Council Meeting Update - 28 April 2026

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

• Councillor Rodda moved a motion to charge the proposed Dungowan Pumped Hydro Project owner EDF Power Solutions a fee of $10,000 to share data from a Dam Break Study of Dungowan Dam, paid for by Council. EDF will now consider if they give Council access to information they have prepared, in relation to dam break considerations for the lower storage dam, part of the proposed project.
• Councillors have tonight reviewed and noted the report in relation to IPART’s draft determination of Water NSW’s and Water Administration Ministerial Corporation’s Bulk Water Charges. The draft determination details, if the proposed changes are ultimately adopted Council’s cost for accessing bulk raw water across the council area will rise by 35.2 % over the 3 years of the determination to 30 June 2029. Council will proceed with lodging a submission that reflects the key points outlined in the report. Future considerations concerning financial impact will be needed from Council following IPART’s final determination.
• Councillors have reviewed and noted the Annual Dams Safety Standards Report for three Council owned dams including Dungowan Dam, Connors Creek Dam and Calala Storage Dam. Council will proceed with an amendment to Council’s Dam Safety Management Policy to reflect the Calala Storage Dam is no longer a declared dam.
• Councillors have tonight considered two options in relation to the continuation of the EOI for the development of Hard Plastics Recycling Facility. This project was the recipient of grant funding from the NSW Environmental Trust. Considering timeline restrains and updated estimates on construction costs, Council have agreed to return the funding to the NSW Environmental Trust and continue with EOI proposals for a temporary hard plastics recycling facility. Council have spent approximately $30,000 in pursuit of this project.
• Councillors agreed to make a submission to the 2026 Murray Darling Basin Plan Review. The proposed submission details concerns specific to the Tamworth region including increasing the importance of supplying water for critical human need over other uses, changes to relevant Water Sharing Plans to increase the security of Tamworth’s water supply, including using data from droughts since 20024 in future available water determinations and more transparency of how water allocations are made.
• An update on Council’s water supplies following a recent hot and dry weather period indicated water restrictions may be implemented for Bendemeer and Nundle in the coming months as per Council’s Drought Management Plan. The update also noted supplies for Attunga, Tamworth, Kootingal, Moonbi, Barraba and Manilla were all well above any thresholds for restrictions.
• Tonight, Council received and noted the report ‘Council Investments March 2026’. The report states that as at 31 March 2026, Council’s portfolio returned 4.35%. The current return is over and above the three-month Bank Bill Swap rate (3mBBSW) of 4.3080%.
• Councillors tonight agreed to the continued support of the Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library across the region. $200,000 will be allocated from Council’s General Fund over the next two years to enable the program to continue sending one free book per month to the 3,362 children aged 0 - 5 in the LGA who are registered with the program. Council will continue to seek corporate and community sponsorship/donations, and when possible, lobby the State Government, for funding to assist with the continued delivery of the program.
• Council received and noted the Tamworth Region Arts Advisory Committee Meeting minutes – 8 January 2026 and endorsed the establishment of a Mural Artist Registry and Mural Location Register. Also noted in the minutes was the success of Carols in the Park event, Entertainment Venues Subscription Season 2026, NSW Museum Advisor program and the recommendation of the installation of an additional sculpture by Emma Ferris on the Peel River Loop.
• Councillors resolved during the closed session of tonight's Ordinary Council Meeting to cease the operations of Council’s East Year Round Care service at the end of its current five-year licence term. The decision came after a detailed review of the service and the broader Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) landscape across the region. Council has confirmed that Tamworth Public School has advised its intention to participate in the Department of Education’s Shared Use of Schools tender process for a stand-alone OSHC licence. Letters have been sent to families using the service and Council staff will work closely with those families and the successful tenderer to ensure a smooth and supportive transition.