Clarence Valley Council held its monthly Ordinary Council Meeting on Thursday 17 September at the Maclean Council Chambers.
Councillors adopt Significant Projects Book 2026-2028
Each Council term, Council adopts the Significant Projects Book outlining Council’s highest priority asset investment opportunities for the remainder of the Council term.
These projects are identified through Council’s long-term planning and asset management processes. They help address important issues such as ageing infrastructure, limited capacity, service improvements, and community needs. Council cannot afford to deliver these projects on its own, so funding from the State and/or Federal Government is needed.
Significant projects include Rushforth Water Treatment Plant Upgrade, Grafton CBD Redevelopment, Cameron Park Maclean Upgrade, Grafton Skatepark, Grafton Regional Saleyard Upgrades, See Park Masterplan and Upgrade, Glenreagh Precinct, Wherrett Park Skatepark, Hawthorne Park Masterplan and Upgrades, Yamba Road – Shallow Channel Realignment, Turners Beach Yamba Accessible Ramp, Riverbank Restoration – Maclean to Farlows Lane, Nymboida Fishway – Saving Our Species, Nymboida Water Supply Tunnel 2 Renewal, Water Pipeline from Grafton to Minnie Waters & Wooli, Brooms Head Revetment Wall Extension and two Clarence River Watermain Crossing in Harwood and Grafton.
Councillor Causley also included sharing the Significant Projects Book with our local State and Federal Members and seeking their support in advocating for funding and inviting the Minister for the North Coast, Minister for Recovery and Minister for Small Business, The Hon Janelle Saffin MP, to meet with Councillors and staff to discuss Council’s priority water security and safety projects and seek her support for funding to help deliver them.
Councillors adopted the Project Book unanimously.
Credit Card surcharge removed from Fees and Charges
The 0.6% credit card surcharge has been removed from Council’s adopted Fees and Charges follow the Reserve Bank of Australia’s Review of Merchant Card Payment Costs and Surcharging.
The review prohibits businesses, including Council, from applying a surcharge to designated debit, prepaid and credit card payment across eftpos, Mastercard and Visa from 1 October 2026.
The item was adopted by consent.
Community Halls Strategy adopted
The Community Halls Strategy has been unanimously adopted after going out for public exhibition for 28 days.
17 submissions were received during the exhibition period with 14 related primarily to Wooloweyah Hall and its community management arrangements. Of the submissions, the strongest themes were support for effective community-led management, affordable access, continued committee involvement in local operations and improved communication between Council and hall committees.
The Newton Boyd Community Hall and Swan Creek Hall will both remain closed to the public pending site investigations and a further report to Council concerning the future of each hall including the potential retention, repurposing, removal or disposal.
The Strategy was adopted unanimously.
Adoption of the Water Efficiency Strategic Plan 2026
The draft Water Efficiency Strategic Plan 2026 has been adopted after it was jointly exhibited by Clarence Valley Council and City of Coffs Harbour from 20 June to 20 July 2026, where two submissions were received, one from each local government area.
The Water Efficiency Strategic Plan provides the strategic framework for regional water efficiency planning.
In response to the feedback, a new section titled “Supporting Water Efficient Strategic Plan”. This section supports economic development compatible with the region’s long-term water security and encourages developments with potentially significant water demand to demonstrate best-practice water efficiency and consider alternative water sources and climate-resilient technologies.
The Strategic Plan was endorsed unanimously and will be made available on the Council website.
Aqua Fitness concession fee promotion
A four-month trial discount for eligible pensioner concession card holders attending aqua fitness classes at the Clarence Regional Aquatic Centre and Yamba Community Pool has been endorsed by Council.
The trial follows a Council resolution in June 2026 requesting a report on options to make aqua fitness classes more affordable for pensioners.
From 1 October 2026 to 31 January 2027, eligible pensioner concession card holders will be able to purchase a discounted 10-visit pass for $125 at the Clarence Regional Aquatic Centre, an 18.3 per cent reduction on the current price of $153, and $120 at Yamba Community Pool, a 16.7 per cent reduction on the current price of $144.
Council estimates that around 80 per cent of current aqua fitness participants hold an eligible pensioner concession card. The trial will allow Council to monitor pass sales, attendance levels, participation rates and revenue impacts to help inform consideration of any permanent concession pricing through Council’s annual Fees and Charges process.
Eligibility requirements and conditions, including proof of identification, purchase limits, transferability, pass validity and the treatment of unused visits, will be promoted prior to the discounted passes becoming available.
