Rodney Stevens

A number of Clarence Valley community groups have joined forces to seek advice over the approval of the controversial $34 million ‘Parkside’ development in Yamba’s Park Avenue.

Clarence Valley Councillors were split 4-2 in February 2022, when they voted to refer the 136 moveable homes, one exhibition home, clubhouse, swimming pool, gym and cinema, associated infrastructure and landscaping in the development to the Northern Regional Planning Panel NRPP.

The NRPP determines regionally significant developments valued at more than $30 million.

When the NRPP met in March they deferred their decision for a draft flood evacuation plan to be developed, then in July the panel again deferred a decision until a comprehensive independent flood risk study was conducted and considered.

Previous planning panel meetings heard serious concerns from experts and locals about issues including the impact of stormwater and flooding on nearby properties caused by fill on the 14-hectare site, drainage, stormwater impacts on the Clarence Nature Reserve and safe evacuation.

At the third meeting of the NRPP about the development application on October 26, voting was again split, 3-2, with Clarence Valley Council’s Mayor Ian Tiley and Deputy Mayor Greg Clancy voting against approving the application by developer Hometown.

More than 30 public submissions were made against the Park Avenue Hometown development across the three NRPP meetings.

Since the first NRPP meeting a groundswell of concern has enveloped the Lower Clarence community about development on floodplains, following the significant February and March events.

This concern is being pursued by the Clarence Valley Environment Centre, the Clarence Valley Conservation Coalition, the Yamba Community Action Network CAN, Valley Watch and other community groups.

Valley Watch spokesperson Helen Tyas Tunggal said the groups had come together to combine their resources and seek expert advice.

“We are putting all of the information we have together and seeking expert advice as to our options,” she said.

Just because the NRPP has given Hometown a ‘stamp of approval’ on the ‘Parkside’ DA, doesn’t mean the community has given up the fight.

“It’s going to take a little while to best assess what the community’s options are, because there are various possibilities about the next steps,” she said.

“When those options become known, then we can decide, based on our advice, the best way to go from there”.

“It’s not over.”

The Clarence Valley Independent has contacted Hometown for comment.