The ongoing closure of the flood-damaged Casino Courthouse is hurting locals, and NSW Nationals MP for Clarence Richie Williamson, with the backing of Richmond Valley Council Mayor Robert Mustow, has called on Labor Government to re-open it ASAP.
Mr Williamson said the first priority of flood recovery was helping flood victims, but it was time to also restore key community assets.
“I fully support Mayor Mustow’s bid for the Casino courthouse to be reopened and seek any assistance to expedite the repair works required given the impacts on the local community and the economy,” Mr Williamson recently told the Legislative Assembly.
“The closure of the Casino Local Court is having a negative impact in many ways. The low socio-economic and high Indigenous communities, some of whom have very limited transport, are struggling to attend because public transport is almost non-existent.
“It is impacting family members who are needed at the court as support people. I believe that the operational impact on our local police force is now immense because local police officers need to travel to and from Lismore or Kyogle for appearances and court hearings.”
Mr Williamson said the ongoing closure of the court is having a negative economic impact on Casino because of the lack of court days, which would normally bring a high number of professional people to the community, where they would quite often stay for the night.
“It would be a great shot of confidence for the community if the court were reopened as soon as possible. It is a part of the healing and recovery process that is so important for my community,” Mr Willaimson said.
“I urge the government to do everything in its power to have the Casino courthouse fully operational again.”
A full copy of Mr Williamson’s Private Member’s Statement can be found here:
