Richmond Valley Notes

with Therese Schier

Rate rise expected to hit business

Richmond Valley Council is desperately short of money and a month after council elections councillors voted unanimously (Cr Peter McLennan absent) to approve a 13% rate rise.

The report in the Draft Management Plan paints a gloomy picture of a council living beyond its means and turning into a purely maintenance based operation. Finance manager James Brickley's report noted that council's ability to carry out any new capital works is severely compromised.

With the general land rate revenue generating a meagre 16.6% of total operating revenue and capital works estimated to be almost $15 million, the situation is urgent. A 13% rate increase would realise $510,900 annually.

Other proposals in the Draft Management Plan include a uniform rating structure across the council area and the introduction of user pays for sewerage and water services - a decision that will see business hit with significant increases.

The Plan goes on display for public consultation this week. Councillors acknowledge they will have to get out and sell this one to the community.

Goori Family History

Casino Family History Group extends an invitation to Goori people interested in their family and local history to come to the rooms on Saturday, May 15, for a special open day.

Family History member Judy Boag said the rooms would be open between 9am and 3pm for Goori people who want to trace their family's history.

"We will make available all our Aboriginal family files and Indigenous specific research aids for visitors that day," Mrs Boag said. "We will have a number of friendly volunteers on hand to help people get started and to show them how they can use the facilities we have, right here in Casino, to trace their family history all over the country. We will be happy to do preliminary searches on the day, and show visitors how to use the equipment we have available such as microfiche readers and computers."

The Casino Family History rooms are now open on the third Sunday of each month for newcomers to find out what the group has to offer. For more information phone Myree Perry on 6662 4142.

Casino Art Centre Update

Casino Art Centre is still looking for more HSC artworks produced between 1993 -2003 for a six week exhibition beginning on Monday, May 17. They then hope to put the collection on tour for 12 months in NSW.

The centre is also holding a life-drawing workshop with Keith Cameron on Sunday, May 16. Places are limited to a maximum of 15 people. Centre coordinator Peter Gallo said the centre has studio space available for artists looking for a workspace that is very conducive to all art forms and they are always on the lookout for artists to exhibit their works. Phone Peter on 6662 7325 for further details.

Hatchery opens at McKees Hill

Sunnybrand Chickens McKees Hill Hatchery manager Peter Arthur shows off two new chicks at the opening of the $2.3 million expansion this week.

When Ron Lang and Sam Gilmore bought Sunrise Chickens 32 years ago they were just trying to buy themselves a job. It seems they got more than they bargained for and this week oversaw the opening of a $2.3 million expansion to their Sunnybrand Chickens McKees Hill Hatchery.

"We're pretty proud of that," managing director, Ron Lang, said. "We've got a good group of people behind us. The only way for us is up."

The expansion will create up to 10 new jobs, bringing the total number of employees across Sunnybrand's contract farms and chicken processing outlet at Byron Bay to 320.

The expansion was funded with a grant from the Federal Government's Sustainable Regions Program. The hatchery has state of the art machinery designed to ensure the eggs are hatched in a clean, healthy environment, producing 450,000 day-old chicks per week.

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