NSW · Northern Rivers · Local council, made simple
Clarence Valley Council
A large regional council on the NSW north coast — around 56,000 people spread across the Clarence River valley and coast, centred on Grafton (famous for its jacarandas) and taking in Maclean, Yamba, Iluka and many smaller river and coastal towns. The council runs the local services you use every week — waste, roads, water, libraries, parks, development — and sets your rates. Here's the snapshot, then the stuff that affects your week.
Everyday essentials
The things people actually need from the council — fast.
Open for your feedback
See all →Things Clarence Valley Council wants your say on right now. Your view counts for more before the deadline.
- Open — see source for the closing date
Help Shape Better Bus Stops
Have your say → - Open — see source for the closing date
Proposed Local Public Holidays 2027–2028
Have your say → - Open — see source for the closing date
Clarence Valley Regional Airport - Feasibility & Options Report
Have your say →
Get to know your council
The basics, in one tap — open any card for key facts and a link to the official source.
This year's rate rise, how it compares across NSW, and why bills differ.
2025–26 rate peg: 4.3%
Open →Budget & financesHow financially healthy the council is, measured against official benchmarks.
Meets 5 of 9 OLG financial benchmarks
Open →Crime & safetyClarence Valley's recorded crime rates, side by side with the NSW average.
All 12 major offences above the NSW rate
Open →Mayor & councillorsWho represents you — and where to read their official profiles.
Mayor: Ray Smith
Open →Elections & votingWhen the next council election is, and how voting works.
Next election: Sat 9 Sep 2028
Open →Contact & servicesHow to reach the council and report a problem.
Customer service: (02) 6643 0200
Open →City profileThe basics: how many people live here, how big the area is.
Population: ~56,000 (2023–24)
Open →What's happening
27 updatesAuto-collected from Clarence Valley Council's public channels and drafted in plain language (pending review).
- Policy
Local people. Local services.
Published on 11 August 2026 Council is part of everyday life across the Clarence Valley, from the water we drink to the libraries, pools, parks and community spaces we enjoy. The people delivering these services are locals too, working to make our community a great place to live.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Development
Brooms Head onsite sewage management system upgrade
We are designing and installing a new onsite sewage management system (OSSM) at the Brooms Head Holiday Park
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Get involved this Local Government Week
Published on 27 July 2026 Clarence Valley Council is inviting residents to celebrate Local Government Week 2026 by getting involved in activities highlighting the essential services, people and history that help shape communities across the Clarence Valley.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Development
Clarence Regional Aquatic Centre
The Regional Aquatic Centre is envisioned as an inclusive, contemporary aquatic facility with a variety of water spaces and support facilities to service the needs of the community.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Council meeting
COUNCIL BRIEFS: Outcomes from Monthly Meeting held 16 July
Published on 20 July 2026 Clarence Valley Council held its monthly Ordinary Council Meeting on Thursday 16 July at the Maclean Council Chambers.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Development
Clarence Way Upgrade – Kungurrabar Creek to Flagstone Creek
Construction work will be taking place on Clarence Way, from Kungurrabar Creek Bridge to Flagstone Creek Bridge, about 3. 7km in total.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Development
Corcoran Park dog park
Construction of a new specialised dog park at Corcoran Park, Grafton
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Development
Corcoran Park Roadway & Carparking Improvements
Improve the road access, boat trailer parking and car parking within Corcoran Park.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Council meeting
Council Briefs: Outcomes from meeting held 20 August
Published on 24 August 2026 Clarence Valley Council held its monthly Ordinary Council Meeting on Thursday 20 August in the Grafton Council Chambers.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
NSW's first Green Seats installed in Clarence Valley
Published on 03 September 2026 Grafton and Yamba are home to the first two Green Seats in New South Wales, with the installations marking a major milestone for The Green Seat Project.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
H5 bird flu – what you need to know
Published on 02 September 2026 Avian influenza is a viral disease of birds that is found globally. High pathogenicity H5N1 avian influenza (H5 bird flu) is currently impacting all parts of the world and has recently been confirmed for the first time in Australia.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Development
AI improving road maintenance in the Clarence Valley
Clarence Valley Council is using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve how we detect and repair road defects across the region. Council has been utilising AI for both road and footpath inspections since July 2024, with integration into internal systems completed in October 2024.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Turning trash into treasure at Grafton's Reuse Shop
Published on 12 August 2026 The Grafton Transfer Station’s reuse shop ‘Reviva Grafton’ was officially opened by Clarence Valley Mayor, Ray Smith and Resource Recovery Australia Deputy General Manager, Ally Glendenning Ta
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Development
Alice Street Levee Rehabilitation
The Alice Street levee project was identified by the Clarence Valley Council Floodplain Risk Management Advisory Committee as its highest priority capital project.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Development
BLER - Build Facility for the Ewingar RFS Brigade
In 2022 Clarence Valley Council, with the support of the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, applied for, and secured $836,126 from the jointly funded Australian and New South Wales Government Bushfire Local Economic Recovery (BLER) Fund, to create a new Rural Fire Service Facility at 584 Ewingar Road, Ewingar NSW 2469.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
My Clarence Valley wins bronze at North Coast Regional Tourism Awards
Published on 31 July 2026 Clarence Valley Council has added two more bronze awards to its collection after the winners were announced at the North Coast Regional Tourism Awards in Coffs Harbour last night.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Have your say
Proposed Local Public Holidays 2027–2028
Every two years, Clarence Valley Council receives applications from local event organisers requesting that local public holidays or local event days be declared under the Public Holidays Act 2010 by the NSW Government. Following community consultation and Council consideration, endorsed applications are forwarded to the NSW Government for determination.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Have your say
Clarence Valley Regional Airport - Feasibility & Options Report
Thank you to everyone who took part in the consultation. Your feedback will help us understand how the community values Clarence Valley Regional Airport and identify future opportunities that align with community expectations and the airport's role as important regional infrastructure.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Have your say
Help Shape Better Bus Stops
This consultation is now closed. Thank you for your feedback.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Have your say
April Youth Events Feedback
We want to hear from you! Your feedback is important in helping shape programs, activities, and opportunities that reflect the needs and interests of young people in our community.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Resource Recovery Australia to operate the valley's waste facilities
The council appointed Resource Recovery Australia as the incoming operator of its waste and resource-recovery facilities across the Clarence Valley, with the transition commencing from 1 May 2026.
What this means for you: The organisation running the local landfill, transfer stations and recycling centres changes; kerbside bin services continue, and Reviva reuse shops are planned to replace the previous tip shops.
Source: Clarence Valley Council — Waste and recycling centres
- Have your say
Naming of the Maclean Community Precinct
On 16 July 2026, Council endorsed the name Biirrinba Regional Arts Centre for the new facility. Thank you to everyone who provided ideas for names.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Have your say
Flinders Park - Multi-purpose Court
W hat we heard Thanks to everyone who shared their views on the Flinders Park multi-purpose upgrade. Most respondents supported the proposal, with 73.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Flood Risk Management Study and Plan
Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts and ideas. Community feedback is now being reviewed.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Have your say
Library Service Review
Library Service Review: Community feedback report now available Thank you to everyone who took the time to provide feedback on the Clarence Regional Library Service Review. We received more than 500 responses from across the Clarence Valley, giving us valuable insights into how our libraries are used and where improvements can be made.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Council to introduce a food-and-garden (FOGO) bin service from 2027
The council resolved on 1 December 2025 to move its kerbside garden-organics service to a fortnightly food-and-garden (FOGO) service from 1 January 2027, with weekly general waste and fortnightly recycling unchanged.
What this means for you: From January 2027, food scraps will be able to go in the (currently garden-only) green-lidded bin, and that bin will be collected fortnightly rather than every four weeks. The council plans community education before the change.
Source: Clarence Valley Council — Your waste service explained
- Policy
Council decides not to apply for an environmental rates variation
After exploring an Environmental Special Variation (an average of about $35 per property from July 2026) and consulting the community, the council decided not to apply to IPART, with most survey respondents opposed. It will instead use available internal funds and seek grants for environmental projects.
What this means for you: Rates will not include an extra environmental levy; the council's ordinary rates for 2026–27 are limited to the IPART rate peg of 4.3%.
Source: Clarence Valley Council — Funding a better environmental future for the Clarence Valley
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We haven't started sending email, so we're not taking addresses for now. New items from Clarence Valley Councilshow up under “What's happening” above as we find them, each linked to its official source.