Council meeting Update - 17 December 2024

Tuesday 17 December 2024

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

  • Council has reappointed General Manager Paul Bennett to serve another five-year contract, from 6 September 2025, when his current contract expires. The General Manager first commenced employment with Tamworth Regional Council in September 2010. His contract will be finalised in line with the Local Government Act 1993 and the NSW Statutory and Other Officers Remunerations Tribunal.
  • To allow for further consultation with residents, a report around a Development Application seeking to create more homes in Oxley Vale was withdrawn. Councillors agreed further investigation of options for resolving traffic concerns was required. This was one of the issues residents living near the site of the proposal raised through submissions and a petition of 52 signatures.
  • Councillors have endorsed a recommendation from the Tamworth Regional Local Traffic Committee to install No Stopping signs on each side of the NSW SES driveway on In Street, West Tamworth. They also approved the 2025 Tamworth Country Music Festival Traffic Management Plan which includes the closure of Peel Street, Kable Avenue, Fitzroy Street, Roderick Street, Carter Street and Plain Street during the festival.
  • In his capacity as Chair of the Finance Committee for Statewide Mutual, Councillors approved General Manager Paul Bennett’s participation in a delegation to London in March 2025 with all costs to be covered by Statewide Mutual. The delegation will negotiate insurance coverage for Statewide Mutual’s member Council’s across NSW, which includes Tamworth Regional Council.
  • Council tonight agreed to support a research project being conducted by the Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA). Tamworth Regional Council will contribute $4,500 towards the project which will examine the economic and cultural value of country music in Australia. The 2025 research project will have a focus on gauging the extent of the genre’s post-pandemic recovery, as well as explore national and international growth and popularity of country music. The report is expected to be finalised in June 2025.