Significant rainfall last weekend has had a major impact on the condition of sporting fields and roads in the region.
Tamworth Regional Council Manager Sport and Recreation Paul Kelly says Council's immediate priority is to ensure the safety of the community and staff before access is reopened to sporting field precincts.
"Floodwaters have subsided but there is a major clean up and repair effort to take place. With weather events such as this, areas can take time to return to a usable state due to the ground holding water and debris and silt being present".
"Masses of debris, particularly from trees, has collected along sporting fields such as Gipps Street, Riverside and Plain Street. Unfortunately, with the grounds carrying so much water, we are unable to properly assess the extent of damage or get larger machinery on these fields to remove debris".
"Council has been communicating with local sporting clubs and associations about the field closures and potential options for alternate training locations. Further assessment will be conducted on Monday 11 August to determine if the fields have dried out enough for clean-up works to be carried out and an estimate of when they may begin to reopen."
Roads in the region have also been impacted with condition assessments currently taking place.
Tamworth Regional Council's Manager Operations Murray Russell says repair works are well underway.
"Evidently there have been many potholes appear that crews have already begun patching so vehicles are able to travel on them. Other areas such as the Allambie Bridge north of Bendemeer and Somerton Bridge are expected to have emergency repairs undertaken".
"As some roads are being repaired, inspections for other areas are still taking place and are expected to continue into next week due to the extensive road network we have."
"As crews work to inspect our transport infrastructure, we ask that drivers please take care when travelling on roads in case they come across unexpected damage or debris".
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