We invite you to take part in Reconciliation Australia’s National Acknowledgement of Country to show respect for the traditional custodians of the Country on which we live, work and learn here in the Tweed, the local Aboriginal people of the Bundjalung Nation.

By posting your acknowledgement of Country on social media at 9:00am on Thursday 27 May, you will join voices across the nation to strengthen respectful relationships between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“This small action will help to raise awareness of the histories and cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People,” says Tracey Stinson, Director Sustainable Communities and Environment at Tweed Shire Council.

“Acknowledging Country shows you accept and understand that no matter where you are across the Tweed, you are on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lands and you acknowledge that important, ongoing connection to Country.”

Tweed Shire Council suggests the following wording:

2021 marks almost three decades of Australia’s formal reconciliation process. The National Reconciliation Week theme for 2021 is More than a word. Reconciliation takes action.

“Tweed Shire Council launched its first Reconciliation Action Plan in 2018 and since then has taken a range of actions to acknowledge and recognise the Tweed’s local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.”

• Council adopted the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Management Plan in an effort to acknowledge, respect and improve understanding and protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage in the Tweed.

• The award winning Land | Life | Culture display at Tweed Regional Museum features important Indigenous cultural knowledge associated with key locations around the Tweed that was generously contributed by members of the local Aboriginal community.

• Over 200 Tweed Shire Council staff have completed Cultural Intelligence Training with local indigenous business, Banaam.

“We are really proud of what we have achieved so far, but we still have a long way to go. We look forward to working closely with our Aboriginal Advisory Committee to continue taking action that contributes positively to reconciliation in the Tweed”.

More information

The National Acknowledgement of Country nrw.reconciliation.org.au/

Tweed Shire Council www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/ATSI

Council offices at Murwillumbah and Tweed Heads will be closed over the Christmas and New Year period from Monday 21 December 2020 to Friday 1 January 2021. Council offices will reopen on Monday 4 January 2021 at 9am.

For Council emergencies 24 hours a day during this time, please call1800 818 326.
Go to www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/reportaproblem to report non-urgent matters.

• Tweed Regional Gallery will be closed on Christmas Day only and continue its usual days of operation from Wednesday to Sunday.
• Gallery DownTown will have reduced hours of operation. See artgallery.tweed.nsw.gov.au for more information.
• Tweed Regional Aquatic Centres (TRAC) at Murwillumbah, Tweed Heads and Kingscliff will be closed from Friday 25 December 2020 through to Monday 28 December 2020. The centres will reopen on Tuesday 29 December 2020. See trac.tweed.nsw.gov.au for hours of operation.
• Tweed Regional Museum Murwillumbah (normally open Tuesday to Saturday) will be closed on the public holidays on 25 and 26 December 2020 and 1 January 2021. The Museum will also be closed on Saturday 2 January 2021.
• Tweed Regional Museum Tweed Heads (normally open Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday) will be closed from Tuesday 22 December 2020, reopening on Sunday 3 January 2021. For more information visit museum.tweed.nsw.gov.au
• The Richmond-Tweed Regional Libraries at Tweed Heads, Kingscliff and Murwillumbah will close at 2pm on Thursday 24 December 2020 and reopen at 9am on Monday 4 January 2021. See rtrl.nsw.gov.au for hours of operation.

Tweed Shire Council wishes everyone a safe and happy festive holiday season.

Tweed residents and visitors are being asked to keep an eye out for marine visitors to our shore with the start of the sea turtle nesting season.

The season runs until March with two threatened species, green and loggerhead turtles, coming ashore from Tweed to Forster along the NSW coast.

NSW TurtleWatch project officer Holly West is encouraging locals to become citizen scientists and help to look and record turtle tracks and nests on the Tweed Coast.

“Beachgoers can play an important role in recording where the tracks are, what type of tracks they are (to determine species) and where possible nests may be located,” Ms West said.

“We also need beachgoers to report potential threats to the turtles such as marine debris, light pollution and coastal erosion which could prevent them from finding suitable nesting sites.”

National Park and Wildlife Services (NPWS) and NSW TurtleWatch volunteers will work together to monitor nests and protect them from potential dangers.

“Female turtles usually come ashore between dusk and dawn and those early risers walking the beaches may be the ones to spot the nests first,” she said.

NSW TurtleWatch was developed by Australian Seabird Rescue and is supported by the NSW Government’s Saving Our Species program.

To find out more or to report a sea turtle sighting, please visit NSW TurtleWatch, contact them on 0468 489 259 or email turtlewatchnsw@gmail.com

Turtle sightings can also be reported to your local NPWS office or by calling 1300 072 757.

Mayor of Tweed Chris Cherry is supporting a NSW Government campaign encouraging women from all walks of life and backgrounds to nominate for the 2021 local government elections.

State and local government have joined forces to empower more women to stand for their community and run for their council at next year's elections.

The campaign includes a series of inspiring videos with former and current female councillors speaking about their positive experiences in local government and their proudest achievements for their communities.

Office of Local Government figures show women represent just 31 per cent of the 1,300 councillors serving on the State's 128 local councils.

Since the 1960s Tweed Shire Council has had more than 15 female councillors - with women holding the positions of Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Shire President and Council Administrator.

Local councils are the level of government closest to the community. They provide key infrastructure, facilities and services to local residents and are integral to improving the lifestyle and amenity of local communities.

"Councillors represent the needs, wants and aspirations of their local community and make important decisions on behalf of their residents," Cr Cherry said.

"Being able to help someone in difficult circumstances, sort out an issue that has been creating problems or ensuring future planning has considered people at the core are some of the most rewarding aspects of being a councillor.

"I would love for women who have a strong sense of community and are keen to make a difference in their local area to consider nominating for the September 2021 local government elections," she said.

Key dates for candidates include:

• Closing of electoral rolls/Candidate nominations open on 26 July 2021

• Closing of nominations on 4 August 2021

• NSW Local Government Election Day on 4 September 2021

For further information, visit www.olg.nsw.gov.au

Council is seeking Expressions of interest from volunteers who are interested in joining the Tweed Seniors Festival Working Group.

The Working Group will work with Council staff to help plan activities and run an opening event to raises awareness of positive ageing activities and celebrate the contributions of older people in the Tweed.

The Tweed event is part of the NSW Seniors Festival which will occur Wednesday 14 April to Sunday 24 April 2021.

To register, complete the volunteer expression of interest form at www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/seniorsfestival and email it to communityservices@tweed.nsw.gov.au by Wednesday 2 December 2020.

For more information contact Council on 02 6670 2400.

Council has resolved to adopt a ‘hybrid’ model for Council meetings.

Since April 2020, Council meetings have been held virtually and livestreamed, due to COVID-19 restrictions and concerns. Under the hybrid model, Councillors have the option of attending the meeting in person or remotely.

The physical aspects of Council and Planning Committee meetings will be held in the Harvard Room at the Tweed Heads Administration Office. Members of the public will continue to be excluded from attending meetings in person because of COVID-19 restrictions. However, the meetings will continue to be livestreamed.

Meetings will now begin at 5.30pm, following the Public Forum which will commence at 4.30pm for the remainder of the Council term (until elections are held on 4 September 2021). In the case of a Public Forum, where a member of the public is unable to attend via audio-visual means, the option will be given for the individual to attend in person for the Public Forum only.

To watch the livestream of the meeting or a recording the next day, visit www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/councilmeetings

Tweed Shire Council thanks the Tweed community for their vigilance, cooperation and patience during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A 'Thank you Tweed' campaign - featuring heart-shaped thank you messages - is underway, including advertisements in local newspapers and material on Council's website and posts and videos on social media.

Mayor of Tweed Cr Chris Cherry said there were four key messages to the community:

• Thank you for staying home to keep us safe

• Thank you for delivering essential work and services

• Thank you for supporting local business

• Thank you for supporting our community.

"We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the Tweed community - you've been terrific in following restrictions, supporting each other and getting on with it," Cr Cherry said.

"We are so fortunate here in the Tweed and on the North Coast that COVID-19 numbers were very low - it could have been a very different story as we've seen in Victoria.

"While the pandemic and restrictions certainly aren't over yet, there have been some positive signs in recent weeks.

"The extension by the Queensland Government of the border zone further south into NSW which came into effect yesterday, combined with seven days of no community transmission in NSW and continuing improvement in numbers of cases in Victoria are all good indicators that we're heading in the right direction.

"Of course, as much as we'd like to 'get back to normal', this new normal is where we may be for some time to come.

"We need to continue with our COVID-Safe practices, especially physical distancing and good hygiene," Cr Cherry said.

Take a look at Council's Thank you Tweed video featuring many familiar community and business faces, as well as Councillors and Council staff.

For information on Council's pandemic response and links to the latest government health and restriction information, visit https://emergency.tweed.nsw.gov.au/coronavirus

Sidney Jowett has placed a sign on his tap to remind his family it's off limits on Water Night. Tweed residents are urged to sign on for Water Night this Thursday, 22 October and switch their water-using auto pilot off as average daily consumption hits 199 litres per person per day.

The Tweed water consumption target is 160 litres per person per day and at that rate the Tweed water supply will last 12 months after Council starts releasing water from Clarrie Hall Dam to supplement Tweed River flows.

Council started releasing water from the dam last week.

"Without rain soon, we are again on the countdown to water restrictions and our water consumption rates are sky high," Manager Water and Wastewater Operations Brie Jowett said.

"These rates shout that we are wasting water."

Mrs Jowett is urging every household in the Tweed to join her family and sign on to Water Night to learn just how much we take for granted the fact that when we flick that tap, water will always come out.

"That is not the fact for much of the world."

On Water Night, stop reaching for the tap and instead use just one 10-litre bucket of water for all your household needs between 5pm and 5am (with the exception of drinking water, hand washing for COVID care, religious purposes and flush if you must).

"What we want everyone to learn is just how often they unconsciously reach for those taps. We want them to switch from water mindlessness to water mindfulness."

Late last week, across NSW some 160 families had signed up to support the national water awareness initiative being conducted by not-for-profit water efficiency experts Smart Approved WaterMark and sponsored by Tweed Shire Council. Australia-wide almost 2500 households had registered to participate.

Smart Approved WaterMark's research shows that 55 per cent of people say they are addicted to their taps and 69 per cent would 'freak out' if their taps stopped working. Sixty-three per cent think they could do more to save water.

To register and download all the tips and aids to help switch off your water-using autopilot, go to www.waternight.com.au

Nominations are now open for the 2021 Tweed Shire Australia Day Awards.

The awards are a chance for the community to recognise the achievements of people and groups in the Tweed during 2020.

Nominations are open for eight categories:

• Citizen of the Year - for an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the Tweed community.

• Arts and Culture Award - for an individual or group who has made a significant contribution to cultural development within the Tweed.

• Volunteer of the Year (Individual) - for an individual who has made a significant contribution to volunteer works within the community.

• Volunteer of the Year (Group) - for a group that has made a significant contribution to volunteer works within the community.

• Sporting Achievement (Individual) - for an outstanding playing sportsperson or ancillary volunteer who has dedicated a lot of time and effort to sports.

• Sporting Achievement (Group) - for an outstanding playing team, or ancillary volunteer group that has dedicated a lot of time and effort to sports.

• Community Event of the Year - for an event that promotes and increases the profile of its local area/or delivers wider benefits across the Tweed community.

• Young Achiever in Community Service - for a young person 25 years of age and under, who has made a significant contribution to the community.

Think of a friend, family member, community member, school or local club that deserves to be recognised and nominate by 4.30pm on Friday 16 October 2020 by visiting www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/AustraliaDayNomination.

The format of the awards ceremony will be guided by the NSW Public Health Orders, and a decision will be made in November as to whether a public ceremony can be held on Australia Day.

However, anticipating that restrictions will still be in place on public gatherings, Council is also making plans to broadcast a virtual ceremony on Australia Day.

"COVID-19 has meant that Council has developed innovative ways to continue serving and engaging with our community. This has included online Council and community meetings. We are now making plans to host the 2021 Australia Day Awards ceremony online to ensure we are honouring our wonderful award recipients and nominees in the safest possible way," Mayor of Tweed, Councillor Katie Milne said.

"We also expect COVID-19 may influence people's nominations this year. This could include consideration of workers in health or aged care, community organisations, schools, or young people that have supported our residents during these very challenging times."

For more information on the Tweed Shire Australia Day Awards, visit www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/AustraliaDay.

Councillor Chris Cherry has been elected as Mayor of Tweed for the next 12 months until local government elections are held in September 2021.

At an Extraordinary Council meeting held Thursday 17 September 2020, Councillor Cherry was elected by her fellow councillors.

In a show of hands, Councillor Cherry received five votes, while the only other candidate, Councillor Warren Polglase, received two votes.

Councillor Cherry was supported by Councillors Byrnes, Cooper, Milne and Owen. Councillor Polglase was supported by Councillor Allsop.

Councillor Reece Byrnes was elected unopposed to the role of Deputy Mayor, as there were no other nominees. Councillor Byrnes will also be in this position until council elections are held next year.

The outgoing Mayor, Councillor Katie Milne, did not nominate for the position but continues in her role as councillor. She has held the position of Mayor for the past five years.

Councillor Cherry paid tribute to Councillor Milne for her dedication to the community and the Tweed's internationally significant environment.

"Under Councillor Milne's leadership our Shire has established a strong sustainability reputation, with a focus on protecting our World Heritage environment and relaxed lifestyle. She will be a tough act to follow and I thank her for her support," she said.

"My vision as Mayor is for our community to be proud of their Council, for the way we stand up for them, for the way we defend their rights and for the way we look after this land.

"As seven councillors, we each represent different views within the community, but what we all have in common is the desire to do our best for the people. We may not always agree, but we respect each other's views and as Mayor, I will work to find the common ground wherever that can be found."

Councillor Byrnes said he was committed to a strong focus on economic growth and rebuilding our region and economy.

"More than ever, as a Council and as a community, we need to focus on the immediate task ahead - rebuilding our region after the COVID-19 crisis," he said.

"As we work towards a recovery for our Shire post COVID-19, locals are telling me they want certainty from our Council, and a plan for our future, a plan for jobs and a plan for our environment.

"We are all in this together, and as Deputy Mayor, I'm committed to working hard every day for our community."

Councillor Cherry has previously served as Deputy Mayor in 2016/17, 2018/19 and most recently in 2019/20.

Councillor Byrnes served as Deputy Mayor in 2017/18.

To view the meeting minutes, including voting, visit www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/CouncilMeetings