Clarence Valley Council held its monthly Ordinary Council Meeting on Tuesday, 26 March 2024 at the Maclean Council Chambers. One Mayoral Minute and one Notice of Motion were considered and followed by 13 of 22 items debated and the other 9 adopted by consent in a meeting that lasted 3 hours and 38 minutes.
Loan Funding Supports Signature Projects
More than $24.7 million in new loan borrowings will be invested to deliver two regionally significant projects, Clarence Valley's contemporary Regional Aquatic Centre and the Yamba Community Precinct, a cultural and educational hub that will meet the needs of our community for years to come.
Clarence Valley Council's General Manager, Laura Black, said a report from Earnst & Young confirmed that Council has sufficient loan borrowing capacity for loans up to $88.2 million and that borrowing $24.720 million would see Council remain compliant with a conservative debt service range.
"We have operated within a conservative debt service range for some years now and it is rewarding that we are able to leverage off our low levels of debt and our prudent spending and investment strategies to deliver these regionally significant projects."
"And investing in these projects is important because the Regional Aquatic Centre and the Yamba Community Precinct will deliver artistic, cultural, community, social and economic returns that will benefit everybody in our community."
Ms Black said once completed, the Regional Aquatic Centre would provide our local economy with a new sports tourism opportunity and attract sporting organisations from across the North Coast wanting to hold events, competitions, and training camps at the new facility.
"The Aquatic Centre will feature two 25-metre heated indoor pools, a 50-metre outdoor pool and grandstand, and all-ability accessible public facilities so that our seniors, people with a disability, families and children can easily enjoy going for a swim all year round."
Ms Black said the Yamba Community Precinct Project would also provide the residents of Yamba and the communities of surrounding villages with access to a purpose-built community hub where people, information, ideas, the arts, and technology could come together.
"The new building will feature a TAFE NSW Connect Learning Centre so local students and employers can have access to high quality training and support services to promote local job opportunities and provide our young people with the skills they need to live and work here."
"The new library will also be twice the size of the old facility and provide dedicated youth and art gallery spaces, eight meeting rooms, a commercial kitchen, accessible toilets and facilities and a new 43 space carpark to cater for the volume of visitors this precinct will attract."
Council Calls on State for STRA Support
Council has called on the NSW Government to support local councils dealing the opportunities and challenges the Short-Term Rental Accommodation (STRA) market presents, and for localised policy options addressing the impacts STRA has on housing availability, affordability, and the local economy.
Clarence Valley Council's General Manager, Laura Black, said the NSW Government had recently released a discussion paper regarding their initial review of their STRA planning and regulatory framework and had invited feedback from local councils.
"Clarence Valley actually ranks in the top 10 Local Government Areas with high concentrations of non-hosted STRA registrations across New South Wales, so it is important the NSW Government provides us with the policies, planning controls and data we need to make informed decisions."
"According to the NSW Government's own discussion paper there are 663 non-hosted STRA properties registered in Clarence Valley, and to put that into perspective Yamba tops the list with 368 registered properties and Iluka is second with 87 registered properties."
Ms Black said Council had previously nominated that R2 Low Density Zone areas of our coastal towns and villages be included within the areas subject to a 180-day annual limit for non-hosted STRA dwellings.
"That means STRA properties in Angourie, Wooloweyah, Brooms Head, Diggers Camp, Wooli, Iluka, Yamba, Minnie Water and Sandon are subject to a 180-day limit, however, the current framework does not provide us with the compliance tools required to enforce these limits."
Ms Black said further research and analysis was also needed to determine if local high concentrations of STRA properties were adversely affecting the supply and affordability of long-term rental accommodation in Clarence Valley.
"We are recommending that the government conduct an evidence based socio-economic assessment and develop a range of policy options so we can strike the right balance between protecting the character and communities of our coastal villages while supporting the local visitor economy."
Consultation Informs Lawrence Economic Community Development Plan
The Lawrence community were given the chance to tell us what they want to see over the next 10 years with the development of the Lawrence Economic Community Development Plan (LECDP).
The development of this all-inclusive framework will ensure all stakeholders including Government, businesses and the community are working toward a shared vision and aspirations.
Community and stakeholder workshops were held in the early development of the LECDP as well as an online survey to ensure all residents of Lawrence and surrounds had the chance to provide input on the plan.
Clarence Valley Council General Manager, Laura Black said a number of areas for potential improvements were identified throughout the community engagement process.
"Road upgrades and general pedestrian safety and accessibility around town was ranked highly as a top priority by most community responders."
"Specifically, the need for safer footpaths, pathways, cycleways and walking trails that are accessible so that our seniors, people with a disability, families and children can easily enjoy the Lawrence area as well as support the local tourism promotion."
Ms Black said signage and the entrance experience into Lawrence were mentioned by several community members with many keen to see a gateway experience into the township at the three key entry points.
"Increasing the engagement of young people was also high on the priority list for many in the Lawrence community. The implementation of public gym equipment, basketball courts, skate parks and more places for children to play was repeated throughout all of the consultation events."
It's no secret that the Clarence River is already loved by locals who desire more access, the riverside and the river itself could also provide a great opportunity to promote this natural wonder to the world and celebrate the town's connection to the water.
The Lawrence Economic Community Development Plan went before Council at its March Ordinary Council Meeting where it was adopted. If you would like to read the plan to understand the Lawrence community's vision, visit www.clarence.nsw.gov.au
Mayoral Minute: IPART Inquiry into Dam Safety
Mayor Peter Johnstone put forward a Mayoral Minute, recommending support to make a submission to the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) enquiry regarding a proposed Dam Safety Levy.
On 19 January 2024 Dam Safety NSW advised Council that the government has commissioned IPART to recommend a clear, cost-effective methodology for the dam safety levy, emphasising the financial sustainability and efficiency of Dams Safety NSW.
The Dam Safety Levy will be applied to councils with dams. This can prove to be a disadvantage for regional councils who may have many dams compared to city councils who may only have one.
This isn't the first time Dams Safety NSW has brought the levy to the Council's attention with a submission made by Council to Dam Safety NSW in 2020 highlighting this example of cost shifting to local government.
Mayor Peter Johnstone's Mayoral Minute was supported unanimously and a submission will be made reiterating the issues raised in its previous submission.
If you would like to read the November 2020 submission, it can be found in the March 2024 Ordinary Council Meeting agenda.
Local Aboriginal Land Council Benefits from Council's Donations Policy
A request for donation for Development Application (DA) and Construction Certificate (CC) fees for the Yaegl Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC) shed was considered at the Ordinary Council Meeting.
The DA and CC fees will be donated, in accordance with clause 8.1.2 of the Donations Policy which specifies buildings on private property by community based non-profit organisations. The Yaegl LALC is a key protector of First Nations culture and heritage and promotes awareness in the community of the culture and heritage of the area.
Meanwhile, Council's Community Initiatives Program is open until 30 April for not-for-profit organisations to produce new or continuing projects and initiatives for the benefit of the Clarence Valley community.
Incorporated organisations can apply across four grant categories (cash, rates, fee waiver and school) for projects or initiatives from July 2024 and June 2025.
For more information and guidelines, visit Clarence Valley Council's website.
