Full description
Richmond River County Council was constituted on 5 November 1920 under the Local Government Act 1919. (1) It was formed in the District areas of the Municipalities of Ballina, Casino, Coraki and Lismore, and the Shires of Byron, Copmanhurst, Gundurimba, Kyogle, Terania, Tintenbar, Tomki and Woodburn. One councillor from each of the 12 Councils was appointed to the County Council as a County delegate. (2) The Council dealt with the eradication of aquatic pests and noxious weeds. (3)
On 3 August 1945, the boundaries of the County Council district were expanded to include the Municipalities of Mullumbimby and Murwillumbah and the residue of the Shires of Byron, Kyogle and Woodburn were not included in the boundaries. The Councils of Mullumbimby, Murwillumbah and Tweed were to provide a County delegate. (4)
The County Council district was renamed the Far North Coast County District on 25 November 1959. The Council retained its functions regarding the destruction of noxious weeds. A separate County Council was constituted under the name of Richmond River County Council [II] to administer flood mitigation in the North Coast County District. (5)
A portion of the Shire of Copmanhurst was excluded from the District area on the 12 March 1969. (6)
On the application of the Municipalities of Ballina, Mullumbimby, and the Shires of Byron, Kyogle, Terania, Tintenbar, Tomki, Tweed, and Woodburn and including the Municipality of Casino and Shire of Gunurimba, on 1 October 1970, the Council was delegated the power and duties regarding the eradication of noxious plants. (7)
From 24 June 1981, the number of council delegates authorised by the Shire of Tweed was increased to two from one. (8)
The Shire of Copmanhurst was added to the area of the Far North Coast County District from 18 October 1989. (9)
On 1 July 1993, the Council was established as a body corporate under the Local Government Act 1993 (Act No. 11, 1993). It was required to have a governing body made up of elected representatives of its Constituent Councils. Part 5 of Local Government Act 1993 outlined the formation and operation of County Councils. (10)
The Council was the Local Control Authority responsible for administering the Noxious Weeds Act 1993 in the region. The Council had the following functions as to the control of noxious weeds in its areas:
- responsibility for the control of noxious weeds by occupiers of land (other than public authorities or other local control authorities),
- control of noxious weeds on land occupied by the local control authority and on certain roads as provided by this Act,
- to ensure, so far as practicable, that occupiers of land (other than public authorities or other local control authorities) carry out obligations to control noxious weeds imposed under this Act,
- to develop, implement, co-ordinate and review noxious weed control policies and noxious weed control programs,
- inspection of land within the local area in connection with its noxious weed control functions,
- to report, at the request of the Minister, on the carrying out of the local control authority's functions under this Act,to co-operate with local control authorities of adjoining areas to control noxious weeds, where appropriate,
- such other functions as may be conferred or imposed on the local control authority by or under this Act. (11)
On 21 February 2000, the Areas of Casino and Richmond River were amalgamated to form Richmond Valley Council. The new Council was to send two delegates to the County Council. (12)
The constitution of the County Council was amended on 8 November 2000 from 10 to 7 delegates. Each constituent council sent one representative. (13)
By 2011, the County Council was trading under the business name of Far North Coast Weeds. (14)
Far North Coast County Council operated under a service level agreement with Rous County Council, which was the larger county, to provide all administrative, governance, human resources, IT and support services. (15)
On 1 July 2016, Far North Coast County Council was dissolved with its functions and operations within the local government areas of Ballina Shire, Byron Shire, Lismore City and Richmond Valley transferring to Rous County Council. The functions outside of that area (Kyogle and Tweed Shire) were transferred to those respective councils. (16)
Endnotes
1. NSW Government Gazette No.195, 5 November 1920, p.6474.
2. NSW Government Gazette No.56, 7 May 1926, p.2007; NSW Government Gazette No.40, 22 March 1929, p.1358.
3. NSW Government Gazette No.56, 7 May 1926, p.2007.
4. NSW Government Gazette No.80, 3 August 1945, p.1396.
5. NSW Government Gazette No.139, 4 December 1959, p.3733.
6. NSW Government Gazette No.37, 12 March 1969, p.1040.
7. NSW Government Gazette No.119, 11 September 1970, p.3642.
8. NSW Government Gazette No.91, 24 June 1981, p.3392.
9. NSW Government Gazette No.105, 27 October 1989, p.8846.
10. Local Government Act 1993 (Act No. 11, 1993), ss.383-400.
11. Noxious Weeds Act 1993 (Act No. 11, 1993), s.36; NSW Government Gazette, Proclamation – Noxious Weeds Act 1993 (1993 No 65), p.3140, 25 June 1993.
12. NSW Government Gazette No.25, 18 February 2000, p.1284.
13. NSW Government Gazette No.148, 17 November 2000, p.11861.
14. Australian Business Register, Far North Coast County Council, https://abr.business.gov.au/ABN/View?id=26499482176 (accessed 10 January 2023).
15. Rouse County Council website, Our Organisation, https://rous.nsw.gov.au/our-organisation (accessed 23 December 2022).
16. NSW Government Gazette No.52, 22 June 2016, p.1516.
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