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.
Three different figures equal confusion
Emma Pritchard. When Member for Clarence Chris Gulaptis recently announced the promised redevelopment of Grafton Base Hospital (GBH) will become a reality following the unveiling of the NSW Budget for 2022/23, members of the Grafton Base Hospital Community Committee (GBHCC) reacted with confusion ... Speaking with the Clarence Valley Independent last week, members of the GBHCC, including Ron Bell, Des Harvey and Phil Belletty, revealed none of the announcements made by the NSW Government make sense.
Races rescheduled at Grafton
Emma Pritchard. The Clarence River Jockey Club (CRJC) postponed Races 4-9 on the opening day of the 2022 XXXX July Winter Racing Carnival, the Westlawn Finance Prelude Day on July 3, following a shocking incident in the concluding stages of Race 3, the Westlawn Business Loans 2YO Maiden Plate over 1015m. Apprentice jockey Leah Kilner, 24, was dislodged from her mount, the Owen Glue trained Stella’s Turn inside the final 100m when the filly tragically went amiss and crashed to the turf.
Clarence apiarists on alert as first time Varroa mite detected
Rodney Stevens. A tiny insect never before seen in Australia has Clarence Valley apiary businesses and owners lives on hold after Varroa mites that could decimate the industry were first detected in beehives at the Port of Newcastle last week. A state wide emergency biosecurity order has been issued by the Department of Primary Industries DPI to control the movement of bees and stop the spread of Varroa mite.
