Clunes locals gathered last week to discuss the current proposed Clunes Masterplan process that is being run by Ethos Urban n behalf of Lismore City Council (LCC).
Living Lab Northern Rivers (LLNR) is a consultant to Ethos Urban to assist with community engagement around the plan.
Around 50 residents gathered in Clunes at the Coronation Hall on Thursday, October 17 to discuss the current process and procedures that have been undertaken during the selection process of the Clunes Masterplan Community Reference Group (CRG).
‘An estimated 50 Clunes residents voted unanimously on the resolution, which expressed its serious concern about a lack of procedural fairness regarding community consultation about the masterplan, which would double the size of the village,’ they stated in a press release to The Echo.
Residents said that there were people who had been selected for the CRG that had no qualifications, potential conflicts of interest and that people with relevant qualifications had been rejected.
‘There are fears that highly qualified applicants were rejected in favour of those less qualified,’ they said.
Poor recruitment
Residents particularly criticised the way the LCC and Living Lab had sought to recruit people as they informed residents through the Clunes Clues newspaper, just days before information sessions, and on social media.
‘There was a lack of procedural fairness due to poor advertising, short nomination time and no provision of selection criteria for applicants to address,’ they stated.
‘One attendee pointed out that she was among about 150 Clunes residents who would be affected by the masterplan, but who officially live in the Byron Shire.’
Sign the letter
The group of residents are sending a letter outlining their concerns to LCC.
‘The draft letter was read out at the meeting and people were given an opportunity to sign it if they wished. The letter requests LCC hold a community information session, ensuring all villagers are notified regarding details of the meeting – via a mailout to ratepayers – and lists an agenda of items to be addressed at that meeting.
‘A request will also be made to LCC and Living Lab, (one of the three companies commissioned by LCC to lead the project), to re-run the CRG recruiting process in a transparent and diligent manner.’
A meeting is expected to be held in the near future at the Clunes Coronation Hall. Details will be on Clunes Coop social media and in an upcoming Echo.
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