Victoria Park Masterplan: updated plan and report with recommendations from council and community to go before Tamworth Regional Council

A report to Tamworth Regional Council includes a wish list of changes to the Victoria Park Masterplan, as suggested by members of the public and councillors.

Eyebrows were raised at the prospect of a local koala park, considering the new sanctuary planned just up the road in Gunnedah.

Kids will be happy to know the koala enclosure will remain in the plan, but a recommendation suggests Tamworth and Gunnedah could one day collaborate and share resources.

"Consider the planting of tree species to naturally attract koalas to the park area," the report said.

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While koalas won't be kicked out of the plan, mountain bikers could be.

The list of suggestions was compiled during a workshop, which took into account the responses of more than 85 community members and the views of councillors.

"Exclude mountain bike tracks from the Victoria Park precinct as there is already a sports specific precinct for mountain bikers," the recommendation said.

And if riding a new tourist train around the attractions and stopping to check out the lookouts and animals is enough to make visitors search for a snack, the new plan should have it covered.

The recommendations indicated the masterplan should be updated to include a space for a coffee or food van to park up on a "regular basis".

The overhaul of Victoria Park is designed to bring tourists to the region, meaning plenty of parking spaces and updated toilet blocks were considered a must-have. The recommendations have asked for additional car parking and "significant" upgrades to facilities be listed as priorities in the plan.

But the new attractions could come at a cost, with one suggestion listed in a report before TRC indicating visitors could be forced to pay.

The list of recommendations put together after the councillor workshop includes an action that would allow council to review operations at Victoria Park as revenue streams to "offset" the large bills of such a facility.

The Victoria Park Masterplan has been updated after the period of consultation and the councillor workshop, and will go before council at a meeting on Tuesday.

No funding has been secured for the project, which includes the marsupial park; botanic gardens; astronomy centre; and more.

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