Residents reminded to prepare for severe weather event

On behalf of NSW State Emergency Services (SES), Clarence Valley Council is reminding residents to prepare for damaging winds, large surf and heavy rainfall as Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to make landfall late Thursday/early Friday before it weakens on Saturday.

The Bureau of Meteorology is expecting moderate to major flooding for both the Clarence River and Orara Rivers from rainfall associated with Cyclone Alfred, which may cause rapid river rises.

Widespread rainfall is expected to continue into the weekend with heavier localised isolated falls likely. Hazardous surf with 5-9m waves is also expected throughout the week through to Friday with coastal erosion and elevated sea levels into Saturday.

Clarence Valley Mayor Ray Smith says its essential for residents to be prepared for any weather that may come to the Clarence Valley.

“Cyclones can be so unpredictable, it’s important that all residents are prepared for any weather situation that may follow Cyclone Alfred. It’s important to secure anything that could be blown around your property to ensure your and your family’s safety.

There are several sandbag self-serve stations across the Clarence Valley to assist with your preparations:

• Copmanhurst – 15 Prescott Street, Copmanhurst
• Coutts Crossing – Adjacent to SES building, corner Kangaroo Creek Rd & Moe McIntosh Way
• Grafton – Irene Street, Grafton
• Harwood – Under the old Harwood Bridge (Harwood side)
• Maclean – Maclean Showgrounds
• Ulmarra – Corner of Big River Way and Coldstream Street, near RFS (sandbag machine to be positioned soon)
• Wooli – Wooli Road, Wooli

Clarence Valley Council staff are currently following the Flood Plan Management procedures to prepare to respond to any community asset interruptions while working alongside the NSW SES.

Stay informed

• Download the Hazards Near Me App for real-time warnings and information
• Follow NSW SES on Facebook: www.facebook.com/NSW.SES
• Live Traffic: www.livetraffic.com
• Latest River Heights and Rainfall observations: www.bom.gov.au/nsw/flood/northcoast.shtml
• Latest NSW Warnings: www.bom.gov.au/nsw/warnings/
• Rainfall Forecasts: www.bom.gov.au/australia/meteye/
• Flood monitoring cameras: www.clarence.nsw.gov.au/flood-monitoring-stations

$34.2 Million Boost for Health Worker Accommodation in Northern NSW

Robert Heyward

Healthcare workers in Grafton, Lismore, and Tweed will soon benefit from new and upgraded accommodation, as the Minns Labor Government invests $34.2 million to attract, recruit, and retain essential health staff in Northern NSW.

This funding is part of the $200.1 million Key Health Worker Accommodation program, which supports more than 20 projects across rural, regional, and remote NSW.

Expanding Housing for Health Workers

The four-year program will secure approximately 120 dwellings across regional NSW, including:

• Newly built accommodation
• Refurbishment of existing living quarters
• Purchase of suitable properties, such as residential units

This initiative will help recruit and retain over 500 healthcare workers and their families, ensuring they have access to modern, sustainable housing while strengthening regional health services.

The investment builds on the success of the NSW Government’s previous $73.2 million commitment to key health worker accommodation across five regional Local Health Districts (Far West, Murrumbidgee, Southern NSW, Hunter New England, and Western NSW).

Government Support for Regional Health Workers

Minister for Regional Health, Ryan Park:

“The Minns Labor Government is committed to providing modern, sustainable accommodation for the key health workers who are the backbone of our regional, rural, and remote communities.”

“Strengthening our regional health workforce is a key priority, and this $34.2 million investment will help attract vital healthcare workers to Grafton, Lismore, and the Tweed.”

Member for Lismore, Janelle Saffin:

“This program is ensuring our frontline health workers have access to high-quality, sustainable housing when they need it most.”

Labor Spokesperson for Clarence and Tweed, Emily Suvaal, MLC:

“Housing remains a major issue in our region, and this investment will not only support our hardworking health staff but also contribute to the broader community by increasing local housing stock.”

Building a Stronger Regional Health Workforce

By improving access to housing, the Key Health Worker Accommodation program ensures that Northern NSW Local Health District can continue delivering high-quality healthcare to communities across the region.

This initiative is part of the Minns Labor Government’s broader commitment to strengthening the regional, rural, and remote health workforce—creating better conditions for frontline staff while boosting health services for local communities.

For more local news, click here.

Police called to council meeting

By Tim Howard

A protester whose actions required police to intervene in the latest Clarence Valley Council meeting has vowed to ramp up community civil disobedience.

A prominent council critic, Craigh McNeill, began interjecting during debate at the council meeting last Thursday in Grafton, causing Mayor Ray Smith to adjourn the meeting while police were called to restore order.

The protest occurred when the first item of business on the agenda was called, a Mayoral Minute dealing with the performance review of the general manager, Laura Black, which recommended she receive a 2.5% pay rise.

The protesters began calling out, objecting to the recommendation in the Mayoral Minute and making claims about Ms Black’s performance since she became general manager in 2022.

Mr McNeill and two other protesters left the chambers escorted by police.

Mr McNeill is the administrator for a Facebook page called The Clarence Forum, on which he has posted many criticisms of the council and its staff.

After the protest, a video was posted on it of Mr McNeill and the two others talking to a police officer outside the council chambers.

The police said no charges had been laid and the protesters were allowed to leave after giving assurances they would not return to the meeting.

But Mr McNeill has promised the protests would continue and has written to Cr Smith warning that there would be a protest at the next council meeting calling for a “no confidence motion” in the general manager.

“As part of our preparations, I am completing a Notice of Intention to Hold a Public Assembly to ensure safety and minimise impacts on the surround area,” he wrote.

“Could you please advice on the number of supporters you would need to see in order to consider moving forward with a ‘no confidence motion’?”

In the post containing the video of his interaction with police, Mr McNeill

A Grafton police officer speaks with one of the protesters, Craigh McNeill, outside the Clarence Valley Council chambers in Grafton last Thursday, after polce were called to the chambers to deal with a disturbance during the meeting. The image has been taken from a video posted on social media by Mr McNeill.

“Today, I stood up at a Clarence Valley Council meeting to address serious concerns about misleading information being provided by Ms Black to councillors, the state government, and the public,” the post read.

“Instead of being heard, I was silenced. The police were called, and I was told that I had created ‘fear and alarm’.

“Is this what democracy looks like in our community?

“When we speak out against potential wrongdoing, are we to be met with intimidation and accusations of causing fear?

“It seems that questioning authority is now a threat to public order.”

Cr Smith said he was pleased Mr McNeill had decided to go through the proper channels of advising him and the police that he was organising a public assembly at the next council meeting.

But he disagreed completely with the substance of Mr McNeill’s criticism of the general manager.

“I would refute completely any claims of misconduct by the general manager,” he said.

“And I won’t be supporting his request for a vote of no confidence in the general manager.

“Only last Thursday I moved a mayoral minute which endorsed the performance of the general manager and recommended a pay increase for her.”

Cr Smith said the decision had been reached during confidential session, but confirmed the vote had been tight, 5-4 in favour of his Mayoral Minute.

He also confirmed that two of the four councillors on the performance review panel had voted against the pay rise for the general manager.

The panel consisted of Cr Smith, deputy mayor Cr Greg Clancy, Cr Cristie Yager and Cr Debrah Novak.

Cr Smith said the during the process of the performance review panel meeting, there had been a consensus on the performance of the general manager.

There had been discussion of the process of the performance review panel and to give it some “tweaks” to reduce generic content and add more specific, localised performance indicators.

On social media Cr Debrah Novak said the protesters achieved nothing and councillors “had another cup of tea” while police spoke to the them.

“The three people who sought their five seconds of FB fame achieved zero,” she wrote.

“The police were called not because they were protesting, not because they were yelling at us, but because they refused to leave the chamber so that the meeting could continue with the important business of the day.”

Once the councillors returned to the meeting, the Mayoral Minute was moved into confidential session, on a motion from Cr Greg Clancy.

But some uncertainty remains about the decision as both the recording of the meeting and the minutes of it have not been released.

Cr Smith said he understood there had been some technical issues with the recording, but the minutes would be available by Tuesday.

For more local news, click here.

Police probe Grafton hockey missing money

By Tim Howard

Police are investigating the disappearance of a “substantial amount” of money from Grafton Hockey Association, president Lyn Newby has confirmed.

Ms Newby said police have been investigating the disappearance of the money since the association became aware of it at the end of last year.

A statement from NSW Police said detectives began looking into the matter in November.

Ms Newby was reluctant to comment on the amount that has gone missing from the account and who might be responsible.

“There’s a lot of rumour and innuendo flying about, but the association won’t be commenting until the police investigation has concluded,” she said.

But Ms Newby said the trail of the missing money goes back to 2019.

She said police have access to all the association financial records and the investigation was ongoing.

“They have told us the investigation could take up to 12 months,” she said.

Ms Newby said in the meantime Grafton Hockey could continue its normal operations without issue.

“In the short term we can operate normally,” she said. “Any problems are going to be long term, say when some major assets need replacement we might find ourselves behind the eight ball.

“The senior competition begins in March and we want to assure everyone that it will go ahead as usual.”

It will be business as usual for Grafton Hockey when competition resumes next month, despite a police investigation into how a massive amount of money disappeared from the organisation. Officials say the investigation would go back to 2019. Photo: Shirleyanne Blanchard.

She described the news as devastating for the tightly-knit Grafton hockey community.

“We’re a real social, community oriented organisation where people can get together and enjoy their sport,” she said.

“It’s just devastating for everyone involved in our sport.”

Ms Newby said it was shocking for people involved in Grafton Hockey for this to happen because it was an organisation where members had made massive sacrifices for the sport.

She said that when the association needed large amounts of capital to develop hockey facilities decades ago, some members had taken out mortgages on family homes to secure the funds.

Ms Newby said she was not sure if there was any chance of recovering any of the missing money.

“The police have not given us any indication that was a possibility,” she said.

Other figures involved in the sport have been tight lipped about the issue.

They have been stunned by the amount of money that appeared to have gone missing and the betrayal of the organisation.

“I hope the one good thing that can come out of this is anyone who is tossing up whether to play or not will decide to jump in have a game this season,” said a hockey figure who did not want to be identified.

A police statement said that on November 27 2024, police were notified of fraudulent activity in the bank account of a sporting club.

Officers attached to Coffs/Clarence Police District have commenced inquiries into the incident and urge anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

For more local news, click here.

1000 try waters at new pool

By Tim Howard

The test swim for the new Grafton Regional Aquatic Centre over the weekend attracted around 1000 swimmers to test the waters.

The pool owners, Clarence Valley Council, were pleased with the response, which included the first family to hold a birthday party at the pool.

A council spokesperson said the feedback on social media has been largely positive and indicated people like the new facilities.

Only one pool of the complex, the 50m outdoor pool, had been opened to the public while the work continues to prepare the complex for an official opening next month.

The pool should be even busier this week with booking for school swimming carnivals coming in.

The pool has been open to the public since Saturday and has resumed its 6am start to allow lap swimmers to arrive for their early-morning dip.

The canteen and amenities also began operations at the weekend and would be available for pool users from now on.

Council’s general manager Laura Black praised the work of the contractors and staff to get the centre open.

“You can’t wipe the smiles from our faces at the moment, we are thrilled to be opening the doors so everyone can enjoy the 50-metre pool,” she said.

Around 1000 Clarence Valley locals took the opportunity at the weekend to test the water at the Clarence Regional Aquatic Centre. The pool is part of a $30 million project on the site of the old Grafton Olympic Pool, which has been closed since September 2022.

“A tremendous amount of effort has gone into the redevelopment of the centre.

“From the initial design phase to securing funding and moving through the tender process, the progress made by Hines Construction and our local contractors has been incredible to watch.”

Clarence Valley Mayor, Ray Smith shared the general manager’s excitement,

“It’s fantastic that we’ve finished the 50-metre pool ahead of the summer’s end and just in time for the local school swimming carnivals,” Cr Smith said.

“The 50-metre pool is a major asset for our region, providing opportunities for fitness, recreation, and competitive swimming. I can’t think of another facility nearby that would best this one.”

Adding to the excitement, the centre proudly features stunning artwork by local artist Al Stark.

His unique panels have been installed along the 50m pool grandstand and will be a striking visual element to elevate the centre’s ambience.

While the 50-metre pool is the first area in the whole complex to open, Hines Construction and contractors are working hard to complete the remaining indoor facilities, including the program and leisure pool, splash pad, and additional amenities.

Updates on the progress and anticipated opening dates for these areas will be shared with the community soon.

The Clarence Regional Aquatic Centre project is jointly funded by State and Federal Governments in conjunction with Clarence Valley Council.

A formal opening and fun day to recognise all contributors is being organised for Saturday, March 22 at the Grafton Regional Aquatic Centre.

For more local news, click here.