COUNCIL will vote to reclassify a large chunk of South Tamworth parkland to potentially allow new developments.
Hyman Park land between Kathleen Street and Hillvue Road has been recommended to be reclassified to operational land.
This would allow council to consider future enquiries about the use of the site for “community purposes”.
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Councillors will vote on the proposal at their next meeting on Tuesday night.
The land has already garnered interest from Fire and Rescue NSW and the Tamworth Aboriginal Medical Service who were both looking to build new facilities on the south side of the city.
A public hearing into the proposal, held earlier this year, received some concern from the members of the community lamenting the potential loss of “utilised and valued” park space.
Public hearing chairperson Chris Pratt recommended “an area approximately 30 metres wide should remain as community land along the southern boundary of the eastern part of Hyman Park”.
“It would be ideal that the development of the recommended operational land will face on and enhance the value of the retained community land with opportunities for shared car-parking and surveillance,” he said.
While Mr Pratt’s findings and recommendations are not binding, Tamworth Regional Council’s report has recommended keeping some through access between Kathleen Street and Hillvue Road.
“The chairperson noted that the above values could be achieved by incorporating open areas into the development of the originally proposed operational area,” the council report said.
“That is, open areas adjacent to the Girls Guides Hall and the through access between Kathleen Street and Hillvue Road to the western side of Hyman Park.
“It is recommended that council endorse this approach and reclassify all of the area identified in the publicly exhibited planning proposal.”
In a closed meeting, council will also award the tender for the construction of the new sporting centre’s cycling and athletics facilities.