Tweed Shire Mayor Chris Cherry is the new Chair of the Northern Rivers Joint Organisation after its first board meeting on Friday since local government elections in September.
Cr Cherry takes over the leadership role from Ballina Mayor Sharon Cadwallader, who has been elected Deputy Chair for the two-year term.
The NRJO board is made up of seven mayors representing the Ballina, Byron, Clarence Valley, Kyogle, Richmond Valley and Tweed Shires and Lismore local government area.
NRJO Chair keen to access government programs
It’s responsible for advocacy, political representation and cooperation on matters of regional significance and has five stated priorities: biodiversity; community wellbeing; a connected region; sustainable energy, water and waste use’; and a diverse regional economy.
The NRJO leadership announcement quotes Cr Cherry saying the group’s ‘purposeful collaboration’ is important now more than ever.
‘While we were recovering from waves of covid-19, lockdowns and border closures, our region faced the biggest flood in modern Australian history – the impacts have been devastating,’ Cr Cherry says.
‘Through the NRJO, we aim to access the programs and incentives on offer by the government that will provide our community in the Northern Rivers with the best possible opportunities to thrive,’ the NRJO Chair says.
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