Armidale Regional Council will keep its name after local government minister Paul Toole rejected Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall’s proposal for a name change.
Mr Marshall proposed to change Council’s name to Central New England Council after he conducted a poll in the Armidale region.
But a second poll from the minister’s office found residents were happy with the current name.
“I reviewed the proposal and carried out polling in the local government area to gauge how the community felt,” Mr Toole said.
“The results clearly highlighted that residents were happy with the present name and so I have decided that I will not proceed with the proposal.”
Council administrator’s Ian Tiley has welcomed the announcement.
“This finalises debate around the naming of the local government area,” he said.
Dr Tiley said the minister had based his decision to retain the name Armidale Regional Council on strong and well-supported arguments.
The results clearly highlighted that residents were happy with the present name and so I have decided that I will not proceed with the proposal.
- Paul Toole
Council said approximately 80 per cent of Council residents live in or close to the city of Armidale and none of those people has expressed opposition to the name Armidale Regional.
“The majority of residents in the former Armidale Dumaresq Council were content with the name Armidale Dumaresq and Armidale Regional Council is a quite similar and familiar name,” a council spokeswoman said.
“Armidale Regional Council is immediately recognisable.
“The name Armidale Regional Council recognises the principal centre of population which is appropriate.”
"There are successful precedents in other local government areas.
“Tamworth Regional Council and Dubbo Regional Council’s are well recognised nationally.
“I thank the Minister for reviewing the proposal,” Mr Marshall said.
