Council Meeting Update - 8 August 2023

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

• Councillors have agreed to allocate $825,000 towards projects at Dungowan Dam, including a power supply battery backup, debris boom replacement, and maintenance to the dam gate. Included in this amount was $75,000 to prepare a scope of works and program for dam safety investigations. A Council report said previous safety reports for Dungowan Dam recommended a number of improvements which were placed on hold as the delivery of a new Dungowan Dam and decommissioning of the old Dungowan Dam would make these item obsolete. “Now that the Federal and State Governments have made the decision not to proceed with the new dam, these improvements and associated construction costs need to be considered for and budgeted by Council,” it said. Councillors also agreed that the Director for Water and Waste will prepare a submission to the NSW and Federal Water Ministers detailing the costs to be incurred by Council and request consideration of funding contributions to reduce the safety risks.
• Councillors tonight supported a Mayoral Minute to establish a series of three “New Residents Events” per year. The first new residents’ event since the COVID-19 pandemic was held in May 2023 to great success, and the events throughout the year will target different groups with information on Council services, local community groups and activities.
• Plans for a proposed aquatics centre moved ahead, with Councillors voting in support of locating the facility in the Tamworth Sports and Entertainment Precinct opposite Tamworth Sports Dome and west of the hockey fields. Councillors also endorsed a $45 million facility as the preferred option for progressing scope and design of the project which includes two indoor pools – a 50 metre 10-lane pool and a smaller warm water program pool integrated with health, education, and sport administration facilities. The next stage of the project includes the allocation of $250,000 from the Regional Development Fund to allow the design tender to be awarded.
• Ten local community events will receive marketing support through Council’s Regional Events Marketing Support Program, with a total of $22,250 to be distributed. The events include the 2023 Tamworth World Cup Show for the North & North West Show Jumping Club, Frost Over Barraba, Barraba Show, The Great Nundle Dog Race 2024, Bullimbal Spring Fair, Kootingal Country Fair, Nundle Twilight Christmas Market, Texas Star Performance Horses Clinic Participants Campdraft, and the Tamworth Jockey Club Tamworth Cup Race Day. All applications were assessed by a panel and an economic assessment model to determine the economic benefit for the community. The panel’s recommendations were formally endorsed by Councillors.
• Owners of seven properties across the region will receive financial assistance as part of the 2023/24 Tamworth Regional Council Heritage Assistance Fund program. A total of $41,782 will be distributed across the successful applications. The aim of the Heritage Assistance Fund it to assist with the partial funding of restoration and renovation works to heritage listed properties or those properties located in a heritage precinct.

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