KEEPING up with the demands of a growing population has been among the biggest challenges for Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson in the past three years, while critical services are high on his priority list.
Still on the “to-do list” for Mr Anderson is the rehabilitation of Woodsreef Mine near Barraba and the augmentation of Chaffey Dam.
“Chaffey Dam has been approved and we’re waiting on signing contracts with State Water and the contractor John Holland,” Mr Anderson said.
“That’s a two-year project and it was another project that involved the three tiers of government. To get everybody together has been the biggest challenge.”
The Woodsreef Mine rehabilitation was held up twice, due to extra community consultation on road safety around the mine and the discovery of an endangered bat colony which will be rehabilitated before the site clean up.
“The rehabilitation process of sealing the site, which is long and detailed work that involves asbestos, should start in the next couple of months.”
Three major issues Mr Anderson is chasing are fair water pricing across the State, a police dog unit for the Oxley Local Area Command, and helping BSE Systems secure the Basic Flight Training School contract.
“That’s a significant employment base for our region,” Mr Anderson said.
“It flies under the radar and people don’t see, but it employs 74 direct full-time jobs and 47 defence personnel – it’s worth millions to the Tamworth economy.
“We’re just waiting on defence to make that decision.”
Meanwhile, the $220 million hospital redevelopment is due
to be completed in March next year.
“That was an enormous amount of planning for many years by many people but really nothing could occur until the funding was released,” Mr Anderson said.
Securing Barraba’s water supply with a pipeline from Split Rock Dam, announcing the $24m railway overpass project for Gunnedah and fixing Manilla Road were also major achievements.
