Published on 21 July 2025
The ‘Restore and Thrive’ journey of Armidale Regional Council (ARC) is contributing to it finalising delivery of a suite of major infrastructure projects across the region during June and July 2025, while at the same time continuing to provide essential services and maintain core operations.
Coming out of Administration in mid-December 2020 and with a new General Manager commencing in early 2021, the rebuild of ARC has been a focussed and determined effort to ensure that the organisation is well positioned to deliver for its community through good times and bad.
Successfully navigating a ministerially imposed ‘Performance Improvement Order’ out of Administration, and with organisation culture as the council’s number one priority, this has had the effect of developing a staffing group that is happy, engaged and aligned to the Council’s strategic direction and purpose. It has ensured that ARC staff are well placed to deliver for their council and community in a way they have never been able to before.
Significant projects are being delivered
Over a period of 10 weeks, 11 significant projects (supported by local government, state and federal funding) will be completed, marking a period of substantial progress for the region; arguably one of the largest volume of projects to be delivered in the region for a long time. These projects span community infrastructure, transport, recreation, and emergency preparedness.
Additionally, our People and Culture team have delivered significant internal and often unheralded projects such as organisational restructures, salary system reviews, increased opportunities for staff progression through the ranks, and the implementation of a new recruitment system that helps more people join Team ARC. These projects are not ‘sexy’ and of much interest to the average punter but are absolutely integral to the positive culture of an organisation and key drivers of staff happiness, well-being, engagement, purpose and alignment that ensures delivery for our community. These are the projects that staff told me were at the forefront of their frustrations and had been promised for 15 years. So, we delivered.
Major capital projects include:
Albion Park Pedestrian Suspension Bridge, full replacement restoring heritage look and feel – $800,000 project reopened 30 June, funded by the Australian Government via the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) Program.
Curtis Park Playground Expansion, including giant swing, mouse wheels, slides, sandpits with water and nature play – $1,500,000 project reopened 30 June, co-funded by the Australian Government via the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) Program and Armidale Regional Council.
Armidale Sale Yard Carpark and Administration Building, Bull Pens – co-funded by the Australian and NSW Governments under the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund and Armidale Regional Council (35% of $9.7 million project funding for Armidale and Guyra saleyards’ projects)
Guyra Saleyards Upgrade, including replacement of timber sheep yards with steel yards, sealed roads, lighting upgrades and stock tagging systems – approximately $5.5 million project co-funded by the Australian and NSW Governments under the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund (65% of $9.7 million project funding for Armidale and Guyra saleyards’ projects)
Armidale Pedestrian and Bicycle Link Safety Lighting Upgrade (Stage 2), extending lighting along path to extend from UNE to Niagara Street and seven additional lights installed along the Butler Street Cycleway - $772,750 project funded by NSW Government Stronger Country Communities Fund.
Bridge Replacements, replacing deteriorated timber bridges with restricted load and speed limits with new, unrestricted concrete structures.
Two Mile Water Bridge (Boorolong Road) - $1,583,956 project co-funded by NSW Government’s Fixing Country Bridges Program and Federal Government's Roads to Recovery Program.
Kuarala Bridge over Laura Creek (Old Armidale Road) - $1,488,729 project funded by NSW Government’s Fixing Country Bridges Program.
Boundary Creek Bridge (Lyndhurst Road) - $1,138,326 project co-funded by NSW Government’s Fixing Country Bridges Program and Federal Government's Roads to Recovery Program.
First Culvert (Herbert Park Road) - $407,623 project funded by NSW Government’s Fixing Country Bridges Program.
Ebor Rotunda, new rotunda at Ebor Campground - $59,080 project funded by Australian Government via the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery (BSBR) Grants Program.
Lower Creek Community Hall, a new hall for the Lower Creek Community – $1,114,000 project funded by Australian Government via the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery (BSBR) Grants Program.
Armidale Sportsground Carpark, sealed carpark with bollards, sealed road, footpaths, and new entry off Douglas Street - $430,000 project funded by Australian Government via the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) Program.
Weighbridge 2 Installation Project, second weighbridge installation at Armidale Waste Management Facility - $372.000 project funded by Armidale Regional Council
Core Services Continue
While delivering these major projects, Council teams have also continued to manage day-to-day operations, including maintaining a road network impacted by recent wet weather and increased heavy vehicle traffic due to regional flooding.
Team ARC is a collection of skilled individuals who work together not just for the organisation but for the community. Every day, they strive to ensure Council services and facilities meet the needs and expectations of our residents—and they do it with care and pride.
These projects and ongoing services reflect Council’s commitment to building a stronger, more resilient, and better-connected community. And it is the efforts of Council staff working in collaboration that has enabled this impressive level of delivery!