TRC meeting outcomes 28th July 2026

Here is an overview of outcomes from the Ordinary Meeting of Tamworth Regional Council held on Tuesday 28^th July 2026.

• Tonight, Councillors endorsed the public exhibition of the draft Tamworth Regional Section 7.12 Development Contributions Plan 2026. Development contributions help fund the community infrastructure needed to support growth across the region, including parks, community facilities, local roads and shared paths. Moving to a single LGA wide Section 7.12 Development Contributions framework will provide, greater flexibility in infrastructure delivery and works programming, a clearer and more consistent levy structure and reduced administrative complexity. The draft Section 7.12 Development Contributions Plan will be available for public feedback from 9:00am on Thursday, 30 July via Council’s Have Your Say page.
• Council has received Voluntary Planning Agreements (VPAs) offers for three proposed renewable energy projects; Bendemeer Solar Farm, Middlebrook Solar Farm and Kingswood Battery Energy Storage System. Councillors tonight agreed to provide in principle agreements to the terms of each of the three VPAs. Formal agreements will now be drafted for each project and will return to Councillors for public exhibition endorsement at a future meeting of Council.
• Councillors also agreed to receive and note a letter of offer for a separate VPA from Marloelle Pty Limited, the Developer of Windmill Hill Residential Estate in Moore Creek. The proposed VPA would dedicate a future parcel of land currently owned by the Developer as a neighbourhood park. It is proposed that the park would be funded and constructed by the Developer in accordance with Council’s Open Space Management Guide. That section of land would then be transferred to Council to maintain and would be classified as Community Land.
• Councillors tonight endorsed a series of recommendations regarding Council’s waste services, including a decision not to reintroduce a bulky household goods kerbside collection service. The number of free waste vouchers will remain at four for the 2027–28 financial year, with a request for staff to investigate the feasibility of increasing to six vouchers for rural residents. A 500kg limit per voucher will be introduced from quarter three of the current financial year, and the Waste Wagon service will be immediately expanded to three days per week. A trial of a two cubic metre skip bag system to assist Waste Wagon collections will also occur.
• Councillors tonight approved to issue an offer of temporary acceptance of out-of-region residual dry waste from iQRenew Group at the Tamworth Waste Management Facility, for up to 12 months. Deal is subject to iQRenew acceptance of rates, EPA approval and confirmation of waste levy arrangements. The agreement will include a 50% out-of-region surcharge.
• Councillors reviewed several finance reports tonight including the final budget variation report for the 2025/2026 financial year, noting that five of seven accommodation blocks at International Flight Training Tamworth are now fully utilised, with more demand expected next year. Council also noted cash and investment holdings continue to be above the three-month Bank Bill Swap rate of 4.4615%, returning an average of 4.81%.
• Councillors have authorised Council staff to negotiate the terms of a new licence with the Tamworth Classic Fire Engine Club for a parcel of Council-owned land. The land is adjacent to Victoria Park, next to the Tamworth Community Men’s Shed, and will allow the club to develop a facility to store and display the club’s classic fire engines and associated items.
• In response to a Notice of Motion on 24 March 2026, Councillors were presented with preliminary costs to heat the Kootingal War Memorial Swimming Pool from April to September.
• Tonight, Councillors agreed to authorise the Tamworth Regional Council delegation visit to Sannohe, Japan for the Sister City Protocol signing and adoption. Councillors also authorised the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and General Manager to visit Singapore Airlines in Singapore to observe the facilities for the trainings of pilots from Tamworth on their return home. The travel will be funded from within Council’s current budget. Councillor Sharpham will also attend at his own cost.
• Councillors agreed to subsidise some of the fees associated with hire of Tamworth Regional Council facilities and services for the 2026 PRIDE Inc Fair Day, set to take place on 12 September. Council will commit in-kind support of $5,000 towards the event and this will be deducted from the General Fund.

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