All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueA spokesperson for NSW Police said the man who was behind the wheel of one of the cars were taken to Tamworth hospital for further treatment for their injuries View +6 PhotosPictures by Gareth GardnerTwo other people were also treated by paramedics at the scene and taken to hospital to be assessed by doctors The incident happened about 4.15pm on Tuesday Traffic flow was interrupted for about 45 minutes as emergency services worked at the scene and the crash site was cleared The spokesperson said officers from Oxley police were investigating the cause of the crash impacting traffic flow in both directions for about 45 minutes All emergency services attended the crash scene which was located between Haynes and Hall streets A spokesperson for NSW Ambulance said a 12-year-old girl and a young adult male were injured during the incident Most were treated for minor injuries at the scene although one patient had received more serious injuries The NSW Ambulance spokesperson said all four people were transferred to Tamworth hospital for further treatment and a NSW Police Media spokesperson said the road was reopened in both directions just after 5pm The spokesperson said there had been a "bit of a fuel leak" which Fire and Rescue NSW crews had cleared while one vehicle had to be dragged from the road Police are still investigating the cause of the collision Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. Love footy? We've got all the action covered. The latest news, results & expert analysis. Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueIf the potholes around East Tamworth aren't hazardous enough TRC has apparently decided to exacerbate the risk one faces on our local roads Instead of properly repairing the potholes with hot mix and blue metal fill them (and most of the road surfaces adjoining) with small-sized loose gravel To traverse such a slippery and dangerous surface on a motorcycle is incredibly dangerous If one needs to change direction or brake suddenly and a potentially fatal accident could ensue I thought a 36 per cent rate increase was to facilitate fixing our (substandard) local roads Wouldn't it be better to safeguard our local (and visiting) motorcyclists rather than send our councillors and staff on expensive junkets to New Zealand It was interesting to see that some letter writers in New England were providing reasons not to vote Barnaby Joyce back in (NDL, letters, 12/4). Of particular interest was Harry Creamer's observation that Joyce often contradicts himself and ignores expert advice Joyce's biggest contradiction was his change in attitude to renewable energy from when in government to when in opposition "The White Rock Wind Farm will put New England on the map as a national leader in renewable energy production and drive local jobs and economic activity through the construction phase" "Clean energy is essential to meet our emissions reduction targets." when welcoming $915,000 funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency to undertake a study on pumped hydro energy storage at Oven Mountain near Armidale he said "We've made massive investments in New England into renewable energy we're one of the biggest renewable energy hubs in Australia." he has opposed renewables and the notion of net zero he referred to the "climate change cult" and in his 2024 Christmas message he said "Renewables are not renewable" whatever that means Joyce has mastered the art of backing renewables when it suits him and bagging them when it doesn't Delivering real financial benefits to communities or even tackling agricultural opportunities like carbon farming It's a pity that Joyce has not put his ego out to pasture I see Kevin Anderson has updated his photo from someone looking for an original idea to his best impersonation of Robert De Niro's "Are you talking to me?" You can airbrush a photo the next election will be decided on the best interests of this electorate and not AI Given the non-activity by the Nationals during this term we can't afford to be paying a stack of money for another "4 Year Nationals Holiday" film industry and gaming are high on my concerns list and way more important than the cost of living and housing So I'm thrilled that you are staying on top of these issues that are critical to our everyday life and are top of the list of constituents' concerns After all the debacles the Nationals have overseen in our electorate I would have thought the last thing you would want is a spotlight on our region Barnaby Joyce's big Achilles heel in this election is the complete lack of interest in policy and policy development blaming and tough-guy rhetoric with zero substance There are serious questions about the workability of their gas policy There are Dutton's three thought bubble referendums and his destructive plan to cap foreign student numbers There is his policy on the run announcements about sacking which clearly shows a complete lack of understanding of what the public service does They are the people who actually crunch data and advise governments on the social and economic implications of competing policy options They oversee policy implementation and review policy outcomes Perhaps this is why he seems to hate them so much that was good policy one week and not the next There is the ludicrous free lunches for bosses - another thought bubble Because the Coalition's economic policies are so undercooked he has no plausible strategies to respond to Trump's bullying other than to say that because he is tougher than Albanese Dutton's shifts show just how thin the policy thinking has been in preparation for this election campaign and how ill-prepared the Coalition is to govern and it is NOT Peter Dutton or Barnaby Joyce Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy NSW 23403 2 2SoldCharming Family Home in the Heart of East TamworthThis stunning home is a celebration of character and contemporary design with extensive renovations and stylish refinements it's ready to move in and enjoy The whole family will love the lifestyle of this walk-anywhere address privacy and perfection in such a tightly held popular position You are welcomed by the established gardens along the pathway to the verandah The splendour continues inside offering a superb design and enhancements harmoniously fusing both character with contemporary as you marvel over the high ceilings ornate fireplaces and character detailing throughout The stunning extension flows flawlessly from the existing home a beautiful marriage of old & new completed immediately impressive featuring soaring ceilings glorious windows & french doors that flow out to the beautiful gardens * Soaring decorative high ceilings throughout * The heart of the home features a country style kitchen equipped with a large oven perfect for culinary enthusiasts and family gatherings * The formal lounge room is grand with french doors leading out to the side veranda host dinner parties or family meals in the stunning separate dining room designed for both elegance and functionality * Spacious family room flows through french doors to the back verandah for easy outdoor entertaining * 3 large bedrooms all with built ins PLUS a fantastic OFFICE * Reverse cycle ducted air/con system throughout and central gas heating step outside to your fully fenced backyard a perfect space for children to play or for gardening enthusiasts to cultivate their green thumb * Benefit from 12 solar panels that not only reduce your carbon footprint but also help save on energy costs plus another shed a great spot for mowers & bikes * 3,000 ltr rainwater tank with booster pump for the garden All inspections are by appointment call Chris Murray to inspect on 0418 492 120 and we are proud to be helping Australians obtain finance that best suits their circumstances and allows them to realise their property dreams to ensure that you get the most competitive rate within a product best suited to your needs and we do it fast and for free All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueA spokesperson for NSW Police said the man We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy. All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe outage lasted just under an hour before the power was switched back on just before 12.30pm Almost 1700 homes were left without power for just under an hour Picture from fileThe outage took in a large part of East Tamworth and some of North Essential Energy crews were on the job quickly to respond to the unplanned power outage A spokesperson told the Leader that electricity network protection equipment operated automatically "switching power off for safety to almost 1700 homes and businesses in east Tamworth around 11.30am" The spokesperson said crews immediately started to look for what had caused the outage and "identified a magpie had contacted the network on the corner of Roderick and Napier streets" There was no lasting damage to the electricity network and "after ensuring it was safe to do so power was restored for all customers around 12.15pm" Essential Energy thanked customers for their understanding Sign up to get daily news updates so you don't miss a thing. Thanks! You have been added to our mailing list. An independent news site based in New England, NSW, Australia Today's top stories curated by our news team Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert Your digital replica of Today's Paper Test your skills with interactive crosswords Tamworth and Sydney suburb Harris Park have topped a list of surprising NSW locations that property experts claim will outperform the rest of the market this year flagged by property market analyst Hotspotting The research measured investment potential by affordability housing demand and infrastructure development Hotspotting director Terry Ryder said the best buys for next year includes locations with plenty of long-term growth potential excluding spots that “are already hot and frenzied regional areas.” Sydney home prices fall for third straight month Huge change for Aussie home prices “[People] wait until they hear reports that a location is hot and decide they want a piece of the action “Prices are already inflated and it is reaching the peak of its price growth.” MORE: Troubled teen model’s $12m blow What your home will be worth in 2029 The analysis evaluates regions nationwide for capital growth potential “Those who followed the tips in our report a year ago could have made close to $100,000 in capital gains spending as little as $400,000,” Mr Ryder said Hotspotting general manager Tim Graham predicts a resurgence in certain markets that have been quiet for the past few years MORE: Home-flipping celebs share their secrets “These ‘second-wind markets’ will reignite in 2025,” he said “These are regions that experienced significant price growth from 2022 to 2024 and are now gearing up for another round of growth.” Mr Ryder said it was important to find places with strong fundamentals investments in infrastructure and markets for job creation people should not overlook the potential of units and townhouses,” he said “More and more people are opting for units The Albury-Wodonga region is a critical area for several major businesses making it a prime market to grow in the future the spot is within driving distance of both while still being able to reach states such as Queensland “It’s got a wonderful location – lots of big businesses have major distribution centres there,” Mr Ryder said The area will also be connected to the $31 billion Inland Rail project under construction connecting freight trains from Victoria to Queensland “That’s another factor in favour of Albury-Wodonga as an affordable city with great growth prospects,” Mr Ryder said Albury’s median house price is currently $865,000 while a unit is $450,500 Lavington unit in the Albury / Wodonga region for $290,000 several suburbs are sometimes given the term ‘second-wind market’: areas that have previously shown strong growth with the market starting to rise again as more people flee the major cities “We’ve got people moving to the regions for an affordable lifestyle,” Mr Ryder said adding NSW had the largest affordability crisis in the country Places like Tamworth have major investments such as Tamworth Global Gateway Park to grow their industry along with energy developments worth over $10 billion it’s got a lot of infrastructure investment happening,” Mr Ryder said has had an annual average growth of 9 per cent per year over the past five years Mr Ryder said the suburb was “an example of what Tamworth has to offer” East Tamworth home for sale with price guide of $649,000 For people looking for something closer to Sydney Mr Ryder said people should not overlook Harris Park “A lot of people would turn their nose up at it but people buy where they can afford in places with a lot of infrastructure,” he said While the median house price in the area is $1.393 million the median unit price in Harris Park currently sits at $482,000 with rents rising by 14 per cent during that same time “There are not many places in Sydney where you can buy places in the 400,000s,” Mr Ryder said The suburb also has strong economic potential with the Parramatta Council planning to invest about $195 million in capital works during the 2025 financial year With additional reporting by Nicholas Finch third parties have written and supplied the content and we are not responsible for it completeness or reliability of the information nor do we accept any liability or responsibility arising in any way from omissions or errors contained in the content We do not recommend sponsored lenders or loan products and we cannot introduce you to sponsored lenders We strongly recommend that you obtain independent advice before you act on the content realestate.com.au is owned and operated by ASX-listed REA Group Ltd (REA:ASX) © REA Group Ltd. By accessing or using our platform, you agree to our Terms of Use. The countdown is on for the East Tamworth tennis courts’ reopening. Bookings will be taken from next week, welcoming players of all levels to the impressive new complex. Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueSo where do they stand What can they do to either advance the project or move on Last week, the Leader revealed that several half-built houses have been left falling into disrepair in East Tamworth the owner of two empty blocks of land on Valley Drive has come forward with further details and spoke to the Leader on condition he could remain anonymous "Those builds have been exposed to the elements for more than a year Trash has begun to pile up in front of several incomplete homes on Valley Drive in East Tamworth Picture by Gareth GardnerThe owner had plans to build a home on Valley Drive to retire in unless a plan is put in place to fix or remove the eight unfinished homes it's hard to sell land next to a row of dilapidated houses after trying privately to sell the blocks and having no success we listed them with [a local real estate agent] I have not had one enquiry since we listed them." The landowner said he wanted the situation resolved ASAP as it's not just the value of the land they're losing money on "I've had two blocks there for a few years so that's thousands of dollars each year for nothing," he said The Leader contacted Tamworth-based Forensic Building Consultant Glen Sim to find out what happens to unfinished works when a builder enters liquidation Mr Sim has direct experience dealing with the fallout from one of the companies responsible for the situation on Valley Drive He was hired by a client in Lismore impacted by the collapse of Maxim Builders Maxim Builders entered liquidation in August 2024 alongside three other companies (Maxus Builders which were all managed by the same director The Leader requested comment from the former director of Maxim Builders "I got involved when one of the [Lismore] owners was looking for an estimate on what it would cost to do the defective and incomplete works claim for icare," Mr Sim said "I produced for them a condition report and cost estimate for what I believe was defective and incomplete works." Forensic Building Consultant Glen Sim says the best approach for the half-built houses on Valley Drive is to get a new builder on-site ASAP Picture by Gareth GardnerMr Sim said the process of obtaining a condition report delivering it to state-run insurance corporation icare (insurance and care) NSW takes months for owners unfamiliar with how Home Warranty Insurance works Most claimants don't get the full payout either "Home Warranty Insurance is considered a last-resort insurance," Mr Sim said "Nobody can claim it unless one of these four triggers are enacted: the builder has to die or disappear The building consultant says the worst-case scenario for many aspiring homeowners is when they pay for more work than is covered The liquidator for the construction companies that left the half-built houses on Valley Drive told the Leader he's working with the owners and icare to process their claims But insurance claims are only half the battle; the other half is finding a way forward Mr Sim says the most important thing for aspiring homeowners and investors is to hire a new builder ASAP because no builder means no active insurance "The biggest problem is they [the unfinished houses] have no insurance whatsoever you'd get nothing because there is no general building insurance," he said that would be scaring the sh*t out of me." Mr Sim says home warranty insurance can be difficult to navigate Picture by Gareth GardnerBut it's not as simple as just hiring a new construction company A new builder will need assurances that the existing work isn't defective before signing on and more communication with multiple government agencies "Because cases like these have so many changes involved builders want to be sure they're secured and payments will come through on time," Mr Sim said "They'll often want requests for information answered within a day That's what we do on behalf of the client so the builder can keep moving on Mr Sim took a walk past the unfinished homes on Valley Drive to examine the state of the houses left behind by a building company in liquidation Picture by Gareth GardnerWhen asked for his perspective on the Valley Drive homes "I'm seeing air conditioning units outside and thinking those are $2000 a pop and they're just sitting there!' Water tanks too "We've got to get them [the owners] to the point of hiring a new builder as quick as possible." The Leader understands some site owners have engaged other builders to continue work on their sites Originally from Austin, TX. "I wasn't born in Tamworth but I got here as soon as I could!" Jonathan covers a little bit of everything, but his main priorities are Tamworth Regional Council, Business, and Property. Send story tips to Jonathan via jonathan.hawes@austcommunitymedia.com.au All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe scenic views of Valley Drive in East Tamworth have been marred by the presence of several dilapidated developments after the building company responsible for them went bust Several houses have been left unfinished on Valley Drive Picture by Gareth Gardner"There's been vandalism and we want it wound up," next-door neighbour Garry Jaegar told the Leader Initially, the eight homes were planned to be part of a 29-dwelling housing estate largely driven by a now-defunct company Maxus began submitting development applications for several properties in the proposed "Maxus Estate" in 2021 and 2022 "You'd think after three years something would be done Rubbish is starting to pile up in front of the half-finished houses on Valley Drive Picture by Gareth GardnerA landholder escalated complaints to Building Commission NSW - the state's building regulator - on November 6 Building Commission NSW identified concerns relating to major defects at other Maxus Builders sites and subsequently began a priority investigation into the company as well as its associated entities," a commission spokesperson told the Leader in a statement The investigation led the commission to issue a Stop Work Order for one of the builder's other projects due to works "carried out in a manner that could result in significant harm or loss to the public or to occupiers" Some of the developments have timber frames that have been exposed to the elements Building Commission NSW permanently disqualified Maxus Builders and associated companies Maximus and Maxim A Building Commission spokesperson said the action was taken "due to [Maxus] breaching statutory warranties engaging in dishonest practices in dealing with consumers and not carrying out work with due care and skill." The Raymond Terrace property at the heart of the commission's investigation was sold by the same selling agent who was responsible for marketing the Maxus Estate on Valley Drive The Tamworth-based agency declined to comment on any matter regarding Maxus Maxus Builders entered liquidation in August last year alongside three other construction companies (Maxim Builders According to the liquidator for Maxus Builders many of the owners have still not received their insurance payouts Picture by Gareth GardnerHalf a year later the liquidator for the four companies is still sorting through the mess there are six sites in Maxus and two sites in Maxim located along Valley Drive in East Tamworth which had levels of construction activity as at the date of my appointment," Jones Partners principal Bruce Gleeson told the Leader the East Tamworth sites are owned by different individual owners who have paid Maxus or Maxim to the extent of various construction stages." Mr Barasia could not be reached for comment The liquidator says he has contacted the owners of the unfinished sites on Valley Drive and is continuing to work with them on insurance claims up to a maximum of $340,000 Mr Gleeson says some site owners have decided to progress their builds with other companies Neighbours told the Leader this site was dug about three months ago Picture by Gareth GardnerMr Jaegar says he doesn't care whether the builds are finished or torn down "It's just spoilt the aesthetics of the whole area we have," he said Many of the vacant lots surrounding the half-finished homes are for sale A couple of the Maxus Estate houses look ready to move in the future of the sites with builds already on them is uncertain as the liquidator continues working with owners to find an outcome "My investigations into the companies remain ongoing which includes determining if there may be recovery actions commercially viable to pursue," Mr Gleeson said Maxus Estate on Valley Drive is one of at least 25 projects across NSW left in limbo after the construction companies collapsed It's the second builder to enter liquidation in Tamworth after Stroud Homes Tamworth collapsed in 2023. Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe outage lasted just under an hour Picture supplied by Tamworth Regional CouncilTamworth Regional Council is moving to rebuke claims about "secret deals" and shady land grabs published in a letter being distributed to residences in East Tamworth A copy of the letter was obtained by the Leader A spokesperson for Tamworth Regional Council (TRC) told the Leader it is "unfortunate" that someone is distributing incorrect information about the proposed skywalk "Council has responded to resident queries on a number topics in recent months relating to the Skywalk project which secured $14.3 million in funding from the NSW Government in March 2023 and a council contribution of $3.7 million from its Regional Development Fund," the spokesperson said "Council is aware that misleading and inaccurate information is being circulated about the project." The letter says "large parts" of East Tamworth have been rezoned to restrict public access "[The letter] has included incorrect claims Council is seeking to rezone a section of Victoria Park as part of the Tamworth Regional Skywalk Project - this is simply not the case," council's spokesperson said TRC also hopes the Skywalk will provide a boost to tourism in the Tamworth region Picture supplied by Tamworth Regional CouncilThe letter also claims hundreds of trees will be knocked down and "digging done into the bedrock" without a Development Application (DA) The Leader has found no evidence for this claim Nearly all building works in NSW require a DA for approval including works in which a local government is acting as a developer In addition the Local Government Act 1993 requires council staff and elected councillors to declare and manage conflicts of interests TRC follows these requirements by including a Conflict of Interest Management Statement when submitting DAs for projects in which it is the landholder The proposed Skywalk would start on Endeavour drive and provide pedestrians a safer pathway to the Oxley Scenic Lookout Picture supplied by Tamworth Regional CouncilThe idea for the skywalk began during community consultation for the Victoria Park Master Plan in 2021 Residents told TRC a safer pedestrian link to the lookout was an important consideration Victoria Park and its surrounding precinct is Crown Land The NSW Government appointed TRC to manage the site several years ago The Council spokesperson said a project update will be provided to the community in the coming weeks including an announcement regarding who has been awarded the contract to design and construct the skywalk Tamworth Regional Council acknowledges the Gamilaroi/Kamilaroi people, who are the Traditional Custodians of this land. We would like to pay respect to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living in and visiting our region. although Essential Energy crews have identified the issue Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinue"Crews have discovered an underground network fault between Valley Drive and Prentice Avenue," a spokesperson said "Crews isolated the damaged section of network re-configured the network and restored supply to 1,557 customers as crews repair the damaged underground network." MORE than 1000 residents in East and North Tamworth are without power due to a fault in Essential Energy's electricity network Essential Energy's operations manager for the Northern Tablelands said the unplanned outage is impacting 1677 customers and Essential Energy crews are currently responding to the outage "Network protection equipment activated at 12.07pm after detecting a fault on the high voltage electricity network," he said in a statement "Crews were dispatched immediately to fault find on the network they are yet to discover the cause of the fault At this time an estimated restoration time can not be provided." Our journalists work hard to provide local This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: Caitlin Reid is a journalist at the Northern Daily Leader, focussing on a range of topics including Tamworth Regional Council, education, property and entertainment. To get in touch, email caitlin.reid@austcommunitymedia.com.au All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe spirit of ANZAC is strong in Tamworth Cloaked in shadow from the light of the full moon around 3000 to 4000 people stood in the frigid early-morning chill to solemnly reflect on those who have made endless sacrifices for our nation "I am really pleased with the turnout here today Seeing so many young people turn out to represent their community and pay their respects is something really special," Commanding Officer of the 12th/16th Hunter River Lancers Lieutenant Colonel Craig Campbell told the Leader View +30 PhotosPictures by Gareth GardnerTamworth RSL Sub-branch president David Howells opened the service at 5:25am troops from the Australian and New Zealander Army Corps struggled ashore at Gallipoli Under constant live fire from the Turkish defenders above them many of them dragging their dead or dying mates behind them," Mr Howells said More than 2000 young Australians died on the shores of Gallipoli on April 25 The ceremony proceeded with an emotional tribute from reverend Chris Wright the hauntingly beautiful echoes of bugle and bagpipes Local woman Sandra Hart laid a wreath of home-grown flowers for her granddad "It's a special day for all of us to think of everyone that has served and has lost particularly this year when peace is hard won," local woman Sandra Hart said Many of the crowd shared stories in honour and remembrance of their loved ones Two of our key land use planning instruments the Tamworth Regional Local Environmental Plan 2010 (TRLEP 2010) and the Tamworth Regional Development Control Plan 2010 (TRDCP 2010) are undergoing a major review The two plans work together to set the rules for development within the Tamworth Regional Local Government area The TRLEP 2010 makes clear what landowners are allowed to do on their land while the TRDCP 2010 sits underneath it and gives detailed guidelines on how to undertake development on their land Council undertakes reviews of these important plans regularly to ensure that the region’s planning controls remain in-step with our community’s expectations for the way development takes place while supporting growth consistent with our Blueprint 100 strategy Thank you to everyone who provided feedback during the public exhibition The TRLEP 2010 provides the rules within the Tamworth Local Government Area for the way land can be developed and used An important component of TRLEP 2010 was community engagement including consultation with property owners and a community-wide EOI process in 2022 a large number of potential amendments to the TRLEP 2010 have been identified some of which require further planning studies To balance the timely completion of amendments to the TRLEP 2010 with the timeframes to undertake further planning studies it is proposed to complete the comprehensive review of the TRLEP 2010 in phases Review of Heritage Items (Schedule 5) of the Tamworth Regional Local Environmental Plan 2010 New Heritage Conservation Areas under Schedule 5 of the Tamworth Regional Local Environmental Plan 2010: Bridge Street Precinct - Amend the Floor Space Ratio amend Subdivision Provisions and apply Design Excellence Controls Review of Land Use Permissibility within existing Land Use Zones Amend existing Clauses of the Tamworth Regional Local Environmental Plan 2010 Adopt Clause 5.9 Dwelling house or secondary dwelling affected by natural disaster of the Standard Instrument Adopt Clause 5.13 Eco-tourist Facilities of the Standard Instrument Insert a new ‘Minimum Building Street Frontage” Clause For more information on the proposed amendments to the TRLEP 2010, all the documents can be viewed on the NSW Planning Portal The primary document which explains the proposed amendments (Planning Proposal - Phase 1 LEP Review - Public Exhibition) can be found under the Proposal for Public Exhibition heading on the NSW Planning Portal • Review rural zones and minimum lot sizes – Rural Lands Strategy to be completed; • Review residential zones and minimum lot sizes – Local Housing Strategy to be completed; including new local items and de-listings; • Review buffer zones around Council infrastructure; • Expressions of Interest (Round 2) – Strategic or site-specific planning studies to be completed; and • Review planning controls for the Tamworth Central Business District • Reclassification of community and operational land You can provide feedback here before Friday 5 July Guidance for anyone undertaking development in the region We started talking to the community about the Review of the Tamworth Regional Local Environmental Plan 2010 (TRLEP2010) We called for expressionsof interest to ask for a review of minim lots sizes floorspace ratios or to request a rezoning of your property Expressions of interest close and each item is reviewed in detail and considered for further action Councillors endorse the preparation of a planning proposal to be prepared and submitted in March to the NSW Department of Planning Housing and Infrastructure requesting a Gateway Determination to allow the first phase of the review to be publicly exhibited Gateway Determination granted by the NSW Department of Planning clearing the way for the first phase of the review to go on public exhibition Public exhibition of the Tamworth Regional Local Environmental Plan 2010 and the Tamworth Regional Development Control Plan 2010 Public exhibition for both plans closes and submissions received to inform a report to Council when Councillors will consider the formal adoption of the Phase 1 Review The Tamworth Regional Development Control Plan 2010 – Amendment No 17 was adopted by Council on the 23 July 2024 The Planning Proposal: Phase 1 Housekeeping Amendments 2024 of Tamworth Regional Local Environmental Plan 2010 and amendments was adopted by Council on the 13 August 2024 Finalise the amended Phase 1 Planning Proposal and forward to the Parliamentary Counsel and Department of Planning Housing and Infrastructure for finalisation Tamworth Regional Council acknowledges the Gamilaroi/Kamilaroi people who are the Traditional Custodians of this land We would like to pay respect to Elders past and present and extend that respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living in and visiting our region This site is owned and operated by Tamworth Regional Council using software licensed from Social Pinpoint. For details on how Tamworth Regional Council collects and protects your personal information, refer to their Privacy Policy below. For details of how Social Pinpoint may access personal information, please refer to Social Pinpoint’s Privacy Policy The privacy of our website visitors is important to Tamworth Regional Council(TRC) The information we collect is used to facilitate the services we provide to you This statement outlines how we collect personal information on the TRC website you consent to the collection and use of your personal information as outlined in this statement When you visit the TRC website,the following information is recorded for statistical purposes: No attempt will be made to identify individual users or their browsing activities except where a law enforcement agency may exercise a warrant to inspect the logs The TRC website uses'cookies'to help you personalise your online experience A cookie is a text file that is placed on your viewing device by a Web page server Cookies cannot be used to run programs or deliver viruses to your computer and can only be read by a web server in the domain that issued the cookie to you One of the primary purposes of cookies is to provide a convenience feature to save you time The purpose of a cookie is to tell the Web server that you have returned to a specific page You have the ability to accept or decline cookies Most Web browsers automatically accept cookies but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies if you prefer.If you choose to decline cookies you may not be able to fully experience the interactive features of the TRC website This website provides links to other websites that visitors may find useful These external links are provided to assist the website visitor however are not under the control of TRC.TRC is therefore not responsible and accepts no liability for the privacy policy or content on the linked websites Before disclosing any personal information on linked websites TRC encourages users to read the privacy statement of the visiting website Any personal information that TRC collects from you on your visit to our website may be recorded by TRC you have the right to access and amend this information to ensure that it is correct.Only TRC and its members employees and agents will use personal information collected on TRC’s website From time to time we will use electronic forms on this site to gather personal information for purposes directly related to a function or activity of TRC TRC only collects personal information that you voluntarily divulge Personal information collected in this manner will only be used for lawful functions and purposes Personal information collected from you is held and used by TRC under the provisions of thePrivacyand Personal Information Protection Act1998. Furthermore, TRC has aPrivacy Management Plan to to inform the community about how their personal information will be used stored and accessed after it is collected by Council and Council staff of their obligations in relation to handling personal information and when they can and cannot disclose,use or collect it TRC will store personal information collected from its website on secure servers protected in controlled facilities and/or in other internal controlled facilities If you would like to know the information recorded, or to update, correct or complete your personal information held by TRC, please contact us. TRC will occasionally update this Privacy Statement to reflect TRC policies and customer feedback TRC encourages you to periodically review this Statement to be informed of how TRC is protecting your information The following Terms and Conditions govern the use of MyTRC Online Community (“the site”) you are choosing to accept and comply with the Terms presented throughout this agreement as well as the Privacy Policy and Moderation Policy These Terms apply to all visitors and users of this site affiliated services or third party content or software have their own Terms that you must comply with If you disagree with any of the Terms presented in this agreement you may discontinue using the site immediately please ensure that your parent or guardian understands and accepts these Terms and Conditions (including the Privacy Policy and Moderation Policy) What are the conditions with a user’s account you must not violate any applicable laws and regulations It is our duty to protect the confidentiality of content you provide on our site in accordance with our Privacy Policy you must always provide us with accurate information Failure to provide accurate information violates the Terms which may result in immediate termination of your account on our service You are responsible for protecting your own password you use for this site and for any activities done under that password Unauthorised use of your password or account must be immediately reported to Social Pinpoint we or our agents may require access to your user accounts to respond to technical issues We are not responsible for the content on the site that has been provided by the users of the site Any content posted by you is subject to the rules of our Moderation Policy Your contribution to the site may be edited removed or not published if we consider it inappropriate (refer to Moderation Policy) Contributors should also be aware that their posts may remain online indefinitely deal with us on an anonymous basis or use a pseudonym What does Social Pinpoint require from their users Can your account be suspended or terminated We may terminate or suspend access to your site and/or account immediately including without limitation if you breach the Terms We may immediately deactivate or delete your account and all the related files and information in your account the content you have posted may also remain indefinitely on the site please send an email to info@socialpinpoint.com These Terms shall be governed in accordance with the laws of Victoria without regards to its conflict of law provisions licensors and other partners are not responsible for any loss made by any third party due to or arising from a breach of this agreement and/or any breach of your representations and warranties set forth above Your Say website contains the copyrighted material trade secrets and other proprietary information (“Intellectual Property”) of Social Pinpoint and its suppliers and licensors Social Pinpoint owns and retain all proprietary rights in the intellectual property All intellectual property in the content of this site including without limitation to text video and other interactive features are owned by or licensed to us Any original content that you submit or post on our site may be made available to the public and allows users to share your content (with the end user acknowledging your contribution) under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 Australian License Except for Intellectual Property which is in the public domain or for which you have been given written permission distribute any of the Intellectual Property We are not responsible for your communications or dealings including payment and delivery of goods or services Any loss or damage incurred from those communications or dealings are solely between the user and the third party Users must agree that you use of the site is at your own risk We make no warranty that the site will meet your requirements or be uninterrupted or error-free Any material that the user downloads through the site is done at their own risk and are responsible for any damages to their computer system or loss of data to modify or replace these Terms at any time without notice The most recent version of the Terms can be seen on this page By continuing to access or use our site after those revisions become effective you agree and will comply to the revised terms If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us at info@socialpinpoint.com Need an account? Sign up today We will send you instructions to reset your password Back to Log in Creating an account helps us better understand your needs and the needs of the community. Completing the questions below helps us better understand the diverse range of people who contribute their ideas. The questions are optional. Would you like to follow this project to receive email updates? All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinue"I feel like people are excited about it and really welcoming, they are welcoming the change," Ms Ferguson told the Leader. The Tamworth local and long-time chef has spent three months renovating the old Parkview Store on Upper Street and is getting ready to open the doors on Friday. "As a kid we would always come down here and buy a dollar's worth of lollies and you would walk out with a big bag, it was such a lovely store back in the day," she said. "I am so excited, as an apprentice you dream of having your own little place and 30 years later, here I am ... it's meant to be." The front of the store has been given a fresh lick of paint, a welcoming new door and big windows with a sign hanging above, proclaiming the business as 'Humble Espresso Cafe and Catering'. The outdoor area has been designed with a "really airy feeling" to make customers feel comfortable as the COVID-19 pandemic lingers. A balance between the retro features and a new feel has been struck on the inside, with Ms Ferguson pointing out pressed metal details and a sanded back wall they decided to leave as-is among new tiles, furniture and lighting. "I have designed an open kitchen, so that people can come up and have a chat because after 30 years in the trade, I am sick of being stuck out the back," Ms Ferguson said. "I want to be able to interact with the customers and make them feel a part of it. "We're hoping that we can have a really nice welcoming atmosphere." Ms Ferguson and her daughter travelled across Sydney sipping coffee with the "very important" task of picking a blend to serve, before landing on Cat's Pyjamas by Seven Miles. She said cafe connoisseurs across town had been helpful along the journey to opening. "The cafe community is really great with each other and very supportive," she said. Ms Ferguson will help whip up the "modern cafe" style food on the menu and private catering feasts, after starting her apprenticeship in Tamworth and moving around before settling back into town 14 years ago, working in cafes, home catering and raising her family. "I just love Tamworth, it's home," she said. Humble Espresso will open for the first time on Friday morning and each day after, except Mondays, for breakfast and lunch. Friday and Saturday night events are on the cards for the future. The shop is located at 73 Upper Street, East Tamworth. drink and pop in to say g'day at new cafe in iconic spaceOur journalists work hard to provide local Police and crime reporter at the Newcastle Herald. Email: afalkenmire@austcommunitymedia.com.au who went missing for six weeks in East Tamworth Picture by Peter HardinA DOG mum was convinced she would never see her beloved pooch again when she went missing for six weeks in the bush Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueBut a home-made dog trap which made the four hour journey to Tamworth to help find Maddie a group of dedicated animal lovers have banded together in a bid to get their own trap closer to home It's been a "rollercoaster of emotions" for Emma Lovegrove and her Australian Shepherd Maddie Four days after she brought the puppy home Maddie was stolen from the Lovegrove's backyard in East Tamworth she went missing again after running into dense bush land behind the home spent three weeks hiking through the bush and leaving trails of food and scented clothing to find Maddie the couple had started to grieve and accept they may never see Maddie again But a "miracle" sighting from a member of the public at 2am LIve footage of the trap was sent to Ms Lovegrove's phone Picture suppliedIt was at this time the Lovegrove's contacted Sue Taylor who moves her homemade trap around the state to help owners bring their furry friends back home and left the couple with all the tools to find Maddie sat empty in the bush as the couple did everything they could to coax Maddie inside who was "quite anxious" refused to go inside the cage "I was just highly strung and anxious the whole time," Ms Lovegrove said and the couple were having to go into the bush in the middle of the night to reset the trap the live cameras picked up Maddie entering the cage The trap includes a laser, live cameras, and strong magnets. Picture suppliedTo pay it forward, the couple has set up a GoFundMe page with the hopes of raising $3000 to help fund the materials for the trap It's the same process Ms Taylor followed when she crowd funded the trap used to save Maddie, and three other dogs in Tamworth, including Willy who was lost for 104 days. Ms Taylor told the Leader a dedicated trap in Tamworth could make all the difference in helping reunite more dogs with their owners She said time was the most important factor and it means you don't have to wait as long," she said "It's better to not leave a dog out that long." A group of volunteers in Tamworth have already put their hand up to be "boots on the ground" once the trap is funded "It's just going to be really beneficial if we have one here." Tess Kelly is a journalist at The Advocate. Story tips and goss can be sent to tess.kelly@austcommunitymedia.com.au some of the best places to invest are in places you might not expect Property market analyst Hotspotting has released research into the markets to watch in 2025 judging investor potential by locations with high affordability and housing demand Many of the best spots are reported to be regional locations with potential from Tamworth to the Albury-Wodonga region markets near the closest city at an affordable price are still in demand Director of property market analyst Hotspotting said home buyers needed to look for markets that had signs of future growth in order to find the best places to invest Hotspotting director Terry Ryder said exciting new investment opportunities often passed by before people noticed the trends here are some of the country’s best investment locations for 2025: The area is one known as a ‘second-wind market’ which already had a boom and is going through a resurgence NSW – Tamworth This location is one of the few near Sydney where people can still buy units for affordable prices NSW – Harris Park Prices in this area have gone down over the past year Victoria – Ballarat Ballarat’s role as a major regional centre makes it a big housing market in Victoria With a 10 per cent drop in median house price (now at $565,000) Mr Ryder said this gave investors a chance to swoop in while things were cheap “The fact that prices have dropped means there’s an opportunity to buy at an affordable price there,” he said adding several suburbs in Ballarat have housing prices in the $400,000 range “That’s not easy to find anymore in major centres,” he said the fast rail service to Melbourne and the $655 million redevelopment of Ballarat Base Hospital are also factors contributing to the area’s potential rise in demand The Albury-Wodonga region is a big area for major businesses and their distribution centres Victoria – Wodonga Wodonga – and the larger Albury-Wodonga region – is a critical area for a several major businesses Mr Ryder believed the new hospital in development would increase demand in the regional suburbs of Bundaberg Queensland – Bundaberg The regional city of Bundaberg already has a well-known history – but in real estate it continues to be a promising market for new buyers Median house prices in Bundaberg Central have seen a big jump to $382,000 while vacancy rates remain incredibly low at 0.4 per cent Mr Ryder said housing demand was expected to rise across Bundaberg with new jobs being created from more infrastructure being developed across the location “We’re always looking for markets that have something special in the mix,” he said such as Bundaberg’s $1.2 billion dollar hospital “The impact of that … in terms of creating demand for real estate This regional location is near developments in the energy sector and is significantly cheaper than homes in the Sunshine Coast to the east Queensland – Kingaroy Kingaroy’s affordable house prices make it an attractive opportunity for investors to jump on “Kingaroy is a place that people might not normally consider,” Mr Ryder said The town’s median house price sits at around $410,000 Median asking rents went up by 10 per cent “Kingaroy’s property market is extremely affordable those in Brisbane and on the Sunshine Coast,” Mr Ryder said “That makes it an enticing prospect for first- home buyers and young families as well as investors attracted by very low vacancies The local economy has invested in the renewable energy sector and has other employment opportunities with transport and logistics divisions nearby Mount Gambier is one of South Australia’s largest regional locations South Australia – Mount Gambier While South Australia’s population isn’t huge outside of Adelaide areas like Mount Gambier represent larger regional locations that still have reasonable access to the city and also investors looking there because it’s affordable,” Mr Ryder said Mt Gambier’s median house price has increased by a whopping 20 per cent over the past year Buyer demand continues to increase in the area with Adelaide overall experiencing a surge in popularity on the housing market “Adelaide’s had a lot of price growth in the last two years: an affordable city underpinned by that strong economy,” Mr Ryder said He added that the ability for more workers to operate remotely could also factor in to the rise in the location’s popularity and that Mount Gambier was known for a more relaxed lifestyle than Adelaide proper This suburb is considered as a more affordable alternative to others in the Adelaide Hills South Australia – Mount Barker When it comes to enviable lifestyle hotspots in South Australia noting prices for homes were often in the millions Mount Barker offers an alternative while remaining in the area That price is after an 11 per cent increase in the past 12 months with rents having risen up by 10 per cent and vacancies at one per cent “The market is seen as an affordable investment alternative to expensive Adelaide Hills suburbs,” Mr Ryder said which is expected to grow over the next 15 years Tasmania – Burnie While Mr Ryder noted regional Tasmania’s market had been poor in the last two years its recent flatlining meant it could be a good time to look to important and growing areas where the median house price went up 22 per cent in the past 12 months and an important regional centre,” Mr Ryder said noting its port was Tasmania’s largest seaport expected to expand to accommodate larger ships in the next 15 years He added that regional Tasmania had seen the strongest price growth throughout all of Australia across the past 20 years Tasmania – Brighton Some suburbs near Hobart are considered on the outer edge where there’s debate about whether or not they’re classified as being part of greater Hobart providing an accessible alternative to the city itself “Hobart used to be the most affordable capital city in Australia,” Mr Ryder said “[Brighton] offers that relative affordability Its median house price sits at around $586,000 with investor yields of about 4.6 per cent This gives investors a chance to jump on affordable homes in the area as buyers and renters look to live further and further out of the growing city Other Tasmania hotspots include New Norfolk All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe one-stop medical shop opened early this year, and the developers, Hampton Property Group, couldn't be more pleased. Developer Derek Miller said it had been almost three years since he stood in the council car park across the road and look at the vacant block of land "The end result is amazing," he said. "It has a range of benefits. It provides a stand of health care that's better than anything that's been here to date. "The traditional converted weatherboard cottage or shopping centre is out of date. Patients expect far more." Mr Miller said the state-of-the-art building had a GP along with a range of specialist, such as dietetics, psychology, pathology and radiology. A pharmacy will opening shortly and there is also a childcare. "This also acts as a recruitment tool," he said. "It attracts doctors and other healthcare professionals to the region. "The feedback we've had is that when visiting GPs or specialist visit the centre, their interest in moving here greatly improves." GP and owner of North West Health Ian Kamerman said the building was already starting to attract more health professionals. "There's been a lot of interest and we've already had new doctors join us," he said. "We've been looking at trying to reverse the rural shortage of doctors and other health professionals, this whole practise has been set up as a training practise. "So far we've had an excellent record of recruiting and retaining doctors in the region." His clinic has 10 consulting rooms, along with a few telly-conference rooms, so people can talk to specialists from Sydney or Newcastle. Formline Group managing director Stephen McDonald said the build and fit out took about 16 months. "There were over 50 companies that worked on the project at a site level, and a further 75 companies in the supply chain," he said. "So that works out to be about 100,000 man hours that went in to building this structure." The building is "80 per cent full", and still has three vacancies. An impressive new medical facility in Tamworth has officially opened its doors. The East Tamworth Medical Centre boasts a state-of-the-art building with GP’s, specialists and a pharmacy all under the one roof. Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinue6 bedrooms | 2 bathrooms | 2 cars House of the week: Class and craftsmanship in historic homeA rare opportunity has become available to purchase one of East Tamworth’s grandest homes which is a statement of splendor blended with refined updates The property has been extensively renovated over time in a manner which is sympathetic to its era retaining its integrity for those who truly appreciate the Victorian period The home features a stunning pool and outdoor entertaining area and the verandahs take in stunning district views “Kimeree” features plenty of living spaces highlighted by period features including soaring ceilings that showcase chandeliers There is a choice of three large living rooms including a formal lounge and dining room that flows through French doors to the wrap around front and side verandah a massive open plan kitchen and casual dining and family room with two bedrooms accessing the top verandah that looks across to Duri peak above the East Tamworth rooftops Other features of this stand out property include marble fireplaces ducted reverse cycle with two systems and underfloor heating throughout the kitchen and casual meals and family room “Kimeree” is located within close proximity to the CBD in a sought after East Tamworth location and is close to both public and private schools Picture by Jonathan HawesA man arrested after allegedly returning a positive breath test has been released following a late-night crash in East Tamworth NSW Ambulance say they treated a 19-year-old female passenger for chest pains at the scene of the crash but determined neither she nor the ute's 17-year-old male driver required further medical attention Neither person reported any injuries to the police The ute almost completely uprooted the tree it crashed into A neighbour said it was a "miracle" the driver wasn't seriously injured Picture by Jonathan HawesOfficers from Oxley Police District commenced an investigation into the incident where they spoke with the driver of a white Subaru Forester at the scene Police allege the 18-year-old male driver of the Subaru returned a positive roadside breath test The front of the Ford Falcon caved in after colliding with a 20-year-old tree Picture by Jonathan HawesHe was taken to Tamworth Police Station where he underwent a breath analysis and was later released pending further investigation into the incident "Further inquires are being made before any action is taken No persons have been charged at this stage," a police spokesperson told the Leader A deployed airbag could be seen inside of the ute. Picture by Jonathan HawesA resident who lives on the heritage-listed avenue claims to have witnessed the crash and told the Leader it was a "miracle" the teens involved weren't severely injured or killed "The car took the entire tree with it and kept going The guy driving is incredibly lucky to still be alive," the resident said As investigations continue police urge anyone with any information - or any available dashcam/mobile phone footage - to contact Tamworth Police Station or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 playing host to an annual music festival that doubles the city’s population in a non-pandemic year the northern NSW city however still boasts plenty of attractions for visitors and residents tree-lined streets and beautiful Victorian and Federation architecture As the main administrative centre of north-west NSW Tamworth has a diverse economy with jobs in health The city is a hub for equine events and services as many visitors choose to fly rather than drive to Tamworth (It takes five hours to drive from Sydney and seven hours from Brisbane.) Jacqui Powell, who owns Partner Now Property describes Tamworth as an outstanding place to raise children so many sporting facilities and places for music and the arts,” Powell says Mudgee: the thriving regional hotspot proving it’s more than just a picturesque wine town Glenbrook: the lesser known Blue Mountains town reinventing itself into a trendy enclave Barossa: the epitome of picture perfect regional living in amongst the valley vineyards Tamworth is on a narrow point on the Peel River floodplain The city centre is located on the north-east bank of the river “The main street is one of the prettiest in any country town,” Powell says with a median strip through the middle and trees the whole way down.” Residents have access to an impressive range of parks and playgrounds including sprawling botanic gardens and Anzac Park Paths run along the river and work is underway to improve the city’s network of cycleways Properties range from historical homes to contemporary builds in new estates pushing up prices and driving down the availability of rentals They often want to rent for a little while as they’re building or while they’re deciding where they want to be.” When Kate Richards lost her job with an airline last year she found work as a flight instructor and charter pilot with Airspeed Aviation so locals come when they want to get their private pilot’s licence,” Richards says “I’ll teach them everything from the basics of flying straight and level through to navigating and how to get themselves from A to B.” Richards considers herself fortunate to have picked up work in the industry when so many of her former colleagues did not Relocating from Brisbane to Tamworth was another bonus “It’s a very friendly place to live,” she says “Sometimes people stop you as you’re walking through the main street to have a chat There are lots of nice places you can walk [and] lots of good cafes A modern makeover has given this period home a new lease on life The renovation retained charming original features while adding contemporary touches such as a stylish al fresco area and pool Raine & Horne Tamworth is selling the home with a guide of $789,000.  this circa 1899 double brick home offers spacious interiors and elegant formal gardens with a plunge pool Four feature french doors that open onto a wide verandah Partner Now Property is selling the home with a guide of $1.44 million.  The information on this website is intended to be of a general nature only and doesn't consider your objectives, financial situation or needs. where we are privileged to live and operate Picture by Peter HardinHOUSES tucked away in the hills of East and North Tamworth have been identified as at risk of flooding for the first time in the city's history All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueHeavy rainfall flowing down the face of the rolling hills could land about 500 more residents in flood planning locations as council looks to expand its risk management plan Tamworth Regional Council's stormwater engineer Aidan Pugh said the new Flood Risk Management Plan which has flowed on from a city-wide investigation He said developers looking to build in North and East Tamworth will have "more hoops to jump through" if the land they're eyeing off falls in the proposed zone "It's a slightly more complicated process," he said "You'll have to demonstrate you're not going to have any more adverse flood affects from your development and you're not going to cause unreasonable risk to the community." Those already in homes that have now found themselves included in the proposed flood plan areas An East Tamworth resident told the Leader they were "very surprised" to receive a letter in their mailbox to tell them they were now facing a flood risk A map indicating which houses in East and North Tamworth have been included in council's flood risk zone Picture by Tamworth Regional CouncilAnother local said they were concerned their insurance premiums would skyrocket and their house would be devalued after the new proposed flood zones included more of their Kingswood property "All I want is a letter to say it won't affect my entire property and the value of my home won't go down," they told the Leader Mr Pugh said insurers do their own assessments and he'd "like to think" what council is proposing won't "have an affect on insurance premiums directly" Council has done a "good job" at keeping residents dry from flooding from the Peel River but the threat facing residents in the hills is overland flows and ageing infrastructure "During intense rainfall the infrastructure can't handle the flows," he said "East Tamworth is obviously the oldest part of town so the infrastructure there is not up to modern standards." The inclusion of properties has been based on areas that would be inundated in a one-in-100 year flooding event Major flooding occurred in Tamworth last year Picture fileHomes where runoff could reach 150 millimetres across more than 10 per cent of the property have also been included "Inclusion in the flood planning area does not mean these property owners can't develop," Mr Pugh said "Just that the risk of flooding needs to be considered when doing so." Council will also consider improvements to the drainage networks in East Tamworth and pumping out water from behind the levee to protect the CBD Other mitigation measures listed in the plan include developing early warning systems voluntary house raising and flood education programs The Flood Risk Management Plan is on public exhibition on council's website until Friday May 19 Photos: SuppliedA BURNING car rolled more than 150m down an East Tamworth street after it caught alight in the early hours of this morning while parked out the front of its owner's home Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueFirefighters clocked multiple emergency calls for help just before 1am on Tuesday A Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) crew got to work immediately to extinguish the blaze but the situation escalated when the vehicle began to roll down Darling Street towards Carthage Street "It rolled down the hill and mounted the kerb and came to rest near a power pole so they had to take that into consideration," FRNSW zone Superintendent Tom Cooper said Firies followed the car down and managed to put the fire out Police also attended and Superintendent Cooper said emergency workers spoke to the owner of the car at the scene Investigations into what sparked the blaze are continuing All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinuePeter James Williams lodged a bid for release in Tamworth Local Court on Wednesday morning, 24 hours after his arrest in Dowell Avenue. Legal Aid solicitor Patricia Simpson submitted several bail conditions for the 37-year-old but the application was opposed by police prosecutor Sergeant Rob Baillie. Williams is facing one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and did not enter a plea to the allegation in court. After hearing submissions from both sides, magistrate Julie Soars refused bail, finding the bail concerns could not be mitigated. Police claim Williams was at the property in Dowell Avenue when a verbal argument unfolded about 8.30am on Tuesday. It's the police case that Williams allegedly assaulted the pregnant woman, and during the struggle, she fell down a flight of stairs. The alleged victim went to a neighbouring unit and called for help before police were alerted. Paramedics treated the woman for lacerations to her elbows and back pain, and she was taken to Tamworth hospital for medical treatment and assessment. She was later released, police said. Officers arrested Williams at the scene and he was taken to Tamworth police station where he was questioned and charged. Williams will be moved into the custody of Corrective Services NSW and will appear via video link when the case returns to court later this month. Northern Daily Leader Senior Crime and Court Reporter All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe property on the corner of Kitchener and Carthage streets has been left idle for years, prompting signs calling for the council to act to be erected at the site. One neighbour told the Leader he thought the house was "a fire hazard" and heightened the risk "of snakes, mice and other pests". The council's acting planning and compliance director Sam Lobsey said the council would need to go to the Land and Environment Court to seek permission to clean up the site, or demolish the building. Mr Lobsey said the signs had been installed by way of trespass and the council could not enter a property unless acting under the legislative authority. Residents call for a council clean up of abandoned houseHe also said the site had since been secured from unauthorised access "I recommend any person who is directly affected by the building to contact council," Mr Lobsey said CALL FOR ACTION: Residents have become increasingly frustrated with the state of the site. The latest calls for action come after the property's Canberra-based owners were urged by the council to tidy up the site in 2016. the owners secured the services of a local landscaper once they received the notice from council Have your say, send a letter to the editor. the property has once again become overgrown and a popular site for trespassers The council confirmed it had received complaints about the site the most recent within the past two months Support the local news that keeps you informed - subscribe today Billy is a Senior Livestock Journalist for the Queensland Country Life based in Toowoomba. He has worked for a variety of different ACM mastheads during the past five years including the Namoi Valley Independent, Northern Daily Leader and The Land. All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe 54-year-old pharmacist will be sentenced in Tamworth District Court early next year after she pleaded guilty to aggravated dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm. A statement of agreed facts included photos of the crash scene and what happened when Anderson turned into the path of an oncoming car about 300m from her East Tamworth home on the afternoon of April 1. A senior constable in the highway patrol squad witnessed the crash at the intersection of Upper and White streets about 2pm, and captured it on the in-car camera. The facts show Anderson failed to give way as she turned her Volkswagen Tiguan right off White Street, "directly" into the path of a 57-year-old woman travelling the other way in a Ford Focus. The officer stopped and checked on the two drivers before calling for ambulance and police support. He claimed Anderson told him she was "fine". The other driver was found conscious but unresponsive. Anderson got out of the car and the officer noticed she was "unsteady" on her feet. She told him she hadn't seen the other driver coming. When he asked at the scene if she'd had anything to drink, Anderson said "no" and that she'd been "at work". She was arrested after a positive roadside test and recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.250 at the police station, five times the legal limit. Days later, Anderson told police she had checked her rearview mirror before making the right-hand turn, and next thing she knew the airbags were going off. The victim was taken to Tamworth hospital and underwent surgery for a broken arm. The agreed facts indicate that almost four months after the crash, she had not been able to go back to work, took painkillers daily and suffered "constant pain" in her arm. Victim was in 'constant pain' after Anderson's drink driving crashOur journalists work hard to provide local Don’t miss any of the important stories from around the region. Subscribe to our email list Sign up to get daily news updates so you don't miss a thing An independent news site based in New England Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time A family has been torn apart after a double shooting in a quiet suburban East Tamworth home left a mother and father dead Lisa Abberfield said her parents John and Rainee Abberfield did everything to provide for her and her brother were found dead inside their Bailey Avenue home in East Tamworth on Sunday night The family are devastated after the couple were discovered dead inside their Bailey Ave home on Sunday night "My parents will be insanely missed," Lisa told The Northern Daily Leader on Monday was found dead with his wife on Sunday after police forced entry into their Tamworth house My parents worked really hard to make sure we had the best lives." Friends and family rallied behind the children on Monday orphaned in the most tragic of circumstances "It has been a really hard day for me my brother and both sides of my family," Miss Abberfield later said "I appreciate all the love everyone has sent me though The Abberfields' Bailey Ave home in East Tamworth remained cordoned off on Monday as police piece together the lead-up to Sunday's shooting.Credit: Northern Daily Leader It was family that raised the alarm on Sunday when they couldn't contact Rainee Officers made the horrific discovery after forcing their way into the home Now police are probing the possibility of a murder-suicide "It is too early to say whether that is the case at the stage there are no other persons of interest that we are seeking," Oxley Chief Inspector Phil O'Reilly said on Monday "A firearm was located at the premises." That firearm was seized by police and will now undergo specialist forensic examinations and ballistic testing The tragedy has rocked the quiet cul-de-sac off Chelmsford Street Neighbours were shocked when the police tape was erected around the brick home on Sunday night which was crawling with Oxley police I just can't believe it," one neighbour you just never think that would happen next door." Another said they used to see Mr Abberfield walking often and he would say hi or wave as he went past Neighbours said Mr Abberfield was often pottering around in the yard friends remembered the "beautiful lady" and the "friendly couple" The family had lived in the home for a number of years and had been married for more than two decades Chief Inspector O'Reilly confirmed police were called to the East Tamworth home on Sunday afternoon but everything appeared normal and officers left "Police were called to the premises earlier in the afternoon after concerns for the welfare of those occupants were raised and found nothing," he said "Later in the evening they returned to the premises and forced entry where they found the body of a male and a female in the premises." Chief Inspector O'Reilly said police were working with the family to try and piece together what happened on Sunday and the lead-up to the double shooting He said investigators had combed the home for clues and detectives had doorknocked the neighbourhood in an effort to find anyone who might have seen or heard anything out of the ordinary on Sunday "There were more serious concerns for their welfare later in the evening that caused us to force entry," he said adding that no one had yet come forward that had heard gun shots "It's too early in the investigation to determine the actual time and that will be determined by the coroner," he said "Post-mortem examinations will be conducted it will be a normal investigation post-death we report everything to the coroner and the coroner will determine what actually occurred." Chief Inspector O'Reilly said he had "no information" about police being called to the home before "The occupants of the house have been members of the community for some time," he said "It is a tragic circumstance when anyone is found deceased particularly members of our local community so I ask if anyone does have any information and have not yet spoken to our officers neighbours and family spoke with investigators while forensic officers finished combing the home Detectives were seen leaving the home with bags of evidence on Monday while investigators continued to doorknock the surrounding area "A number of the family members are working with the police and are assisting police with their investigations today," Chief Inspector O'Reilly said "It's very early in the investigation a number of officers attached to Oxley Local Area Command are working on the investigation "Our investigations are continuing at the Bailey Avenue premises and with other witnesses and a report is being prepared for the coroner." The Northern Daily Leader A family has been torn apart after a double shooting in a quiet, suburban East Tamworth home left a mother and father dead. Lisa Abberfield said her parents John and Rainee Abberfield did everything to provide for her and her brother. The family are devastated after the couple were discovered dead inside their Bailey Ave home on Sunday night. \\\"My parents will be insanely missed,\\\" Lisa told on Monday. \\\"I loved them. My parents worked really hard to make sure we had the best lives.\\\" Friends and family rallied behind the children on Monday, orphaned in the most tragic of circumstances. \\\"It has been a really hard day for me, my brother and both sides of my family,\\\" Miss Abberfield later said. \\\"I appreciate all the love everyone has sent me though, it honestly means so much.\\\" It was family that raised the alarm on Sunday when they couldn't contact Rainee, aged 51, and John, aged 67. Officers made the horrific discovery after forcing their way into the home. Now police are probing the possibility of a murder-suicide. \\\"It is too early to say whether that is the case at the stage there are no other persons of interest that we are seeking,\\\" Oxley Chief Inspector Phil O'Reilly said on Monday. \\\"A firearm was located at the premises.\\\" That firearm was seized by police and will now undergo specialist forensic examinations and ballistic testing. The tragedy has rocked the quiet cul-de-sac off Chelmsford Street. Neighbours were shocked when the police tape was erected around the brick home on Sunday night which was crawling with Oxley police. \\\"I'm in absolute shock, I just can't believe it,\\\" one neighbour, who did not want to be named, said. \\\"You just can't, you just never think that would happen next door.\\\" Another said they used to see Mr Abberfield walking often and he would say hi or wave as he went past. Neighbours said Mr Abberfield was often pottering around in the yard, tending to the garden, walking or even washing his car, and was friendly to everyone. As news of the tragedy spread, friends remembered the \\\"beautiful lady\\\" and the \\\"friendly couple\\\". The family had lived in the home for a number of years, and had been married for more than two decades. Chief Inspector O'Reilly confirmed police were called to the East Tamworth home on Sunday afternoon but everything appeared normal and officers left, only to return later that evening. \\\"Police were called to the premises earlier in the afternoon after concerns for the welfare of those occupants were raised and found nothing,\\\" he said. \\\"Later in the evening they returned to the premises and forced entry where they found the body of a male and a female in the premises.\\\" Chief Inspector O'Reilly said police were working with the family to try and piece together what happened on Sunday and the lead-up to the double shooting. He said investigators had combed the home for clues and detectives had doorknocked the neighbourhood in an effort to find anyone who might have seen or heard anything out of the ordinary on Sunday. \\\"There were more serious concerns for their welfare later in the evening that caused us to force entry,\\\" he said, adding that no one had yet come forward that had heard gun shots. \\\"It's too early in the investigation to determine the actual time and that, of course, will be determined by the coroner,\\\" he said. \\\"Post-mortem examinations will be conducted. They will take some time, it will be a normal investigation post-death, we report everything to the coroner and the coroner will determine what actually occurred.\\\" Chief Inspector O'Reilly said he had \\\"no information\\\" about police being called to the home before. \\\"The occupants of the house have been members of the community for some time,\\\" he said. \\\"It is a tragic circumstance when anyone is found deceased, particularly members of our local community, so I ask if anyone does have any information and have not yet spoken to our officers, please contact Tamworth detectives.\\\" On Monday, neighbours and family spoke with investigators, while forensic officers finished combing the home. Detectives were seen leaving the home with bags of evidence on Monday, while investigators continued to doorknock the surrounding area. \\\"A number of the family members are working with the police and are assisting police with their investigations today,\\\" Chief Inspector O'Reilly said. \\\"It's very early in the investigation, a number of officers attached to Oxley Local Area Command are working on the investigation. \\\"Our investigations are continuing at the Bailey Avenue premises and with other witnesses and a report is being prepared for the coroner.\\\" Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueAnna Marie Anderson pleaded guilty to aggravated dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and was flanked by her husband when she fronted Tamworth District Court on Wednesday The Tamworth businesswoman was handed a custodial sentence of one-year-and-10 months to be served in the community on an intensive corrections order (ICO) She was hit with extra conditions including an overnight home curfew for four months Anderson must follow a strict medical treatment plan; attend the sober drivers' course; be of good behaviour; stay off the road for two years; and have a mandatory interlock device for three years Judge Deborah Payne said Anderson had shown genuine remorse after the East Tamworth crash on April 1 last year including visiting the victim in hospital before checking herself into a Sydney facility for help "She has taken significant steps towards rehabilitation," Judge Payne said during sentencing "She has contributed greatly to the community of Tamworth over a long period of time." She said there was a clear connection between the health diagnoses Anderson was dealing with at the time - including alcohol dependence disorder - and her drink driving that day "She should have done something when she realised something was wrong but unfortunately it was far too insufficient in the circumstances," Judge Payne said Anderson was more than four times the legal blood alcohol limit, with an agreed reading of 0.228, when she turned her Volkswagen Tiguan SUV right at the intersection of White and Upper streets about 2pm Despite an oncoming car being visible for about 10 seconds as it travelled down White Street A police highway patrol car was behind her at the time and captured the crash on dashcam. Anderson told the senior constable at the scene that she hadn't seen the Ford Focus coming The 56-year-old driver suffered a broken arm in the crash and underwent a number of surgeries over almost a year The court heard Anderson's account was that she had finished work that day was "overcome" with emotion and drank a bottle of red in the carpark before driving towards her East Tamworth home just a few hundred metres away "This is not a case of momentary inattention or misjudgement the offender was very intoxicated with a reading well above the aggravating range," Judge Payne said she declined to do so and drove her vehicle home with a consequential devastating effect upon the victim." The court heard a heartfelt victim impact statement revealed the serious effects the crash had had on the injured woman someone simply driving along a suburban street on a Thursday afternoon Judge Payne said she took into account the punishment Anderson had been subject to as she awaited sentencing The court heard she had lost her ability to work in the Tamworth pharmacy she owns half of for several months, and was still on a restricted license Judge Payne also said her marriage to Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson had attracted media attention "even though she is not a public figure" Australia’s most populous state can be a difficult area for those looking to enter the property market regional areas across NSW are proving to be prime locations for investment The median house price is a hefty $1.39 million the unit prices drop to a median of $482,000 that median went up by around 11 per cent and rents increased by 14 per cent Jack Campbell is the editor of Broker Daily After graduating from the University of Wollongong in 2022 Jack began his journalistic career working on Broker Daily’s sister brand In August 2023 he was made the news editor and worked alongside some talented journalists writing articles and recording podcasts email him at: This email address is being protected from spambots Keep connected with the news and issues impacting your business and the wider mortgage market Experts have revealed the suburbs around Australia with the hottest prospects for property investors this year – and where savvy sellers have a chance to cash in The inaugural realestate.com.au Hot 100 identified the locations around Australia with the best prospects in 2023 and beyond based on the insights of industry professionals Among them were a number of areas perfectly suited for prospective landlords from immediate strong yields to long-term growth drivers And they’re pockets where potential vendors can capitalise on those appealing demand drivers Experts say astute would-be investors should look outside the ritzy inner-Sydney pockets that tend to grab the lion’s share of attention Famed as the home of country music, the regional NSW town of Tamworth is a fast-growing regional hub with a diverse economy and plenty of attractive attributes, local agent Sam Spokes from LJ Hooker said And East Tamworth a leafy and elevated part of town on the fringe of the CBD offers convenient proximity to services but with a more peaceful pace and industrial sectors throughout the region our housing market is never [dictated] by the ups and downs of one industry,” Mr Spokes said combined with an ever-growing CBD with national brands Tamworth has become a one-stop shop for a lot of the New England region and north-west region of NSW.” The regional NSW town of Tamworth has some good prospects Tamworth Regional Council has a target of growing the population from 55,000 currently to 100,000 by 2040 “This will set up investors with great capital growth and return on investment for a long time to come.” The suburb’s median house price is $589,000 and the median house rent is $425 per week The median unit price is $325,000 and the median unit rent is $320 per week Buyer’s agent Scott Aggett from Hello Haus picked East Tamworth as a Hot 100 suburb for its population growth potential and investment prospects Suburbs in the Greater Western Sydney region like Glenmore Park are perfectly positioned to capitalise on strong potential growth drivers, PropTrack senior economist Eleanor Creagh said. This part of town boasts good relative affordability and has seen demand and price growth holding up better over recent times as values elsewhere have cooled, Ms Creagh added. “Western Sydney is popular for buyers,” she said. “The region is one of the largest economies in the country behind Sydney and Melbourne CBDs, and jobs, amenity, and affordability draw people to this area.” Glenmore Park is in a rapidly growing region in Sydney's west. Picture: Getty There’s also significant investment in infrastructure, such as the Western Sydney Airport at Badgerys Creek underway. “The NSW Government is also investing investment in major projects like the Camden Valley Way, Bringelly Road, and Northern Road upgrades, and the Southwest Rail Link," said Ms Creagh. The median house price is $1.02 million and the median house rent is $620 per week, delivering an average yield of 3.3%. The median unit price is $700,000 and the median unit rent is $420 per week, delivering an average yield of $3.7%. Join us to monitor the market and get detailed property insights direct to your inbox. Buyer’s agent Kate Hill from Adviseable picked Glenmore Park as a Hot 100 suburb for its relative affordability More affordable pockets that have good long-term growth drivers and potential for gentrification are worth checking out by investors This Melbourne pocket has undergone significant change in recent times, putting Sunshine West on a broader range of buyers’ radars “Socio-economic and demographic shifts can underpin increases in demand and long-term value growth for housing,” Ms Creagh explained A growing list of local amenities have made the suburb more desirable particularly with younger buyers and growing families “Sunshine West has seen an ongoing gentrification,” Ms Creagh pointed out Buyers can find solid family homes for a relatively affordable price in Sunshine West A tidy three-bedroom, one-bathroom brick home at 67 Ridegway Parade The median house price is $735,000 and the median house rent is $380 per week The median unit price is $564,500 and the median unit rent is $350 Ms Hill picked Sunshine West as a Hot 100 suburb for its relative affordability The Geelong suburb of Belmont is the perfect mix of family friendly appeal and trendy amenity, local agent Tony Moorfoot from Buxton said “As a suburb it’s very central and this is definitely one of the main attractions for buyers in particular those looking to invest,” Mr Moorfoot said “It has close proximity to the Barwon River “It’s the best area of Geelong to live in for access to public transport You really do get the best of both worlds.” Geelong is increasingly popular among buyers Belmont is also known for its great schooling options the suburb’s broad range of dwellings tend to have a more affordable price tag The median house price is $750,000 and the median house rent is $450 The median unit price is $560,000 and the median unit rent is $393 per week Buyer’s agent Miriam Sandkuhler from Property Mavens picked Belmont as a Hot 100 suburb for its location The Sunshine State saw an influx of property buyers during the Covid pandemic as interstate migrants sought out a better lifestyle Demand for homes in the suburb of Eagleby, halfway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, has surged over recent years, local agent Carlie Curtis from Ray White said Ms Curtis said it still offers good value for money for those looking to buy – especially investors The median house price is $508,000 and the median house rent is $450 per week The median unit price is $321,000 and the median unit rent is $338 This two-bedroom, two-bathroom townhouse with a courtyard at 147 Fryar Road recently sold for just $285,000 The area’s exceptional location is one of its main appeals allowing locals easy access to the city and the beach as well as an ideal lifestyle on the Albert River to the east and Logan River to the north “You can launch your boat on the ramp and be at Stradbroke in under half an hour,” Ms Curtis said the location also means access to the abundance of local private and public schools while industrial estates just down the M1 provide lots of job opportunities.” Ms Hill picked Eagleby as a Hot 100 suburb for its relative affordability Despite being in the centre of the Sunshine Coast, and thus boasting an exceptional location close to everything the region has to offer, Bli Bli has a quintessential “country feel” to it, local agent Natasha Hackenberg from Ray White said or quality schools Bli Bli is so close to everything,” Ms Hackenberg said The suburb tends to attract young families and professionals but appeals to a broad demographic given its location “Affordable housing combined with current zero rental vacancy rates the area continually produces an attractive yield for investors.” Bli Bli is a picturesque and peaceful part of the Sunshine Coast The recently opened Good Samaritan College and a new $20 million tavern are among the infrastructure investments in the area The median house price is $865,000 and the median house rent is $660 The median unit price is $699,000 and the median unit rent is $530 Ms Hill picked Bli Bli for its great location The nation’s capital has traditionally been seen as a somewhat bulletproof suburb that can withstand downward pressure on home prices making it an attractive investment prospect The suburban enclave of Narrabundah in Canberra’s inner-south is a popular leafy pocket valued for its excellent location Rental properties are highly sought-after and vacancy rates tend to remain low, local agent Bree Currall from Belle Property said. “Some investors choose to rent out for the long-term to capture executive couples, defence and government employees, or families moving to Narrabundah simply to fall into a zone for a particular school,” Ms Currall said. “Other investors choose to short-term let their properties, which works really well due to the proximity to the parliamentary triangle.” Get the latest, detailed data on your property's value. Track it now. Narrabundah is seen as an entry level premium suburb that’s gentrifying rapidly making it a prime position for capital growth and level of amenity – the walking and biking trails of Red Hill Nature Reserve and excellent eateries including the famous XO restaurant Narrabundah is also in proximity to Manuka The median house price is $1.26 million and the median house rent is $695 per week The median unit price is $565,000 and the median unit rent is $620 per week Peter Koulizos, program director of the Masters of Property at the University of Adelaide picked Narrabundah as a Hot 100 suburb for its location and amenity The property market in South Australia continued to grow during much of 2022 inspiring good levels of activity among local investors and those from interstate Nestled in Adelaide’s northern suburbs is Craigmore where growing families and first-time buyers in search of a bargain flock and proximity to bustling Munno Para make this suburb highly sought-after Craigmore is a growing pocket in Adelaide's north New to the market this week is 58 California Avenue – a three-bedroom one-bathroom brick home a new kitchen and recently updated interiors It’s indicative of the type of family homes to be found in the leafy The median house price is $412,000 and the median house rent is $400 Ms Hill picked Craigmore as a Hot 100 suburb for its good affordability Perth’s housing market has held up better than other major capital cities with continued buyer demand clashing with constrained supply The rapidly growing outer northern part of Perth is home to the popular suburb of Joondalup It makes up the urban centre of the region positioning it well for buyer demand and potential future growth “With ongoing infrastructure upgrades and increased employment opportunities a process of gentrification is already underway,” she said A modern four-bedroom, two-bathroom brick house at 8 Finchley Terrace The median house price is $585,500 and the median house rent is $500 per week The median unit price is $345,000 and the median unit rent is $413 Ms Hill picked Joondalup as a Hot 100 suburb for its infrastructure investment Tamworth's Powerhouse is a fine example of what can be achieved with the right amount of investment and the right degree of expertise When is a motel a hotel and a hotel a motel It's a question that more and more travellers have been struggling to answer of late as regional centres declare "we'll have what they're having" are seeking to emulate the kind of design and luxury standards once confined to our major cities long the accommodation of choice in the thriving New England country music festival capital recently completed a bold $12 million upgrade lifting it to near enough five-star standard The elegant guest rooms are up to the standard of any big-city boutique hotel.Credit: HELEN WARD named after a power station that once occupied the long and narrow site about five hours' drive north of Sydney has played a big part in Tamworth's history with the then town of 3000 in 1888 becoming the first recipient of full electricity in Australia) The regional city's attractively-landscaped main drag is a five-minute drive from the hotel and home to statues of country music legends Slim Dusty and Smoky Dawson Tamworth's annual country music festival was not held this year due to the pandemic a Little Bit Rock 'n Roll in that it was more motel and less hotel Now we can confirm that the reborn establishment is a lot more hotel and a little less motel you can still drive your vehicle right up to the door of your room (a motor inn convenience that's easily taken for granted) an ambitious Tamworth burgher who also operates extensive beef cattle properties outside of town and which also goes by the name of Powerhouse The hotel is one of a number of existing and new inland NSW country establishments to have engaged leading city-based interior designers in recent times was commissioned to reimagine the establishment And the impressive transformation extends all the way from the reception and restaurant to the 81 guest rooms including 20 family and corporate traveller-friendly apartments perfect for longer stays owner of the Powerhouse Hotel Tamworth by Rydges The Sydney design studio's skill is reflected in the elegant guest rooms the standard of any big-city boutique hotel features all of the accoutrements of a big city hotel room including a plush pillow top king bed with a leather bedhead Smart TVs in both the bedroom and living room 24 hour room service and a shaded outdoor terrace space The Powerhouse has its own motorcycle museum on the same site as the hotel (the latest acquisition is a former postie's ancient Harley-Davidson rescued from an old farm shed) Aside from its cheesy Golden Guitar big thing monument many of Tamworth's most appealing attractions exist out of town such as the quaint historic mining village of Nundle about 45 minutes south of the city via some lovely New England region countryside admire the kind of "sweeping plains" that inspired the poem and at Gunnedah itself where Mackellar spent some of her youth at her family homestead Kurrumbede and there's a brand new silo mural dedicated to My Country and the poet herself The demonstrable improvement in quality accommodation choices in NSW over the past year or so couldn't have come at a better time in one of the worst of times when many of us are electing to explore our own state Tamworth's Powerhouse is a fine example of what can be achieved with the right amount of investment and the right degree of expertise King rooms start from $211 a night. Powerhouse Hotel Tamworth, 248 Armidale Road, East Tamworth, NSW. Phone (02) 6766 7000. See rydges.com travel it's a pleasure to reconnect with the bush with hotels like Powerhouse helping to draw the city and the country closer together and with a modicum of style and luxury Unless you open the curtains to the adjacent car spaces my ground level room lacks a little natural light Anthony Dennis stayed as a guest of the Powerhouse Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now It's a question that more and more travellers have been struggling to answer of late as regional centres declare "we'll have what they're having" about five hours' drive north of Sydney has played a big part in Tamworth's history with the then town of 3000 in 1888 becoming the first recipient of full electricity in Australia) The regional city's attractively-landscaped main drag Tamworth's annual country music festival a Little Bit Rock 'n Roll in that it was more motel and less hotel you can still drive your vehicle right up to the door of your room (a motor inn convenience that's easily taken for granted) The Sydney design studio's skill is reflected in the elegant guest rooms The perfect place to sample the hotelier's own beef is at the Powerhouse's stylish Workshop Kitchen with a wood-fired grill though there's a variety of options for non-red meat eaters on the extensive menu brunch or lunch hop along to Hopscotch Restaurant & Bar set in Tamworth's attractive Bicentennial Park beside the Peel River make a reservation at the imposing Glasshouse restaurant which overlooks farmland belonging to the stunning Goonoo Goonoo Station () which also offers first-rate accommodation on the same site as the hotel (the latest acquisition is a former postie's ancient Harley-Davidson rescued from an old farm shed) many of Tamworth's most appealing attractions exist out of town such as the quaint historic mining village of Nundle Kurrumbede and there's a brand new silo mural dedicated to My Country and the poet herself The demonstrable improvement in quality accommodation choices in NSW over the past year or so couldn't have come at a better time in one of the worst of times when many of us are electing to explore our own state Tamworth's Powerhouse is a fine example of what can be achieved with the right amount of investment and the right degree of expertise travel it's a pleasure to reconnect with the bush with hotels like Powerhouse helping to draw the city and the country closer together and with a modicum of style and luxury All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueMade by the creators of Love on the Spectrum Better Date Than Never will shine a light on the challenges of finding love in a rural area Tamworth Pride president Dianne Harris will make her debut on the program on Tuesday and will focus on the challenges of LGBTQ+ dating in the country so that just about wipes out all of those apps everybody's got on their phones for dating services," she said Dianne Harris is the president of Tamworth Pride Dianne's identity as a trans woman carries its own set of dating hurdles "I don't look at it as a disability by any means it just makes everything harder," she said Dianne has been searching for a partner online for the past two years connecting briefly with a woman from Sydney but their relationship fizzled out due to the distance between them In the five years since transitioning Dianne has also tried dating straight men Dianne said the crux of her problem is simply how small her dating pool is so not interested,' and the lesbian women look at us and go you're not female,' so they're not really interested either," she said Dianne Harris on the show 'Better Date than Never.' Picture supplied by the ABCDespite helping to organise some of Tamworth's biggest Pride events Dianne has had less success in her personal dating life "It's a lonely life to live when you know nobody's there for you That's when Dianne's friends told her about a casting call for a new dating show on the ABC You've been trying to find somebody for a relationship for the last five years why don't you put your hand up for this?' I think they thought it was going to be a magic bullet," she said only that we'd have to watch the show to find out Instead she talked about what she aimed to get out of her experience "For me it was about raising awareness and being genuine and being true to yourself though that would've been a bonus!" she said "If that one person sees this in the city and it takes them from a place where life's not worth living to 'If she can do it I'll give it a shot,' then it'll be worth the whole exercise," she said Dianne encourages everyone who likes dating shows it's just about ordinary everyday people that you meet and some of their trials and tribulations," she said Better Date than Never premiers on ABC and ABC iview at 8pm on Tuesday St Nicholas Primary School in East Tamworth farewelled a much-loved colleague today, with hundreds of students, and friends there to say goodbye. Robyn Burke, has been a familiar face in the school’s administration team for more than forty years… but today, she walked out of the office, for the final time. Stephen McDonald of Formline Group and developer Derek Miller at the site Photo: Peter Hardin WORK on Tamworth’s newest medical facility is officially underway with construction workers breaking ground this week Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe Leader can reveal two major healthcare providers will be moving into the three-storey centre which is expected to be completed by August next year developer Derek Miller of Hampton Property Group confirmed North West Health would open a GP clinic in the centre while local business Family Pharmacy would set-up shop as Terry White Chemmart at the site “Northwest Health will be occupying the site from day one as the GP practice,” he said “I do know that they plan to open with around eight-to-ten doctors and the facility itself has the capacity of expanding it to 18.” Mr Miller said he was “ecstatic” work had begun on the complex with the hopes of full completion in 12-months He said there were only three vacancies left with shortlisting underway for tenants at the building’s new childcare centre said work started this week on stormwater line upgrades and preparations for a retaining wall He said passers-by should be able to see the foundations appear in about three weeks obviously it’s one of the bigger projects that’s happening in the Tamworth CBD this year so we’re really excited to be a part of it and looking forward to the outcome in 12 months,” he said Mr Miller said commitments with tenants required them to open within three-months of the end of construction “The building will be fully operational from a healthcare and childcare centre from about October next year,” he said Family pharmacy partner Will Campbell said the group was excited about opening its third store in the city