TRC Council meeting 9-8-22 outcomes

Council meeting update

Here is an overview of outcomes from tonight’s Ordinary Meeting:

• Councillors tonight agreed to support a community commemorative portrait project honouring the late indigenous leader and elder Aunty Yvonne Kent. Councillors endorsed a Mayoral Minute from Tamworth Region Mayor Russell Webb to support the Regional Unlimited – The Aunty Yvonne Kent Commemorative Portrait Project. Council will become the Platinum Sponsor of the project by providing a combined cash and in-kind contribution of $25,000. Aunty Yvonne died in 2020 and subsequently an anonymous artist created an outline of a portrait of Aunty, with the intention of the entire community coming together to complete it to commemorate her contribution to the community. Councillors tonight agreed that the Regional Unlimited project aligns closely with the Community Strategic Plan and Blueprint 100 under the pillars of community leadership and cultural heritage as well as the Tamworth Regional Council Reconciliation Plan and current efforts to develop a Closing the Gap Strategy. The cash contribution would be $20,000 to assist with catering and facilitating four community painting events and the in-kind contribution of $5,000 would consist of room and equipment hire and staff assistance.

• Council received and noted the Economic benefits of a more reliable water supply for Tamworth study by the Regional Australia Institute in partnership with the CSIRO. The report details the economic impact of the 2017-2020 drought on value added in the Tamworth region. The study found that the drought was slightly less than a 1 in 100 year event. The drought caused a 2.1% contraction in regional economic output – approximately $70 million less value added generated in 2020 than in 2016. Council has previously relied on anecdotal evidence, this report provides greater detail and reliability into the economic impacts of the 2017-2020 drought on the regional economy. The study will now be used to help build a case to government for more investment in water security for Tamworth City and for increased attention to building drought resilience across the region.