The following Vision and Mission are the basis of Council's Strategic Direction (and reflect the input received from the community as part of the Community Strategic Plan processes):

Vision Statement

"The development of community and natural attributes of the area to enable a pleasant and sustainable lifestyle."

Mission Statement

"Develop our area with our community by effective leadership and efficient service."

Principles

The following guiding principles (which are regarded as essential elements for good local government) are to be utilised as part of the every day decision making processes, actions and management of Richmond Valley Council:

• good governance (delivers good performance, minimises risks, ensures transparency and accountability, and promotes efficiency and effectiveness)
• representative democracy and community support. (Council's direction/activities are to broadly reflect its community demographics and to have community support)
• sound policy (a strong and sustainable local government area requires clear direction via a policy and planning framework)
• sufficient resources (a vibrant local government area needs human and financial resources to implement its decisions and to fulfil statutory obligations)
• meaningful planning (planning is a process to translate community needs and aspirations into Council services. To be meaningful plans must result in actions and outcomes for the community)
• connectedness (a strong local government environment requires a high level of connectivity across all of the community)
• strong leadership (effective local government and outcomes can only be achieved via strong community leadership through Councillors and staff)

Values

In preparing the Community Strategic Plan it became clear, via the various engagement processes, that there were a range of "values" that the community sought to retain into the future; these are summarised in the following:

• a quiet , friendly and relaxed lifestyle
• access to natural attributes (waterways, national parks, natural bushland)
• open space and recreation
• wanting to contribute to the community
• economic diversity
• the expectation of community leadership

To see how Council plans to achieve these 'principles' and 'values' for the community, see the Integrated Planning & Reporting page.

Richmond Valley Council History

Richmond Valley Council was formed in February 2000 as a result of the amalgamation of the former Casino Council and Richmond River Shire Council.

The area of approximately 3,050 square kilometres has a total population of 23,000 and is growing at a rate of 1.4% per year (State average 1.2%).

The area was originally settled in the 1840s for pastoral use and the towns of Casino and Coraki proclaimed in the years 1855 and 1866 respectively. Commencement of development of the other villages of Woodburn began in the 1860s and Broadwater and Evans Head in the 1880s. Casino, in those days, was historically seen as the gateway to the region being built on the "crossing place" of the Richmond River. The area also has a strong association with the local Aboriginal population and Bundjalung nation and Casino has a long term history of being a meeting place for the Aboriginal people. There are many other areas in the region that have a high level of Aboriginal cultural significance, including Evans Head and the Bora Ridge area.