MINISTER RESPONDS TO MERGER PROPOSALS
Last week I received correspondence from the Minister for Local Government in relation to the merger proposals. Here is what he wrote:
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“The deadline for submissions to delegates on the Government’s 35 original merger proposals has now closed, so it is timely to provide an update on the Government’s Fit for the Future reforms.
Thank you for your continued involvement in this process, particularly to those who are directly participating in the council boundary review process.
The public inquiries conducted by delegates have provided councils and the community with the opportunity to have direct input into this process and delegates have met with each council affected by a merger proposal.
The delegates will prepare their reports having regard to the factors outlined in the Local Government Act 1993.
These reports will be provided to the Local Government Boundaries Commission for review and comment. I recently announced the appointment of Mr Bob Sendt as Chairman of the Boundaries Commission.
Mr Sendt, who has served as the Auditor-General of NSW, is an experienced senior public servant.
He will be joined by Ms Natasa Mitic of the Office of Local Government (OLG) and two nominees of Local Government NSW, Clr Rick Firman OAM of Temora Shire Council and Clr Lesley Furneaux-Cook of Burwood Council.
Once I have considered the delegates’ reports and the comments of the Boundaries Commission, I will consider whether to make recommendations to the Governor for any new local government areas.
In addition to the Government’s 35 original proposals, a number of councils have made their own proposals under the Local Government Act.
These have been referred to the Chief Executive of OLG for examination and report, which will occur in the same way as the Government’s proposals.
As a consequence of these council-initiated proposals, I have put forward three additional proposals (of which Dungog/Maitland is one) in adjacent areas for examination and report in the event that a council-initiated proposal proceeds.
If any of these proposals replace a Government proposal, consideration will be given to funding them in the same way.
The Government anticipates that these additional proposals may be reported on by the delegates, and Boundaries Commission comments provided, in a timeframe that may enable the Government to keep its commitment of commencing any new local government areas covered by these proposals by around the middle of 2016.
Should any further proposals be made by councils, the Government will continue to assess whether they satisfy the requirements for a proposal under the Local Government Act and if so, refer them for examination and report as required under the Act.
The timeframe during which they are then considered under the Act is a matter for the Chief Executive of OLG or his delegate and then the Boundaries Commission.
It may be likely that consideration of any further proposals may occur subsequent to the proposals under current consideration.
The Government’s consideration of council-initiated proposals demonstrates our desire to work with councils on local government reform and underscores the fact that no final decision has been made about any proposal.
The Government is committed to doing what is in the best interest for ratepayers through sustainable councils that can deliver the services and infrastructure that ratepayers deserve.
The Government remains committed to allowing councillors that are supportive of making the new council a success the opportunity to shape the future of the new council”.
