Clunes Master Plan

About the Project

Lismore City Council is working with the community to create a plan for the future of Clunes. As the village continues to grow, we want to make sure that any changes reflect the needs and shared community vision of the people who live here. The Clunes Master Plan will focus on preserving the unique character of the village while addressing important issues like infrastructure, housing, traffic, and sustainability.

We are partnering with urban design experts to ensure the Clunes community is at the heart of the decision-making process. Together, we’ll create a plan that balances growth with protecting the things that make Clunes unique.

What is a Master Plan?

A master plan is a document that creates a long-term plan and place-based vision for the future. It is not a detailed development application for future development. Rather it sets the parameters or the framework for how future development will be considered.

The outcomes of the master plan process will:

• identify a vision and a set of guiding principles for the long-term development of Clunes,
• identify challenges and opportunities,
• provide detailed mapping such as a structure plan to visually identify and locate any future works and preferred land uses,
• provide a detailed action plan that links to the strategic principles and identifies work that needs to be done to facilitate the delivery of the master plan, including resource requirements.

Phase 3 Community Engagement and Exhibition of Clunes Master Plan

Update – June 2025

The Clunes Master Plan project team is now in the final stages of preparing the draft Master plan, which incorporates the technical investigations and valuable feedback provided by the Clunes Master Plan Community Reference Group and the community to date.

Council staff will present an overview of the draft Master plan, along with details of the development process thus far, to Councillors at a briefing on Tuesday 1 July at 6pm at Council Chambers in Goonellabah. This briefing is open to the public.

Following this meeting, the Clunes Master plan project team will continue to refine the draft Master plan before it is taken to a formal Council meeting on Tuesday 12 August, seeking a resolution to proceed to community consultation.

Phase 3 of community engagement is scheduled to commence in late August and continue through September. The engagement and consultation activities planned will be advertised through various channels to the Clunes community. The full draft Master Plan will be on exhibition during this time. All feedback received will then be considered as we work towards the formal adoption of the master plan by the end of the year.

Please note: Council is not reviewing any rezoning applications while this work is underway.

Background

The Clunes Master Plan project was initiated in response to growing community concerns and feedback gathered during previous consultations, particularly following the 2022 Growth and Realignment Strategy.

This strategy identified a need for more detailed, place-based planning for Clunes to ensure that any future development aligns with the community's values and needs.

Clunes Master Planning Area

The Master Plan has been developed based on:

an Analysis of Existing Site Conditions – a summary of which is accessible on the project page,

an early community engagement period that sought feedback from the community on what they love about Clunes and more. A summary of this consultation period is accessible on the project page as Phase 1 Community Engagement

a secondary community engagement period that sough additional feedback on more detail as well as further work on solidifying the vision for Clunes. A summary of this consultation period is accessible on the project page as Phase 2 Community Engagement

Community Reference Group for Clunes Master Plan

The Expression of Interest (EOI) process for the Community Reference Group has been completed and the project team is now ready to collaborate with a group of 10 residents. This group represents a diverse cross-section of the Clunes community.

The selection of the group was carried out with careful consideration based on Selection Criteria, ensuring balanced representation. These included:

• Diversity in age and gender
• A mix of long-term and newer residents
• Representation from business owners and those active in community organisations, such as Clunes Old School Hall, Clunes Clues, and the Clunes Rural Fire Brigade
• Diversity of ideas and aspirations on key issues like housing, agriculture, and the environment
• Ability to represent community values and interests
• Inclusion of Widjabal Wia-bal leaders/representatives (Bundjalung Nation)

Please see the full Selection Criteria which can be downloaded in the Documents Section.

Group Responsibilities

The Community Reference Group will:

• Help shape engagement activities, such as workshops and drop-in sessions, to make them accessible and inclusive for all.
  
• Collaborate with the project team to ensure that community ideas and concerns are reflected in the Master Plan by providing draft insights to be tested with the wider community.
• Assist in synthesising community feedback and helping to guide the development of the Master Plan.
• Have the opportunity to endorse the draft Master Plan and draft recommendations to Council after exhibition of the draft Master Plan to the public and any amendments as a result of feedback from the community at both the community drop-in sessions and exhibition stage.

As part of this process, we have developed a Clunes Community Engagement Plan, which outlines the approach and steps to ensure inclusive and meaningful engagement. You can access the plan on the project page, along with other key documents.

Meet the Project Consultants

Lismore City Council has partnered with experienced consultants to help develop the Clunes Master Plan. These consultants bring expertise in urban planning, sustainability, and community engagement:

• Ethos Urban: Specialising in urban solutions, Ethos Urban blends design, engagement, and social strategy to create sustainable, community-focused developments.

• Living Lab Northern Rivers: is a space where research and community come together to create the solutions that will allow our region to thrive in uncertainty. A collaboration between University of Technology, Sydney, Southern Cross University and the NSW Reconstruction Authority, their strength comes from the diversity of groups they bring to the table.

• Barker Ryan Stewart: Experts in infrastructure and property development, Barker Ryan Stewart is committed to integrating sustainable practices and balancing community needs with environmental considerations.

These consultants are working hand-in-hand with Council and community to create a plan that reflects the community vision for Clunes.

Stay Updated

We’ll be sharing regular updates in the Clunes Clues community newsletter, on the Lismore City Council Facebook page and on noticeboards around the village. Make sure to keep an eye out for ways to stay involved and help shape the future of Clunes.

For any further questions, please refer to our FAQs for more information about the project.