The state government says renters will have a stronger voice to government thanks to the new Rental Commissioner they have appointed.

The government today announced that sector leader Trina Jones will become the first person to step into the role.

The commissioner will work with the government to design and implement changes that rebalance the rental market, making it fairer and more modern.

She will work with the Government and stakeholders to get moving on the reforms open for consultation now, including:

• making it easier for renters to have pets in their homes
• ending no-grounds evictions
• implementing a portable bonds scheme that allows renters to transfer bonds from one property to another
• improving the protection of renters information and privacy.

Beyond these proposed changes, the Rental Commissioner will also reportedly be responsible for identifying and investigating other issues that are impacting the NSW rental market.

The commissioner will examine rental affordability and supply, encourage longer term rental agreements, investigate ways to improve energy efficiency for renters, develop educational resources for renters and owners, and monitor current tenancy laws.

The Governments appointment of NSWs first Rental Commissioner is an important step to addressing some of the issues facing renters and importantly giving them a voice,&#...

The busy intersection at the corner of Byron Bay Road and Byron Street in Lennox Head is an accident waiting to happen, according to locals Jamie Hoile and Ballina Shire Councillor Eva Ramsey.

Cr Ramsey started a petition about the issue in May, which has 174 signatures and rising. She told The Echo that while the roundabout is not currently in Ballina Councils delivery program, it needs to be prioritised as a matter of urgency as Lennox becomes busier.

Eva Ramsey would like to see the speed limit reduced as drivers come down the hill on Byron Bay Road towards the intersection (heading north), as well as the construction of a new roundabout to avoid the problem of long delays for people leaving Lennox Head, particularly at peak times.

Data released by Tweed Shire Council today shows more than 70,500 people have used the Tweed section of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail (NRRT) since its opening four months ago, significantly exceeding expectations.

The figures released today were calculated using data retrieved from counters strategically placed along the 24 km length of the Tweed section of the NRRT, which runs from Murwillumbah to Crabbes Creek.

Mayor of Tweed Shire Chris Cherry said there had been significant interest in the opening success of the NRRT, with all user counts significantly exceeding expectations.

I am really proud to confirm that since its opening on 1 March 2023, the Tweed section of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail has welcomed approximately 70,551 people, which is an amazing achievement, Cr Cherry said.

Our Rail Trail is welcoming an average of 17,638 people per month, which is approximately 4,048 people per week or an average of 578 people per day.

The original business case for the Tweed section of the NRRT referenced goals of 27,000 people per year which is equivalent to 9,000 people in the first four months. We have absolutely smashed that goal, attracting more than double the anticipated annual number of visitors in our first four months alone.

We knew the Rail Trail would be extremely popular and there was a lot of interest in this facility but this has blown us away!

Cr Cherry said these figures should provide confidence to the NRRTs other member councils of Richmond Valley Council, Lismore City Council and Byron Shire Council who are all either committed or considering connecting to the Rail Trail for the benefit of the broader Northern Rivers community.

With these impressive patronage numbers has also come confirmation that 87% of trail users have used an associated Rail Trail experience and spent money with a local business, whether it be one of the many cafs, restaurants, accommodation providers or bike-related businesses such as hire, shuttle or transport services, Cr Cherry said.

Many businesses along the Rail Trail have told us about their successes and we are continually working on trail improvements, addressing som...

After months of intensive fundraising, LRRS is very excited to announce the arrival on 12th July of our first refugee family.
The family comprises a mother and s thirteen year old son from South America.
Spokesperson for the group, Bridget Carr, said:
We will be setting them up with accommodation, clothes, and household goods in fact all their initial needs.
We will also arrange for a school and English lessons and connect the family with local services.
We will continue to help, and support them for their first year here until they are successfully
embedded in the community.
Ms Carr said the group could not have done this without the generous support of the local community.
A special vote of thanks goes out to the Acid Bleed jazz band who freely donated their time and talents for a very successful and enjoyable fundraiser, Ms Carr said.

The post Lismore Region for Refugee Settlement welcomes first refugee family appeared first on The Echo.

The Minister for Child Safety and Minister for Seniors and Disability Services, Craig Crawford, says he is deeply concerned by reports of alleged criminal behaviour, abuse and neglect in the residential care system, and he has ordered a wide-ranging review of the states residential care system.

Mr  Crawford said he has asked for a top-level review led by the Director-General and including experts, advocates and frontline workers to report back later in the year. I will also be writing to Queensland Families and Childrens Commission (QFCC) Commissioner Luke Twyford seeking his oversight of the work and to report to me independently.

Children with complex needs

We are caring for children with complex needs, often with mental health issues and disabilities who come from trauma backgrounds.

Were always open to new ideas and options.

Mr Crawford says he has particularly asked for a focus on how children aged under 12, First Nations children, and disabled children are handled by the states residential care system.

This work is already underway and we want to work in partnership with Non-Government Organisations providing this care.

We have a lot of good people working hard to care for vulnerable children.

Encourage care workers to report criminal activity

I encourage any care worker who is worried to immediately report any criminal activity to Queensland Police Service.

Anyone who is concerned about the level of care being provided they can speak to Child Safety Officers, regional contacts or write to the Director-General or Minister and any concerns will be thoroughly investigated.

Later this year I will hold a roundtable with key stakeholders a mix of front line workers, providers and advocates about the findings and to discuss any other further options that can be actioned.

The post Child Safety review in Queensland appeared first on The Echo.

The leading koala conservation organisation in the Northern Rivers say it is deeply concerned about the alarming rise in the number of koalas hit and killed by cars in the region. 

Friends of the Koala is urging the public to exercise heightened caution while driving, to avoid further harm to all wildlife. 

Save these numbers 

A spokesperson said, If you see a koala that looks injured, dead or is close to a road, call the 24/7 rescue team on 6622 1233 immediately. 

Save this number, and the phone numbers of Northern Rivers wildlife rescue organisations in your phone, so you are ready to report any sightings: Northern Rivers Wildlife Carers 6628 1866, WIRES 1300 094 737, and Tweed Valley Wildlife Carers 6672 4789. 

Over the past month, Friends of the Koala has witnessed a distressing surge in koala car hits across the Northern Rivers, with six koalas dying just this week.

The post Alarm raised over increase in koalas killed by cars appeared first on The Echo.

The remains of five Indigenous people, Ancestors of the Yaegl people of northern NSW, have been returned to their rightful place with a significant cultural ceremony honouring their repatriation back to Country.

The repatriation ceremony took place at the end of June in the Yaegl Nature Reserve, near Maclean, which was the designated burial site identified by the Yaegl community.

Australian Museums released three Ancestors

With plenty of thrills and no spills, the highwire spectacular, The Xrossing presented by SeedArts at Lismore Quad on the weekend, drew hundreds of ooh-ers and ah-ers who delighted in the breathtaking performances.

Future of Toys is an exhibition featuring new inventions from 22 children from across the Northern Rivers will open next week at Elevator ARI, presented in conjunction with the Lismore Regional Gallery.

Ahead of the exhibition the participants aged 6-12, brought in old toys and flood-affected objects and through a series of workshops, learned how to disassemble their objects into composite parts and transform them into new inventions that reflect their values and hopes for the future.

Participants utilised a range of emerging technologies to realise their inventions including a plastic shredder and extruder, made by artist and Future of Toys facilitator Ben Paul.

Our hopes for these workshops are to empower young people by giving them the tools to design and build inventions based on their hopes for the future, said Paul.

Lively discussions about concerns for the environment and love for community

Throughout the workshops participants engaged in lively discussions about their concerns for the environment and love for community, informing their final designs.

Matters the participants addressed included unhealthy waterways, e-waste, the need to care for stray dogs and the importance of building trust. Participants Seraphine and Emerson invented The Tricky Trusty Catcher to...