The Clarence Valley Independent’s Grafton Journalist Emma Pritchard had an informal meeting with Clarence Valley Council (CVC) General Manager Laura Black last week on October 7 in relation to leaked internal emails which have been linked to the termination of more than 100 semi-permanent holiday caravans from four Council managed caravan parks and the subsequent community criticism Council is currently facing after many labelled the contents as inappropriate and insensitive.

Pitched as a brainstorming session with a link to a calendar invite in relation to Council’s performance at the Grafton Jacaranda Festival this year, the contents contained a digitally created image depicting workmen on wrecking balls, a parody of American pop star Miley Cyrus’s song Wrecking Ball, smashing into caravans.

Council is presently involved in a legal dispute with a number of semi-permanent holiday caravan owners in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Earlier this month, the Clarence Valley Independent was forwarded screenshots of the calendar invite, and an article was subsequently published in the October 1 edition of our weekly newspaper.

Last week, Ms Black was happy to speak with Ms Pritchard on behalf of the Clarence Valley Independent at the Grafton Council Chambers.

In response to Ms Pritchard’s questions regarding the emails, Ms Black said a small number of Council staff get together every year to discuss ideas for their annual performance during the Grafton Jacaranda Festival, with the suggestions later shared with a broader group of Council staff who make an informed decision regarding any inappropriate, offensive, or insensitive proposals that are considered, and subsequently, promptly dismissed.

Ms Black told Ms Pritchard ‘Wrecking Ball’ has been used by Council staff in previous years by way of “light-hearted mockery”, symbolising how the Clarence Valley community perceive their actions as heavy handed.

She said the idea was very quickly dismissed this year due to the possibility of it being viewed as insensitive.

Ms Black remained adamant in her opinion that Council does not shy away from the fact that they have bad ideas, generalising it as characteristic of human nature, before emphasising they usually occur behind closed doors during a planning phase and do not enter the public forum.

The General Manager also commented on Council priding themselves on their accountability and their ability to make responsible decisions while referencing Council staff who acted accordingly to quickly dismiss the ‘Wrecking Ball’ idea within a timely manner.

Ms Pritchard also asked Ms Black about the times and dates as they appear on the leaked emails amidst allegations they have been manipulated.

Ms Black requested a retraction and apology, as she alleges the pdf document produced to support the media release by spokesperson for the Clarence Valley Semi-Permanent Caravan Group Inc Simon Chase, had been altered to omit key information that shows the calendar invitation was not sent twice to all staff, the second time being September 27, 2025, at 3:26pm as claimed.

Ms Pritchard was shown metadata that indicates the calendar invite was forwarded by a staff member to a single recipient on September 27 at 3:26pm and not to all staff.

These are allegations Mr Chase vehemently denies.

This article appeared in the Clarence Valley Independent, 15 October 2025.
Related story: Council reported to ICAC over ‘wrecking ball’ email, “Inappropriate and insensitive”