New England MP Barnaby Joyce said it had been a long, hard fight to move to APVMA from Canberra to Armidale.

“I’ve always said the APVMA is going to Armidale and now it is starting to arrive,” Mr Joyce said. “It’s vitally important we decentralise and create centres of excellence and Armidale is an ideal location for that.”

He said job opportunities that have been advertised include an administration officer, a senior compliance officer and a community liaison officer, but there will be more as the Authority continues to form and the transition from Canberra to Armidale continues.

“The Armidale community and economy, as well as the New England region, will directly benefit from the relocation with the APVMA employing around 172 staff, the majority of which will be located in Armidale.

“The University of New England’s research capacity will grow further as a result of this move, with the APVMA to join existing centres including the Australian Sheep Industry Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), Australian Poultry CRC,  the Australian Centre for Agriculture and Law, the Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit and MLA’s Red Meat Innovation Unit at UNE, the Institute for Rural Futures, and the National Centre of Science, Information and Communication Technology and Mathematics Education for Rural and Regional Australia (SiMERR).”

Armidale Regional Council Administrator Dr Ian Tiley said modelling by Armidale Regional Council shows the combination of all direct, industrial and consumption effects would result in a total estimated rise in output of $91.77 million in the local economy and an increase of 507 jobs in the area.

“The Armidale Region has a renowned education base that inspires innovation, a collaborative culture, a vibrant digital economy fully-fibred to the National Broadband Network, a full suite of community services, recreational parks and sporting facilities and the beauty of the New England High Country,” he said.

“We’re highly supportive of the intended move of the APVMA to Armidale, we are a community looking to grow and progress and looking forward to welcoming the APVMA staff,” he said.

“We see this move as an opportunity for the development of the region. It’s a great place to live work and play.”

Armidale Business Chamber President Susan Cull welcomed the new jobs on offer.

“The Armidale Business Chamber stands ready to welcome the first wave of APVMA staff members and to assist not only their assimilation into the business community, but to also gain an understanding of their accompanying partners’ vocational skills in order to effect employment introductions,” she said.

Mr Joyce said moving the APVMA to Armidale was an integral part of his broader decentralisation strategy.