Not sure if it was Shakespeare who said this, but the communities of Dungog and Port Stephens can celebrate the fact that the Minister for Local Government and his CEO have finally acted on the proposal to merge the Dungog and Port Stephens Councils.
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A new delegate, with the delightful name of Peter Peppin, has been appointed and will soon announce hearing dates for the proposal. Written submissions are due by June 26.
The proposal itself can be found at https://www.councilboundaryreview.nsw.gov.au/proposals/port-stephen-and-dungog-shire-councils/. And what a refreshing change it is to read this proposal, after reading the Maitland Council submission.
Maitland’s average residental rates (with the increases in the pipeline already) will be 127 per cent higher than those of Dungog and 70 per cent higher than those of Port Stephens. Yes, our rates have to rise by a lot whatever happens, but do you want them to rise much more by going with Maitland?
For council staff, existing staffing levels in a Port Stephens merger would be largely unchanged and in some departments could even increase.
Port Stephens has a high performing tourism sector (10 per cent growth in visitation in the last year) and looks forward to helping Dungog Shire tourism operators grow their businesses by being part of its tourism marketing arm.
Port Stephens is in a healthy financial situation and, if merged, proposes an improvement in services to the Dungog community and a new council that benefits everyone. This contrasts with Maitland who have said they will not spend their ratepayers money assisting Dungog.
We are all suffering from ‘amalgamation fatigue’ following the Gloucester and Maitland hearings. But this is an opportunity for our shire too good to miss. As one local fifth generation grazier said, “We need to grab this with both hands. We won’t get another opportunity like this!’'
We need all residents to turn out to support this option. It will be too late to complain if your rates skyrocket and your services decrease. This hearing is your last chance to have a say.
And if you are feeling sceptical, Port Stephens Council approval rating for 2015 among its residents was 79 per cent. Counting underway at the moment suggests that the 2016 figure will be closer to 85 per cent. It’s really a no-brainer. – Lisa Connors
