Rodney Stevens

The decision on whether the Treelands Drive Community Precinct will be demolished to make way for a new $15 million development is yet to be delivered by the Northern Regional Planning Panel.

When the Northern Regional Planning Panel NRPP met on March 14 to decide on the development, the meeting was chaired by NSW Independent Planning Commission member Dianne Lesson, with Town Planner Stephen Gow and government executive Michael Wright.

The NRPP advised following the meeting it would publish its determination online within seven days.

When the CV Independent went to print the decision had not been published.

Clarence Valley Council CVC were awarded an $11.1 million Bushfire Local Economic Recovery grant in June 2021 and have since been advised the money can only be used to demolish and rebuild the 24-year-old Treelands Drive Community Precinct, not to extend the current centre, and must be used by June 30, 2025.

Following community consultation, council presented two alternatives: option A – demolish and rebuild centre estimated to cost $14 – $15 million, or option B – extend existing centre estimated to cost $8 million.

Lynne Cairns representing Yamba Community Action Network CAN made the first submission to the NRPP stating the Treelands Drive project, which has been on council’s radar since 2006, was always to extend the centre, and the first mention of demolishing the centre was in March 2022 (which became option A).

She explained to the panel councillors voted 6 – 3 in favour of option B, to extend the centre, at the December CVC meeting, which wasn’t progressed by council, until a recission motion of option B was passed 6 – 3 at council’s March meeting.

“Council requested Regional NSW approve amending the scope of the Maclean Precinct (another BLER funded project) from a full refurbishment to demolish and this was granted,” Mrs Cairns said.

“Why hasn’t option B been afforded the same opportunity as Maclean Precinct – rather than demolish.”

Mrs Cairns said the community consultation process for the project had been a dog’s breakfast for many years and the demolition process had been secretive.

“Since August 2018 there has been 9 reports to Council for this project,” she said.

“In those 9 reports the word “demolition or demolish” appears only 8 times.

“Not once was the word “demolition” in the report heading and has never appeared in a Council resolution.”

Mrs Cairns reminded the panel that the community want option B, to extend the current centre.

“(The) community is not wanting a Taj Mahal where funds will more than likely blow out,” she said.

“I recommend this development be deferred until all of the documents requested have been provided in an open and transparent manner and talk with the community.

“The community are voicing they don’t want the Centre demolished – fully refurbish the existing Centre and build a new library, carpark and accessible access.”

Mrs Cairns husband, Bob, a retired civil engineer and project manager reminded the panel they were voting on a project where no written confirmation is available that the Bushfire Recovery Grant has been extended to 2025 and no written confirmation is available to confirm the funds cannot be used for the more economic and financially viable option B.

“Option B allows the Council to fully refurbish and improve the Centre, build a new library, commercial kitchen and carpark without using special variation rate funds, developer contributions’ and without taking out a loan,” he said.

“It improves council financial viability into the future.”

Yamba resident Ian Warlters thanked the panel for listening to his “concerns about the Machiavellian process by which we have arrived at this point.”

“In May of 2022 I, as a regular renter of the Treelands Drive facility, was advised that there would be no bookings available after 30 Jun 2022 as the centre was to be demolished from 1st July,” he said.

“The staff obviously knew some months before any of the public that Yamba was going to get what the staff had decided – regardless.”

Local resident Les Reeves questioned the legality of the NRPP meeting, asking ‘aren’t all government departments in caretaker mode due to the looming election.’

Mr Reeves said ‘it was his personal opinion’ that we should be going for option B.

Speaking on behalf of CVC, project manager Daniel Ramsden said if council were to pursue option B, it would only extend the life of the centre by 10 to 20 years, while option A would provide 50 years of service to the community.

Mr Ramsden said in 2018 CVC undertook analysis to determine the feasibility of retaining and reusing the building.

“The building was evaluated as being too small for future use and requiring substantial modernization of all engineered services and improvements to leaking roof and glazing,” he said.

“As the original design was completed in the early 1990s it lacked efficient mechanical systems for heating and cooling and was not suited to reticulating substantial new power and data required in a modern facility.”

Mr Ramsden said by retaining and refurbishing the existing structure, any new buildings in order to meet all the requirements for the funding application would need to be two story, to achieve the required floor area.

The CV Independent will publish the determination of the NRPP in the next edition.