Richmond Valley Notes

with Therese Schier

Anger over sewerage rate hike

Despite receiving petitions with more than 900 signatures protesting against the proposed sewerage rate rise, Richmond Valley Council has decided to slug ratepayers $700 in annual sewerage rates.

In a long and emotional debate at Tuesday's Council meeting, many councillors expressed their displeasure at the decision but still voted 7/2 for the rise (Crs Jeffery and Thomas against).

Councillors who spoke in favour of the rise - which is $282 more per annum - said an increase was necessary to fund an expected $66 million of capital works and maintenance costs for sewerage projects throughout the valley over the next 20 years.

General manager Brian Wilkinson told the meeting that the NSW Minister for Energy and Utilities had told a council delegation that all councils had to lift sewerage rates to a minimum $600. Some councillors felt this should be the limit of any rise, however, Crs Sullivan and Mustow believed Council had to go further.

"I know it's going to cause hardship but I believe we've got to do this otherwise this total Council area is going to go backwards," Cr Sullivan said.

Cr Mustow said that whilst he gets "no joy out of putting rates up" he claimed, "We need to show the Minister we're charging the community to the maximum of what they can afford to pay."

Mayor Charlie Cox said he understood the decision would cause many ratepayers financial hardship but said everyone, including councillors, would have to pay more.

"I can understand the emotion out there and the troubles people will have in paying," he said. "I'm a ratepayer on a fixed income and I share with them, but as Mayor I have to take leadership decisions. I'm not going to leave a legacy for someone else to fix up."

Cr Cox laid the blame for a lack of funding at the feet of both state and federal governments.

"The standards are set by government, yet there's no definite assurance that they are going to help you fund it," he said. "Why aren't we getting our reasonable share of the GST funding? Why should we be subsidising booming states like Western Australia and Queensland?"

Casino residents Pam Brayley, David Hoffman and Glenys Courte told The Echo after the meeting that they are disgusted with the rise and say they will now look at forming a Casino Ratepayer's Association.

"They've just completely ruined pensioner's lives," Mrs Brayley said. "It's totally impossible for pensioners to pay that money."

In adopting the 2005/6 Management Plan Council also voted to increase general rates by 3.5 per cent - the maximum allowable under the rate pegging limit.

The sewerage and general rate rises will come into effect at the end of this financial year.

Ballina Ex-Services Home closer

In contrast to the protest against the sewerage rate rise, Richmond Valley Council received overwhelming support from Evans Head residents for a $30 million nursing home, which is now closer to becoming reality following the adoption of a Plan of Management for the Heritage-listed Evans Head aerodrome.

The plan gives the green light for land adjacent to the aerodrome to be sold to the Ballina Ex-Services Home, although the Plan of Management must first be accepted by the NSW Heritage Office. The plan has now been fast-tracked to the Heritage Office for approval.

If the Heritage Office does accept the plan, Council will sell the land and invite the Ballina Ex-Services Home to submit a DA for the development.

Mayor Charlie Cox said there had been a "mini tsunami" of submissions in favour of the nursing home following public display of the Plan of Management.

"People are right behind this," he said. "There's room for co-existence for the use of the aerodrome and the Ex-Services Home. I think we've made a huge contribution to Evans Head, not only economically but socially as well."

Cr Cox accused members of the Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome Committee of acting in their own interest in their vocal opposition of the plan.

"They are looking after their own selfish interests and not looking at the whole community," he said.

It is believed the Heritage Office will hand down its decision on the Plan of Management within the next month.

Thanks a bunch for saving our service

Toy Library president Jo Long (third from left) with volunteers (rear l-r) Sue Vallis and her son Llewie, Fiona Dixon and Angelique Walsh, with (front) Kerrie Pimm and her daughter Elena, and Lisa King.

Thanks to a group of local women, the Lismore Toy Library has been saved from closure.

In April president Jo Long feared she may have to close the 20-year-old service due to a lack of volunteers, however, a number of women came on board to share the workload and keep the service alive.

To show her appreciation, Jo presented some of the hard-working team with a bunch of flowers at the Toy Library's AGM on Tuesday.

"When I went to Lavish Flowers to order them, the florist thought it was such a great story that she donated the flowers," Jo said. "Of course we are still looking for more volunteers, but we wanted to acknowledge the tireless effort these women have made. I'm so thrilled we don't have to close - it's fantastic for local families that we can still offer this valuable resource."

The Lismore Toy Library has an extensive range of toys for children 0-12 years that parents and community groups can borrow for an annual membership fee, saving precious dollars on expensive toys. The service is open Tuesdays and Saturdays from 9.30 to 11.30am (during school term) on the ground floor of the Lismore Library. For more information phone Jo on 6689 5329.

Country Women's Association members Irene O'Neill (left) and Anne Kotz say they and dozens of other CWA members made and sold "thousands of sandwiches" during the three-day Primex agricultural and trade exhibition in Casino last week. Primex marketing manager Bruce Wright said early figures indicated that close to 50,000 people went through the gates over the three days and 850 companies took part.