Rodney Stevens
Owners of four Maclean shops where the façade and awning is undergoing heritage compliant repairs will have more than $10,000 in fees relating to the hoarding and car parks taken up by construction waived.
A request to waive construction zone fees and potential development application fee associated with the urgent stabilisation and reconstruction of the façade on the four River Street premises was debated by councillors at the August 22 Clarence Valley Council meeting.
Cr Jeff Smith moved the officer’s recommendation which was seconded by Cr Debrah Novak that council;
- Note the request received from the applicant to waive all fees associated with the repair of the historic building façade located at 239, 241, 243 and 245 River Street, Maclean.
- Not waive all fees associated with the repair of the historic building façade located at 239, 241, 243 and 245 River Street, Maclean.
- Note the applicant has submitted an application for the 2023/2024 Local Heritage Grant Fund program.
When Cr Bill Day asked council’s Director of Environment and Planning Adam Cameron what sort of precedent would be set if council followed the officer’s recommendation, General Manger Laura Black replied that the officer’s recommendation is what council normally does, so it doesn’t set a precedent.
Then Cr Karen Toms then indicated she wanted to move an amendment to waive some of the fees associated with carparking, to which Ms Black replied, the amendment should be about what fees are waived and to what value.
Cr Tiley then ruled Cr Toms she would have to move a foreshadowed if she was wanting to waive any fees for the project.
Speaking for the motion, Cr Jeff Smith said he had been involved in works on heritage listed buildings in the past and “it is a nightmare” and costly for the shop owners involved.
“I’m open to debate and I’m open as far as the fees and the costs go, maybe we can meet them halfway somewhere,” he said.
Speaking in support of the motion, Cr Bill Day said the fees associated with the carparking that council applied were an incentive to get the project moving after 12 months of obstructing the carparking and he fully supported council’s fees.
“I believe council staff are totally right in applying these fees and getting this project moving and getting some compensation for the community for the inconvenience that this has caused,” he said.
Speaking against the motion, Cr Karen Toms said she was foreshadowing a motion to waive the fees associated with hoarding and carparking as the community wanted the project finished to restore the heritage aspects of Maclean and this was a way to assist the owners involved.
The motion was defeated four votes to five, with Cr’s Day, Tiley, Novak and Whaites in support.
Cr Karen Toms then moved a foreshadowed motion which was seconded by Cr Peter Johnstone that council 1. Note the request received from the applicant to waive all fees associated with the repair of the historic building façade located at 239, 241, 243 and 245 River Street, Maclean.
- Waive fees associated with the repair of the historic building façade located at 239, 241, 243 and 245 River Street, Maclean, in relation to hoarding and carpark to the value of $10,509.24.
- Note the applicant has submitted an application for the 2023/2024 Local Heritage Grant Fund program.
Cr Bill Day spoke against Cr Tom’s motion saying, “I don’t believe that the ratepayers and fee payers of this council would be terribly happy with this decision.”
Cr Toms motion was carried 7 votes to 2, with Cr’s Day and Tiley voting against.