Projects, news and current events  | 7 April 2026

Armidale Autumn Festival 2026 - float winners announced

What an incredible parade celebrating the colours, creativity, and community spirit of Armidale! A huge thank‑you to our judges Judy Grieve, David Betts, Carolyn Gadd and Fiona Smith. Thanks also to Autumn Festival Committee member Poh Woodland, for coordinating the judges, entry descriptions for the announcers and parade order.
We’re thrilled to announce the winners of this year’s float categories:

Overall Best Autumn Float – John Cannon Shield + $1,000 (sponsored by First National): The Armidale Waldorf School

Category winners
• Best Autumn Entry: Fairy Simone
• Best Presented Vehicle: Armidale Classic and Specialist Car Club
• Best Business Entry: New England Martial Arts Centre
• Best Service Provider Entry: Uniting Autumn Lodge Aged Care
• Best Cultural Entry: Nepalese Community Armidale (pictured)

A massive congratulations to all entrants, your imagination and hard work brought the streets of Armidale to life. See you all again next year for even more autumn magic! 

Nominate a community treasure for volunteer awards

Celebrate a volunteer/volunteers for their dedication and hard work by nominating them for a New England Volunteer Award:

• Young volunteer (24 and under)
• Volunteer team
• Emergency volunteer
• Not-for-profit voluntary governance award
• Adult volunteer (25-64)
• Senior volunteer (65+)
• Volunteer leader

Nominate your volunteers so that they receive recognition locally for the wonderful work they do in supporting the community - and then statewide, as all nominations will go into the NSW Volunteer of the Year Awards.

Free microchipping day at shelter

Armidale Companion Animal Shelter is providing free microchipping for your pets:

• 11am - 2pm, Saturday 18 April
• Armidale Companion Animal Shelter

Bring your pets and connect with local organisations offering support and resources for pet owners - and join us for a BBQ lunch!

• Free microchipping for cats and dogs
• Priority given to residents of Armidale Regional Council LGA
• Option to register your pet on the day (standard registration fees apply)
• Free BBQ and goodies (while stocks last), thanks to Animal Rescue Cooperative
• Animal Welfare League Armidale will also be attending to chat with pet owners about desexing options and voucher programs

Thank you: AWL Armidale, New England Vets, Animal Rescue Cooperative, and Zoetis

Level 1 water restrictions in place

Level 1 water restrictions are currently in place. By making small changes to how we use water, we can help safeguard our water supply and support the community through dry conditions!

Acting now helps protect our water supply and avoid stricter restrictions later. 

Easter school holiday program

Have you booked a place for your child or young person in the Armidale Regional Libraries school holiday program?

Take a look at the the great program on offer at Armidale and Guyra Libraries!

Find out more and book your spot at Armidale Regional Libraries: 6770 3636

Free 'Get Grubby' program

Council is pleased to offer the Get Grubby sustainability education program free of charge to the Armidale region.

Delivered by Dirtgirlworld, Get Grubby is a curriculum‑aligned program that supports early learning services, schools and homeschoolers to build environmental awareness through practical, hands‑on learning.

In-kind support opportunities for community now simpler

Community groups and organisations needing goods, services or expertise to help get their project or event off the ground, can easily access in-kind support from Armidale Regional Council thanks to a simple application system.

In‑kind support involves the donation of goods, services, time or expertise instead of cash. This may include access to council equipment like marquees or chairs, venue hire assistance, technical and other advice, waste services, or other resources that help reduce project costs.

Like Council's Community and Village grants, in‑kind support is offered and assessed at regular intervals throughout the year.

Roadworks on Old Inverell Road

Council is carrying out important upgrade works on the UNE Jogging Track section alongside Old Inverell Road, between Shambrook Avenue and Rowlands Road. Works are set to commence from Tuesday 7 April to Friday 17 April 2026. 

Do you know you can track all our road works here?

With one of the largest rural road networks in the New England, we are committed to maintaining the safety of all drivers on all roads across our region. Details of pothole and road repair, road resealing, and rural road grading are updated regularly on council's website.

Council Meetings

The next scheduled meeting is Wednesday 22 April 2026

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.