Local Government News
 Larry Anthony
National News
Sydney Labor’s Neglect of the Northern Rivers
In 1995, the Sydney Labor Government promised to halve hospital waiting lists for elective surgery across NSW or the Premier would resign. Eight years on the statistics make interesting reading. At the Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney the number of people waiting for elective surgery for a year or more has fallen by two thirds – so far so good.
However in the main Northern Rivers Hospitals, Murwillumbah, Tweed Heads, Lismore and Grafton the number of people waiting for 12 months or more has skyrocketed from 20 to 436, an increase of more than 2,000 per cent. Each of our main hospitals now has more people waiting for more than a year than the giant Royal North Shore in Sydney.
This is yet another example of Sydney Labor’s neglect of the Northern Rivers along with our under resourced police and education services, and the issue I am going blue in the face lobbying for, the Alstonville bypass.
The Northern Rivers deserves a lot better from its State Government.
 Ian Causley
Canberra Connection
Touring Arts for Region
The Northern Rivers is set to receive a range of quality productions next year thanks to Federal Government funding of $1,247,474.
The funding was made available under the Playing Australia program, which gives financial assistance to companies, producers, venues, presenters and organisers to tour performing arts across the country.
A production of Field Day by Field Day Music can be seen at Southern Cross University on March 25 and at Grafton’s Post Office Hotel on April 2. Grant: $12,128; Lismore City Hall will be hosting performances of Quick Brown Fox by South Australian company Leigh Warren & Dancers on the nights of April 28 and 30. Grant: $42,457; Victorian company Chunky Move Ltd will also be bringing its production, Australia’s Most Wanted: Ballet for a Contemporary Democracy, to the NORPA venue on April 29 and 30. Grant: $98,883; La Boheme by Opera Australia’s OzOpera will be performing in the Grafton High School’s multipurpose centre from August 16 to 18. Grant: $284,400; The Bell Shakespeare Company’s production of The Servant of Two Masters and Wicked Sisters by Griffin Theatre Company will be performing at Lismore’s Star Court Theatre from November 4 to 7. Grant: $809,606.
For more information about Playing Australia, visit www.dcita.gov.au and click on the “arts and culture” link.
Valley Events Coordinator
Richmond Valley Council will receive a Federal Government grant worth $27,500 to employ an events coordinator.
The coordinator will look at ways to create additional events to complement those which already take place in the region. It is hoped the Richmond Valley Council’s promotional strategy will lead to an increase in tourists, which in turn will give a boost to the local economy and provide more job opportunities for those seeking work.
McLeans Ridges Memorial Gates
A $4000 grant from the Federal Government’s commemorations program, Saluting Their Service, will assist the McLeans Ridges Public Hall Committee to carry out work on the district’s memorial gates.
The Committee will use the funding to replace unsafe concrete, make repairs to the gate, clean and restore plaques and add a new one, install a flagpole and landscape the surrounds.
Open National Parks
The Sydney Labor Government should take heed of a call by NSW National Party Leader George Souris to open selected national parks to livestock grazing to assist struggling farmers through the drought.
The move will make available to farmers much needed feed for starving livestock. Most paddocks, road sides and travelling stock routes have been eaten out and fodder prices have gone through the roof. One of the few areas where there is any stock feed left is in national parks.
Farmers are desperately trying to keep valuable breeding stock alive. The Sydney Labor Government should recognise the severity of the situation and open selected national parks to grazing as the Coalition did during the 1994-95 drought.
The initiative will also have the added benefit of helping to reduce dangerous fuel loads in national parks.
Interestingly, Sydney Labor recently included grazing on other government land in its hazard reduction figures. While routine agricultural activity has never previously been included in the definition of bushfire hazard reduction, it is an admission by Labor that grazing has hazard reduction benefits.
 Charlie Cox
Council Comment
Water Worries and Oz Day Plans
A potential health hazard was successfully averted at Casino last week when Council staff and staff of the Northern Co-operative Meat Company combined to fabricate and install extra filtration to the town’s water treatment facility.
Working side by side and in sometimes trying conditions, workers from both organisations carried out the installation so efficiently that there was no appreciable interruption to the Casino water supply.
As a community we owe these workers a huge thank you and commendation.
The blue green algae bloom, first detected on Friday, November 8, was closely monitored by Richmond Valley staff from the outset. Health authorities were promptly notified by Council as was the Department of Land and Water Conservation.
Council staff worked efficiently outside normal hours carrying out testing, liaising with experts, planning a strategy and went to considerable lengths to secure activated carbon filtering medium.
In my boat trip along the river I was amazed at how quickly the algae bloom spread. Conditions for its rapid growth were ideal – high water temperature, nutrient levels, low river flow.
With the additional filtration now in operation, water quality is assured and it is considered the problem is under control. However, humans and animals should not drink directly from the river nor enter the water.
We need a good fresh from upstream to flush the bloom and restore the water to its normal colour and condition.
The prolonged dry conditions not only affect rural endeavours and industry in general. Dry conditions also affect our unsealed roads.
Council is aware that gravel roads cause problems for their users. Ideally, Council agrees that there should be no gravel roads. Realistically however, this would be impossible to achieve. There simply just isn’t enough money. Australia is a huge country with a relatively small population and a resultant small amount of money available.
Engineers and road builders rely on water to assist in consolidating roadworks. Potholes quickly recur in dry conditions and grader work is more effective if rain assists compaction.
In our Council area during these dry conditions, a good deal of road maintenance funds have already been expended on attempting repairs under almost impossible situations.
Whilst my comments might be of little solace to gravel road users, it should be remembered that it is a driver’s responsibility to drive to the road conditions, not necessarily the speed signs.
The level of water restrictions in Casino have been raised to Level 3. The decision to go to this level has been made jointly by Kyogle Council and Richmond Valley Council.
Precise details of Level 3 restrictions can be found in this week’s edition of the Richmond River Express Examiner. Water users are advised to read the list of restrictions carefully. Please note that they are in four categories – domestic, business/commercial, industrial, rural.
Once again Council requests your continuing co-operation in using water wisely, bearing in mind that all of us have a responsibility to do the right thing.
Restrictions will remain in force until officially lifted by Council.
Council is calling for Expressions of Interest from organisations and groups interested in providing a venue for 2003 Australia Day Celebrations. There is no particular format required for the day other than a suitable time slot to include an official flagraising, presentation of awards and an address by the Ambassador of the day.
Council can assist the Australia Day host venue in a number of ways and is always keen to see Australia Day celebrated appropriately.
For further details, please contact the Tourism and Promotions Officer, Rod Caldicott on 6660 0324 or the Visitor Information Centre Co-ordinator, Tracey Flaherty on 6662 6652.
Our community should also be considering nominations for the Citizen of the Year Award and various sporting categories. Details are available from Council offices in Casino and Evans Head.
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