ABC News reported yesterday.
"It was identified as one of the most economically disadvantaged regions in the country during the federal election, but a new report shows business is booming in the Clarence Valley.
An economic profile released this week shows the value of goods and services produced in the region has grown by 8 per cent in the last year, leading to the creation of more than 1,700 new jobs.
The Clarence Valley Mayor, Ian Tiley, says growth in population and the manufacturing sector are key factors.
He says the challenge now facing the council is ensuring infrastructure keeps pace.
"The Sartor planning reforms propose we get less developer contributions from these new industries, these new developments," he said.
"That will impact on everybody because it'll mean that we won't be able to provide the same level of infrastructure in the past.
"Inevitably too when you have growth of this nature there is pressure on your infrastructure."
ABC News:
Clarence Valley Council media release:
Clarence Valley Council economic profile:
What Mayor Tiley didn't mention is the fact that decades of growth in the Clarence Valley come on the back of continuous land clearing, subdivision, increased urban lot density and often exceeding established building heights. With a significant number of sensitive coastal development consents coinciding with either business interests of sitting councillors or political interests of successive NSW governments.
What Clarence Valley Council's media release didn't mention is, that despite the rosy economic growth it alleges, at least 40% of the population continue to live on or under the poverty line.
This is not about to change anytime soon.
