Published on 27 July 2026
Clarence Valley Council is inviting residents to celebrate Local Government Week 2026 by getting involved in activities highlighting the essential services, people and history that help shape communities across the Clarence Valley. Local Government Week runs from Monday 3 August to Sunday 9 August and is designed to showcase the work councils do in their communities, including the wide variety of services they provide. Clarence Valley Mayor Ray Smith said Local Government Week is the perfect opportunity to reflect on the important role councils have played in everyday life. "Local Government is often most noticeable when something goes wrong, but every day, councils quietly deliver the services our communities rely on," Mayor Smith said. "Clean drinking water, roads, bridges, parks, libraries, sporting fields, waste collection, community facilities and planning for future growth are all part of the work of local government." During Local Government Week, Schaeffer House Museum in Grafton will hold an exhibition looking back in time at the history of local government in the Clarence Valley. "What many people may not realise is that today's Clarence Valley Council stands on the shoulders of 14 former councils whose commitment to their communities stretches back 167 years," Mayor Smith said. Visitors to the exhibition will discover historic photographs, council records, memorabilia and artefacts that trace the development of local government and reveal how councils have supported communities through changing times. "The exhibition running at the Schaeffer House Museum, from 30 July to 6 August, is about recognising those who came before us - the mayors who led their communities, the Councillors who gave their time to public service and the hundreds of staff who worked behind the scenes to deliver services that have improved the lives of generations of residents." To celebrate Local Government Week, Clarence Valley Council is also holding a free community BBQ at Memorial Park, Grafton, from 12pm on Monday 3 August. The event offers a chance for residents to meet Council staff, ask questions and connect with the people who help deliver essential services across the region. “It would be wonderful to have our community join us, meet the staff who deliver the services we all rely on every day and gain a greater understanding of the work the council does for the Clarence Valley,” Mayor Smith said.