Anyone with information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of COVID-19-related ministerial directions is urged to contact NSW Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.

 

NSW Police Public Site, Friday, 25 June 2021 02:33:49 PM:

PINs issued over non-essential visit to cinema by couple travelling through Western NSW

A Victorian couple has been issued Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) for allegedly breaching a Public Health Order while travelling through the state’s west.

Earlier this month, the NSW Police Force was notified that a man and woman, who had tested positive to COVID-19, had travelled by road from Melbourne, Victoria, to Queensland through NSW.

Investigations revealed the pair had taken a route using the Newell Highway, and visited various businesses deemed ‘essential services’, including retail stores, food outlets, and service stations.

The pair also attended a cinema on Macquarie Street, Dubbo, on Wednesday 2 June 2021, which is deemed non-essential activity under the Public Health Act.

Officers from Orana Mid-Western Police District have since advised the 48-year-old man and 44-year-old woman they will each be issued a $1000 PIN for fail to comply with noticed direction in relation to section 7/8/9 – COVID-19.

The Queensland Police Service are expected to serve the PINs on behalf of the NSW Police Force today (Friday 25 June 2021).

Anyone with information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of COVID-19-related ministerial directions is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.

Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.

Section of NSW Government press conference of 25 June 2021 showing NSW Police warning about need for compliance with public health orders.

https://youtu.be/_SyzWqiI1w0

Cartoon of the Week

Cathy Wilcox

Tweet of the Week

 

A little star in the Milky Way.⁣
⁣
🐤 Painted Finch (F8, 1/1600, ISO640)🐤
⁣
The Mowanjum Community of North West Australia call finches wirrirri jirri, the 'little stars in the Milky Way'. I just LOVE that! #birds #birdsoftwitter #australianbirds #paintedfinch #birding pic.twitter.com/QHT970VJ8v

— For the Love of Birds (@GeorginaSteytl1) June 19, 2021

 

The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is being rolled out in northern New South Wales for people aged from 40 to 59 years

 

Port Macquarie News, 23 June 2021, article excerpt:

The Ballina Commonwealth Vaccination Clinic began administering the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine this week and will be able to start accepting people aged 40 to 59.

Planning is underway to increase the number of Commonwealth vaccination clinics offering the Pfizer vaccine.

The other six Commonwealth vaccination clinics in the region are at Wauchope, Kempsey, Murwillumbah, Casino, Yamba and Nambucca Heads.

Additionally, 20 local general practices are due to begin administering the Pfizer vaccine from July 5, with a further 10 starting on July 12.

More practices are expected to come on board from July 19.

There are more people in line for the Pfizer vaccine after the federal government announced that Pfizer is the preferred vaccine for people aged 59 and under, based on updated advice from the expert vaccine body.

BACKGROUND

Australian Technical Advisory Group, statement excerpt,

17 June 2021:

A statement from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) on the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in response to new vaccine safety concerns.

Summary

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommends the COVID-19 Pfizer vaccine (Comirnaty) as the preferred vaccine for those aged 16 to under 60 years. This updates the previous preferential recommendation for Comirnaty over COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca in those aged 16 to under 50 years. The recommendation is revised due to a higher risk and observed severity of thrombosis and thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) related to the use of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine observed in Australia in the 50-59 year old age group than reported internationally and initially estimated in Australia.

Australian Government, Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), COVID-19 vaccine weekly safety report - 17-06-2021, snapshot:

Five of the twelve cases of confirmed or probable adverse reactions resulting in Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS) after being administered the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine recorded between 11 and 17 June 2021 were in people aged between 65 and 80 years of age.

Australian Government, Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), COVID-19 vaccine weekly safety report - 24-06-2021, snapshot:

Two of the five cases of confirmed or probable adverse reactions resulting in Thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome

(TTS) after being administered the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine recorded between 18 and 24 June 2021 were in people aged between 60 and 95 years of age.

As of 24 June 2021 there have been a total of 64 cases of confirmed & probable TTS reported from approximately 4.2 million AstraZeneca vaccine doses and, as of 20 June 2021 there have been a total of 38 reports of the immune disorder Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) following approximately 4.2 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine. GBS causes nerve inflammation and can result in pain, numbness, muscle weakness and difficulty walking. In many cases it resolves within months but can sometimes take up to two years.

Australian Government Dept. Of Health, "Information for health care providers to help consumers make informed decisions", 18 June 2021:

 

TTS involves blood clotting with low platelet count. Current data indicates that TTS occurs in around 2 out of every 100,000 people who receive the first dose of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca. TTS appears to be far more rare following second doses, with data from the United Kingdom indicating a rate of 1.5 per million second doses. The severity of illness due to TTS ranges from fatal cases and those with significant morbidity, to relatively milder cases. TTS appears to be more severe in younger people. In Australia, the overall case fatality rate is 3%. Of the TTS cases that have been classified by the Therapeutic Goods Administration as confirmed or probable, over half have been discharged from hospital. Around a quarter of the Australian cases so far have been more serious and have required treatment in intensive care, and tragically two people have died.

Hi, COVID-19 vaccines are effective at preventing you from getting very sick, going to hospital or dying from COVID-19. The vaccines will help you sustain an immune response for longer and help us avoid prolonging the pandemic.

— NSW Health (@NSWHealth) June 24, 2021

Advocacy by NSW Member for Lismore & Northern Rivers Conservatorium’s Executive Director pays off for The Con as it receives a $227,000 State grant to make its heritage building more accessible for people with disabilities

Advocacy pays off for Northern Rivers Conservatorium

LISMORE MP Janelle Saffin’s strong advocacy over the past two years has paid off for the Northern Rivers Conservatorium with a $277,000 State grant to make its heritage building more accessible.

Ms Saffin welcomed Government MLC Ben Franklin’s announcement that the grant would fund a lift so that people with disabilities can access all three levels of the building in Lismore’s Central Business District.

“The Con came to me for help on several occasions and I made direct representations to NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro, meeting with responsible policy advisers to explain the need, to ensure it stayed on the Government’s radar,” Ms Saffin said.

“The Conservatorium has a track record of successfully securing over $600,000 in funding to upgrade its teaching, administration and performance spaces, so I was confident this missing piece of infrastructure had a good chance of being funded.

“This much-needed project includes the installation of a lift, and upgrade of amenities and grounds to meet modern day accessibility standards.”

Ms Saffin paid tribute to the tenacity of the Northern Rivers Conservatorium’s Executive Director Anita Bellman and her dedicated staff.

“The Con plays a significant role in enhancing the educational, cultural and social vibrancy of the Northern Rivers community,” Ms Saffin said.

“Once completed, the lift project will allow for true inclusion and participation for all, and over time attract more members by aligning its physical spaces with the excellent education services it provides.”

Friday, 18 June 2021.

ENDS

Netflix Inc. still on the nose in Byron Bay

 

Echo Net Daily, 21 June 2021:

News that Netflix was planning to film a vacuous docudrama in Byron Bay brought a collective snort of derision across the Shire. 

But amidst the anger and disgust about Byron Baes, a gem of an idea was forming. 

What if locals made their own series about the Bay – telling the stories of real people living in the town rather than those simply seeking profit and self-promotion?

The idea was hatched by local bar owner and audio engineer, Saphia Smereka.

And though the plan is still in its infancy, locals have so far taken to it with gusto.

‘I could see how many people were upset about this Netflix show and I thought “why don’t we make our own series? One that way more people will want to watch”,’ Ms Smereka says.

‘I know so many creative people in Byron – this is the perfect place to do a project like this because we’ve already got people with the skills.

‘So I put a few posts up and so many people contacted me saying they wanted to be a part of it– retired script writers, cinematographers, sound people, copywriters, ex news journalists.’

The first major step in the process will take place today (Monday) when locals who are interested in getting involved in the project will meet at Ms Smereka’s bar, Kiki on Byron.

She is hoping for a lively discussion about the show, including the chance for people to talk about the kinds of stories they’d like to see covered…..

She has set up a GoFundMe page and is also interested in enlisting the services of a local grant writer who might help the project apply for government funding.

‘The point I really want to make here is that we’re not helpless in all of this,’ she says.

‘We have the power to do something, to respond to what’s happened and make something good out of it.’

Two days remaining to comment on Clarence Valley Council's "Draft Water Restriction Policy - Version 5"

Clarence Valley Council - On Exhibition

Water Restrictions V5 (draft)

Outlines the triggers that we use to introduce or revoke water restrictions.

Purpose

To introduce or revoke water restrictions on the use of reticulated water in the Clarence Valley as required in accordance with the triggers nominated in the procedures and in compliance with relevant Acts.

This policy applies to all properties using water supplied by Council’s water supply infrastructure. The policy does not apply to the use of water from sources that are not part of Council’s water supply infrastructure such as farm dams, watercourses, bores, and rainwater tanks on properties that have no connection to Council’s water supply.

The Draft Water Restrictions policy is available here.

Council welcomes submissions to this policy. Submit online by 11:00 pm on Friday 25 June 2021 by clicking on the Make a Submission button below.

https://www.clarence.nsw.gov.au/cp_themes/metro/make-a-submission.asp

Alternatively, comments can be made in writing to the General Manager, Clarence Valley Council, Locked Bag 23, Grafton, NSW 2460 and clearly marked “Draft Water Restrictions Policy".

For further information about the draft policy, please contact Chris Hellyer, Environmental Officer, Education; Water Efficiency < Christopher.Hellyer@clarence.nsw.gov.au >.

NOTE: A major change in Water Restrictions V5 is that the trigger for imposition of Level 1,2, 3 & 4 water restrictions will no longer be the volume of water remaining in the Shannon Creek Dam, but the combined water volume in Shannon Creek and Karangi dams. This in effect will allow water extraction (without accompanying Level 1 water use restrictions) to continue after Shannon Creek Dam water levels have fallen below the current trigger point of 80% of this dam's water storage capacity.

On 17 June 2021 Shannon Creek Dam was 84% full and Karangi Dam was 99.2% full. This means that Permanent Water Conservation Measures are in place for the Clarence Valley -  the use of sprinklers and unattended hoses is banned permanently between the hours of 9am and 4pm every day when evaporation is at its highest. However, there are no restrictions on handheld hoses or micro-sprays and drippers/sub-surface irrigation.

Given that Coffs Harbour City LGA contributes little to water storage in Karangi Dam (water supplied by Orara & Nymboida Rivers & Shannon Creek Dam) and nothing to storage in the Shannon Creek Dam (water supplied by Nymboida River) and, with no backfeed to Clarence Valley LGA according to Karangi Dam's daily data, it will be the higher water use of Coffs Harbour, with an est. resident population 33 per cent larger than Clarence Valley's population, which will all but guarantee that a return to Level 1 restrictions will likely occur before Spring arrives - even though the entire north-east region of NSW is now drought free and expecting more rain.

However it is not just the size of Coffs Harbor City's population which makes its water extraction levels potentially problematic. It's the fact that the resident population does not live in the Clarence River catchment area which leads to widespread misunderstanding of: (i) the boundaries of the actual catchment area; (ii) the highly variable nature of rivers within the system; the actual volume of freshwater flows; and (iii) the point at which the 394km long Clarence River itself - from its rising near Rivertree to its emptying into the sea at the tidal estuary mouth - starts to become saline and increasingly unfit for human and animal consumption as well as unfit to use for irrigation. That point is approximately at the end of the first 286km of its journey to the ocean. The combined average annual flow from the freshwater tributaries as this flow enters the Clarence River tidal pool appears to be in the vicinity of 3,072,884ML, which is perhaps a better indicator than the annual water exchange that occurs between the ocean and the estuary.

Clarence Valley residents will recognise these basic misunderstandings in this quote on Coffs Harbour City Council's website:

“Regardless of whether the water supplying Coffs Harbour City Council residents comes from the Orara River or the Nymboida River, our water all comes from the same catchment.

The mighty Clarence River catchment is 22,716km2 in size, making it the one of the biggest river systems on the east coast of Australia.

The Clarence River catchment headwaters are found around Dorrigo to the south, near Glen Innes in the west, the NSW/QLD border near Woodenbong in the north and along the Richmond Range to the south of Whiporie out to the coast where the Clarence River empties into the Pacific Ocean at Yamba. It is estimated that the average annual flow of water in the Clarence River at Yamba is 5 billion litres.”