Geoff Helisma
Clarence Valley Council (CVC) completed the transfer of its Clarence Care and Support (CC+S) business to Wesley Mission at the August 24 CVC meeting.
“The estimated 2020/21 Internal Reserve relating to CC+S is $3.2 million,” staff wrote in the report to council.
“This funding is available to utilise on future identified projects by councillors.
“If agreed, the proceeds from the sale of 2 Short Street Maclean will add to the funds available.”
This item was tabled at the July CVC meeting, at which councillors decided to “defer consideration of the allocation of the CC+S surplus funds … to allow for consideration of a list of priority community focused projects”.
Staff had recommended allocating all of the “$3.2 million to design and construction of Stage 2 of the Maclean Community Precinct, prioritising the Maclean Library relocation”, however, at the August meeting councillors supported allocating $2.7 million towards that initiative.
Councillors allocated the other $500,000 towards “priority pedestrian footpaths identified in the Pedestrian Access Mobility Plan for completion in 2021/2022 – 2022/2023”.
Councillors also approved the commencement of “planning for Stage 2 of the Maclean Community Precinct in conjunction with delivery of Stage 1” and allocated sale proceeds for 2 Short Street Maclean [the former CC+S premises] to Stage 2 of the Maclean Community Precinct”.
Councillors requested the preparation of a “report on delivery of Stage 2 Maclean Community Precinct once detailed design and cost estimates are prepared”, however, no specific time limit was set for its tabling.
Councillors will further “consider the related financial transactions to support these allocations in the October Quarterly Budget Review Statement”.
Debrah Novak’s attempt to include “inviting arts industry stakeholders to establish a stakeholder user group for the build of the Maclean Community Precinct” and to “officially note and minute in this resolution, that council maintains a physical presence to hold its council meetings within the Maclean Community Precinct”, was friendless.
Her points were removed via an amendment put by Cr Andrew Baker.
Establishing the detail of what to expect regarding the Maclean Community Precinct project is not publicly known at this time, because it was included in CVC’s successful Bushfire Local Economy Recovery (BLER) fund application, which was “subject to a decision of Cabinet and may be subject to Cabinet in Confidence provisions”, the Department of Regional NSW previously advised the Independent.
More will be revealed when CVC lodges a development application for the project.
CVC received $4,997,000 of BLER funding for phase 1 of the project.