Clarence Valley Council held its monthly Ordinary Council Meeting on Thursday, 21 August 2025 at the Grafton Council Chambers. One Mayoral Minute and four Notice of Motions were considered, followed by eight of 15 items called for debate and the other seven adopted by consent in a meeting which lasted three hours.
Supporting Rising Sports Stars
Council has approved donation of $300 to two up-and-coming sports stars to represent NSW, through the Cultural and Sports Trust Fund. Congratulations to Charlie Rouse who has been selected to represent the state at the School Sport Australia Hockey Championship in Canberra 2-9 August 2025, and Milla Stephenson who will represent NSW at the under 14s National Hockey Championships in Brisbane 5-11 October 2025.
Community reps appointed to advisory committees
Six additional community representatives have been appointed to the four advisory committees that provide advice to Council on issues relating to achievement of the community's aspirations as outlined by the Community Strategic Plan. They are Dan Griffin and Stephen Walton (Community and Liveability), Ronald Haggart (Accessible and Connected Infrastructure), Jenny Sherratt and Ken Wilson (Environment and Sustainability) and Kelly Harrison (Economic Development).
Timeline announced for water filtration
A potential timeline has been announced for design and construction of a water filtration plant for town supplies, with construction proposed to commence in late 2026 - subject to Council resolution following tender evaluation, funding confirmation and community feedback.
The project has not yet been given the green light, with several Councillors expressing concern about potentially borrowing an estimated $50 million, saying that there was a need to pursue further funding options such as grants.
Timeline/action |
Date |
1. Tenders close for reference design, procurement documentation, and Early Tenderer Involvement (ETI) facilitation. Council to consider tender award. |
October 2025 |
2. Expressions of Interest called for shortlisting potential design and construct tenderers. Council to consider shortlist. |
February 2026 |
3. ETI process undertaken with shortlisted tenderers. |
First half of 2026 |
4. Outcomes of ETI incorporated into final tender documentation. |
Mid-2026 |
5. Design and construct tenders called. |
June 2026 |
6. Community drop-in sessions held to discuss tender reference design, funding model (including loan options and water charge implications), and gather community feedback. |
August 2026 |
7. Council considers whether to award the D&C contract, having regard to tender evaluation, funding, and community feedback. Loan amount (and lender to be considered by Council at the same meeting as the preferred tenderer report. |
September 2026 |
8. If approved by Council a Section 60 application to DCCEEW (as per the Local Government Act, 1993) with preliminary design from the preferred tenderer. Note: Construction commencement is subject to Section 60 approval. |
Post-approval |
Support given for Palmers Island Rural Supplies Store Proposal
Council has resolved to support an amended planning proposal to the NSW Government for a new rural supplies store at Palmers Island.
The planning proposal by Pridel Pty Ltd seeks to permit an Additional Permitted Use (APU) for "Rural Supplies" over 4,500 square metres of the land located at 4 River Road, Palmers Island, via an amendment to Schedule 1 of the Clarence Valley Local Environmental Plan 2011 (CVLEP).
A previous proposal in 2022 reached a roadblock after Transport for NSW raised concerns about safety of the planned access via Yamba Road.
A revised planning proposal – with access via Yamba Street – will now be resubmitted to the Department of Planning Housing and Infrastructure, seeking a Gateway determination.
Call for half day off for Clarence Harvest Celebration Festival
Feedback from the community will be sought to potentially introduce a half day off for the Maclean, Yamba and Iluka areas, to celebrate the Clarence Harvest Celebration Festival(previously the Clarence Cane Festival).
Councillors voted unanimously to progress the proposal to make the event a 'public event', meaning people would be able to take half a day off work to take part in the festival, without requiring businesses to pay public holiday rates that would be associated with a 'half day holiday'.
The proposed event day would be on 5 June, coinciding with the Maclean Campcraft, or on 3 July which is the last day of the NSW public school term.
