ARMIDALE Regional Council’s Administrator has lent his ear to the community as part of a listening tour through the new local government area.
Newly appointed Administrator Ian Tiley said the tour was important in reaching out to the more isolate communities in the district.
“My goal is to meet the leaders in these smaller communities and identify what their issues are and how I can help them,” Dr Tiley said.
“I am about getting things happening and I am not looking backwards but forwards.
“I am here for another 15 months to try and get the place moving for success.”
The listening tour has included visits to the communities of Ebor, Guyra, Ben Lomond, Tingha, Wollomombi, Wards Mistake and Black Mountain.
Dr Tiley said his door was always open to community members under the newly merged Armidale Regional Council area.
“My aim is to make this council as good as it could possibly be,” Dr Tiley said.
“For example a number of plans have been completed and not put out on exhibition in the past so I have put out a youth services review, plans for Armidale airport and Dumaresq Dam as well as plans to revitalise the Beardy Street Mall. “They will all be available for six weeks and open to comment too.
“There are also proposals for various actions which we will work through with the public.”
The administrator was appointed in May as part of the NSW Government’s council amalgamations scheme which saw the former Armidale Dumaresq and Guyra Shire Council’s dissolved.
“Council’s don’t necessarily know it all and they are there to serve the community so you need to know what is in the mind of the community to help them,” Dr Tiley said.
“I encourage anybody who has an issue to come see me and I will do my best to help.”
