Rodney Stevens and Emma Pritchard, Clarence Valley Independent

A leaked internal Clarence Valley Council email concerning the award-winning Jacaranda Festival and the eviction of 136 semi-permanent caravans from Council managed caravan parks has been labelled ‘inappropriate’ and ‘insensitive’ by both the Mayor and a Jacaranda Festival Committee member.

Council is currently in a legal battle with 100 of the caravan owners about the evictions in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Last Friday evening the Clarence Valley Independent was sent screenshots of an email sent by a Council staff member on behalf of another Council staff member on Wednesday, September 17, at 11:21:34am. The message was sent a second time on Saturday, September 27 at 15:26:47pm.

The email was sent to Council’s Grafton office, the Maclean Office, the Rushforth Road Works Depot, Council’s Townsend depot, and Council’s library email addresses.

“Hey hey Jacca lovers,” the email stated.

“We’re a bit behind the 8 ball but hey, what’s new.. isn’t council always behind?

“In all seriousness, please gather your troops, we need to get together and brainstorm a storyline and costumes to win back that dam trophy.

“Now is your chance to claim any newbies within the teams and tell them it’s compulsory.

“Let’s kick off our brainstorming session: Thursday, 18 September from 12:30pm 1:00pm in the Prince Street Chamber.

“Here is the teams link for all that can’t make it over to Prince St.

“This year’s Jacaranda theme is “A crowing (crowning) Glory.”

“Here (are a) few suggestions we have received already to get you all thinking

“1. A play the song, Wrecking Ball, Miley Cyrus Staff flying around on wrecking balls with crowns on knocking over caravans??

“Too soon?

“Too sensitive?

“Maybe next year?

Below this part of the email was a graphic showing people on wrecking balls smashing caravans. The image was AI generated and does not contain any images of council staff.

Clarence Valley Semi Permanent Caravan Group Inc spokesperson Simon Chase sent a statement on Saturday to the Clarence Valley Independent.

Mr Chase said Clarence Valley Council (CVC) has once again revealed its lack of respect for the community it serves.

“At a time when hundreds of residents are locked in disputes with Council over the forced termination of long-term holiday van agreements, an email sent to Council staff has floated a “joke” to celebrate the Jacaranda Festival theme “A Crowing (crowning) Glory”: staging a parody of Miley Cyrus’s Wrecking Ball—with Council staff flying around on wrecking balls wearing crowns, smashing caravans.

“This is not humour.

“It is harassment.

“It is disgusting and disgraceful.”

Mr Chase said this suggestion is not just tasteless, it is offensive, and it makes a cruel mockery of the distress and hardship inflicted on elderly and vulnerable residents whose livelihoods, health, and family traditions have been shattered.

“Residents are already suffering mentally and financially.

“To trivialise their situation with a parody, risks pushing already struggling people further into despair.”

Mr Chase said the email demonstrated the toxic culture in CVC.

“For Clarence Valley Council to mock caravan residents in this way is beyond insensitive, it is disgusting,” he said.

“It speaks volumes about the contempt held by staff for the very community they are meant to serve.

“Instead of fostering sensitivity, inclusion, and accountability, the Council’s culture has descended into ridicule, arrogance, and disrespect.

“At a time when compassion and honesty are needed most, vulnerable residents are instead met with jokes at their expense.

“Elderly and vulnerable residents, already suffering from financial loss, emotional stress, and declining health, are being mocked by the very organisation that caused their hardship.

Mr Chase said community outrage is widespread.

“When Council laughs at its own community, it’s time for them to go,” he said.

“Respect and compassion—CVC has none left.

“The Clarence Valley community deserves leaders who show integrity and compassion. Instead, they are left with a Council that ridicules the harm it has caused.

“A formal complaint has been made to OLG and the Minister.”

Clarence Valley Council General Manager Laura Black issued this statement on Monday.

“Each year Clarence Valley Council staff perform in the Jacaranda Festival, each year a small number of staff take the lead and instigate a few ideas based on recent events that have caught the eye of the community,” Ms Black said.

“The ideas are shared to the broader staff group to motivate and encourage participation.

“Each year the broader staff group weighs up whether any of the ideas expressed to date are appropriate, will be misinterpreted or offensive or are insensitive in any way and each year the broader staff group makes a considered, informed and responsible decision.

“In prior years, Council staff have used the Miley Cyrus wrecking ball to mock ourselves and symbolise the way community perceive our actions; however, the idea was quickly dismissed this time because it could be misinterpreted and seen as insensitive.

“What is clear to me, is that staff felt safe sharing ideas, and the broader staff group made a responsible and accountable decision.

“This speaks of a positive and accountable work culture, not the toxic one that Simon Chase has claimed in his media release.”

Clarence Valley Council staff are reluctant to be the spotlight, because all too often there is ridicule and blame thrown their way.

“We don’t shy away from the fact we have bad ideas, most humans do,” Ms Black said.

“These usually occur in the planning phase and not in the eye of the public.

“However, we pride ourselves on being accountable and making responsible decisions.”

The Clarence Valley Independent asked Mayor Ray Smith about his thoughts on the ‘wrecking ball’ saga, and if he thought it was appropriate.

“I found it very disappointing to read the comments over the weekend, and it (wrecking ball idea) was definitely inappropriate and insensitive coming from an individual member of Council staff,” Cr Smith said.

The Mayor also revealed the suggestion aka ‘wrecking ball saga’ was “rejected when it went out to a much wider group of Council staff.”

Cr Smith said it was in the hands of CVC GM Laura Black to determine if any action will be taken against any staff involved.

Meanwhile Jacaranda Festival organisers have reacted to the controversy.

A spokesperson for the Grafton Jacaranda Festival Committee issued the following comments.

“The Grafton Jacaranda Festival Committee is aware the Grafton Jacaranda Festival has been mentioned “big time” in the correspondence (which has unfortunately been made public), and we (the committee) spoke about it (‘wrecking ball saga’/being linked to this situation) yesterday (September 28).

Our festival is all about inclusion and supporting the community left, right, and centre, across the whole Clarence Valley.

We don’t agree with these jokes, or comments.

We do not condone what has been released and we consider the comments to be inappropriate and insensitive.

We hope they (responsible party) learn from this and these actions are not repeated.

The situation (re the owners of semi-permanent holiday caravans at four Council managed caravan parks) is horrid for a lot of people in our community, and it is a shame they have been affected by this.”

The spokesperson went on to say; “Jacaranda Festival is an inclusive festival for all people in our community. Diversity, inclusivity and togetherness is not just a box tick, it’s the reason why we have our festival. Recent emails leaked within Council do not reflect Jacaranda Festival or any of our volunteer committee. Those words do not align with our Festival, and we trust in Clarence Valley Council to take their own action to rectify this. We hope to see everyone at Jaca Fest 2025, it sure will be a Crowning Glory.”

This article appeared in the Clarence Valley Independent, 1 October 2025.