Projects, news and current events  |  8 December 2025

Creative Streets Festival delivers major economic boost for Armidale

The 2025 Creative Streets Festival has proven to be more than a celebration of art and culture, but a significant driver of economic activity for local businesses as well.

Across three themed weeks in October, the festival attracted 10,000 attendees from the Armidale region, as well as visitors from across New South Wales and beyond, including Uralla, Walcha, Glen Innes, Tamworth, Inverell, Brisbane, Coffs Harbour, Clarence Valley, Dubbo Regional, Nambucca Valley, Lake Macquarie, and Greater Geelong.

Economic Impact Highlights:
• Week 1 – Opening Night (17 October): Consumer spending surged by 37%,
• Week 2 – Art, Music and Dessert Trail (24 October): Spending increased by 25%,
• Week 3 – Halloween Craft (31 October): Consumer spending increased by 14.7%

Visitor spending played a major role in this success. 74% of total expenditure came from visitors outside the region, while 26% was contributed by local residents, highlighting the festival’s strong appeal to tourists and its impact on the local economy.

Community celebrates Christmas in the Mall 2025!

A massive thankyou to everyone who came to celebrate Christmas in the Mall on Thursday night and the Guyra Rotary Christmas carnival on Friday night. 

Check out some of the photos taken during Christmas in the Mall 2025 on our Facebook page!

Skywhales to soar over Armidale at 2026 Autumn Festival

Armidale is set to witness an unforgettable sight in 2026, as Patricia Piccinini’s iconic skywhales - two monumental hot-air balloon sculptures - grace the skies during the city’s beloved Autumn Festival.

In a major cultural coup, Armidale has been selected as part of the National Gallery of Australia’s Skywhales Across Australia tour, bringing this extraordinary experience to regional audiences.

Bridge works underway across the region

Council has contracted Professional Bridge Services (PBS), to deliver a major program of works to maintain and improve local bridges.

What’s happening?

25 work packages valued at around $400,000, funded by Transport for NSW's Regional Emergency Roads Repair Fund.

Routine maintenance to extend the life and improve safety, including:

• Cleaning drainage scuppers and removing vegetation
• Resealing joints and minor concrete repairs
• Guardrail and scour repairs
• Replacing delineators and markers

Highlighted projects:

Elm Avenue & Donnelly Street bridges: Steel handrails removed for sandblasting, rust repairs, and repainting.

Elizabeth Park pedestrian bridge: Full removal for rust repairs and repainting before reinstallation.

Stephens Bridge (Marsh Street): Scheduled for pressure washing in mid-January to allow structural assessment.

Works are expected to be completed by February 2026.

Life's a beach at Australia Day celebration

Armidale Regional Council (ARC) is making a big splash this Australia Day (Monday 26, January) with a fun, family-friendly beach party at Dumaresq Dam.

Celebrating what makes our community great, the day’s activities will kick off with a Citizenship Ceremony followed by the presentation of council’s Australia Day Awards.

The Australia Day Beach Party program will start at 10:30am with a Citizenship Ceremony followed by the annual Australia Day Awards. The Beach Party will start at 12pm and will feature fun games for the kids, a rowing demonstration, Earth Art created by artist Aunty Sharon Cutmore, a guided cultural walk and free ice cream and barbecue (limited supply).

Dancers impress on national stage and at home

Lyāmbay Aboriginal Dance Group shone at the recent NSW Schools Spectacular 2025, as they have at home and away throughout the year, and Armidale Regional Council is proud to have been able to provide some support to the young artists.

Dance group members featured as part of the Aboriginal Dance Company, and others impressed as part of the Aboriginal Dance Ensemble at Schools Spectacular. 

Sea to see: Will Fenwicke rides across Australia to save sight

ARC staff member Will Fenwicke is embarking on an extraordinary journey to raise awareness and funds for people living with Diabetic Retinopathy, a condition that can lead to blindness. Will knows the struggle firsthand. After years of managing Type 1 Diabetes, he developed Diabetic Retinopathy, which has severely impacted his vision and cost him his driver’s license.

Rather than letting this challenge define him, Will found freedom through a pedal-assist e-bike. Now, he’s turning that freedom into purpose with sea to see, a ride across Australia from Byron Bay, NSW to Steep Point, WA. His mission: to help others afford life-changing treatments like laser therapy and eye injections, which can slow or stop vision loss but remain out of reach for many due to high costs.

“Every kilometre I ride is for someone who needs help to preserve their sight,” Will says. “Nobody should have to choose between their vision and affordability.”

Funds raised will:

• Subsidise essential eye treatments for those struggling financially
• Support early diagnosis to prevent severe vision loss
• Raise awareness about diabetic eye health nationwide

Every donation, big or small, makes a real difference. If you can’t contribute financially, sharing Will’s campaign is another powerful way to help.

Join Will in turning his journey into vision for many. Donate today and be part of the fight against blindness.

#teamARC

Water safety during Blue-Green Algae season

Armidale Regional Council is committed to keeping your water safe year-round. During summer and early autumn, Blue-Green Algae (BGA) blooms can occur in local dams and waterways. While these blooms are naturally occurring, they can pose health risks if untreated water is consumed or used for recreation.

This guide explains what BGA is, what a Red Alert means, and the steps you should take to stay safe. It also reassures residents that treated town water remains safe and meets the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, thanks to rigorous treatment and regular testing by ARC.

Cafe on Curtis - a unique business opportunity

Armidale Regional Council is inviting Expressions of Interest from experienced food and beverage operators for a unique opportunity at Café on Curtis, a newly constructed container café to be located on the south-western fringe of Armidale’s beautiful Curtis Park.

Strategically positioned within the recently upgraded children’s playground, the café is a key feature of the Curtis Park expansion, a council-driven project designed to enhance facilities and amenities for the Armidale community.

The container café offers:

• insulated metal construction, painted in stylish Monumental Grey
• power, water, wastewater and grease trap connections
• approximately 14m² internal fit-out with functional design
• two sliding glass windows with shuttered awnings
• non-slip flooring and air-conditioning

Armidale Regional Airport receives lighting upgrade

Repairs to Armidale Regional Airport's runway lighting system have been undertaken over the last three weeks and are now successfully completed.

The repairs had been necessary following a severe lightning strike late last year which destroyed 24 light fittings and reduced the capacity of the primary and secondary runway lighting circuits. As a result, and with the support of Council's insurers we have successfully replaced the primary and secondary cables, transformers and light fittings - essentially giving the airport a new runway lighting system

The works were completed with the great support of local electricians and electrical suppliers.

Guyra water update

Team ARC has been working hard to remove the taste and odour issues currently being experienced by customers of the Guyra town water supply.

The water is still safe to drink and is compliant as per Australian Drinking Water Guidelines. Boiling the water will not remove the problem but can make it worse.

Once the issue has been eliminated comprehensive network flushing will be undertaken to purge the system. Thank you for your understanding as we work to rectify the taste and odour issues currently being experienced in Guyra.

Armidale Creeklands Restoration project update

The Armidale Creeklands Restoration project is well underway, with significant progress transforming the popular community space into a revitalized natural and recreational hub.

Concrete footings for new bench seating and interpretation walls have been installed, setting the stage for improved amenities that will enhance visitor comfort and provide educational insights into the area’s rich history and ecology. Path construction has commenced from the Dumaresq Street end, creating better access for walkers and cyclists and improving connectivity throughout the precinct.

Picnic shelter roofs are now in place, offering shaded areas for families and groups to enjoy the outdoors. On the southern side, bank stabilization earthworks are progressing, an essential step to protect the creek’s integrity and ensure long-term environmental sustainability.

Stall applications are now open for the 2026 Autumn Festival!

Stall applications are now open for the 2026 Autumn Festival!

Date: Saturday, 21 March 2026
Location: Civic Park, Armidale

We’re currently busy planning an exciting lineup of Autumn-themed activities for all ages! Don’t miss out, apply now to secure your spot, as spaces are limited!

Nominate a local legend!

The Australia Day Awards in Armidale are proudly presented by Armidale Regional Council and administered by the Mayor, Sam Coupland. In Guyra the Australia Day Awards are managed by the Guyra Australia Day Committee.

The Awards in both Armidale and Guyra acknowledge the unsung heroes of our community who through their contributions make our region a better place.

These individuals and organisations make an outstanding contribution in community service, contributing to our community's advancement and well-being.

Nominations for the 2026 awards are now open!

Rural resealing works commencing early December

Over the next week, we are finishing our rural road resealing works in key locations across the Armidale region.

Road resealing is an important part of the maintenance of roads and is utilised to seal small cracks and imperfections, improve skid resistance as well as waterproof, protect and extend the life of the underlying road pavement.

Road resealing is the process of spraying bitumen onto a road pavement and then rolling a layer of uniformly sized stones to create a new surface.

In total, we will reseal more than 80,000 square meters of road in rural areas. Following that, an additional 120,000 square meters are planned for resealing in urban areas across both Armidale and Guyra.

Christmas treat drive the Armidale Companion Animal Shelter

Spread some festive cheer!

Help make this holiday season extra special for the cats and dogs at the Armidale Companion Animal Shelter. Last year’s treat drive was a huge success, and we’re doing it again. We’re collecting treats for all the animals who will spend Christmas at the shelter.

Where to donate:

• Council Customer Service (CAB) – Rusden Street
• Armidale Companion Animal Shelter

Every little treat brings joy to a furry friend waiting for their forever home. Let’s make tails wag and whiskers twitch this festive season. And remember if you are adding a furry friend to your family this year please ADOPT and not SHOP for a pet.

Entries Now Open for the 2026 Autumn Festival Parade!

It’s that time of year again! We’re calling on schools, community groups, businesses, performers, and creative locals to be part of the 2026 Autumn Festival Parade.

Whether you’ve got a float idea, a marching band, a dance crew, or just a great costume, we want you in the parade. It’s a fantastic way to celebrate our community, showcase local talent, and bring colour and energy to the streets of Armidale

Keep an eye out for St John's Wort beetles

St John’s Wort (SJW) biological control has been spotted in multiple locations around Armidale. The St John’s Wort Beetle is active now while the weather is hot, and will return in autumn to lay eggs on SJW stems.

If you see these beetles, please report it to Council! We’re collecting them to breed and release in more areas across the LGA in future seasons.

Important: If you have beetles and plan to spray St John’s Wort, the spray will kill their food source and starve the population. Wetting agents in weed sprays can also kill the beetles.

What to look for: Beetles are about 5 mm long and appear black or shiny depending on the light.

Help us protect our environment by reporting sightings today by calling 1300 136 833.

Council conducts random kerbside bin audits to improve waste practices

Armidale Regional Council is reminding residents that from time to time, random kerbside bin audits are carried out as part of best practice across all councils to help improve recycling and reduce contamination.

These audits are:

• Random – to avoid influencing how bins are presented.
• Anonymous – no personal details are recorded.
• Compliant – carried out according to strict EPA methodology.

Council emphasises that these audits are not about targeting individuals but about gathering data to improve waste management for the whole community.

Council Meetings

The next scheduled meeting is Wednesday 10 December 2025 at 4pm.

All meetings will be held at 4pm in the Armidale Council Chambers unless stated otherwise. The public are welcome to watch the live streaming over YouTube, via the link included below, or attend in person.

The meetings are conducted under the Armidale Regional Council Code of Meeting Practice which can be found on the Council’s Policy page.

You are receiving this e-newsletter from Armidale Regional Council as you have interacted with council using this email address. The purpose of this fortnightly e-newsletter is to keep you informed of council news and events which we hope you will find informative.