Premium Content
Subscriber only The operators of a Richmond Valley sawmill are finally looking to restart operations, almost 18 months after it was destroyed in a devastating bushfire. A development application has been lodged with Richmond Valley Council for the site of the Myrtle Creek sawmill on Myrtle Creek Rd, and it is currently on public exhibition. However it is not for a full-scale sawmill. In documents lodged with the council by Graham Meineke of Lismore-based GM Project Development and Management, it states the DA is for a mobile sawmill that will primarily saw/dock logs for the firewood market . The operators will not use the main shed, which was partially destroyed, along with two saws, in the 2019 bushfires.
There has been a mixed response to a revelation of plans to keep the Wollumbin summit track closed for good. COVID-19 concerns were cited as the initial reason for closing the track to the peak, also known as Mount Warning, in March 2020. At that time, many national parks across the state were similarly affected by restrictions resulting from the pandemic. But as restrictions eased, the Wollumbin closure continued. The National Parks and Wildlife Service confirmed in January the extended closure was still expected to be reviewed in May this year.
Agency engagement was completed with several changes being made to the Planning Proposal, including the addition of an area of Zone E2 Environmental Conservation, he wrote in his report. As a result, there are no outstanding policy inconsistencies or objections for agencies which would prevent the LEP Amendment from proceeding. During a public exhibition period late last year, five submissions were received. These relate to road and water issues. While the submissions were not opposed to the proposal, they raised a number of valid issues which will be required to be addressed in detail at the development application phase of the project, Mr McAteer wrote.