COUNCILLOR Mark Rodda is livid that none of the 100 jobs at the recently-created Department of Regional NSW will come to Tamworth.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The full-time positions were awarded to Armidale instead, after Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall wrangled a deal with Deputy Premier John Barilaro.
The loss would have a significant impact on Tamworth Regional Council's (TRC) goal of 100,000 people by 2041, Cr Rodda said.
"I don't want to get entwined in the Armidale versus Tamworth debate, it has things going for it that we don't, like a superior NBN service," he said.
"But surely the NSW Nationals sit around a table to divvy up jobs, if I was in [Tamworth MP] Kevin Anderson's place I would be fighting for those positions.
"That's what we elect local members for, to do the bidding and if we are missing out on a huge economic stimulus of 100 jobs we need to ask why we are missing out."
The Leader contacted Mr Anderson for comment but did not receive a response before this article went to press.
The economic shot-in-the-arm for Armidale was announced on Friday by Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall.
Mr Marshall said the move was a "huge coup" that would put the regional town at the forefront of government decision-making.
It's not the first growth opportunity that Tamworth has lost to its cousin up the road.
The $6 million TAFE Digital Headquarters opened in 2018 and brought with it 51 new staff members, more than half who relocated from interstate.
Tamworth also lost a brand new building, 150 staff and a 15-year lease with the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) to Armidale from Canberra in 2019.
Armidale was chosen for the Department of Regional NSW because the community stands to benefit from a strong state government presence, a spokesman for Deputy Premier John Barilaro said.
"The Department of Regional NSW and the NSW government already have a significant presence in Tamworth," he said.
Read also:
Cr Rodda said decentralisation was great but the love needed to be shared further.
"If these departments are going to Armidale because of its communication structure with better NBN, we need to make it clear that fibre to the node hasn't worked," he said.
"We need help from the state government and I don't think we are seeing that from our elected officials."
Madeline Link
Madeline Link is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald, with a focus on Lake Macquarie City Council. To keep up with my stories, follow my Twitter @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.link@newcastleherald.com.au.
Madeline Link is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald, with a focus on Lake Macquarie City Council. To keep up with my stories, follow my Twitter @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.link@newcastleherald.com.au.
