The quick answer is no.

Amendments to council’s Local Environment Plan are put on public display for a lengthy consultation period and council staff actively seek public comment to rezoning proposals. 

Council’s current LEP gazetted in 2010, designated the land of the former Prince of Wales Park as “Operational” and I apologise for anything I may have said previously that exacerbated any confusion on this matter. 

Furthermore I was not a councillor back in 2010 when the current LEP was adopted.

No planning decisions are made in silence and if Tom is concerned they are, perhaps he should contact the NSW Office of Local Government or the ICAC and provide them with any evidence he currently relies upon to make his allegations.

Many of the things that now obviously concern Tom are on the public record, including the arrangement council has with Wests Entertainment Group and Scully Park No. 2 Oval, and indeed the recent funding announcement by the state government to Wests under the ClubsGRANTS Category 3 Scheme, details of which appeared in this newspaper on  February 19.

I would be well pleased to invite Tom to a meeting which I will facilitate with council staff to discuss the issues of concern he has and to dispel any myths about council’s activities. 

He may contact me anytime by mobile 0448 750 302 or email: m.rodda@tamworth.nsw.gov.au to accept this offer, which is extended to all ratepayers of TRC local government area who may share similar concerns. 

I now look forward to hearing from Tom at his convenience. 

Mark Rodda

Tamworth regionaCouncil