Projects, news and current events | 28 April 2025
Armidale welcomes 57 new citizens
Last week we proudly celebrated the commitment of 57 Australian citizens at a citizenship ceremony held in the auditorium of the Armidale Teachers' College.
We welcome all our new citizens who are now part of a vibrant and diverse community that values mateship, inclusivity, and opportunity. Your pledge represents a shared belief in the beauty and spirit of this incredible country we call home. Congratulations!
Thank you to New England Conservatorium for the use of the auditorium while the Town Hall is unavailable! It was a wonderful location!
Show stopper for late Autumn in Armidale | Chinese Pistache tree
Chinese Pistache
Pistacia Chinensis
General information
Pistacia Chinensis, commonly known as the Chinese Pistache, is a deciduous tree belonging to the Anacardiaceae or cashew family. This tree is native to Afghanistan, China, Taiwan, and the Philippines. It may be found in hilly and mountainous forests.
Physical characteristics:
Height: 15m at maturity but can vary dependent on climate.
Leaf: Compound, pinnate leaves with 10-16 leaflets that turn brilliant shades of yellow, orange, and red in autumn. When the leaves are bruised, they are aromatic.
Bark: Gray bark with a scaly texture that reveals salmon inner bark when scales flake off.
Fruit: The fruits are drupes that are initially red and ripen to blue in April. They are rounded, approx. 6mm in diameter.
The tree is dioecious, meaning it has separate male and female trees
Landscape uses:
It is a popular choice for street trees and used in urban settings because it is very drought tolerant and can survive harsh environments. Chinese pistache grows best in full sun, being intolerant of shade; it is the most frost-tolerant species of Pistacia, tolerating temperatures down to about -25 °C. It is planted for its impressive fall colours
Cultural significance
It is used worldwide as an understock for Pistacia vera (Pistachio). In China, the oil from the seeds is used for biodiesel production. The wood is used for production of furniture, and yields a yellow dye.
Avenue planting (Marsh St ) between Erskine St and Dumaresq Creek and (Pictured) Newton Street on North Hill.
Do you know an unsung hero of the community?
Nominations for the New England Regional Volunteer Awards are still open!
This is just one small way to say thank you to people who are making a big impact in our community.
Deadline for nominations has been extended to COB Tuesday 6 May 2025.
Switch on to better heating options!
According to Asthma Australia, smoke pollution from domestic wood heaters is one of the largest sources of air pollution during winter months in many areas.
Join the ‘Making the Switch’ study and receive up to $3,000 to replace your wood heater with a reverse cycle air conditioner. You’ll also receive a free energy efficiency audit of your home.
ARC seeks election funding commitments
ARC is highlighting the need for further investment in the Armidale Region to address the impacts of the NSW Government’s New England Renewable Energy Zone (NEREZ) and is seeking election funding commitments from candidates in the upcoming Federal Election toward projects for the betterment of the region.
Tour de Rocks 2025!
Congratulations to #teamARC for Tour de Rocks 2025! The team departed on Thursday morning just after 7am looking fresh and ready for the journey ahead, retuning over the weekend after a massive effort riding across the country side. All funds raised by participants in Tour de Rocks go towards cancer research and to help cancer service providers in doing the special, and valued, work they do.
Armidale Waste Management Facility Closure
The Armidale Waste Management Facility will be closed on 8 May 2025 for staff training. This training is essential to ensure that we can serve you better. Kerbside waste collection will not be affected and will continue as scheduled.
Ebor Rotunda Installation Update
Installation of the Ebor Rotunda (pending weather) is scheduled for Tuesday, 29 April, and Wednesday, 30 April.
During this time, the site will be off-limits to ensure everyone's safety while construction occurs.
Other free campsites in the area include Wollomombi Campground located along Wollomombi Village Road and Wattle Flat located in the Styx River State Forest. There are also campsites located in Armidale, Guyra, and Dorrigo.
Have your say | What's currently on public exhibition
Seeking Expressions of Interest from Aboriginal artists | Closes 7 May
Draft Operational Plan and Budget for 2025 - 2026 | Closes 22 May
Current vacancies
Waste Transfer Attendant | Closes 4 May
ARC Casual Register | Closes 21 December
Council Meetings
The next scheduled meeting is Wednesday 28 May 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.
