Clarence Valley Council held its monthly Ordinary Council Meeting on Tuesday, 18 December at the Maclean Council Chambers. One Mayoral Minute and two Notices of Motions were considered, followed by 14 of 28 items debated and the other 14 adopted by consent in a meeting that lasted 4 hours and 44 minutes.
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Mayoral Minute: Grafton Base Hospital Redevelopment
Concerns have recently been expressed in the community and among councillors regarding the $263.8 million redevelopment of the Grafton Base Hospital being temporarily paused due to the updated Clarence River Flood Model adopted by Council in October 2023.
Mayor Peter Johnstone submitted a Mayoral Minute requesting support to write to the NSW Premier, the Hon. Christopher Minns, MP and the Hon. Ryan Park MP Minister for Health and Minister for Regional Health to have confirmation in writing that this pause would not stop the project progress.
Before the Mayoral Minute went to Council, State Member for Clarence, Richie Williams, had released a statement stating he had received good news from the Government regarding the project.
The Mayoral Minute was supported unanimously.
One of Councillor Debrah Novak’s Notice of Motions has recently been discussed across social media platforms. The question of who is responsible for erecting Christmas decorations and lights has been the subject of much community debate.
The Notice of Motion called to establish a set of guidelines for those interested in decorating CBD’s throughout the year.
A foreshadowed motion was moved by Councillor Karen Toms to defer the matter to February 2024 to discuss the possibility of being included in the annual Operational Plan 2024/2025.
Council’s previous role in Christmas decorations in CBDs has been offering traffic control as an in-kind support.
General Manager Laura Black suggested community groups wishing to decorate the CBDs could apply to seek funds through Council’s donation programs.
The original motion was defeated unanimously and the foreshadowed Motion was carried 6 – 3 with Councillors Clancy, Tiley and Mayor Johnstone voting against.
The matter will be discussed at a workshop in February.
Notice of Northern Regional Planning Panel for Grafton Fire Control Centre
Council received a development application DA2023/0627 for the construction of the Grafton Fire Control Centre at the Grafton Airport site located at 419 Airport Road, Glenugie.
The development application has been referred to the Northern Regional Planning Panel as the determining authority for the application. A public meeting will be scheduled by the Northern Regional Planning Panel for 20 February 2024.
Councillor Ian Tiley put forward a motion for Council to make a submission on the matter to the panel strongly supporting the provision of the fire control centre on council-provided land at Clarence Valley Airport. The Motion also includes that Council request NSW Public Works name the facility as Clarence Valley Fire Control Centre as it will become a Clarence Valley-wide facility.
The motion was carried unanimously.
BlazeAid to provide support to Nymboida residents
A proposal to apply for $50,000 under part C.3 of the NSW Disaster Assistance Guidelines 2021 and allocate $45,000 to support 15 BlazeAid volunteers was heard at the December ordinary council meeting.
Approximately 20 properties required assistance with fencing repairs following the Glens Creek Road bushfire in October 2023.
Nymboida residents impacted by the bushfire have requested the assistance of council to support the establishment of a BlazeAid base camp at the Nymboida Camping and Canoe Centre.
BlazeAid is a volunteer organisation that assists landowners with fence repairs following fire or flood events. BlazeAid has previously assisted residents in the area following the 2019 bushfire and 2022 floods.
Councillor Novak moved the alternative motion seconded by Councillor Ian Tiley which was carried 8 – 1 with Councillor Day voting against.
Ulmarra Sewer Investigations continue
Councillor Steve Pickering called the alternative Motion that Council place the Ulmarra Sewer Investigation on public exhibition for 28 days. Additionally, the proposal includes conducting another survey among Ulmarra property owners to gauge their interest in proceeding with the sewer project and to determine the extent of their financial commitment. The motion states that an in-person Q&A session with affected property owners will be held before initiating another survey.
This alternative motion aims to address concerns raised in responses to previous surveys conducted in June/July 2022, where feedback from some residents indicated that their support for a reticulated sewerage system would hinge on the associated costs for property owners.
The motion was carried with an 8-1 vote, with Mayor Peter Johnstone voting against it. Subsequently, a Community Engagement Plan will be developed to survey the community.
