TRC Meeting outcomes 12th May 2026

Here is an overview of outcomes from the Ordinary Meeting of Tamworth Regional Council Tuesday 12 May 2026.

Ø Tonight's meeting began with an acknowledgement of the 150th anniversary of the first Mayor of Tamworth, Alderman Philip Gidley King, elected on 12 May 1876. Mayor Webb expressed his appreciation of all past and present Councillors, staff and community leaders who have contributed to local government in Tamworth. Four youth councillors were also in attendance to mark the occasion.

Ø Councillors tonight endorsed the public exhibition of two draft Voluntary Planning Agreements (VPAs) for the approved Calala Battery Energy Storage System and Thunderbolts Wind Farm projects. The draft VPAs will provide nearly $5.4 million to the community through monetary contributions to Council and separately managed community benefit funds over the life of the developments. The draft VPAs will be placed on public exhibition later this month for 28 days, giving the community an opportunity to review and provide feedback before a further report is presented to Council.

Ø Councillors tonight reviewed the Draft 2026/2027 Operational Plan and Budget. The suite of documents included with the plan are the Draft 2026/2027 Statement of Revenue Policy, 2026/2027 Draft Fees and Charges, New Fees and Charges, and Fees and Charges Discontinued. All documents will be placed on public exhibition for 28 days as per the Integrated Planning and Reporting Framework.

Ø As part of a 2026/2027 Draft Budget Review, Councillors have committed to finding $3.6 million in savings in the coming financial year for General Fund operations to meet contractual obligations. This is necessary to prevent inadvertent utilisation of restricted water and sewer funds.

Ø Councillors tonight decided to withdraw from the Murray Darling Association after becoming a financial member and part of the association’s Region 11 in 2022. Councillors decided, given recent experience where member Councils across region 11 could not agree on the main points to be raised in response to the review of the Murray Darling Basin Plan, that common ground on issues facing communities within the Basin would be unable to be found in the future. As a result, the Association would be unable to formulate a compelling message, endorsed by all members, on Basin wide issues, to lobby State and the Australian governments and therefore Council’s ongoing membership of the Association could not be justified.

Ø A report outlining results from a Regional Water Network Leak Detection Program was reviewed by Councillors tonight. The leak detection program, funded and implemented by the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) inspected water networks in Attunga, Barraba, Bendemeer and Manilla in March. DCCEEW found a total of 19 leaks with a total leak volume of 98.5 litres per minute. Four leaks were found post water -meter, with all four customers previously identified and notified of the leak through Council’s automated water meters.

Ø Councillor Marc Sutherland will participate as a panel member at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) Summit on the Gold Coast on 4 June 2026 after his attendance was approved by Council. The panel will be facilitated by the Aboriginal Languages Trust and the discussion will focus on the principles and case studies included in the Our Languages, Our Way Guidelines, and will explore the impacts that broader language use is having on Aboriginal language revitalisation efforts in NSW. The trip will come at no cost to Council with expenses covered by the Aboriginal Languages Trust.

Ø Councillors approved the allocation of $80,000 from the Parry Bushfire Reserve to go to the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) to extend the Kootingal RFS brigade station. Funds in the Parry Bushfire Reserve have been collected from development across the former Parry Shire area over many years.  These funds are for the specific purpose of assisting the RFS to upgrade their facilities to improve their response to fires in those locations.

Ø Councillor’s approved Tennis Australia’s request of $30,000 per year in sponsorship to host the ITF World Tennis Tour events in Tamworth in 2026 and 2027. The event will be held over two weeks and forms an important part of Australia’s tennis pathway, providing opportunities for emerging and professional players. The successful delivery of the 2025 Capital of Country International Pro Tennis event demonstrated the region’s capability to host high quality sporting events and Council looks to capitalise on the two-year partnership to boost the region’s economy and profile as a tourism destination.

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