RESUMPTION OF SITTINGS AT CASINO COURT HOUSE WELCOME NEWS

from The Northern Rivers Times Newspaper Edition 201

WEATHER

The resumption of sittings at Casino Court House tomorrow after it was closed following the 2022 foods is welcome news for the local community according to Clarence Nationals MP, Richie Williamson who advocated very strongly for the Court House to reopen as a matter of priority.

Mr Williamson delivered a Private Member’s Statement in the NSW Parliament in May last year followed by a letter to the NSW Attorney General, Michael Daley supporting a Mayoral Minute from Richmond Valley Mayor, Robert Mustow seeking urgent priority to be given to expediting food recovery works at the Court House given the impacts on the local community and economy.

“Whilst the number one priority of food recovery should always be about supporting food victims, restoring key community assets should be a high priority,” Mr Williamson said.

“As I said at the time, the closure of the Casino Court House was having a negative impact on the local community and economy with the nearest sittings being heard at Kyogle and Lismore and disadvantaging many in the community.

“Its closure impacted on low socio-economic and high Indigenous communities, some of whom have very limited transport and were struggling to attend because public transport is almost non-existent.

“It was also impacting family members needed at court as support people as well as having an operational impact on our local police force because local police offcers were required to travel to Kyogle or Lismore for appearances and court hearings.

“Economic impacts on Casino were also being felt because of the lack of court days, which would normally bring to the community a high number of professional people to the community, where they would quite often stay for the night.

“I thank the NSW Attorney General for his assistance in ensuring the Casino Court House is back up and running.

“It is a great shot of confdence for the community and is part of the healing and recovery process that is so important for my community,” Mr Williamson concluded.