In response to the rural crisis facing most regional areas, in 1997 Mayors Richard Torbay and Peter Monley formed a Community Taskforce. Issues that needed to be addressed included the population drift, closure of services and an over reliance on one or two industries.
Executive Taskforce Officer, Chris Berry, said that with five Local Government Authorities and a multiplicity of agencies delivering a range of services, this was not a united community. “The two Mayors recognised this as a problem and set about to try to galvanise the community into a common identity,” he said.
A community based taskforce was formed. It gathered together a range of people representing various groups who freely gave their time to develop a plan for the future. They looked at the area’s many strengths, including education, tourism, rural industries and a quality lifestyle, and how these could be built on.
At the same time, they recognised there was a need to reduce an over dependency on traditional sectors, such as the University of New England and farming. Ten focus groups were established based on broad common interests. Led by community facilitators, they developed a statement of community ambition, titled ‘Toward Securing Our Future’.
Launched at a public forum by Premier Bob Carr in November 1997, this statement outlined where the community aimed to be in the next five years through building on its strengths and making the most of any new opportunities that might arise.
Since then, over 40 projects have been identified. These have been prioritised, again involving a community consultation process.
Projects completed or currently in progress include the following.
- Service Clubs adoption of roundabout maintenance at the City’s entrances
- Distance Marketing and Multi Function Centre
- An Economic Profile as part of a wider Community Profile
- Safe Community Strategy
- Third City of the Arts
- Satellite Tracking Station
- Fire Brigade Training Centre
- Eco Tourism Centre
Falling broadly into the categories of economic, cultural and community, three committees are running independently. The Armidale Development Corporation and other related stakeholders are running the Economic Development Committee. Its work has already resulted in Lockheed Martin establishing a satellite tracking station at Uralla.
The Community Safety Committee has established a successful Alcohol Accord with licensed premises, an extended Family Mentoring Program and Foot Patrol. The Cultural Committee has drawn all interested groups together to work on ‘a whole of community approach’ under the banner of the Third City of the Arts.
For further information contact Chris Berry, telephone (02) 6770 3600
