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.

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Northern Rivers Koala Hospital needs funding: Urgent appeal for support

By Sarah Waters

Koalas are becoming an increasingly rare sight in NSW and the one organisation that is dedicated solely to their care in the Northern Rivers is desperately trying to keep operating as normal.

The Northern Rivers Koala Hospital, operated by Friends of the Koala, has made an urgent plea for financial support.

A decline in donations and available funding has threatened the hospital’s ability to operate effectively.

The hospital is specifically designed for the medical treatment of koalas and is the only wildlife hospital in NSW licensed to vaccinate all treated koalas against Chlamydia – the number one cause of death for koalas in the Northern Rivers.

General manager of Friends of the Koala Silva Everaers said more than 350 Koalas are treated at the hospital each year.

“From July last year we’ve seen a 20 per cent increase in koalas coming in, versus the year before,” Ms Everaers said.

“It will continue to increase as the threats to koalas are increasing with climate change, natural disasters, habitat being destroyed causing more koalas on the road, which leads to car hits, dog attacks and more diseases due to stress.

“So that’s obviously concerning, and it has been really, really busy for our volunteers rescuing and caring for them,” she said.

The Northern Rivers Koala Hospital was formed in 2019 and is part of the wider Friends of the Koala (FOK) organisation.

The FOK organisation receives government grants for certain projects including a recent grant to vaccinate 300 koalas against chlamydia.

But no government money is received for the operational cost of the koala hospital.

General Manager of Friends of the Koala Silva Everaers

Half a million dollars needs to be raised by Friends of the Koala each year to cover the hospital’s annual operating expenses.

It is set up with diagnostic and treatment tools including ultrasounds, x-rays, a blood bank, as well as surgical and pathology equipment to provide specialised 24/7 veterinary care to koalas.

Until more funds become available the hospital may not be able to continue in its current capacity.

Ms Everaers said the priority was to keep the hospital funded and veterinary staff paid.

“That really is where the research and the magic happens,” she said.

“We work with over 300 volunteers, who do an absolutely incredible job rescuing and rehabilitating the koalas treated in our hospital, and because of that we are able to keep operational costs really, really low.

“But we can’t do it without financial support, in the end, there’s medicine, veterinary staff, the equipment we need, research facilities – it’s not free.”

Friends of the Koala have set up a special donation drive, appealing to the public’s generosity to help keep the hospital in operation and maintain their high standards of care.

Anyone with a heart for wildlife, including business owners and philanthropists, can become a ‘Friend of the Northern Rivers Koala Hospital’ at: friendsofthekoala.org or support by donating to the organisation.

Friends of the Koala are a grassroots organisation with more than 35 years of experience working on critical, on-the-ground activities to conserve habitat and protect koalas individually and as a species.

It originated as a charity focused on planting trees but has evolved into a multifaceted organisation that also provides 24/7 koala rescue, medical treatment, research, advocacy and community education.

Friends of the Koala has successfully rehabilitated and released over 2000 koalas back into the wild since its inception.

The Northern Rivers is home to one of the last significant, genetically diverse koala populations.

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$33.7 Million Upgrade Begins at TAFE NSW Kingscliff to Boost Regional Vocational Training

TAFE NSW Kingscliff has embarked on a significant development journey with the initiation of a $33.7 million upgrade to enhance its facilities and expand vocational training opportunities in the Tweed region. The Minister for Skills, TAFE, and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan, officially marked the commencement of construction by turning the first sod at the site of the new multi-purpose building.

This pivotal $25 million building is designed to be a versatile educational hub, poised to host a diverse array of courses, including animal studies, aviation, creative services, and electrotechnology. Its establishment is aligned with the regional goals to bolster skills in key sectors such as construction, healthcare, wildlife conservation, and aviation, which are essential for supporting local industries and economic growth.

The initial phase of this extensive upgrade is set to conclude in June of this year. It includes a substantial $8.8 million allocation for refurbishing several existing structures on campus, particularly those used by health and community services. This refurbishment is aimed at enhancing the training environment for health students, who will benefit from a state-of-the-art simulated hospital setting, thereby gaining crucial hands-on experience.

Minister Whan highlighted the strategic importance of this upgrade in response to the growing local demand for skilled professionals across various industries. “The demand for skilled nurses, builders, and electricians in Northern NSW is expected to rise significantly over the next decade,” he stated. “This new facility is not just a building; it’s a future-proofing project intended to meet the increasing enrolment figures and workforce demands in the Tweed region.”

TAFE NSW Kingscliff is integral to the local economy, providing residents with the necessary skills to meet employer demands and supporting the anticipated regional growth as more individuals and families choose to relocate to this desirable part of the world.

“The investment in TAFE NSW Kingscliff is not only about expanding our capacity to train the next generation of professionals,” Minister Whan explained. “It’s also about ensuring our students and educators have access to modern, functional classrooms and the latest equipment to facilitate industry-ready training.”

This ongoing investment in infrastructure at TAFE NSW not only aims to enhance the learning experience but also ensures that the institution remains a cornerstone for meeting the educational and employment needs of the community. With improved facilities and resources, TAFE NSW Kingscliff is set to deliver better educational outcomes and play a pivotal role in addressing the state’s critical skills needs.

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