Council meeting update - 24 May 2022

Tuesday 24 May, 2022

Here is an overview of outcomes from tonight’s Ordinary Meeting:

 Councillors tonight endorsed sending a letter to the Department of Planning and Environment expressing its continued opposition to the proposed Hills of Gold Wind Farm at Hanging Rock. The letter is Council’s formal comment in response to a Submissions Report and Amendment Report prepared by the proponents of the proposed development in response to issues raised by public agencies and Council during the Department’s continued assessment of the State Significant development application. The project seeks to construct a windfarm with 65 wind turbine generators together with associated and ancillary infrastructure. A total of 55 wind turbines are proposed within the Tamworth Local Government Area. Council’s nine-page letter details eight key concerns with the project. The letter said Council “supports renewable energy initiatives” but concludes the site chosen is not suitable and because of the concerns raised, the proposed development is “not in the public interest”. “The development will have an overwhelming negative impact on the communities of Nundle and Hanging Rock and that the overall cost to the broader Tamworth region from an environmental, financial and social perspective outweighs the potential renewable energy benefits,” the letter said. Councillors also agreed to send a copy of the letter to NSW Minister for Lands and Water, Hospitality and Racing and the NSW Minister for Environment and Heritage.

 Council’s Sports Event Subsidisation Policy continues to support sports activities which deliver significant economic benefits to the local economy. Councillors tonight endorsed two fee waiver requests for a baseball carnival and a gymnastics competition planned for the June long weekend. Tamworth Baseball Incorporated will run a three-day carnival at the Riverside Sports Precinct which will draw more than 1,000 participants and spectators from across NSW and Queensland giving $700,000 economic impact to region. Their $7,500 in fees to hire and prepare the fields has been waived. Tamworth Gymnastics Club is staging its annual Country Capital Cup with more than 1,100 competitors expected at the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre resulting in an injection of just over $1 million into the local economy. Council has agreed to subsidise the fees associated with the use of the venue by $10,000.

 There were strong signs of construction progress at the Tamworth Global Gateway Park tonight when Council approved part of the site to be dedicated for stage 4 roads. They include a cul-de-sac termination which provides access to the proposed Tamworth Intermodal Freight Facility. The Tamworth Global Gateway Park is expected to be a key driver for new jobs in the Tamworth region in the next 20 or more years. Council’s development of the Park is one of the ways it is delivering its strategy of a prosperous region, supporting and facilitating economic development and employment opportunities.

 Council’s draft Dams Safety Management Policy will soon go on public display to seek feedback from the community after Councillors supported the move tonight. The policy describes Council’s commitment to dam safety and how it will be achieved. Council developed the policy following on from recent changes to NSW Government dam safety. Council owns three dams which fall under the legislation Dungowan Dam, Connors Creek Dam at Barraba and the Calala Raw Water Storage Dam on the site of the Calala Water Treatment Plant. A further report will be prepared for Council if submissions from the community are received.

 A report to Council has revealed Tamworth Regional Youth Council has been successful in its application to the NSW Government for the Regional Youth Radio Program 2021 funding round. It has received $19,200.00 to deliver the Youth Radio project, which will enable UNE-Life’s TUNE!FM station to operate from the Tamworth Regional Youth Centre one day a week. The project will be focused on learning opportunities around key learning areas of the high school curriculum for Year 10 and 11 students. The aim will be to link students with pathways into school-based traineeships. Students will be mentored by TUNE!FM’s Station Manager, and will gain valuable experience in working in community radio. The Youth Council will lead the project from start to finish, with up to five Youth Councillors appointed to work actively with Council staff in developing a workplan and timeline, tracking milestones, and acting as ambassadors for the project, and reporting back to their fellow Youth Councillors.

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

Watch the video report at www.facebook.com/TamworthRegionalCouncil