The Current https://thecurrentnews.au/ News for New England, NSW: Tamworth, Armidale and the Northern Tablelands. The Current reads the region's council business papers, planning documents and health and water reports end to end, cites what it reads, and reports what it means. en A new state rule on rezoning rural land is a significant constraint for Gwydir, its council report says https://thecurrentnews.au/development-and-planning/gwydir-rural-rezoning-rule/ https://thecurrentnews.au/development-and-planning/gwydir-rural-rezoning-rule/ Tue, 06 Oct 2026 23:52:00 GMT Since 1 July a planning proposal must not rezone rural land for housing or jobs unless the land is an identified urban growth area or the Planning Secretary accepts a justification. In a shire about 95 per cent zoned for primary production, Gwydir's report says its towns are largely landlocked. Warialda's Memorial Hall needs underpinning, and has no date to reopen https://thecurrentnews.au/councils/warialda-memorial-hall-underpinning/ https://thecurrentnews.au/councils/warialda-memorial-hall-underpinning/ Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:10:00 GMT An engineering report to Gwydir Shire found cracks through the full thickness of some walls and footings on unstable ground. Temporary steel bracing comes first, bored piers later, and the council says the cost and timing of both are unclear. The New England Rail Trail is moving in Armidale and stalled in Glen Innes: where each half stands https://thecurrentnews.au/university-and-economy/new-england-rail-trail-two-halves/ https://thecurrentnews.au/university-and-economy/new-england-rail-trail-two-halves/ Fri, 02 Oct 2026 17:59:00 GMT Armidale's 67 km section to Ben Lomond is on exhibition until 27 October. Glen Innes's 34 km section is still being investigated after $8.7 million in funding was withdrawn in 2024. Why New England's hospitals are missing from the state's latest performance report https://thecurrentnews.au/health/hospital-data-gap-new-patient-record/ https://thecurrentnews.au/health/hospital-data-gap-new-patient-record/ Fri, 02 Oct 2026 15:28:00 GMT Hunter New England moved to a new patient record system on 27 May, and BHI's April to June report has no centralised data for its hospitals for the weeks after. What is missing and when it may return. Uralla's water business swung to a $485,000 loss, and the council is topping it up: what the accounts show https://thecurrentnews.au/water/uralla-water-fund-top-up/ https://thecurrentnews.au/water/uralla-water-fund-top-up/ Fri, 02 Oct 2026 14:58:00 GMT Uralla Shire is moving up to $500,000 of general cash into a water fund short of money. Its audited accounts show the water business went from a surplus to a $485,000 deficit in 2024-25. Uralla Shire's new bush fire prone land map covers almost all its land: what it changes for buyers and builders https://thecurrentnews.au/development-and-planning/uralla-bush-fire-prone-land-map/ https://thecurrentnews.au/development-and-planning/uralla-bush-fire-prone-land-map/ Fri, 02 Oct 2026 14:27:00 GMT Once certified, the RFS map Uralla Shire endorsed will make nearly all land outside its developed towns bush fire prone, because grasslands now count. It replaces a 2009 map. Lower Namoi and Gwydir water allocations for 2026-27: no new general-security water, and the dams since January https://thecurrentnews.au/water/namoi-gwydir-allocations-2026-27/ https://thecurrentnews.au/water/namoi-gwydir-allocations-2026-27/ Fri, 02 Oct 2026 13:57:00 GMT General-security irrigators in the Lower Namoi and the Gwydir have 0% new allocation for 2026-27 and are running on carry-over. Town water is secure for 24 months. Glen Innes Severn's answer to a state performance order: wait for this year's audit https://thecurrentnews.au/councils/glen-innes-severn-performance-improvement-order/ https://thecurrentnews.au/councils/glen-innes-severn-performance-improvement-order/ Fri, 02 Oct 2026 13:30:00 GMT The Minister's draft order cites three years without an audit opinion and restricted funds used for operating costs. The council concedes the problems and asks him to wait for an audit due by 31 October. Armidale East battery: the community fund has a rate but no dollar figure https://thecurrentnews.au/energy-and-the-rez/armidale-east-battery-community-fund/ https://thecurrentnews.au/energy-and-the-rez/armidale-east-battery-community-fund/ Fri, 02 Oct 2026 13:05:00 GMT FRV's 377 MW battery at Metz is on exhibition to 30 October. Its EIS commits to the state's maximum community-benefit rate but never states the dollar amount, and the council's floor may not fit under it.