Twelve projects appeared on the list of priorities to be considered in the public business paper of Wednesday's meeting. Sitting in sixth place; plans to continue council's Town Centre Renewal Plan (TCRP) along Byron Street in two parts.

The only speaker in the public gallery was Inverell stalwart Bob Bensley who said he would be more than disappointed if the Byron Street Renewal Plan was not moved to the top of the list.

"The work in Otho Street has been universally accepted and the questions on everyone's lips has been 'when is the other 50 per cent of the renewal going to be completed?'

"I believe this council has a responsibility to complete the work involved in finishing the TCRP during the term of this council."

Councillor Anthony Michael made a recommendation to move the TCRP as first priority for the section of Campbell to Vivian Street on the list, Cr Stewart Berryman seconded the motion.

Cr Mal Peters then put fourth a foreshadowed amendment to postpone the TCRP and use funds allocated to provide rate relief to businesses affected by drought in the shire, Cr Neil McCosker seconded the motion.

"The reality is you have a beyond record drought that no one in this district has experienced before. You've got shops closing down in the CBD and you have a hell of a lot of agricultural enterprises under extreme stress.

"I think it would be smarter to defer the TCRP until 12 months after the drought and try to help businesses exist until this drought is passed us all," Cr Peters said.

Mayor Paul Harmon hit back describing Cr Peters' amendment as dangerous with no boundaries.

"My concern is where do you start and where do you stop? Who do you give rate relief to? I couldn't vote on it because there is no methodology surrounding the motion."

Cr Harmon said the detailed report, available to read on council's website, highlighted Byron Street's bitumen surface had deteriorated to the point where it would need repair in the next 12 months.

If the surface is not fixed, possible contamination could occur to the sub-structure of the road when it finally does rain.

"Where sitting here debating disruption to the CBD when our head engineer is saying we need to fix the road anyway. If we delay the renewal plan and have to resurface the road anyway, when we decided to come back to the TCRP in a few years the public will ask why we are digging up a perfectly good road."

The foreshadowed amendment was lost due to a lack of votes and Cr Michael's motion was voted for meaning council will prioritise the renewal of Byron Street (from Campbell to Vivian) as part of their 2019/20 Urban Works Program.

Cr Michael also highlighted that there was no a speaker against the TCRP in the public gallery despite a front page story in Tuesday's Inverell Times informing community members of the motion.