Rodney Stevens
Clarence Valley Councill will meet for the final time in 2024 tomorrow in the Grafton chambers with 24 items on the business paper for Councillors to tackle before they enjoy their Christmas.
Three motions have been put forward by Councillors.
A motion by Cr Debrah Novak to “Seek the establishment of an annual Sustainable Agriculture Small Grants Program to support our Clarence Valley Primary Industry sector” is seeking a report from GM Laura Black, while the second motion from Cr Allison Whaites calls for Council to support “Fair Pay for Nurses and Midwives” by writing to the NSW Treasurer, seeking support from the Member for Clarence Richie Williamson and making a Mayoral Media Statement.
In the third motion, Cr Allison Whaites proposes Council writes to Southern Cross University calling for the reconsideration of their decision to discontinue undergraduate art and design, contemporary music and digital media programs from 2025, and also urge Federal Members Kevin Hogan and Patrick Conaghan to restore equity to the cost of Arts Degrees.
The Corporate and Community section of the business paper includes items such as “Sale of Land for Unpaid Rates”, “Customer Satisfaction Survey 2024”, “Naming of the Yamba Library and Community Centre”, the “Community Initiatives Program Round 2”, “Annual Disclosures of Interest Returns for Council”, and “Update on Community Strategic Plan, Delivery Program and Establishment of Council advisory committees”.
Classifying the waterway at Yamba Quays as Operational is proposed in the first motion on the Works and Civil section of Council’s business paper, which if passed will allow Council to approve applications made by adjoining landowners to construct jetties and pontoons over the reserve.
Other Works and Civil items on the agenda are an application to approve Electrical Sub-Station and Underground Cable Easements for the new Fire Control Centre to be constructed at Grafton Airport, and the proposed closure of part of McGraths Lane at The Whiteman.
An application to convert an existing Angourie Restaurant into 2 Serviced Apartments is the first item on the agenda in the Environment and Planning section of the business paper.
Other items include an application to modify a DA to increase the size and change the locations of community facilities at a Manufactured Home Estate on Brooms Head Road at Gulmarrad, an amendment to the 2011 Local Environmental Plan to permit hotel or motel accommodation at 75 – 79 Spenser Street, Iluka, the Land and Environment Court Appeal involving Garrard Building Pty Ltd v Clarence Valley Council regarding the proposed 285 Lot Subdivision – 52-54 Miles Street, Yamba – SUB2023/0001, and the Appointment of External Members to the Northern Regional Planning Panel.
The CV Independent will report on the outcome of these items in our first edition back in 2025 on January 8.