Please note that Early Bird Weekend Pass sales for the Bellingen Jazz + Blues Festival will end by cob on 31 July.

The Early Bird Weekend Pass is $120 – a $20 saving on the full price.

This ticket allows admission to all venues over the Festival weekend, including Jazz by the River at Jarrett Park on the Sunday.

The Festival starts with the traditional Opening Breakfast at 8am on Friday 20th August, at the Council Grounds, and runs through to Sunday evening.

You can see the full program and purchase your tickets here -> http://www.bellingenjazzfestival.com.au/ticket-sales/

Council rates notices will be in ratepayer’s letterboxes from this week with payment due by 31 August.

Council offers you a number of convenient ways to pay your rates including:

* online

* credit card by phone

* BPAY

* mail

* in person at council offices or at any Post Office

Pension Rebates for 2010/2011 Pensioners who have applied for a Pension rebate are requested to check their Rates Notice.

If you have received a pension rebate, it will appear in the Particulars of Rates and Charges Box to the right of the total Column.

The Pension Rebate has been included in the total column.

The total column is the amount to pay.

If you hold a Pension Card and have not applied for a Pension Rebate on your Rates, you may be eligible, so please contact Council.

Outstanding Rates and Charges – Financial Difficulty

If you are experiencing financial difficulty, please contact Council to set up a formal payment arrangement, as weekly, fortnightly or monthly pay arrangements can be made.

This article can be found on the web at:

http://bellingen.local-e.nsw.gov.au/news/pages/10229.html

http://www.mybusiness.com.au/newsletter/index.php?issue=870&key=499&admin

Ladies and gentlemen,

Greg Grainger’s Travel Oz Coffs Coast episode airs tonight at 6pm on ABC1 (I’m pretty sure ABC TV have their schedule right this time!).

Remember Sally Grainger riding Waterfall Way Way with Motorcycle Holidays Australia? Paddling Valley of the Mist? Lazing about at Lombok?

Tune in tonight to see that and much more.

Coffs Coast Marketing is once again proud to have helped co-ordinate this wonderful showcase of Coffs Coast.

Kind Regards,

Brian Stokes

Marketing & Web

Coffs Coast Marketing (Coffs Harbour City Council)

P: (02) 6648 4088

M: 0447 106563

E: brian.stokes@chcc.nsw.gov.au

At the outset I would apologise for the delay in getting this news out to you and thank Mark and Kerry for their prompt email account of the meeting between Bellingen Council and the RTA.

I understand there will be an article in this week’s Courier Sun advertising a workshop and it planned to be at the Luncheon Pavilion at the Bellingen Showground on 4th August between 6pm and 8pm. I hope this venue is changed as it is very cold but please just wear warm clothes and attend the workshop as it is our chance to have some dialogue over the road improvements between Connell Creek and the Raleigh Dam.

From Mark

“I thought I would provide a comment re meeting withj RTA while it is fresh in my mind.

The RTA reps provided a good overview of what is now an extended project taking into account the sub standard areas both east and west of Camerons Corner. From the outset David Bell (Regional Manager stated the new alignment would avoid the wetland and this was evident on the draft plans.

The RTA have said that they intend issuing a media statement in the near future and are planning a community open forum sometime in August. I need to stress this is early days in the development of the new proposal, naturally when a win is achieved in one area new concerns are raised in others.

The draft plans will not be made public by the RTA until some of the issues relating to affected property owners are dealt with in more detail.

As far as interference with the wetland is concerned it all appears good news for the community as the proposed upgrade will avoid it.

The whole process of community consultation, [planning and design and finally funding is likely to take a couple of years.”

The eye catching phrase in the mail is, “naturally when a win is achieved in one area new concerns are raised in others.”

I will send through a reminder about the workshop when the details are confirmed.

Every good wish,

Caroline Joseph

Living Food Garden at Kombu

Dear friends, colleagues and community members of the Mid North Coast

I invite you to take advantage of the collaborative potential of the Mid North Coast Regional Plan.

From the Manning to Coffs Harbour, distinctive valleys are developing, industries are diversifying, and more people are choosing to live and work here.

As each community’s ambitions grow, those ambitions can be connected by joint efforts that put our region on the map and allow us to present ourselves to public and private investors with a united voice.

This plan sets out how that collaborative work can unfold.

Over the next decade, if we work together, we can develop

· the infrastructure we need to strengthen our potential as an innovative region

· the skills we need to ensure people can achieve the opportunities they seek, &

· the community strength that makes our region an inclusive place for all.

I encourage you to connect with this plan, and with RDA, wherever you are in the MNC. The priorities will evolve as our region does – and we hope that will be with your input and engagement so that the work of RDA supports your community’s ambitions.

Comments are welcomed online until the 3rd August. Everyone registering for comment will be invited to a Feedback Session – Friday 13 August in Port Macquarie (Click here to register)

Elizabeth McGregor

Acting Chair (RDA Mid North Coast)

Regional Development Australia Mid North Coast (RDA MNC) is an Australian and NSW Government initiative that brings together all levels of government to enhance the growth and development of regional Australia. The RDA MNC has broad brief and incorporates Social Cultural, Environmental, Economic and Governance issues in its portfolio. The government has asked the RDA MNC to prepare a Regional Plan and we seek your comment to assist and inform the Board of priorities you as the community and stakeholders of our region would like us to communicate to government.

To view and/or comment visit the RDA Mid North Coast website and register:

www.rdamidnorthcoast.org.au

Peter Tregilgas

Executive Officer

Regional Development Australia – Mid North Coast (RDA-MNC)

Suite 1 Oxley House 133-137 Gordon Street (PO Box 2537)

Port Macquarie NSW 2444

W: 02 6583 5647

M: 0400 191054

E: petert@rdamidnorthcoast.org.au

W: www.rdamidnorthcoast.org.au

There’s a fundraiser at Sawtell Cinema Thursday week (22 July 2010) – ‘The Last Station’ Helen Mirren, James McAvoy, Christopher Plummer ….something about Tolstoy, it’s meant to be good, Margaret gave it 4 stars.

It’s $15.00 a ticket and the money will be used to help pay off Adina and Seifa’s (the Ethiopian family in Bellingen) airfare debt – which is about $5,000.00.

People who are interested can pick up tickets at my office – 16 William Street, Bellingen (66551407), Gecoz or can get them at the door on the night but it’s better to get tickets in advance.

I hope this isn’t too much of an imposition – it will really help if we can get a large crowd to attend.

Hope to see you there.

regards

Linda

cartycox@optusnet.com.au

Facilitated by the Bellingen Chamber of Commerce, president Guy Saddleton said “This is a great opportunity for local business owners to speak one on one with our local member of parliament about issues of concern. With the election now announced for 21st August we would expect politicians to be active in seeking to become aware of areas of concern for voters and to give undertakings to address those concerns if re-elected. Whilst Mr Stoner is in state parliament rather than federal parliament he can certainly convey concerns to his federal colleagues on behalf of his constituents.”

Mr Stoner will be in attendance at the Waterfall Way Centre from approximately 1.30pm to 3.00pm and all local business people are welcome and encouraged to attend. Stuart Allardice, Bellingen Shire Council Economic Development and Tourism Manager is expected to attend and it is expected that representatives from all three local chambers will be in attendance so if you can’t attend in person and you have an issue you would like raised contact Stuart or your local chamber and they will speak on your behalf.

Judging for the 2010 CountryLink North Coast Tourism Awards for Business Excellence is now complete and winners will be announced at a Gala Black Tie Dinner in Coffs Harbour on Saturday, August 14.

Master of Ceremonies at the much awaited Gala Presentation Night will be Channel 10 weatherman, Tim Bailey.

There will be 27 Winners announced on the night – along with finalists selected from almost 100 entries by tourism businesses from the Northern Rivers and Mid North Coast.

Tickets to this Gala Event at Opal Cove Resort are $99 a head (including gst) and are available by visiting www.coffscoast.com.au/tourismawards or phoning (02) 6648 4990.

The 2010 Countrylink North Coast Tourism Awards this year also honours two of the region’s tourism identities by dedicating two prestigious awards to the late Mr Mick Crawley of Forster and Mrs Judith McGilvray of Coraki.

“We will honour these fine tourism leaders by dedicating the Young Achiever in Tourism Award to Mick Crawley and the Outstanding Contribution to Regional Tourism to Mrs McGilivray”, said award coordinator and Executive Officer for Mid North Coast Tourism, Belinda Novicky.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to honour those outstanding tourism businesses within our region,” she said.

“It is always strongly supported by all sectors of the industry and a great night of celebration not just for the winners but for our region and the tourism industry as a whole.”

For further information Contact: Mid North Coast Tourism Executive Officer, Ms Belinda Novicky, Phone: (02) 6569 4058 or 0400033663.

Sonia Fingleton

Good Company Group Pty Ltd

Business Development, Public Relations and Event Management

P.O. Box 2572 Port Macquarie NSW 2444

Phone: (02) 6585 9324  Mobile: 0414 376 868