Rodney Stevens
Clarence Valley Councillors have voted to unanimously support council making a submission to the Northern Regional Planning Panel to strongly support a $13.5 million Fire Control Centre being established on council provided land at the Clarence Valley Regional Airport.
In February 2023, the NSW Government announced $8.9 million for an emergency operations centre, co-located with a fire control centre to be built in the Clarence Valley.
When council received development application DA 2023/0627 for the Grafton Fire Control Centre at 419 Airport Road, Glenugie, and it was placed on public exhibition four submissions were received.
The submissions raised concerns about access and safety, additional traffic, contamination, adequacy of onsite wastewater disposal system, location of building to refuelling area and the suitability of the site.
As the proposed development is valued at more than $5 million, is on council property, and is considered a regionally significant development, it will be determined by the Northern Regional Planning Panel NRPP on February 20.
At the December 19 Clarence Valley Council meeting, Cr Ian Tiley moved a motion which was seconded by Cr Greg Clancy that council:
- Note that a public meeting for DA2023/0627 will be scheduled by the Northern Regional Planning Panel for 20 February 2024.
- Make a submission on the matter to the panel strongly supporting the provision of the fire control centre on Council provided land at Clarence Valley Regional Airport
- Request NSW Public Works name the facility the Clarence Valley Fire Control Centre as it will become a Valley wide facility.
Cr’s Tom’s and Pickering both asked whether the NRPP had the authority to name the facility the Clarence Valley Fire Control Centre, and Cr Tiley replied we can request that they use that name.
“The motion intends to make a strong showing of support for this facility,” Cr Tiley said.
“We’re talking about a wonderful, high-tech, state-of-the-art, emergency facility for the whole of the Clarence Valley and beyond, it’s a huge and very important project.”
Speaking in support of the motion, Cr Steve Pickering said this was a significant infrastructure project for the Clarence Valley that was well overdue.
Councillors voted unanimously to support Cr Tiley’s motion.