Tamworth Anzac Park: architect to be brought on board to create masterplan for local heritage-listed park

A favourite picnic and play destination and home of historic memorial gates, Tamworth Regional Council has turned its attention to Anzac Park.

A heritage masterplan will be put together to guide future maintenance and enhancements to make sure any upgrades respect its history.

Councillor Juanita Wilson said it's important to fix inappropriate developments and make sure the park's connection to the past is saved.

"Heritage goes hand in hand with urban design and planning, our city and region is just exploding," she said.

"Just as we don't throw our grandfather over the back fence when a new generation arises, nor should we throw our grandfather developments over the back fence."

The Brisbane Street grounds were first called 'Wentworth Park' in 1912, four years later the town's Alderman moved it be renamed Anzac Park.

Now, it's a family favourite thanks to a recent further $60,000 facelift that saw a new playground installed to replace decade-old equipment.

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Cr Mark Rodda supported the push for an architect to create a masterplan for future development, arguing developments haven't always been in the best interest of the city's heritage.

"We obviously haven't been a city that has valued our heritage historically," he said.

"Certainly in the 60s, 70s and 80s we were quite reckless with nice old structures, but it's good that the council understands the importance of preserving what we've got left.

"I'm really pleased we are discussing master-planning for Anzac Park, it's a beautiful park and anything we can do to enhance it, whether from a memorial point of view or vegetation point of view would be good for that park."

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Tamworth's Local Environmental Plan will now include heritage conservation areas, which it hasn't in the past.

Cr Wilson said that will be really crucial for heritage management.

"That will be a new experience for us," she said.

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