Published on 04 May 2023
Clarence Valley residents are being asked for their feedback on a record $208 million program of capital works planned for the year ahead by Clarence Valley Council.
Investigation into town water supply filtration, construction of the Regional Aquatic Centre, and a massive program of roads and bridges works are among the highlights of the draft 2023/2024 Operational Plan, currently on public exhibition.
The capital works program features:
- $67.7M to emergency restoration works for essential public assets damaged by the February 2022 floods;
- $37.8M to other road and bridge infrastructure projects;
- $38.5M to water and sewer projects;
- $31M to community facility and building projects;
- $19.9M to continued replacement of timber bridges;
- $15M to the Regional Aquatic Centre project.
Clarence Valley Council General Manager Laura Black said the plans had a strong focus on works identified as important by the community, such as repair and improvement of roads affected by weather events.
“For the past eight months we’ve been designing and securing grant funds to deliver an additional 400,000 square metres of regional and local road pavement, at a cost of over $90 million. 2023/2024 sees the commencement of this program to deliver the equivalent of 16 years of work on our road network in two to three years, with the support of external contractors,” Ms Black said.
“The aim of the work isn’t just to fill potholes, but to improve the road surface to be better resilient to future events.”
Clarence Valley Mayor Ian Tiley strongly encouraged locals to be involved in the process of deciding how rates and public funds were spent by council.
“The Operational Plan aims to achieve the aspirations of the community, so it is vitally important that we have feedback to ensure we’re meeting those goals,” Cr Tiley said.
“Submissions close Monday 29 May so I’d encourage anyone interested in having their say to check it out.”
The Operational Plan sets out the projects and initiatives that Council will undertake in the next financial year to achieve the strategies in the Delivery Program 2022/2025 and community objectives in The Clarence 2032 – Community Strategic Plan.
To view the Operational Plan and have your say, visit:
www.clarence.nsw.gov.au/On-exhibition/Integrated-Planning-Reporting-Documents-for-2023-24
Alongside the Operational Plan, public comment is also being sought on Council’s Long Term Financial Plan, Workforce Management Strategy, Asset Management Strategy, and Schedule of Fees and Charges. Each of these documents is created under the NSW Office of Local Government’s Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework (IP&R).
For media enquiries please email communications@clarence.nsw.gov.au or phone 0427 894 745.
