Clarence Valley Council has called for expressions of interest from licensed real estate agents in Maclean to exclusively list and auction two Lower Clarence properties: a residential property at 237 Chatsworth Road, Chatsworth and the former North Coast Water building at 1 MacNaughton Place, Maclean. The properties are being sold as part of the council’s asset and land rationalisation process, as it endeavours to meet the NSW Government’s Fit for the Future requirements. The Maclean property has been the subject of disagreement among councillors. At the November 2016 Environment, Planning & Community Committee meeting, Nicki Holmes, Ian Saunders, Warren Rackham, Bob McPherson, Ian McLennan and Peter Gordon, who were representing various community organisations, made deputations to retain the property. Their pleas were enough convince councillors Simmons, Clancy and Ellem – councillors Baker and Williamson were opposed – to support Cr Clancy’s bid to “carry out further public consultation with the community to determine the best use of 1 MacNaughton Place, Maclean”. However, at the following week’s full council meeting, only Cr Novak was of the same opinion, with councillors Kingsley, Toms and Lysaught siding with councillors Williamson and Baker, to excise any further public consultation from the resolution. The general manager has been delegated to execute the contract on auction day where the sale reaches the reserve price and to take instruction from a delegated party of council on auction day on any offers below the reserve price. Expression of interest submissions will be accepted via the Maclean chamber’s tender box at until 3pm Friday May 5.