Armidale Regional Council surrenders Tingha to Inverell Shire Council

Although the move is not a done deal yet, as Inverell Shire is yet to approve it.

The small community has been in Armidale Regional Council’s area since last year’s amalgamation with Guyra. But some residents were not completely satisfied with the outcome – having still lost Green Valley Farm to Armidale.

“It was never about the township,” Tingha Citizens Association Incorporated president Colleen Graham said. “We’re not fighting for the town, we’re fighting for the whole Tingha area.

“We don’t think we’re getting a fair shake and Armidale is being too greedy.

“Green Valley Farm has been cut off our map – that is our icon.”

Administrator Ian Tiley adopted the decision on Wednesday night after almost 50 residents raised their hands in support of the move to Inverell – which is only 25km away.

Armidale Regional Council Acting General Manager Greg Meyers said two maps had been prepared by both councils in an attempt to agree on a boundary.

Inverell rejected Armidale’s proposal of surrendering 393 square kilometres – 4.6 per cent of the council area in a meeting earlier that day.

“The Inverell council doesn’t support the boundary line proposed by Armidale Regional Council,” he said.

“We understand there is mixed feelings of the people … some do want to transfer and some don’t.”

Mr Tiley admitted he had found it difficult to settle on a decision, but was pleased with the outcome at Wednesday’s council meeting.

“I confess to struggling over this as it impacts on peoples lives considerably,” he said. But Ms Graham felt that, as Inverell was asking for 823 square kilometres, the issue would not be over yet.

“There needs to be a compromise met that we get more land,” she said. “If that doesn’t happen Inverell will meet with Adam Marshall and probably to the Minister to try and resolve it because really we don’t want it to go to the Boundaries Commissioner.”