Sam Rice, director of Rice Construction, said: "Rice Construction Group Pty Ltd is excited to team up with the Armidale Ex-Services Memorial Club to assist in the delivery of Armidale's newest Motel. It's an exciting project, and we are looking forward to working with not only the Club but the many local businesses who benefit from a project of this nature."

Scott Sullivan, CEO of the Armidale Servies, said: "Employing a local construction company and engaging as many local suppliers and contractors as possible was a high priority in the club's contractor selection criteria."

Mr Rice and Mr Sullivan anticipate that building the new Motel will take approximately 12 months. Work should begin in late 2019 or early 2020.

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The Servies and Rice Construction Group will develop plans to demolish the existing buildings and structures on the site. Remediation of the site in accordance with the DA conditions and commencement of the bulk earth works will also get under way shortly.

"In recent weeks, anyone who has been around the Servies area may have noticed work commencing on the site," Armidale Servies president Brian Everett said. "These works are in relation to sewer diversions that are required as part of the development application (DA) conditions. These must be completed before the building stages of the Motel can commence."

Whilst these recent works may have caused some disruption to residents and local traffic around Dumaresq Street, Mr Sullivan said Armidale Regional Council staff carried out the work in a timely and undisruptive manner to the club's regular trading.