Clarence Valley News

Knock back for wetland sub-division

Published

1 year ago

1 May 2023

JeffG

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Knock back for wetland sub-division

By Tim Howard

A proposed six-lot subdivision in West Yamba has been knocked back because sewage flows coming from it could impact a conservation zone, which was also part of the development.

At the same meeting where Clarence Valley councillors could not support a notice of motion to move toward banning development on flood affected land at West Yamba, councillors voted 6-3 to knock back the proposal for this sub-division at 181 Carrs Dr, Yamba.

The proposal for six large lots, with a minimum lot size of 5000 square metres, was zoned R5 Rural, with a section of the sixth lot zone C2 Conservation.

It was the effect of effluent disposal on the C2 section which swayed Cr Greg Clancy to move to refuse the proposal and Cr Peter Johnstone to second it.

Cr Clancy was also critical of the Biodiversity Development Assessment Report for the site, which recognised threats to flora, mainly the forest swamp oak on the site, but failed to refereed a range of threatened animal species, including brolgas, which were know to inhabit the area.

He also questioned the suitability of the site, which was “basically a wetland” for development.

“It’s in a swamp of open forest which is flood prone as photos of the area taken in February/March 2022 show,” Cr Clancy said.

“We should not be putting houses on wetland, let alone flood plain.”

Cr Johnstone said his biggest issue was the C2 zone on the sixth lock in the development.

He said the area was important as a wildlife corridor connecting the Bundjalung and Yuraygir national parks.

“Building on that sixth site is going to cause damage to the wildlife corridor,” he said.

“It’s been confirmed we’re going to have sewage outflows onto the conservation area which means liquid sewage include human excrement and other chemicals going onto the site.

“And there will be the issues of residents dogs and cats will need to be restrained from going into 10% of the area.”

He said the the C2 zone would be in place for 50 years and the decision the council make which would allow building on the site would affect the area for 90s years at least.

“If we allow this develop to cut the wildlife corridor we’ll never get it back,” he said.

Cr Karen Toms warned the council could be opening itself up to a case in the Land and Environment Court.

She also accused Cr Clancy of coming to the debate with a closed mind after he said he had put in his motion to refuse before attending the site inspection last Tuesday morning.

Cr Clancy called a point of order and Mayor Ian Tiley, while not admitting a breach, warned Cr Toms to “temper her remarks”.

C Toms said she didn’t think Cr Clancy’s reasons for refusal would stand scrutiny in the Land and Environment Court.

“The experts on staff do not say things lightly in their reports, an now we have non-experts saying things have been not properly addressed,” she said.

She said the land was zoned R5 and was approved for this type of development.

But Cr Steve Pickering supported the motion, saying protecting the R5 and C2 areas was “asset protection” for the council.

“For the R5 to use a the C2 area to reduce impact shows the two don’t go hand in hand,” he said.

Cr Pickering was also unhappy that after an initial audit of flora and fauna had been questioned, the developers proposed a $251,000 biodiversity offset.

“Site 6 is in the C2 zone and if we can’t protect the environment on the site, that doesn’t sit right with me,” he said.

He said the idea that the threatened species, like glossy black cockatoos and black necked storks in the area could be preyed upon by neighbours cats and dogs was “a crazy thought”.

The motion was that council refuse Development Application SUB2021/0045 for the following reasons covered by Section 4.15 of the Environmental, Planning and Assessment Act 1979:

a) The land being a wetland (Swamp Forest of Swamp Oak) making it unsuitable for the proposed development;
b) The nine submissions raised major concerns about the potential for flooding, impacts of stormwater runoff and clearing of natural vegetation.
c) The likely impacts of the development on the natural environment;
d) Impact on areas of C2 zoning for some infrastructure.

Crs Clancy, Johnstone, Pickering, Ian Tiley, Jeff Smith and Bill Day voted for the motion. Crs Toms, Debra Novak and Alison Whaites were against it.

Caption: A section of the BDAR which shows the effect on vegetation in the area of the development.

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Clarence Valley News

Community group’s council audit delayed

Published

3 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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