The Tingha tug-of-war has subsided with the small community having decided, in a second poll, that 67 per cent of residents and landholders want to move to Inverell Shire Council.
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The poll results indicate that the majority of residents want to leave Armidale Regional Council, but the meeting at Tingha Town Hall on Sunday showed that Tingha is still in limbo.
There is still plenty of uncertainty surrounding the future judging by the questions raised at the meeting regarding rates, participation in council committees, time charts and even objections that could result in a boundary commission stepping in at the eleventh hour.
The latest postal vote mailed to 700 people, both residents and landholders, had a 50 percent response rate with 67 per cent indicating that they would feel more comfortable being part of the Inverell Shire Council, 25 km away, than Armidale Regional Council that is 100km away.
The results show an 11 per cent increase to those garnered by a poll held by Armidale Regional Council in February 2017 when letters were mailed to 50 households in the area, located south west of Tingha to the border of the Uralla Shire.
Armidale Regional Council Mayor Simon Murray announced the results, however the residents present did not cheer. A move to Inverell would solve some practical issues, such as not having to travel 100km to sit in committee meetings but there is still plenty of fear as to what a move to Inverell would mean for rates and infrastructure.
And the poll is by no means irrevocable. “If you still feel strongly that you don’t want to go (to Inverell), you can still make representation to the minister,” said Mr Murray, adding that this would result in a boundary commission coming to the area. That would trigger a full community consultation process.” And it would be back to the drawing board again.
Mr Murray spoke of a “slow process” taking place before Tingha makes its way to Inverell.
“We’ve got to take this to our council meeting this month or next month (to endorse the results of the postal vote). Then, it has to go to the office of local government. It is not in our control.”
“The reality is that Tingha could be here (with Armidale Council) for the next five months, even more,” he said. So, until a formal decision is made, it is “business as normal” with Armidale Regional Council. “If you have issues that you want to raise, just follow the normal procedures.”
