IMAGINE if Tamworth started to look more like a city.
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The CBD could face the water, buildings could tower beyond two floors and the main street could come alive at night.
That's Gina Vereker's vision, she's the new of planning and compliance at Tamworth Regional Council and has spent most of her life in local government.
"I did a stint with the state government and spent two years as a planning consultant, but I came back to local government because it's about working with community and I couldn't get that satisfaction anywhere else," she said.
"We're the closest level of government to the people and that's really, really satisfying."
Ms Vereker was brought in as part of a new leadership team to help bring the council's futuristic plan, Blueprint 100, to life.
Under her roof is everything from development applications to strategic planning, development control plans, rangers, parking, the pound, complaint management and she oversees the smaller towns.
Part of her plans for Tamworth include being an "enabler" and looking at where zonings or development controls need to be changed or relaxed to make Blueprint 100 a reality.
One of her focuses will be to see how the face of the city might change into the future, she said.
"As a planner it will be really interesting to see how the city can develop and while we are a city, to look more like a city," she said.
"We could potentially be facing toward to water rather than have everyone with their backs to the water - we could have really good developments looking out that way.
"Maybe we could add some height which sends the message that Tamworth has arrived - come and invest here and look at the opportunities."
Her plan is to review development controls to make sure they aren't cumbersome, but also make sure any increase in development is in line with community growth.
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It's important that amenity is protected and it's not just growth for the sake of growth, Ms Vereker said.
"Liveability is already fantastic in Tamworth, so let's keep it that way," she said.
"I'd love to set out the entrance to the city, it's something we are yet to explore in more detail but I think it will be really exciting," she said.
Ms Vereker has relocated with her husband and "four-legged" family.
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