Armidale residents turned out to celebrate the start of 2014 and growth is high on the city’s wish list for the new year.
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Many community leaders agree expanding the region is important for future prosperity.
Armidale Dumaresq deputy mayor Jenny Bailey said she will be working hard with the Council to make 2014 a good year for ratepayers.
“I wish I could wave a magic wand for ratepayers,” Cr Bailey said, but because that was not possible she said she would like to see some key projects go ahead for Armidale to help advance the city.
“What stands out for me is the proposed redevelopment of Tatts proposed for early [2014] because it will bring more people into the Mall and revitalise the Mall precinct,” she said.
She said the airport redevelopment was another exciting redevelopment as it would majorly improve transport to and from Armidale.
For Foundation of Regional Development director Peter Bailey also wants Armidale to prosper in 2014.
He said he would like to see the University of New England provide “considerably more jobs”, the relocation of some government jobs to Armidale, the reopening of the antimony mine at Hillgrove and the implementation of the next stage of the tomato farm at Guyra.
Liberal MLC and Guyra local Scot MacDonald said the region should use “the unique alignment of having state and federal members of parliament from the Coalition in government to serve the region”
“We have many advantages such as our agricultural and education strengths. We now need to build on that with better infrastructure including transport and communications. We need to build and diversify our economic base including looking for opportunities in the resources sector. Most of all we need to project a positive outlook.”
Telecommunications advocate Alun Davies said he wants to see the National Broadband Network completed in Armidale.
Mr Davies said he wanted to see the city’s businesses working with schools and the university to take advantage of the NBN to build a digital economy.
On a side note he said he wanted to see overtaking lanes installed between Ebor and Dorrigo.
“That section of road….is bloody terrible,” he said.