A draft plan to re-open Brisbane St in the CBD and give the green light to traffic on Peel St (between Brisbane and Bourke streets) has predictably brewed up a storm of controversy in recent days.

Many businesses in the affected area fear the changes will slice into their profits, while the festival faithful are concerned it will dim the buzz at that end of town.

Under pressure from police and locals frustrated at a longer commute across Tamworth during festival, council has at least addressed concerns and tried to stump up a workable solution.

But by again failing to adequately consult with those impacted most, council has left itself open to criticism.

The first many businesses heard of the planned street re-opening was through the rumour mill late last week.

That quickly turned into a panicked call to The Northern Daily Leader and a front page story in yesterday’s paper.

Already on the back foot, council issued a press release at midday yesterday to try and sell the plan but the damage had already been done.

Consultation is critical for any government body but particularly 

when an issue could affect a business’s livelihood.

To tell businesses via a media press release that significant changes were being made to their operating environment at their most profitable time of year is a fundamental failure of communication.

To do so just months out from the festival when some businesses had already locked in buskers is inexcusable.

Councillors will now be placed under intense pressure to keep the street closed, rendering what may have been a reasonable proposal politically fraught.

You can’t sell a doughnut without acknowledging the hole and, to its credit, council at least acknowledged the move would have its critics.

“Change is never easy,” festival director John Sommerlad said, but these changes would deliver the “best result for the community”.

But the true best result for this community is for future-shaping decisions – like the festival changes, sale of Prince of Wales Park and “poo tax” – 

to be made in consultation with those most affected.

And that is simply not happening often enough at Tamworth Regional Council.