The findings are part of a draft recreation and open space plan undertaken by ROSS Planning for Tamworth Regional Council and now on public exhibition.

The plan seeks to integrate the recreation and open space issues, ideas and community aspirations from the previous five council areas into one master plan.

It is the result of extensive community consultation including forums in Barraba, Manilla, Kootingal, Nundle and Tamworth, surveys and focus groups, one on one meetings with stakeholders and interviews and workshops with primary and high school students.

The dominant theme from the consultation processes undertaken was that the region was not in need of (many) new venues for sport and recreation but that existing facilities required a range of improvements to make them more functional and attractive.

Master plans will be developed for key sites including the Regional Sporting Complex, Moonbi Recreation Reserve, district recreation parks, Barraba Showgrounds and the equine centre and

surrounds.

A review of the master plan for Bicentennial Park is currently being undertaken with the view to developing a regional recreation park with major play facility catering for all ages and abilities, and associated picnic/community gathering nodes.

The draft plan also details the tenure and usage of Tamworth’s sporting clubs and associations and development initiatives to improve them.

Some key recommendations of the plan include enhancing bike and skate facilities for those living outside of Tamworth while a second skate facility for Tamworth was suggested for Hyman Park to relieve pressure on the existing heavily used park.

Play facilities would also be developed at Nundle with support from local groups, a playground near Sandy Creek behind the War Memorial Hall at Kootingal and a skate park/active youth space for Manilla.