Richmond Valley Notes

with Therese Schier

Angry seniors

Members of the Casino Senior Citizen's Association (l-r) Jack Hanley, Mavis Sweeney, president Heather Quinn and Melva Coghlan. The association is annoyed that their building has been included in the sale of the Casino Council Chambers and that council has still not told them where they will be moved.

Nearly three months after the surprise announcement that the Casino Senior Citizen's Association Centre is being sold along with the Casino Council Chambers, members still haven't been told where their new home will be.

President Heather Quinn said members are also angry Richmond Valley Council didn't tell them about the sale.

'We read about it in The Echo!' she said.

In January Council announced the Senior Citizens building was included in the sale along with the Red Cross tearooms, op-shop and public toilets, but they haven't been told where to move.

'We've been told nothing - only that Council will look after us,' Mrs Quinn said. 'Council has said they will lease back our building for up to three years. It might be two years, it might be two weeks - who knows? It depends on the new owner. No doubt he'll get it when he wants it. There should have been consultation. This is our building. It was built for us.'

General manager Brian Wilkinson said contracts have been exchanged with the buyer, an investment company which plans to convert the chamber building into a Medispa day surgery, and full details of the sale would be revealed in early to mid April.

Aerodrome nursing home

Richmond Valley mayor Charlie Cox believes a $30 million nursing home development at Evans Head will get the go ahead on land at the Evans Head memorial aerodrome.

A public meeting was held in Evans Head last week, where a consultant and a representative from the NSW Heritage Office met with members of the Evans Head memorial aerodrome committee and the public to discuss a plan of management for the heritage-listed World War II airport. Council cannot sell the land to the developers, the Ballina Ex-Services Home, until a plan of management has been developed.

'A vote taken at the end of the public meeting was overwhelmingly in favour of the heritage aspect of the aerodrome and the retirement home co-existing,' he said. 'There's every chance the Ballina Ex-Services Home will be able to proceed on this site.'

However, Cr Cox said no decision would be made until the plan of management was completed and displayed for public comment.

Evans Head aerodrome committee president Dr Richard Gates said while the committee had no problem with the establishment of a nursing home, the committee was still opposed to the present site. Under the current plan of management Dr Gates says the main runway will be shortened by around 300 metres, making it impossible for larger warplanes to land.

'The loss of the 300 metres of runway will destroy the aviation future of Evans Head,' he said. 'We won't be able to get many of the big aircraft in here anymore, which means events such as the Great Eastern Fly In will be lost. This is unacceptable.'

The plan of management is expected to go on public display at the end of this month.

Level 2 water restrictions

Due to continuing dry conditions and the low flow of the Richmond River, Level 2 water restrictions have been re-introduced for Casino and Kyogle.

Sprinklers and fixed hoses (including soaker hoses) are totally banned. Hand held hoses may be used for 2 hours per day and micro-sprays for 15 minutes per day outside the hours of 8am and 4pm on alternate days. For more information phone Richmond Valley Council on 6660 0300 or Kyogle Council on 6632 2228.