Clarence Valley Council held its monthly Ordinary Council Meeting on Thursday 18 December at the Grafton Council Chambers. One Mayoral Minute and five Notice of Motions were considered, followed by 13 items debated and the remaining seven adopted by consent in the final meeting for 2025, which lasted 4 hours and 10 minutes.
Ordinary Council Meetings will recommence in February 2026.
Tenders considered at Ordinary Council Meeting
Councillors considered two tenders at the December Ordinary Council Meeting with the officers' recommendations going through for both tenders.
Council invited tenders in November for the relocation of Essential Energy electrical assets required to facilitate the widening and raising of the Yamba Road and Southbank Road intersection.
Councillors unanimously endorsed the officers' recommendations to accept the tender from Reg Latter Electrical Pty Ltd for $564,548.94.
This work is part of the Yamba Road Betterment Project, which is funded by the Federal and NSW Governments.
The second tender was for work at two sewage treatment plants – Coutts Crossing and Clarenza.
Council received two tenders, plus one alternative option.
Councillors agreed with the officers' advice to reject all tenders because the costs were too high.
Instead, Council will negotiate directly with Ledonne Construction Pty Ltd and Pensar Construction Group Pty Ltd. The goal is to reach an agreement for the Coutts Crossing project.
Any new contract will be reported back to Council for a final decision.
The officers also recommended delaying the Clarenza upgrade until the 2027/2028 financial year and considering the work as a day-labour managed project.
Community groups funded through Community Initiatives Program
Eighteen community groups will benefit from the Community Initiatives Program after round two of the program was endorsed by Council.
Organisations to be funded include Blicks Community Inc, Brushgrove Cowper Community and Sports Association, Clarence River Historical Society, Clarence Valley Conservatorium Inc, Clarence Valley Seniors Computer Club Inc, Clarence Valley Sports Awards Incorporated, Gillwinga Public School, Glenreagh Memorial Museum (a sub-committee of Glenreagh School of Arts Inc), Headspace Grafton, Lower Clarence Arts and Crafts Association Inc, Lower Clarence Community Radio Inc, Lower Clarence Music Eisteddfod Association Inc, McAuley Catholic College Grafton, Rockin' Robins Youth Group, Rocky Mouth Productions, Rotary Club of Yamba, Ulmarra Village Inc, and Yamba CWA.
Organisations seeking funding from Council were asked to apply under the Community Initiatives Program across four categories:
- Cash – towards the costs of small projects/initiatives;
- Rates Waiver – to cover the cost of general Council rates;
- Fee Waiver – to waive the fees of hiring Council venues;
- Educational institutions - $100 for awards nights only.
To learn more about the program, visit - www.clarence.nsw.gov.au/Community/Community-funding-and-grants/Community-Initiatives-Program
Special Events Sponsorship - Round Two
Seven events across the Clarence Valley will benefit from Round Two of the Special Events Sponsorship, after $39,000 was endorsed by Council at the December meeting, with councillors unanimously supporting the officers' recommendation.
Council's Special Event Sponsorship program has provided a total of $96,000 over rounds one and two, with $57,000 awarded to different groups in round one. The expected return on investment is in the millions to the Clarence Valley economy.
The seven events receiving sponsorship are:
- Wings and Wheels Open Day
- 133rd Maclean Show
- Brooms Head Beach Fest
- Grafton Dragon Boat Regatta
- 121st Maclean Highland Gathering
- Glenreagh Timber Festival
- Clarence Harvest Festival
Working groups established
Two working groups have been set up, with councillors approving the members of the Coast and Estuary Management Working Group and the Water Efficiency Working Group.
Councillor Shane Causley has been chosen as the Chair of the Coast and Estuary Management Working Group. The community members joining this group are Peter Maslen, John Sheraton, Peter Rose, Zoe White, Scott Johnston, Sonya Maley, Glenn Searle, Brad Clark, and Deanna Fernance.
The Coast and Estuary Management Working Group will help guide the development and delivery of Clarence Valley Council's Coastal Management Programs, which provide a long-term plan for managing our coastal areas.
The Water Efficiency Working Group has also been formed. This group will review the Regional Water Efficiency Implementation Plan each year and give advice to Council about the Regional Water Efficiency Strategy Plan.
This group will include Coffs Harbour City Councillor George Cecato, a representative from Clarence Valley Council, and community members: Brett Vercoe, Leonie Blain, Mark Purcell, Rhonda Coleman, John Edwards, Shane Whalley, and Shane Burgess.
Because there were not enough nominations for the Flood Risk Management Working Group, this group will not be formed at this time. It will be advertised again in early 2026.
Maclean Community Precinct project update
Councillors were provided with an update on the Maclean Community Precinct project up to the end of November 2025.
Work completed up to the end of November 2025 includes:
