Clarence Valley Council held its monthly Ordinary Council Meeting on Tuesday, 28 February 2023 at Maclean Council Chambers. One Notice of Motion was discussed followed by 12 of 27 items debated and the other 15 adopted by consent in a meeting which lasted two hours 23 minutes.
>> WATCH RECORDING OF FEBRUARY 2023 CLARENCE VALLEY COUNCIL MEETING HERE
Mayor Ian Tiley opened the meeting with two Motions of Condolence for two prominent Clarence Valley women who recently passed away:
- Margaret McKenna, who served as a Clarence Valley councillor from 2008 to 2016, passed away on 21 January. She was schooled at McAuley Catholic College, and was an accountant with her own business Margaret McKenna and Associates. She was a member of Grafton Rotary, devoted a lot of time to volunteering, and one time was the publican at Walkers Hotel South Grafton, which she substantially renovated.
"Margaret was a committed and competent councillor who loved the cut and thrust of debate," Mayor Tiley said.
- Connie De Dassall brought the magic and love of music to the lives of many, especially to students at the Maclean Music Academy. The Lower Clarence icon and mother of eight passed away on 22 January at the age of 81.
"She was always pleased to observe how music had a positive impact on all of her students lives over the years as their confidence levels grew," Mayor Tiley said.
Rates giveaway to promote switch to paperless delivery
One lucky Clarence Valley residential ratepayer will have the chance to win $1500 off their rates this year with our Win Your Rates competition.
To be in the running, simply visit www.clarence.nsw.gov.au/Register-for-eNotices and complete the electronic rates registration process before 30 June.
If you need a hand to register, please call our Customer Service team on 6643 0200 and someone will guide you through the process.
The Win Your Rates promotion is aimed at reducing Council's printing and postage costs. People already signed up for eNotices will automatically go into the draw.
- When you sign up for eNotices you will receive an email with your rates notice attached, and you can log into eNotices to view at any time.
Reconciliation Action Plan back on the agenda
Council's Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) will be submitted to Reconciliation Australia for initial feedback and endorsements.
Cr Steve Pickering successfully moved a Notice of Motion to resume the process after a decision in April 2022 to defer pending consultation with the Clarence Valley Aboriginal Consultative Committee (CVACC). The CVACC has since been dissolved and replaced by a series of regular Aboriginal Community Round Table meetings in Yamba, Maclean, Grafton and Baryuglgil/Malabugilmah.
Once endorsed, the RAP will be put out to community consultation and presented to the round table meetings.
In a separate item, the following councillors were elected to chair/deputise the respective round table meetings:
- Yamba - Cr Karen Toms
- Maclean - Cr Debrah Novak/Cr Steve Pickering
- Grafton - Cr Peter Johnstone/Cr Greg Clancy
- Baryulgil/Malabugilmah - Cr Steve Pickering/Cr Debrah Novak
Mayor Ian Tiley will chair meetings with the Local Aboriginal Land Councils and Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporations scheduled to take place in October.
Draft Green Infrastructure Strategy on exhibition
Cr Jeff Smith expressed his excitement to see the draft Green Infrastructure Strategy (GIS), which Council endorsed for public exhibition, presented to Council. He indicated his desire to push back against the prevalence of residential developments with minimal greenspace as a factor in his decision to become a councillor.
"One of the reasons I ran for Council was I kept seeing developments that were roof-to-roof," Cr Smith said. "This is how we're going to make a small difference. This plan will increase the resilience and sustainability, and (provide) more enjoyable spaces for our communities."
The GIS will assist Council to achieve environmentally sustainable development outcomes within our current and future urban areas and improve liveability by creating safer, greener and more connected communities. It is one of four key strategies that make up Council's Local Growth Management Strategy, along with the Employment Land Strategy, Rural Lands Strategy, and Housing Strategy (currently being developed).
Click here to view the Green Infrastructure Strategy and other items currently on public exhibition.
Construction of filtration plant part of approved masterplan
Council will commence the planning approval process for future construction of a filtration plant after the Rushforth Road Water Treatment Plant Masterplan was noted without debate at the February meeting.
The first step will involve calling for tenders to undertake an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), as the filtration plant is classified as a State Significant Development due to its construction cost. The EIS does not commit Council undertake future works, but once approved will permit works to commence.
The estimated construction cost of the filtration plant is $63.8 million with a variance of 30 per cent, and operating cost of $2.1 million per year. Should Council resolve to proceed with construction, detailed financial modelling would need to be undertaken to determine the water charge pricing path to deliver the project, and loans would likely be required to fund the project.
ABOVE: Masterplan of Rushforth Road Water Treatment Plant prepared by consultant Beca H2O.
2022/23 Special Event Sponsorship - Round Two
A total of $29,000 in sponsorship funding will be provided to 11 community organisations as part of Round Two of the 2022/23 Special Events Sponsorship program:
- GDOC April Scentwork Trial, 01-02 April (Grafton Dog Obedience Club Inc) - $1,000
- 118th Maclean Highland Gathering, 07-08 April (Lower Clarence Scottish Association Inc) - $6,500
- Grafton Show, 28-29 April (Clarence Pastoral & Agriculture Society Ltd - Grafton Show) - $2,500
- Lower Clarence Dance Eisteddfod, 28 April - 06 May (ower Clarence Dance Eisteddfod Inc) - $2,500
- Women's 59th May Tournament, 24-27 May (Grafton Ladies Golf) - $900
- Clarence Valley Camp Oven & Music Festival, 09-12 June (Nymboida Canoeing Ltd) - $10,000
- Wings and Wheels Open Day, 18 June (Grafton Aero Club) - $1,500
- Clay Target Shooting Carnival, 07-09 July (Grafton Clay Target Club Inc) - $500
- GSCC Annual Historic Hillclimb, 14-16 July (Grafton Sporting Car Club Inc) - $1,300
- Maclean Veteran Golfers Week of Golf, 17-21 July (Maclean Veterans Golfers) - $1,000
- Northern Rivers Aquatic Club Day, 23 July (Northern Rivers Aquatic Club Inc) - $1,300
The allocated amount of $29,000 is estimated to bring in approximately 12,810 day visitors and 6,620 overnight visitors, contributing around $5,013,330 to our local economy.
Meanwhile, junior hockey players Zayden Third of Grafton and Shanae Crispin of Trenayr will each receive $300 from the Cultural and Sports Trust Fund to support their endeavours after being selected to represent NSW at the 2023 Australian National Hockey Championships in Darwin from 15-21 April, 2023.
