions taken.

The report revealed staff had not completed the action, the result of a council resolution at the February 2024 council meeting.

“On page 175 of the business paper there is a note next to the item,” Ms Cairns said.

“It reads: ‘Staff responsible for collating information have been diverted to prepare and respond to legal action taken against council by an executive member of YambaCan’.”

Ms Cairns said this was incorrect as no-one on the YambaCAN executive had taken legal action against the council.

She was aware of some matters concerning the council a member of YambaCAN had taken to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

“These matters were not matters concerning YambaCAN and the member who brought them was not acting for YambaCAN,” Ms Cairns said.

“I’m concerned this is some disinformation that somehow YambaCAN is responsible for delaying council’s investigation of its actions.

“YambaCAN is requesting an apology from council for the incorrect information in the business paper.”

The resolution read: that the general manager advises, by way of a report the:

1. allocation of resources required to respond to GIPAs submitted by YambaCan since January 2022.

2. allocation of resources required to respond to RFI (Request for Information) submitted by YambaCan since January 2022.

3. any cost implications of delays to delivering the Yamba Community Precinct project since January 2022.

The matter was passed 5-4, but debate was fiery.

Cr Karen Toms brought it as a notice of motion to alert the public to the costs the group’s GIPA requests and requests for information were incurring.

But other councillors said these costs were part of council operating openly and transparently.

Cr Greg Clancy was concerned the motion focused on just one group when council records showed it was responsible for a fraction of the requests.

“As seen in the listing of GIPA applications on council’s website, there are 22 GIPA applications and only six of these refer to YambaCAN,” he told the February meeting.

He also revealed YambaCAN had lodged a request for information, however were informed that there were 290 requests for information previously lodged by others that were waiting to be processed.

Ms Cairns was concerned that with the council going into caretaker mode on August 16, ahead of the September local government elections, council could not effectively decide on the matter.

There will be report on the outcome of this matter and other matters at council in next week’s edition of The Northern Rivers Times.

For more Yamba news, click here.

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Clarence Valley News

Clarence Valley Country Muster

Published

1 week ago

17 July 2024

Liam

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Clarence Valley Country Muster

If you are missing the country sounds from Tamworth, fret not, as the Clarence Valley Country Muster is just around the corner.

Expanded from two days to four, the event will start on July 25^th and go to July 28^th at 11 Coulters Lane, Ulmarra, near Grafton.

You will enjoy artists such as Jade Hurley, John, Lloyd, Jack Watson, Lindsay Waddington and Jamie Davis.

Special guest artists, Paul Ricketts, Winner of the Thornton Young Award and Nay McAplin, Winner of the Walk Ups in July, will also make an appearance.

Your comperes for the main stage will be Terry Gordon OAM and Ken ‘Chainsaw’ Lindsay.

And bring those nerves with you, as from 10.30am on Thursday, aspiring artists can take their turn on the microphone, with John Lloyd hosting the walk-ups.

All acts will be vying for a gig at next July’s event.

Now is the time to grab a group of friends or family members and book your spot by heading to their website www.cvcmuster.com.au or calling Wendy Gordon on 0432 741947.

Gates open for early arrival at the muster site on Tuesday, July 23.

For $120 per person, you can enjoy a full week of camping, camaraderie and entertainment at one of the best value-for-money festivals in the Clarence Valley.

Check out is Tuesday, July 30.

If you have a fire pit, bring it along as wood will be supplied.

There will be songs around the campfire, best dressed Christmas and party games and a big finale on the Sunday.

For more local Clarence Valley news, click here.

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Clarence Valley News

NSW BUDGET: NOTHING FOR RICHMOND AND CLARENCE VALLEYS COST OF LIVING CRISIS, BUT SOME WINS

Published

4 weeks ago

27 June 2024

Liam

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NSW BUDGET: NOTHING FOR RICHMOND AND CLARENCE VALLEYS COST OF LIVING CRISIS, BUT SOME WINS

The NSW Labor Government’s 18 June Budget does nothing to alleviate the growing cost of living problems in the Richmond and Clarence Valleys, although there is some good news for the region, according to Clarence Nationals MP Richie Williamson.

“Everywhere I go, every local I talk to, they all say the same thing: we’re struggling with rising costs – why isn’t the Government helping?” Mr Williamson said.

Mr Williamson said that he was all for working cooperatively with the Government, but there was mounting evidence Sydney Labor is “out of town, out of touch and the budget is out of control”.

“Calls to reinstate the $250 fuel card for regional seniors, students and apprentices have fallen on deaf ears, but Sydney seniors now enjoy $2-a-day Gold Passes on Sydney’s massive and massively subsidised public transport system as well as toll relief for Sydneysiders,” Mr Williamson said.

“Calls to save the Ulmarra ferry from Labor’s axe met a similar fate, at the same time as Labor is buying a fleet of new ferries for Sydney and took over another Sydney ferry service that has lower patronage than Ulmarra to Southgate.”

Mr Williamson did acknowledge the Government’s ongoing funding of the previous Liberals and Nationals Government’s Grafton Base Hospital rebuild, the allocation of $6.2m in the fight against White Spot disease in local rivers as well as a “welcome” $90m boost for the Resilient Homes Program, following the 2022 floods.

“These are crumbs compared to what Labor is lavishing on its Sydney heartland,” Mr Williamson cautioned.

“The Richmond and Clarence Valleys provide the timber for Sydney homes, the beef for Sydney dinners as well as the sugar and milk for Sydney cappuccinos.

“That needs to be acknowledged and we deserve our fair share,” Mr Williamson concluded.”

For more Richmond Valley news, click here.

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