TRC meeting outcomes 29th April 2025

Council Meeting Update

Here is an overview of outcomes from the Ordinary Meeting of Tamworth Regional Council on Tuesday 29 April, 2025.

             Councillors unanimously supported a Notice of Motion from Councillor Ryan Brooke and Councillor Charles Impey to endorse a community campaign to convert the current Banksia Mental Health Unit into a repurposed drug and alcohol detoxification centre once the new unit is operational. The motion outlines previous commitments made by Council to explore local options to support people living with alcohol and drug misuse, and to advocate to the State Government for appropriate services to be located in Tamworth. Community consultation has previously been undertaken by The Fair Treatment Tamworth Region Campaign, now a Tamworth-focused group called Drug and Alcohol Recovery and Treatment New England North West (DART). Council will write to the NSW Premier, NSW Minister for Health, and local State Member, Kevin Anderson to advocate for the repurposing of the NSW Health facility. Construction on the new Banksia Mental Health Unit building at Tamworth Hospital is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

             Councillors voted to approve a $20,000 sponsorship to support the hosting of the NSWRL Regional Magic Round 2025. This three-day Rugby League festival will be held from 9–11 May 2025 at Scully Park in West Tamworth. An estimated 3,500 attendees are expected each day, delivering significant economic, social, and community benefits to the region.

             The community will have the opportunity from next week to provide feedback about the draft Tamworth Regional Rural Lands Strategy which aims to set a clear direction for the future use and management of rural lands in the Tamworth Regional Local Government Area. Councillors tonight agreed to place the draft strategy on public exhibition from Monday, 5 May 2025 for 28 days. The draft strategy emphasises the need for ongoing engagement with the community to ensure that planning aligns with the needs of rural residents, landowners, industries, and other stakeholders. The draft strategy has been developed following earlier community consultation which informed its eight focus areas. During the upcoming public exhibition, community consultation will include targeted letters and drop-in information sessions at Tamworth, Kootingal, Nundle, Manilla and Barraba). Consultation will also be undertaken with Government agencies and include industry stakeholder engagement sessions.

             Councillors have endorsed a number of recommendations put forward by the Local Traffic Committee including two safety improvements to local roads. This includes changing the existing road centreline between Maysteers Lane and Davidsons Lane in Moore Creek to a double two-way barrier line to restrict overtaking, and installing an additional Give Way sign at the intersection of Marsden Park Road and Whitehouse Lane in Calala.  

             Councillors have appointed Mr Robert Lagaida to the role of independent chair to Tamworth Regional Council’s Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee for an initial term of four years. His appointment comes after an Expressions of Interest process following the resignation of the previous chair. Mr Lagaida has held senior executive positions with more than 25 years’ experience in the NSW public sector. He also has extensive experience as a board director and an independent chair or member of audit and risk committees in State and local government agencies and the disability and aged care sectors. Dr Meredith Caelli and Mr Glenn Inglis are the other two external members of Council’s Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee.