After long deliberation, the Tenterfield Shire Council has decided against the closure of Riley Street and will instead adopt a traffic management program to restrict access of heavy vehicles to the new industrial estate.

Traffic calming measures will be introduced east of the RTA depot in Riley Street that will restrict access to all but light and emergency vehicles.

“Council’s decision was in part based on the need for emergency vehicles to have quick access to and from the industrial area, bearing in mind that Riley Street was the shortest route between the industrial area and the local hospital in an emergency,” said Council General Manager Don Ramsland.

Council did, however, resolve to close part of Petrie Street, east from McLean’s Transport Depot to the beginning of the bitumen section of the road.

The decision made at the October ordinary meeting resolves months of debate and has been put in place to restrict heavy vehicle traffic moving to and from the town centre via Riley and Petrie Streets.

Another task of the new Shire Council at the ordinary meeting was to review its Code of Conduct and the Code of Meeting Practice.

The revised codes have been placed on public exhibition and community comment is invited before Council formally adopts the revised codes.

“It is essential for Council’s various policies and codes to be as up to date as possible as this allows many of the procedural clashes that may arise from time to time to be avoided,” Mr Ramsland said.

“A harmonious and effectively functioning Council is one of the cornerstones for sound and committed local government, as the public has every right to expect its elected officials to behave in an appropriate manner,” he said.

Councillors have also attended sessions for professional development and education to local government practices conducted by the Department of Local Government and the Local Government and Shires Associations in recent weeks.