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Subscriber only NRMA data revealed that patrols attended more than 40,000 breakdowns across the Northern Rivers in 2020, with battery problems continue to dominate breakdowns across NSW. Of 40,634 breakdowns attended by NRMA patrols in the last 12 months, 17,873 or 43 per cent were related to battery failure, according to new data released by the NRMA. 3373 battery-related breakdowns were reported in Ballina Shire, 4452 in Byron Shire, 407 in Kyogle, 2561 in Lismore LGA, 957 in Richmond Valley and 6123 in the Tweed. This corresponds to state-level data, where analysis of 848,650 breakdowns from March 2020 to February 2021 found that batteries dominated the reasons for calling an NRMA patrol on the side of the road across NSW, with 46 per cent of the calls statewide.
The full statement by Widjabul Wia-bal traditional custodian reads: We, Custodians of Widjabul Wia-bal lands of the Bundjalung Nation, and neighbouring tribes, want you to know that the area to be affected by the proposed Dunoon Dam is significant to us, to our people. We need to protect this land. It is important to our ancestors and for our future generations to be able to connect to our ancestors and traditions. This land holds our relationship with our living heritage and culture. For thousands of generations we have lived on this land and protected it while it protected and fed us. To destroy this land is to destroy the environment which sustains us, the proposed dam would destroy the learning grounds for future generations.
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Dominic âDomâ Gray was a labourer for most his working life, but due to injuries that had accumulated over time, he could no longer work in this field and became unemployed.
Mr Gray approached Centrelink for help and was placed onto a Disability Support Pension (DSP).
âDespite my injury, I was keen to get back into the workforce â I didnât want the DSP to be my way of income,â he said.
âI canât just sit around, I have to be doing something and Iâd rather be out there âmaking the breadâ, so to speak. Plus, Iâve just recently become a father and would love to be a good role model for my son.â