Five things coming up at Council on Thursday July 22

Will Council sell off an asset? Will trees be cut down in Woopi? How much money will Council borrow for the CCS? What on earth does the meeting have to do with Sizzler?

The former Nymboida hydroelectric power station has been linked with our region’s water supply for some time.

Thursday’s council meeting is the culinary equivalent of a Sizzler restaurant.

Jam packed with all our favourites – the CCS, the building sell-offs and waste – I am predicting by the end of the night everyone will be feeling pretty stuffed, a little sheepish, but glad they gave it a red hot go.

Of course it's the last meeting before Coffs Harbour City Council goes into caretaker mode, when effectively no major decisions can be made until the September elections. Naturally, Thursday will be a night of major decisions.

Mystery price two ways

It’s probably too late to get your hands on renovators dream.

After an absolutely bonkers discussion/debate/shouting match over selling Council’s Castle Street offices at the last meeting, councillors are coming back for another round. Despite previous meeting papers disclosing the financial terms of the offer this time the public are flying blind.

Much to everyone’s delight most of the item is confidential, but we do know a few juicy details like that there are two offers and the property is legally described as Lots 1 and 2 DP566885 and Lot 8 Section 6 DP 758258.

It’s no doubt a tough call for some with this decision directly impacting another item on the menu, the loan to pay for the Cultural and Civic Space.

Special fried rates

Obligatory picture of the Cultural and Civic Space.

Council are looking to borrow a cool $50 million to pay for the Cultural and Civic Space (depending on how aforementioned motion goes) at an interest rate that remains confidential.

Thankfully, the papers do go into some detail on the rates offered by an organisation that Council is not proposing to borrow from for “comparative” purposes. What we would be comparing those rates to is a bit of a mystery, but it probably means that just like JB-Hifi, Westpac will be price matching. Right?

Nevertheless, a 30-year payment plan does give some surety and it certainly has never been a better time to lock in a loan.

Steamed buns with red bin waste

Doesn’t this pile of waste look scrumptious. Photo: Trevor Veale / The Coffs Coast Advocate

There are a trio of waste related issues up for discussion this week, all with their own unique flavour.

The sweetest news has to be that by trucking waste interstate, Council will save well over a million dollars a year. It is not an ideal scenario but with few options available, getting a better deal is a good result for now.

Upping the complexity is a motion asking staff to (effectively) gather up every bit of waste related info and serve it up on a platter. I am not going to try and explain it in one paragraph so it's best you read this.

Finally, the most out-of-the-box idea comes from Paul Amos who wants the State Government to cough up some Jetty land to make up for the same balls up that led to our waste being trucked hundreds of kilometres away.

Fried whale with sliced vegetation

Past concept designs for the $1.1m Woolgoolga Whale Trail.

A notice of motion throws the Woolgoolga Whale Trail back into the spotlight and straight through some vegetation. Citing safety concerns, some in the community want to knock over a few trees so they don’t have to walk near the road and Cr Swan agrees.

The Cr is seeking a commitment to have the trail done by November 2021, completed with a “cantilever portion” prior to and on the corner of Pollack Esplanade.

Staff seem a little less enthusiastic and have listed a few reasons why it might be a bit ambitious, but where there is a will there’s a whale.

Wash it down with fresh Nymboida water

A bit of history: In 1922, the Clarence River County Council was formed to oversee the Nymboida Hydro-Electiric Scheme. Construction commenced in June 1923 and was operational by November 1924. When it was destroyed in 2013 Essential Energy sought to divest the assets.

Here’s a bit of trivia for you, Coffs Harbour and Clarence Valley Councils don’t actually own their own water supply. Well, not all of it.

The water license and critical infrastructure on the Nymboida River is owned by Essential Energy and in a long running saga dating back to the days of the now defunct Nymboida Power Station, the two councils have been trying to get it back. 

The Nymboida of course flows into the Shannon Creek Dam and despite some moments in which it appeared a third party might swoop in and buy our precious water, a final deal between the parties looks imminent.