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The
Maclean Agricultural Show was cancelled in 2020 due to the
Covid-19 pandemic. However, the Maclean Show Society will be given
$10,000 from the federal government towards its 2021 show to held on
20 to 21 April next year. The Clarence Pastoral & Agricultural Society Ltd
will receive $17,682.68 towards its 2021 agricultural show.
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From
1 March 2021 Clarence Valley travellers will be able to connect
through to Melbourne as part of Regional Express’ expansion on the
back of the collapse of other regional airlines due to the COVID-19
pandemic’ From
March Rex will begin flying nine return flights from Sydney to
Melbourne and travellers boarding from Grafton Airport
will be able to connect straight through, with baggage checked to
their destination.
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Yaegl
woman Pauline Clague has been awarded this year’s $20,000
Natalie Miller Fellowship. She is the 9th recipient of this fellowship and the first Indigenous person.
The Natalie Miller Fellowship (NMF)
supports the professional leadership of aspirational women in all
sectors of the Australian screen industry; developing further skills,
knowledge and connections through fellowships and programs. Its
vision is to achieve gender diversity in screen leadership, resulting
in a greater breadth of storytelling, better company performances,
innovation, and a more dynamic, inclusive and robust industry for
everyone.
Well-known as a producer of documentaries and short stories, Pauline has at least 16 films to her credit.
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It
appears that Lismore City Council and Rous County Council wrote to
the NSW Berejiklian Government encouraging the development of a $220
million 50 giglitre second dam on Rocky Creek to
the south-west of the existing dam, before the dam proposal went to
puclic exhibition for community input. Many local residents are not
amused by this discovery. The proposed dam is supposed to supply four
local government areas.
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Clarence
Valley Independent, 9
December 2020:
Greg
Clancy: “…if [mining companies] spend millions on exploration
then they expect [to mine] … we need to speak out strongly against
all mining proposals.”
Andrew
Baker: “…to turn our back on any potential mining at this stage
is doing the community a disservice.
“We
should, rather than just accept there are concerned people in the
community … we should be fully informed before making these
decisions.
“…we
should find out where council and councillors fit within our sphere
of influence and not give people false hope that we can extinguish
mining licences.”
Arthur
Lysaught: “I think it was three years ago when Greg gave me the
Greens [position] … but I said at the time, if I ever thought
someone would affect the river, I would stand beside him to preserve
the most pristine river in the country, maybe the world.
“The
unfortunate part of this; whatever stance we take, others make the
decision.”
Peter
Ellem: “Yes and the greed merchants will continue to have a crack,
whether to harvest dam water or reopen a mining industry through
exploration.
“The
end result is they want to mine … and with the government
supporting one company [with an exploration grant], we have to be
ever watchful to protect our river catchment and [associated]
industries [like] tourism and recreation.
“…just
like damming the Clarence and CSG mining, this kind of mining is not
appropriate here and there should be a moratorium.”
Karen
Toms: “We have an amazing river … but I am concerned because I
heard what our state MP [Chris Gulaptis] has said.
“The
general manager is right, we need to have a position … but 10,000
signatures … well done to the community to start rallying.
“We
are here to represent our people … we are the responsible authority
for our water so we do have some skin in the game.
“Tell
them [mining companies] … to bugger off.
“It’s
important send a strong message to the state and federal governments
and the miners: leave our water alone.”
Deborah
Novak: “A lot of people out there are scared to step up … but
this is where they have come together [to gather 10,000 signatures].
“It’s
important for the state and federal governments to see that the
[petition organisers] are professional … and really amazing and
it’s the young people who have stepped up.”
Greg
Clancy (right of reply): “Over 10,000 signatures suggest that this
is not only the concerns of a few people.
“…despite
covid, the groups have worked very hard; I commend the Clarence
Catchment Alliance and the Clarence Environment Centre … all
working hard on this issue to make the general public aware.
“…it’s
scientific, it’s facts about what we know mining does to river
systems.
“We
only need one accident and there goes the entire river.
“It’s
not a case of not having mining anywhere, but it has to be in areas
of minimal impact.”
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Echo
Net Daily, December 2020:
Lismore
MP Janelle Saffin has blown the whistle on the government after
obtaining a ‘damning’ NSW Department of Education School Profile
of Murwillumbah High School, the proposed site of the mega campus,
which shows major capital works are badly needed there.
Making
cost savings by shelving replacement or maintenance of buildings at
four public schools appears to be the main driver of the NSW
government’s agenda for its mega Murwillumbah Education Campus,
says Ms Saffin.
These
four public schools – Murwillumbah High, Wollumbin High,
Murwillumbah East Public and Murwillumbah Public – all have their
own well-established traditions of academic, sporting and cultural
excellence,’ Ms Saffin said.
Ms
Saffin has invited NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell MLC to come
to Murwillumbah early next year to meet with the four Parents &
Citizens Associations and other representatives of students, teachers
and staff, and the local community.
‘Our
school communities deserve to hear from Minister Mitchell what the
evidence-based educational benefits to Murwillumbah’s primary and
secondary school students are of the government’s plan to merge
them into one “mega” campus by 2024.
‘However,
the evidence is mounting that the Department has dragged the chain on
capital works and maintenance at Murwillumbah High and Murwillumbah
East Public School, badly affected by the 2017 floods, and the
Department’s fix is to close four schools and replace them with a
centralised American model.’……
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