BIG PRAWN or

Giant Shrimp?

If you were among the 30 milion viewers who watched The Late Show with David Letterman last night then you would have seen the Ballina Big Prawn.

In an interview with Diane Kruger she tellsDavid that on a road trip through Australia with her husband they made it to Ballina, but were so tired they decided to sleep under teh Giant Shrimp.

I can assure her that there is LOTS of great Motels in Ballina, if she had just continued down the road as little as 100 metres.

Maybe we really need the Tourism Office in The Big Prawn if and when it is moved.
Seems an obvious choice for tourists.. what do you think?

David informs Diane that the shrimp is actually life size!!!!!

Can we really lose this our most famous attraction???

Cheers

 Dave Heggie
Secretary Tourism Ballina

How will we know we’re

in Ballina

if it’s not there?

From Today’s Northern Star.

TRUCK driver John New stops at Ballina’s Big Prawn every week on his trips from Forster to Brisbane.

He said it is an ‘ideal place’ to have a break.

“The road is really wide and there’s lots of parking, so it’s pretty easy for trucks to stop at the Big Prawn,” Mr New said.

“I would stop there every week. I check the load, go to the toilet, have a drink and a break. There’s plenty of room and we can get off the road.”

But if plans to demolish the Big Prawn are approved by Ballina Shire Council, Mr New said he would no longer stop in Ballina.

“I guess I’ll just keep going because there’s nowhere else to stop,” he said.

And perhaps that will continue happening with The Big Prawn perhaps demolished as early as next year.

Can it be dismantled, stored and then reassembled in the new location at the gateway to Ballina once the bypass is completed?

Read the rest of the story in The Northern Star

Cheers

 Dave Heggie
Secretary Tourism Ballina

This is hot off the presses, even before they roll
Make sure you read about it in tomorrow’s Northern Star (Friday).
 

That’s the message from Tourism Ballina Inc secretary Dave Heggie, after reports the Gold Coast Fishermen’s Co-operative is willing to take the Big Prawn across the Queensland border.

"I don’t think that is something that should be happening – how dare they try and steal it," he said.

"I would rather see the old prawn dead and buried before we give it to the Gold Coast.

"Ballina is known world-wide as the King of Big Prawn and it should stay that way – we shouldn’t lose it.

"We will have a big problem getting people to stop in Ballina once the bypass is complete and it will be important to have significant gateway signage and the Big Prawn is synonymous with Ballina and would be ideal for just that purpose."

Chris Condon is willing to build a new one at his proposed new service centre at the Ballina Gateway.

But what to do about the old one once it is demolished???

What do you think post your replies here or on the facebook page or through The Northern Star letter’s page.

Read the rest of this story in tomorrow’s edition of The Northern Star.

Earlier prawny stuff…

This week, the 52 page Ballina Coast and Hinterland tourist guide, produced by Ballina Shire Council, was released with no mention of the Big Prawn.

The new Guides are supposedly the authority on all there is to see and do in the Ballina Coast & Hinterland.

It features stunning imagery from around the Shire and captures the essence of the beautiful hinterland and our magnificent waterways. But it does NOT feature The Big Prawn.

If you would like to get your hands on a copy, drop by the Ballina Visitor Information Centre at 6 River Street Ballina.

However, according to Ballina Shire Council general manager Paul Hickey, the Big Prawn hasn’t been featured in the guide for more than a decade.

“The guide is focused on a wide range of activities in the shire,” Mr Hickey said.

I believe this could be a clown fish on the cover ( I could be wrong)… perhaps it would have been more appropriate to have The Big Prawn there, at least that is associated with Ballina worldwide or maybe one of the many other visual aspects that abound in this wonderful region.

Do you agree?

Remember be part of this region’s promotional campaign. Forward this newsletter using the link at the bottom or join Tourism Ballina so that you may benefit  from our promotional activities.

See our Ballina Postcard Blog for some of the comments and why not

add your own support or comment there.

Do you have something to say about our wonderful region?

Send your comments to Dave Secretary Tourism Ballina or post them on our POSTCARD BLOG www.tourismballina.com.au/postcards

NEW and EXISTING MEMBERS

Join Now

Cheers

 Dave Heggie
Secretary Tourism Ballina

Last night on The 7pm Report on Channel 10 Dave Heggie, Secretary from Tourism Ballina was able to get confirmed, absolutely unequivocally and guaranteed that Chris Condon CEO Condon Goup would build a new BIG PRAWN at his proposed new mega service centre.

This would be fantastic gateway signage and an obvious place for the council to move it’s Visitor Information Centre to attract more tourists to the Ballina Coast and Hinterland, especially once the highway bypass is completed.

Chris said last night, "The Big Prawn is iconic and not an eyesore."

Watch the interview part 2 of last night’s The 7pm Report

 This is apparently what most people who have contacted Tourism Ballina feel as well and would hate to see the existing one demolished, not moved or replaced.

This message below is just a sample of the emails we have received:

I was watching on the edge of my chair, the news about the proposal to get rid of The Big Prawn. I am one of those people who love travelling around visiting these places and have been horrified at the news for two days as the prawn is one I haven’t gotten to yet. Do you have any information about when it could occur if it is passed (heaven forbid) as I need to hurry up my plans and even consider taking long service leave if it doesn’t coincide with NSW school holidays?
Thank you for speaking so well, putting the case for keeping this ‘original icon’ that others have tried to copy. I am a teacher and my class and I have just spent last term studying a unit on Australia and the bit that they loved best was when I showed them, my scrapbooks on Big Things and we plotted their locations on our large scale wall map. The kids even looked them up on the internet and brought in their souvenirs and stories. So don’t let it die. The next generation love them and need them. It is just a happy simple dream that brings people together and lets people laugh, de stress and have fun and dream. We need more of them in our hectic world. Please let me know if you have any news about dates. Keep up the fight.
Regards,
Michelle

Imagine if Ballina became known as the town that destroyed one of Australia’s famous big things….

Hear what theMayor Phil Silver has to say to the presenters channel 7’s sunrise as well

I can hear the conversation from the back seats of cars now… small agitated voices…

“Are we there yet?

“Are we there yet?”

From the front set in a very passive voice, “No not just yet, wait till you see ‘The Big Prawn’ and then you will know we have arrived in Ballina.

PS Ballina Coast and Hinterland has a LOT more to offer then just the Big Prawn,

 the panoramic vistas, the other attractions, the cafe and restaurant scene and well the whales as they migrate along the shoreline, because you can easily see them from your car, (not the driver of course, for they are watching the road!) as you drive along the coast road hugging the escarpment between Ballina and Lennox Head. You can of course, park and watch in amazement and these wonderful migratory creatures who put on such a fantastic display.

More on TV

The Maze at Alstonville, one of our members was the ‘STAR ATTRACTION” last night on  Channel 9’s Australia’s Perfect Couple

Watch Gemma attempt to direct Raf through the maze.

And even more TV news

Anna Niblic Heggie’s TV series ‘ Arts Masterclass’ has just finished it’s Brisbane TV season and will soon be run on Melbourne television. For those that cannot see it, Anna is running an innovative weekend workshop called

Yoga Arts Fusion

This is a great way to experience the benefits of yoga and the creative aspects of drawing and painting with guided instruction from a professional. This workshop has the added bonus of working some of the time with a live model and also the fun of using store mannequins in the process. A truly exceptional workshop!

Visit www.niblic.com  for more on Anna and this workshop

Remember be part of this region’s promotional campaign. Forward this newsletter using the link at the bottom or join Tourism Ballina so that you may benefit  from our promotional activities.

See our Ballina Postcard Blog for some of the comments and why not add your own support or comment there.

Do you have something to say about our wonderful region?

Send your comments to Dave Secretary Tourism Ballina or post them on our POSTCARD BLOG www.tourismballina.com.au/postcards

NEW and EXISTING MEMBERS

Join Now for Membership till July 2010.

Cheers

 Dave Heggie
Secretary Tourism Ballina

When I look out my Window …

I know my last newsletter was about the weather, but seems this one will start off that way as well.

While the Ballina coast and Hinterland seemed to have a very wet weekend, with some road closures  the storms moved quickly away. Unfortunately they out stayed their welcome in the mid north coast with thousands stranded in and around that area. Let’s hope the rain goes out to sea and that region can start mopping up.

Website Visitors

Tourism Ballina’s promotional campaign seems to be continuing to work with again a massive number of visitors to our websites during March. A new website for the villages hinterland is underway and if you have any material that you think might suit contact Dave Secretary Tourism Ballina.

TV Campaign

We are well into planning out next television campaign but need your help. As you are aware, we have generally funded this campaign from members’ funds .

The last promotion has just finished running in Toowoomba and Tamworth with the help of some funding from Ballina Shire Council which we matched on a dollar for dollar basis.

Our next promotion is planned leading up to the next school holiday break and we are asking you to help with this promotion. We will match what you donate on a dollar for dollar basis and want to again broadcast into Toowoomba and Tamworth. As well we want to bring the campaign back into the tweed/Ballina/Grafton/Tenterfield region to help boost local knowledge of what this marvellous region has to offer. Contact Dave Secretary Tourism Ballina. if you would like to help us.

Lennox Head Chamber Breakfast.

Following on from a presentation at the Alstonville Wollongbar Chamber, Tourism Ballina are the guest speakers and presenters at the Lennox Business with Breakfast on Wednesday April 8th Lennox Surf Club @ 7am sharp. If you want to see and hear what we have been doing with helping to promote our region, contact info@lennoxchamber.com.au and book your seat.

We hope to be presenting to the Ballina Chamber over the next few months.

Earth Hour

Lennox Head led the charge in this region during earth hour with the highest drop in electricity used last Saturday night. The coastal village took out the prize for saving the most energy during Earth Hour, a global event designed to raise awareness about energy consumption and climate change. Country Energy measured energy consumption at its substations across the Northern Rivers, which revealed Lennox Head residents cut energy consumption by 7.7 per cent, compared with the previous Saturday night. Well done.

Take a beak

Have you some unused leave?
Tourism Australia is targeting "leave stockpilers" with a $1.6 million campaign, urging them to go on holiday, encouraging people to take their 123 million days of accrued leave, if not for their own health then for the economy. The Government estimates there is $33 billion in accumulated leave.

This campaign signals a shift by tourism officials to prop up the $65 billion domestic tourism sector as the number of overseas visitors slows. This year international visitors will fall 4.1 per cent, or about 219,000, to 5.3 million, Tourism Australia predicts.

Local accommodation places have told us that the next school holidays is well booked, but there are still some vacancies, so why not take them up and enjoy some time away from work and home down here at the Ballina Coast and Hinterland.

Virgin Blue is getting in on the act and advertising nationwide to come to Ballina Byron.

Let’s hope they do!

This is no April Joke

Digital and Virtual Environments, a website and digital design business based in Lennox is offering a 10% discount for members of Tourism Ballina this month of April. So with Tourism Ballina membership prices at half price at present, this is an opportunity too good to miss. see www.dave.net.au or phone 66192470.

Another of our members Local Artist TV Arts Presenter, and Experienced Tutor, Anna Niblic Heggie, will soon be running Art Workshops in the local area.

Anna has been running workshops in Brisbane for Brisbane Arts Workshops and other Artists’ Groups. She has a strong exhibition background in Drawing, Painting and Photographic Media as well as being a highly skilled and experienced teacher.

The upcoming workshop in May will be a sketching and Painting Workshop featuring “Working from the Landscape ‘en plein air’ (outdoors) and in ‘l’atelier’ (studio)”.

This workshop will cater for the beginner to advanced student.
See Anna’s website  for more information.
Contact Anna: niblic@niblic.com or ring 0266192470 for more details.

The Gold Coast airport might have a sign that says Go Right and Visit the North Coast.

But according to Jeanette Mangleson-Henry, a long time resident of this region in this following poem that she penned after returning on a flight from Sydney.

Go Left Mate

G’day mate where’re ya going?
Where’re ya flying today?
I told him I’m checking out Byron,
My first trip north to the Bay.
Next thing we’re lined up together.
Me and my mate I just met.
We seemed like birds of a feather.
As we boarded our Virgin jet,
He said he was off to Ballina,
Ballina by the sea
And the more he talked about Ballina,
The better it sounded to me.
His town has a river and beaches,
And the wharf in the town is quite new.
The motels and camp sites are spotless,
Sounds great for my fussy crew.
Even luxury five-star apartments,
That the top-end highfliers pursue.
So when we arrived at the airport,
At Ballina not Byron by gee!
I decided to see my mate’s hometown.
This place where he lives by the sea.
I avoided the Byron Bay Signage
Rushed straight outside and was free.
And instead of ‘turn right at the highway,
Turned left like my mate, lucky me!
‘Cause it’s wrong to be taking a right turn,
When Ballina’s minutes away.
Go left mate: he was right mate.
I enjoyed the best place to stay.

(PS Still no effective signage to Ballina from the airport.)

Remember be part of this region’s promotional campaign. Forward this newsletter using the link at the bottom or join Tourism Ballina so that you may benefit  from our promotional activities.

See our Ballina Postcard Blog for some of the comments and why not add your own support or comment there.

Do you have something to say about our wonderful region?

Send your comments to Dave Secretary Tourism Ballina or post them on our POSTCARD BLOG www.tourismballina.com.au/postcards

And Remember,

Half Price Membership

for the rest of this financial year.

Cheers

 Dave Heggie
Secretary Tourism Ballina

Summer is Gone … Summer is Back

Wow, the weather is absolutely fantastic.

Skies are blue.

Seas are green … yes actually emerald green.

Ocean is warm and great surf.

Lake is fantastic to swim in.

Hinterland is looking fabulous and the sky is so clear that the views seem endless.

Yep,

Ballina does take your breath away!.

Seems I am not the only one, hope you were able to read the excellent article by Elizabeth Meryment in The Destination Australia section  of the Weekend Australian a few weeks ago. She wrote about the simple family pleasures of Northern NSW’s Lennox Head.

Her family’s experiences made great reading, even though she chanced upon a partially wet stay, she was able to find lots of thing to do in this great location. She even cited Tourism Ballina’s website as a place of reference. We are at present undergoing negotiations for reprint rights for our website.

Contact Dave if you missed it for a sneak preview, Secretary Tourism Ballina

Tourism Ballina was really pleased again with the response to our multi-faceted Ballina Coast and Hinterland Promotional Campaign of the Television Advertisement, the websites and this Ballina Postcard Newsletter.

The TV campaign has just finished running in Toowoomba and Tamworth. Visitors to the website were over 8000 last month and it looks like we will beat that this month. That means a quadruple increase since February last year. What an achievement!

We are planning our next TV advertising campaign, again to these regions and as well to our own region, from Tweed to Tenterfield and down to Grafton to try to increase the locals’  knowledge of this area so that they can help their visitors with information.

Statistics show that a high percentage of visitors to the Ballina Coast and Hinterland stay with family and friends so we feel it is important that ‘LOCAL KNOWLEDGE" is really high on the places to see and things to do in this region and surrounds.

Big Expansion News for Zoom Coffee.

Regular readers of this newsletter will be aware that the local Zoom 100% organic is my brew of taste, but things may change.

Zoom Coffee purchases Coffee Nirvana.
 
Zoom Coffee Lennox Head has purchased the business and assets of Coffee Nirvana and the Lattetude brand from the founding owners.

Founded in Byron Bay in 2004, Coffee Nirvana roasts, grinds, packs and sells coffee and provides coffee equipment and services to Cafes and retail outlets and wholesale customers across Australia.

The name will change to Zoom Coffee, but the Coffee Nirvana and Lattetude brand will stay.

Zoom Coffee group managing director Mark Nancarrow said,  "The acquisition will expand our existing brands and coffee business and presents an opportunity to leverage our existing customer relationships to gain greater insight and greater service capability into the important restaurant and café sector”,

Zoom Coffee said it will be moving into the existing roast house and packing facility. Dale Potts the firm’s co-founder has agreed to be Zoom Coffee’s Ambassador and will be available for the company’s promotional activities, coffee blend development of the Lattetude brand and to provide industry insight to Zoom Coffee.

Zoom Coffee will be moving into the new production facility in Ballina, NSW. The facility will incorporate a Coffee equipment showroom, espresso training centre, roasting and packaging plant workshop.

The completion of this move will allow Zoom Coffee to continue its expansion into other States and into areas such as premium grocery lines.

Zoom Coffee has also recognised the trend towards FAIRTRADE Coffee and Rainforest Alliance and has already established itself as a leader in the supply of both coffee products to the wholesale market.

And another of our members is actually on TV tonight …

Domestic Blitz (channel nine Sunday night 6.30) recently filmed part of an episode here at the Amaze ‘n’ Place.  The family had a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party and went into the maze to search for gifts

Remember be part of this region’s promotional campaign. Forward this newsletter using the link at the bottom or join Tourism Ballina so that you may benefit  from our promotional activities.

See our Ballina Postcard Blog for some of the comments and why not add your own support or comment there.

Do you have something to say about our wonderful region?

Send your comments to Dave Secretary Tourism Ballina or post them on our POSTCARD BLOG www.tourismballina.com.au/postcards

And Remember,

Half Price Membership for

the rest of this financial year.

Speaking of membership, who is/are Sapphire Ocean Pty Ltd??

You are a member but we cannot place a business with that name. Please contact Dave Secretary Tourism Ballina

And for MEMBERS ONLY and those thinking of joining.

Every four months or so, Tourism Ballina hold a Social/Networking evening for its Members and invited guests.

As we don’t charge people to attend, we are looking for a free venue, where we can provide a few platters of nibbles and an honest/donation bar.

We also invite guest speakers to address the Group in their area of expertise. This may help in developing new ideas or partnerships for Members. The venue gets the opportunity to promote their business and their logo on our ‘Call to Action’ Website for the month.

Although the numbers of guests are usually around 30, the invitation and promotion through our Newsletter now reaches over 800 businesses.

To receive this great advertising opportunity you must be a Member of Tourism Ballina.
   
If you’re interested please phone Gary on 0407 516 669 or email info@trikebiketours.com.au

Cheers

Dave Heggie
Secretary Tourism Ballina

Three-Pronged Advertising Campaign

Tourism Ballina is really pleased with the response to our multi-faceted Ballina Coast and Hinterland Promotional Campaign of the Television Advertisement, the websites and this Ballina Postcard Newsletter.

All of these are ‘epromotions’ as we believe this is our best and most economical way of reaching thousands of potential visitors to the region. And it is paying off with many positive responses and enquires for future visits and holidays.

The TV campaign is running this month in Toowoomba and Tamworth. Visitors to the website were over 7000 last month and it looks like we will beat that this month.

Victorian Bushfire Appeal

One of Tourism Ballina’s members,  Amaze ‘n’ Place, at Alstonville, is holding a Charity Maze Day and Dog Contest on Sunday, February 22nd to raise money for the Victorian RSPCA.

All proceeds from maze entry on Sunday plus entry fees for the dog contest, will go towards the care of animals injured in the bushfires.

“We saw animals on the news with burns and other injuries and the carers were obviously overwhelmed with the work and the shortage of feed and medications,” Lisa Dillon, proprietor of Amaze ‘n’ Place, said. “Many groups are collecting for the people so we decided we’d also help the animals”.

The maze is open from 10am and an all-day pass will be $8 per person or $36 for a family of up to five. The Dog Contest will start at 2pm with a $5 entry for each category. These categories will be “Best Dressed Dog & Owner”, “Best Behaved Dog”, “Best Dog & Owner Natural Look-alikes” and “Waggiest Dog”.

Please bring your friendly dog on a lead. Children will need to be accompanied by an adult.

For more information please phone 6628 7518

As Well…

Ballina Shire Council has been busy helping to organise the Northern Rivers Victorian Bushfire Fundraising Concert to be held on Sunday 1 March from 12 noon to 6 pm at the Ballina Amphitheatre.

The concert will feature acts such as Fossil Rock, Jessee, Ocker Rock, Glen Massey, Rochelle Lees Band, Dr Bob, Sophistication, and many more.

Other activities have been organised for the afternoon and include rides for the kids and face painting.

There will also be auctions held throughout the afternoon for plasma TV’s and a signed Titans football jumper.

Come along, enjoy the afternoon and help raise necessary funds for the Bushfire appeal. Bring a picnic lunch, or take in the delights of the Lions Club BBQ.

When: Sunday 1 March 2009
Where: Missingham Park Amphitheatre, Ballina
Time: 12noon to 6pm

Hoping to turn the tide

Gold Coast visitors lured to NSW North Coast

Visitors to Gold Coast Airport will be encouraged to travel to the NSW North Coast thanks to a new billboard promoting the region. The campaign marks the start of a new, ongoing partnership between the airport and Tourism NSW designed to drive international visitors to the NSW North Coast.

The billboard will be positioned at Gold Coast Airport until the end of March. It features stunning views of Mount Warning and the surrounding hinterland with the line The only high rises you’ll see. Turn right for the NSW North Coast. Gold Coast Airport is attracting a number of international carriers from New Zealand, Japan and South East Asia with airlines including Jetstar International and Air Asia X.

Hopefully during their stay or the next time these Gold Coaster Tourists visit they might venture down the coast as far as Ballina (less than an hour!)

Now if we could only do the same at Ballina Airport to redirect the Byron visitors to stay and look at the fantastic things that the Ballina Coast and Hinterland has to offer.

Maybe those minibuses could drive through downtown Ballina, along the magnificent coast road, through Lennox and then onto Byron … and maybe on the way back along the escarpment to catch some of those mighty rural and ocean vistas.

Ah the possibilities …

Remember be part of this region’s promotional campaign. Forward this newsletter using the link at the bottom or join Tourism Ballina s that you as well as the entire region might benefit from our promotional activities.

And Remember, 

Half Price Membership

for the rest of this financial year.

Cheers

 Dave Heggie
Secretary Tourism Ballina

‘Thinking Ahead?    We Are!’

 It won’t be long before the Easter Holidays will be upon us and we need to get that message out there once more:

Ballina…..it will take your breath away!

Commencing from Sunday 8th February and running for four weeks, 110 TV Advertising slots will be broadcast into the Tamworth and Toowoomba Regions. The quantum leap in our Website visitation following a similar campaign in November 2008 provides sufficient evidence that this is a successful product and money well spent in encouraging people to Ballina Coast & Hinterland.

As well Tourism Ballina is assisting employment growth for the tourism industry in our region.
We are working with two of our members to provide future employment opportunities for our youth (and others) in a growing industry that is at present the biggest employer for the Ballina Coast and Hinterland..

Alstonville Ballina Community College is currently taking enrolments in Certificate III in Hospitality (Operations) .  ABCC introduced this course in to their program this year and it will begin soon. This course offers students a nationally recognised qualification with employment options across the hospitality industry.
Find out more …

Another of our members North Coast Institute of TAFE at Wollongbar runs courses suitable for the tourism industry, Commercial Cookery and Diplomas in Hospitality and Tourism Management.
Read more about these courses …

We at Tourism Ballina are also aware of the excellent prospects that exist for educational tourism with opportunities for students from outside of the region studying here.

A Tourism Networking Opportunity

A remarkable journey in business with John Anderson featuring the founder of Contiki Tours, John Anderson for the first time to the Northern Rivers!

John’s presentation will cover his successes and failures as well as offer valuable insights into Contiki’s initial and continued success that are truly enlightening, entertaining and jam packed full of personal and business messages.
Read more here … 

Last week’s postcard on the effort to rid the shire of single use plastic bags certainly has hit the spot with other media following up with more stories and lots of website activity and emails for us. See our Ballina Postcard Blog for some of the comments and why not add your own support or comment there.

What do you think of this campaign or do you have something to say about our wonderful region?

Send your comments to Dave Secretary Tourism Ballina or post them on our POSTCARD BLOG www.tourismballina.com.au/postcards

And Remember,

Half Price Membership

for the rest of this financial year.

Cheers

 Dave Heggie
Secretary Tourism Ballina

PLANS TO CREATE A GREEN SHIRE.

Well we are part of the ‘GREEN CAULDRON’, so we at Tourism Ballina Inc are fully behind the proposal to rid the shire of single use plastic bags.

Not really a tourism thing?

Well we believe it is!  Plastic bags are an eyesore when discarded and a danger to the marine, aerial and terrestrial animals that attract tourists to our region.

A turtle rescued by Seabird Rescue with some plastic that it believed was a jelly fishPlastic bags wash into our waterways and get mistaken for jellyfish and seaweed. This often results in a slow and painful death for seabirds and marine animals, including dolphins and turtles. This turtle rescued by Seabird Rescue with some plastic that the turtle believed was a jelly fish.
Luckily it was found and the bag removed. The turtle was later released unharmed.
 
Please support the campaign to replace the single use plastic bag with an alternative renewable one. When you visit our Beautiful Shire, please remember to take your reusable bags with you.

The environment and the community of Ballina thank you in advance.
 
One suggestion is a locally made reusable bag that is made from material that would otherwise have been thrown out.

At left is a picture of Cr Jeff Johnson with some members  of the Ballina CWA (Country Women’s Association) using Ballina CWA (Country Women’s Association)off cuts donated by a local curtain manufacturer are being made into reusable bags as part of the strategy to reduce the amount of plastic bags being used in the Ballina Shire.

The aim is to become a plastic bag free Shire. The first focus of attention is Lennox Head.

Tourism Ballina would also like to publicly thank the group of early morning beach walkers who regularly clean up the beach during their morning constitutional collecting bags and other pieces of plastic and rubbish that has been washed up during the evening high tide.

Why not give them a hand and pick up any plastic you see and dispose of it correctly.
 
We urge all local businesses to get behind the initiative to rid Ballina of the throw away plastic bag. Pictured at right is a finished reusable bag made by the group.

A small behavioural change could lead to significant environmental benefits, including reduced litter, carbon emissions, and a reduction in the number of animals and marine life that die do the ingestion of plastic bags.

Ballina has 3 endangered species of turtles that inhabit the river and coastal areas. Plastic bags often end up blowing or flowing (through the stormwater system) into our waterways injuring and killing endangered marine life.
 
There are alternatives to the throw away plastic bag and it would be great if local businesses could be proactive and provide their customers with an alternative at a small cost to the consumer.

Everyone has reusable bags; it’s just a matter of remembering to take them with them when they go shopping. How many times have you left them in the boot of your car and only remembered them while waiting at the checkout?

Why not put,

‘Remember the reusable bags’

as the first item on your shopping list to help jog your memory as you are leaving your car.

Perhaps if retailers start charging a small fee for a reusable bag, the only carry item available, then consumers will remember to bring their own.

What do you think of this campaign? Send your comments to Dave Secretary Tourism Ballina or post them on our POSTCARD BLOG www.tourismballina.com.au/postcards

And Remember,

Half Price Membership

for the rest of this financial year.

Cheers

 Dave Heggie
Secretary Tourism Ballina