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On 7 December 2020 Development Application SUB2020/0038 (Lot 104 DP 751388) lodged by Robert Donges (a former Maclean and Clarence Valley council officer) on behalf of Kahuna No. 1 Pty Ltd was withdrawn while still within the Clarence Valley Council public exhibition period.
The development application included 336 residential lots, four drainage reserves, one commercial lot and one public reserve in what is essentially a high density configuration along James Creek Rd, James Creek.
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| IMAGE: Clarence Valley Independent |
Withdrawal was hardly surprising given the lack of transport and other infrastructure which would be needed to be in place for a potential village-sized population of at least 840 people, as well as storm water and environmental concerns.
The owner of this lot has submitted a request to Clarence Valley Council that the unspent portion of application fees which it sets at $20,000. As council policy will only allow return of up to 50 per cent of an application fee (being $11,415.00 in this case) the matter is going to council’s ordinary monthly meeting on 15 December 2020.
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In August 2020 Maclean High School announced it was starting a cattle and livestock showing team, under the guidance of Primary Industries Teacher, Christopher Kirkland. Last month Maclean students took part in the Northern Schools Prime Steer Show at Glen Innes, NSW. I'm sure that experience will set them up for success in 2021.
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The Maclean Agricultural Show was cancelled in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the Maclean Show Society will be given $10,000 from the federal government towards its 2021 show to held on 20 to 21 April next year. The Clarence Pastoral & Agricultural Society Ltd will receive $17,682.68 towards its 2021 agricultural show.
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From 1 March 2021 Clarence Valley travellers will be able to connect through to Melbourne as part of Regional Express’ expansion on the back of the collapse of other regional airlines due to the COVID-19 pandemic’ From March Rex will begin flying nine return flights from Sydney to Melbourne and travellers boarding from Grafton Airport will be able to connect straight through, with baggage checked to their destination.
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Yaegl woman Pauline Clague has been awarded this year’s $20,000 Natalie Miller Fellowship. She is the 9th recipient of this fellowship and the first Indigenous person.
The Natalie Miller Fellowship (NMF) supports the professional leadership of aspirational women in all sectors of the Australian screen industry; developing further skills, knowledge and connections through fellowships and programs. Its vision is to achieve gender diversity in screen leadership, resulting in a greater breadth of storytelling, better company performances, innovation, and a more dynamic, inclusive and robust industry for everyone.
Well-known as a producer of documentaries and short stories, Pauline has at least 16 films to her credit.
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It appears that Lismore City Council and Rous County Council wrote to the NSW Berejiklian Government encouraging the development of a $220 million 50 giglitre second dam on Rocky Creek to the south-west of the existing dam, before the dam proposal went to puclic exhibition for community input. Many local residents are not amused by this discovery. The proposed dam is supposed to supply four local government areas.
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| IMAGE: https://rous.myglobe.app/bulk-water |
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Clarence Valley Independent, 9 December 2020:
Greg Clancy: “…if [mining companies] spend millions on exploration then they expect [to mine] … we need to speak out strongly against all mining proposals.”
Andrew Baker: “…to turn our back on any potential mining at this stage is doing the community a disservice.
“We should, rather than just accept there are concerned people in the community … we should be fully informed before making these decisions.
“…we should find out where council and councillors fit within our sphere of influence and not give people false hope that we can extinguish mining licences.”
Arthur Lysaught: “I think it was three years ago when Greg gave me the Greens [position] … but I said at the time, if I ever thought someone would affect the river, I would stand beside him to preserve the most pristine river in the country, maybe the world.
“The unfortunate part of this; whatever stance we take, others make the decision.”
Peter Ellem: “Yes and the greed merchants will continue to have a crack, whether to harvest dam water or reopen a mining industry through exploration.
“The end result is they want to mine … and with the government supporting one company [with an exploration grant], we have to be ever watchful to protect our river catchment and [associated] industries [like] tourism and recreation.
“…just like damming the Clarence and CSG mining, this kind of mining is not appropriate here and there should be a moratorium.”
Karen Toms: “We have an amazing river … but I am concerned because I heard what our state MP [Chris Gulaptis] has said.
“The general manager is right, we need to have a position … but 10,000 signatures … well done to the community to start rallying.
“We are here to represent our people … we are the responsible authority for our water so we do have some skin in the game.
“Tell them [mining companies] … to bugger off.
“It’s important send a strong message to the state and federal governments and the miners: leave our water alone.”
Deborah Novak: “A lot of people out there are scared to step up … but this is where they have come together [to gather 10,000 signatures].
“It’s important for the state and federal governments to see that the [petition organisers] are professional … and really amazing and it’s the young people who have stepped up.”
Greg Clancy (right of reply): “Over 10,000 signatures suggest that this is not only the concerns of a few people.
“…despite covid, the groups have worked very hard; I commend the Clarence Catchment Alliance and the Clarence Environment Centre … all working hard on this issue to make the general public aware.
“…it’s scientific, it’s facts about what we know mining does to river systems.
“We only need one accident and there goes the entire river.
“It’s not a case of not having mining anywhere, but it has to be in areas of minimal impact.”
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Echo Net Daily, December 2020:
Lismore MP Janelle Saffin has blown the whistle on the government after obtaining a ‘damning’ NSW Department of Education School Profile of Murwillumbah High School, the proposed site of the mega campus, which shows major capital works are badly needed there.
Making cost savings by shelving replacement or maintenance of buildings at four public schools appears to be the main driver of the NSW government’s agenda for its mega Murwillumbah Education Campus, says Ms Saffin.
These four public schools – Murwillumbah High, Wollumbin High, Murwillumbah East Public and Murwillumbah Public – all have their own well-established traditions of academic, sporting and cultural excellence,’ Ms Saffin said.
Ms Saffin has invited NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell MLC to come to Murwillumbah early next year to meet with the four Parents & Citizens Associations and other representatives of students, teachers and staff, and the local community.
‘Our school communities deserve to hear from Minister Mitchell what the evidence-based educational benefits to Murwillumbah’s primary and secondary school students are of the government’s plan to merge them into one “mega” campus by 2024.
‘However, the evidence is mounting that the Department has dragged the chain on capital works and maintenance at Murwillumbah High and Murwillumbah East Public School, badly affected by the 2017 floods, and the Department’s fix is to close four schools and replace them with a centralised American model.’……
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