TAMWORTH is one of the most affordable regional cities in NSW, with residents paying significantly less in rates.
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A report from the Office of Local Government found ratepayers in the Tamworth Regional Council (TRC) area were paying on average 13.4 per cent less in residential rates compared to homeowners in evocities centres like Bathurst, Orange, Dubbo and Wagga Wagga in the 2014/15 financial year.
Average farmland rates in Tamworth were also found to be 27.8 per cent cheaper, while our local businesses are 60 per cent better off than other evocities.
Pleased with the findings, TRC mayor Col Murray said it proved Tamworth was “more efficient than its competitor councils”.
“People say we’re poorly managed and we’re poorly run, but we’re definitely not,” Cr Murray said.
The figures are reward for years of “clever management” by the council, according to the mayor who pointed out the sheer number of public facilities in the region.
“Tamworth has 23 town halls, the next nearest is Albury with 13,” he said.
“We have the best entertainment centre in regional NSW, the equine centre and indoor sports centre and a very popular library and art gallery.”
The mayor said it was crucial for council to do its part to keep the region attractive to newcomers.
“We are competing for population growth and investment,” Cr Murray said.
In the 2014/15 financial year, TRC approved more than $200 million worth of development applications - a considerable margin ahead of second placed Wagga Wagga City Council, which approved $171 million worth of projects.
While Tamworth was able to boast lower business, farm and residential rates than its evocities partners, TRC’s socio-economic index was the lowest in the group.
“A higher rating indicates higher levels of average income, education and other related factors,” the report said.
TRC scored 69 in this measure, compared to scores of 108 registered by Wagga Wagga, 103 for the former Armidale Dumaresq council and 83 for Dubbo.
Even one of council’s main foes, the Tamworth Regional Residents and Ratepayers Association (TRRA), said the findings were a positive for the region.
“It’s only positive because of the strong accountability of groups in the community,” TRRA vice president David McKinnon said.
“There’s strong accountability not just behind the council, but throughout the community.”
But he still expressed some scepticism about the figures.
“The devil is in the detail,” he said.
“Are our rates getting compared to properties of a greater value?
“For the last 15 years there has been very little property value movement in Tamworth.”