ARMIDALE Dumaresq Council has laid out its terms and conditions for a controversial four-way merger should the proposal proceed, after unanimously passing a set of recommendations included in its written submission to the boundaries commission.
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A new name, wards, mayoral terms and boundary changes are all on Armidale Dumaresq’s agenda in its written submission.
Armidale Dumaresq Council asked the government to consider an amalgamation with Guyra, Walcha and Uralla in late February this year, which has been met with much criticism from residents and councillors from the affected shires.
After public inquiries held in each community in early April, Armidale has finalised its written submission to the delegate, with a number of requests included should the merger go ahead.
At an extraordinary meeting recently, Armidale Dumaresq councillors unanimously voted the government recommend the name of New England Regional Council for the amalgamation.
Armidale Dumaresq mayor Herman Beyersdorf said the New England name would be more recognisable and cited the university, a major highway and the federal electorate already bearing the name.
The council also put forward consideration for the village of Tingha to be moved into Inverell shire and, likewise, the areas of Lower Creek and Carrai Plateau moved into Kempsey shire, should the amalgamation be proclaimed, with “community of interest” mooted as the reasoning.
In a lengthy list of considerations put forward by the council, it was also recommended that the “proclamation recognises that the title of ‘Armidale City’ be retained ... for use by the proclaimed council in advertising and media areas”.
The council also recommended that wards not be included, with Cr Beyersdorf citing a limited benefit to dividing the proposed shire and suggesting councillors should be elected from the whole area.
It was also put forward that Armidale Dumaresq council supports a two-year term for the mayor following each election from the member councillors.