TAMWORTH Regional Council could be paving the way for an announcement on its highly-anticipated intermodal freight hub.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Councillors will consider a report at Tuesday’s meeting recommending the rezoning of a huge parcel of council-owned land in between Westdale and the Glen Artney industrial estate.
The land, now dubbed the Tamworth Enterprise Area, has been earmarked to “provide a sizeable area of employment generating land”.
It is currently zoned as heavy industrial, primary production and large residential lots, but the rezoning proposal will turn the land into commercial and industrial land.
There’s still a few hoops to jump through before 246-hectare slice of land becomes an industrial hotspot, but it could finally bring about an announcement on council’s push for state government funding for the intermodal hub, adjacent to the site.
REALTED STORY:
Progress on the area is seen as positive for Tamworth, according to councillor Mark Rodda.
“It’s a planning measure that will hopefully be a prelude to an announcement on the intermodal link,” Cr Rodda told The Leader.
He said the development would be important in assisting “the future and growth of Tamworth and the region”.
Council will need to amend its Local Environmental Plan to allow the rezoning, which is subject to a gateway determination from the NSW Department of Planning.
If a gateway determination is received, the proposal will then go on public exhibition.
The site shares a border with the railway line along Wallamore Rd which has been pegged as an intermodal area, according the precinct plan.
Cr Rodda hoped the measure could bring about an announcement regarding funding for the project.
Council finalised the purchase of the land 18 months ago and foreshadowed the site could boast up to 9000 jobs in the future.
Mayor Col Murray said at the time, the purchase would “set the future development of industry in Tamworth for the next 20 or 30 years.”
Council missed out on funding for the intermodal freight hub in the 2017 NSW government budget, but deputy premier, John Barilaro, vowed to assist Tamworth Regional Council get some key projects off the ground.
“Tamworth can’t be left behind,” he said. “It’s one of those great centres we’re seeing great and significant organic growth.”
OPINION:
Jacob McArthur
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
Jacob McArthur is opinions editor for The Canberra Times and Australian Community Media. As part of the Canberra Times' production team, he helps the people of Canberra and beyond get the stories they need, when they need them across a range of platforms, while helping maintain a high editorial standard. Before moving to Canberra in 2020, he started with Australian Community Media in 2015 as a journalist for The Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth where he kept a close eye on Tamworth Regional Council. Jacob was also the co-host of ACM's Water Pressure podcast where he and Jamieson Murphy took a deep dive on issues and key decisions arising during one of the region's worst droughts on record.
