Clarence Valley Council held its monthly Ordinary Council Meeting on Tuesday, 27 June 2023 at Maclean Council Chambers. Three Mayoral Minutes and five Notices of Motion were discussed, followed by 13 of 27 items debated and the other 14 adopted by consent in a meeting which lasted two hours 47 minutes.
- List of recipients of Council supported activities
- Watch recording of June 2023 Clarence Valley Council Meeting here
- View the June meeting Agenda and Minutes here
- Revisit the May 2023 CVC meeting
⬛️ 2022/2023 Operational Plan adopted
Several documents under the Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework (IP&R) have been adopted for 2023/2024:
- 2023/2024 Operational Plan
- Resourcing Strategy; incorporating:
- Long Term Financial Plan (2023/2024 to 2032/2033)
- Workforce Management Strategy (2022/2023-2025/2026)
- Asset Management Strategy (2022/2023 – 2031/2032)
- 2023/2024 Fees and Charges
The Operational Plan includes a record $210.2 million Capital Works program. Historically, Council’s resourced capacity to deliver is approximately $60 million. The substantial increase is made possible by a significant increase in grant funding, in particular Natural Disaster Repair Works to repair 2022 flood damage. Find out more here
Councillors voted to include $25,000 to engage an independent financial expert to review Council’s current and planned future borrowing capacity, taking the budgeted deficit to $55,526.
- The IP&R documentation will be uploaded to the Clarence Valley Council website in the coming days.
⬛️ Tender awarded for $13M Regional Roads Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation of several regional roads in the Clarence Valley severely damaged by the 2022 flood and storm event has been given the green light, with the tender for $13.1 million of works awarded to Stabilcorp Py Ltd.
Sections of roads approved by Transport for NSW to be funded by the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements include Clarence Way, Eight Mile Lane, Iluka Road, Lawrence Road, Wooli Road and Yamba Road.
⬛️ Lower Clarence Flood Model
An independent high level review and validation of the Lower Clarence Flood Model Update 2022 modelling methodology will be undertaken. Subject to the review findings, the final report will then be adopted and placed on Council’s website.
Cr Steve Pickering moved the motion which included the review, despite the Department of Primary Industries having already positively reviewed the model and most councillors expressing confidence in the model methodology.
He explained there were community concerns that the consultant who carried out the modelling for Council has also conducted other studies for developers in the West Yamba Urban Release Area (WYURA).
“The review will hopefully alleviate people’s concerns,” Cr Pickering said. “The community wants to see an independent third party review this document to feel confident that the data that’s being expressed is accurate, concise and relevant. Using $10,000 to engage with a third party consultant will give everybody peace of mind.”
Adoption of the final report will allow preparation of the Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan to commence in accordance with the NSW Floodplain Development Manual.
⬛️ Green Infrastructure Strategy adopted
The adopted Clarence Valley Green Infrastructure Strategy will assist Council to improve environmental, landscape and open space outcomes within our existing urban areas and future development areas.
The strategy is one of four key components of the Local Growth Management Strategy to inform decision making for land use planning, development applications and resource allocation over the next 20 years.
The Rural Lands Strategy and Employment Land Strategy were both adopted in June 2022. A Community Survey is currently open until 10 July to inform the development of the draft Housing Strategy.
- The Green Infrastructure Strategy will be uploaded to the Clarence Valley Council website in the coming days.
⬛️ Mayoral Minute: Clarence Water Supply Security
Clarence Valley Council will call on the NSW Government to follow through on election campaign statements about the need for greater security for the Clarence Valley water supply, especially in the form of water filtration.
“By rights, the Clarence should already have a filtration plant to ensure a clean water supply,” Labor candidate for Clarence, Dr Leon Ankersmit, said in a article published by the Clarence Valley Independent on 1 March 2023.
“If Labor is elected in March, we can expect priority investment for this project from the Safe and Secure Water Program in partnership with local councils and the Federal Government.”
Councillors supported Mayor Ian Tiley’s motion to make representations, through Member for Clarence the Hon. Richie Williamson and NSW Minister for Water Ms Rose Jackson, for more information and support regarding the government’s election undertakings.
In a separate item at the meeting, Councilalso awarded the tender for the preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a filtration plant at the Rushforth Road Water Treatment Plant.
The EIS, to be carried out byEpic Environmental Pty Ltd, signals the start of the planning approval process for future construction of a filtration plant.An EIS doesnot commit Council to undertake future works, but once approved does permit works to commence.
