What the council is working on
Recent deliveries, what's underway now, and what's planned next — drawn from the council's own plans, budgets and project pages. We report what the council has publicly said it's doing; every item links to its source.
The council's stated direction
Armidale Regional Council's direction is set out in its Community Plan 2025–2034 ('Advancing Our Region') and a 'Restore & Thrive' financial-sustainability approach, delivered through a Delivery Program 2025–2029 with an annual Operational Plan and budget.
The council manages local roads, water and sewerage, waste, libraries, parks, the regional airport and planning across a large inland LGA that serves as the commercial, health and education hub of the New England tablelands (home to the University of New England). Its Delivery Program is the elected council's statement of commitment for its term.
The council's 'Restore & Thrive' approach, funded in part by the three-year Special Rate Variation, is aimed at restoring financial viability and lifting spending on asset renewal to address a very high infrastructure backlog (roads, footpaths and community buildings).
Underway now
Restore & Thrive — financial sustainability & asset renewal
SRV phased 2023–24 to 2025–26; asset-renewal program ongoingThe council's 'Restore & Thrive' program aims to restore financial viability and lift investment in asset renewal, funded in part by a permanent Special Rate Variation (58.8% over three years, approved by IPART in June 2023). The stated priority is the council's very high infrastructure backlog — roads, footpaths and community buildings — with the council reporting the first full-value SRV year enabled a significant increase in asset-renewal spending.
Source: Your Say Armidale — Special Rate Variation 2023–2026
Water security — Oaky River Dam & Malpas Dam
Detailed designs progressing; delivery over the coming yearsA two-stage program to secure long-term water supply and drought resilience for Armidale and Guyra. Stage one restores the council-acquired Oaky River Dam and builds a pipeline to the Armidale Water Treatment Plant; stage two raises Malpas Dam and upgrades its pipeline. The council reports detailed designs are progressing for the projects.
Planned / committed
Armidale Regional Airport masterplan
Runway extension flagged over ~5–10 yearsThe council has adopted a masterplan for Armidale Regional Airport that proposes extending the main runway by about 455 metres (from ~1,738 m towards ~2,100 m) over the next five to ten years, along with terminal and car-park upgrades, to allow larger regional jet aircraft and support future demand.
Source: Armidale Regional Council — Works and projects (Armidale Regional Airport)