Susanna Freymark
Controversial questions were asked and candidates answered them at the Woodburn forum.
Fracking is dead. Gas (mining) is dead, we will not allow it: John Walker
There will never be an EfW built in Richmond Valley: Robert Mustow
There will be an independent inquiry into the NRLX fiasco: John Walker
Iron Gates has been approved by a tribunal. Council must work with that decision: John Walker
The Woodburn Business & Community Chamber hosted the first Meet the Candidates forum at Woodburn Public School last night, Tuesday, August 27.
Candidates in attendance were William Drew, Kylie O’Reilly, John Walker, Robert Hayes, Tracey Knox, Deb McGillan, Robert Mustow, Lyndall Murray, Simone Barker, Samuel Allis, Bianca Rayner and Steve Morrissey (in the audience).
Murray, Walker, Hayes and Mustow are running for mayor.
There are 23 candidates running in the Richmond Valley Council Election on September 14. Find out more about them here.
There was a small audience at the Woodburn forum – about 20 people and Chamber president Emma Salmi reminded people to be respectful – and they were – but they were also unafraid to ask questions about controversial issues.
Each candidate introduced themselves and then questions were asked from the floor.
William Drew from Coraki said he was a proud Bundjalung man and he would use his voice to raise issues. Mr Drew is the only ungrouped candidate meaning he is not running on a ticket.
He has a particular interest in youth.
If elected he was prepared to be a thorn in the council’s side and ask tough questions.
“We need to come together as a community. Not just up river or down river – I want to bring people together as human beings – as one people,” Mr Drew said.
When Mr Hayes was at the podium, a Swan Bay resident asked about the Swan Bay-New Italy Road.
“I’ve got a 4WD and I’m only doing 30km. We’ve contacted the council several times to grade the road and we haven’t heard back,” he said.
Mr Hayes agreed with him and said the council is onto it.
Ms Murray introduced herself and spoke about working with Ms Rayner and Hanabeth Luke during the floods.
Ms Murray raised $413,000 for the Hands and Hearts Project she set up to fix homes.
Correction: IndyNR.com originally stated the amount was $465,000 and it was brought to our attention the amount was actually $413,000)
100% of the money went to tradies and on materials, she said.
Mr Allis said he is running in the election for his children.
“I’m running for everyone’s children,” he said.
“I want them to stick around.
“I come from a family that doesn’t believe in the word can’t.”
Mr Allis said he wants the council to do more for mental health services and he wants to see a clean river.
He said he’d like to see the Woodburn Bridge painted with old Australiana and indigenous images as he believes it will bring visitors to Woodburn.
Tania Hundy from the Woodburn Business Chamber said they had looked into it but hadn’t made any progress on the idea yet.
John Walker addressed the audience.
“Being mayor is not an easy job,” he said.
He acknowledged Mr Mustow’s 37 years on council.
“It’s time for fresh ideas – longevity does not equate to performance,” he said.
“I’m not always popular as you’ll see on social media but I will fight for you.”
Mr Walker said the current council is disconnected from the community.
“We will change meeting procedures so public access is open at all times,” he said.
He disagreed with the council’s handling of the “Casino Saleyards fiasco”.
We will initiate an independent inquiry into that, he said.
A man in the audience asked if Mr Walker would make a commitment not to sell the saleyards at Casino.
“Yes I will,” Mr Walker said.
“We haven’t seen the books. An independent inquiry (on the NRLX) would be released publicly.”
Mr Mustow said a 52-page submission on the NRLX went to the minister and to the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) and that “every protocol was followed in the process under the Local Government Act.”
NOTE: To be clear, the submission was made by the people opposing the council with regard to its NRLX decisions, not by council itself..
Mr Walker said his Group A team promised to streamline the DA process in council.
He criticised the council’s handling of the flood recovery and he said he would be looking closely at the CSIRO report out mid next year to see what mitigation measures are recommended.
It is essential to take 2metres off the flood. You’ll never stop the flood but measures such as holding bays could help, he said.
An audience member asked about the Iron Gates development at Evans Head.
“This has been a live issue for 30 years,” Mr Walker said.
“It has been approved by a tribunal. Council must work with that decision and work with new lots in the areas.”
Ms O’Reilly, also in Group A said she was running in the election because she wanted to give back to the community that gave so much to her and her husband when they lost everything at their mushroom farm at Doonbah.
“I come from a family of farmers – my father fought for farmers and I plan to do the same thing,” she said.
Mr Mustow stood at the podium.
“The path ahead remains challenging,” he said.
“Council’s focus is on housing, sewer and water and attracting business.”
He wanted to see students leaving school be able to get fulltime employment locally.
A man in the audience asked about tip fees and tip vouchers.
“I took rubbish to Lismore tip with a voucher and it cost $24, it would have cost $93 without a voucher. At the Evans Head tip that would have cost $200,” the man said.
“Will the council give out vouchers? I’ve spent $800 taking flood shit to the dump.”
Mr Mustow said every tonne of waste attracts a waste levy from the State Government.
Other councils add that levy to rates, Richmond Valley Council does not.
Many councils transport rubbish to Queensland at great cost.
Richmond Valley Council no longer did that, he said.
We have to give Sydney money for our waste, we’ve been trying for years to get rid of the waste levy, Mr Mustow said.
Ms O’Reilly said she had lived in Switzerland and they had the best recycling system in the world.
“I’ll be pushing for a review of our recycling system,” she said.
“An effective recycling system rewards residents – you get a discount on your rates or taxes.
“It makes the community work together.”
There was a question from the audience on climate change.
“Kyogle Council has a Climate Change Adaptation Plan. With science saying the temperature will be 3 degrees higher by 2050, how will you safeguard our future?”
Ms Rayner from Group C said people were frightened to talk about what we saw (the floods) and that it could happen again.
“We should be advocating for flood mitigation based on climate change,” she said.
“No one has been offered a house raise in Coraki. They say it (floodwater) hasn’t come into the house and it won’t – that’s the stupidest thing to say.’
Mr Mustow the council has a 2023 flood report and climate change played a big part in the report.
“Climate change played a big part in nearly stopping Broadwater School,” he said.
A question was asked about an incinerator in Richmond Valley.
“There’s never been a proposal for an Energy from Waste (EfW) facility. Until there was one running in NSW, such as at Parkes, the council would not entertain the idea,” Mr Mustow said.
“There will never be an EfW built in the Richmond Valley.”
Mr Walker said he couldn’t understand why the council has not shut this (EfW) down.
“I don’t care if the State Government wants it,” he said.
“I will shut it down. It shouldn’t happen.”
There was a question from the audience about allocating some land in Woodburn so ‘grey nomads’ stopped in the town. The closest place was the car park behind the New Italy Museum.
The Woodburn Business Chamber said it has been actively looking for land to do this and that the council had supported them in that search.
Currently, vans could park for no more than three days at the Woodburn soccer fields.
There was lengthy discussion on engaging the community and all candidates had a say on this.
Ms Rayner wanted to reinvigorate the Tea Tree Festival for Coraki.
Mr Drew wanted to see movie nights for the youth and cultural trips.
Ms Murray wanted more sport for youth in the area. She said social media was a way to rally and reach youth.
She wanted to see a major event in Evans Head such as the former Beef Meets Reef which brought visitors to town.
There was mention of the many successful events already running such as the Evans Head Fishing Classic, the Woodburn Riverside Festival, Casino Truck Show and more.
All of these required volunteers, Mr Mustow said.
This is a summary of the meeting – as you can see, a lot was discussed.
Head to the next candidates meeting and ask your questions and don’t decide who to vote for based on social media gossip. Meet the candidates, find out what matters to them and vote for the person you think will deliver.
There is another Meet the Candidates at the Casino Community and Cultural Centre on Monday, September 2 at 6pm, chaired by former Lismore mayor Jenny Dowell.
On Tuesday, September 3, there is a Meet the Candidates in Evans Head at the surf club at 6pm hosted by the Evans Head Business & Community Chamber.
For all stories relating to the Richmond Valley Council election go here.
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