Richmond Valley Notes

with Therese Schier

Water restrictions relaxed

Just when Richmond Valley and Kyogle councils drop the water restrictions back to Level 1, the hot weather has kicked in! General manager Brian Wilkinson said he is hopeful that residents will use water wisely.

"Things can go backwards very quickly," he said.

Level 1 restrictions are in place from today, December 2, and restrict sprinkler use to after 4pm and before 8am. Hand held hoses can be used at any time, preferably in the cooler hours. Bonalbo remains on Level 2 restrictions.

Carols in the Valley

Here's a rundown of local Christmas Carols.

Casino: Casino Lions Carols in the Park this Sunday, December 5, at Colley Park from 5pm. The evening will feature school groups, choirs and soloists Candice Gifford, Jackson Doohan, Kate Botfield, Sarah McLennan, Robyn Cooper and Deanne Gill. There's a free sausage sizzle between 5 and 6pm, ham raffles, face painting, glow sticks and of course Santa will pay a visit. There will also be a free Christmas Party next Tuesday, December 7, at the Oakes Community Centre from 4-6pm. There will be plenty of fun and entertainment for the whole family.

Coraki: Coraki Lions Club this Sunday, December 5, on the riverbank at 5.30pm. A BBQ tea will be available and Santa will drop in. Glow sticks will be on sale, and the LDS singers, and the St Joseph and Coraki primary schools will lead the carols.

Woodburn: Sunday, December 19, in Riverside Park commencing at 7pm. Santa will arrive in the SES flood boat at dusk with balloons and lollies for the kids. Carol singing will be shared by duo 'Carol and Josh' and St Joseph's and Woodburn primary schools. There'll be displays from Pam Bellingham's ballet group and Mick O'Keefe's Taekwondo group.

Evans Head: Christmas Eve at 6.30pm in the park next to the Riverside Kiosk. Santa will make a quick visit and the singing will be led by duo 'Martin and Marks'.

Casino plans for growth

Casino's popularity as a place to live is set to continue with predictions of a steady annual growth of 1.5 per cent and a population increase of 3000 by 2025.

To cope with this increase and to meet the expected demand for residential and industrial growth Richmond Valley Council has drawn up its draft Urban Land Release Strategy for Casino and put it out for public comment this week.

Council's environmental services director Ken Exley said that in the wake of seachangers, inland areas are now seeing the 'tree changers'.

"Retirees looking for a bit of land are cashing in their $800,000 home at the back of Ryde and buying a house of their dreams for $300,000 and investing the rest," he said.

Mayor Charlie Cox said the draft plan details possible land release areas to the north and west of Casino and will help Council plan for future residential and industrial development.

He said developments like the CMCA Casino Motorhome Village have already placed demands on the town's sewerage system, which will eventually need upgrading. He urged landholders and the community to have input to the plan which is on display at Council offices throughout December and January.

Residents prefer when to where for highway

Discussing the proposed Pacific Highway upgrade were (clockwise from left) environmental consultant Annette Ross, listening to Woodburn resident Jenny Kay and Evans Head residents Kirk and John Watterston, and David Parkinson, in Woodburn last week.

Concerned that it may take two decades before the Pacific Highway upgrade from Ballina to Woodburn is completed, resident Richard Nutt wants the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) to fix the old highway now.

Speaking last week at the RTA's community forum on the preferred upgrade route, Mr Nutt said the community is fed up with truck noise, traffic congestion and danger to pedestrians, and were more concerned when it would happen rather than worrying about the preferred route.

He urged the RTA to fix the problems in Woodburn now, saying the town could not wait 10 to 20 years for something to be done.

"Don't just put up a sign saying 'Please don't use your brakes buddy'," he said.

Mr Nutt told RTA representatives that the town wanted the route settled as soon as possible.

"That's why most people are here tonight," he said. "How can the town make plans for the future if there's no guaranteed time frame?"

RTA Pacific Highway general manager Bob Higgins could not give a commitment on the timeline, but said agreement on the preferred route, due by mid 2006, was a vital first step.

"The State Government has many other priorities [for highway upgrades], but by settling on a preferred route, you are positioning the highway for the upgrade," he said.

Woodburn Chamber of Commerce president Dick Crapp said the town was due to be bypassed by the upgrade 25 years ago.

"It's become very dangerous in town. The upgrade should go ahead as soon as possible," he said.

Mr Nutt thought 90 per cent of businesses would be better off thanks to a bypass, but local publican David McGeary wasn't so sure, believing his trade from passers-by would drop.

A community liaison group of people from Woodburn, Broadwater and Wardell has been formed to meet regularly with the RTA and planning consultants over an 18-month period. The first meeting will be held in December.

An information session on the proposed upgrade of the Pacific Highway between Iluka Road and Woodburn will be held on Tuesday, December 14, at Woodburn Memorial Hall from 7pm.

A lily by another name

Joshua Whitehead shows off the daylilly named after him to his sisters Stephanie and Nikki.

Fred Vaughan sold his daylily farm at New Italy earlier this year, but enjoyed meeting up again with an old friend at an open day held at the farm last week.

Joshua Whitehead was a frequent visitor and showed such an interest in the plants, Fred named a new flower 'Joshua Whitehead', after the lad.

"He was as proud as punch," Fred said.

"He came to the farm lots of times, and always asked intelligent questions. He's a well-mannered and well-spoken young boy and very good to deal with. Whatever he's going to do he's going to do well."

Fred and Joshua agree that daylilies are a gardener's delight, because they're drought resistant and continually flowering.

"If you kill a daylily you have to hand in your gardening licence," Fred said.