Rodney Stevens
A meeting called by the Yamba Community Action Network (CAN) has sent a strong message to Clarence Valley Council – the community is totally opposed to any sale of the Wooli Street Hall and Yamba Library.
The meeting at the Treelands Drive Community Centre on November 15 was to address concerns and discuss options for the proposed sale of Wooli Street Hall by council and the proposed redevelopment of the Treelands Drive Community Centre.
Yamba CAN chair James Lamerton said the group invited Clarence Valley Council’s CVC General Manager Laura Black and all councillors to the meeting.
Four CVC councillors were in attendance, Mayor Ian Tiley, Deputy Mayor Greg Clancy, Cr Debrah Novak and Cr Bill Day.
“The fact that the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor were there, plus two councillors, was very pleasing,” Mr Lamerton said.
“They said they were there to listen only, that they were not going to respond to questions, and I can understand that.”
Apologies were received from Cr Peter Johnstone, Cr Karen Toms, Cr Allison Whaites, Cr Steve Pickering, Cr Jeff Smith and General Manager, Laura Black.
Mr Lamerton said the community’s opposition to the sale of the hall was unanimous.
“I pointed out to one of the councillors, not one person in the room supported the sale of the library and the hall,” he said.
When CVC announced it had received $22.6 million in funding for nine projects across the local government area from the Federal and State Governments’ combined Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund in July 2021, Laura Black said $11 million would be spent on the Treelands Drive Community Hub.
“The $11 million Treelands Drive Community Hub will improve the accessibility of services to the community, and include a library, a more efficient community centre, an art gallery, a dedicated youth space, visitor information hub, and commercial kitchen,” she said.
During October and November 2022, CVC held four Community Information Sessions, giving the public options A and B to choose between for the Treelands Drive Community Hub.
Option A was a brand-new purpose-built facility incorporating all of Council’s Yamba based services, completing the Yamba Community Precinct, funded by the sale of Wooli Street Hall.
Option B was a refurbished Treelands Drive Community Centre and extension to add the library to the rear of the building, which did not require the sale of the Wooli Street Hall for funding.
Yamba CAN board member Lynne Cairns made a presentation, questioning adequacy of community consultation about the Treelands Drive Community Hub, and highlighting an estimated $15.78 million cost for option A in October 2022, compared to $0 for option B.
The presentation showed how the costs increased for option A, illustrated the timeline of progress and questioned several announcements concerning the Community Hub, dating back to the concept design in CVC’s August 2018 council papers.
Mr Lamerton said Yamba CAN decided a public meeting needed to be held to inform the community and explore further options for the Treelands Drive Community Hub.
“Of the 50 people who were present, most of them thought that options A and B were insufficient and didn’t give the community a chance to assess what was happening,” he said.
As a result, several other options were introduced at the meeting.
“The option to sell the hall, library and the land got absolutely zero support,” Mr Lamerton said.
“One option was to do nothing and give the money back to the Bushfire Relief Fund, as it needs to be expended by June 30 next year.
“Another option was for the current library and hall to be refurbished and investigations to see if a second story can be built on the library.
“Another concept was to link the Library and Wooli Street Hall and make them one building.
“There was also consideration given to keeping everything simple, as the markets are on once a month and entry and egress for stall holders and others is through the area.”
Mr Lamerton said he will approach the Birrigan Gargle Local Aboriginal Land Council for their opinion on the proposed Wooli Street Hall sale on behalf of Yamba CAN, as they have a claim on land next to the site.
“That is one organisation who are one of the biggest landowners in the area whose opinion is rarely sought on these matters and I think that’s very poor,” he said.
“I think it would be remiss of us not to seek input from them about how they feel about the use of the land.”
Mr Lamerton said Yamba CAN wants to be an organisation that can work with council.
“We want to be an organisation that the council feels that it can come to, we won’t be compliant and acquiescent, but we’ll be respectful and honest,” he said.
“We want council to recognise that they can come to us, and they will get an honest and a straight-shooter opinion.”