Kingscliff’s New Ambulance Station Officially Opens

By Jeff Gibbs

The Northern Rivers region is set to benefit from a major enhancement in emergency care services with the official opening of the new Kingscliff Ambulance Station.

Labor Spokesperson for Tweed, Emily Suvaal, MLC, joined NSW Ambulance paramedics, local families, and community members to mark this important milestone.

Situated on the new Tweed Valley Hospital campus, the state-of-the-art, two-level ambulance station replaces the 65-year-old facility on Marine Parade, Kingscliff. The modern station boasts eight internal parking bays, including an internal wash bay, administrative and office areas, staff rest facilities, a gym, logistics and storage areas, and on-site parking.

This station is a key part of the NSW Government’s $232 million Rural Ambulance Infrastructure Reconfiguration (RAIR) program, which is delivering 54 new or upgraded ambulance stations. This initiative represents the largest infrastructure investment in NSW Ambulance’s nearly 130-year history.

Along with the new $723.3 million Tweed Valley Hospital, the station is a cornerstone in the expansive growth of health services designed to meet the needs of the Tweed-Byron region’s growing and ageing population.

Tweed residents are further supported by the Tweed Urgent Care Service, currently available five days a week, from 8am to 4pm, providing scheduled visits to residential aged care facilities. The service is set to expand to seven days a week, offering care to people of all ages in the near future.

Extended Care Paramedics, as part of the multidisciplinary urgent care team, deliver critical support to residents with urgent but non-life-threatening medical conditions in the comfort of their homes.

Quotes:

Minister for Regional Health, Ryan Park:
“Kingscliff’s new ambulance station offers our local paramedics a top-tier base with the latest facilities and equipment, ensuring they can meet the community’s emergency care needs now and in the future. The NSW Government remains committed to investing in health infrastructure to improve health outcomes for rural and regional communities.”

Labor Spokesperson for Tweed, Emily Suvaal, MLC:
“This new station is a testament to the NSW Government’s dedication to providing first-class emergency services in regional NSW. It ensures our local paramedics are well-equipped to meet the growing demand for emergency care in this region.”

NSW Ambulance Chief Executive, Dr. Dominic Morgan:
“The Kingscliff Ambulance Station is a cutting-edge facility that equips our highly skilled paramedics with the resources they need. This new station will continue to deliver high-quality emergency care to the Northern Rivers communities, now and in the future. We are thrilled to have this station operational for our local crews and the communities they serve.”

For more local Kingscliff news, click here.

TAFE NSW Enhances Farm Vehicle Safety Program with Green-Skilling Initiative for Future Farmers

By Jeff Gibbs
As National Skills Week highlights the growing demand for skilled workers in Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing, with more than 13,400 new jobs projected between 2023 and 2028, TAFE NSW is at the forefront of preparing future farmers with essential skills. Australia’s largest registered training organization is expanding its Farm Vehicle Safety Program (FVSP) to include electric vehicle (side by side) safety training, aligning with the industry’s shift towards energy-efficient practices.

TAFE NSW has invested in three electric vehicles to supplement its FVSP, which has been equipping students with practical farm vehicle operation skills since 2019. The program is designed for students aged 16 and older, allowing them to gain confidence in operating various farm vehicles, including two-wheel motorbikes, quad bikes, farm bikes, side by side utility vehicles, and now electric vehicles. Training takes place on dedicated circuits or working farms, providing students with real-world experience to excel in their agricultural careers.
The inclusion of electric vehicles in the program is timely, as more farmers are considering them as a sustainable option. TAFE NSW Executive Director of Education and Skills North, Jason Darney, announced that these electric vehicles would be deployed across select North Coast campuses, with approximately 159 students expected to be trained on them during the 2024-2025 period. “TAFE NSW welcomes electric vehicles to its farm vehicle fleet as a valuable addition. Several training programs using the vehicles have been successfully conducted over the past few months as part of our farm safety delivery option,” Darney said.

TAFE NSW Enhances Farm Vehicle Safety Program with Green-Skilling Initiative for Future Farmers

Since its inception, the FVSP has seen substantial growth. In the 2018-2019 financial year, 300 students participated, and this number has more than doubled, with 615 students registering for the current financial year. The program is available in TAFE NSW’s North, South, and West regions, with participating students receiving a Statement of Attainment to acknowledge the specific farm vehicle skills they have acquired.

National Skills Week, running from 19 to 25 August 2024, marks its 14th year in raising awareness of vocational learning and its potential to provide attractive career opportunities. With the average Australian changing employers every 3.3 years, vocational education and training are becoming increasingly vital in preparing individuals for evolving job markets and helping to address significant skills gaps across various industries, strengthening both communities and the economy.

TAFE NSW offers various Statements of Attainment in farm vehicle operation, reflecting the diverse skillsets needed in modern agriculture. Participants in the FVSP can achieve one or more of the following in the North, South, and West regions:

• North Region:
o Statement of Attainment in Quad Bike Operation
o Statement of Attainment in Side by Side Operation
o Statement of Attainment in Quad and Side by Side Vehicle Operation

• South Region:
o Statement of Attainment in Operate Two Wheel Motorbikes
o Statement of Attainment in Quad Bike Operation
o Statement of Attainment in Side by Side Operation
o Statement of Attainment in Quad and Two Wheel Motor Bike Operation
o Statement of Attainment in Operate Two Wheel Motorbikes and Side by Side Utility Vehicles
o Statement of Attainment in Quad and Side by Side Vehicle Operation
o Statement of Attainment in Farm Bikes and Utility Vehicles

• West Region:
o Statement of Attainment in Operate Two Wheel Motorbikes
o Statement of Attainment in Quad Bike Operation
o Statement of Attainment in Side by Side Operation
o Statement of Attainment in Quad and Two Wheel Motor Bike Operation
o Statement of Attainment in Operate Two Wheel Motorbikes and Side by Side Utility Vehicles
o Statement of Attainment in Quad and Side by Side Vehicle Operation
o Statement of Attainment in Farm Bikes and Utility Vehicles

With these initiatives, TAFE NSW continues to lead the way in preparing the next generation of farmers, ensuring they are equipped with the skills needed to operate safely and sustainably in the evolving agricultural landscape.

Do You Support an Extension to the Lease of the Kingscliff Temporary Housing Village?

Council is seeking community feedback on a proposal to extend the lease on parkland at Kingscliff to accommodate the temporary housing pod for an additional six months. The NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA) has requested a six-month extension to the temporary village lease at Elrond Drive, Kingscliff, extending it to December 2025.

The extension would provide additional time for the RA and Northern Rivers Housing (NRH) to support residents into long-term housing and to allow for the decommissioning of the pods during this extension period.

Mayor of Tweed Shire Chris Cherry emphasised the importance of this extension, stating, “There are currently more than 450 households living in 11 temporary housing sites across the region, and a significant waitlist of people still seeking housing support.”

“Kingscliff’s temporary housing village has 31 self-contained housing units which provide a safe and secure home to more than 60 people affected by the 2022 floods. Some residents are waiting for their homes to be rebuilt, while others need to find an affordable rental property,” Cr Cherry added.

While the Council supports this request for a six-month extension, it seeks input from local residents to understand their views on the request before making a final decision.

Council owns the land at 99 Elrond Drive, where the Kingscliff temporary housing village is located. In June 2022, Council entered into a three-year lease of the property with Resilience NSW, now known as the NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA). The lease was established for the construction, maintenance, and operation of temporary housing and is set to expire on 16 June 2025.

The temporary housing villages were originally intended to provide up to two years of accommodation for displaced households as a result of the 2022 floods, with the remaining lease period allocated for site restoration. However, due to widespread housing stress and contractor shortages in the region, residents of the temporary housing village face significant obstacles to returning home or securing alternative stable housing.

In November 2023, Council received a request from the NSW RA to extend the lease for an additional two years until June 2027. Following this request, a meeting was hosted by the NSW RA and Council with neighbouring residents in February 2024. During this meeting, the NSW RA indicated the request to extend the lease for two more years (until 2027) had been withdrawn.

In May 2024, Council received a new request from the NSW RA to extend the lease for an additional six months until 31 December 2025. At Council’s meeting on 16 May, it was resolved to agree to this extension, subject to public notification and consultation with residents of the pod village and the wider community.

Additionally, it was resolved to consult with the community to determine the future use of the space. This consultation will take place separately before the end of the lease in December next year.

Residents are encouraged to provide feedback on the extension of the lease before 5 pm on Wednesday, 3 July 2024. Council will consider all submissions before deciding whether to proceed with the extension.

Have your say online at yoursaytweed.com.au/99ElrondDrive, email tsc@tweed.nsw.gov.au, or write to the General Manager, Tweed Shire Council, PO Box 816, Murwillumbah, NSW 2484.

For more local Kingscliff news, click here.