Grafton sewage plant decision ‘on the nose’
Geoff Helisma. Councillors have unanimously supported a Notice of Motion (NOM) to “review [the] former council's decision, to construct a new sewage treatment plant (STP) on the existing north Grafton STP site” ... “Recent flooding of STPs in Lismore, Ballina and Byron Bay local government areas is a timely wakeup call that placing STPs in flood zoned areas should be avoided”: Cr Karen Toms's NOM.
King becomes Cup Queen at Grafton
Emma Pritchard. Rachel King wrote her name in the record books at the Clarence River Jockey Club (CRJC) on July 14 when she became the first female jockey to win the premier staying event of the year, the 2022 Southside Pharmacy Grafton Cup over 2350m onboard the Bjorn Baker trained former French galloper Arapaho (FR). After beginning her riding career in Great Britain, King travelled to Australia and completed her apprenticeship with leading Sydney trainer Gai Waterhouse while on her way to becoming one of the country’s premier hoops.
EPA prosecutes Forestry Corporation again
Geoff Helisma. The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is prosecuting Forestry Corporation of NSW (FCNSW), for the second time this year, for allegedly felling giant and hollow-bearing tees in Wild Cattle Creek State Forest, at the headwaters of the Nymboida River. The EPA alleges that the actions of FCNSW – a NSW Government-owned corporation – resulted in a “failure to retain local wildlife habitat”.
Yamba Main Beach ‘shipwreck’ unearthed
Rodney Stevens. A band of adventurous brothers have unearthed what they believe could be remnants of a shipwreck on Yamba's Main Beach. Simon Vertullo said his family, who regularly holiday at Yamba, were at Main Beach on Thursday, June 7, when the inquisitive trio of George 9, Ted 6 and Joseph 2, decided to go exploring.
Community meeting calls for floodplain development to pause
Rodney Stevens. It was standing room only at Yamba's Wooli Street hall on Saturday as Greens MLC Cate Faehrmann joined concerned residents at a public meeting convened by Valley Watch to illustrate concerning developments on the floodplain. Attendees learned of Valley Watch's activities, raising awareness of development on the West Yamba floodplain since it first became an issue under the former Maclean Shire Council in 1995.
In honour of Uncle Ron Heron during NAIDOC week
Lynne Mowbray. The old concrete pump station in River Street Maclean has been given a facelift over the weekend, with a mural painting depicting one of our prominent Yaegl Elders. Highly respected Yaegl Elder, Uncle Ron Heron of Yamba, has had the artwork created in his honour, to celebrate NAIDOC week.
Driven to help local farmers
Emma Pritchard. Aussie Hay Runners have partnered with Feed for Friends and the Rotary Club of Melton to transport 1000 bales of hay and several pallets of hard feed from rural Victoria to the Clarence Valley in support of local producers and small hobby farmers who have been adversely affected by the unprecedented flooding which devastated communities throughout Northern NSW earlier this year. A convoy of 31 trucks arrived in Grafton over the weekend.
