Tamworth Regional Council meeting 23-9-25 outcomes

Here is an overview of outcomes from the Ordinary Meeting of Tamworth Regional Council on 23 September, 2025.

             Councillors tonight endorsed a Mayoral Minute instructing the General Manager to prepare an options paper for the future of Ray Walsh House. The paper will explore remediation and refurbishing of the building, building a new office space for Council staff and new Visitor Experience Centre, as well as proposals received through the EOI process from earlier this year. Formal approval of any option will rest with Tamworth Regional Councillors. Council will hold community consultation once the options paper is received which is expected before June 2026.

             Councillors agreed to make a submission to the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water’s consultation around water management in the region. The draft Water Sharing Plan for the Namoi and Peel Unregulated River Sources 2025 proposes significant changes to the number of days general security licence holders can access water from local rivers, particularly along the Cockburn River. Councillors agreed to express concern around the likely impacts to agricultural production and the region’s economic viability as a result. The plan is on public exhibition until 8 October.

             Councillors tonight reviewed the process of nominating and voting for the election of the Deputy Mayor position. Councillors adopted the outlined process for voting and announced Councillor Jeff Budd for the position of Deputy Mayor for the ensuing 12-month period.

             Councillors were in agreement to change the Council Meeting start time to 6pm from February 2026. They will now consider developing an alternate option to the traditional public forum that was previously held at 6pm on the first Tuesday of each Month.

             Councillors have endorsed the public exhibition of two reports tabled at tonight’s meeting commencing tomorrow, Wednesday 24 September; the General Policy Register for a 28-day period; and the Draft Code of Meeting Practice for a 42-day period. The General Policy Register is reviewed annually to ensure policies remain relevant and appropriate. The new 2025 Model Code of Meeting Practice for Local Councils in NSW (2025 Model Meeting Code) has been finalised by the Office of Local Government. Councils throughout NSW must adopt a code of meeting practice that incorporates the mandatory provisions of the 2025 Model Meeting Code before the end of the year.

             Ahead of the Local Government NSW Annual Conference 2025, Councillors authorised five motions to be submitted to the conference by Council. The motions include redirecting funds that were set aside for the failed purchase of Rosehill Racecourse by the NSW Government to fund critical social, transport, housing, economic and enterprise infrastructure in regional areas, acknowledgement of the need for a weed management response from the NSW and Australian Governments, acknowledgement from the NSW Government on the impact of removing the four year Create NSW funding program on regional galleries, the investigation of adding “Energy Production and Storage” as a rateable land category, and to lobby the NSW Government to ensure a surety is paid by any self-represented litigants at the commencement of proceedings that would be returned if they win and given to Council if costs are awarded.

             Councillors have reappointed Cr Matt Sharpham as the Council Representative on the Audit, Risk and Improvement Committee until September 2028. The Committee is chaired by Mr Robert Lagaida, with external members Dr Meredith Caelli and Mr Glenn Inglis. Councillor representatives serve as non-voting members, ensuring the Committee’s independence while providing a vital link between the Governing Body and the Committee.

             Councillors noted and approved budget variations identified during July and August 2025. Notable budget variations have been received in the 2025/2026 financial year including $200,000 in funding received for the Special Entertainment Precincts, $300,000 from Council’s Regional Development Reserve for works on the velodrome site as well as grant funding received to assist with weed management at the Mountain Bike Park and a Tamworth CBD Levee Shared Path design. The operating expenditure budget for general fund has also been increased by $197,500 to cover Koori Knockout Event and the water division has adjusted its operation expense budget by $100,00 to carry out electrical works at the Barraba treatment plant.

             Councillors tonight agreed to the proposed gate fees for clean concrete disposal at Council’s Forest Road Waste Management Facility. The changes will be placed on public exhibition for a period of not less than 28 days. Following public contemplation, Councillors agreed to adopt the changes to gate fees if no objections arise. Council’s Director of Water and Waste will submit a further report to council following the public display period if objections do arise.

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