The plans were officially abandoned last night after councillors supported a recommendation not to go ahead with the planning proposal which would have created a number of jobs and possibly seen the establishment on the site of a Woolworths-owned Masters Home Improvement store - similar to Bunnings.

Instead, the council has decided to look at other areas in the city which could better accommodate the bulky goods development. 

The recommendation adopted by the council was advanced after a series of reports from council staff and consultants determined there would be a number of significant constraints on the development, including flooding, traffic and road access. 

News the plans were abandoned came as a “huge relief” to Tamworth’s Riding for the Disabled centre that would have been forced to move if the development went ahead. 

Tamworth RDA Branch president Colin Rosewarne said the decision ended more than 18 months of uncertainty. 

“Until now we have really been in limbo,” he said. 

“We haven’t wanted to do any of the work that needed to be done to upgrade or improve the facilities simply because if we had to move we would need to money.”

Mr Rosewarne said plans to extend the facility’s stables and improve fencing were now likely to become a reality. 

“We can do that work and move into the future with more certainty and stability,” he said. 

“It’s really good news for the 87 registered riders we have.”

North Tamworth Bears president Garry Chillingworth’s reaction to the news was mixed.

He said while the decision ended almost two years of indecision, he felt the council had missed the opportunity to develop an outdoor sports stadium. 

“I’m really disappointed,” he said.

“I think council gave up too easily on the idea.”

Mr Chillingworth said if the bulky goods development had gone ahead, the move would have acted as a precursor for moving the football club and developing a state-of-the-art outdoor sports stadium and other facilities on 25 acres at Windmill Hill, Moore Creek.

“Discussions about that as an option have been going on for two years,” he said. 

“Now the decision not to go ahead with the bulky goods development means not only will we not see that growth in commercial development, but we also won’t see that sports facility move forward.”

The idea for the development of the site was raised in 2011.

In June 2011 councillors supported the idea of sending a request to the Department of Planning and Infrastructure for a gateway determination to initiate the process to rezone the land and begin the development. 

During the community consultation period, the council received a petition against the change of use that had more than 316 signatures and which had expressed concerns about the impact of increased traffic and the relocation of the Riding for the Disabled facilities. 

Other comments made by the public included the need to upgrade Manilla Rd, and the impact of flooding. 

These submissions and the results of a flood study, and then traffic study conducted by the Roads and Maritime Services, resulted in the recommendation the council request that the planning and infrastructure minister not proceed with the rezoning of the land to allow the development, because it was no longer considered appropriate.

Councillor Russell Webb was the only councillor who spoke on the issue last night and said he supported the recommendation. 

“In the beginning the original proposal seemed like a good idea,” he said.

“But on further investigation, on a number of fronts, there seem to be too many hurdles. I think the decision not to go ahead in that particular place will take us in the right direction into the future.”