Tamworth Regional Council meeting 11th April 23

Here is an overview of outcomes from Tamworth Regional Council Ordinary Meeting 11^th April 2023:

• A priority for Council as part of the Tamworth Regional Blueprint 100 is for our region to continue to be a safe and resilient community. Council’s draft Community Safety and Crime Prevention Plan 2023-2028 has been created based on from actionable information received through an online community safety survey, focus groups and our partner networks. The information collected through the 118 survey respondents provided actions in the draft plan. The draft plan is now on public exhibition for community feedback until Wednesday 10 May 2023 before being considered for adoption by Council for action over the next five years. Community members can learn more or provide feedback at tamworth.nsw.gov.au/a-safer-region
• Councillors tonight approved the removal of the disused sewer pipe in the Peel River near Darling Street to mitigate the current environmental impacts. Councillors also agreed to engage consultants to prepare design options for Council in relation to the extending and improving Jewry Street Park for recreational purposes and to investigate the cost of undertaking a detailed ecological survey of the Peel River from Paradise to Jewry Street to identify environmental improvements on the river such as removal of exotic plant species and erosion protection of the river bank and should the funding be approved undertake the work in the 23 -24 financial year.
• In a move which aligns with Council’s strategy for future growth of the Tamworth region, Councillors have agreed to amend the Tamworth Regional Local Environmental Plan 2010 (TRLEP 2010) in relation to the lands identified as ‘Stratheden’. With the aim to enable future residential expansion, ‘Stratheden’ will now be rezoned from the existing primary production zone to residential zones. Identified in Council’s Blueprint 100 strategy, ‘Stratheden’ is a key future residential area which has the potential to facilitate smart growth to Tamworth city’s north. The planning proposal was publicly exhibited for 29 days ending 13 March 2023 and 14 submissions were received.
• Tonight’s Ordinary Meeting also included one of the first steps in Council’s budget preparations for the upcoming 2023/2024 financial year with Councillors giving in-principle approval to three documents detailing the proposed fees and charges which will form part of the Annual Operation Plan. The fees and charges will go on public exhibition next month with the Annual Operational Plan. Among the Draft 2023-2024 Fees and Charges are changes to water and waste charges, increases to burial costs and other changes proposed to cover increasing operating costs. 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 before Councillors finalise the Budget for the new financial year.

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