TRC meeting 14th May 2024 report

Council meeting update

Here is an overview of outcomes from Tamworth Regional Council Ordinary Meeting on Tuesday 14^th May 2024:

• Councillors have given the green light for work to continue on detailed design of the proposed Tamworth Regional Aquatic Centre and Northern Inland Centre of Sport and Health. Tonight, they approved in principle the proposed concept design and authorised Council’s General Manager to submit a development application for the project. Council proposes to develop a major aquatics and sports health centre at the Tamworth Sports and Entertainment Precinct with a total budget of $45 million. Artist renders of the concept designs were included in a report table at tonight’s meeting. The design features a state-of-the-art 50m indoor pool with a 1.2m fixed shallow end, moveable floor in the deep end to provide 1.2m to 2m depth, and a central swim wall to allow the pool to be set up as a 50m pool, 25m pool or a combination of both. The project is designed to be delivered in stages as funding becomes available. Council has secured $15 million for the project from the NSW Government and has applied for funding from the Australian Government. A future report will be presented to Council with a detailed funding strategy for their consideration.
• Councillors agreed to place the Draft Integrated Planning and Reporting suite of documents for 2024/2025 on public exhibition for 28 days. They include drafts of ‘Our Annual Plan and Budget 2024/2025’, ‘Statement of Revenue Policy 2024/2025’ and ‘Fees and Charges 2024/2025’. Each year Council invites community feedback about the documents which guides our community activities, projects and services to be delivered in the coming financial year before they are adopted at the Ordinary Council Meeting on 25 June 2024. The 2024/25 Annual Plan and Budget is different from previous years because of the Special Rate Variation recently approved by IPART and if implemented by Council in June the increase will take place from 1 July 2024. The Plan includes two financial scenarios:
• One budget based on a rate rise of 18.5 percent (13.6% increase and 4.9% rate peg). This will enable Council to continue to deliver the services and projects our community has told us they want and need.
• An alternative budget if Council does not implement the SRV, limiting the rise of rates income to the annual rate peg of 4.9% for 2024/25, would result in Council not being able to deliver the projects identified to address key areas of asset backlog, particularly in sport and recreation (including pools), stormwater, roads and buildings.
• Councillors reviewed the minutes of the Tamworth Regional Community Safety Working Group February meeting and the request from the Working Group that Council consider the role that it can play in supporting the establishment of a residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility in the region. Tonight, Councillors agreed to undertake a review of Council owned land to determine any sites which may be suitable for the facility, as well as investigating funding options for the development of a business plan and writing to the NSW Premier, NSW Minister for Health and the local State Member to advocate for the service.

• Councillors endorsed a report from Tamworth Regional Local Traffic Committee which included recommendations to approve modification works at the intersection of Goonan and Marathon Streets in Westdale, a footpath crossing over Elbergs Gully, Bendemeer, reducing Havannah Street, Bendemeer to one lane of traffic across the low level bridge to improve the safety of pedestrians, relocating No Stopping signs at the intersection of Johnston and Smith streets in North Tamworth and moving a disabled parking space on White Street, Tamworth closer to Peel Street.

• Tamworth Baseball Incorporated will be hosting the largest baseball carnival in the southern hemisphere once again over the June long weekend, and Council has agreed to waive the fees associated with running it. With the event expected to host over 900 players at Tamworth’s Riverside Sporting Complex and give a projected economic boost of $929,000 to the region, a complete fee waiver of $6,035 will be granted under the Sports Event Subsidisation Policy.
• Councillors have adopted an updated Public Art Policy and now community feedback is being sought on the draft Tamworth Region Public Art Strategy. The strategy will be on exhibition for 28 days. The Public Art Strategy will be used by Council to govern inception, coordination, installation, maintenance and ongoing management of public art in the Tamworth region. A number of Councillors spoke in support of increasing the Public Art Fund by $26,000 in the 2024-25 budget. The fund has not been increased since 2015.

 Tamworth Region Mayor Russell Webb was formally endorsed by his fellow Councillors to nominate for the position of chair for the Murray Darling Association – Region 11. The next board meeting will be on Thursday this week in Tamworth.

To make a formal comment, community members can go to the MyTRC Online Community from Wednesday 15 May to Wednesday 12 June 2024 at haveyoursay.tamworth.nsw.gov.au.