Tweed Valley Hospital set to open in May 2024

By Sarah Waters

The new Tweed Valley Hospital will officially open its doors to patients next year on Tuesday, May 14, after five years of construction.

The $723.3 million facility will allow 5000 patients to be treated each year, providing a major boost to health care services in the Northern Rivers.

It will be a regional referral hospital and has been designed to provide the health services required for the growing population of the region beyond 2032.

Northern NSW Local Health District Chief Executive Tracey Maisey said the opening date provided certainty to staff, patients and community members.

“The move to the Tweed Valley Hospital is the biggest whole of hospital move in regional NSW history, and it is important for the safety of patients and staff that we allow appropriate time for this process to occur,” Ms Maisey said.

“We’re excited to work together with our staff and our community to deliver a smooth transition to the new site from the moment the doors open.”

The new Tweed Valley Hospital will replace Tweed Hospital, in Tweed Heads, which is ageing and experiencing an increase in demand due to the high population growth in the area.

It will have 430 beds, an expanded 24-hour emergency department with 42 treatment spaces, 12 operating theatres and a range of outpatient services.

A new integrated cancer care service will provide medical oncology, haematology, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and an onsite PET-CT suite.

Comprehensive maternity and neonatal services for women and children will include modern birthing suites and a special care nursery for newborns requiring specialist clinical care.

The community will be supported with a broad range of mental health services, including inpatient care and hospital in-reach services.

Labor spokesperson for Tweed Emily Suvaal said residents in Northern NSW would benefit from the major boost to local health services.

“As a nurse, I know how important it is for regional communities to have access to high quality healthcare facilities like this one,” Ms Suvaal said.

Health Infrastructure Chief Executive Rebecca Wark said it was rewarding for the project team to achieve the significant milestone.

“We’ve worked through the COVID-19 pandemic, and the February 2022 floods, so the completion of construction is a milestone worth celebrating,” Ms Wark said.

The Tweed Valley Hospital development has supported up to 650 jobs during the project.

At the peak of construction around 75 per cent of workers were local to the Tweed and Byron regions.

Finishing touches on the landscaping across the 19.4 hectare campus and single-level car park will be completed in the coming months.

Hospital services will transfer to the new Tweed Valley Hospital when it opens on May 14.

BreastScreen and some community outreach services will continue to be delivered in Tweed Heads, either at or near to the existing hospital site.

The new Tweed Valley Hospital is located at 771 Cudgen Road, Cudgen.

For more health news, click here.

Contents of Murwillumbah’s three 50-year-old time capsules revealed

By Sarah Waters

The true treasures from one of the 50-year-old time capsules unearthed from beneath Murwillumbah Library may never be known.

After half-a-century under the ground, the seal on the Murwillumbah time capsule placed by community service organisation Apex, did not withstand the test of time, leaving memoirs and relics damaged.

Two-time capsules, in the form of metal barrels, were buried in 1973 at the start of construction of the Murwillumbah Civic and Cultural Centre.

They contained 50-year-old letters from the NSW Governor, Tweed Shire President, community members as well as newspapers and photographs.

One capsule was placed by Tweed Shire Council and another by the Murwillumbah branch of Apex Australia on behalf of the community.

Members of Tweed Shire Council and the Murwillumbah branch of community service organisation, Apex, at the time of capsule burial in 1973.

A third capsule – a small, wax-sealed glass jar placed by Civic Centre construction workers – was a surprise find.

At the 50-year mark in October this year, the capsules were made available for public viewing for several weeks while still in their resting place.

However, there was worry the contents may be damaged as the capsules were buried in the dirt below the foundations of the library with little protection from the elements.

When they were finally opened on November 9, in a controlled environment, the time they had spent underground appeared to have taken its toll on the Apex capsule.

Mayor of Tweed Shire Chris Cherry said unfortunately the seal on Apex’s time capsule had failed to protect the contents.

“Sadly, initial concerns for the conditions of the contents were warranted,” Ms Cherry said.

Descendants of well-known local identity and former councillor Clarrie Hall browsing the photographs and letters addressed to them in Council’s time capsule. From left, Suzanne, Geoff, Richard, Beverley and Margaret.

“The contents of Apex’s community capsule were damaged to varying degrees, from completely disintegrated through to sodden and covered in active mould,” she said.

Council’s capsule survived a lot better and most of the material, including council papers, a small number of photographs and several sealed envelopes, were in good shape.

The construction worker’s capsule contained papers and letters.

The contents of the Apex capsule were slowly removed by staff who were qualified to handle historic items and transferred to a plastic sheeting in the sun to assess and neutralise active mould.

The remaining two capsules’ contents, which were less affected by moisture and mould, were laid on a table to dry.

Former Apex members Garry Smith, who was present at the sealing of the Apex capsule, and John Henley, watched as the capsules were opened.

Council staff, accompanied by John Henley and Garry Smith – former members of the community service organisation Apex – examine the contents of Murwillumbah’s community time capsule placed by Apex in 1973.

Mr Smith said it was disappointing their time capsule had been compromised, however community members would still have an opportunity to view the sodden goods.

“We were so looking forward to an opening ceremony where we could all view and celebrate this moment in Murwillumbah’s history,” Mr Smith said.

“But unfortunately, the capsule did not stand the test of time and succumbed to the elements.”

Murwillumbah has experienced several floods since the capsules were placed, including the major flood in 1974 which inundated the library site and subsequent floods in 1989, 2001, 2008, 2017 and 2022.

Tweed Shire Council is inviting owners or descendants of community members who contributed a message to a time capsule to come forward to claim their items.

One family has already been reunited with the letters left for them by their well-known ancestor – former Tweed Shire councillor Clarrie Hall, which the Tweed’s main dam was named after.

Visit here to submit an application by Wednesday, December 20, 2023, to claim identifiable contents. All unidentified damaged items will be disposed of.

For more Murwillumbah News, click here.

Residents from Tweed-Byron urged to keep informed about Red Fire Ants following their discovery in Murwillumbah

By Sarah Waters

The discovery of red imported fire ants in Murwillumbah on Friday, November 24, has promoted a call to action for Byron Shire residents to learn about the highly invasive species.

Byron Shire Mayor Michael Lyon said the discovery of the red fire ants in the neighbouring Tweed Shire was a terrible blow.

“Council and the community need to now put our shoulders to the wheel and be proactive in trying to keep red fire ants contained and then eradicated from Northern NSW because there is so much at stake for the environment, farmers, residents and businesses,” Mr Lyon said.

“Council staff have been working with NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI), for several months and recently 48 employees took part in training to raise awareness of red fire ants and what to look for.

“The discovery of red fire ants at Tallebudgera on the Gold Coast in July was a reminder of the potential of the spread of these dreadful insects into Northern NSW and the detection of nests at South Murwillumbah last week highlights the need for vigilance and awareness.

“We all have an important role to play in this battle because the potential damage to our native wildlife and national parks, our agricultural industry and our outdoor lifestyle is extreme,” he said.

Dog detection handler Jordan Christison and his dog Miff from the National Fire Ant Eradication Program on the site where fire ants were identified in the new industrial estate at South Murwillumbah

The NSW Government issued a Biosecurity (Fire Ant) Emergency Order, which puts in place a Fire Ant Movement Control Area within a 5km radius of the nests found in the new industrial estate at South Murwillumbah.

Under this order, the movement of fire ant material out of this 5km area is permitted under specific requirements.

It does not affect cattle or produce such as fruit and vegetables, but rather it affects anything that involves carriage of earth-related material.

Fire ant carrier material includes, organic mulch, compost, growing media, manure, soil and anything with soil on it, hay, potted plants, turf agricultural equipment. earth moving equipment, mining and quarrying materials, grass, park and garden vegetation clippings.

Fines for breaches of the biosecurity order are up to $1.1 million for individuals and $2.2 million for businesses.

Business owners are urged to read the emergency order on the NSW DPI website.

Since the fire ant nest were located, they have been chemically treated, and the surrounding land on the subdivision was baited to help prevent any further outbreak.

Meanwhile, a community information drop-in hub has been established at Tweed Shire Council to provide support to businesses and residents.

Located in front of Tweed Council’s administration office in Murwillumbah, the information hub is staffed by invasive pest specialists from the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) who have the latest information on hand to answer any questions on the emergency order issued by the NSW Government.

NSW DPI investigators are continuing to trace the source of the outbreak, believed to have come from southeast Queensland.

Anyone who suspects fire ants on their property is urged not to disturb the nest but to report the activity to the NSW DPI by calling 1800 680 244 or visiting the DPI Website. More detail on the National Fire Ant Eradication Program can be found online.

For more Tweed Shire news, click here.