Richmond Valley Notes

with Therese Schier

Grey nomads baulk at sewer charges

Richmond Valley Council is refusing to issue the CMCA (Casino Village) with an operating licence for its mobile home village at Casino aerodrome until the developer agrees to pay more than $900,000 in outstanding water and sewer charges, as well as sorting out sewerage plans for the Village.

A report to this week's Council meeting noted that the site's existing sewerage system is already causing problems in wet weather and that Council needs to spend $120,000 to extend the life of this temporary solution.

The report also warned that the issues need to be resolved to ensure there "are not direct impacts on Council's other ratepayers".

Council's environmental services director Ken Exley said Council's upgrade to the South Casino sewerage system has been delayed pending input from the Village.

"We require the contributions so that we can plan to upgrade the sewerage system," he said.

CMCA (Casino Village) executive director Vincent Moran said his company had not been asked for any money.

"We'll consider our position when we receive a request from Council," he said.

Mr Moran said they were holding off preparing a final sewerage plan and examining the viability of building an onsite sewerage treatment and wastewater recycling system.

In a letter tabled to Council, Mr Moran said the Village had already spent $2.5m in capital works in the last two years. He estimates that $675,000 is spent in the Casino each quarter by visiting motor homers.

Cr Ray Jeffery said the developers had been "thumbing their nose at us".

"It's pleasing that the acid is being put on the CMCA," he said.

Cr Sandra Humphrys defended the Village developers saying they had complied with "some" of the development conditions.

"We can't put a black line under everything they've done," she said.

Chloe Ensby memorial

The woman who successfully sued Richmond Valley Council for the stress of seeing a toddler drown four years ago will pay for a memorial plaque in the child's honour.

In June this year, Heather Donoghue was awarded $26,000 damages for post traumatic stress disorder after watching three-year-old Chloe Ensby being pulled from stormwater rentention pond and administering CPR.

The plaque will be installed along a walkway in a nearby park and Council agreed to pay the construction costs. However, it refused Ms Donoghue's request to name the park 'Chloe's reserve'.

In a letter to Council Ms Donoghue said the actions would give "closure on the tragic event.

"Chloe's short life will be remembered," she said. "It is my hope that it will be a reminder to the community that we take a stand and never allow such a tragedy to happen again."

Tour de Hooker

Casino's Tony Keogh co-founder of the Mongrel Bastards Mountain Bike Club is gearing up to take part in the second annual 'Tour de Hooker' bike ride to raise money for cystic fibrosis research.

Tony will be one of 40 riders setting off from Tweed Heads this Friday on the four-day trip to Grafton.

"I like cycling and having a few beers," he said. "We have a fantastic extended weekend and cystic fibrosis research gets close to $10,000."

Riders will stop off at the Good Food Shop in Barker Street Casino this Saturday at 10am and organisers want people to meet the riders and make a donation. They will then ride down to Evans Head where the bowling club is holding a social bowls afternoon to help with the fundraising.

Cystic fibrosis, is an incurable genetic condition that seriously affects the respiratory, digestive and reproductive systems. A baby is born with cystic fibrosis in Australia every four days.

100 wildflowers in bloom

The wildflowers in the Broadwater National Park are blooming marvellous according to National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Ranger, Shane Robinson.

Shane said it's a sight that shouldn't be missed as close to 100 species of flowering shrubs and grasses in the coastal heath begin their annual bloom.

"The winter rains are helping to provide the conditions for many different species of shrubs and grasses to begin flowering," he said.

"Several species of banksias and boronias, grass trees, flannel flowers and ground orchids, all in full bloom, providing a spectacular burst of colour."

He said the flowers attract many birds, possums and fruit bats.

"The mosaic of coastal heathlands can be viewed from the lookout in Broadwater National Park, just off the Evans Head road," Mr Robinson said.

Council staff join the chain gang

Richmond Valley Council directors Gary Murphy Ken Exley and Wayne Halcrow spent an hour chained to their chairs last week but all in a good cause. While waiting for bail to be posted the trio raised $300 for the Kids Help Line. Arresting Sheriff Monique Price said it gave council staff the chance to have fun and raise money and importantly, to show who's really boss.

P&C Conference

Parents will have their first chance to hear the new Deputy Director-General Schools for the Department of Education and Training, Trevor Fletcher, at the Far North Coast P&C Conference, in Goonellabah later this month.

Mr Fletcher will discuss the way forward for public schools - and no doubt the new school reports - as part of the conference at the Lismore School Education Office, 156 Ballina Road Goonellabah, on Saturday, August 27 from 9am.

Mr Fletcher argues that the important '3 Rs' are Relationships, Relevance and Resilience.

The conference is also an important opportunity for parents and others to gain the New Merit Selection credentials to take part selecting a new principal or executive staff.

Limited places are available for the conference and registration closes on August 19. The cost is $10 and includes morning tea, lunch and certification.

Please contact Walter Harding 6662 5585 or Felicia Cecil 6674 2085 for registration or enquiries.