At Dungog Council’s 15 March ordinary meeting, Council resolved to strongly support a motion on merger proposals, the full text of which is included elsewhere in the Chronicle.
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This motion was considered against the backdrop, firstly, that the State Government’s proposal of a Dungog /Gloucester merger has not yet come to a conclusion. The delegate, Dr Ian Tiley, is still to provide his report to the Boundaries Commission and the Minister for Local Government.
Gloucester Shire Council submitted a proposal to amalgamate with Great Lakes and Greater Taree and, as a consequence of that proposal, the Minister for Local Government has issued a merger proposal for Dungog to merge with Maitland.
Dr Tiley has again been appointed to hold this inquiry at the Dungog Memorial Bowling Club on 6 April, from 3-6 pm. If you are not able to attend, written submissions are encouraged.
The community will recall that your Council has previously considered the business case of a Dungog/ Maitland merger and rejected such. This is your opportunity to have an input into the inquiry. Visit www.councilboundaryreview.nsw.gov.au
There are currently 45 merger proposals, involving 78 local government areas across the state, under way at the present moment.
As reported in last week’s Chronicle, the Minister did say “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.
“However the time frame during which they are then considered under the Act is a matter for the Chief Executive Officer of the Office of Local Government 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”.
At this point in time the Office of Local Government has only referred 45 merger proposals to his delegates to undertake their Inquiries.