Council Comment

with Charlie Cox

What a great day

Woodburn treated our Richmond Valley community to an unforgettable Australia Day celebration last week. The jam-packed, non-stop programme, which included events for every age group on both land and water, brought home a clear message - it's great to be an Australian.

The largest crowd yet seen at a Richmond Valley Australia Day event was reminiscent of the Woodburn regatta days of last century when thousands gathered to witness scullers vying for World and Australian titles on that beautiful stretch of river.

The local organisers of the "Our River-Our Heritage" celebrations did a splendid job and worked tirelessly throughout the day to ensure everyone had a great time.

It was a day of the unusual - the only time we've seen a floating lawn locker make a successful river crossing.

"Big W" now has an additional meaning - "Big Woodburn".

Our congratulations to Bill Bartier, our Citizen of the Year. Bill has worked tirelessly and quietly for many years for our community and has made a significant contribution with his history book publications. The list of nominations was most impressive and we are indeed fortunate to have such a wealth of volunteers helping to make our community strong.

Recently Council distributed its Ratepayers and Residents Survey Form through the post. As part of the review of the programmes and services we offer, Council is seeking comment from members of the community. Your views on the current quality or standard of services are important to us and your responses will assist in future planning.

It is encouraging to see a number of completed forms have already been returned.

I thank you in anticipation of your involvement in this important opportunity to have your say.

Last week I chaired the initial meeting of the Richmond Valley Heritage Committee. The committee membership is drawn from all parts of the valley and will, over the next 18 months, be compiling a list of our heritage value items (both built and natural) and establishing a data bank of information on listed items.

In time, the Committee will be requesting input and knowledge from the broad community in this important project.

Council Comment

with Phil Silver

Council support for gallery vital

A significant result of the January Council meeting was the recognition of a Regional Art Gallery as Council's major capital works project for 2004/05.

Council has been able to achieve a number of major projects including Stages 1 and 2 of the riverfront and CBD upgrade and funding for an aged and community care centre within this term.

Funding for major capital assets is normally from loans (just as an individual would finance a home purchase from loans and savings). The project can only proceed once the budget process has identified the sources of funds to acquit the loan and this was the reason why the CBD upgrade had to be staged. It has been made possible as a result of land sales where the capital realised has been preserved in a reserve with only the income earned being used to acquit the loan. Such that once the loan has been repaid the income is still available to finance further projects.

The proportion of income used to service that debt has reduced from 13.9% in 1995 to 3.5% at June, 2003. So the trend is very healthy.

The January decision will allow the Ballina Arts & Craft Centre Committee to approach the State and Federal Governments for further grants of $500,000. Only when all of these funding sources are resolved and other details determined will the project proceed.

It is important that Council in making its capital expenditure decisions looks to areas that maximises the contribution from State and Federal Government.

It is a very exciting project that whilst it services the entire community, is particularly appreciated by the retiree sector.

There are a number of other very desirable capital works projects in the pipeline at the moment, including an arterial road, a marina and upgrade of Alstonville and Lennox Head main streets. The Regional Art Gallery project, which has been many years in gestation, was the next one ready to go.

A number of important landuse matters are coming to Council in future months, including issues that affect the sugar cane industry. I encourage all residents to try to attend Council Meetings.

Planning Committee Meetings commence at 5pm. on the second Thursday of each month, and Ordinary Meetings at 9am. on the fourth Thursday. At both meetings approximately the first hour is allocated to public access.

The Mayor of Ballina will write fortnightly for The Echo.