Richmond Valley Notes

with Therese Schier

Still fighting for turf

Richmond Valley mayor Charlie Cox said he remains optimistic about retaining the southern end of the council area despite the NSW Government's announcement on Wednesday that its plan to amalgamate four councils to form a new Clarence Valley 'super council' had been approved. The move will see land north and south of Evans Head including Goanna Headland, the Evans Head bombing range, the Gap Road to Jerusalem Creek and parts of New Italy become parts of the new Clarence Valley council area.

It comes a week after Cr Cox and a number of other Richmond Valley residents argued against the loss of the areas to the new council at a Boundaries Commission hearing last week.

"We're not discouraged," Cr Cox said. "The proclamation allows one month for Richmond Valley council to negotiate with the new Clarence Valley council over the boundary changes.

"We'll be having discussion with Clarence Valley to retain those areas we believe have a community of interest in remaining in Richmond Valley, in line with our submission to the Boundaries Commission hearing. We are hoping to reach agreement on the anomalies that exist."

Search for start of fire

The coronial inquest into fires at Ewingar in October 2002 heard conflicting evidence from forestry, rural fire brigade personnel and local residents as to the cause of the fire.

The inquest is being held in Casino this week to try and find the cause of the fires, which destroyed 10 homes and caused more than $1.2 million in property damage

Coroner Carl Milovanovich warned local landowner Alan Draper that he did not have to answer questions that might incriminate him after evidence had been presented that suggested he may have started the fire.

Mr Draper had told the inquest that his earlier statement to police saying he had been in Brisbane on the day of the fire was wrong and that he often gets confused. But he denied that he had ever contemplated starting a back burn drip fire.

Ewingar fire captain Chris Beasley said he had rung the Casino forestry office twice at the end of September to express his a concerns about fires in the Ewingar State Forest, but did not follow up with further concerns.

"I didn't like to stick my nose in," he said. "Forestry knows what they're doing."

He also said that after reporting the urgent fire situation to the Clarence regional command he had rung his wife to ask her to ring around to ask local brigades for assistance.

In further evidence Rural Fire Service Clarence Zone Manager Brett Comber said a critical fire situation had developed around October 24 and that whilst resources were stretched a risk analysis was prepared on the evening of October 22 in anticipation of extreme fire weather conditions for the following day.

Mr Comber gave evidence that four additional tankers were at the Ewingar fires within three hours of receiving the request for help from the Ewingar brigade.

Woodburn CTC

The Woodburn community now has access to the latest information technology at the newly opened Woodburn Community Technology Centre (CTC).

Operating as an outreach of the Evans Head CTC, the Woodburn Centre is located in the renovated Ferryman's quarters on the riverbank and shares the space with Richmond Valley Council's Visitor Information service.

It has Internet and computer access, videoconferencing, equipment hire, and training for seniors, youth, business and tourists.

Manager Jessica Redwood said the Chamber of Commerce and the community has worked hard to make it all happen.

"They have turned the Ferryman's Cottage into a wonderful facility for the entire community from beginners to experienced users. Community support is essential so come and get involved today!" she said

The Centre is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday on the riverbank, Pacific Highway, Woodburn. Phone Jessica on 6682 6410 or 0412 614 368.

Council Nominees

Richmond Valley voters will have to choose between 18 candidates for the nine positions on Council when they go to the polls on March 27.

Crs Eileen Melling and Frank McKey are not seeking another term and will step down next month.

Three people will contest the mayoral race - current mayor Charlie Cox, former mayor Col Sullivan and Cr Robert Mustow.

The full list of candidates is: Charlie Cox, Col Sullivan, Sandra Humphrys, Don Harvey, Robert Mustow, Ray Jeffery, Norma Thomas, Jon Bell, Peter McClennan, Stephen Drake, Norma Wise, Neil Crouch, Lloyd Guy, Trevor Leslight, Terry Toohey, John Howard, and Ros Zemzevicius.

Please feel free to contact Therese with any Richmond Valley news, events, or story ideas, at or Ph: 6662 7735, or fax: 6662 2811.