If the NSW Government and emergency services tell Yamba it rarely floods and its houses are safe from all but extreme flooding, are the town's residents supposed to believe them?

 

Below is a fairly typical description of Yamba and environs during high rainfall and flooding events.

Even though it appears text and images have been produced between 2015-2021 it seems to be considered by the NSW Government as a contemporary description rather than an historical one.

Read it carefully if you live in Yamba or have been a holidaymaker in the town when the Lower Clarence River has been in flood in recent years.

NSW State Emergency Services (SES), Flood Awareness NSW, retrieved 13 September 2022:

CLARENCE RIVER

Clarence Valley LGA

Yamba and Palmers Island – Are you at risk?

Yes you are!

Yamba is located on the southern bank of the mouth of the Clarence River. The main impact of floods in the area is isolation, however several residents and commercial properties can be inundated in severe floods. Even in minor floods, Yamba may become isolated when Yamba Road closes. Another consideration during local floods is the influx of tourists during holidays and summer season, who may be unaware of the local effects of flooding.

Palmers Islands is located directly west of Yamba on the southern bank of the Clarence River. Most of the land on the island is prone to flooding. In a minor flood, Palmers Island becomes isolated and surrounded by flood water. In a major flood some properties may experience over-floor flooding and some residents may need to evacuate.

Rural land along the Clarence River around Wooloweyah Lagoon can also be inundated and substantial numbers of rural properties can become isolated.

The period of isolation for these areas can vary depending on the size and duration of the flood, as well as high tides preventing drainage to the sea. Any residents wanting to leave the area would need to do so before flooding causes Yamba Road to close.

Palmers Island Yamba Road Store and School Flooding 

Do those five short paragraphs and that one image match your experience of floodwater and stormwater inundation in Yamba over the last 30 years?

Is it still mostly the inconvenience of isolation that the Yamba community suffers? Is it an accurate description to say that only “several residents and commercial properties can be inundated in severe floods”?

Is anyone else in Yamba asking themselves why that first paragraph quoted here is still accepted uncritically by state authorities, when the lived experience is that the inundation situation has been gradually becoming more pronounced over decades. That the amount of water entering town commercial and residential precincts is long past just nuisance value.

The natural flood storage areas and flood ways within the town, which carry water overland to the river estuary and out to sea, no longer function. In large measure due to the degree of draining, infilling and building over of these these features which has occurred over time and the fact that: (i) the town’s stormwater system can no longer adequately cope with the amount of rain falling from the sky and subsequent rainwater runoff from sloping ground/hard surfaces; and (ii) the river water arriving as flood carried down from higher up the river system whose swirl through town streets is often exacerbated by a tidal pull.

There are residents whose homes have been inundated at floor level in both 2021 and 2022 and residential lots which experienced stormwater/floodwater intrusion onto the property for the first time or at a deeper level that previous flood periods according to homeowners.

A better description of the changing Yamba experience of flooding can be found in an Inside Local Government article of 26 May 2022:

Clarence Valley Mayor, Ian Tiley, has demanded the Clarence be included in any 2022 flood studies and assessments, saying the region had been ignored in initial assessments by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment.

Mayor Tiley put forward a Minute at the June Council meeting following advice from the Department of Planning and Environment that post flood data behaviour assessments already undertaken had focused on the Richmond, Wilson, Brunswick and Tweed rivers – local government areas to the north of the Clarence Valley.

“The flood level at Grafton was not a predictor for the flood behaviour downstream,” the Mayor said.

“It is clear the Clarence flood increased in volume as it moved downstream and staff consider it likely the extreme localised rainfall events in the tributaries of the lower catchment impacted Clarence River levels downstream of Grafton, and that post flood data behaviour assessments may inform these assumptions.”

CVC previously reported in April that Yamba experienced its biggest rainfall event on record, with 1267mm in February and March. This included 274.4mm on 28 February – the highest 24-hour February total on record – and 258.2mm on 1 March for a total of 532mm.

“There has been no event or combination of events since records began that comes close to the rainfall totals recorded at Yamba in February and March,” Clarence Valley Council Director Works and Civil, Jamie Fleeting said at the time.

Getty Images has a collection of photographs which clearly demonstrate the growing dissonance between what is written by government agencies about flood behaviour and the lived experience of the Yamba community in March 2022.

YAMBA, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 02: An aerial view of a flooded street and properties in the town of Yamba, in northern New South Wales, on March 1-2, 2022 in Yamba, Australia.

(Photo by Elise Hassey/Getty Images)

Note: Hover mouse over upper righthand corner of images to reveal "Share" and "Full Screen" buttons.

Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images Embed from Getty Images

Yamba's only flood evacuation route in early March 2022.... pic.twitter.com/9FLn2VY1A7

— no_filter_Yamba (@no_filter_Yamba) September 13, 2022

BACKGROUND

Australian Bureau of Meteorology, Special Climate Statement 76 – Extreme rainfall and flooding in south-eastern Queensland and eastern New South Wales, 25 May 2022, excerpt:

Summary

Extreme multi-day rainfall and significant flooding affected south-eastern Queensland and eastern New South Wales from 22 February to 9 March 2022. The heavy rainfall began in south-east Queensland and north-east New South Wales during the last week of February, and continued further south into eastern New South Wales in March (Figure 1).

Multi-day rainfall records were broken across south-eastern Queensland and north-east New South Wales, with multiple sites recording over 1 metre of rainfall (Figure 2). For the last week of February, rainfalls across parts of the region were at least 2.5 times the February average (based on the 1961–1990 period), with some parts more than 5 times the average. For north-east New South Wales and large areas of south-eastern Queensland, this was the wettest week since at least 1900. The intense and sustained rainfall across the region led to flash flooding and riverine flooding extending from Maryborough in Queensland to Grafton in New South Wales. Some areas of south-eastern Queensland, such as the Mary River at Gympie, recorded their highest flood peaks since 1893.

Widespread major riverine flooding also occurred in the Sunshine Coast region, and in the Brisbane, Logan and Albert River catchments. In parts of north-east New South Wales, peak flood levels broke previous observed records (reliable since at least 1974 and for some locations dating back more than 100 years) by considerable margins. Devastating flooding occurred through Lismore (Wilsons River) and other nearby towns, including Coraki and Woodburn (Richmond River) and Murwillumbah and Tumbulgum (Tweed River).

In the first week of March, the rainfall system shifted south along the New South Wales coast, bringing further heavy rainfall to eastern parts of the state (Figure 3). As a result, the Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment recorded its wettest 9-day period on record (since 1900) to 9 March (Table 11). With rain falling on already saturated soils and swollen rivers, flood levels in the Hawkesbury-Nepean river system exceeded those reached in March 2021 and were comparable to those of 1978 (Table 12).

*

Sometimes it seems that the NSW Coalition Government, along with the usual suspects amongst property developers & town planning consultants for hire, won't be satisfied until they carve up and concrete over ever hectare of land in the Lower Clarence Valley

 

Clarence Valley Independent, 7 September 2022:

A request by The James Creek Residents Group for an independent Landscape Architect to research and report on a proposed controversial subdivision has been rejected by Clarence Valley Council in less than 24 hours.

The Development Application DA from MPD Investments for a 332-lot sub-division, comprising 327 residential lots, one commercial lot and four drainage reserves and public open space areas for 104 James Creek Road is currently on public exhibition.

About 5pm on September 1, Lorri Brown sent a letter to Clarence Valley Council CVC senior staff and councillors on behalf of the James Creek Residents Group JCRG and said she was shocked to receive a reply at 11.36m the next day.

“The speed at which the response came does worry us, because you wonder how much it had actually been considered,” she said.

“What worries us is it’s the first subdivision out here in the hinterland of what we call Yamba and it's important to do it correctly.

"If we're going to subdivide land out here, we need to do it properly, that's all we're saying. "Let's get the first one right as a template for others to follow.

"When the JCRG asked council for a specific Development Control Plan DCP that applied to the proposed development, Mrs Brown said they were told the DCP is on the council website.

"The only control plans over it are for what you find in residential areas like Maclean or Yamba, and that's what they're applying," she said.

The JCRG stated in the letter they requested the research and report from an independent Landscape Architect because, as they understood, CVC didn't currently employ anyone with "the necessary credentials".

"For whatever reason there is no DCP or other guiding development controls currently in place for James Creek," the letter to council stated.

"We need to know how this subdivision will impact the natural and built landscape. "We have a responsibility to ensure that this is a development that is fit for the future."

Issues that would be assessed by the Landscape Architect requested in the JCRG letter included the impacts of a car dependent estate, why there are no designated electric vehicle charging stations and recommended locations and the implications with roads that don't comply to minimum carriageway requirements.

The projected effectiveness of heating /cooling for proposed building designs, the proposed density, small blocks, and heat banks were other issues to be assessed in the letter from JCRG.

"An evaluation of the designated park areas that have been flagged by council as inadequate for the density of the population," the JCRG requested.

"The realistic planting of trees in the designated footpath spaces, an environmental impact statement on the natural and built landscape, transition and buffer zones relating to neighbouring agricultural land and an evaluation of the subdivisions impact on the local ecosystem."

The assessments requested by the JCRG would necessitate a six-week extension in the progression of the DA, which the CVC General Manager Laura Black said she was "unable to provide" in her email reply.

"Council recently adopted its Community Participation Plan that sees the previously adopted 14 day exhibition period for complex DA's like James Creek extended to 28 days," Ms Black wrote.

"Twenty-eight days brings our exhibition timeframes in line with that required for large Environmental Impact Statements for state significant infrastructure projects (for example major highways and bridges).

"This is policy position of Council, and it can only be varied by resolution.".

Ms Black also alluded to problems a six-week extension would cause with the body that will ultimately decide the DA’s fate, the Northern Regional Planning Panel NRPP, which determines developments with a capital investment of more than $30 million.

“I have also advised councillors’ that the Northern Regional Planning Panel requested that council officers make every effort to submit the DA to them before the end of the calendar year for their consideration, to ensure timely decision making for all stakeholders,” Ms Black wrote.

“A six week extension would impede this happening.”…..

NOTE: Sections of James Creek Road is known to be cut by water over the road during heavy rain and flood events.

BACKGROUND

The Daily Examiner, 3 December 2020:

Last month a proposed 342-lot subdivision in the middle of James Creek caused many residents to raise concerns about the negative impact of such a development within its semirural setting.

The development application SUB2020/0038 lodged by Robert Collin Donges earlier this year includes 336 residential lots, four drainage reserves, one commercial lot and one public reserve.

While most residents were shocked to see this kind of DA appear in their neighbourhood, it was an inevitable step in the Clarence Valley’s regional urban growth plans.

According to the Mid-North Coast Regional Strategy 2006-2013, James Creek was identified as an area for proposed future urban release, along with Gulmarrad and West Yamba.

It was again identified as an area to investigate for urban land in the North Coast Regional Plan (2036).

James Creek is known for its quiet, semirural lifestyle with most properties on acreage. However, future planning could see future proposed developments transform the area into high-density housing.

But applicant Rob Donges said that is not his intention……

Clarence Valley Independent, 18 December 2020:

A development application (DA) for 342-lot staged residential subdivision at James Creek was withdrawn on December 7.

The James Creek Residents Action Group, which was formed in late November to “oppose and secure the rejection” of the proposal and “to work with Council, Developers and the Community to promote responsible and sustainable development in James Creek”, will remain proactive and “vigilant” regarding any future proposals for the site.

“We still see our role as continuing to work with the council and the developer, whomever that might be, to secure the best outcome; responsible and sustainable development for James Creek,” spokesperson Lorri Brown said.

At yesterday’s Clarence Valley Council (CVC) meeting (after the paper’s print deadline), councillors considered a request from the withdrawn DA’s applicant, Rob Donges, on behalf of owner Kahuna No. 1 Pty Ltd.

“The applicant has now requested a refund of $20,000 for unspent application fees due to the application being withdrawn,” the report to council stated.

Staff recommended refunding about 50 per cent ($11,415) of the DA fees; due to staff time already expended processing and advertising the DA…..

North Coast Voices, 17 November 2021:

Queensland white shoe brigade onboard as owner of around 33.49ha of James Creek land has another run at overdevelopment

The Daily Examiner online, 12 November 2021:

The James Creek plan could see hundreds of residential lots opened up.

The current proposal at Lot 104 James Creek Road, James Creek was lodged by Madison Ruygrok through Kahuna No 1 Pty Ltd. If approved by Clarence Valley Council it would see 327 residential lots, one commercial lot and two open-space lots created.

According to civil engineering drawings prepared by Geolink in October this year, the majority of proposed sites would be between 600-799 square metres in size with the subdivision to be delivered in five stages with most to have two or three sub-stages.

It’s not the first time the site has raised the ire of nearby residents so it is expected there will be some strong opposition to the most recent plan.

In the March 2014 fiery remarks were hurled from the public gallery as James Creek residents watched Clarence Valley councillors agree to rezone the lot from primary production to general residential and medium density residential.

Then, in November 2020, multiple submissions were made opposing a development application that proposed 336 residential lots, four drainage reserves, one commercial lot and one public reserve.

However, residents against the development were relieved to discover that a month later, the application was withdrawn.

But despite their best efforts to thwart that development, a future of medium to high-density housing in this quiet, semi rural Lower Clarence suburb seems inevitable.

Over a decade ago, James Creek was targeted as an ideal spot for urban growth.

According to the Mid-North Coast Regional Strategy 2006-2013, James Creek was identified as an area for proposed future urban release, along with Gulmarrad and West Yamba.

Residents and members of the community have until December 3 to make a submission to Clarence Valley Council on the development application (number SUB2021/0042).

The owner & only listed shareholder of Kahuna No.1 Pty Ltd is Billabong founder Gordon Stanley Merchant of Tungan Qld and Madison Ruygrok is currently listed as a Town Planner with Place Design Group Pty Ltd of Fortitude Valley Qld.

Oddly in SUB2021/0042 - currently before Clarence Valley Council - it lists the developer of the land as The Trustee for MPD INVESTMENTS UNIT TRUST not Kahuna No1.

Presumably The Trustee for MPD Investments Unit Trust - an entity created in 2021 with an ABN registered in Queensland - is associated with Gordon Merchant.

Mr. Merchant's financial difficulties became known when the Australian Taxation Office reportedly penalised him around $13 million "after an audit by the tax office has ended with Mr Merchant being disqualified for “recklessly contravening” superannuation laws, as well as owing $45m in back tax".  

Administrative Decisions Tribunal April 2021 records show that Mr. Merchant lodged an Income Tax Objection in October 2020 and, he remains disqualified from acting as trustee or responsible officer of corporate trustees of superannuation entities, under subsections 126A(2) and 126A(3) of the SIS Act. 

One has to wonder if either Kahuna No 1, MPD Investments Pty Ltd or The Trustee for MPD Investments Unit Trust are financially secure enough to meet all the fees and charges associated with this development application and commencement of works. 

Or indeed if it is wise to pack an est. 818 persons into such a sardine tin housing estate on approx. 33.49ha between Maclean and Yamba in what is essentially still an agricultural area on a sensitive part of the flood plain where floodwaters are  liable to cut off access to & egress from farms and urban areas in a strong flooding event.

Once again local government tries to paper over the real flood plan for Yamba & environs, which has always been 'let them climb on their roofs or float out to sea - their choice'

Clarence Valley Independent, 18 April 2022:

Environmental watchdog, Valley Watch, first began predicting flooding of Yamba, as a result of developing West Yamba, in about 1995; on Sunday May 21, the group will present a more than 1,000-signature petition to the mayor, Ian Tiley (or his proxy), calling for a moratorium on further filling and development approvals on the Yamba floodplain.

“Basically, the petition is demanding a well-designed master plan for West Yamba,” Valley Watch spokesperson Helen Tyas Tunggal said.

During the record rain that fell during February and March, many homes and properties were flooded for the first time, some of which were built within the past 20 years, theoretically above any threat of flooding.

Ms Tyas Tunggal couldn’t have been more succinct speaking with the Sydney Morning Herald in March 2007, when she expressed a view now apparent to many Yamba residents.

“When you raise the ground level, the displaced water has to go somewhere,” she said, when referring to the estimated 270,000 truckloads of fill needed to accommodate future West Yamba development.

“Other more established areas of town will flood as a result.”

As it happens, Cr Tiley, who was the mayor at the time, agreed.

“It may be that people who are flood-proof at the moment will be put at risk,” he said at a Clarence Valley Council (CVC) committee meeting, according to the SMH, when answering a question about filling the area.

“A great deal has happened since the council [first] decided to increase [the area’s] yield.

“From the middle of last year, a great awareness of climate change issues [has surfaced].

“It is a whole different ball game.”

According to the SMH, former CVC environment and planning director Rob Donges “acknowledged [there were] problems there”.

“It is flood-prone, low-lying land with a high water-table … we have never hidden the fact that if we were to start the process of West Yamba today there would be doubts as to whether council would proceed,” he told the SMH.

Come 2008/09, CVC adopted the Yamba Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan, which warns that “it is imperative that any additional development does not exacerbate the existing flood problem”.

The plan recommended, for example, that a master plan “must address water-related cumulative issues”, including “possible floodplain management measures … (if the development is to proceed) [including]: a) a floodway, b) a comprehensive flood evacuation strategy, and, c) [various] updated flood-related development controls.”

Meanwhile, there appears to be confusion among CVC staff about whether or not the Yamba Floodplain Risk Management Study and Plan is relevant.

In a response to a detailed enquiry by Valley Watch, following the public meeting held at Treelands Drive Community Centre on April 29, 2021, staff wrote that the Yamba flood study and plan had “been superseded by the 2013 Grafton and Lower Clarence Flood Model and updated Grafton and Lower Clarence FRMP hence, the queries in relation to this study are no longer relevant”.

However, the Grafton and Lower Clarence document excludes Yamba and Iluka stating, “Flood-prone areas of the Lower Clarence River formerly administered by Maclean shire council from Brushgrove to Palmers Island including Maclean, and excluding Iluka and Yamba, which are the subject of separate studies.”

Valley Watch’s insistence that CVC develop a master plan for West Yamba, because “there are many unanswered questions” about how development is or should proceed, was partially addressed in a Notice of Motion by Cr Stephen Pickering at the April 26 CVC meeting.

“The community is heartened that the new council is taking an interest in the concerns of residents regarding development in West Yamba,” Ms Tyas Tunggal said.

However, she doubted that part 1 of the CVC resolution, to “support the creation of a West Yamba Masterplan document”, would be fulfilled and said part 2, to publish an “information brochure … to educate the community, does not go far enough and does little to address the current and growing problems”.

Meanwhile the mayor, Ian Tiley, told the Independent that a master plan would “absolutely” be prepared once the brochure is completed.

“Part 1 demonstrated a clear intent to create a West Yamba Master Plan, to guide sustainable development and infrastructure integrated with the greater Yamba township,” he said.

BACKGROUND

North Coast Voices

• THURSDAY, 1 APRIL 2021

The story of a little town in the Clarence Valley and a growing problem

POSTED BY CLARENCEGIRL

 

• MONDAY, 5 APRIL 2021

“The story of a little town in the Clarence Valley and a growing problem” - Part Two

POSTED BY CLARENCEGIRL

•  COMMENT:

Anonymous said...

Dear Clarencegirl, you should send your blog on Yamba to all our non concerned councillors, and to Clarence Valley Council. Most people in this area live in denial, that is until the sh... hits the fan, then they whinge. Apathy seems to reign high in Clarence Valley Shire, and Yamba, and this council is sitting on it's hands. Your blogs are good and real. But how do you wake this council up, and make them represent and think! Cheers Yamba resident for 16 years,

5 APRIL 2021 AT 13:45

• TUESDAY, 16 OCTOBER 2012

West Yamba subdivision questioned

POSTED BY CLARRIE RIVERS

 

• TUESDAY, 21 APRIL 2009

How serious is local government about protecting against climate change impacts? Not very it seems, if it is Clarence Valley Council

POSTED BY CLARENCE GIRL

• SUNDAY, 31 MAY 2009

The question of West Yamba

POSTED BY CLARENCE GIRL

• TUESDAY, 8 JANUARY 2008

The folly of allowing developments in flood-prone land

Persons associated with proposals to develop West Yamba would be well advised to take special note of a decision of the NSW Land and Environment Court.

In an article headed Court agrees climate-change risk rules out housing plan The Sydney Morning Herald (January 8, 2008) reports:

"Many may be pleased to know the Land and Environment Court can overturn not just a council decision but a ministerial one.

The court recently ruled invalid a concept plan approved by the Minister for Planning, Frank Sartor, for a controversial residential subdivision and retirement complex at Sandon Point, on the coast near Wollongong. The action was brought by a resident, Jill Walker.

The court agreed the department should have considered the flooding risk from climate change as it was an aspect of the public interest that potentially had a bearing on the justice of the decision.

The decision is a win for residents who have been protesting for years against the development of the flood-prone 25-hectare site by Stockland Development and Anglican Retirement Villages.

Deacons Lawyers said councils would have to ensure risks from climate change in flood-constrained coastal areas had been addressed by developers and that they considered such risks in their decisions."

Comment:

The land at West Yamba is flood-prone. Allowing further development in the area will require fill being obtained from elsewhere in order to raise the area above designated ASL requirements. That may solve current problem associated with the West Yamba site but one doesn't have to be Einstein to understand that water which would normally find its way to this naturally occurring flood storage area in times of heavy rainfall will be diverted elsewhere. And just where is elsewhere? Think about it. Land that is currently occupied and considered flood free will not necessarily carry such a tag in the future.

Yes, further development at West Yamba will create a new set of winners (just think 'developers and their associates'), but there'll also be a crew of losers who'll be up the creek without paddles in times of high local rainfall and/or flooding that results from waters flowing downstream from the catchment area.

Clarence Valley Council should have this matter uppermost in its collective mind. So too, should Minister Frank Sartor and all others who will be called upon to give consideration to any hair-brained proposals to develop West Yamba.

Remember, the law attaches great significance to the concept of precedence. Hence, this decision of the Land and Environment Court has implications for West Yamba.

POSTED BY CLARRIE RIVERS 

 

Two public meetings revealed that patient comfort & care at Maclean District Hospital is being downgraded and Lower Clarence Valley residents are not happy

Maclean District Hospital
Image: Clarence Valley Independent, 26 February 2020

Two community meetings were called in the Maclean, NSW, concerning changes to the Level 3 Rural 43-bed Maclean District Hospital (established 1885) which services communities in the Lower Clarence Valley and the holidaymakers who flock in large numbers to Clarence coastal towns and villages.

The first meeting was called by the NSW Midwives and Nurses Association for 6pm on Thursday, 27 February 2020.

However, apparently having realised it had not fully consulted with the community, Northern NSW Local Health District quickly called its own community meeting which it scheduled a day earlier - from 3.30pm to 5pm on Wednesday, 26 February.

Readers should note the timing of this local health district meeting - it conveniently knocked out concerned residents who worked on that day as well as nursing staff who were doing shift handovers during that time period. Thus reducing community scrutiny of what heath officials said at this meeting.

The Clarence Valley Independent reported that this meeting's intention was "to counter the misinformation in the community and reassure them that the services at the hospital are not being reduced".

The Daily Examiner, 29 February 2020: 

Maclean voices opposition to hospital reconfiguration 
Fight is on for hospital 

The real costs of the proposed reconfiguration of Maclean District Hospital were laid bare to a full house on Thursday night as opposition grows to the plans announced by Northern NSW Local Health District..... 

Both the union members and community involved expressed their frustration at the NNSWLHD plan for Maclean District Hospital to move the 14-bed acute section on Level 2 downstairs into a combined subacute and acute 33-bed ward on Level 1. 

The vacant upstairs level of the hospital would be used for peak times in a “surge” capacity only. 

NSW NMA Clarence Valley branch vice-president Narelle Robison outlined some of the concerns raised by their members over the proposal, such as reduced bathroom and bed numbers. 

“(Nurses) may find themselves sponging people that are capable of having showers with assistance and maybe even panning people when toilets are full,” Ms Robison said. 

“Yes, it has been mentioned that we’ve managed before with those few bathrooms in years gone by but just because we have done it before does not make it acceptable in 2020. “There will be reduced single rooms and two-bed areas and they would need to be prioritised for infectious patients or those that are immunosuppressed and to our palliative patients. 

“With this in mind, there will be a higher chance of a palliative patient, end stage of life, receiving nursing care in a four-bedded room. 

“Our patients deserve better than this. It’s 2020 and this is not acceptable. “All patients who enter the public health system deserve to be afforded quality care and have their dignity respected and maintained as a bare minimum.” 

Australian Paramedics Union delegate Tim McEwan said nothing in healthcare happened in isolation and a ­reconfiguration of the hospital would have flow-on effects. 

“What’s going to happen is that when paramedics transport someone to Maclean hospital and that patient is unwell enough to require admission, if there are less beds than what there are now in Maclean hospital they’re going to have to be transferred to another facility,” he said. 

“The majority of the time for acutely unwell patients it is NSW Ambulance that does that transport. Not only do we respond to 000 emergency calls, we do transports between health facilities.

“If you’re unfortunate enough to have one of us ­attend when you need transport to hospital, what you’re likely to experience after this reconfiguration is a delay ­getting off the stretcher and on to one of the few beds at ­Maclean emergency department and while that’s happened we’re with you for every minute you’re waiting there and we’re unable to respond to other emergencies in the community.”

The Daily Examiner, 28 February 2020:

The largest roar from the crowd came after repeated questioning from Patrick Morgan, who stated he was looking to become part of the community. 

Not satisfied with the first response to his question, he pushed back, asking what the actual dollar figure would be saved by the new plan. 

“You wouldn’t be going to this trouble if there wasn’t a pot of money at the end that you were hoping to achieve,” he said. 

“How much are the opinions of this room worth?” 

“It’s about $150,000,” Ms Weir said. 

“Is that all?” came the reply chorused through the room.

NSW HEALTH, Northern NSW Local Health District, 13 February 2020:

Community Information regarding Maclean District Hospital [with my red annotations]

Q: Are beds closing at Maclean District Hospital? 
A: No. We are consolidating patients and staff into one ward, while the other ward will remain available for ‘surge’ capacity in times of peak activity. This ward reconfiguration will continue to deliver high-quality patient care, as well as maximise the use of existing hospital resources and space. 

According to the NSWMNA (as reported in the Clarence Valley Independent) in the planned merging of the Acute Ward, with the Sub-acute and Rehabilitation wards, one-third of the present available beds are being lost. 

In practice this loss would represent the total 14 available bed spaces on a closed Level 2 and, the crowding of 43 beds into a Level 1 floor area which would only comfortably hold 29 beds.

Q: What does ‘surge’ capacity mean? 
A: Surge capacity, or surge beds, are additional beds, which become available if there is high demand at the hospital. 

Q: Are the services at Maclean District Hospital changing? 
A: No. There are no changes to any services provided at the hospital. As with any hospital stay, patients are admitted to the appropriate facility and ward based on the level of care and treatment they require. 

The NSW Nationals MP for Clarence, Chris Gulaptis, was quoted in the Clarence Valley Independent as stating he has been “reassured” the hospital would not be disadvantaged by the proposed changes. 

Local readers might remember that Mr. Gulaptis has a track record littered with failed assurances from his masters in Sydney. Gulaptis did not attend either community meeting citing a need to be in Macquarie Street.

Q: Are staff being laid off? 
A: No. There will be no loss of jobs. All nurses will transfer to the reconfigured ward. Two substantive positions will be affected by the change, and the hospital is talking with these staff about opportunities to work elsewhere in the hospital. 

Q: Will patients continue to receive the level of care they need? 
A: Yes. The hospital is increasing the Nursing Hours Per Patient Day (the number of nursing hours available for each patient) and are recruiting additional staff to support this increase.

Again, according to the NSWMNA, there will be no Acute Ward. Level 2 will be closed, including the est. 7 toilet/showers on this floor.

On Level 1, there will be the existing 10-bed Rehab facility, consisting of five 2-bed rooms with ensuites. 

All other patients, whether they be Acute, Sub-Acute, Palliative Care or Infectious will be placed in the remaining four 4-bed rooms, three 2-bed rooms and one single bed (with ensuite) on Level 1. 

For these 23 patients they will be sharing a toilet/shower between 4.4 patients. This ratio is more than double that of the present Acute ward. 

Q: Is Maclean District Hospital closing? 
A: No. There are no plans to close Maclean District Hospital. We value the ongoing role that Maclean District Hospital plays in the Clarence Health Service and our public health system, and our staff play an essential role in caring for this community. 

Q: Is consultation occurring with staff and Unions? 
A: Yes. Hospital management have met with staff this week, and will continue these discussions over the coming weeks. Northern NSW Local Health District will meet with the NSW Nurses & Midwives Association soon to discuss the changes.