NSW Deputy-Premier, Minister for Regional New South Wales and Liberal MP for Monaro, John Barilaro, ignores council and communities strong opposition to mining within the Clarence River catchment area

Clarence Valley Independent, 31 March 2021:

Clarence Valley Council’s only declared politically-aligned councillor, Greg Clancy, tabled a motion at yesterday’s March 30 CVC meeting, to restate CVC’s anti-mining stance.

At the November 24, 2020, CVC meeting, councillors voted six to one (Cr Baker was opposed and councillors Williamson and Kingsley were absent) to “oppose mining in the Clarence River catchment”.

Councillor Clancy’s motion – tabled after the Independent’s editorial deadline – is a response to Deputy Premier John Barilaro’s letter to CVC, which rejected CVC’s plea to impose a moratorium on mining in the Clarence Valley’s river catchment.

Following the November decision, CVC wrote to Mr Barilaro, NSW Minister for Energy and Environment Matt Kean, state Member for Clarence Chris Gulaptis and federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan – Mr Barilaro responded on behalf of himself and Mr Kean; Mr Gulaptis and Mr Hogan had not responded, according to CVC’s meeting papers.

Councillor Clancy’s motion sought to “thank” Mr Barilaro “for his response on behalf of the Minister for Energy and Environment Matt Kean”, and to “advise that CVC was not seeking an explanation of the process of developing mining in the Clarence Valley, but was advising the state government of its strong opposition to mining in the Valley”.

The rest of his motion stated: “Advise [Mr] Barilaro that the council, representing the community’s strong opposition, is seeking support for the Clarence Valley to be identified as a no-go zone for mining due to its almost unique natural and cultural values, many of which depend on the Clarence River, and which support essential and valuable industries contributing to the local economy;

“Write to the Premier of New South Wales, Gladys Berejiklian, advising her of Council’s resolution and seeking her support for a moratorium on mining in the Clarence Valley;

“[and], write to the adjoining councils that have responsibility for areas draining into the Clarence River catchment requesting that they support council’s stand and ask them to pass resolutions to oppose mining in areas affecting the Clarence River catchment.”…...

Clarence Valley Independent, 6 April 2021:

In last week’s story, ‘Greens councillor revisits CVC’s anti-mining stance’, the Independent outlined a motion put to the March 30 Clarence Valley Council (CVC) meeting, however, the motion was deferred to the April meeting.

Councillor Greg Clancy withdrew his motion when it became apparent that time was running out as Councillors discussed technical issues regarding how the motion should be put.

 

Donges does it again

If ever a bloke has a knack of raising hackles and putting whole communities off side, it would be Clarence Valley Council Deputy Manager and Walking Disaster Rob Donges.

Here he is at it again in The Daily Examiner.
 

“GETTING WET: Fry St resident Aaron Hancock took this photo of water spilling into his yard.
 

AFTER witnessing floodwater pouring over the Grafton levee wall into their yards and homes on Tuesday, residents near Fry St were gobsmacked to read it hadn't happened.

One resident, Aaron Hancock, was incensed when a friend pointed out comments from Clarence Valley Council deputy general manager Rob Donges that the water in his yard came from "wave action".

"Water was pouring over the top of the wall until we put sandbags along the wall," he said.

"Then the water looked like it was going to come over them as well, so we put another layer on.

"And we had two big petrol pumps going for four hours to keep the water out of our homes."

Mr Hancock said in addition to the water spilling over the top there was water spraying through seams in the levee wall.

He said water was coming over the wall at about 10 properties from the bridge side of Fry St through to Dobie St.”

The Fry St. levee had begun to buckle under the pressure of flood waters and here's proof the Clarence Valley Review published of the running repairs required to stop it collapsing.

Yamba's flood experience - guffaw!!!

The lads at the table of knowledge at the local watering hole had great trouble lifting themselves off the floor after hearing about a yarn that's doing the circuit in Yamba about how the local council is going to address the problem of removing the debris from Yamba's beaches.

The yarn might have some truth to it, then again it mightn't. Anyway, the lads have been splitting their sides laughing about it.

According to the local "talk" an individual who holds a reasonably high position at a north coast council was asked how much the clean up would cost. Apparently, the person said it'd be about $250,000.

"How was that figure arrived at?" asked someone.

No one knows for sure, but the "talk" is that the figure was plucked out of thin air. Then again, it might have been extracted from someone's derriere.

Time will tell.