To: The Mayor and Councillors of Clarence Valley Council

Subject of petition: Community demands that Council ensures the Action requested below is upheld

The current and proposed developments on the west Yamba flood plain are having the following serious negative effects:

• The reduction of flood storage areas and flow paths causing flood and stormwater inundation into existing properties and homes on the west Yamba flood plain.
• Some west Yamba residents are increasingly affected by flash storm water flooding during heavy rain events since new fill on the floodplain. Properties are decreasing in value, there are increased insurance premiums or the inability to obtain home insurance.
• Yamba’s infrastructure is currently unable to keep pace with the increasing population. Difficulties will inevitably continue to increase in relation to servicing residents, burdening the availability of goods and services, access to shops and availability of parking spaces, access to support care and medical and health treatment, access to schools and recreation and leisure facilities, risks to water supply, power outages causing health stress and food wastage, internet outages, sewer pumps failing, transport services paused and safe evacuation and potential risk to life.
• Yamba’s road network is unable to cope. Traffic flow is often impeded and congested causing increased bottlenecks due to the town’s inefficient road network and with only one road in and out of town.
• Negative impacts of trucking in and compacting more fill on site. Residences along Yamba Road and Carrs Drive have experienced cracks in house walls and fences due to frequent, heavy truck movements, devaluing properties, accelerating road deterioration, leading to increased maintenance costs, road congestion and potential safety hazards. This is apart from air and noise pollution and increased carbon emissions. 

Action requested: We, the undersigned, request the Mayor and Councillors of Clarence Valley ensure: 

1. Council prepares a planning proposal for submission to the Department of Planning and Environment requesting that the vacant land, which do not have development approval for subdivision, in the West Yamba Urban Release Area (WYURA) be rezoned from Residential (R1) to Conservation (C2) zoning or a mix of Conservation (C2) and Rural (RU2) based on the impacts of further development on the environment and the risk to human life and property from future flooding.
2. Council writes to the NSW Minister for Planning requesting the Minister to prevent any further development on the west Yamba flood plain that will negatively impact on flooding in the whole of west Yamba township.
3. Council’s engagement and notification of all matters is current, transparent, accessible, and inclusive for all Clarence Valley Council community members.