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.

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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:

1. endorse the Clarence Valley Destination Management Plan for public exhibition from Friday 26 April to 6 June 2024.
2. as soon as possible following this exhibition, hold a councillor workshop for council to review the plan and submissions received during the exhibition period.
3. 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.

Pool project on track, under budget

By Tim Howard

Grafton swimmers can look forward to a dip in their new $30 million pool complex later this year with progress on the Regional Aquatic Project on track and under budget.

At the April Clarence Valley Council meeting, Cr Alison Whaites, the council member of the community focus group for the project, thanked council staff and pool builder, Hines Constructions Pty Ltd, for keeping the project schedule for a December opening.

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And Cr Karen Toms was able to point to a cost saving that’s already been achieved of $20,893.50.

“That’s happened in a variation because consolidating the splash pad plant room with the indoor plant room,” she said.

“Those sort of decisions along the way possibly with the with the project control group, are fantastic and hope let’s hope we get some more savings,” she said.

Cr Whaites said the response to the pool progress had been mostly positive.

“As the councillor on the community focus group for the regional Aquatic Centre, I share weekly updates on social media, photos and actual construction progress so our community is always informed,” she said.

“It’s fantastic to read all the positive comments on social media and from families that actually give me a quick message on social media or they actually stop me in the street to thank us and the council what we’re doing right now for the Aquatic Centre,” she said.

Cr Whaites said it was not just Clarence Valley residents watching the progress of pool construction.

“When I visit Coffs Harbour weekly I do get feedback from that community as well because they’ve always enjoyed coming up to our Grafton the Olympic pool,” she said.

“I know I did when I was a kid and I brought my kids up here as well.

“So they’re actually looking forward to coming up and spending some money in our town.”

Cr Whaites pointed out the site was still known as the Grafton Olympic Pool as there had been no name change approved.

“I just wanted to debunk that myth and that stuff that’s on social media,” she said. “We have not changed the name to date.”

In the report to council the project status as of March 2024 included:

• Completed and poured the 25m backwash tank walls
• Completed and poured the leisure pool balance tank walls
• Installed formwork for 25m balance tank lid
• Reinforcing steel completed for splash pad balance tank base
• Steelwork commenced in 50m pool base
• Completed excavation of the 50m pool backwash tank
• Completed sanitary drainage to male and female amenities in the front of house building
• Commenced rough in of electrical in front of house building.

The council voted unanimously to note the progress on the Regional Aquatic Project.

For more local Grafton news, click here.

HOLISTIC CARE HELPING VETERANS WITH PTSD

By Sarah Waters

Events such as Anzac Day have increasingly prompted conversations about the mental health of veterans and what help is available to them.

General Manager and Psychologist at Byron Private Treatment Centre Jenny McGee has extensive experience working with veterans who have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other mental health conditions that have resulted from their service.

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In addition to evidence-based therapy for PTSD including, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Ms McGee said a holistic approach has profound benefits.

“What does happen with PTSD is that people are triggered by situations – people, places, sounds, smells and they can often be on high alert or hypervigilant where the whole nervous system is alerted, looking for danger and wanting to keep themselves safe and other people safe,” she said.

“For example, hearing a loud sound and thinking that they might be back in that dangerous situation and going to extremes to protect themselves and other people.

“Or it might manifest as irritability and the inability to engage socially like they might have once done.

“About 30 per cent of veterans with PTSD also suffer from addictions with alcohol and substances as they try to medicate their distress and symptoms.

“What can be additionally helpful for people is not only the evidence-based therapy they might undergo, but also to be in a green space and restful environment where they are able to allow the body and the physiological, high nervous system arousal to be lowered.”

About a third of the residents at Byron Private Treatment Centre are veterans, of all ages, who have served in different conflicts, sometimes generations apart.

General Manager and Psychologist at Byron Private Treatment Centre Jenny McGee has extensive experience working with veterans who have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Some of them are Australian Defence Force (ADF) members who have experienced PTSD from domestic service.

Ms McGee said veterans are encouraged to go to the beach daily, see the sunrise and connect to the natural cycles in nature.

“Research shows that exposure to nature can lower stress hormones, lower blood pressure, improve the mood and reduce the risk of developing other psychiatric disorders, like depression and anxiety,” she said.

Daily outdoor activities including swimming, surfing, bushwalking and even equine assisted therapy, are sustainable practises all servicemen and women can incorporate into their lives.

Research has also shown the Mediterranean diet improves symptoms of depression and stress.

While peer support in a mixed group therapy setting can help with the transition back into civilian/community life.

Ms McGee said the impact PTSD has on the nervous system, including irritability, avoidance behaviours and intrusive memories or dreams, are the same symptoms soldiers experienced in WWI when it was referred to as ‘shell shock’ or ‘battle fatigue’ in WWII.

However, there has been a radical shift in how the community and society understands mental health, including the need to offer really supportive treatment.

“I think even our stigmatisation of different conflicts and different veterans has changed.

“And we’ve moved much more largely to really acknowledging the service that men and women have provided for Australia.

“With evidence-based treatment and support, people can overcome PTSD.

“Sometimes it might last for over a year, but people can heal and also repair Relationships,” she said.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a condition that can develop in response to a single, or repeated exposure, to trauma.

A number of events have the potential to cause PTSD, including threat of death, serious injury, viewing or handling human remains and seeing someone badly injured or killed.

If you need support, please contact veterans and families counselling service provider Open Arms on their 24-hour phone line: 1800 011 046 or visit here and they can connect you with counselling services in the community.

The Department of Veteran Affairs (DVA) also funds treatment for veterans.

For more information please visit here or visit here.

SIDEBAR:
The Transition and Wellbeing Research Programme report by the Department of Veteran Affairs states almost half (46 per cent) of the transitioned ADF were estimated to have met criteria for a lifetime anxiety disorder, and one-quarter were estimated to have met criteria for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). When compared to the general population, only four or five per cent of people might experience PTSD in their lifetime.

For more Byron Bay news, click here.