Clarence Valley News

Council inserts action plan into tourism blueprint

Published

3 months ago

8 May 2024

Liam

Clarence Valley Destination Management Plan

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Council inserts action plan into tourism blueprint

By Tim Howard

Rubber stamping a seven-year plan to manage and develop tourism in the Clarence Valley was never going to good enough for Cr Bill Day.

Cr Day, who headed the Clarence River Tourism Association for two decades, saw danger ahead when the proposal to put the Clarence Valley Destination Management Plan out for public exhibition came to the latest Clarence Valley Council meeting.

Cr Day said given the record of the council in tourism management, the plan would “collect dust” unless councillors committed to acting on its recommendations.

“They often collect dust unless it’s supported by annual plans that actually get down to the tin tacks, the budget, the staff resourcing that details of activities and projects,” he said.

He pointed to the failure of council’s first venture into tourism management after it shut down the CRTA in 2014.

“We haven’t had a current tourism strategy for three years,” he said.

“The last one was brought in in 2016 for a five-year period.

“I’ve gone through the 2016 plan and there’s things that were never done. There were things that failed miserably.

“It’s important that councillors get a grasp on what they want for the ratepayers money that we spend on tourism.”

He said the document about to go out on public exhibition was a “wish list” and a “word salad” but was also an important document.

“It doesn’t contain a lot of heart and a lot of things that are quite substantial receive one line in the strategy,” he said.

To beef up the strategy Cr Day moved that council:

endorse the Clarence Valley Destination Management Plan for public exhibition from Friday 26 April to 6 June 2024.
as soon as possible following this exhibition, hold a councillor workshop for council to review the plan and submissions received during the exhibition period.
receive at this workshop a 12 to 24 month plan outlining the funding and processes regarding Clarence Valley Tourism activities and options.

“This workshop that I’m proposing is, really, really important,” Cr Day said.

“I’ll certainly be making a response to the draft strategy.

“I might bring up a notice of motion yet, detailing a few more specifics about what I’d like to see in the workshop.

“There’s a new coordinator for Economic Development and Tourism, who’s just taken up her position in council.

“It’s very important that we help her understand where to start and what’s expected from tourism from us representing the council.”

Deputy mayor Jeff Smith, who seconded Cr Day’s motion, said it was important to include an “action step”.

“I’ve read a lot of reports, and a lot of them don’t have that action step,” he said.

“This motion does in that we’re going to have a workshop and just as importantly talk about funding and processes for the next 12 to 24 months what’s achievable and what can and can’t be done.

“It’s all very good to having a wish list. But what is realistic, what’s feasible and what’s going to actually benefit the valley and the economy?”

Councillors were excited at the tourism opportunities discussed in the draft plan with indigenous heritage, eco-tourism and the environment heavily mentioned.

But Cr Debrah Novak sounded a word of warning about how climate change could impact future tourism development.

She even posited a term “natural disaster adventure” to keep tourists coming when nature turned ugly.

“It’s perfect for tourists, but when it’s blowing a gale, flooding they run, so we need to have a plan B to support these tourists to stay here,” she said.

“Give them some other sort of natural disaster adventure and come up with something different that will actually keep our tourists here looking for a bit more opportunity.”

Cr Steve Pickering said the draft plan did have a “plan B” with emphasis on galleries, museums as alternative activities to exploring the outdoors.

But he said plan was designed to get visitors to explore areas the hinterland as well as enjoy the beaches and coastal activities.

He said an attraction like a paddle steamer would be an ideal link between these activities.

Cr Greg Clancy said he enjoyed the DMP’s focus on enjoying the region’s natural beauty but also the need to not “flog it to death”.

“They’re all all good things,” he said “And when they’re done properly and we protect what we’re what we’re trying to sell to the. tourists, I think it’s a win, win.”

Cr Alison Whaites said the planners had plenty to work with in the Valley and had done an outstanding job with the draft.

“They are doing a very good job of doing this and I encourage people to go and have a look to see what we’ve actually got,” she said.

Summing up, Cr Day said it was exciting to hear councillors talking so positively about tourism, but he added it was also important to ensure the tourism industry worked with the whole community.

“We need to focus on the troughs not the peaks when residents don’t resent tourism so much in those trough periods and we need to look at that,” he said.

Councillors vote unanimously in support Cr Day’s motion. It’s been on exhibition since April 26 and submissions close on June 6.

For more local Clarence Valley news, click here.

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Clarence Valley News

Community group’s council audit delayed

Published

2 days ago

24 July 2024

Liam

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Community group’s council audit delayed

By Tim Howard

A community group supposedly the target of a Clarence Valley Council audit in February 2024 over the cost of its interactions with council has pointed out the audit has not been completed. The General Manager, Laura Black commented, “I anticipate it will take a couple of months.”

The secretary of Yamba Community Action Network (YambaCAN), Lynne Cairns, said this week’s council business paper included a report, Council Meeting Checklist – update on actions taken.

The report revealed staff had not completed the action, the result of a council resolution at the February 2024 council meeting.

“On page 175 of the business paper there is a note next to the item,” Ms Cairns said.

“It reads: ‘Staff responsible for collating information have been diverted to prepare and respond to legal action taken against council by an executive member of YambaCan’.”

Ms Cairns said this was incorrect as no-one on the YambaCAN executive had taken legal action against the council.

She was aware of some matters concerning the council a member of YambaCAN had taken to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

“These matters were not matters concerning YambaCAN and the member who brought them was not acting for YambaCAN,” Ms Cairns said.

“I’m concerned this is some disinformation that somehow YambaCAN is responsible for delaying council’s investigation of its actions.

“YambaCAN is requesting an apology from council for the incorrect information in the business paper.”

The resolution read: that the general manager advises, by way of a report the:

1. allocation of resources required to respond to GIPAs submitted by YambaCan since January 2022.

2. allocation of resources required to respond to RFI (Request for Information) submitted by YambaCan since January 2022.

3. any cost implications of delays to delivering the Yamba Community Precinct project since January 2022.

The matter was passed 5-4, but debate was fiery.

Cr Karen Toms brought it as a notice of motion to alert the public to the costs the group’s GIPA requests and requests for information were incurring.

But other councillors said these costs were part of council operating openly and transparently.

Cr Greg Clancy was concerned the motion focused on just one group when council records showed it was responsible for a fraction of the requests.

“As seen in the listing of GIPA applications on council’s website, there are 22 GIPA applications and only six of these refer to YambaCAN,” he told the February meeting.

He also revealed YambaCAN had lodged a request for information, however were informed that there were 290 requests for information previously lodged by others that were waiting to be processed.

Ms Cairns was concerned that with the council going into caretaker mode on August 16, ahead of the September local government elections, council could not effectively decide on the matter.

There will be report on the outcome of this matter and other matters at council in next week’s edition of The Northern Rivers Times.

For more Yamba news, click here.

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Clarence Valley News

Clarence Valley Country Muster

Published

1 week ago

17 July 2024

Liam

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Clarence Valley Country Muster

If you are missing the country sounds from Tamworth, fret not, as the Clarence Valley Country Muster is just around the corner.

Expanded from two days to four, the event will start on July 25^th and go to July 28^th at 11 Coulters Lane, Ulmarra, near Grafton.

You will enjoy artists such as Jade Hurley, John, Lloyd, Jack Watson, Lindsay Waddington and Jamie Davis.

Special guest artists, Paul Ricketts, Winner of the Thornton Young Award and Nay McAplin, Winner of the Walk Ups in July, will also make an appearance.

Your comperes for the main stage will be Terry Gordon OAM and Ken ‘Chainsaw’ Lindsay.

And bring those nerves with you, as from 10.30am on Thursday, aspiring artists can take their turn on the microphone, with John Lloyd hosting the walk-ups.

All acts will be vying for a gig at next July’s event.

Now is the time to grab a group of friends or family members and book your spot by heading to their website www.cvcmuster.com.au or calling Wendy Gordon on 0432 741947.

Gates open for early arrival at the muster site on Tuesday, July 23.

For $120 per person, you can enjoy a full week of camping, camaraderie and entertainment at one of the best value-for-money festivals in the Clarence Valley.

Check out is Tuesday, July 30.

If you have a fire pit, bring it along as wood will be supplied.

There will be songs around the campfire, best dressed Christmas and party games and a big finale on the Sunday.

For more local Clarence Valley news, click here.

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Clarence Valley News

NSW BUDGET: NOTHING FOR RICHMOND AND CLARENCE VALLEYS COST OF LIVING CRISIS, BUT SOME WINS

Published

4 weeks ago

27 June 2024

Liam

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NSW BUDGET: NOTHING FOR RICHMOND AND CLARENCE VALLEYS COST OF LIVING CRISIS, BUT SOME WINS

The NSW Labor Government’s 18 June Budget does nothing to alleviate the growing cost of living problems in the Richmond and Clarence Valleys, although there is some good news for the region, according to Clarence Nationals MP Richie Williamson.

“Everywhere I go, every local I talk to, they all say the same thing: we’re struggling with rising costs – why isn’t the Government helping?” Mr Williamson said.

Mr Williamson said that he was all for working cooperatively with the Government, but there was mounting evidence Sydney Labor is “out of town, out of touch and the budget is out of control”.

“Calls to reinstate the $250 fuel card for regional seniors, students and apprentices have fallen on deaf ears, but Sydney seniors now enjoy $2-a-day Gold Passes on Sydney’s massive and massively subsidised public transport system as well as toll relief for Sydneysiders,” Mr Williamson said.

“Calls to save the Ulmarra ferry from Labor’s axe met a similar fate, at the same time as Labor is buying a fleet of new ferries for Sydney and took over another Sydney ferry service that has lower patronage than Ulmarra to Southgate.”

Mr Williamson did acknowledge the Government’s ongoing funding of the previous Liberals and Nationals Government’s Grafton Base Hospital rebuild, the allocation of $6.2m in the fight against White Spot disease in local rivers as well as a “welcome” $90m boost for the Resilient Homes Program, following the 2022 floods.

“These are crumbs compared to what Labor is lavishing on its Sydney heartland,” Mr Williamson cautioned.

“The Richmond and Clarence Valleys provide the timber for Sydney homes, the beef for Sydney dinners as well as the sugar and milk for Sydney cappuccinos.

“That needs to be acknowledged and we deserve our fair share,” Mr Williamson concluded.”

For more Richmond Valley news, click here.

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