Richmond Valley Council to discuss who gets a key to take 4WDs to the beach

Commercial fishers have admitted to council staff they have been pressured “to have a key cut for someone else” to get access to Airforce Beach via the Boundary Creek entrance that was closed in March.

Richmond Valley Council closed the Boundary Creek entrance to Broadwater Beach in March, in consultation with National Parks and Wildlife Service and Ballina Shire Council. Picture: Istock

Richmond Valley councillors will discuss the future of 4WD access to Airforce Beach as part of this week’s ordinary meeting.

Following the closure in March of the Boundary Creek entrance in consultation with National Parks and Wildlife Service and Ballina Shire Council, effectively closing Broadwater Beach to recreational four-wheel drives, council staff inspected the beach access on May 26.

During the inspection, officers spoke to a commercial fisher on the beach “who commented he had already been pressured to have a key cut for someone else”, according to council documents.

“This confirmed a concern as to how to ensure access keys are not distributed to other users and how the access arrangements could be regulated at a reasonable cost to council”.

Possible options to be discussed by council include using specialist keys that cannot be copied and recalling the ones already issued, introducing a different access system, such as a swipe card or variable access code, or introducing a permit system along with a key to verify the person accessing the beach is the approved key-holder.

Another issue to be discussed by councillors was selecting the proposed artist for the Casino water tower mural.

Council’s Event Support Funding Scheme will also be considered at the meeting.

Recommendations include $17,050 in cash grants for a range of important community events across the Valley, with an additional $8014 of in-kind support.

Proposed recipients of cash grants and in-kind support include a number of current and potential future events, including the Evans Head Malibu Classic, Riley’s Hill Community Twilight Market, Woodburn Riverside Festival, and Casino Show Society, and the proposed COW FM Country Music Festival.

Another significant item for Council’s consideration is the draft 2021-2022 budget (Operational Plan).

This proposed budget for the Richmond Valley in 2021-2022 includes $67.6 million for essential services, in addition to a $46.8 million capital works program for key projects, along with a projected cash surplus of $306,488.

During the closed part of the meeting, Council will also be awarding tenders for the detailed design of the Casino Showground Precinct and the upgrade of the Casino Racing Club sand and grass tracks.

The meeting starts from 5pm on Tuesday in the Casino Chambers, and can be watched via livestream on Council’s Facebook page or the YouTube channel RVC Broadcast.