The Northern Rivers Times Edition 128

CASINO CBD TO BE TRANSFORMED

Casino’s CBD is set to come alive with $334,000 from the Nationals in NSW Government to beautify the main street.

Nationals MP for Clarence Chris Gulaptis said he was delighted to have the Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole in Casino to offcially open the CBD revitalisation project, which is part of the NSW Government’s $20 million Streets as Shared Spaces program.

“Richmond Valley Council was granted $334,000 to brighten the community and bring residents together through the newly created green space,” Mr Gulaptis said.

“This eye-catching project, on what was an underutilised block

of land, will make the area more vibrant by providing more public space for the community to sit, relax and catch up with friends, admire new art installations, or even dine al fresco in their revitalised surrounds.

“If the pilot projects gain widespread community support, we’ll look to make them permanent so more

people can enjoy the outdoors and connect with those around them.”

Richmond Valley Council contributed an additional $30,000 to create The Greens On Barker project, a pop-up activated green space on an underutilised block of land marked as a future commercial development opportunity.

The space will feature accessible pathways, shade structures, sandstone block seating with landscaping, pavement stencilling and artwork.

Mayor Robert Mustow said the creation of the new community space would foster community connections and help to build the local economy by encouraging people to spend more time in the town centre.

“This new space provides an attractive area which will draw people to the heart of Casino and build a sense of community and support our local businesses,” Cr Mustow said.

“These are key elements for the area identifed in Council’s recently released Richmond Valley

Growth Management Plan and Casino Place Plan.

“Projects like this are about making Casino an even more liveable town, and I look forward to seeing this revitalised streetscape provide a place for a range of activities to attract both our existing and future community.”

Streets as Shared Spaces capitalises on opportunities created by the pandemic with 70 per cent of people in a recent poll saying they were connecting with people in public spaces instead of at home.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said communities were also demanding better walking and cycling infrastructure.

“Now is the time

to capitalise on the increased appetite for open space and safe places to connect with our communities in a meaningful way,” Mr Toole said.

“That’s why we’re transforming our streets to bring more people to the CBD, support businesses and bring the community together.”

The Streets as Shared Spaces program provides funding for councils to test and pilot new and innovative ideas which temporarily adapt streets as safe, shared public spaces to support healthier, safe and resilient communities.

For more information visit: https://www.dpie. nsw.gov.au/premierspriorities/great-publicspaces/streets/streets-asshared-spaces-program

GREAT TIME TO BE GREEN SAYS CANDIDATE

The Greens candidate for Clarence, Greg Clancy, centre, with Greens MLC Sue Higginson, to his left, at the launch of the Greens campaign for Clarence in the next NSW election.

By TIM HOWARD

The Greens broke out one of their rising stars to officially launch Dr Greg Clancy as their candidate for the seat of Clarence for the 2023 NSW Election.

Lismore MLC Sue Higginson, who took David Shoebridge’s position when he resigned in May, said there has never been a better time to be a Green and standing for office. She said the Greens position on the major issues facing the community had been shown to be the right way to go.

From climate change,

cost of living, protecting the natural environment and housing, Ms Higginson said “the old ways of dealing with these matters is not working.”

“In Greg Clancy the Greens have a candidate who is across all these issues as he has shown with his work on the Clarence Valley Council,” she said.

“Greg is an absolute champion on these matters and is a proven leader in an area that most needs real leadership.”

Dr Clancy, who is deputy mayor of the Clarence Valley, said he would welcome the

opportunity to fight for the Clarence and Richmond valleys, which make up most of the Clarence electorate.

He picked out the proposed development of a waste incinerator at Casino as a real issue for the Richmond Valley.

“I recently attended a rally against the waste incinerator and I will do everything in my power to oppose it,” Dr Clancy said.

“We do not need to be burning waste, we have to work on a circular economy where waste is seen as a resource to be recycled.”

Dr Clancy said the vexed issue of building on floodplains was something he had already begun to pursue as a councillor.

“At the last council

meeting I moved successfully to get the council to seek legal advice on the implications of rezoning land on the Yamba floodplain,” he said.

“We have just heard both the Prime Minister and the NSW Premier say development on flood plains needs to stop, but neither of them has said how it could be done.

“These are just hollow promises if there is nothing to back them up.”

Dr Clancy said he would continue to push there be no mining in the Clarence and Richmond Valleys.

“Clarence’s outgoing MP, the Premier, and (Agriculture Minister) Dugald Saunders have all spoken against the No Mines Policy.

“The Clarence Valley

Council supports the No Mines Policy, but our local member has failed us miserably.”

Dr Clancy said it was important the Nationals candidate for Clarence, Richie Williamson, made a clear statement on where he stood on mining in the electorate.

The Greens acknowledge they face a hard task convincing voters to switch, but Dr Clancy said more people are seeing through the rhetoric of the Coalition parties.

“There is is some sort of view the Greens are off the planet,” he said. “But when you look at what some in the Coalition actually say and do, it becomes apparent it’s the Greens who have their feet on the ground.”

He said with the incumbent, Chris Gulaptis, not standing and the Coalition government struggling in the polls, Clarence electors had a chance to make some changes which would provide long term benefits to the region.

As well as serving as the Clarence Valley’s deputy mayor, Dr Clancy has established deep roots in the community.

He has lived here for more than 40 years taking a leading role in

ecological issues.

His name has been under many letters to the editor and he has been interviewed on radio and TV on various issues and he featured in the Channel 10 documentary ‘Rainforest – the Battle for Washpool’.

He has taught bush regeneration courses including at the Grafton jail and was a part-time teacher at TAFE.

Dr Clancy has worked as an ecological consultant and birdingwildlife guide and as a National Parks & Wildlife Service ranger, discovery ranger, contractor and project officer.

He has also been involved with the Grafton Aboriginal Mens’ Group, the Clarence Valley Birdos and was President of the Grafton District Services Country Music Club.

He was also a member of the Clarence Valley Conservation Coalition, the Clarence Environment Centre and the Clarence Valley Branch of the National Parks Association.

He has also been an active supporter of local Aboriginal initiatives and has met most of the elders of the Gumbaynggirr, Yaegl and Bundjalung nations.