Richmond Valley Notes

with Therese Schier

Bungawalbin Catchment Management Group

The Bungawalbin Catchment Management Group (BCMG) is holding two important meetings next week.

The first will be held in Casino next Wednesday, May 26, at the Casino RSM Club from 7pm to discuss the future of catchment management planning in Bungawalbin.

Next Thursday, May 27, the groups' newly appointed Backswamp Extension Officer, Katrina Williams, is also holding a meeting to explain her role in assisting farmers improve grazing productivity in back swamp areas. This meeting will be held in the Coraki Youth Hall at 7pm. For information phone 6620 3903.

Picnic in the Vineyard

Flood Reserve Vineyard at Tatham is holding their sixth annual 'Picnic in the Vineyard' this Sunday, May 23. The day is open to all - simply bring along your own picnic, rug and chairs and settle back in the warm autumn sunshine to enjoy "a celebration of life, love, community and cultural diversity".

As well as lots of opportunities to try the latest vintage right from the cellar door there will also be live music, a BBQ, plus free tea, coffee and rainwater.

To get there head down the Evans Head/Coraki road and follow the sign into the vineyard anytime from 10am onwards. For more information phone Brian Mull on 6663 1205.

Books 'n' Beef

What better way to relax before the rigors of Beef Week than by having lunch and listening to local authors talk about their lives and writing?

The Beef 'n' Books lunch will be held next Tuesday, May 25, at the Windara Nursery restaurant from 12pm, featuring some of the North Coast's most prolific local history writers.

Helen Flower, Helen Trustum, Meg Robertson and Isabel Wilkinson have written more than 16 books between them, and a short talk from each author is sure to whet your appetite.

Helen Flower's book Battlers of the Bush - 1851-2002 was originally a family history book that was re-worked after dairy de-regulation to include a dairy and social history of the area.

Local historian Helen Trustum needs little introduction. Her eighth book, It's Show Time, which details the history of 16 agricultural shows from Grafton to the Tweed, is due out in October.

Meg Robertson's story In Sunshine and Shadows is an autobiography of her early years, describing her life at Mongogarie and Casino.

The final author, Isabel Wilkinson, has written six books on the history of Tabulam and district and is currently working on her seventh.

Tickets for the Beef 'n' Books lunch are $15 and bookings are essential. Phone 6662 3857.

Postponement

The country dancing family day mentioned in last week's Notes has been postponed due to unforeseen circumstances. Organiser Wilma Flannery promises the day will be held later this year and apologies for any inconvenience.

Council news

Casino Council Building

Discussions on details of a proposed purchase of the former Casino Council administration building were held in closed session at Tuesday's Council meeting. General manager Brian Wilkinson confirmed "interest has been expressed in the building" however, he would not elaborate "due to confidentiality".

Roads

The poor state of roads in the local area was high on Council's agenda. Director of Works, Mr Gary Murphy, reported that existing funds only allowed for the maintenance of the current bitumen sealed network and there would be no extension of this network until the existing situation is under control.

"We need to balance up the desire to seal unsealed roads and continue with ongoing necessary maintenance," Mr Murphy said. "There's no plan to seal any unsealed rural roads, because I don't think this council has the capacity to do it."

Rate hike meetings

Only 14 ratepayers turned up to a community meeting in Casino on Tuesday to hear the reasons for the proposed 13% rate rise. A 'certain paper' failed to publish the meeting notice and many people didn't know the meeting was on.

Council's finance manager Mr James Brickley dazzled all present by manipulating his spreadsheet to calculate the effects of the rate rise on individual ratepayers. He is only too pleased to do the same for anyone who missed the meeting. Phone Council on 6660 0300 and ask for the rates section.

Councillor fees increase

Councillors Mustow, Jeffery and McLennan voted against accepting a pay rise but will get one anyway.

On Tuesday night the majority of councillors voted to pay themselves more money, adopting a recommendation from the Local Government Remuneration Tribunal for a 3% increase in their payments from July 1, 2004. Cr Mustow was vehemently against the pay rise, saying "I can't support an increase when we are going to the community asking for a 13% rate increase."

Crs Sullivan and Humphrys argued that a councillor's job is demanding and "if we don't take it, we lose it."

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