According to the Hon Scot MacDonald MLC, Member of the NSW Legislative Council, the future of the historic Armidale Courthouse could be in the hands of the NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell and his project Service NSW, a one-stop-shop for customers to interact with the NSW Government, bringing services together in the one location.
Along with Armidale Dumaresq Councillor Margaret O’Connor, Scot MacDonald is looking for feedback from the Armidale community with a united front to help keep the historic building from being sold into private hands.
“Service NSW has been rolled out as we speak,” said Scot MacDonald.
“The Premier has announced 18 new sites. Armidale hasn’t been nominated in the first round, but we need to put up our hand for the second round; and I think the Courthouse is certainly an option that the community should think hard about.
“I am urging the community not to get side tracked or bogged down into all the non-state government service auxiliaries that could be hooked into this proposal for the courthouse, those things could come later.
“The main objective now is to see if there is community backing to make the Courthouse a Services NSW site and, if it is, that is the message I will take to the Premier within the next few weeks.”
Service NSW will deliver a range
of NSW Government services and transactions through a 24/7 telephone service, an easy-to-use website, and
service centres across the State.
The NSW Government is looking to simplify access to government services that will save residents and businesses time and money.
“The service centre will operate very much like a bank; a concierge meets you and you say ‘I want to do a National Parks and Wildlife permit’ or’ I want to do my car registration’ or ‘births, death and marriages’; and this concierge will direct you to the appropriate person or a 24-hour phone service,” said Scot MacDonald.
Of the 18 Service NSW service centre’s announced, the nearest one to Armidale will be in Tamworth.
“I am a little bit disappointed we have missed out, as we are an important service centre for the wider rural regional area,” said Scot MacDonald.
The Premier has said that there will be more of these rolled out in Round 2 and Armidale needs to be included.”
Both Scot MacDonald and Margaret O’Connor welcome feedback on this proposal. To contact Scot MacDonald email:
Scot.MacDonald@parliamentnsw.gov.au or phone 9230 2393. Contact Cr Margaret O’Connor on email: connor@armidale.nsw.gov.au
or phone 0427677991.
