Wrap-up of the November 24 Ordinary Council Meeting

Mayoral Minute Farewell and thank you from Mayor Ian Tiley

Mayor Ian Tiley presented a Valedictory Minute highlighting the achievements of the first term of the merged Armidale Regional Council. He highlighted the challenges and achievements during the period of the council term. After an administration period the council was restored however a Performance Improvement Order (PIO) was imposed on the council by the Minster for Local Government. Council has to date met all the PIO targets and presided over a difficult but essential budget, placing the council on a trajectory to eventual financial sustainability. The mayor thanked the elected representatives and staff for their commitment, support, advice, dedication and friendship during the term of the Council.

Notices of Motion

Council seeks support from Government to adopt WHO Clean Air Guidelines Council will support calls by Australian health advocates for the updated World Health Organization (WHO) Clean Air Guidelines to be adopted by all relevant authorities in Australia. Council will write to the NSW and Federal Ministers for Health and the Environment asking them to adopt the WHO Clean Air Guidelines as soon as practicable. A similar motion will be submitted to the LGNSW conference.

Council seeks action from Government on critical housing shortage Council will write to the relevant State and Federal ministers to advise of and seek assistance in relation to the critical shortage of housing in Guyra and Armidale.

Update on water security projects for the region An update on council’s progress of work on water security for the region will be presented at the next Council Meeting.

Reports on council’s achievements will soon be published The End of Term Report, Annual Report and the State of the Environment report will soon be published on council’s website and promoted in the community. These statutory reports provide a snap shot of council’s performance including statutory reporting, achievements and initiatives during the term of the council and annually.

Share your thoughts on how council proposes to engage with the community The Draft Community Engagement Strategy was endorsed for Public Exhibition from Friday 26 November to Thursday 6 January 2022. The strategy outlines the methodology council will adopt when preparing to engage with the community and assist residents and other council stakeholders to understand how and when council will engage on issues that affect their future. The draft strategy is available to view at yoursay.armidale.nsw.gov.au

Top four priorities for EcoARC Four sustainability priorities presented by The Environmental Sustainability Committee will be put forward for consideration in the next Operational Plan for council. These include:

Biodiversity Strategy and Plan;

Climate Change Risk Assessment, Mitigation and Adaptation Plan;

Healthy Winter Air: Business case to attract Grant funding;

Community Renewables Energy Project.

Council looks to identify funding to promote walking and cycling programs Council will consider identifying projects for possible funding to promote walking and cycling in the region through the next round of the 2022- 23 Walking and Cycling program

Council proposes to redirect funding to the Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Keeping Place (ACCKP) Council is asking the community to share their views on the redirecting of $39,600 of existing council funding to the ACCKP. Go to yoursay.armidale.nsw.gov.au for further detail on where the funding will be sourced from.

We want your thoughts… To see what’s currently on public exhibition and to have your say on the important issues affecting the region, visit yoursay.armidale.nsw.gov.au

Published on 25 Nov 2021