ARMIDALE Regional Council has pulled-out of the NSW evocities program, citing a "reluctance to change" as a key concern for the regional relocation scheme.
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The program, which originally consisted of seven regional councils pooling resources to create more awareness of opportunities available in regional NSW, has existed for nearly a decade.
However, Armidale had grown sceptical about the returns it had gotten from its investment which had topped close to $80,000 per year.
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Councillor Peter Bailey led the charge at Armidale's ordinary meeting on Wednesday.
He said evocities had "struggled to prove the number of people who'd moved to Armidale" as a result of the program.
The council had floated the possibility of evocities undertaking an "external review" of its operations to see if it had gotten the "best bang for its buck".
This suggestion was rebuffed and it proved to be the sticking point.
Cr Bailey said the council shouldn't be investing in "something not prepared to change".
Debra O'Brien wasn't in favour of ditching the scheme because there was a perceived lack of information to make a "sensible, balanced decision".
With Wagga Wagga council also pulling out of evocities and Orange committed on a short term basis, Cr O'Brien said Armidale's decision could "speed-up the disintegration" of the entire group.
Each council, including Tamworth, Albury, Dubbo, Bathurst and Orange, was set to spend $332,000 on the campaign during the next four years.