Projects, news and current events  |  1 April 2025

Your Autumn Festival guide for this weekend!

Get ready for some high-flying fun at the 2025 Armidale Autumn Festival!

Mark your calendars and don’t miss out on an unforgettable weekend of entertainment, festivities, and more! Here's a sneak peek at what's in store on April 4 and 5:

• Experience the brand-new NECOM: Sounds of Autumn Concert – music to warm your soul (April 4, 5:30pm)
• Get grooving with Breakfast with the Band at Civic Park (April 5, 7am)
• The Campus to City Canter is back – come join the run! (April 5, 8am)
• Enjoy the Celtic sounds of the pipe bands playing in the mall (April 5, 11am)
• Indulge in some culinary delights and shopping at the market stalls and food trucks in Civic Park (April 5, from 11am)
• The Freedom Flyover Squadron will soar through the skies above Armidale (April 5, 11:45am)
• Over 50 floats in the Autumn Festival Parade – a colourful spectacle you won’t want to miss (April 5, 12pm)
• After the parade, a Global Gathering of entertainment will keep the good times rolling (April 5, 1:30pm)

And don't miss out on a special appearance from the Trolls – they’ll be bringing the magic to the parade and mingling with the crowds after in Civic Parade.

Save the date as it’s going to be a celebration of autumn you’ll never forget.

The history and significance of Malpas Dam to our region

Armidale’s journey to secure a reliable water supply mirrors its growth and development. In the early days, residents depended on wells and Dumaresq Creek. As the population grew, so did the need for a more permanent water source. Efforts began with Tilbuster Creek in 1865 and Dumaresq Creek in 1867, followed by Mother of Ducks Lagoon near Falconer, which was later replaced by Guyra. In 1895, Dumaresq Dam was surveyed, and between 1896 and 1898, a concrete wall was constructed to hold 454 megalitres of water. When Dumaresq Dam's supply failed to meet demand in 1919, Puddledock Dam was built in 1928. Gara Dam was first proposed in 1921 but was delayed due to the war effort and finally constructed in 1954.

As Armidale continued to grow, especially with the expansion of educational institutions, water shortages persisted. In 1966, the Council recommended building Malpas Dam to meet the region's water needs for the next 20 years. Completed in 1968, Malpas Dam holds 13,000 megalitres.

The history of Armidale’s water supply is marked by critical junctures where significant investments were made. The severe drought of 2017-19 elevated the region’s risk status to the highest level by the NSW Government, making it clear that a water crisis was not just a possibility but an imminent reality. Since the drought broke in 2019, the council has been working diligently with the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Public Works Authority, and expert hydrologists to develop a comprehensive plan for sustainable water management. Malpas Dam plays a crucial role in this plan, and fortunately, it was designed with the potential for expansion, although its catchment area is limited.

Save the date: Ask Us Anything  Wednesday, 2 April, 8am - 9:30am 

Mayor Sam Coupland and our councillors have enjoyed hearing your feedback over the past few months. Join them for the next session on Wednesday, 2 April at Courthouse Coffee in Beardy Street Mall, Armidale.

They’ll be there from 8am to 9:30am, ready to answer any burning questions you have.

Easter school holiday activities 

Armidale Regional Libraries have a great program of activities planned for the upcoming school holidays.

Whether you enjoy craft or lego, Dungeons and Dragons or Nintendo Switch, or if you are keen to explore virtual reality then join us at Armidale or Guyra library these school holidays.

The full libraries' program (as well as some other great school holiday fun!) is available below. 

EOI: Social housing development 

Council is seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the development of council-owned land for social housing, reinforcing our commitment to increasing affordable housing in the region.

The resolution aligns with the objectives of Council’s Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS) and Local Housing Strategy (LHS), both endorsed in 2024, which prioritise planning for increased social housing development.

Something to talk about 

Join us in 'Crate City' at the Beardy Street Mall for the Autumn edition of Something to talk about from 5 - 16 April. 
We've got a stacked lineup of activities for the kids, including badge making, NECOM's Mini Minstrels, Armidale Library Storytime, NERAM art play, and so much more! 
Don't miss out on the fun! Check out the full schedule below.

Kempsey to Armidale Road restoration a step closer

Armidale Regional Council is seeking a main works contractor for the Kempsey-Armidale Road Restoration Project (K2A), one of the most ambitious road projects undertaken by a NSW council.

This essential initiative will restore 43 km of the Kempsey-Armidale Road and 5.1 km of Lower Creek Road, reversing the damage caused by devastating natural disasters, including bushfires in 2019 and floods in 2020 and 2022.

Jointly funded by the Australian and NSW State Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, the project aims to:

• Restore essential road access and function through pavement and batter restoration works in line with pre-disaster condition
• Improve resilience and reduce erosion risk via reinstatement of effective drainage infrastructure
• Reduce long-term maintenance through restoration that meets contemporary engineering standards
   

Bridging the past and future: work begins on new bridge

Work is due to begin on the replacement of Armidale’s historic Albion Park Suspension Bridge. The bridge has been closed since 2023 due to flood and white ant damage.

Armidale Regional Council (ARC) received a grant of $400,000 from the Federal Government’s Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program to repair the bridge. However, as it has been deemed beyond repair the bridge needs to be rebuilt.

The new suspension bridge has been designed to replicate the existing bridge as closely as possible. However, due to modern safety standards and building methods, it will not look exactly the same. The bridge will also be lifted a metre to provide additional flood protection.

The total cost of the project is $856,985. The extra $456,985 will be funded from the 7.12 Developers Contributions Fund. Work on the new bridge is due to start on site at the beginning of April 2025.

Calling for volunteer nominations 

Do you know an unsung hero of the community who volunteers their time for a great cause or organisation? Consider nominating them for a New England Regional Volunteer Award.

This is just one small way to say thank you to people who are making a big impact in our community. Find out more and nominate via council's website:

Seeking Expressions of Interest from Aboriginal artists 

Armidale Regional Council is seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) from individual Aboriginal artists and artists groups who can create a cohesive design to apply to the entry to Armidale signs.

In November 2024, Council resolved to erect signage at the entrances to the Armidale township, acknowledging Armidale as the Ancestral Home of the Anaiwan people. This acknowledgement signage is to incorporate a design by the community to acknowledge and celebrate our local Aboriginal culture.

Armidale Local Government Area is in the New England region of New South Wales. It has a population of approximately 29,500. Armidale has become a melting pot of culture, art, history, entertainment and adventure, and has an Indigenous population of approximately 8,000 people.

The Welcome Experience

The Welcome Experience is a free service to support essential workers relocate, settle in and become one of the locals. If you work in one of the following roles or industries you qualify for support:

👮‍♀️ NSW Police and Emergency Services
👩‍🚒 Fire and Rescue NSW
🚒 Rural Fire Service
🚑 Health and Aged Care
🏫 Education including Early Childhood
♿ Disability Services
🐶 Veterinary Services
👨‍👧 Child Protection
👩‍⚖️ Corrections and Justice

The service connects essential workers and their families with local people and resources to help with everything from the practicalities of finding housing, choosing childcare, exploring job opportunities for partners, joining sport teams, special interest clubs and connecting workers and families to like-minded people in the community. We know that when people feel part of the community they live in, they have a better lifestyle experience and as a result, stay in communities longer. 

Our local Armidale and Uralla Connector Katrina George, will make your transition easier by helping with:

🏠 Finding housing
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Choosing Childcare
⚽ Connecting you with the local community
👨‍🚒 Exploring Job Opportunities for partners
❓ Addressing any questions or concerns about moving to or living here. 

Council Meetings

The next scheduled meeting is Wednesday 23 April 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.