Projects, news and current events  | 9 March 2026

$1000 prize up for grabs at this year's Autumn Festival

It's not too late to enter and be part of the Autumn Festival Parade - and a float doesn't have to be a vehicle. Walking, dancing, cycling or other sorts of entries are wonderful too!

With Autumn Festival 2026 just around the corner, now’s the perfect time to secure your spot in this year’s parade.

Last year’s parade featured more than 60 floats, and this year we’re stepping it up with a $1,000 prize for the best autumn‑themed float.

Whether you’re a  community group, school, organisation, business, or just someone who loves celebrating autumn in Armidale, we’d love to see you in the parade.

Submit your application today and be part of one of Armidale’s biggest community celebrations! Autumn Festival 2026 - Saturday 21 March

High speed EV chargers to benefit residents and visitors

Two Superfast Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers have been installed in Armidale’s Cinders Lane Carpark and will benefit residents and visitors alike.

Officially opened on Monday 2 March, the chargers significantly expand public access to reliable, high‑speed EV charging infrastructure in Armidale region.

Applications open for village and community grants

Applications are invited for the next round of Armidale Regional Council grants opening on Friday 27 February 2026. Funding is available for community projects across the region, and also targeted funding for villages.

The grants aim to provide financial support for community projects and initiatives that require modest funding to meet local needs and support the community.

Local not-for-profit organisations and community groups are eligible to apply for:

• Community Small Grants - up to $2000
• Community Support Grants - $2000 to $5000
• Armidale Regional Village Grants – up to $3500

This grant round opened on Friday 27 February and closes Monday 23 March 2026.

Community comes together for Clean Up Australia Day 2026

On Clean Up Australia Day, Sunday 1 March 2026, volunteers of all ages gathered to help remove litter from local parks and waterways. 

The Clean Up Australia Day event, supported by Armidale Regional Council, saw community members, schools and local groups working together at multiple locations including Curtis Park, Civic Park, Harris Park, Armidale Bicentennial Arboretum, Drummond Apex Lookout, and along the Armidale Creeklands, reinforcing a shared commitment to protecting the local environment. 

Local athletes to benefit from new high-performance academy

The University of New England (UNE) has teamed up with Armidale Regional Council to nurture the region’s top young athletes, as part of the inaugural Talent ID High Performance Academy, which kicked off this week.

Held at UNE’s Exercise and Sports Science Laboratory, the academy is a four-week program designed to accelerate athletic capability through elite testing, evidence-based training, and applied performance education.

Guyra fluoride dosing plant offline temporarily for maintenance

The fluoride dosing plant at Guyra Water Treatment Plant is currently offline due to the need for major maintenance works. The outage was necessary to address issues identified with the fluoridation system to ensure its ongoing safety, reliability and compliance.

The fluoride dosing plant is expected to return to service in early April 2026, following completion of the required maintenance and recommissioning checks.

Temporary Library closure

Armidale War Memorial Library will be closed from Monday 16 March to Saturday 28 March while the first stage of the lift replacement takes place. Some services are still accessible during this time!

Emerging Weed Alert: Greater Bindweed (Calystegia sylvatica)

Have you seen this fast‑growing vine in your garden or while out walking? Council's Weeds Biosecurity Team wants to hear from you.

Why it matters
Greater bindweed is a toxic invasive weed that:

• Smothers native plants by climbing and spreading over vegetation and structures
• Spreads easily via seeds and plant fragments
• Contains calystegine alkaloids, which are harmful to animals

What to look for

• A twining vine that can grow up to 3 metres high
• Arrow‑shaped leaves, dull green on top and paler underneath
• Large white, trumpet‑shaped flowers, sometimes with pink tones, appearing from late spring through summer

Not sure if it’s native or invasive?
Greater bindweed is often confused with the native bindweed. One of the easiest ways to tell the difference is by checking the bracts (small leaf‑like parts under the flower):

• Greater bindweed (weed): larger, broader bracts
• Native bindweed: smaller, narrower bracts
• Tip: Compare several mature plants for a more accurate ID, young plants can be misleading.

Seen it?
Please report sightings via our website. Our officers can also help confirm identification.

Early reporting helps protect our local environment!

Council Meetings

The next scheduled meeting is Wednesday 25 March 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.