 Council Comment
with Charlie Cox
Great youth
Last week's Casino Lions Club Youth of the Year dinner brought home once again the depth of talent we have among our young people. The night gave us an opportunity to listen to five of our finest Year 11 and 12 students from St Mary's and Casino High present their prepared speeches on a variety of topics.
The high level of their public speaking skills is an indication that our schools are producing young people who speak confidently, can give impromptu opinions and connect with an audience of adults.
Congratulations to Rosalie Holcombe, Daniel Maguire, Stephen Russell, Krista Toovey and Carina Wilkinson on their success so far in this annual promotion by the Lions Club.
New home
The opening of our new administration building is the culmination of two years of planning. It was a privilege for me to officially open the building in the presence of Mayors of neighbouring Councils, my fellow Councillors and representatives from so many community organisations.
Our new building has an inviting entry in keeping with our focus on customer service. With all indoor staff now under the one roof, many of the problems associated with fragmentation will have been overcome.
The new Council Chambers passed a big test two days later during a blackout in the town. When the former Richmond River Shire Council Chamber was used as the emergency services headquarters following our big January storm, both the emergency generator and available phone lines were found to be inadequate. Thanks to good planning, the new emergency headquarters (Council Chamber) has plenty of phone lines and a generator that enabled the entire building to function during the Thursday blackout. In fact, only 50% of the generator output was required.
We are keen to show off our new headquarters and members of the public/community are invited to tour/inspect the building at the following times:
Monday, March 15, at 11am; Wednesday, March 17, at 11am; and Thursday, March 18, at 2pm.
Interested persons should attend the foyer of the Administration Building at the above times. Groups/organisations who wish to arrange visits (other than at the above times) should contact Council's administration officer, Lawrie Bonner, to make appropriate arrangements.
Events planning
The Events Planning Workshop conducted at the Coraki Conference Centre last Saturday was attended by 98 volunteers, not only from our own Council area, but also from places such as Lismore, Woodenbong and Grafton. The workshop was jointly funded by Richmond Valley Council and the Department of State and Regional Development. Valuable knowledge was gained and networks established among the many organisations that do so much to strengthen the Richmond Valley community.
Participants were warm in their praise of the lead-up work done by our Community Economic Development Coordinator and staff in putting together such a valuable program.
 Council Comment
with Merv King
Thanks for the privilege of leading
Lismore residents will go to the polls this month - and I would like to take the opportunity to thank the many residents who have become involved with local government issues over the last four years.
It has been a great privilege to be Mayor of Lismore - certainly not something I set out to be.
However, I have been truly thankful for the support I have received from fellow councillors and the general public.
This support has been a major factor in my decision to decide to run for Mayor at the election.
The current Council has achieved a lot, but there is more to be done.
In my view, the Council must concentrate more effort on sensible economic development, because it is through creating business opportunities and jobs that our residents can prosper.
I believe that great strides have been made by this Council in getting Lismore moving and it will be the responsibility of the next Council to maintain the momentum. Most of the decisions of this Council have gone through with little or no opposition and only a few matters have created division.
The vision and leadership of the late former mayor Bob Gates started the process and we have been able to complete a number of projects and begin planning others.
Council's new Ultra Violet Disinfection System at the East Lismore Sewage Treatment Plant will be opening shortly. That will mean cleaner water for the Wilsons river.
The planning process for the Goonellabah Recreation and Leisure Centre has been proceeding for some time and the first project team meeting was held last week. With the project team now meeting regularly the process will speed up.
Consultants are working on a Master Plan for the development of the old Lismore High School site as a cultural/commercial centre. The views of many local residents and groups were sought and we will await the results of those discussions with interest.
My support for the retention of the Casino-Murwillumbah railway link is paramount and only this week our local Councils' General Managers group has lent its support for improved public transport as part of the resource sharing agenda.
This may take the form of an integrated train and bus transport system across the six Council areas from Casino to Murwillumbah.
State Government has made changes to the voting system for the local elections. Candidates are being inundated with questions about how the system works, why teams have at least six candidates, how do preferences flow, and what value preferences have.
I believe the Electoral Commissioner, on behalf of State Government, should be explaining the changes. I can only suggest that voters should read carefully the instructions on the ballot papers to ensure that they cast a valid vote.
Best wishes to all Councillors, my thanks to all Council staff members for their hard work and support over the time of this Council and a special word of commendation to Councillors Diana Roberts and Ken Gallen who are not seeking re-election. Both have had long and distinguished careers and I wish them well in their retirement from local government.
 Council Comment
with Phil Silver
Maintaining the shire's heritage
Heritage matters have become increasingly important to people on the Plateau over recent years. I am pleased to say that Ballina Council has led by example.
The full restoration of the Old Tintenbar Council Chambers not only looks excellent, and reminds us of the fine Local Government history of the Plateau, but it also hosts three vibrant tenancies which add to the commerce of Alstonville and Wollongbar.
One of those tenancies is the Regional Arts Board called Arts Northern Rivers. It is funded by all of the councils of the Clarence, Richmond and Tweed with two full-time officers servicing arts development in the Region. It is an endorsement of the Plateau community that we were able to have the office located where it is.
Crawford House is also owned by Council and is being restored. It is no accident that the Daley Street reconstruction was extended into Wardell Road which greatly improved pedestrian access and creates a friendly new precinct incorporating Elizabeth Anne Brown Park and Crawford House.
The final result will be stunning and whilst the house will be under the care and control of the Plateau Historical Society, it will be available for community groups.
Council resolved at its January meeting to decline a request to heritage list the old Bank of NSW building in Main Street. Uppermost in the minds of Councillors was that the owners did not wish to have their building listed. Whilst we have a number of heritage listed buildings, including St. Bartholomew's, the old Post Office, Crawford House and the Federal Hotel, these properties had been listed with the owner's agreement and Council was not prepared to depart from this practice.
A Development Control Plan (DCP 6) still stands as the standard for the style of development that is to occur in the town. The recent St. Bartholomew's Church Hall and the Council approved renovations to the Federal Hotel were governed by the heritage standards in the DCP.
Plateau residents are reminded of the opening of the new park in Fawcett Street this Saturday. The river and the park belongs to all residents and there are too few activities that we share as a Shire community.
Activities start at 3.30pm so come along and enjoy our newest facility.
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