TRC Meeting 27th May 2025 outcomes
Here is an overview of outcomes from the Ordinary Meeting of Tamworth Regional Council held Tuesday 27th May 2025:
The Quarterly Budget Review was considered by Councillors at tonight’s meeting, revealing an improvement in Council’s financial sustainability. The report shows the Operating Result Ratios for the General Fund, Water Fund and Sewer Fund for the quarter ending 31 March 2025 have improved compared to the quarter ending 31 December 2024. The Operating Result Ratio measures Council’s ability to operate within its means and cover its expenses. Council’s Manager Financial Services Sherrill Young said of the General Fund: “The forecast for the Operating Ratio has improved this quarter, going from a year end forecast of negative 8% in the second quarter to negative 6% year end forecast.” Ms Young explained the draft 2025-26 Operational Plan and Budget currently on public exhibition is forecasting “improvements in this ratio which is set to get back into positive territory with a forecast of 2.56% for the 2025-26 financial year”. The report said the main reason for the improved ratio is the expected full IPART Special Variation being implemented from 1 July, 2025. Ms Young cautioned the Special Variation “is not a magic panacea that will ensure the financial stability of Council’s General Fund for years to come. The Special Variation is predominantly being spent on asset maintenance and renewal,” she said in the report. “Attention needs to be now turned to sustain vigilance in controlling the operational budget as well as ensuring that any new additions to the budget have an appropriate, and where relevant, sustainable funding source.”
Under the Sports Events Subsidisation Policy, Council has agreed to subside $9,040 out the total $19,601 in venue hire fees for One2Boxing to host the “Future Stars Pro Am Fight Night” at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre this July. The event featuring local and national boxers will be televised around the country and is expected to inject around $250,000 into the local economy.
Councillors approved the Traffic Committee’s May minutes which included road closures for community events including a horse-drawn carriage event in Moonbi in June, the NAIDOC March on Friday 11 July, and the Young Drivers Expo in August. The committee also approved the installation of a new barrier line along Browns Lane in Oxley Vale to improve driver safety and the formal installation of new parking bays, a bus zone and a loading zone, around the Treloar Tennis Club in East Tamworth.
The Trial of Bulk Mulch Sales at Selected Rural Transfer Stations was endorsed at tonight’s council meeting. The trial will see the implementation of a quarterly bulk mulch sale at Barraba, Manilla and Nundle rural waste sites during the 2025/2026 financial year. The councillors approved the trial, including the mulch sale price of $50 per cubic metre for the trial.
Councillors endorsed a Notice of Motion put forward by Councillor Marc Sutherland to support a Tamworth Cultural Watering Place Case Study that was made in collaboration with local Kamilaroi community members and the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. Councillors agreed to allocate staff resources to develop a draft action plan for the implementation of the Yarriin Culture Fish and Flows Galala Case Study. Galala, also known as Paradise Weir, is located on the Peel River in Tamworth.
Tonight, Councillors agreed to endorse the proposed upgrades for Council’s current CCTV system which plays a vital part in Council’s commitment to protecting our community assets and keeping our community safe. The upgrade will ensure the system remains functional and will provide a more efficient ways of analysing footage. The upgrade is estimated to cost $275,000 and is largely able to be funded by the existing Information Technology budget, which is a significantly more cost-effective solution than replacing the CCTV system, which was anticipated to cost $1-2 million.