Media Release

TWEED SHIRE: AT THE CROSS ROADS

The second in a five part series of presentations In the
'TWEED SHIRE: AT THE CROSS ROADS' FORUM organised by the 'MAX BOYD GROUP'
will be held in the Kingscliff Amenities Hall on Sunday afternoon
15th February 2004.

This Forum is designed to encourage voters to give careful thought about
the direction they want the Tweed to take in the future.

Much disquiet is being expressed about the nature of Council's decisions
and the emphasis given to certain types of development.

Residents, old and new, love the Tweed for its abundant natural and
man made assets. But there is a growing fear that our coast line is
headed the way of the Gold Coast, Noosa and Byron Bay.

Local Government Councillors in N. S.W. must adhere to the Charter for
Local Government as prescribed in the L.G. Act 1993 which requires them :

•  To provide directly or on behalf of other levels of government, after due
consultation. adequate, equitable and appropriate services and facilities
for the community and to ensure that those services and facilities are
managed efficiently and effectively.

•  To exercise community leadership. To exercise its functions in a manner
that is consistent with and actively promotes the principals of
multiculturalism.

•  To promote and to provide and plan for the needs of children. To properly
manage, develop, protect, restore, enhance and conserve the environment of
the area for which it is responsible, in a manner that is consistent with and
promotes the principles of ecologically sustainable development.

•  To have regard to the long term and cumulative effects of its decisions.

•  To bear in mind it is the custodian and trustee of public assets and to
effectively account for and manage the assets for which it is responsible.

•  To facilitate the involvement of Councillors, members of the public, users
of facilities and services and council staff in the development improvement
and co-ordination of Local Government.

•  To raise funds for local purposes by the fair imposition of rates, charges
and fees, by income earned from investments and when appropriate, by
borrowings and grants.

•  To keep the local community and the State government (and through it, the
wider community) informed about its activities.

•  To ensure that, in the exercise of its regulatory functions, it acts
consistently and without bias, particularly when an activity of the Council
is affected.

•  To be a responsible employer.

The members of the MAX BOYD GROUP have committed themselves to uphold the
principles of this Charter.

THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR ANYONE WISHING TO ATTEND ANY OF THESE PRESENTATIONS.

SECOND SESSION:	Sunday 15th  February 2004	Kingscliff Amenities Hall

2 p.m. Mr. Greg Messiter 'The Future of the Cane Industry in the Tweed'

Chief Executive Officer NSW Sugar Milling Co-operative, Director Manildra
Harwood Sugars (Sunshine Sugar), Director Sunshine Electricity Management
P/L. Degree Chemical Engineering UNSW, MBA Macquarie University, Fellow
Australian Institute Company Directors. Leadership role in development of
renewable electricity generation from sugar cane fibre.

3 p.m. Dr. Brian Keating 'Tweed Agriculture at the Cross Roads'
 
Deputy Chief CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems with responsibility for Science
integration within this division of 350 staff located at 8 sites around
Australia. Agronomist with 25 years experience in Agricultural Research
and Development. PhD at UQ. Owns small sub-tropical fruit farm in Tweed Shire.

4 p.m. Mr. Ted Brambleby and Ms Kerrie Trees
'Creating a significant mile stone in the Journey of Marine Environmental
Education'

Ted : BSc. Marine Biology James Cook UNI. Completed units i microbiology,
botany, zoology, vet. science at UQ. biology and marine science JCU. Senior
biological science co-ordinator and teacher at Toowoomba Grammar. Currently
Principal of Marine Environments Field Study and Resource Centre,
Hastings Point.

Kerrie: Partner in Marine Environments Field Study and Resource Centre.
Dip.Ed.NSW.  Established Byron Bay Seaside Sports Leisure and Toy Kingdom;
part time teacher TAFE NSW; store manager Byron Bay Dive Centre; travel
consultant Flight Centre; NSW public school teacher.

ENDS

For further information
Cr. Max R. Boyd AM.
Ph. 0266 722843 Fax. 0266 726586