ABOVE: Councillors at the April 18 council meeting in Casino. Photo: Richmond Valley Council livestream
Susanna Freymark
Here is a summary of the Richmond Valley Council meeting on Tuesday, April 18.
We need more houses
Council is looking at growth in the region over the next 20 years. The Growth Management Strategy report deals with ways to grow the valley’s population to 27,600 by 2040 and to deliver 200 new homes.
Lyn Robson-Mortimer addressed the council during public access time about her land in Progress St in Coraki that she believes is suitable for housing.
The land is zoned for residential use but reverted to primary production use in 2012.
Ms Robson-Mortimer wants the council to consider the land for inclusion in a growth strategy for Coraki because it is flood-free land.
The community gave feedback on the Casino Place Plan with 33 submissions.
Councillor Robert Hayes asked about the scope of rezoning land.
“Can residential land be rezoned rather than dezoned,” Mr Hayes said.
Community service delivery director Angela Jones said this was “definitely possible”.
Rural residential land could also be opened up where residents use tank water and have their own sewage system, she said.
Some of the community submissions called for the Iron Gates land to be dezoned.
The Growth Management Strategy only considers potential new sites for housing and does not recommend changing the zoning of Iron Gates.
Mayor Robert Mustow said the growth strategy and place plans were “exciting documents for Richmond Valley’s future”.
General manager Vaughan Macdonald said place plans would be done for Coraki, Broadwater, Woodburn and Evans Head later this year.
Woodburn wants a supermarket
Tania Hundy, owner of Woodburn IGA, spoke to the council at the meeting. Read what she had to say here.
Wanna run a canteen?
NRLX operations manager Brad Willis said there hadn’t been much interest so far in someone taking on the canteen licence at the Casino saleyards.
The NRLX canteen operator Ronda’s Catering Service has given notice. It will finish on June 30. Ronda’s has operated the canteen for 16 years as a licensee and given 30 years of service at the NRLX.
An expression of interest for the canteen licence has been released. It closes on April 27. If this interests you, get in touch with the NRLX.
No over the counter DAs
Ms Jones explained how development applications are submitted these days through e-planning.
“The applicant lodges a DA through an online portal, rather than over the counter, “ Ms Jones said.
Staff make it a priority every day to go through the applications. This has made Richmond Valley Council one of the fastest councils when it comes to turning over DAs.
“We have a good turnaround,” Ms Jones said.
The use of a development concierge aids the process.
Read council’s financial report here.
Watch the livestream of the council meeting here.
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