Armidale has done well in the recently announced 2020/21 NSW Budget with more than $45 million in funds allocated to projects in the local region.
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While the final numbers have yet to be outlined for many of these initiatives Armidale Regional Council interim administrator Mr Viv May has welcomed the news of a record $315.7 million investment in the Northern Tablelands.
"In challenging economic times, this budget shows the NSW Government has not forgotten our region," Mr May said.
"Our Council is pleased to see a number of local projects have been funded in this Budget, including $1.7 million to commence construction of a Fire Control Centre at Armidale Regional Airport.
"We have been working on this project for some time with the NSW Rural Fire Service and the Member for Northern Tablelands, Adam Marshall, and this funding will get it off the ground.
Mr May said the Fire Control Centre is particularly important given the bushfire challenges the shire faced in 2019 and the bushfire inquiry recommendations for more resourcing for aerial firefighting response.
"For that reason, this budget allocation is a win for the wider region," he said.
MP Adam Marshall said the $6 million state-of-the art building would be built at the northern end of the airport, co-located with the RFS aviation base, logistics building and winch training facility.
"Over several years New England RFS has worked to expand its firefighting capacity by bringing all its capabilities together on one site through the construction of the New England Aviation Airbase and Logistics Brigade," Mr Marshall said.
"This funding today kick-starts the final stage of that project, with a new Fire Control Centre to replace the current, outdated facility on Mann Street.
"Last fire season not only did we have more than twenty water bombing helicopters operating out of Armidale Airport but it was where fresh interstate volunteers were brought into.
"In a disaster where every second counts it is simply not practical to have fires managed from Glen Innes, as was the case this year, when the bulk of the main fire-fighting assets are located in Armidale."
Council is also pleased to see extra funding for roads and bridges, including maintenance of roads infrastructure Mr May said.
"Over the next few weeks, we will get the details of how much extra there is for Armidale Regional Council as part of the $29 million for maintenance and $103 million for new roads and bridges," he said.
"These are substantial increases in funding that will improve safety and transport productivity throughout our road network."
Mr May also welcomed an extra $300 million announced for the Regional Growth Fund, including a fourth round of Stronger Country Communities program.
"Council will be preparing grant applications in the coming months," he said.
Professor Brigid Heywood, Vice-Chancellor and CEO, University of New England said she was delighted with the announcement of $4.4 million in funding for the Boilerhouse Discovery project.
"Our vision for the UNE Boilerhouse is one of curiosity and discovery to awaken a lifelong love of learning in our children," she said.
"I offer my sincere thanks to State Government for supporting this vision and our commitment to establishing the New England North West as a premier learning region."
An additional $27.46 million to continue construction on the $121.1 million Armidale Secondary College, the first new high school to be built in the region for half a century, was also announced.