Rodney Stevens
Clarence Valley Council is calling for feedback on appropriate locations within the valley where boat building and allied industries can be based as it develops its Marine-based Industry policy.
The Marine-based Industry policy has been developed by council to facilitate new and existing businesses in the marine and allied industry sector, to create and retain highly skilled jobs, to improve opportunities for industry focused vocational education and training, for new or improved infrastructure to support industry growth, and to encourage increased use of the Clarence River and its port facilities.
Marine-based industries are very important to the economy of the Clarence Valley with two major employers, Yamba Welding and Engineering, and Polaris Marine Dockyards at Harwood, providing many local jobs, and the Clarence River Fishermen’s Co-Operative which sends millions of dollars of local seafood to market annually.
The policy includes criteria to assist in identifying appropriate locations within the Clarence Valley Local Government Area, particularly where access to navigable waterways that boat building and allied industries require, may be further investigated.
It also provides guidance for proponents who may be considering submitting a Development Application or a planning proposal that seeks to amend the Clarence Valley Local Environmental Plan 2011.
Council hopes the policy will result in greater investment in marine-based industries in the Clarence Valley, appropriately located marine-based industries, the protection of biodiversity, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal cultural heritage, commercial fisheries, aquaculture, oyster farming and recreational fisheries.
The policy is also intended to avoid, mitigate, or manage hazards associated with flooding, riverbank erosion, climate change, coastal erosion, and acid sulfate soils.
Council’s draft Marine-based Industry policy states the policy is intended to give effect to the Clarence local government narrative in the North Coast Regional Plan 2041 NCRP which recommends a focus on the Harwood precinct in relation to marine-based industry development.
“The policy has been adopted to provide broad direction to council and proponents when addressing marine-based industry matters within the context of the current planning framework,” the draft policy states.
“This includes any investigation into the suitability of current land use zones with waterfront land with access to navigable river stretches, permitted use of the land as outlined in the LEP as well as matters such as the suitability of a Lot(s) configuration of waterfront land currently zoned W4 (Working Waterfront).”
It is hoped that both existing and future marine-based industry businesses will support the commercial and recreational use of the Clarence River, such as commercial fishing and recreational boating.
The Marine-based Industry policy is currently on public exhibition until 4pm on Thursday, June 27, with submissions from the public and industry invited.
To make a submission visit https://www.clarence.nsw.gov.au/On-exhibition/Marine-Based-Industry-Policy