“Australian lightweight champion from lil ol’ Swan Bay”

By Samantha Elley

Maddog boxing’s Sunny McLean has been going from strength to strength this past year, grabbing titles from each of the events he has been fighting in.

Sunny McLean and his coach, Scott Smith, who runs Maddox Boxing, were recently picked to represent Queensland as the fighter and coach team to compete in the national titles in Gosford.

Sunny won all his elimination bouts and beat the NSW champion in the gold medal fight, to become the newly crowned Australian champion in the lightweight division.

They were surprised with a visit from Jason and Andrew Moloney, world champion professional boxers.

“Every state in Australia was there with all the best fighters and the (Moloney brothers) came to support us, so we felt so special,” said Scott.

“They came to help me prepare Sunny for his last two fights in this event.”

Sunny was competing for Queensland as he already holds the title of QLD/NSW interstate champion.

“His first opponent, the referee stopped the fight in the 3rd round,” said Scott.

“His second opponent was the favourite from Tasmania and Sunny won that fight to go through for the gold medal against the NSW champion.

“Andy (co-trainer) and I worked out a plan to beat him and Sunny did exactly what he was asked and never last control of the situation.

“He is now the Australian lightweight champion from lil ol Swan Bay.”

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Terranora Creek Foreshore upgrade planned for early 2025

By Robert Heyward

The foreshore of Terranora Creek, adjacent to Wyuna Road in Tweed Heads West, is set to undergo a $400,000 upgrade in early 2025, enhancing community access and improving the area’s safety and appearance.

Project Overview

Thanks to $400,000 in grant funding from the NSW Government’s Stronger Country Communities Program, this project aims to boost community wellbeing by upgrading critical social infrastructure. The work will focus on rehabilitating parkland accessed via Blue Waters Crescent, located west of the M1 bridge.

Planned Improvements

The upgrade will include:

• Removal of Unsafe Structures: Broken and degraded foreshore structures, many built without Council approval, will be removed and disposed of offsite to enhance safety and aesthetics.
• Erosion Control: Rock walls will be installed where necessary to prevent foreshore erosion.
• Improved Access: Two new stairs/ramps will be built, providing safer and easier access to the creek for the community.

Project Benefits

Tom Alletson, Council’s Team Leader for Coast and Waterways, emphasised the importance of the upgrade:
“This project will improve access to the creek and remove dilapidated structures that are both unsafe and unsightly. While construction will temporarily limit access to the park, the final result will be a rejuvenated foreshore for residents and visitors to enjoy,” he said.

Community Engagement

Consultation with residents along Wyuna Road has already begun to ensure a smooth project rollout. Construction is scheduled to commence in early 2025 and is expected to take approximately four weeks.

Get Involved

For further details about the project and to view site plans, visit here.

This restoration project highlights Council’s commitment to preserving and enhancing the Tweed’s natural environment, ensuring future generations can continue to enjoy the region’s waterways.

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Tweed Heads and Armidale Zero Emission Buses dubbed ‘best bus ride ever’

By Ian Rogers

Five months into Transport for NSW’s Zero Emissions Bus (ZEB) trials in regional areas, the initiative is being praised as a success. Since the rollout of zero-emission school buses in Armidale and Tweed Heads earlier this year, the trials have shown promising results. One student even described the experience as “the best bus ride ever,” with the ZEBs performing well across various conditions and terrains, earning positive feedback in passenger surveys.

During the second and third school terms, the four buses in Armidale and Tweed Heads have collectively achieved:

• Over 64,000 kilometres travelled
• More than 2,600 hours of charging time
• Over 25,000 passenger journeys

At the BusNSW 2024 Member Conference in Sydney today, Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison announced the second phase of Transport for NSW’s $25 million regional Zero Emission Bus trials.

Starting next week, more buses will be deployed, with three ZEB school buses heading to each of Queanbeyan and Deniliquin, and one to Narrabri, along with an additional bus in Armidale. The trials aim to gather data on the performance of these buses and coaches in a variety of environments, terrains, temperatures, and conditions.

This data, combined with feedback from passengers, drivers, and operators, will help Transport for NSW determine the most suitable technology for regional areas as part of the broader goal of achieving zero emissions in the future.

For more information on the zero-emissions bus trial, visit here.

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said: 

“I welcome the enthusiastic support and positive feedback from the Armidale and Tweed communities regarding our Zero Emission Bus trials.

“The early trial data shows ZEBs are really living up to their name with zero breakdowns and zero charging issues despite operating in challenging conditions.

“From unsealed roads to steep hilly climbs and temperatures hitting below minus-5 around Armidale – these buses are cutting tailpipe emissions and showing ZEBs have the potential to thrive in regional areas.”

Edwards Coaches Managing Director Brad Edwards said:

“Feedback from the drivers and passengers has so far been positive. The trial has provided very promising results showing excellent durability and reliability of these vehicles.

“Participating in this trial has already given us a lot of valuable insights into the capabilities of zero emissions technology.”

Martin Hall, Kinetic’s Executive General Manager for South-East Queensland and Tweed said:

“Our experience at Kinetic is that wherever ZEBs are introduced the feedback from passengers is overwhelmingly positive. School children are happy to be enjoying the quiet and smooth ride.

“It has been wonderful to see students learn more about the technology and how sustainable transport will play a such an important role in their futures.”

Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said:

“We are early and regular uptakers of renewables, so this is a good fit for our region. We can tell that people are happy and the buses are working well.

“Because it’s been a trial, we know it’s the start of more good things to come as we get to our renewable targets.”

Emily Suvaal MLC, Labor spokesperson for Tweed said:

“The NSW Government remains committed to a greener, more sustainable transport system and with promising results so far, I am confident the next deployment of regional ZEB trials will further highlight their potential wider application.”

Peter Primrose MLC, Labor spokesperson for the Northern Tablelands said:

“I am thrilled to see the positive outcomes from the Zero Emission Bus trials. The enthusiastic feedback from students and the community highlights the success of this initiative.

“As we work towards transitioning our regional bus fleet to zero emissions, these trials are crucial in demonstrating the potential of sustainable transport solutions. I look forward to the next phase of trials and the invaluable insights they will provide as we pave the way for a cleaner future in public transport.”