Clarence Valley Council: Development application for 181 Carrs Drive, Yamba, to be reconsidered

A development proposal in a flood prone region of northern NSW has been given the chance to proceed after yet another round of community consultation.

Carrs Dr, Yamba, during the 2022 floods.

Yet another Yamba development application has hit a setback after the Clarence Valley Council refused an ambitious subdivision proposal for a flood prone area.

Sharon and Gavin Shankland have lodged a proposal for 181 Carrs Dr, Yamba to subdivide the 3.38ha site divided into six lots, ranging from 5000 to 7855sq m.

When the plans were initially placed on public exhibition, concerns were raised about possible detrimental environmental impacts, developments on a flood plain and sewerage.

Despite council staff recommending the subdivision go ahead at an April council meeting, certain councillors had concerns about the proposal and tabled a motion to refuse the subdivision.

Councillor Greg Clancy told the meeting he had deep concerns about the proposal as the site was designated as a wetland and prone to flooding.

The proposed development site.

Fellow councillor Peter Johnstone noted the proposed subdivision was next to a wildlife corridor and said he was concerned sewage from the proposed sites could be discharged into the adjoining conservation zone.

There was disagreement with councillor Karen Toms who said these issues would be best resolved in the Land and Environment Court.

Councillor Greg Clancy has raised concerns about developments in West Yamba.

However, Cr Toms was in the minority with only councillors Debrah Novak and Allison Whaites voting against Cr Clancy’s motion to refuse the initial development application and put the plans back on exhibition.

Now members of the public will have the opportunity to once again comment on the proposed subdivision until September 25.

This decision comes on the back of many heated council debates over the West Yamba Urban Release Area (WYURA), specifically whether further developments should continue in areas which are prone to flooding.

This April, at the same packed meeting, council debated whether it should also petition the state government to rezone part of Yamba, specifically concerning areas up for development around Carrs Dr.

Speaking in support of the rezoning, councillor Greg Clancy said it was an issue which needed to be tackled from the grassroots up.

“We have to be brave. We have to take decisions at this local level,” he said. “We have to represent the community and putting more people in harm’s way on flood plains is not the way to do it.”

Unlike the previous decision, Cr Clancy’s notice of motion was voted down by the council at this meeting.

Councillors William Day, Debrah Novak, Steve Pickering, Alison Whaites and Ms Toms voted against his proposal.