Clarence Valley Council has a new Mayor and Deputy Mayor

Clarence Valley Councillors have voted and elected a new mayor and deputy and it looks like reform is on the cards. The new mayor declares: “It’s a new dawn.”

The new Deputy Mayor Greg Clancy is looking forward to bringing vision to the Clarence Valley Council.

After the swearing in of the new Clarence Valley Council, councillors got to the task at hand and voted for the new mayor and deputy mayor on Tuesday.

Karen Toms, Debrah Novak and Ian Tiley ran for mayor.

Debrah Novak was excluded in the first round of voting, and the vote for Ian Tiley over Karen Toms was 5-4 placing Cr Ian Tiley as mayor.

Greg Clancy, Jeff Smith and Allison Whaites ran for deputy.

Allison Whaites was excluded in the first round of voting, and the vote for Greg Clancy was 5-4 securing Cr Greg Clancy as the deputy mayor.

“I’m most looking forward to getting back to being an effective governing body and winning greater confidence and trust form the community,” Mr Tiley said.

“We only have two years and seven months and new council have a steep learning curve and many issues to be addressed such as workplace reform, attitude and cultural reform.

“I’m keen to look at service levels and be able to process DAs more quickly.”

Most importantly he wants to get out to the 47 towns and listen to the issues and solve those issues.

“It’s a new day and a new dawn and this new team is committed to working together.

“It is an exciting time and we have well over $100 million to spend from the triple whammy of bushfires, floods and Covid and it’s a good time to be a councillor and a civic leader.”

Cr Clancy said he is particularly excited to be working with a new team.

“In particular I’m looking forward to working with a mayor with vision,” Mr Clancy said.

He plans on council becoming more environmentally sustainable and wants to see the development of a community biodiversity issues committee.

Some of the challenges ahead is with improving the reputation with the community.

“I am also looking forward to reforming the Clarence Valley Council in the way it is needed. Everyone says we want transparency but we are serious about delivering that.”