River Way Master Plan is a winner
FINE print near the bottom of Clarence Valley Council's latest award is the most significant information on it, according to council deputy general manager Des Schroder.
The ambitious Clarence River Way Master Plan, which landscape architects Clouston Associates have developed for council, took out the prestigious Australian Institute of Landscape Architects Award (AILA) in the planning category over a field of 15 worthy entries.
Mr Schroder was delighted with the award, but noted it was the fine print near the bottom of it that was most significant.
"The wording describes the plan as an economic development plan in its own right for the Clarence River," Mr Schroder said.
He said the plan was already doing its job of attracting businesses to the region, mainly in the area of adventure tourism.
"Up river we have five or six canoeing/kayaking businesses that have started up," he said.
"I'm not saying it was just because of the plan, but it is helping."
Mr Schroder said the council would like to get most of the plan's concepts under way in the next decade, but anticipated it would have a shelf life of 20 to 30 years.
"Whether it's something a private sector company or we do, the plan is in place to guide them," Mr Schroder said.
Clarence Valley Council general manager Scott Greensill welcomed the national recognition of the plan and said the projects under it continued to "motor away".
"The Clarence River Way Master Plan is not gathering dust. It has been embraced by the whole of council and feeds into many areas of operational planning," Mr Greensill said.
"There's also ongoing financial commitment to implementing subsequent plans like Maclean Riverside and Grafton Waterfront Plans."
The Clarence River Way Master Plan is no stranger to awards.
Since its launch in 2009 it has taken out various planning and tourism gongs.
