Tamworth Reg Council meeting 12th April 22

20th April 2022

Here is an overview of outcomes from the Tamworth Regional Council Ordinary Meeting 12 April 2022:

Councillors decided to apply for a permanent single year Additional Special Variation to increase our rate income for 2022/2023 by 2% including the existing 0.7% rate peg. A report to Council explained how Council bases its long term financial plan on a conservative 2% rate peg each year however IPART announced late last year it would instead be 0.7%. The report said that a 0.7% rate peg would result in Council’s General Fund revenues decreasing by $514,610 next financial year, but a 1.3% permanent single year special variation on top of the 0.7% rate peg would eliminate the shortfall in rate revenue. The Additional Special Variation - providing a total increase of 2% to rates next financial year compared to the current financial year – is calculated to add $1.62 the rates bill of an average residential ratepayer in Tamworth. A resident on the lower end of the rateable value scale will only feel an increase of $1.14 per week.

An updated Kerb and Gutter Construction Priority Program was formally adopted tonight with 12 priority locations identified. The program puts a higher priority on reducing the risk of stormwater flows draining through commercial or residential properties. The program also signals Council moving away from asking property owners to pay for half the cost of new kerb and gutter ($178 per metre). Instead, kerb and gutter projects will be funded through a $100,000 annual budget allocation along with alternative funding sources. The report said using that funding model, it is estimated work at the top 12 locations could be delivered in about 8 years.

A series of temporary road closures to allow ANZAC Day marches   commemorations to go ahead around the region were among the recommendations included in a report from the Tamworth Regional Traffic Committee which was endorsed by Council. These include closures at Attunga, West Tamworth near the Gipps Street memorial, East Tamworth near the Anzac Park Memorial Gates, several Tamworth CBD streets, Somerton, Nundle, Kootingal, Manilla and Barraba.

Tonight’s Ordinary Meeting included one of the first steps in Council’s budget preparations for the upcoming 2022/2023 financial year with three documents detailing the proposed fees and charges which will form part of the Annual Operation Plan to go on public exhibition next month. Among the Draft 2022-2023 Fees and Charges are a raft of changes to fees charged for the disposal of waste at Council’s waste management facilities around the region. The changes proposed include the introduction of new fees, an increase to some existing fees, and a decrease to some existing fees. These changes have been proposed due to increasing operating costs; to promote positive behaviour change; and, to account for changes in the types of waste being disposed of at Council’s facilities and the resource recovery methods required for those materials. The draft Annual Operational Plan will go on public exhibition in May for 28 days, providing the opportunity for community members to submit formal feedback. A dedicated webpage for waste management facility gate fees has been established due the number of proposed changes. To view all proposed fee changes and to submit formal feedback, waste management facility users can visit www.tamworth.nsw.gov.au/wastefees

For more information, see the full reports at www.tamworth.nsw.gov.au/business-papers