TAMWORTH is getting bigger at a “pretty rapid” rate, and mayor Col Murray says it’s something the city has worked hard at and he thinks growth can be catered for well into the future.
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Estimates from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showed population in the Tamworth Regional Council area swelled by 6.02 per cent between 2010 and 2015.
Tamworth Regional Council introduced 3471 new residents in that time frame, with the population ballooning to an estimated 61,121 people.
“It is something we’ve worked pretty hard at with programs like Evocities and regional capitals Australia,” Cr Murray said on Tamworth’s growth.
The Tamworth mayor told The Leader it was crucial to shore up employment opportunities in the region to continue to foster growth.
“The way we see our role
is providing a framework where businesses can operate sustainably and employ, as well as making the CBD as attractive an environment for people to come and spend time,” Cr Murray said.
Cr Murray thinks the council is well-prepared to cater for a growing population well into the future, with upgrades at Chaffey Dam almost complete.
“We’ve started on the next stage of our water security looking for solutions for further into the future,” he said.
Tamworth recently reconfirmed its commitment to the Evocities program, despite Orange City Council voting to end its connection, but Cr Murray said the program wouldn’t have played a major part in the city’s growth.
“I don’t think it’s a major factor, but we think the expenditure is justified,” he said.
Evocities counts 2643 households that have relocated to date across the seven council areas since September 2010.
University of New England professor of geography and planning Neil Argent said Tamworth’s growth was “pretty rapid” and its sustainability would depend on urban growth and the management of environmental factors.
“It depends on the nature of the settlement whether it can cater for that kind of growth, and whether it can blend urban population growth with environmental sensitivities,” Professor Argent said.