The biggest problem facing the Council this year has been coming to grips with the cuts in Federal Government funding of ATSIC against the continual call for funding from community organisations. This means that whatever decisions are made by Council, there will be some applicants who will complain they are not receiving their share of the funds available for distribution. In accordance with the above, the Regional Council have been as diligent as possible to ensure the funding available has the most beneficial effect across the Region, with allocations of funds being on a needs/priority basis.

This year has also seen a continuance of the co-operative approach between inter- departmental agencies, organisations and Aboriginal communities.

During the past year there have been a number of significant events which have taken place within the Many Rivers Region, which include, but are not limited to:

• construction of a new Medical Service Centre at Bellbrook community.
• opening of the Hobby Craft Children's Play Centre at Mindaribba Co-operative.
• completion of stage one of the restoration of Baryulgil, (which saw the completion of the restoration of the Asbestos Mine site.)
• successful Land Claim by Mary-Lou Buck on behalf of the Dunghutti People of the Kempsey area. This was the first successful land claim on the Australian mainland.
• working with the Department of Housing to develop a system which will make Aboriginal home ownership easier to achieve.
• we saw the placement of the first Aboriginal candidate under the Local Government Mentoring Scheme at Kyogle.

I feel that the appointment of Mr Don Fossey as the new Deputy Regional Manager of the ATSIC Regional Office in Lismore's a step in the right direction, particularly given his background in banking, and should assist this region glean all that is possible from the newly established IBIP program, and others. Don brings with him a wealth of knowledge which will assist Council in it's decision making process along these lines.

On behalf of the Many Rivers Regional Council I would like to thank the ATSIC staff of the Lismore Regional Office for their support and assistance during the last year and, given that our current Regional Manager, Mr Colin Kay will be moving to take up office in Townsville in December, I would like to thank him for his service in this Region and wish him all the best for the future.