Council almost misses audit input

CLARENCE Valley Council has been accused of not following a lead set by the Richmond Valley Council by not lodging a submission in to a statewide police audit.

CLARENCE Valley Council has been accused of not following a lead set by neighbouring Richmond Valley Council by not lodging a submission in to a statewide police audit.

Submissions closed on July 31 and the council should have missed the boat but a last minute reaction by acting general manager Mike Colreavy will see staff compiling information to push for more police in the Clarence.

Member for Clarence Steve Cansdell said the council should have already lodged a submission into the audit being done by former NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Peter Parsons.

Mr Parsons told Mr Cansdell he found it odd the Clarence council had not lodged a submission when Richmond had.

Mr Cansdell said the audit ordered by the O'Farrell Government was to assess the fairest possible allocation of police resources, particularly in suburbs and towns.

“Along with three private meetings I had with Mr Parsons, I also lodged my own submission requesting an extra seven officers to both the Maclean and Casino police stations to allow them to be operational 24 hours to meet the needs of the Lower Clarence and Richmond Valley areas,” he said.

Mr Cansdell said this lack of action by the council casts doubt on its ability to get the job done for ratepayers of the Clarence.

“We all need to work together if we want to get in the front of the queue and I think it shows a serious lack of political leadership at Clarence Valley Council that no submission has been lodged on behalf of ratepayers,” he said. No one from council had approached him or spoken to him about the audit or lodging a submission.

NSW Parliament heard Mr Cansdell's concerns about police numbers in the Clarence during last Thursday's sitting.

Mayor Richie Williamson said he was unaware the police audit was being conducted.

“But we are very happy we will have the opportunity to push for more policing,” he said.

Mr Cansdell said he will hand the council's submission personally to Mr Parsons next week to ensure it is included in the audit.

Originally published as Council almost misses audit input