Many information sessions for Budget insight

Community members will have plenty of opportunities to find out more about Armidale Regional Council’s Draft 2020/21 Budget and Operational Plan, with Council representatives preparing to hit the road and the internet for an extensive series of information sessions.

The sessions kick off with a pop-up information stall in the Guyra main street on Tuesday and continue throughout the next month, after an extraordinary meeting of Council resolved to put the Draft Budget, Operational Plan and supporting documents on public exhibition from last Friday.

“This is a particularly difficult Budget with some tough decisions to respond to the triple impacts of drought, bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic,” Council’s Chief Executive Officer, Susan Law, said.

“For that reason, we’re going the extra mile to give community members every opportunity to find out what the Budget could mean for them and the measures Council is taking to help our community bounce back.

“We’re getting out into the community to explain the necessary changes to fees and charges, and to outline the projects we will still be delivering despite the impacts drought, bushfires and Coronavirus have had on our financial position.”

A full list of information sessions is available on the 2020/21 Budget and Operational Plan page of Council’s Your Say Armidale website.

Face-to-face sessions:

Guyra drop-in sessions - 140 Bradley Street (next to the Gala Centre) 23 June –10.30am - 12.30pm 9 July - 10.30am - 12.30pm Armidale drop-in sessions - Armidale Central Shopping Centre (formerly Gloria Jeans Cafe store) 25 June – 5.30-7.30pm 7 July - 10.30am-12.30pm Hillgrove village meeting: Monday 29 June 6pm - 7.30pm Ebor village meeting: Tuesday 30 June 6pm - 7.30pm Wollomombi village meeting: Thursday 2 July 6pm - 7.30pm Wards Mistake village meeting: Friday 3 July 6pm - 7.30pm Ben Lomond village meeting: Wednesday 8 July 6pm - 7.30pm

They will be complemented by six community webinars, including sessions on specific aspects of the Budget and some targeting he business and farming communities:

Drought, bushfires and pandemic – What this means for Council’s short term financial sustainability. Budget & Op Plan overview and Q&A:  29 June – 12pm 1 July – 6pm Drought resilience, water infrastructure and the Access & Water Usage Charges: 6 July – 6pm Environmental and regional benefits of the new Waterfall Way Regional Landfill – what this means for you: 9 July – 6pm Webinar for Business Chambers & L4L members: 7 July – 7.30am Webinar for NSW Farmers members: 2 July – 12.30pm

“Those sessions will explain how the fees and charges proposed for 2020/21 have been impacted by the drought, bushfires and COVID-19 during the past 12 months, as well as the harmonisation of fees and charges to ensure they are applied consistently to all residents in the former Armidale Dumaresq and Guyra Shire council areas,” Ms Law said.

“They will also be an excellent opportunity for community members to ask questions and I encourage everyone to get involved.”

Submissions are invited from community members by Thursday 16 July 2020. They must be addressed to the CEO and titled 'submission for draft operational plan and budget', via Armidale Regional Council, PO Box 75A, Armidale, NSW 2350 or sent by email to [email protected]

Published on 22 Jun 2020