Just for the record, we need to remind mayor Col Murray to do his homework before going to the press on November 13, saying “... but queried why the past two public meetings were held on a council meeting night”. 

Council meets monthly on the second and fourth Tuesday night. 

The devil is always in the detail. 

We have persisted on keeping our debate based on publicly available information (of which there is not a lot out there) and have never tried to play silly politics, which it seems the only approach some of our representative councillors can play. Not all, but some.

Since our last statement, we have met with all councillors and two so far have indicated they are not in favour of a large jail coming to Tamworth.

Mr Anderson said there would not be a large-scale correctional facility in this region unless the people wanted one. 

Please call his office or email him to register a “no large jail for Tamworth” comment. It is rumoured to be the largest jail ever built in NSW, with 1100 beds.

The process of attracting a large-scale correctional facility to a community starts with the host regional council indicating its desire; the NSW Attorney-General consents and the Planning Minister gives orders to the zoning requirements. Done deal. 

It is only after all approvals are in place that consultation with the community commences, with all sorts of promises that don’t bear fruit in the long-term, as confirmed by the mayor of Wellington.

The Select Committee on the Closure or Downsizing of Corrective Services in NSW states, “Corrective Services NSW give consideration to planning a new facility in the Clarence Valley region. The new facility should complement the existing minimum security section of the Grafton facility.”

The Grafton community has already expressed a desire to host another jail, the NSW Legislative Council recommends they host, so we should let them have it.