I read a recent letter to the paper where the writer was suggesting that Armidale councils, over time, have rejected prospective industrial development opportunities. The writer gave no specific examples, however, much as we strive to attract new industry to the city, there are often reasons why such prospective opportunities don’t always go ahead.
A current example which was potentially being offered to Armidale Dumaresq Council, however, which, through no fault of council’s, ultimately wasn’t successful, was the International Aviation College. We worked closely with the proponent of this prospective opportunity and spent valuable resources to make sure that the development was dealt with appropriately. To that end, as council owns the land at the airport, we out-sourced the development application for a totally independent assessment. We also offered generous incentives to the proponent, however, after all our best efforts, which the proponent has readily acknowledged, the company has decided against setting up here, purely due to our weather limitations, particularly citing our higher instances of fog and low cloud.
One positive thing, however, which could potentially come from this, is that the International Aviation College, if it chooses to be based in or around New England, will probably take advantage of our excellent educational facilities for part of their pilot training.
Over the last two years or so, council has been closely working with a consultancy group on the very important issue of opening up more industrially zoned land. We have identified areas in the west-end of Armidale, some of which will be re-classified to an industrial zoning in our new Draft Local Environment Plan.
One area of particular importance, which has come from the consultancy, is that council is getting close to developing our industrially zoned land at the Armidale Airport, which will result in broadening the supply of land for sale in this zoning. This will mean getting water and sewerage infrastructure to the site and, although this will be at some considerable cost, council is funding this without the need to take out a loan. As this is the southern gateway to our city, importance will be given to the aesthetic look of this industrial precinct.
Since being on council, I have become more and more aware of the many existing businesses in Armidale, which are industrial in nature. A trip around the industrial site in the west of Armidale will reveal many of these, as will a trip to Acacia Park to the east of this city, which is becoming a more and more significant industrial and commercial precinct. As well, there are many businesses in other parts of Armidale, which are industrial in nature, including those technologically based businesses, located throughout the city.
If re-elected to Armidale Dumaresq Council on September 8, I will make it my priority to continue to put the ‘building blocks’ in place for the sustainable growth of industry in Armidale into the future.
Cr Rob Richardson
