Kids in regional and remote Northern NSW communities will have a faster and more convenient trip to the dentist thanks to a new mobile dental van operating in the region, the state government says.

The service is an extension of the NSW Health Primary School Mobile Dental Program, and Northern NSW Local Health District Oral Health Service is running a pilot program to visit several local primary schools throughout 2023.

It has already visited Bonalbo Central School, and will also attend schools in Urbenville, Tabulam and Kyogle over the coming weeks.

Dr Angie Nilsson, Clinical Director Oral Health Services, said primary school children are at an important point in their dental journey as their adult teeth start to come through.

Were helping kids set good oral health practices for life and ensuring they get the best start for healthy teeth and gums, Dr Nilsson said.

It can take more than two hours for some of our communities to travel to access the public dental service, and in areas with limited public transport options, its even more of a challenge.

The services will include check-ups, cleans, x-rays and other preventive treatments and will help to set children on a path to good dental health for life.

Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said she was pleased to see the service would visit four primary schools across Northern NSW.

Some regional and remote communities in our region experience significant barriers to dental care, so this is a really wonderful initiative to bring preventive healthcare to some of our youngest residents, Ms Saffin said.

Bonalbo Central School was the first school to host the dental van in May, with close to 100 percent of the primary school children receiving check-ups.

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Shores United U/12s mixed team continued their undefeated run this season by beating Eureka 40 at home on the Bob Bellear sports field last weekend.
The team is currently undefeated with their worst result a 11 draw against Ballina.
The team has two games to go before the finals start.
All members of the team have their own individual talents that make them gel really well together when they are playing on the field. They are great young people making memories and friendships to last a lifetime, according to coaches Matt and Nathan.

The post Shores United U/12s target minor premiership as undefeated run continues appeared first on The Echo.

Brunswick Heads Womens Bowling Club came a close second after a big day at the Tweed Byron District Womens Bowling Association (TBDWBA) State Pairs competition held at Kingscliff earlier this month.
The clubs Kerry Dexter (skip) and Sherril Pearce went straight through to the semi-final against Pottsville after a bye in the first game.
Pottsville took the lead early in the game. We fought back and on the last end the scores were 18 all. This meant another deciding end had to be played, Kerry said.
It came down to both skips having each of their bowls close to the jack and the umpire had to be called to measure, with Brunswick winning the game by millimetres, 1918.
This game lasted four hours and 25 minutes, far longer than the average of roughly 33.5 hours.
The final started an hour late and we played against Kingscliff. They took the lead and we fought back equalling the score at one stage, but on the 19th end it was decided not to play the last two ends due to failing light with Kingscliff leading 2411, Kerry said.
We were very happy to be runners up in this competition and worked out we played 8hrs 50mins of bowls on the day.

The post Local bowls players come second after marathon State Pairs finals day appeared first on The Echo.

Local rugby league fans have seen the chances of their teams making the finals slip away after enduring losses before last weekends bye.
The Byron Bay Red Devils took on the Bilambil Jets in round 13 after travelling north and came away with a 3418 loss.
A win would have put them in sixth place on the competition ladder, with a finals berth if they held on.
As it is they sit in eighth place with 13 competition points on a congested ladder.
To make the finals they have to get past Evans Head (16), Tweed Coast (16), Cudgen (14), Lower Clarence (14).
Mullumbimby Giants lost to Marist Brothers 2428, and sit in tenth place on 11 points.
While both teams can theoretically still make the finals a lot would have to go their way.
The first stumbling block is this weekend as both sides take on top teams.
This Sunday Mullumbimby hosts Ballina, the competition leader, before taking on third-placed Northern United, the week after.
The Red Devils host Evans Head (fourth-placed) this Sunday, before playing away to Ballina Seagulls in the final round.
On the up side both sides have a bye, and two competition points, over the three-week run to the finals.

The post Local league teams face tough run to the finals appeared first on The Echo.

Local surfer Billy Daniel has won his age division at the Grommet State Titles which wrapped up with a marathon day of surfing in Maroubra yesterday.

The Fingal Head resident took out the Under 12 title, his first State Title win.

Billy won all three of his heats in this event with his best score, 7.0, in round three.

But it was his spectacular finals effort that solidified his crown. His third and final wave scored a 6.0 to sneak the win off Andy Blanchfield.

The waves were a bit average, but I got a good score at the end that took me into first place, Billy said after the win.

It was pretty fun out there.

A powerful southerly swell that arrived last week surged on Sunday with dangerous and inconsistent conditions making the Under 12 and Under 14 events too dangerous to contest.

Event organisers made the decision not to run on Sunday with the option of running two competition areas on Monday to complete the remaining rounds and finals.

The states youngest athletes were keen to get back in the water after a lay-day, as with 5,500 points up for grabs, the event plays an important part of the Surfing NSW junior pathway as the first chance for the young athletes to accumulate rankings points.

The Under 12 divisions are always impressive at the State Titles. With some athletes as young as nine years old, its eye-opening each year to watch them paddle out and perform with so much progression. This year was no different.

Nine-year-old Everly Morgan from Ulladulla was beyond stoked to win her very first State Title in the Under 12 Girls division.

The south coast surfer caught seven waves in the final and said: Its my first time winning State Titles and Im super happy about it. The surf was fun, I caught two good rides, a left and a right and it was a tough heat.

Other winners on the day...

An information session focusing on some of the regions housing challenges will be held in Mullumbimby tomorrow (Wednesday July 26).

Conducted as part of Housing Support Week, the session will be held at the Mullumbimby Uniting Church from 4pm 6pm.

The free event aims to provide support on resolving insurance disputes, tenancies,  emergency and temporary accommodation.

It will also explore the Resilient Homes Program, how to access legal support, buy backs and Centrelink implications and mortgage stress and debt issues.

The event is hosted by the Northern Rivers Community Legal Centre and Lismore Financial Counselling Service and supported by the Byron Shire Council.

The event is free with participants asked to register.

Light refreshments will be provided.

The post Housing information session in Mullum on Wednesday appeared first on The Echo.

Developers of a proposed childcare centre in Ballina say they have withdrawn their council application in response to community concerns over associated tree removals.

A media representative confirmed the formal withdrawal of the controversial development application (DA) on Monday.

The developers, a company called RAM, had issued a media statement on the decision four days prior but said its formal process was held up owing to technicalities.

We have listened to community feedback and decided based on concerns regarding the removal of two fig trees and one paperbark tree on the site not to proceed with our application to develop a childcare centre in Ballina, RAM Head of Real Estate Matthew Strotton was quoted in the media release.

Developers quote dire childcare availability stats in Ballina

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Share flood experiences can be challenging but residents of Tweed Heads South, Banora Point and surrounding areas are encouraged to participate, telling their stories and sharing records as part of a new flood study of the area.

Tweed Shire Council is undertaking a comprehensive Levee and Drainage Study of Tweed Heads South with support from the NSW Department of Planning and Environment and in collaboration with independent flood specialists Catchment Simulation Solutions.

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The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) say that Coles and Woolworths have met their immediate obligations under the Clean-up Notices issued by the Authority, with more than 5,000 tonnes of soft plastics moved to safe storage.

The notices required the supermarkets to address the potential fire and pollution risk posed by 15 soft plastic stockpiles accumulated during the REDcycle soft plastics collection program.

EPA Executive Director Steve Beaman said having the retailers move these stockpiles to a safe and lawful location has been a priority. Our inspections confirmed waste from 15 sites has been removed, with the majority going to a waste facility in Orchard Hills for storage.

We will continue to monitor the progress of the supermarkets under the Clean-up Notices as they consider options for recycling and reprocessing the material.

An important role to play

Mr Beaman said the largest retailers have an important role to play in how we reduce plastic waste in NSW. We want to see them taking proactive steps.

Well continue to collaborate with supermarkets and industry to support opportunities for long term sustainable...

Queensland police have charged three teenagers and a man following multiple alleged armed robberies across the Gold Coast, Logan and Brisbane over the weekend.

A boy and two robberies

It will be alleged just before 3.30am on Sunday, July 23, a boy entered a Gardiner Road service station in Holmview where he threatened an employee with a firearm and demanded the till.

The employee complied and was not physically harmed.

The boy allegedly left the scene in a blue 2014 Audi S3, which was reported stolen from a Clover Way property in Helensvale on Saturday night, July 22.

It will be further alleged at approximately 3.35am, a boy armed with a gun stole the cash register from a Juers Road service station in Kingston before leaving in the same car.

No one was physically injured during the incident.

Group involved in armed robbery

At 6am it will alleged a group travelling in the stolen vehicle was involved in the armed robbery of a cafe on Alexandria St in Ascot before travelling back towards the Gold Coast.

Police conducted patrols and tracked the vehicle across the Gold Coast with assistance from Polair.

At approximately 9.30am, the Audi was sighted travelling south along the Pacific Motorway near Coomera before allegedly crashing into the rear of a Mazda 2 on Foxwell Road around 9.50am.

At 9.53am two people from the group allegedly exited on foot, one injuring a woman and child along Beattie Drive during their attempt to flee.

Boy taken into custody

He was taken in to police custody along Waterways Drive, with officers allegedly locating a firearm nearby.

Just after 10am in Logan, a tyre deflation device was successfully deployed with the vehicle coming to a stop along George Street.

Two more people were taken into police custody near a Beenleigh marketplace.

A search of the vehicle located another two firearms.

Charges

An 18-year-old Woodridge man was charged with armed robbery in company will appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court today.

A 15-year-old Crestmead boy has been charged with one count each of enter dwelling and commit, unlawful use of motor vehicle and armed robbery.

He is due to appear at Beenleigh Childrens Court at a later date.

A 15-year-old Coomera boy was charged with one count each of unlawful use of motor vehicle and dangerous operation of a vehicle.

A 14-year-old Eagleby boy was charged with one count each of unlawful use of motor vehicle and receiving tainted property.

The post Gold Coast armed robbery charges appeared first on The Echo.

A new mobile phone app has been launched with the aim of empowering victims of domestic and family violence in NSW.

The Empower You app means that people have access to an innovative new application designed to discreetly document abuse and provide better access to support services.

NSW Police Domestic and Family Violence Portfolio Owner, Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith, unveiled the Empower You app yesterday that app was developed as part of the commitment to ensuring better outcomes for victims of domestic and family violence across the state.

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NSW Police say a man died on Friday following a crash between a ute and a truck near Brunswick Heads.

At about 3.10pm on Friday, emergency services were called to the Pacific Motorway, Brunswick Heads following reports of a two-vehicle crash.

Officers attached to Tweed Byron Police District were told a ute had crashed into the rear of a parked truck.

The driver of the ute a 62-year-old man was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics but died at the scene.

The driver of the truck a 42-year-old man was uninjured.

Police established a crime scene which was forensically examined by specialist police.

A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

The post 62-year-old man dies at Brunswick Heads crash site appeared first on The Echo.