CALL FOR COUNCIL TO MAKE RIVER A PRIORITY

Ballina councillor Keith Williams is calling for a 1.5% rate rise to help fund $16 million worth of environmental works to fix the Richmond River.

He says the declining health of the river will have a severe impact on commercial and recreational fishing as well as tourism.

“The river’s in major decline, in the last couple of years we’ve lost almost all the oysters from the estuary from around the mouth of the river, that’s a really bad sign.”

A study has identified the river as one of the unhealthiest in the state.

Councillor Williams is hoping to garner support to fund the healthy waterways program at Thursday’s council meeting.

(AUDIO IN PARTS)