Clarence Valley Council held its monthly Ordinary Council Meeting on Tuesday, 24 October 2023 at Maclean Council Chambers. A total of 14 were debated and 10 adopted by consent in a meeting which lasted more than four and a half hours..
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⬛️ Council throws support behind local timber industry
Following a peaceful protest prior to the meeting led by proponents of the timber industry, the Maclean Council Chambers were packed with more than one hundred people either opposing or supporting a phase out of native forest logging on public land.
The recommendation from the Biodiversity Committee was presented to Council having been deferred at the June 2023 Council meeting.
The motion from Cr Greg Clancy, which called on Council to request urgent development of a NSW Government plan for the just transition of the native forest timber industry operating in State-owned forests to an ecologically sustainable plantation base, was defeated 8-1.
A foreshadowed motion from Cr Debrah Novak to establish an Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Advisory Committee was defeated 6-3.
Another foreshadowed motion from Cr Ian Tiley to acknowledge the importance of the logging industry to the Clarence Valley, note the industry’s long-term responsible approach to sustainable logging, and to take no further action on the matter, was supported 7-2.
⬛️ Townsend Community Precinct and Cameron Park masterplans
Masterplans for a community hub precinct at Townsend and a park revitalisation in Maclean have received the praises of councillors.
The Townsend Community Precinct Masterplan informs future development of an inclusive community space proposed to be known as the Townsend Collective. It will include a cultural hub including gallery and administration area, youth building, café, pre-school, maker space including extension of existing Men’s Shed, nature based playground, multi-purpose courts, car parking and pathway connectivity throughout the 5.675 hectare site.
“The concept plan is wonderful,” Cr Bill Day said. “There’s been a lot of interest in this project. The Maclean-Gulmarrad-Townsend area often feels a little forgotten. This is wonderful news and the public exhibition and consultation should result in a wonderful facility for this area of the Clarence Valley.”
The Cameron Park Maclean Masterplan seeks to revitalise the park located in the heart of Maclean.
“This is another wonderful project,” Mr Day said. “This involves the area of land in between the back of the main street, the bowling club and beside the IGA, which is quite a small but incredibly important space.
“The current facilities and design does it no favours and the concept plan looks very, very good. I suggest the local community look at what’s proposed, come up with some ideas and get back to Council.”
Each masterplan gained unanimous support to be placed on public exhibition for 30 days.
Council’s Open Spaces team, who prepared the masterplans, has been headed by Peter Birch, who retires from the Manager Open Spaces and Facilities position on Friday (27 October. Mr Birch’s replacement is former Senior Parks and Recreation Officer Rachelle Passmore.
⬛️ Have your say on future housing policy
Council has prepared a draft Local Housing Strategy and Draft Affordable Housing Policy. The drafts have been developed in collaboration with government agencies, social housing providers, industry and others.
Council wants to hear from you to ensure the strategy and updated policy will help meet the needs of the diverse Clarence Valley community, and provide for our demographic needs and growing population.
The are open for submissions until Monday 11 December 2023.
For further details of the draft strategy and drop in sessions, please visit Council’s On Exhibition webpage:
⬛️ Water security assurances from Water Minister Rose Jackson
NSW Minister for Water Rose Jackson has provided written assurance to Clarence Valley Council that investment in water infrastructure is a high priority, and that the NSW Government has no interest in privatising any water utilities.
The assurances were made in responses to letters from previous mayor, Cr Ian Tiley, and are published on pages 219 to 221 of the under Items For Information.
“I recognise that Clarence Valley has important water infrastructure needs,” Ms Jackson said in addressing water security and filtration. “I encourage you to work with the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) Water to identify other potential funding sources, as well as continue discussions about future funding opportunities under the Safe and Secure Water Program.”
In response to queries about why regional local water utilities were not included in a recently introduced bill that ensures continued public ownership of the Sydney Water Corporation and Hunter Water Corporation, Ms Jackson said:
“I can advise we did not want to make significant changes regarding local water utilities without adequate consultation with them. Where Sydney Water and Hunter Water are owned by the NSW Government, local water utilities are not.
“The Government has no interest in privatising any water utilities. We recognise the sovereignty of local governments to make decisions about the assets they own.”
⬛️ Three councillors re-appointed to Northern Regional Planning Panel
Mayor Peter Johnstone, Cr Ian Tiley and Cr Greg Clancy will remain as Clarence Valley’s representatives on the Northern Rives Regional Planning Panel for the remainder of the current Council term.
Mayor Johnstone, who was previously the alternative member, replaces Cr Clancy as a full member alongside Cr Tiley, while Cr Clancy is now the alternative member.
Meanwhile, in a separate item Cr Steve Pickering accepted the nomination to replace the newly elected mayor, Cr Johnstone, as the councillor representative for the .
