Members were advised by administrator John Turner at the April meeting of his intention to dissolve the committee on June 30.

The committee meets on the second Wednesday of each month so the last meeting will occur on June 14, however the committee will continue to exist and advise the administrator on council related issues until June 30.

“Irrespective of who may or may not stand for council at the election on September 9, to be equitable to all those proposing to stand there should be some 'clear air' between the operations of the committee and the election,” said Mr Turner.

Anyone who is eligible to vote may stand for election as councillor and council will host a series of information sessions for all potential candidates in May and June (details to come).

Should anyone wish to find out more about standing for MidCoast Council they can go to http://www.votensw.info/nsw_local_council_elections_2017

Former councillors on the Armidale Regional Council Local Representation Advisory Committee was dismissed on Tuesday, May 2, after some members announced their intention to stand in the September election.

Administrator Dr Ian Tiley terminated the committee in the interest of a fair election. In Armidale, the candidate nomination period opens July 31 and closes at noon on August 9.

“It is in my view inappropriate that committee members should have access to council information which other candidates would not have,” Dr Tiley said.

“Given that the status of members of the committee are as citizens and not councillors, this I believe reinforces this view.”

The local representative committee was a mandate of the State government when it announced the merger between the former Greater Taree, Great Lakes and Gloucester councils on May 12, 2016. 

Roles include attending workshops, being part of an outreach program across the communities and reporting back to Mr Turner.