Clarence Valley Council held its monthly Ordinary Council Meeting on Tuesday, 22 August 2023 at Maclean Council Chambers. Four Mayoral Minutes and one Notice of Motion were considered, followed by 13 of 20 items called for discussion, and the other seven adopted by consent, one item in Confidential Business, and one Late Item of Business in a meeting which lasted one hour and 57 minutes.
Four Mayoral Minutes calling on action from the NSW Government, including to follow through on its agreement to transfer Armidale Road to Regional Road status, were unanimously supported.
- Watch recording of August 2023 Clarence Valley Council Meeting
- View the August meeting Agenda and Minutes
- Revisit previous meetings
Mayor Ian Tiley started the meeting with a motion of condolence to observe the passing of of Clarence Valley inventor John Dickenson. The man credited with paving the way for the modern day hang glider passed away in Sydney on 5 July aged 89.
“In 1963, Mr Dickenson built a water skiing kite (now called ski wing) that could be released at altitude,” Mayor Tiley said. “It was the first flown in public in the world at the 1963 Grafton Jacaranda Festival by a fit young athlete and superb water skier and daredevil, Mr Rod Fuller, while towed behind a motor boat.
PICTURED: Rod Fuller demonstrates the ski wing invented by John Dickenson on the Clarence River during the Grafton Jacaranda Festival in September 1963.
“Grafton deserves its place in history as the birth place of modern hang gliding, ultralight aviation and paragliding, along with the huge increase in knowledge of low speed flight that led to the success in human powered aviation.”
Mr Dickenson was inducted into the Space Technology Hall of Fame in 1995, received an Order of Australia in 1996, and was awarded the Federation Aeronautique Internationale Gold Air Medal in 2012, among other awards for his achievements.
⬛️ Council meeting start times pushed back to 3pm
Clarence Valley Council’s ordinary monthly meetings will now start at 3pm, instead of the current start time of 2pm.
It was considered by some councillors that the later start time may make meetings more accessible, and allow for more effective use of time in the mornings prior to meetings.
“I think it’s a good compromise,” Cr Steve Pickering said. “Even though it’s just a one hour change, it does mean that the morning can be left for other tasks … and give us a little more time before we move into the chamber and start debating issues.”
The next meeting, scheduled for Tuesday 26 September at Grafton Council Chambers, will commence at the new start time of 3pm.
“In terms of future councils, I’d just like to emphasise to the community that council times are set at the first meeting of the new council, and meeting times aren’t fixed and can be altered,” Cr Peter Johnstone said.
⬛️ Prince Street activation trial continued
The various changes made to Prince Street as part of the project will be retained, with a further review in another 12 months.
The economic recovery initiative was a collaborative project involving business, community organisations, Transport for NSW, Serco and multiple sections of Council. It included numerous initiatives including widened footpaths, raised pedestrian crossings, front to kerb parking, landscaping, planter boxes, lighting, storytelling through a range of mediums, and a highly successful Marketta event.
The changes were largely well received by the local business owners (13 of 15 indicated they would like to see the trial extended) and the community.
Minor changes will be made to made to maintain safety and amenity, including increasing the length of disabled parking spaces by relocating planter boxes, line marking and wheel stops.
Rediscover Grafton was fully funded by the NSW Government’s program to reinvigorate the Grafton CBD.
PICTURED: Widened footpaths and planter boxes have altered the streetscape of Prince Street.
⬛️ Projects nominated for Drainage Reset Funding Program
Council has nominated six key projects for the Disaster Reset program being coordinated by the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation in conjunction with the Department of Regional NSW.
The $5 million program aims to reduce the impacts of future flooding by cleaning out and repairing damaged drainage systems across the Northern Rivers.
The projects in no particular order are as follows:
- Taloumbi Ring Drain
- Narho Creek Crossing
- Headwall sealing works at Edwards Creek, Harwood Drains and other locations
- Reedy Creek
- Marshes Drain
- Rural drain silt and vegetation removal
⬛️ Cultural and Sports Trust Fund – Milla Stephenson
Grafton hockey player Milla Stephenson will receive $300 to assist covering expenses to represent NSW State at the 2023 Australian Under-13 Girls Hockey Championships in Newcastle on 22-29 September.
The assistance is drawn from the pool of $5,000 currently reserved for donations each year. Clarence Valley residents up to 19 years of age are eligible for up to $300 to represent NSW and $550 to represent Australia.
“Well done, great effort Milla,” Cr Steve Pickering said. “I hope you go really well,. Congratulations and thanks for applying for sponsorship.”
⬛️ Climate Change Committee recommends NOM for LGNSW Conference
Council will submit a Notice of Motion for Local Government NSW to lobby the NSW Government to legislate for manufacturers of new building products sold in NSW to declare the level of carbon emissions generated to make the product.
The aim is to enable consumers to make informed decisions about the carbon footprint of new building works, including renovations.
An original motion was recommended by the Climate Change Advisory Committee that included a clause to call for new development to offset carbon emissions associated with construction.
“This is the future where we do have to compensate for our carbon emissions,” Cr Greg Clancy said in defence of the clause. “I don’t see why new developments wouldn’t be in the same position as other industries who now have to offset their carbon.”
However, the clause was omitted in an amendment by Cr Karen Toms.
“I’m concerned the original point (a) would be adding costs to building that will make it even more difficult,” Cr Toms said. “The costs are going up enormously with building products and making it extremely difficult for people to build, and we need more people to build houses.”
The amended motion was carried 6-3. The Notice of Motion will be proposed at the 2023 NSW Local Government Annual Conference in Parramatta on 12-14 November.
