Saving Ballina's Koalas
KOALA rescuer Maria Matthes will be able to save more wildlife while keeping herself safe thanks to a new thermal imaging camera.
The $20,000 thermal equipment was donated by World Wildlife Fund (WWF), funded by furniture company koala.com, via Ballina MP Tamara Smith.
Ms Matthes, who has a member of Friends of the Koala for five years, remembered the fires that affected the area on October 16, 2019.
"I saw two koalas up in a tree after the fire went through, and the RFS sprayed the trees so we could rescue the animals, but it was dangerous work," she said.
Media Release: Member for Ballina announces $17k in funding for Historical Society
Pictured: Tamara Smith MP, Member for Ballina and Ian Kirkland, President, Alstonville Plateau Historical Society
Tamara Smith MP announces $17K in funding for Alstonville Historical Society
Tamara Smith MP, Member for Ballina announces $17,280 in funding through the Community Building Partnership for the Alstonville Plateau Historical Society.
NSW Government Independent Bushfire Inquiry
The NSW Government commissioned an independent expert inquiry into the 2019-20 bushfire season to provide input to NSW ahead of the next bushfire season.
The Inquiry welcomed submissions from bushfire-affected residents, emergency and support personnel, organisations and the general public. Everyone was encouraged to share their experience and tell their story to inform the Inquiry’s work.
As NSW Greens Spokesperson for Regional Communities I made a submission on behalf of the NSW Greens. View a copy of my submission here.
Media Release - Member for Ballina calls on State Government to urgently provide funding to safeguard the welfare of older people in New South Wales
Safeguarding the welfare of older people
Safe Visitor Access campaign launched today to help older people in our community throughout the COVID-19 crisis.
Member for Ballina Tamara Smith today announced she is calling on the State government to urgently provide funding to safeguard the welfare of older people in New South Wales throughout the COVID-19 crisis.
Save West Byron
Hopefully you have had time to re-vamp your submission to Byron Shire Council opposing West Byron 2.0.
Thankfully we have a 1 month extension of time to get our submissions in by 7th May 2020.
Everything you need to know to prepare your submission is below.
Even though we are in the midst of a worldwide pandemic we are paying attention and this mega development for West Byron has no social or environmental license.
NO WEST BYRON!
MEDIA RELEASE: $300,000 for Ballina Electorate announced today through the Community Building Partnership Program
$300,000 for Ballina Electorate announced today through the Community Building Partnership Program
Member for Ballina Tamara Smith today announced the electorate of Ballina has secured $300,000 in funding for a total of 16 projects through the NSW Government’s 2019 Community Building Partnership Program.
$4.5 million boost to Byron Shire's renewable energy capabilities
TWO significant renewable energy projects have attracted almost $4.5 million in state funding between them.
Under the State Government's Regional Community Energy Fund, $3.5 million has been allocated to the Byron Bay Solar Farm and Battery Storage Project, spearheaded by Coolamon Energy.
A further $998,000 has been awarded to Enova Community Energy to part fund a new initiative.
Social infrastructure will determine our fate
I DON’T think any of us feels like we have had a holiday over the usual festive season.
Whether you have been affected personally by recent extreme weather events or the worst fires in living memory, every one of us has been affected emotionally by the loss of life, the destruction of places we love and the devastating loss of animals and biodiversity.
Tamara Smith MP Calls for Climate Change Truce
When Tamara Smith talks about a ‘gracious U-turn’, Byron readers might be surprised to learn she isn’t referring to drivers waiting patiently on Jonson Street outside the Mercato shopping centre.
The Greens state member for Ballina wants mainstream society to give conservatives on climate change another chance.