$114,660 for hindering and obstructing contractors during construction of the $4 billion Woolgoolga to

46 EXTRA POLICE FOR CLARENCE AND RICHMOND VALLEYS

NSW Deputy Premier, Nationals Leader and Minister for Police, Paul Toole joined Clarence Nationals MP Chris Gulaptis for a visit to Grafton Police station on Wednesday and confirmed the number of officers in the two Police Districts serving the Clarence and Richmond Valleys will each increase by eight in the coming year.

Chris Gulaptis helped negotiate a deal with the Police Association of NSW prior to the last election for record increases in recruitment and that has now resulted in a total of 24 more officers for the Coffs/Clarence Local Area Command and 22 for the Richmond LAC.

“That deal was signed with Police Association of NSW President Tony King, a former Grafton detective who has just returned to duty in the region, having completed a successful term representing officers of one of the largest police forces in the English speaking world,” Mr Gulaptis said.

“Our cops are tops and I wanted to bring the Minister to Grafton to thank officers for their outstanding service through the pandemic and floods and to listen to their ideas on the future policing of our region.”

The Deputy Premier and Mr Gulaptis met officers in Grafton including the Commander of the Coffs/Clarence Local Area Command Superintendent Steve Clarke, popular longterm Grafton Inspector Jo Reid and Constables Cooper Rogers and Rahul Maharaj who are two of the station’s newest recruits.

Mr Toole said the Nationals in Government were delivering the biggest increase in police numbers across the State in more than 30 years.

“We’re boosting every area and aspect of the NSW Police Force – including our general duties police, domestic violence specialist investigators, police prosecutors, counter terrorism police and organised crime squads,” Mr Toole said.

“These extra positions mean more proactive policing, more foot patrols, more visibility of police in high-risk areas, more support for victims, and more time to investigate crime.”

Constable Cooper Rogers, Superintendent Steve Clarke, Chris Gulaptis, Inspector Jo Reid, Deputy Premier and Minister for Police Paul Toole and Constable Rahul Maharaj.

IN BRIEF

Rail Trails Framework released

The NSW Government has released a Rail Trail Framework to expedite the creation of additional trails in NSW by clarifying the proposal and approval process, as well as providing guidance for general rail trail operation and maintenance.

This augurs well for the Northern Rivers Rail Trail; a 132km recreational trail development follows the disused Casino to Murwillumbah railway corridor which is scheduled to open in 2022/2023.

Rural Financial Counselling Services

Rewire is a small business program run by the Rural Financial Counselling Service that provides businesses with free, independent and confdential support to help small business with the challenges experienced by business.

To fnd out more about the program and check eligibility, visit www.rfcsnsw.com.au/ rfcs-home/rewire-smallbusiness-program.

EXHIBITION & EXHIBITION & TRADING FAIR TRADING FAIR

Thousands of items for sale

Antiques, Vintage, Retro, Modern

Valuers Atending Buyers Atending

Anything Old & Interesting

Saturday 13th August 2022

Murwillumbah Civic Centre Tumbulgum Road, Murwillumbah

Admission Adults $6 - Children $1 All proceds to Twed Palliative Support

e Rotary Club of Mt Warning AM (Murwillumbah) Inc will provide refreshments: Sausage Sizzle, Tea & Co ee, Cakes & Drinks

P: 02 6677 9577 M: 0439 779 577 Trevor: trevbren@bigpond.net.au www.northernriverscollectorsclub.com

Tenterfeld Shire Council update

Council will undertake a three-month trial of a “noticeboardonly” Facebook page although their Customer Satisfaction Survey showed the preference for “Your Local News” printed brochure.

“Accurate and timely communication with residents, visitors and potential visitors is a vital function of Council – not just for potential rate rises, bin days and road closures, but also for tourism and encouraging new businesses and residents to the Shire,” the council report stated.

Council reported the cost for current communications was about $143,000 per year, including the Tenterfeld Shire app, newspaper advertisements, newsletters and the website. This included a proposed $28,000 estimate for the Facebook page.

Rate varition

Council will start community engagement to support an application to IPART for a proposed Special Rate Variation comprising of a permanent increase of 43% (including rate peg) in 2023/24 and 43% (including rate peg) in 2024/25, representing a cumulative increase of 104.49% using the current rating structure to determine yield.

This will result in an additional income of about $2.081 million in the fnancial year 2023/24 and a further $2.976 million in fnancial year 2024/25 providing an additional income from rates of $5.057 million over two years. This will be in addition to Council’s current rate income of about $4.8 million per year.

“Council recognises it must address its current fnancial sustainability and level of service to address community expectation,” the council

report stated. “This is to ensure that Council has suffcient cash to fund renewal and maintenance of its assets that have been under pressure due to natural disaster in recent years. Councils are under constant pressure to deliver the same services for less which is an unsustainable model. Tenterfeld Shire Council has very limited opportunity to increase own source revenue and as a result an increase in rates, combined with further operational effciencies, is the most viable solution for a fnancially sustainable Council.” RDA Northern Rivers welcomes new Minister for RDA network

The RDA Northern Rivers Board and staff welcome the appointment of the Hon Kristy McBain MP as Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories with responsibility for the Regional Development Australia (RDA) Committees program.

Ms McBain is the Member for EdenMonaro and has a strong background in regional Australia as a lawyer and in local government before entering federal parliament.

“I am incredibly honoured and humbled to have been appointed Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories and to have the responsibility for our Regional Development Australia (RDA) Committees program. I am deeply passionate about my portfolio, having been born in regional Victoria and now living in regional New South Wales.”