THE $67 million major aquatic centre project has been delayed after Tamworth Regional Council (TRC) decided unanimously that a pandemic was not the right time to move forward.
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The council's bottom line has been under significant pressure amid COVID-19, so the decision was made at Tuesday's meeting to delay the hiring of a lead designer on the project until next year.
Deputy mayor Phil Betts said the council didn't have another option at this stage but to agree with the recommendation to defer the designer.
"But it is a vital part of our strategic plan and the COVID-19 crisis has put a dampener on it," he said.
"I think the project needs to go ahead and continue down that path when it can."
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During community consultation, Tamworth Regional Ratepayers Association president David McKinnon spoke on the project.
He told the council he felt the groups consulted in the plan, which included Water Polo NSW and Swimming NSW, do not represent the concerns of the greater community.