I can appreciate the position of Tamworth Basketball Association and Tamworth Netball Association about the added costs this will create for them and their players. However, Council has not increased court hire fees at Tamworth Sports Dome for the past two years.

The fee for hourly hire in 2019/20 is $5 more than 2018/19. A small fee increase is necessary each year to go towards that cost. We held off on those increases for the past two years so that fees could be rounded to $5 this year.

Surely that is a small price to pay to have access to one of the best facilities of its type in regional NSW? Maintaining a first class facility such as the Sports Dome does not come cheaply.

In addition to annual refurbishment of all courts, a significant challenge is rising utility charges and costs of maintenance and cleaning services. These cost increases are generally out of Council's control.

The options available to us to manage escalating costs are to either place an additional burden on all ratepayers or to have a cost sharing structure with facility hirers, through a partial user pays model. Tamworth ratepayers already heavily subsidise the operational costs of the Sports Dome.

We make every effort to find a balance between facility hire fees and community service obligations met by ratepayers. I am hopeful our ongoing communications with both Tamworth Basketball Association and Tamworth Netball Association will lead to a greater understanding of our need to increase our fees.

We are also taking the opportunity to raise awareness of our programs where financial support and donations are offered to community and sports groups.

It's almost time again for the Tamworth Regional Entertainment and Conference Centre to host one of its most important events - the annual Young Drivers Expo.

Now in its 23rd year, the event was started by local road safety stakeholders after a spate of vehicle accidents in our Tamworth region involving young people.

I'm proud to say council joined with them for this very important safety initiative which is the biggest of its type in the State. Over four days - from August 27 to 30 - more than 1000 Year 11 high school students will learn an unforgettable lesson about road safety at the expo, put together by the Young Drivers Expo Committee and council's events team with the support of local emergency services professionals and sponsors.

Council also gives the event financial help through providing the venue without cost to the committee. It is a true grass roots initiative which has helped turn our newest drivers into safer ones.

I have lost count of the number of people who have told me over the years what an exceptional program it is.

One of the important tasks our council takes on without fanfare but one which makes a real difference.