TAMWORTH people will hopefully be able to reach for the stars by end the year as the council gets the ball rolling on its astro-centre.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The council recently approved a development application for the $1.9 million astronomy and science centre near the botanical gardens.
At this stage, the plan is to have the centre completed before the end of 2019 which will see Tamworth Regional Council end up with a fairly unique facility on its books.
READ MORE:
Acting mayor and enthusiastic stargazer Phil Betts didn't believe there were many councils in the state which had a similar facility.
With the development application approved, Cr Betts said the construction of the centre would go out to tender shortly.
The acting mayor said the facility would be a valuable asset particularly for school students.
"This will allow access for recreational science for the broader community," he said.
"But importantly, it'll allow the opportunity for education for school students there."
A member of the Tamworth Regional Astronomy Club, Cr Betts said the facility would have access to some "very good instruments" .
"The advancement in technology has allowed ordinary astronomers access to sophisticated equipment they would have only dreamed of 20 years ago," he said.
The project is jointly steered through a partnership between the NSW government, Tamworth Regional Council and the Tamworth Astronomy Club with a $1.804 million from the state government.
Work on the centre is expected to begin midway through the year with and estimated finish date in late December, coinciding with the opening of an astronomy photography exhibition at the art gallery.
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.
