Community Newsletter - January 2020

Clarence Valley Council

CLARENCE

January 2020

COMMUNITY NEWS

Jacaranda Park is back!

After being one of the most popular parks in Grafton for a very long time, Jacaranda Park (at the end of Prince Street) has received a well earned makeover, and it is now open for kids of all abilities to enjoy and explore.

Possibly the largest inclusive playground in the southern hemisphere, there’s ‘Sandstone Country’, ‘Floodplain’ and ‘Coastal Beaches’ reflecting all that we love about our diverse region.

The park’s main features include the Phoenix, The Rainforest Tower and the Wheelspin.The Phoenix is a large three-masted sailing ship that is 20.5m from bow to stern and 8.2m at its highest point. Wide ramp access makes it accessible

right around the deck of the ship.

Peepholes, tunnels, slides and puzzles surrounded by sand will be a popular with the littlies and it’s the first of its kind installed in the southern hemisphere.

Possibly the largest inclusive playground in the southern hemisphere If you’ve got kids that love to climb and slide, the Rainforest Tower is definitely a winner. The centrepiece is a huge 6.9m high climbing tower surrounded by large slides, climbing bars and peep holes that the kids (and some parents) are sure to enjoy.

The Wheelspin offers all children the liberating experience of dynamic movement; it is without a doubt the most inclusive piece of equipment at the park. It allows for children with mobility aids and those without to play side by side, young or old. Not only does the Wheelspin accommodate for wheelchairs but it allows several children to spin together all at once.

Overall Jacaranda Park is a massive, colourful and fully fenced area for the kids and adults alike to enjoy.

The new and improved Jacaranda Park doubled as an extra Christmas present for many of the kids after it was re-opened on Christmas Eve. Many families took advantage of the opening and spent Christmas Day enjoying the new equipment.

A word from our Mayor 2019 has been quite the year for the Clarence Valley, but if the recent events in our area have shown anything, it is how well our community bands together to support one another during difficult as well as happier times.

So much of the community are experiencing the devastation of bushfires, compounded with drought first hand, but what is really shining through is how tough people are and how much mateship we have throughout the region.

The recovery will take time.

There’s been a great response and everyone is pitching in. Council is supporting community recovery; contributing free water replacement, waiving waste and development application fees, and coordinating infrastructure recovery. This includes, bridge replacements, unsafe trees removed, replacing road signs and barriers and working to get roads opened.

I have never been prouder to say I live in this beautiful area with such a caring community.

Jim Simmons Mayor

Level 1 Water Restrictions now in place These restrictions limit outdoor watering with hoses and sprinklers.

There should be no outside garden watering between 9am and 4pm and no sprinklers or unattended hoses.

Water efficient drip systems and hand held hoses can be used for limited durations on alternate days. If your house address is an even number you can water on even numbered days. If your house address is an odd number you can water on odd numbered days.

Dogs and Wildlife Pets provide companionship and are a wonderful part of our lives.

Awareness of the needs of wildlife and responsible pet management can ensure that the needs of both domestic and native animals are met.

On the other hand, poor management of domestic animals can impact on the welfare of our wildlife and the environment at large. In some cases, dogs can injure or kill native animals as they move about in the landscape searching for food and shelter. In the Clarence Valley, several koala deaths have been attributed to attack by domestic dogs within the boundary of the property, so please be aware of how your pet behaves in your area.

We would like to know more about you and your dog.

Please take our survey and get involved in making the Clarence a better place for our wildlife. www. clarenceconversations. com.au/dogsandwildlife

Level 1 Water Restrictions have been active in the Clarence Valley since 16 December 2019.

While Level 1 water restrictions are aimed at reducing outdoor water use, the community can also help to make our stored water supplies last longer by reducing indoor water use. Examples include – fixing leaks, taking shorter showers, only use the dishwasher with full loads, using plugs in the sink, not leaving taps or hoses running and keep cold water in the fridge Full details can be found at www. clarence.nsw.gov.au/waterrestictions

A happy new year for fish Fish in the Coldstream River have been given a new year bonus. A Habitat Action Grant from NSW DPI (Fisheries) has meant we can rehabilitate over 2.5km of riverbank.

The riparian (riverside) vegetation is heavily impacted by camphor laurel which excludes native species from growing. By removing the camphor, either by stem injection or non-chemical methods such as ringbarking, we give the native trees a chance at growing.

Healthy riparian vegetation allows better quality water, improved fish stocks and stabilises the banks, further reducing the risk of erosion. Three landholders were involved and over 300 native plants replaced the camphor trees.

A message from our General Manager I want to echo Jim’s words with respect to the unprecedented bushfires and drought many communities in the Clarence Valley have endured. The recovery is going to take time and we need to continue to rebuild community together.

Over the last four years the Clarence Valley has had an infrastructure build like we’ve never seen before. And in the last few months we’ve begun to see it all come together. The recent opening of the bridges across the Clarence River at Harwood and Grafton has made big changes in our daily lives. The M1 completion is just around the corner and this connectedness to SE QLD will make a big difference to our economy and open up markets for local business.

Maclean Riverside Precinct was completed, James Creek Road and McIntyre’s Lane were sealed, Jacaranda Park and loads of community and sporting facility upgrades. Our procurement processes have been streamlined to increase efficiencies and availability of product. We’ve conducted workshops with local contractors to explain all this and there’ll be flow on benefits for broader community in our capacity to deliver programs better.

Construction of the Clarence Correctional Centre is speeding along and the first intake of staff have commenced their training.

I’m told the numbers of locals and those returning to the Clarence for work are very high.

As we look at 2020 we have a busy year ahead of us. We’ve got plans for further operational efficiencies and more community and sporting facility upgrades. We’re looking to complete Bailey Park, Ulmarra, Ken Leeson Oval Iluka and Yamba sports complex projects. The Grafton Regional Gallery revamp has commenced.

We’ve had a big year for our own projects as well; the next stage of

Who’s looking after you?

Favourite thing about working at CVC? Learning about the organisation and working alongside some amazing people. It’s great coming to work everyday with people I now consider friends and constantly learning new information.

Most surprising thing about working at CVC Ashleigh, Customer Service When and how did you start working with CVC? I started at Clarence Valley Council just over a year ago after I saw there was a Customer Service Officer position advertised on our website.

I thought ‘why not?’ and applied.

Before I knew it, I got the position.

All the different aspects of the organisation and the wide variety of knowledge needed for this position. We need to remember so much!

Ashley Lindsay, General Manager Another big ticket item is the upgrade of Grafton Waterfront. The new Grafton Bridge was not on the agenda at the time of developing these concepts so we’ll need to review these to gain some connectivity to the new open space under the two bridges. The land acquisition along the waterfront has been progressing and we all look forward to the day we can stroll along the Clarence River in Grafton, just like Maclean.

Need to report something?

Do you know what to do if you have dirty water, want to report a pothole or fallen trees?

Customer Services 1. Visit our website - www. clarence.nsw.gov.au ‘report it’ button.

2. Live chat with us between 8:45am – 4:15pm 3. Email us at council@clarence.nsw.gov.au 4. You can call us on 6643 0200 between 8:30am-4:30pm

What do you do for fun?

5. Out of Hours - call our after hours team on 6626 6858

I enjoy spending time with my family at our beautiful beaches here in the Clarence Valley. Especially Wooli and Sandon, they’re my favourite. We are so lucky to live in such a beautiful area.

It’s really important that you let us know as soon as you can. The faster we get notified the faster we can fix the problem.

Plunge into Art & Culture

Heritage support

Twenty Clarence Valley owners of heritage items and properties in Heritage Conservation Areas will receive grant funding to assist with maintenance and conservation works. Projects supported include reconstruction of the front of the Trade Pavilion at Grafton Showground and the front entry of the former Oddfellows Lodge to reinstate original details, repairs to verandahs, new guttering in heritage profiles, timber picket fences and repainting projects.

The Plunge Festival is almost upon us. There will be workshops, exhibitions and performances across the Clarence Valley. Keep an eye out for the Festival program around the end of February.

They’ll be in plenty of locations around the Clarence including; Customer Service Centres, libraries and the Regional Gallery. For further information visit www.clarence.nsw.gov. au\plunge

Maclean-Lawrence and surrounding rural areas should keep an eye out for 2020 heritage grants 2020.

Rock Wallabies

at Shannon Creek There’s been many heartbreaking stories emerge from the fires loss of life, property and wildlife, but every now and then there’s a little ray of hope.

We’ve been assessing the impacts on threatened species and the Shannon Creek Dam catchment. One of the biggest impacts has been on the escarpment areas and brushtailed rock-wallaby habitat.

In partnership with Department of Planning, Industry & Environment and Department of Primary Industries we visited one of the two burnt escarpments. There is very little grass and herb growth which is the rock wallaby’s main food source, so we placed 30kg of sweet potato as supplementary food and rumour is, they love ‘em.

We observed a couple of rock wallabies and the camera showed they are still about after the fire which is good news.

DISASTER WELFARE ON 1800 018 444.

LOOKING AFTER YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY It’s very normal to experience a range of feelings after a fire. You might forget things, feel helpless, worry and not be able to sleep. Having someone to listen to and support you through this is very important. Check in on your friends and neighbours, and if you or someone you know needs help, reach out.

CLEAN UP ASSISTANCE If your property is insured, please contact your insurer about the clean-up process.

If you are uninsured and your home has been damaged or destroyed the NSW Public Works Advisory will arrange for the clean-up of your residence and immediately adjacent outbuildings including the removal of concrete slabs at no cost. This includes both asbestos contaminated and non-contaminated sites. Commercial buildings and farm machinery sheds etc. are not included. There is free access to the Grafton Regional Landfill for the disposal of bushfire impacted waste. Note - this is only available at the Grafton Regional Landfill, not waste transfer stations.

Please contact Public Works Advisory on 1800 88 55 39 to discuss the cleanup of your property.

BUSHFIRE RECOVERY INFORMATION

02 6643 0200 council@clarence.nsw.gov.au www.clarence.nsw.gov.au

www.clarence.nsw.gov.au/bushfirerecovery or contact our Customer Service Centre