Councillors met for the final time in 2024 at the December Ordinary Council meeting held in Grafton on Thursday 19 December 2024. Three Notice of Motions were considered and followed by eight of 21 items debated and the other 13 adopted by consent. In all but one report, the officers recommendation was supported signalling confidence in staff knowledge and expertise.
Customer Satisfaction Survey 2024
A Customer Satisfaction Survey was conducted by Taverner Research Group on behalf of Council to track Council's performance in survey delivery, identify priority areas and evaluate Council's customer service and the community's preferred method of communication.
Since 2018, Taverner Research Group has conducted phone surveys every two years, reaching 400 residents living in the local government area.
The top-rated facilities and services for satisfaction in 2024 were libraries, lifeguards, sewerage and support for sport and cultural events. Meanwhile, the lowest rated facilities and services were development application processing, maintenance of unsealed roads, maintenance of sealed road and economic development.
This survey along with other consultation/engagement is used as community feedback to build the Community Strategic Plan, provide Councillors guidance in developing the Delivery Program and the organisation in developing the Operation Plan, including service reviews and the capital works program.
The 2022 and 2024 Customer Satisfaction Survey can be found on Council's website at www.clarence.nsw.gov.au/council/customer-satisfaction-survey
Yamba Library and Community Centre named
The new library and community centre has been named after councillors unanimously supported the officer's recommendation at the December Ordinary Council Meeting.
31 residents provided feedback via Clarence Conversations to identify a suitable name for the new facility with the responses identifying a strong want for 'Yamba' to be part of the name.
The name 'Yamba Library and Community Centre' supports the feedback from the community while also being clear and unambiguous, appropriate to the geographical location and reflective of the community's relationship to the place. It retains a consistent use of 'centre' with co-located services and allows for future naming opportunities of the broader precinct.
The Treelands Drive Community Hub (Yamba Community Precinct) is due for completion in June 2025, with the opening scheduled for 1 July 2025. The new precinct will create a spacious cultural and education hub including a library, art space, youth space, outdoor communal areas and eight flexible meeting rooms.
Community groups benefit from Round two of the 2024/25 Community Initiative Program
Twenty community groups will benefit from Round two of the 2024/25 Community Initiatives Program after Councillors voted on $14,841.05 in donations.
Successful recipients include Baryulgil Charity Sports Club Inc, Blicks Community Inc, Brushgrove Cowper Community and Sports Association, Clarence Canegrowers Association, Clarence Catchment Alliance – Clarence Environment Centre, Clarence Valley Conservation Coalition Inc, Coutts Crossing Preschool, CRU3A Men's and Women's Shed, Dundurrabin Public School, Glenreagh Memorial Museum, Grafton Community Shed Inc, Grafton Gem Club Inc, Iluka Community Garden, Lawrence Golf & Sports Club, Lower Clarence Music Eisteddfod Association Inc, Maclean – The Scottish Town In Australia Association Inc, Maclean Seventh-day Adventist Church, The Lower Clarence Community Garden Inc, United Hospitals Auxiliary and Yamba Community Action Network Inc.
The Community Initiatives Program is a Council grant that supports local initiatives put forward by not-for-profit community groups and organisations that enhance the quality of life in the Clarence Valley. There are four categories of support offered under the program including: cash, education institutions, rates donations or fee waiver.
Visit Council's website for more information at www.clarence.nsw.gov.au/Community/Community-funding-and-grants/Community-Initiatives-Program
Establishment of four Advisory Committees endorsed
Advisory Committees hold local skills, knowledge and experience to provide advise on developing and implementing the Council's strategic priorities.
At the start of each Council term, councillors determine which Advisory Committees are required to provide advice to assist the Council in achieving its Delivery Program under the Integrated Planning & Reporting (IP&R) Framework.
After reviewing the ten Advisory Committees established by the previous Council, it was recommended to consolidate them into four committees that align with the objectives of the Community Strategic Plan.
- Community and Culture: Resilience, arts and culture, open space and heritage, and community wellbeing and liveability.
- Economic Development: Strengthening and diversifying the economic base, business/industry engagement and development, tourism, housing, and public infrastructure.
- Environment and Sustainability: Sustainability and climate change, biodiversity and bushland, green power.
- Access and Inclusion: Creating accessible and inclusive facilities and spaces and monitoring the delivery of disability inclusion plan and active transport strategy.
A report will be presented to Council at the February 2025 Ordinary Council Meeting to where the Term of Reference will be finalised, and Expressions of Interest will be sought.
The report also highlights updates to the IP&R Framework documents, including the Community Strategic Plan and the Delivery Program.
The new Council is tasked with developing a Delivery Program that outlines key strategies for the duration of its term. A draft of this Delivery Program will be prepared and presented at the March 2025 Ordinary Council Meeting for endorsement, before being put forward for public exhibition.
Iluka Bowling Club inches closure to diversification
Led by Councillors Lynne Cairns and Karen Toms, council unanimously supported the planning proposal from Iluka Bowling Club to amend the LEP to allow future development of a motel or hotel of no more than 9 meters in height.
The area for potential development is the area at the front of the club, adjacent to Spencer Street.
Club manager, Nicola Donsworth, made a deputation to the council advising it of a decline in bowls patronage and the need for clubs in smaller communities, like Iluka Bowling Club, to diversify in order to survive.
The approval was the final step in a long process for Iluka Bowling Club and came after a period of public exhibition during which 41 community submissions were received, 30 of which (21 pro forma) were in support and 11 in objection.
The planning assessment officers report summarised the strategic (planning) merit of the proposal and advised that a DA would need to be submitted, assessed and approved prior to construction.
As Mayor Ray Smith closed the meeting, Councillor Allison Whaites took the opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas with Councillor Karen Toms echoing her also wanting to wish councillors, staff and the community a Merry Christmas.
