NSW · New England · Local council, made simple
Armidale Regional Council
The regional service and education hub of the New England tablelands — around 29,600 people across the cathedral city of Armidale (home of the University of New England), the town of Guyra and villages like Ebor, Hillgrove and Wollomombi, on Anaiwan country. The council runs the local services you use every week — waste, water, roads, libraries, parks, the regional airport, development — and sets your rates. Here's the snapshot, then the stuff that affects your week.
Everyday essentials
The things people actually need from the council — fast.
Open for your feedback
See all →Things Armidale Regional Council wants your say on right now. Your view counts for more before the deadline.
- Open — see source for the closing date
Australia Day 2027 - Guyra Award Nominations
Have your say → - Open — see source for the closing date
Community Satisfaction Survey
Have your say → - Open — see source for the closing date
Guyra Main Street upgrade project 2027
Have your say →
Get to know your council
The basics, in one tap — open any card for key facts and a link to the official source.
This year's rate rise, how it compares across NSW, and why bills differ.
2025–26: +16.66% (final year of an approved Special Rate Variation)
Open →Budget & financesHow financially healthy the council is, measured against official benchmarks.
Meets 7 of 9 OLG financial benchmarks
Open →Crime & safetyArmidale Regional's recorded crime rates, side by side with the NSW average.
See the numbers in local context
Open →Mayor & councillorsWho represents you — and where to read their official profiles.
Mayor: Sam Coupland (Independent)
Open →Elections & votingWhen the next council election is, and how voting works.
Next election: Sat 9 Sep 2028
Open →Contact & servicesHow to reach the council and report a problem.
Customer service: 1300 136 833
Open →Region profileThe basics: how many people live here, how big the area is.
Population: ~29,600
Open →What's happening
20 updatesAuto-collected from Armidale Regional Council's public channels and drafted in plain language (pending review).
- Policy
Nominations open for 2027 Australia Day Awards
Published on 09 September 2026 Have you noticed someone in the community who should be our next Citizen of the Year? Every community has its quiet achievers, the people and groups who generously give their time, energy and passion to make life better for others.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Community Participation Plan(PDF, 670KB)
Community Participation Plan(PDF, 670KB)
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Armidale Regional Council — Applications on notification (DAs)
- Policy
Community gathers for A Day in the Dale 2026
Published on 08 September 2026 People of all ages, and from across the community, gathered at Armidale Cultural Centre and Keeping Place for A Day in the Dale 2026.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Council prepared for Blue-Green Algae season
Published on 04 September 2026 Council has completed significant upgrades to the Guyra Water Treatment Plant ahead of the upcoming Blue-Green Algae season, improving its ability to manage taste and odour impacts associated with algal activity and strengthening the resilience of Guyra's drinking water supply.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Community projects supported by community and village grants
Published on 02 September 2026 Funding has been awarded to support a diverse range of community projects across the region.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Armidale hosts inaugural carbon reporting forum
Published on 31 August 2026 Business and industry leaders from across the region gathered in Armidale yesterday for the inaugural Business NSW New England North West Carbon Reporting Forum, highlighting the growing importance of climate-related reporting and sustainability within today's business environment.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Digital water meters supporting smarter water conservation
Published on 26 August 2026 Armidale Regional Council (ARC) has reached a significant milestone in its Digital Water Meter Project, with more than 9,200 digital water meter installations and upgrades completed across Armidale and Guyra.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Policy
Guyra preschool and school partnering for connection and culture
Published on 10 September 2026 Guyra Preschool and Long Day Care Centre has commenced a partnership with Guyra Central School, supporting Aboriginal Studies students to connect with and share culture with the preschool children.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Event
Free workshop to help groups secure grant funding
Published on 27 August 2026 Individuals, community groups, clubs and organisations across the Armidale Region are encouraged to build their funding skills and bring their project ideas to life through a free Community Grant Writing Workshop hosted by Council.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
- Have your say
Australia Day 2027 - Guyra Award Nominations
Every community has its quiet achievers - the people and groups who give their time, energy, and heart to make life better for others. Now is your chance to recognise them.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Your Say Armidale
- Have your say
Australia Day 2027 - Armidale Award Nominations
Every community has its quiet achievers - the people and groups who give their time, energy, and heart to make life better for others. Now is your chance to recognise them.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Your Say Armidale
- Policy
Draft Burning of Vegetation within the Local Government Area 2026 Policy
Armidale Regional Council is seeking community feedback on the Draft Burning of Vegetation within the Local Government Area 2026 Policy. The policy provides a framework for the assessment and approval of proposals to burn cut and stacked vegetation (commonly referred to as pile burns) within the Armidale Regional Council Local Government Area.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Your Say Armidale
- Policy
Draft Compliance and Enforcement Policy
Armidale Regional Council is seeking community feedback on the Draft Compliance and Enforcement Policy. The policy has been developed to guide Council officers in carrying out compliance and enforcement activities relating to unlawful activity in a manner that is accountable, transparent, consistent, proportional and timely.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Your Say Armidale
- Have your say
Community Satisfaction Survey
"The 2026 Community Satisfaction Survey shows encouraging improvements across a range of Council services and facilities. While there is always more work to do, these results indicate that the investments and improvements made in recent years are having a positive impact for our community.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Your Say Armidale
- Have your say
Guyra Main Street upgrade project 2027
Armidale Regional Council will deliver the final section of upgrade works along Bradley Street, between Mackenzie Street and Ollera Street, completing a project that has been anticipated by the community for several years.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Your Say Armidale
- Policy
Plan of Management - Wicklow Sportsground
Community Land is valued for its important role in the social, intellectual, spiritual and physical enrichment of residents, workers, and visitors to the Armidale Regional area. The intrinsic value of Community Land is also recognised, as is the important role the Land plays in biodiversity conservation and ecosystem function.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Your Say Armidale
- Policy
Draft Plan of Management - Black Gully Reserve
Community Land is valued for its important role in the social, intellectual, spiritual and physical enrichment of residents, workers, and visitors to the Armidale Regional area. The intrinsic value of Community Land is also recognised, as is the important role the Land plays in biodiversity conservation and ecosystem function.
What this means for you: Open the source to see the details and any deadline to respond.
Source: Your Say Armidale
- Development
Council adopts airport masterplan proposing a runway extension
Councillors adopted a masterplan for Armidale Regional Airport proposing to extend the main runway by about 455 metres over the next five to ten years, plus terminal and car-park upgrades, to allow larger regional jet aircraft.
What this means for you: If delivered, the plan could bring larger aircraft and more services to the regional airport; the masterplan is a long-term guide and individual works would be funded and delivered in stages.
Source: Armidale Regional Council — Works and projects (Armidale Regional Airport)
- Policy
Council progresses Oaky River and Malpas dam water-security projects
The council is progressing a two-stage water-security program — restoring the council-acquired Oaky River Dam with a pipeline to the Armidale Water Treatment Plant, then raising Malpas Dam — and reports detailed designs for the projects.
What this means for you: The projects are intended to increase resilience and secure long-term water supply for Armidale and Guyra through future dry periods; the council's water-security pages set out the plan and how it is funded.
- Policy
Final year of the Special Rate Variation lifts asset-renewal spending
2025–26 is the third and final year of Armidale Regional Council's permanent Special Rate Variation (58.8% over three years, approved by IPART in June 2023). The council reports the first full-value SRV year enabled a significant increase in spending on asset renewal, particularly roads.
What this means for you: Ordinary rates rose in three steps across 2023–24 to 2025–26 to permanently lift the council's rates income and fund infrastructure renewal against a very high backlog; from 2026–27 the council returns to the standard IPART rate peg (3.2%). How much any individual bill changed depends on each property's land value.
Source: Your Say Armidale — Special Rate Variation 2023–2026
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