Clarence Valley Council held its monthly Ordinary Council Meeting on Thursday 20 August in the Grafton Council Chambers. Three Mayoral Minutes and 17 of 22 items were debated, and the other five adopted by consent, followed by four Notices of Motions.
⬛️ Citizen of the Year Awards Framework out for public exhibition
A new Citizen of the Year Awards Framework has been prepared to provide a clear, transparent and consistent process for recognising individuals and community groups who make outstanding contributions to the local community.
The framework brings together three key components: a governing Policy, Eligibility Criteria and an Assessment Matrix. Together, these documents establish the nomination requirements, define eligibility for each award category and outline how nominations are assessed.
Nominations are open each year to community members who live or work within the Clarence Valley and have demonstrated a significant positive contribution to the local community, and a committee is formed from councillors and previous year's winners to decide the winners.
The framework was developed following discussions at a Community & Liveability Advisory Committee meeting, where members highlighted the benefits of formal eligibility criteria and an assessment matrix.
Councillors unanimously voted to place the document on public exhibition for a minimum of 28 days and nominated councillors Cristie Yager and Peter Johnstone to be on the 2027 Awards Committee.
To view the documents and make a submission, visit: www.clarence.nsw.gov.au/On-exhibition/Citizen-of-the-Year-Framework
⬛️ Clarence Valley Cultural Strategy adopted
Councillors unanimously voted to adopt the Clarence Valley Cultural Strategy, noting feedback and updates made, following public exhibition.
Staff reviewed community submissions and incorporated a small number of amendments, while largely retaining the strategy's original direction and priorities. Submissions covered a broad range of topics including heritage recognition, cultural infrastructure, artist support, event programming, communications and community facilities.
The Clarence Valley Cultural Strategy 2036 was developed in collaboration with the community, and will guide Council's role in supporting arts, heritage and culture across the region over the next ten years.
Five key parts of the cultural ecology of the Clarence Valley have been identified as pillars of the Cultural Strategy. These pillars are First Nations Arts and Culture, Festivals and events, Creative careers, Places, spaces & Country, and Community.
The document will soon be available on Council's website at clarence.nsw.gov.au/Council/Our-performance/Plans-and-strategies
⬛️ Proposed Land Acquisition for Wooli Road Upgrade
Clarence Valley Council will begin discussions with the owners of three properties on Wooli Road, Pillar Valley, to secure the land needed to widen the road corridor and deliver a new bridge and associated infrastructure within the public road reserve.
The costs, including the associated survey, valuation, legal and conveyancing costs, is funded through the joint Australian and NSW Government Recovery Funding Arrangements.
Councillors supported the officer's recommendation unanimously.
⬛️ EOI to open for Wooli Street Hall
Following the opening of the Yamba Library and Community Centre in 2025, the former library and hall at 45 Wooli Street, Yamba, were advertised for lease through an Expression of Interest (EOI) process.
As a result of that process, the Country Universities Centre Clarence Valley entered into a three-year lease for the former library, with an option to extend for a further three years. The Gathering Church was granted a 12-month lease for the hall after discussions with Council staff, as the Church wished to trial the facility before committing to a longer-term arrangement.
Since the February 2026 Ordinary Council Meeting, the Gathering Church has advised that it would like to continue using the hall under a longer-term lease.
At the August Ordinary Council Meeting, Councillors considered the officers recommendations to note the rental investigation into the hall and publicly advertise an EOI for the hall, commencing in the first quarter of 2026/2027 financial year and concluding before the current lease expires.
To ensure a fair and transparent process, the Gathering Church, along with any other interested parties, will have the opportunity to submit proposals on an equal basis.
Submissions will be assessed against a range of criteria, including the community benefit of the proposed use, compatibility with other Council facilities, financial return to Council, proposed investment in the building, and the applicant's capacity to deliver the proposed activities.
Following the completion of the EOI process, Council staff will present all submissions received, together with a recommendation, for Council's consideration and determination of the hall's future use.
This process will enable Council to assess the available options and determine the outcome that delivers the greatest overall community and financial benefit for the Yamba community.
The Gathering Church's existing lease arrangement will remain in place while the EOI process is undertaken.
The officer's recommendation was supported unanimously.
⬛️ Townsend Collective
Councillors have supported a motion brought forward by Cr Andrew Baker to seek an independent legal opinion concerning the legal status and authority of the Townsend Collective project.
The motion asks for independent legal advice to determine whether the Project, or any component or arrangement forming part of the Project, constitutes or may constitute a public-private-partnership.
The legal advice will also seek to determine what further Council resolutions, approvals, statutory processes or other actions are required before the Project may lawfully proceed.
The next stages will help Council determine the best way to progress the Townsend Collective while ensuring appropriate planning, environmental, financial and governance requirements are met.
Council will continue to progress the completion of the Pine Avenue carpark, adjoining footpath and associated drainage works, including the portion within Lot 2 DP 1104128, in accordance with the determined Review of Environmental Factors and its safeguards.
