Following the impact of ex-tropical cyclone Alfred, Richmond Valley Council is pleased to announce almost all facilities will reopen to the public from tomorrow (Monday 10 March).

These include the Casino and Evans Head administration centres, libraries, visitor information centres, sporting facilities, swimming pools and other public venues.

General Manager Vaughan Macdonald said Council’s primary focus would remain on supporting residents’ safety and well-being as things started to return to normal, while noting some of our communities remained isolated. 

Mr Macdonald said while Richmond Valley businesses were resilient, it was important to remember they too were suffering from the effects of ex-tropical cyclone Alfred.

He said simply choosing to shop locally as much as you could made a huge difference.

“Shopping local is a great way to keep dollars within our local area,” Mr Macdonald said.

“When we shop local, we are supporting local businesses who employ other locals, who pay for local services, and circulate the money around the Richmond Valley.

“In this way local spending has a significant impact on the entire regional economy.”

Mr Macdonald said it was also important for local schools to reopen as soon as possible as they allowed parents and caregivers to return to work with peace of mind, knowing their children were in a safe and supportive environment. 

He thanked the community and local SES members, local police and emergency service personnel, volunteers and community organisations, as well as Council staff, for their hard work and assistance in protecting and supporting our local communities.

“We appreciate the patience and understanding of our community during these temporary closures,” Mr Macdonald said.

“Our teams have worked diligently to ensure the safety of all facilities and to restore services as quickly as possible.

“Residents are reminded there are still several road closures in place and, if possible, delay non-essential travel, and never drive through floodwater.

“Minimising travel on our rural roads while they are saturated will assist a quicker recovery for our region.

“We are working closely with State and Federal government representatives to advocate for the support our community needs to recover from the ex-tropical cyclone’s effects.”

Residents are encouraged to check Council’s website or phone 6660 0300 for further information, or to confirm specific hours of operation.