Richmond Valley Notes

with Therese Schier

Congratulations to the Casino Visitor Information Centre and Platypus Gallery, which both received a Rod Murdoch award this week for contributions to tourism.

Life members of Casino Golf Club, 81-year-old Patricia Macdonald and 92-year-old Clive Pinkerton, cutting the cake to celebrate Casino Golf Club's centenary. More than 200 people helped celebrate the milestone at a special dinner in Casino on Saturday night.

Tourism Awards

Showing off the NSW Council of Tourist Associations awards presented recently are Casino Visitor Information Centre acting coordinator Nadine Smith and long-term volunteer Dot Nardi (pictured left).

The awards were presented at the recent Local Government and Shires Association conference in Forbes. Three cheers to Nadine and the tireless team of committed volunteers on a job well done!

Sewerage subsidy sunk

Richmond Valley Council has missed out on a $4 million subsidy from the State Government towards the $20 million cost of upgrading the Evans Head sewerage treatment plant.

Mayor Charlie Cox laid the blame for the subsidy refusal on delays in reaching an agreement on wet weather release options. He said members of Council committees and representatives from the Department of Energy and Conservation had simply taken too long to decide on an appropriate option.

"If there hadn't been a delay we would have been funded," he said.

Councillor Col Sullivan said he believed the government was pulling out of funding sewerage schemes altogether, a move general manager Brian Wilkinson said could have major impacts for local councils.

"If there's a reduction in water and sewerage schemes the cost will fall back on local government and their communities," Mr Wilkinson said. "We will be pursuing further representation to ensure the subsidy is available for both the Evans Head project and projects across the Richmond Valley including Broadwater, Coraki, and Casino."

Mr Wilkinson said although council is ready to proceed with the tender process for the upgrade they would need to assess what council can fund at this stage and may have to change the order in which they complete the upgrade.

Mid Richmond Residents Village

Coraki residents who turned up in force to this week's Council meeting expecting a decision on the future of the Mid Richmond Residents Village will have to return next month after Council delayed the decision.

The Council postponed the decision until next month so it can meet with the current management committee to clear up confusion over the village's financial status.

Meanwhile, the Department of Fair Trading, alerted by the publicity surrounding the village, has advised the committee that they are not entitled to use the word "retirement" in their name.

As a result the committee has changed the name to the Mid Richmond Residents Village. Isn't bureaucracy wonderful!