What the council is working on
Recent deliveries, what's underway now, and what's planned next — drawn from the council's own plans, budgets and project pages. We report what the council has publicly said it's doing; every item links to its source.
The council's stated direction
Clarence Valley Council's direction is set out in its Community Strategic Plan ('The Clarence 2032', under review as 'The Clarence 2036') and a Delivery Program 2025/2026–2028/2029 with an annual Operational Plan and budget.
The council manages local roads, waste, water, libraries, parks, planning and community facilities across a large, mostly rural and coastal LGA on the Clarence River, centred on Grafton. Its Delivery Program is the elected council's statement of commitment for its term, adopted in mid-2025.
The Delivery Program and annual Operational Plan fund the council's capital works and services. The council's 2023–24 indicators show a very high infrastructure backlog and an operating deficit, which frame its focus on financial sustainability and asset renewal (see Budget & finances).
Underway now
Grafton Aquatic Centre redevelopment
Construction underwayThe council is redeveloping the Grafton Aquatic Centre into a contemporary regional facility with a range of indoor and outdoor water spaces. The council has committed funding to start construction, with the project delivered in stages.
Financial sustainability & asset renewal
Ongoing through the 2025–2029 Delivery ProgramThe council's 2023–24 financial indicators show a very high infrastructure backlog (36.5%) and an operating deficit, and its Delivery Program and Operational Plan set out how it funds asset renewal and works towards financial sustainability across a large, dispersed road and asset network.
Source: Clarence Valley Council — Integrated Planning and Reporting
Planned / committed
Move to a food-and-garden (FOGO) kerbside service
Resolved 1 Dec 2025; service starts 1 Jan 2027The council has resolved to replace its four-weekly garden-organics collection with a fortnightly FOGO (food organics and garden organics) service from 1 January 2027, ahead of the NSW-wide FOGO mandate for 2030. Weekly general waste and fortnightly recycling continue unchanged.
Source: Clarence Valley Council — Your waste service explained