Our Tweed Vision

A review of housing controls in the Tweed enters its second stage today, as Council again asks the community what it wants homes to look like in the future.

Stage 2 will give the community another month to comment on the Tweed Housing Code, which determines what types of homes can be built in what areas of the Tweed, setting the standards for all aspects of design.

Visit the Housing Code page to find out more and participate in the forums and surveys.

Two discussion papers were released on Monday 14 May, seeking the community’s feedback on building envelope controls and ancillary developments.

Building envelope controls include setbacks, heights, floor space ratio and site coverage, while ancillary development includes such items as carports, swimming pools and fencing.

This follows four discussion papers on housing design which were released in mid 2011 to seek community feedback on appearance, response to climate, locality and reflection on natural amenity.

"The key question is how flexible do people want these controls to be," Tweed Shire Council Director of Planning and Regulation Vince Connell said.

“Flexible regulations allow owners to create homes which meet their needs, expectations and aesthetic desires, however, this should be balanced against protecting the overall amenity of the Tweed.

“Small variations in such controls could allow a significant change in the character of the Tweed," he said.

"All six discussion papers will be open for comment during this engagement period, which runs from Monday 14 May and until Tuesday 12 June."

The discussion papers explain changing trends, perceived issues and possible options for future amendment to the Tweed Development Control Plan.

Mr Connell said the building design and construction industry would be engaged directly for input and all community comment was welcome.

“This is an issue that is close to home for everyone who lives or owns residential property in the Tweed,” he said.

“Not only does it have the potential to affect the homes they live in, it stands to have a dramatic effect on how the Tweed’s residential areas look in years to come.”

Click here to view copies of all the discussion papers, which are also available on Council’s corporate website at www.tweed.nsw.gov.au. Printed copies are available to view at Council’s Customer Service Centres in Murwillumbah and Tweed Heads.

Tighter controls on powered craft in Tweed waterways, a high school in Pottsville and spraying to control mosquitoes were leading issues when the latest Councillors’ Community Catch-up was held at the Pottsville Beach Markets last Sunday.

Scorching weather did not stop more than 60 people attending the Council marquee to chat one-on-one with a Councillor or General Manager Mike Rayner, at his final Catch-up before his retirement.

They raised a large number of issues about the Pottsville district and other parts of the Tweed, including Council’s ongoing Community Heritage Study to create guidelines for people who own heritage-listed properties or live in heritage-listed areas.

Click here to see a Councillors' Community Catch-up fact sheet with dates for future stalls.

Visitors also highlighted road safety issues at Pottsville, such as slowing traffic on Seabreeze Boulevarde and a potential pedestrian crossing on Tweed Coast Road in the town’s north.

There were calls to ban jet skis from the Pottsville estuary and introduce greater controls on wake boats in the Tweed River.

While several Koala Beach residents requested a spraying program to eliminate a mosquito outbreak, following flooding in January, they were subsequently informed that a control program had already begun in their area.

Two long-running issues in Pottsville, demands for a high school and large supermarket in the district, were again raised during the Catch-up.

Participating Councillor Dot Holdom said the stall was again an excellent fact-finding mission, giving residents a prime opportunity to raise the issues that were important to them.

“Many of the concerns or requests raised by residents at the Catch-up were acted upon by Council within the following few days, as we move to ensure all of the feedback we received is addressed,” Cr Holdom said.

“Sunday’s Catch-up was also a great opportunity to explain a number of issues, or simply to pass on information about a wide number of Council activities and services.”

Councillor Joan van Lieshout, who also attended the Pottsville stall, said they opened up a great flow of information between residents and Council.

Murwillumbah will have its first chance to host one of the Councillors’ Community Catch-ups, when the next stall is held at the Murwillumbah Community Markets at the showgrounds on 27 May 2012 at 9am-1pm.

For more information about the Councillors’ Community Catch-ups, contact Council’s Communications Officer – Community Engagement, Scott Green, on (02) 6670 2751.

Tweed residents are being asked to comment on a proposal to give the Tweed Heads State Emergency Services unit secure tenure at its Banora Point site, as part of plans to expand the unit’s facilities.

Council is conducting a community survey to gauge community opinion about plans to amend the site’s ‘public recreation’ classification, so the SES operation has more secure tenure at the public land in Pioneer Parade.

Click here to complete the survey.

“Does the community support retaining and expanding the SES unit and headquarters at their present location, even though they currently don’t comply with the land classification?” Council’s Director of Planning and Operations, Vince Connell, said.

“Would people rather see the unit relocated so the Pioneer Parade land can be used for public open space or recreational purposes?

“Alternatively, are there opportunities to create or enhance public open space or recreational facilities in the Banora Point area, to meet community needs while keeping the SES unit where it is?”

Mr Connell said the site is ideally located for the SES to deal with emergencies in the area and has been home for the unit for more than 30 years.

“The Tweed’s population has more than doubled in that time and an expansion of the unit’s facilities is needed to help meet growing demands for the unit’s services,” he said.

“The NSW Crown Land Division has stated it would consider amending the site classification, but community opinion must be taken into account.”

The survey can also be downloaded from Council’s website, at http://www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/Community/SESUnitExtension.aspx.

Printed copies will also be available at a public open day at the Pioneer Parade complex, being held on 26 February from 10am to 2pm to give residents a closer look at the SES’s operations.

Click here to view the open invitation.

Visitors can enjoy a free sausage sizzle and a cold drink, meet SES members, view their rescue equipment, discuss the future development of the site and provide feedback. 

Surveys must be submitted by 16 March and are also available in Council Tweed Heads and Murwillumbah offices and libraries at Tweed Heads, Kingscliff and Murwillumbah. 

For further information please contact Council's Local Emergency Management Officer, Doreen Harwood, on (02) 6670 2400.

Online forums and questionnaires for Council’s Access and Inclusion in the Tweed Shire Study have been extended until 13 March, to give the community further opportunity for input.

Click here to visit the study home page and forums, or here to complete the questionnaires.

Nearly 400 people have visited the Access and Inclusion page on Council’s engagement website since the study was launched in November.

“However, some residents had trouble finding the site because there was initially no link on Council’s corporate website, and we want to ensure everyone has adequate opportunity to have their say,” Council's Aged and Disability Development Officer, Karen Collins, said.

Tweed residents will have another opportunity to raise issues with the shire’s elected members, when the next Councillors’ Community Catch-up is staged at the Pottsville community markets on Sunday, 19 February.

Several councillors will attend Council’s Catch-up marquee from 9am to 1pm, enabling residents to drop in any time during this period to discuss any Council-related topic of their choice.

“The first two Catch-ups have been a wonderful chance for community members to talk face-to-face with the councillors about any issues they believe need to be addressed,” the Mayor of Tweed, Councillor Barry Longland, said.

“A lot of people have attended the Catch-ups, generating great discussion and giving the councillors insight into the priorities according to the public.

“Pottsville residents have shown tremendous community spirit at similar Council forums in their town, so I expect the positive turnouts to continue at the February 19 stall.”

The Catch-ups are held quarterly and rotate between community markets throughout Tweed Shire, so all residents have the opportunity attend a forum close to them.

For updates about the Catch-ups, visit Council’s website at www.tweed.nsw.gov.au

An access and inclusion strategy is urgently needed for Tweed Shire before it experiences further boosts in population, according to two Tweed residents with a disability.

Ben Dierikx, a Pottsville resident with impaired vision, and student Kristian Keogh, who can often be seen zipping around Murwillumbah in his motorised wheelchair, both believe Tweed Shire is relatively easy to get around and get involved, compared to other places they had experienced.

"But it might not stay that way as the Tweed's population continues to grow rapidly," Ben said.

"So it's fantastic that Tweed Shire Council is being proactive and taking the initiative to create an access and inclusion strategy.

Click here to participate.

An access and inclusion strategy is urgently needed for Tweed Shire before it experiences further boosts in population, according to two Tweed residents with a disability.

Ben Dierikx, a Pottsville resident with impaired vision, and student Kristian Keogh, who can often be seen zipping around Murwillumbah in his motorised wheelchair, both believe Tweed Shire is relatively easy to get around and get involved, compared to other places they had experienced.

"But it might not stay that way as the Tweed's population continues to grow rapidly," Ben said.

"So it's fantastic that Tweed Shire Council is being proactive and taking the initiative to create an access and inclusion strategy.

"It's vital that people with a disability, their family members and carers provide input to the creation of this strategy. These people have to deal with issues of access and inclusion every day and often give a lot of thought to ways to overcome any difficulties."

Council is running a three-month community engagement campaign until mid February, encouraging public input through a number of initiatives including online forums and questionnaire on its consultation website at www.yoursaytweed.com.au/disabilityaccess.

Kristian, who recently completed Year 10 at Murwillumbah High School, said the online options were an excellent way to encourage input from the public, "particularly for people who had difficulty getting around".

He said while many people in the Tweed were very considerate and helpful, he had difficulties accessing some older-style buildings and footpaths in the Tweed.

"My family and I have worked out safe routes to get around much of Murwillumbah but you can often encounter problems such as entrances to buildings," Kristian said.

"Shop owners and assistants are usually very helpful and will often bring things to the door but it's not the same as being able to browse around a store.

"Whenever we go somewhere new, you have to really plan ahead to make sure there isn't going to be any difficulties with access."

The young pianist and actor said one of his greatest challenges was accessing venues for performances.

"They are generally okay if you're a member of the audience but not if you need to get on stage to perform," he said.

Ben has progressively suffered vision loss after contracting a parasite while working as a tour guide in Asia nearly 20 years ago.

He said his biggest access problems since returning to the Tweed included getting his assistance dog, Kane, into public transport, cafes and restaurants.

"I can usually talk taxi drivers and restaurant owners around but it would be great if you didn't have to constantly go through that process," Ben said.

"One of the most important steps that need to be taken is an education campaign, including a focus on schools, to raise awareness about access issues such as assistance dogs."

Council's strategy will address measures to help ensure everyone can participate in social, business, employment, education and leisure activities in the Tweed. That includes access to buildings, transport and outdoor spaces.

For more information, contact Council's Aged and Disability Development Officer, Karen Collins, on (02) 6670 2442.

Have you experienced access or inclusion issues in Tweed Shire or do you have ideas about how these issues can be addressed?

Council is conducting an Access and Inclusion in the Tweed Shire study to examine measures to make the Tweed more socially and physically accessible for all members of the community.

The study includes online surveys on this site, to provide a quick and easy way for people to provide their experiences and ideas.

Click here to visit the surveys, which feature individual questionaires for people with disability, their carers, friends and family members, to ensure the process is as quick and simple as possible for respondents.

A new community engagement campaign is leading by example as it addresses issues of accessibility and inclusion in the Tweed.

The three-month campaign, launched on Monday 14 November, includes online forums and surveys on this website to help ensure everyone has the opportunity to participate.

The Access and Inclusion in Tweed Shire study examines various issues which might prevent members of the community - particularly people with disabilities and elderly residents - from accessing information, facilities and services or participating in events or discussions.

"It's about giving everyone equal and dignified access to community life. This includes the ability to engage in social, business, employment, educational and leisure activities," Council's Aged and Disability Development Officer Karen Collins said.

"The study will include physical access to buildings, transport, streetscapes and outdoor spaces, as well as other issues which might stop people from being an integral part of the community.

"According to the 2006 Census, more than 19,000 people in the Tweed reported living with a disability, which represents 24 per cent of the total population. Almost 4700 of these people needed assistance with core activities."

Mayor of Tweed, Councillor Barry Longland, said the study was a perfect example of how the website and its online tools could increase the opportunity for people to participate in public discussion.

"The forum and surveys are helping to take this conversation to the people we are really trying to target with this study. It's actively seeking input from people experiencing accessibility problems, as well as their families and carers who, because of their commitments, often find it difficult to get to conventional forums and other methods of engagement," Councillor Longland said.

"However, we are encouraging feedback from all interested people in the community."

The engagement campaign, including the forums and surveys, will continue until February 2012.

It is the first step in developing a formal policy and action plan for Council on access and inclusion, as part of the Tweed Community Strategic Plan 2011/2021.

Community consultation on access and inclusion is the beginning of this process and will help Council understand local issues. The access and inclusion policy and action plan will map out and guide planning for better access into the future.

Click here to access fact sheets about the study or go to Council's corporate website, www.tweed.nsw.gov.au. Printed copies are available at Council's offices in Murwillumbah and Tweed Heads and the libraries at Kingscliff, Tweed Heads and Murwillumbah.

In addition to the surveys and forums, people can provide feedback by telephoning (02) 6670 2442 or by sending written submissions to:

Aged and Disability Development Officer

Tweed Shire Council

PO Box 816

Murwillumbah NSW 2484

Nearly 450 people have taken advantage of Council's community engagement website, yoursaytweed.com.au, to read and comment about future housing design in the Tweed.

Online forums and surveys for a series of four Tweed Housing Code discussion papers concluded last Wednesday, after a total of 449 people visited the website.

"We had a total of 860 site visits during the 30-day period, with 134 of those visitors downloading a total of 268 documents about the housing design review," Council's Director of Planning and Regulation, Vince Connell, said.

"While the discussion forums did not attract the level of input we had hoped, there were 64 surveys completed on line, which provided some fantastic feedback.

"Overall, the level of community participation was highly encouraging and there will be further opportunity for input."

Stayed tuned for remaining discussion papers

Another three discussion papers are being prepared as part of the review, which is inviting building industry members and the wider community to comment on the type of housing and residential subdivisions they want to see in the future.

"We are seeking public input on the planning and regulations needed to achieve desirable housing and subdivision design," Mr Connell said.

"Those remaining discussion papers will be released in the next few months, accompanied by a second round of community engagement including online forums and surveys.

"The forums and surveys for the initial four discussion papers will be reopened during that period."

He said a preliminary review of community input would be conducted during the next couple of months, followed by a full evaluation after the second round of engagement.

"An initial review of the feedback received so far shows there is a wide divergence of opinions on all aspects of housing design," Mr Connell said.

"While the need for more energy efficient housing attracted the greatest level of consensus, some respondents believed even this should be at the discretion of home owners and designers and should not be prescribed by building design guidelines.

"The issue of individual housing design versus neighbourhood character was the most polarising topic and drew the most emotional responses. It really shows there needs to be a variety of housing available to cater for differing tastes and requirements."

More than 40 Tweed residents took the opportunity to chat face-to-face with their elected members when the inaugural Councillors' Community Catch-up was staged at the Tweed Heads markets last Sunday.

The Kennedy Drive upgrade, water meters, rubbish services and a proposed new police station for Kingscliff were among the topics raised by visitors to the Council stall.

Councillors Warren Polglase, Dot Holdom, Mayor Kevin Skinner and Joan van Lieshout attended the market stall at the Tweed Police Citizens Youth Club.

"The Community Catch-ups are a new initiative to make our elected members more accessible to the public, in response to feedback we received during last year's consultation campaign for the Community Strategic Plan," according to Council General Manager Mike Rayner, who was also present at Sunday's stall.

"The inaugural Catch-up showed how they will be an extremely valuable exercise to enable the councillors to hear the concerns and opinions of residents and to really discuss ideas to take the Tweed forward.

"They are one of the key initiatives in the Community Engagement Strategy adopted by Council last September, to effectively involve the community in public discussion about the Tweed's future and to ensure the elected members are as well informed as possible when making their decisions."

Mr Rayner said while attendances at Sunday's market might have been slightly down because it was Father's Day, the interaction between residents and councillors at the stall was a positive step forward.

"Many of the residents who attended the stall provided very constructive input and Council is already acting upon feedback it received," Mr Rayner said.

"It also enabled the councillors to shed some light on Council activities.

"It opened another channel of communication and I anticipate we will receive an equally positive response when the Chillingham Markets host the next Councillors' Community Catch-up on Sunday 13 November from 9am to 1pm."