“That concludes the business paper, so at 3.35pm I declare closed the ordinary monthly meeting of Council. Thank you for your attendance, and I wish you a safe trip home.”
And with those words from Mayor Ian Tiley, the Clarence Valley Council ordinary meeting held at Grafton on Tuesday, 24 March 2022 was completed in just 95 minutes.
Cr Tiley has introduced substantial changes to how meetings are conducted, including calling the business paper at the start of the meeting, which then allows councillors to adopt all items agreed upon by consent.
“It’s designed to enable us to focus debate on those matters where there are differences of opinion,” Mayor Tiley told the Clarence Valley Independent earlier this month.
In an address to staff, Acting General Manager Laura Black noted it was the quickest meeting she had witnessed during her time at Council.
“These meetings usually go for three to four hours at least,” Ms Black said.
Four timber bridges to be replaced
One of the 16 Council recommendations adopted by exception was for the replacement of four timber bridges.
The tender from Ark Constructions Group Pty Ltd to design and construct replacement of Coutts No.1 Bridge, Coutts No.2 Bridge, Skinners Swamp Bridge and Koukandowie Creek Bridge at a cost of $8,550,922.60 will be funded from the Fixing Country Bridges fund, the latter pending the re-allocation of Fixing Country Bridges grants.
Council to revisit sewerage options for Ulmarra
Council will survey the Ulmarra community to inform whether it considers options for sewering the village of Ulmarra including how it might be funded, which could potentially overturn a 2017 decision to not proceed with sewering Ulmarra.
Cr Steve Pickering’s motion for Council to survey Ulmarra residents to see if they want Council to examine options to sewer the village was carried unanimously.
“In 2017, a total of 14 responses were received, nine in favour, five against,” Cr Pickering said.
“Even though a majority were in favour, it still failed at council.
“Residents have been requesting for a long time to have this put back on the agenda and I just think they should be given voice.”
The North Grafton Sewerage Augmentation, which is required to be undertaken as a licence condition, is currently the highest Council priority for provision of sewerage in the LGA.
Section 60 approval under the Local Government Act is required before sewer is extended to any new town or village, and the State Government would require any proposal to sewer Ulmarra to be included in Council’s Integrated Water Cycle Management (IWCM) strategy before giving approval.
Councillors vote to include superannuation option
After some robust debate, Council voted 5-3 to support the recommendation for councillors to be able to include superannuation in addition to the remuneration received for performing the role of an elected member. Seven of the eight councillors present spoke, with the exception of Mayor Tiley.
Councillors have the choice to forgo the contribution payment, and have until 29 April to notify the Acting General Manager in writing.
Cr Jeff Smith led the opposition to superannuation on the basis of leadership and bad timing, explaining he found it “ethically obscene” to accept it given the suffering in the community from “bushfires and flood and Covid”.
“At some time in the future yes … but this is not the right time,” Cr Smith said.
The argument for superannuation centred around providing an incentive for people from all backgrounds, including young people and women to consider running for Council.
“We want to make sure that money need not be a reason that people would not choose to go on Council,” Cr Peter Johnstone said.
Cr Debrah Novak suggested the timing of the meetings, not the money, prevented many people from considering a run at Council.
“A lot of our people are suffering and it is not a good look to be putting our hand up for superannuation pay,” she said.
Crs Tiley, Clancy, Toms, Johnstone and Pickering voted in favour, Crs Smith, Novak and Whaites against. Cr Day was a meeting apology due to illness.
Council decides against additional member to NRPP
Council voted 5-3 against appointing an additional alternative member to the Northern Regional Planning Panel (NRPP).
Mayor Tiley and Deputy Mayor Clancy are the current panel members, with Cr Johnstone the existing alternative member, who attends in place of elected councillors who from time-to-time may have to excuse themselves from panel representation to avoid actual, potential or perceived conflict of interest.
It was recommended to add another alternative to cover in the event two elected councillors had to excuse themselves.
However, at Council meetings panel members must excuse themselves from items being put to the NRPP, and councillors agreed having four out of nine councillors leave the chamber for such matters compromised the democratic process.
Funding to help hockey pair realise their dreams
Grafton hockey rising stars Martina Williams and Mackenna Ensbey will each receive $300 donations from the Clarence Valley Cultural and Sports Trust Fund to assist with representing NSW at the 2022 National U18 Girls Hockey Championships in Cairns from 6-18 April.
The funding will assist the girls with player levies, travel, accommodation and competition when representing NSW at the 2022 National U18 Girls Hockey Championships in Cairns from 6-18 April.
