Armidale Regional Council has agreed to spend almost $250,000 on the Evocities program, but wants to see evidence that it's working.
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The council has resolved to sign an Memorandum Of Understanding with the Evocities program that will cost it $80,000 per year, plus and extra $2000 per year for each of the next three years to cover the cost of inflation.
Councillors at Armidale Regional Council's first Ordinary Monthly Meeting for 2019, held at Guyra on Wednesday afternoon resolved to commit to the continuation of the Evocities program until 2022/23.
They voted unanimously to sign a Memorandum Of Understanding prepared and supported by the Evocities Steering Committee and the NSW Inland Forum.
I think unity is the answer, but I think we need to become more involved.
- Cr Peter Bailey
While the recommended resolution was passed with a slight alteration suggested by Cr Peter Bailey and the matter was subject to a little debate. Cr Bailey wanted Evocities to conduct an external review.
"Evocities has been going now for 10 years and I think it's time that we employed some consultants to look at the success of Evocities to date, and to look at how they would recommend, as external people to the process, on how to make it better," he said.
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"The program is right, but I think we need some advice to see how we could do it better in the future. It is only by uniting together that we can make things happen."
Cr Bailey said he would like to see the state government encouraged to provide more funding because of the larger costs associated with advertising in the cities and would eventually like to see Ecocities expanded from seven to 10 members.
He said he thought there were a lot of opportunities available to make the program better for Armidale.
Armidale is a wonderful place to work, live, study and raise a family and I look forward to watching the city thrive for many years to come.
- Cr Kevin Mack
Evocities chairman and Albury Mayor Kevin Mack, thanked Armidale Regional Council for its ongoing support for the Evocities campaign.
“Armidale Regional Council is a valued member of Evocities, and we look forward to working with the community now and into the future,” Cr Mack said.
“The Evocities program is strong. Albury City Council, Bathurst Regional Council, Dubbo Regional Council, Orange City Council and Tamworth Regional Council have all voted unanimously to sign the new MOU, and we expect the City of Wagga Wagga to vote next month.
“We are currently running our first television commercials in Sydney as part of a broader marketing campaign that includes digital and radio advertising. The advertising and marketing material includes powerful testimonials from Armidale, and the initial response has been fantastic."
