Armidale Regional Council Mayor Simon Murray has announced the need to implement an overarching city master plan to help take the city confidently into the future.
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Cr Murray said many existing strategies, including the CBD Revitalisation Plan, Creeklands Master Plan, Car Parking and Mobility Study, Community Services Public Art Policy and the Armidale Activation Plan, needed to be revisited as part of the development of a comprehensive city master plan.
“This is something the town has needed for a long time,” Cr Murray said.
He said it was about establishing easily found precincts to create good flows of visitors throughout the town.
“How do you get the flow of visitors in and out? How do you get the visitors who enjoy the creeklands? At the moment the creeklands view car parks and the backs of buildings,” he said.
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Cr Murray said a final draft plan for the creekbank had yet to be put up on public display and opened for submissions, something members of Armidale Creeklands were eagerly waiting for.
The group’s president Jim Scott said they expected the plan to be presented to Armidale Regional Council’s Ordinary Monthly Meeting held on November 24.
“We understand the logic now, as presented by Simon in the Armidale Express Extra (page 20, November 28), that they want to take their time,” Mr Scott said.
“Our group remains committed to the goal of seeing water features created throughout the town to give it more life in every sense of the word, and to ensure that the water plan does link to other facets.
“We are very keen to see water flowing because we need oxygen in the water to maintain the quality of life in the creeklands. We don’t want stagnant or polluted pools, we don’t want pools full of shopping carts and reeds. We’re looking for exciting things.”
Mr Scott said the group’s aims include supporting the development of user-friendly and attractive infrastructure such as paths and cycleways, bridges, play and recreation areas and creative spaces, and it has a vision for wider collaboration with the community.
“We wish to work collaboratively with everybody, we’d love to make submissions,” he said.
“Our group is going to work with the university to encourage some students to get involved in some studies relevant to the creeklands, an we would love to help council staff in any way we can.”