Clarence Valley Council held its monthly Ordinary Council Meeting on Thursday, 20 November 2025 at the Maclean Council Chambers.
One Mayoral Minute and four Notice of Motions were considered, followed by 16 of 22 items debated, and the other six adopted by consent in a meeting that lasted 4 hours and 49 minutes.
Free water slide tickets for primary school students
With two new water slides set to open on Saturday, 20 December 2025, Councillor Allison Bryant put forward a motion to offer 250 complimentary water slide tickets to be distributed via the local primary schools, pro rata to their enrolment numbers and be redeemable through the NSW December and January school holidays.
Entry to the slides has been set at $12 for a 3-hour session with two sessions, morning (9am – 12noon) and afternoon (1pm – 4pm), during weekends, school holidays and weekends. During school terms, there will be two afternoon sessions (1pm – 4pm and 3pm – 6pm).
A total of $3.2 million has been allocated to create the two fun water slides, including $1.6 million in grant funding through the Australian Government's Growing Regions Program. The green and yellow slide will be 78m long, and the red and blue will be 85m with an extra 11m run off on both.
Tender awarded for Maclean Netball Court Redevelopment
Advantage Sports Constructions has been awarded the tender for the redevelopment of the Maclean Netball Court at a cost of $1,291,676 to be funded under the Australian Government's Play Our Program Stream 1 Facilities, Clarence Valley Council Operation Plan 2025/2026 and a cash contribution from the Lower Clarence Netball Association.
Currently home to the Lower Clarence Netball Association for regular competition, carnivals and programs, the courts have reached the end of their useful lives, leading to reduced capacity, utilisation, safety and user experience.
The proposed redevelopment aims to create a quality facility and an improved participation experience. Major works include the construction of six new outdoor netball courts with court lighting that meet a regional level standard.
Councillors approved the tender by exception.
2024/2025 Annual Report released
Clarence Valley Council's 2024/2025 Annual Report will be available to view online after councillors endorsed the document at the November Ordinary Council Meeting.
The Annual Report is a key point of accountability between Council and the community, as it outlines Council's achievements in meeting statutory compliance requirements throughout the 2024/2025 financial year.
Councils are required to prepare an annual report within five months of the end of the financial year.
Highlighted achievements include creating new and improved facilities, empowering people of diverse age, ability and culture, investing in infrastructure for the future, building sustainable visitation, protecting our vulnerable species and habitat, and delivering effective and efficient outcomes for the community.
The Annual Report also includes statutory annual reports as well as financial reporting.
The Annual Report will be available on our website - www.clarence.nsw.gov.au/Council/Our-performance/Annual-Reports-and-statements
Local Event Part Day for Clarence Harvest Festival 2026
Council will apply for a part-day local event day for Friday, 5 June 2025, between 1pm and 5pm, as per the guidelines for Local Public Holiday and Local Event Day applications, after councillors supported the officer's recommendation at November's Ordinary Council Meeting.
The proposal was placed on Council's 'On Exhibition' page for 28 days for residents to make a submission. Eight submissions were made, mostly in support of the half-day event day with one worried about the increased costs to businesses if it is applied for as a public holiday.
By making it a Local Event Day, it will not be declared a public holiday for work purposes.
Heritage buildings to benefit from Clarence Valley Heritage Assistance Grants
Ten homeowners and one business will have financial assistance to complete important maintenance and conservation works on heritage items and contributory historic buildings. Projects funded through the program include replacement of roof gables and features, painting, fencing repairs, replacement of eroded timber and repair of the Cupota, which holds the bell above the clock tower at the Grafton Post Office. Councillors voted to support option two of the officer's recommendation, with an allocation of $10,000 for Application 5 Grafton Post Office Cupola restoration on the basis of high public benefit, access and visibility of a highly significant heritage item, and have $2,000 allocated to the preservation of the steam roller at Gordon Wingfield Park.
The grant programme is funded by Council with a contribution from Heritage NSW. Each year available funds are prioritised to a different area and rotated around the Clarence Valley. This year the priority area was Grafton and South Grafton Heritage Conservation Areas.
