30 years leading councils and still learning

The Clarence Valley’s new mayor Ray Smith admits he still has plenty to learn after swapping sides from the operational side of local government to a role as an elected councillor.

Even with 30 years experience as a general manager ii local government at Grafton City Council (19932004), Cobar Shire (2004-2010) and Bland Shire (2010-2022) Cr Smith found his frst meeting last Thursday a “baptism of fre”.

He agreed there seemed to be an element on council determined to test his procedural and policy knowledge from the outset, but he put this down to disappointment rather than mischief.

“Emotions were running high, obviously,” he said. “And I know Peter (Johnstone) was disappointed that he wasn’t re elected as mayor.

“But I’m confdent that things will settle down so we’ll get on to doing what we were elected to do.”

The new mayor said he had noted there was already a group of councillors that appeared to be voting together, but was confdent he could turn that around.

“That was, has been one of the criticisms of the former council,” he said.

“Certainly, you know, during my election campaign that was coming through loud and clear.

“I guess it’s up to me, as the man now to just try and meld them all together, harness the enthusiasm of the new councillors and utilise the skills of the reelected councillors.”

Cr Smith downplayed the failure of his mayoral minute calling for the deferral of a Northern Regional Planning Panel meeting called for Wednesday.

The panel will meet to determine a controversial $80 million development on the foodplain in West Yamba. See the report in this edition of The Northern Rivers Times.

He said the minute was just an attempt to assure the community the council was representing them in this important matter.

He was also surprised at the amount of interest some councillors expressed in the supposed infuence of the community group the Yamba Community Action Group.

He said councillors seemed concerned that the election of the group’s former secretary Lynne Cairns to the council would grant Yamba CAN undue infuence on council.

“ I know that they believe that I was linked to Yamba CAN. That’s not the case,” he said.

“The only person I spoke to was Cr Cairns, who gave me some information about the meeting date, the reference numbers that we could have quoted in a letter to the Minister.

“There was no liaison between me and in any members of Yamba CAN.

“And I wasn’t doing it on behalf of Yamba CAN. I was doing it on behalf of the community.”

He was surprised that some councillors sought to dismiss the group’s efforts.

“They’re a community group,” he said. “They’re entitled to ask questions.

“And I think some of the former councillors have just sort of been offended at the way, possibly, they’ve sought information from the council.”

The new mayor said the major challenge facing the council was restoring community faith in it.

“I know that a couple of the re-elected councillors have indicated that they had a very successful term, and in regard to capital works and facilities, yes, they did,” he said.

“But there was still that very strong perception that the community wanted change.

“They don’t want to see factions in the council, and I guess as mayor, now that’s going to be my role and responsibility to just meld them into a formidable team that can produce benefts for the valley.”

Cr Smith said one of the major issues for this and other councils around NSW was development on the food plain.

Cr Smith agreed councils were in a hard place, because staff had State Government legislation as its guideline, but that legislation had become contentious.

“The councillors themselves, have to

Geographical Names Act 1966 listen to the concerns of the community, the matter going before the panel on Wednesday, I think there were 89 submissions, and council resolved back in July to support refusal of it on those ground, on a number of grounds,” he said.

“If council is going to refuse a development that complies, they have to have very valid reasons for refusing it. Otherwise, they’ll end up in the Land and Environment Court.”

On a brighter note Cr Smith was glad of the change to council meeting times and days.

“The consensus was that we’re all wide awake and much more alert earlier in the morning than later in the afternoon or the evening,” he said.

He said the change of meeting day to the third Thursday of the month would bring the meeting cycle into line with other bodies, like the Northern Rivers Joint Organisation.

“We’ll be going there with the decision of council for that particular meeting, rather than have to wait another month or two months,” he said.

The Geographical Names Board is seeking public comment on a proposal from Lismore Council to name the following: Junbung Park for a reserve located on Ballina Road, in the suburb of Goonellabah.

The proposal can be viewed and submissions lodged on the Geographical Names Board website at gnb.nsw.gov.au from 24 October 2024 to 23 November 2024. Alternatively, written submissions may be mailed to the Secretary, Geographical Names Board, 346 Panorama Avenue, Bathurst, NSW 2795.

In accordance with Section 9 of the Geographical Names Act 1966, all submissions lodged may be subject to a Government Information (Public Access) application and may be viewed by a third party to assist the Board in considering this proposal.

Narelle Underwood Chair