THE fate of the multi-million dollar regional relocation marketing scheme, Evocities, will be sealed this week.
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The Express understands the five remaining councils will meet in Sydney on Thursday to discuss the future of the program.
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Tamworth Regional Council remains invested in the program after inking a four-year MOU worth $332,000 less than a year ago.
But Tamworth mayor Col Murray said all options would be on the table at the meeting which could see the cross-council concept canned.
"I think I'd fairly represent my fellow councillors by saying we need to have an open mind to what the future might bring," he said.
"We still need to invest in the attraction of people to our city, but it's figuring out what shape that takes."
As well as Armidale's departure, Wagga Wagga also withdrew from the group recently and Orange decided to renew its membership on a one year deal.
The mayor agreed it would be a big call to scrap the program after the drawing millions of dollars worth investment from seven councils during the last decade.
But with some of the members now "wavering" a full stop could be put on the relocation campaign.
There has been discussions with the Tamworth-born group Regional Cities NSW, comprised of 17 NSW councils, to see whether other cities would be interested in joining Evocities.
Cr Murray, the inaugural chairman of the council super-group wasn't certain about the possibility of a collaboration with Evocities.
"[Evocities] was a program designed for those seven inland councils and it might not have the same level relevance to any other group," he said.
"I think there is consensus Evocities is not going to sit completely comfortably right across the Regional Cities NSW platform, but we'll see if there is any appetite for something parallel.
"The one consistent things that came out of any discussion with people who moved through the Evocities, they had to have the job first." He suggested a program which attracted jobs regionally.