TRC meeting outcomes 24th April 2025
Update Tamworth Council Meeting on Thursday 24 April, 2025
Two reports were presented at tonight’s Extraordinary Meeting of Tamworth Regional Council, with one considered in the open part of the meeting. Here is an overview of the outcome:
- Councillors have voted in support of approving an application for the development of shops and specialised retail premises (bulky goods), and releasing a restriction on the use of land at 408 Goonoo Goonoo Road, Hillvue. The site is located on the eastern side of Goonoo Goonoo Road opposite Craigends Lane and is zoned E3 Productivity Support under the Tamworth Regional Local Environmental Plan 2010 (TRLEP).
Under Clause 7.4 of the TRLEP, the gross floor area (GFA) of shops within the E3 zone is limited to 2,500 square metres; however, a combined GFA of 3,636 square metres was requested by the applicant. The application was supported by a written request from the Applicant under Clause 4.6 of the TRLEP to vary the development standard relating to the GFA of the proposed shops.
A detailed report noted that Council had previously approved an amendment to the TRLEP that proposes to increase the development standard in Clause 7.4 from 2,500 square metres to 3,500 square metres. “Once this increase is gazetted, the current Clause 4.6 request would only involve a minor variation to the maximum GFA of 3,500 square metres,” the report said.
The report explained that the proposed development is affected by a State Government-imposed, two-year transition period relating to the 2023 employment zone reforms, which expires on 26 April 2025. The Government’s employment zone reforms will mean that the proposed shop uses are prohibited after 26 April 2025. This is why an Extraordinary Meeting of Council was needed.
The report said that the proposed development has been assessed to be compliant with relevant planning legislation and the Tamworth Regional Development Control Plan, and therefore recommended for approval be granted subject to a range of conditions.
- A report to request the transfer of the lease of Hopscotch Café and Restaurant was dealt with in the closed part of the meeting. Councillors voted in support of the transfer of the lease.