Tamworth Regional Council: COVID-19 relief package amended and reviewed as restrictions roll back

The original package was launched in April and included switching off parking meters, ending some fees for businesses and a moratorium on council debt recovery.

Councillors voted to keep parking meters in the Tamworth CBD switched off until September 1, 2020 instead of the proposed end date of July 1.

Councillor Juanita Wilson moved the amendment, which was supported by most councillors, including Helen Tickle. Cr Tickle said extending the waiver of parking fees would give businesses a chance to recover.

READ ALSO:

"It will encourage businesses and locals to use the CBD and support retail, cafes, restaurants and professional services," she said.

"We're only getting started again and that minor concession would help them out and get them going well before the Christmas period."

Carparking fees from ticketed machines alone have cost council $89,000, when comparing the numbers to April and June last year.

There have been no new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Tamworth in more than two months, and restrictions have been easing across the board.

Many of the city's cafes and restaurants adapted to take-away only restrictions amid the pandemic, but councillors agreed charges for using additional public space for take-away food services would be reintroduced from July 1.

Have your say. Click this link to send a letter to the editor

A report tabled at the Tamworth council's meeting on Tuesday night highlights the financial strain the relief package has had on TRC.

Council had not started debt recovery on overdue rates since the coronavirus pandemic struck. It also didn't charge interest on some overdue rates.

The report said the effect of this is estimated to be $10,000, while the zero interest on overdue rates and annual charges for the first half of the next financial year will cost about $165,000.

Want more local news? Subscribe to the Leader to read it here first