Emma Pritchard

Clarence Valley Council (CVC) Mayor Ian Tiley took the opportunity during the monthly council meeting on August 23 to address the recent announcement by Member for Clarence Chris Gulaptis to not seek re-election at the 2023 State Election.

Mayor Tiley spoke of the significant contributions Mr Gulaptis has made to the Clarence Valley since he was first elected 11 years ago and acknowledged his involvement and dedication in helping to deliver projects including the Clarence Correctional Centre, Harwood Bridge and second Grafton Bridge to the region.

“I first met Chris when the Maclean bats were at their crescendo, and he was the President of the P&C back in 1998,” Mayor Tiley said.

“He stormed into Maclean Shire Council in 2000 on the back of the bats and he was Mayor of Maclean Shire until the merger which occurred in 2004.

“He then was the first elected, but didn’t become the mayor, of the first Clarence Valley Council, where he stayed until 2008.

“In 2011 he was elected in a bi-election as the local member.

“He has achieved a great deal in my view.

“I acknowledge and thank him on behalf of the Clarence Valley community for his very considerable contributions to public life.”

The mayor moved from the chair that council convey a letter of appreciation to Mr Gulaptis for his service to the Clarence over the years before inviting Councillor Karen Toms, who has served on council for the duration of the local member’s appointment, to speak and second the motion, which she did “with pleasure.”

“Chris has been our state MP for my entire councillor life from 2008, and I think he’s done a wonderful job,” she said, prior to referencing an interview Mr Gulaptis gave earlier.

“He spoke about how difficult it is to be in public life,” she recalled.

“It was a big sacrifice for him and his family.

“As he said, you go to bed with things on your mind, and when you wake up you think about things.  

“That is an enormous contribution to our community.

“I’m hoping he can be a role model for perhaps someone else in P&C who wants to go further into public life and do more things for the community on a different level.

“Thank you so much for everything you have done for our community.”

 The proposal to put the motion of conveying a letter of appreciation to Mr Gulaptis was carried unanimously by councillors.