This week Armidale ushered in the New Year. Community leaders let us know what was on their wish list for the 2014, with growth being on the top of the agenda for most of them.

Meanwhile, an Armidale man is in a stable condition after being assaulted early New Year's Day. The 25-year-old man was walking home when he was attacked from behind by two or three men. The man was taken to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle for emergency surgery. He remains in hospital in a stable condition.

Despite this incident, police were otherwise happy with the behaviour of New Year's revellers.

An Armidale couple has had a very special holiday delivery, with their daughter being the first baby born in the region for 2014. Addison Grace Harvey was born at 1.02am on Wednesday and is the first child of Rebecca Adams and her partner David Harvey.

In other news, January might be a quieter month around the city, but Armidale will be buzzing with a number of sporting events coming to town. It all kicks off on Monday with the start of the Walter Taylor Shield, which will see athletes and families from as far away as Sydney call Armidale home for the week.

Twelve locals from Armidale Action on Coal Seam Gas and Mining have joined the fight to stop coal seam gas and mining at Maules Creek and the Pilliga Forest, claiming the region will be turned into "an industrial wasteland".

There is no end in sight for the industrial battle between the University of New England and the National Tertiary Education Union, with the university accusing the union of preventing an outcome for a more flexible working environment for academic staff as part of the Enterprise Bargaining Agreement. The union says it has other priorities it wants to address before discussing the issue, such as the trimesters.

Armidale’s McCarthy Building on Faulkner Street will now be an access point for the consumer and commercial division of the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal, with Guyra-based member of the NSW Legislative Council Scot MacDonald is claiming something of a personal victory and a win for Armidale as a new “super tribunal” takes effect this week.

Take a look back at the photos from the Armidale Express from the week, and don't forget to check out how Armidale welcomed in 2014.