Tamworth’s Diana Cookson sees Tamworth Regional Council’s plans to develop the Longyard precinct as good for the city but worries about traffic and infrastructure problems that may arise from the developments.
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I refer to Richard Duddy’s letter in The Northern Daily Leader last Saturday, July 19, regarding council’s Longyard plan.
I, too, appreciate Tamworth Regional Council’s foresight with their plan to develop the Longyard sporting and equestrian facilities further.
However, I have real concerns about whether this plan will also consider things like existing roads and infrastructure.
The Longyard area has grown rapidly in the past few years. Lots of commercial development, sporting facilities and residential estates.
The information centre will go out there and a new motel and church are planned for Ringers Rd.
Yet, to date, very little has been done to improve access to the area for the wider Tamworth public.
The Calala Ln and Goonoo Goonoo Rd roundabout is increasingly busy with cars and trucks, and turning in and out of the Longyard precinct can be challenging. Especially when there are big events in town such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ convention (let alone the country music festival).
And the new trotting complex has been approved further out off the New England Highway.
So how will the roads manage if future developments of this size and scale are approved?
More and more vehicles will be drawn to the precinct and yet there seems to be no clear plan from council as to what is happening with the Calala bypass.
What will happen with Scott Rd once the Woollies/Dan Murphys and Masters complexes are built?
How do Tamworth residents on the opposite side of town commute to the Longyard and beyond?
What about the thriving estates out at Hills Plain and Moore Creek? They come via Jewry St, Brisbane St and Scott Rd as these remain our only options.
Let’s not rush into promoting these developments before things such as access and infrastructure are fully considered and appropriate planning is in place.
It is great to have council master plans but at the end of the day we have seen how flexible the LEP and existing master plans can be, and how quickly compromises are made.
It is wonderful to see how Tamworth is growing and becoming more vibrant and exciting. We are all proud of our world class equestrian and sporting facilities but let’s make sure that the residents of Tamworth do not suffer as a consequence.
Council should ensure that the needs of all Tamworth residents are considered in the process and that proper and thorough planning takes place.