Armidale Dumaresq Council's Economic Development, Tourism & Marketing office should be your first point of contact for all business enquiries. The Manager - Economic Development, Tourism & Marketing together with Council's General Manager are responsible for all economic development, tourism and marketing strategies and projects including facilitating industry involvement and attracting new opportunities and programs.

As part of a strategy to be responsive to development enquiries, Armidale Dumaresq Council established the Rapid Response Unit (RRU) in 2007 to ensure that significant developments could be fast tracked at a high level within the necessary regulatory guidelines. The Rapid Response Unit is focused on assisting large developments or those developments that encourage job growth within Armidale.

Armidale Dumaresq Council Rapid Response Unit:

• General Manager
• Director of Sustainable Planning and Living
• Director of Public Infrastructure
• Manager - Economic Development
• Manger - Tourism and Marketing

Economic Development

Contact : Mr Harold Ritch, Manager - Economic Development
Telephone: +61 2 6770 3809
Mobile: 0427 659 525
Facsimile: +61 2 6772 9275
Email: hritch@armidale.nsw.gov.au

Tourism and Marketing

Contact : Mr Tony Broomfield, Manager - Tourism and Marketing
Telephone: +61 2 6770 3876
Mobile: 0439 255 842
Facsimile: +61 2 6772 9275
Email: abroomfield@armidale.nsw.gov.au

With significant growth in many sectors of the city, Armidale is experiencing a revival as a regional economic force. It has been identified as one of only 20 centres in Australia with an abundant long term water supply and its cool mountain climate is regarded as a major advantage with climate change on the horizon.
Armidale's strength lies in education, agriculture, retail and professional services. These industry sectors employ a significant portion of the labour force and position Armidale as a knowledge based regional service centre with significant export potential.
The Armidale Dumaresq Local Environmental Plan (LEP) has been designed to meet a growing demand for more residential, rural residential, commercial and industrial land now and in the future.

Over the years, the city has enjoyed unprecedented economic expansion including construction of one of the largest Coles Supermarket complex in NSW and the opening of two major shopping centre developments - Centro Armidale which includes a new Woolworths Supermarket and Big W Department Store, an investment of $66 million, and the refurbishment of the Armidale Plaza which includes KMart and Target Country and many specialty stores. A new $9 million police station has been built and the Armidale TAFE has had a $4.5 million upgrade.

The Development of a $6 million bulky goods retail centre with a Bunnings Hardware Store has been completed. A new Court House is near completion. Two new nursing homes have been built, new inner city residential / retail developments have been taken up and an $8 million residential estate for retirees is under construction.
The food and wine tourism sector as well as the fast growing professional business sector is considered of major importance. Armidale has attracted more professionals to the city over the last few years than at any other time in its history.

Council will be happy to discuss a flexible range of economic incentives for industries with a potential for significant growth in the region.