Councillors engaged in passionate debate when discussing a motion regarding Narrabri’s Special Activation Precinct project, arguing for what they each believed was in the best interest of the shire’s residents.
A motion to reaffirm Narrabri Shire Council’s support of the SAP project and thank the governments involved in its development was passed at September’s ordinary council meeting, five votes to four.
The councillors who voted against the motion were not necessarily against the SAP, with many expressing their strong support of it, but raised issues about the process, including a lack of information and engagement with the Narrabri Shire community.
Some councillors also expressed their disappointment about only being invited to one meeting of a four-day SAP workshop with state government representatives and consultants in Narrabri.
The five councillors who voted in favour of the motion included mayor Ron Campbell, Cr Catherine Redding, Cr Brett Dickinson, Cr Lisa Richardson and Cr Darrell Tiemens.
Cr Rohan Boehm, Cr Robert Browning, Cr John Clements and Cr Greg Lamont voted against the motion.
“I rise to speak in support of the SAP and against this motion,” said Cr Clements.
“The SAP has given us no information, and I can’t see how we can congratulate people unless we have information,” said Cr Browning.
“We have to get decent community engagement,” said Cr Boehm.
Two Boundary Street residents Drinda Luckensmeyer and Elizabeth Panton gave presentations at the start of the meeting, voicing their concerns about the potential negative impacts of the SAP on their homes and way of life and asked for more information about the project and its proposed location.
The residents were supported by members of the public sitting in the council chamber gallery.
Before her presentation, Mrs Luckensmeyer asked to place a lovely bunch of flowers in front of some councillors, the flowers were a gift to her from a young girl who lives on Boundary Street wanting to wish her well.
Mrs Luckensmeyer said they demonstrated the kinship between the street’s residents.
“Streets like Boundary are an asset to country towns and should be protected,” said Mrs Luckensmeyer.
“Ruining them is not just bad planning; it is morally wrong.
“All of us treasure it and will fight to save it. We ask you to help us.
“Please urge the SAP to use undeveloped land.”
“There is plenty of land around Narrabri that can be utilised without taking ours,” said Mrs Panton.
“I’m not against Narrabri going ahead. It needs to, or it will die.
“We need to know exactly what the SAP is proposing for our land.”
Narrabri was announced as a Special Activation Precinct in November 2020; however, its exact location is yet to be confirmed.
A SAP is a dedicated area in a regional location identified by the NSW government to become a thriving business hub, bringing together planning and investment to create jobs and boost economic growth in dedicated regional locations across the state.
The Department of Planning has said the precinct will bring further economic growth to the region by leveraging the Inland Rail and the Northern NSW Inland Port, providing direct access to global and international markets.
Other SAP locations in NSW include Moree, Parkes, Wagga Wagga, Williamstown and the Snowy Mountains.
Deputy mayor Darrell Tiemens put forward the motion, “That council reaffirms its support for the Special Activation Precinct (SAP) project and undertakes to continue working closely with experts across federal, state and local government as well as the private sector, to ensure that Narrabri Shire residents are the beneficiaries of the planned future growth in our shire.”
The motion also included NSC resolving, “to wholeheartedly thank both the federal and state governments, on behalf of the Narrabri Shire Community, for their commitment to our shire during the early phases of the SAP development.
“That council welcomes ongoing engagement and consultation in relation to the SAP.
“That council note the excellent group of work done to date, including the recent enquiry by design exercise, and looks forward to working with the experts to ensure that we achieve the best outcomes for our shire.”
During the meeting and following the residents’ presentations, Cr Tiemens added an amendment to his original motion to include the words, “Council welcomes ongoing engagement and consultation in relation to the SAP.”
“I’d firstly like to thank Drinda and Liz for their presentations. It takes a lot of courage and a lot of determination to stand up and speak,” said Cr Tiemens.
He also acknowledged other residents who had emailed and provided feedback to councillors.
“I love that engagement, I think that’s democracy at work, and that’s exactly what we need,” he added.
“There’s no doubt it (SAP) will drive economic development in Narrabri shire.
“The potential could benefit all residents to the tune of, could be a quarter of a billion dollars.
“It is genuinely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and it’s something we all need to embrace.
“And it’s something that can very easily disappear.
“Ideas and great ideas are often a lot more fragile than you think. And it doesn’t take much to really get governments to move somewhere else, to move to the next town.
“Narrabri Shire is not the lead agency in this process … but we are a very important stakeholder as are all our citizens and residents in this area.
“As a town, we could decide to do nothing.
“In fact, that’s something that’s actually happened in the past in Narrabri, we’ve just let opportunity pass on by.
“There are many towns that decide to do just that … leave it exactly the way it is.
“But in my personal opinion, we need to be open to opportunities, we need to be open to development, we need to be open to business opportunities.”
Cr Tiemens shared a story about meeting a young married couple with one child who said they were leaving Narrabri.
“This fellow said … ‘It’s hard for my young family. There’s not a lot of childcare places, it’s hard to buy a house in town’.
“Every single one of us want to be in a situation where we have the young families, the older families, the people in their retirements et cetera to have a community that’s thriving.
“There are other towns around that don’t have the privilege of this SAP.
“I think we were very, very lucky in terms of timing.”
Cr Tiemens said the main reason he put the motion forward was to “give a signal to the state government that this shire is interested in the SAP”.
He said he attended the workshop about the SAP project in early September with senior leaders and senior public servants and consultants, who he said faced ‘a wall of criticism’ with ‘a number of councillors’ speaking in a ‘very negative manner’.
“A number of conversations that a few of us had with those senior people was that they were absolutely positive, 100 per cent positive, that Narrabri shire did not want the SAP,” added Cr Tiemens.
“The only thing I wanted to do with this proposal, in this motion, was to not give it a green light for any of the details we have seen but to give a big thumbs up to the concept of having a SAP in Narrabri Shire.
“I want to send a very strong signal that Narrabri is open for business and that this SAP is good for our area there is a lot more detail to be formulated, but this is going to be led by the state government.
“If we lose the SAP because of the mass opposition or the perceived opposition … then I think it would be a travesty to future generations of Narrabri.”
Cr Richardson voted in favour of the motion. She thanked and addressed residents Mrs Luckensmeyer and Mrs Panton regarding their presentations and acknowledged how it could potentially have a negative impact on their families.
“You’ve both said there are other areas it could go, but those other areas are someone else’s home as well,” said Cr Richardson.
“It’s important to know that the SAP haven’t even done their draft masterplan.
“So, everything the SAP has spoken about is in concept.
“No matter where the SAP is, it will have an impact for someone.
“But until we have that draft concept, it’s impossible to know where and what that SAP will look like.”
Cr Richardson also spoke about the potential positive impact of the SAP for future generations and referred to the lovely bunches of flowers Mrs Luckensmeyer brought to the council meeting.
“These flowers were picked by a young girl. This is why I want the SAP – I want this young lady to grow up in our shire and to stay here, and unfortunately for our youth, there is not enough to stay here.
“It’s for my children, my grandchildren.
“Every single voter who voted this council in told us they want more shops, they want more business, they want another school – none of that happens without progress.”
Cr Richardson called for meaningful discussion.
“Hear all the negatives, all the positives before we make our decision”.
Cr Clements said he wanted to speak in support of the SAP but against the motion.
“Quite simply, a few weeks ago, we were invited to a meeting, which we were unaware was a four-day meeting. We were unaware that it wouldn’t be a briefing to council, and we met a group of people who have continually broken their commitments to provide information,” said Cr Clements.
“The petulance of a public servant who, when questioned, gets sad and says, ‘oh maybe they don’t want it’, we do want this SAP, and we want it on good terms, and we want it on proper terms,” he said.
“This business case needs to stack up.”
Cr Clements said NSC was not the consent authority but “the group of people who are charged with trying to get this thing over the line”.
“This motion is a do-nothing motion.
“It actually just says to them keep doing what you’re doing, which isn’t talking to us, which has got a business case that has got to have some problems, absolutely.”
“I fear that neglect by us in scrutinising this and looking at it properly …will lose us this SAP.
“We need to actually have a proper look at this, they need to keep their commitments to us.
“They’re not going to walk away … and we need to hold them to account.
“And that includes in their choices of area, and it includes representing our ratepayers and residents properly and listening to their concerns and bringing those concerns forward – that’s our role.
“This motion is premature, we have nothing in front of us – no time to congratulate a group of public servants who frankly are not talking to us.”
Cr Boehm concurred with Cr Clements’ sentiments and thanked residents for their feedback.
“I am a very strong supporter of the SAP but I do not like the imputation that we have put public servants on their edge and they’re going to walk away from the SAP,” he said.
“And I totally agree with Cr Clements that this business case that we have to present has to be absolutely the best.
“And if it is the best, then it is the best for Narrabri,” he added.
Cr Browning voiced concerns about a lack of detail.
“We just need to see more information before we congratulate anybody.
“You can see by the people who are in here today, and there are a lot more of them, saying that there is no community consultation.
“So, I am sorry, but I’d have to vote your motion down.”
Cr Lamont also spoke and voted against the motion, adding he wasn’t being ‘negative’ at the workshop.
“I wasn’t negative … we missed out on four-days consultation with all these experts on what this is all about, our community out here is wanting to know.
“This notice of motion is very premature and inflammatory, and it’s raised the ire of the community unnecessarily. And that’s not good.
“I support the concept of a SAP, but what I won’t do is sit here and cop rubbish from a colleague councillor trying to accuse us of being negative …when all it was, was all about the process – why weren’t we involved? And that was the main thing.”
In response, mayor Ron Campbell said, “Might I add, if you give it, you should be able to receive it.”
He then invited Cr Cathy Redding to speak, who voted in favour of the motion.
“A Special Activation Precinct for us in this shire means that we are setting up for future generations.
“I have future generations living in this shire – I want them to stay here, I want them to have a good life, I want them to have jobs and I want to have a shire that progresses.
“I do not see anything wrong with Cr Tiemens’ statement or motion.
“It certainly doesn’t hurt to thank people. To say thank you is a very simple thing.
“Thank you are two little words, but they can mean so much. And they can certainly make people put in a little bit of extra effort if you say thank you.
“I think the most important thing for everyone to remember here is this whole SAP is just an investigation at the moment, there are no set boundaries on it.”
Cr Redding also discussed potential areas of growth in the shire because of a SAP.
“That could mean additional teachers, additional nurses, additional policing, and that’s what growing a shire is all about.”
“I’m 100 per cent in support of this SAP.
“I do agree with the comments of Cr Clements … we need to be very involved in this SAP, we need to tell them what we want out of this SAP.”
Cr Dickinson said he thought the SAP was ‘a great idea’ and agreed it was important to include words about ongoing engagement and consultation in the motion.
“We’re leading this bull, we’re the ones with the reins in our hands. We can’t let anyone else get the reins in their hands.
“We need to do the leading. We need to make sure we put this thing in the right spot.”
Cr Tiemens closed by reiterating continued community consultation was critical and would stop rumours flourishing.
A lack of consultation was one of the issues raised by Boundary Street residents, extracts from Drinda Luckensmeyer and Elizabeth Panton’s presentations are below. Mrs Luckensmeyer also read a statement on behalf of Carol Hobday, who was not able to attend the meeting.
“Good afternoon mayor, councillors, general manager, council staff and guests,” said Mrs Luckensmeyer.
“Due to work, illness and long-waited-for specialist appointments, only Liz and I can speak to you today.
“You see Boundary residents feel strongly about our lifestyle.
“Most Australian country towns are surrounded by spacious lifestyle properties benefitting from close proximity to town.
“Streets like Boundary are an asset to country towns and should be protected.
“Ruining them is not just bad planning. It is morally wrong.
“Regarding motion thirteen-point-two, The Special Activation Precinct could be good for Narrabri.
“Right now, I feel they might be a dragon which I must fight blindfolded lest it devour my lifestyle.
“Please urge the SAP to use undeveloped land.
“I am in favour of Inland Rail.
“But their route causes too much trouble for Narrabri. The alternative route is far better.
“If council wishes to affirm its support for the SAP, great. But stop with part 1 of 13.2.”
Why?
“Boundary Street has been decimated in every public SAP scenario.”
“I feel our foremost local support—the Narrabri Shire Council—would be selling our street down the river if you add parts 2 and 3.
“Essentially, you would be giving them your blessing to take away our homes and land.
“There is plenty of land near Narrabri to be developed for industry or housing without ruining the lifestyle of residents on Boundary.”
“Boundary is not a through street. It is used by our families, friends and the occasional lost truck.”
“Most residents have lived on the street for 25 to 30 years.
“They chose to live there because it is close to town but not in town.
“All of us treasure it and will fight to save it. We ask you to help us.”
“In your contact with the SAP say something like: After consulting with residents, we believe the lifestyle properties on Boundary Street and Yarrie Lake Road should be excluded from the final master plan. The council requests the precinct consider undeveloped land, giving a win-win, not a win-lose,” concluded Mrs Luckensmeyer.
“Max and I are Boundary Street residents, and we have owned our 25 acres for 35 years and built and moved into our home in September 1993,” said Elizabeth Panton in her presentation.
“That’s 29 years we have lived there.
“We are here because this is the lifestyle we wanted, and we have paid to have it.
“Going back 20 years, we asked council if our children could build a house here – the response was a definite no.
“Now, some 20 years later, you want to allow a Special Activation Precinct to take charge of our land. Well, guess what – the answer is a definite no.
“There is plenty of land around Narrabri that can be utilised without taking ours.
“I’m not against Narrabri going ahead. It needs to or it will die like a lot of other inland towns.
“I ran a business in Narrabri for 20 years, I know the ups and downs for local business and how hard it is to survive. We need our town to grow.
“We would like to know exactly what SAP is proposing in their final masterplan about the ultimate boundary.
“Is there any other land in Narrabri on SAP’s radar? Or are we the only ones?
“Also, with SAP’s investigation including council’s land between Culgoora and Yarrie Lake Road, is this for industrial development?
“We need to know exactly what the SAP is proposing for our land.
“There is nowhere else around Narrabri that we could achieve the lifestyle we have for any amount of money. Therefore, we would not consider parting with it.
“We do not want council rezoning our land. We do not want industrial or residential zoning.
“We do not want a highway bypass dissecting our land and destroying our way of life.
“We are currently a rural residential, and that is how we want to stay.
“Another thing we do not want is to be treated like mushrooms.
“Our lives are involved here.
“In finishing off, I would like to remind councillors that we are expecting to find support from our elected councillors.
“Thank you for allowing me to voice my concerns.”
Mayor Ron Campbell thanked the residents for their presentations but did not allow any further response from them.
“We’ll consider all of what you’ve said,” said Cr Campbell.
“As far as a bypass on Narrabri, I would be the first one to chain myself to the bulldozers.”
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