TAMWORTH Regional Council has set out its draft budget blueprint for the coming financial year.
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It’s a $57 million spend on capital works to meet the needs of what is a rapidly expanding regional population base.
In the past five years alone we have seen Tamworth’s population balloon by an additional 3000 people.
So the pressure is well and truly on the council to get it right, and get it right first time.
The plan includes $27 million for new or upgraded infrastructure and more than $12 million for transport infrastructure.
There’s $90,000 for the Barraba Historical Museum redevelopment, while a one-stop shop for Barraba will cost $210,000.
$200,000 will be spent on kerb and guttering in Kootingal, and a roof for the Nemingha Hall will cost just over $28,500.
In Tamworth, the redevelopment of Fitzroy St is budgeted for, at bang on $4.5 million.
And there’s $100,000 set aside for the proposed West Tamworth skate park.
But it all adds up, so where does the money come from?
Ratepayers will cough up for a quarter of the money; 24 per cent will come from annual charges; 28 per cent from user charges and fees; grants and contributions will account for 17 per cent of the budget outlay; interest and investment revenue for a further 3 per cent and “other revenues” will fill out the ledger.
So what is council hoping to achieve?
The draft operation plan says the delivery program is based on four themes:
A spirit of community
A prosperous region
An accessible region
A region for the future
It all sounds good doesn’t it. So what does the community think?
Well, now’s the time to have your say.
The plan is currently on public display and the council wants your feedback.
With proposed amalgamations hanging over some of our neighbouring councils, these sort of planning events are no doubt being closely monitored.
That is to make sure the outlying areas get the attention they deserve as well, that it’s not just the bigger, more populated areas that “get it all”.