TAMWORTH's support for green initiatives certainly isn't black and white with lengthy debates ensuing over a range of developments at Tuesday's council meeting.
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A huge solar farm near Taminda got the unanimous support of the councillors, including a self-proclaimed advocate for "base-load power", while the council's seemingly ill-fated organic recycling facility looks likely to face heated protest.
Russell Webb urged the council to back the nine megawatt solar farm, which could power thousands of homes, because of associated plans for a nearby renewable-powered industrial development.
Cr Webb told the council chambers he had done his homework on the solar project and was excited by the prospect of an industrial development generating its own power supply.
"I'm all for base-load energy, I support it every day of the week," he said.
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"As a councillor, I am very supportive of this whole concept."
Cr Webb said the council had to make sure it was "a big part" of making it a reality.
However, general manager Paul Bennett reminded the council not to get too far ahead of itself.
He said the industrial development, which was part of a rezoning request, was a separate matter and the joint regional planning panel would make a decision on the solar farm based on its merits.
Mark Rodda also spoke in favour of the solar farm.
He said it would be a great thing for Tamworth if it could go some way to driving down electricity prices.
While it was all blue skies for the solar development and its unanimous support from the council, the councillors could potentially smell an impending protest about an old recycling project in the air.
The organic waste recycling plant could have a new home, but some old community concerns were aired.
The plant has been up in the air since 2015.
It hit a major hurdle a few years ago, when its initially chosen site was nixed with fears arising from neighbouring residents and its proximity to the Tamworth airport.
In May this year, the council revealed the new site was on Gidley-Appleby Road, about 20km north from the CBD.
However, landholders are up in arms about the location and lodged protests centred around the smell, the impact on livelihoods and potential threats to the groundwater supply.
Jill Morphet spoke against the land acquisition proposal and said her front door would be 200 metres from the site.
She said chickens at a nearby poultry farm faced a biosecurity hazard from emissions if the recycling plant's entrance was closer than 200 metres and asked whether it was suitable so close to homes.
The land purchase had a closed council vote.
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.
