Happy Birthday Hilltops
A storm water pit that has repeatedly been reported to Council as being blocked and
causing safety concerns for 18 months was this week attended to by a member of the public with a shovel. They didn’t get far. Will Council surprise everyone and solve the problem with an excavator or risk having the resident hit by a vehicle? The resident has already injured their ankle due to Council negligence. The drain has been wrongfully included as part of the February 10 flood damage, which is not the case with calls for more transparency and reports going to the Office of Local Government and the Minister.
Ten Years of Hilltops: A Hellish Forced Merger That Delivered Distress, Not Deliverables
Ten years ago, on May 12, 2016, the NSW Government under Premier Mike Baird and his gel haired spiked side-kick Member for Bathurst Paul Toole, executed one of the most controversial, ill thought out and devastating local government ‘reforms’ in the state’s history. The Councils of Young, Harden and Boorowa were forcibly amalgamated into the new Hilltops Council. This was even though Harden and Cootamundra had unanimous support and Boorowa only if they had to, would go with Young. No Council actually wanted to go anywhere with anyone. The government stated, “find a dance partner or we will find one for you.” Councils did that and were still betrayed.
Toole continues to drive around in a powerful sedan in Bathurst as the member and appears in self promoting adverts urging people to support farmers all while he is barbecuing for one. How are the farmers in the amalgamated areas going with their rate rises? Ironic! What was promised may have looked like a bold step toward efficiency, cost savings, stronger regional services, and financial sustainability. What it delivered from day one and what the independent owners and writers and employees at the Twin Town Times could see was an impending disaster which they have rightly opposed since. The forced merger disasters have instead become a cautionary tale of bureaucratic overreach, broken promises, maladministration, and community disillusionment.
On the anniversary — May 12, 2026 — residents across the former shires began collating the downside with photos and videos, highlighting percieved neglect, negligence and incompetence.
The intent is not to attack coal face staff but highlight the hopelessness of having an administration hub half an hour away from the other two main towns and one that can’t deliver services and funds in a fair or competent way, leaving staff reeling and bouncing around like a pinball machine.
Videos circulated widely on the social media platforms of TTT showing neglected roads, delayed projects, and frustrated ratepayers with evidence of mess after mess.
Photos contrasted glossy pre-merger artist impressions with today’s realities.
The Merger Promise vs Harsh Reality
The Baird Government sold the amalgamations on claims of $2 billion in statewide savings, streamlined administration, and better outcomes for rural communities. In the Hilltops region, the pitch was clear: three small councils supposedly struggling with viability would combine into a stronger entity capable of delivering major infrastructure and keeping rates under control.
Although many of the shiny and much overdue projects have now been delivered, they should have been years ago with funding from the state government, but the seat was too safe. A $10 k shed was all that was provided before Cooke had to win all the love back after Hodgkinson left. It went up with the expectation players would do it for free, the club would pay for the other half. What a government! Now we have some much better executed facilities, such as McLean Oval and disasters such as Murrimboola Creek which never went near meeting the community expectations, The play equipment an embarrassment in itself. Appalling.
A decade on, the ledger tells a story of Council mismanagement. For nine of the ten years since amalgamation, Hilltops Council has recorded operating deficits.
In 2021, the accumulated shortfall had ballooned alarmingly, with warnings of potential bankruptcy, forced asset sales, and job cuts. General Manager Anthony O’Reilly at the time described continued deficits as “unsustainable.”
Councillors debated drastic measures, including staff reductions equivalent to up to 30% of the wage bill — potentially 90 positions from a workforce of around 270. It was brought to the fore in an election year which if the Councillors had agreed to would have seen 3 quarters of them tossed out the door and a group of new and enthusiastic ones brought in who would have needed one to two terms just to learn the ropes and see through the bull shit.
By the early 2020s, long-term forecasts painted an even bleaker picture: average annual deficits
projected through to the next decade but it’s worse then the accountant’s book looks. Millions of dollars of pipes in the ground which are often forgotten and hard to cost for replacement are left un moved. Boorowa continues to be hit by the shiny lights and ideas of a pipeline but its not coming in a seat that’s not marginal like Goulburn is where Yass Council received over $30 million for a water treatment plant refurb that won’t really do anything. The same water is coming out of Yass River post the cash as it was pre the cash.
The Community consultations in Hilltops revealed proposals for special rate variations approaching or exceeding 100% increases in some scenarios. These ideas were met with overwhelming rejection, highlighting the disconnect between council ambitions and ratepayer capacity amid cost-of-living pressures. At least you can follow Council’s Facebook page and attend a bbq at Council’s expense which is at your expense as you pay the rates that fund the gas, bread, sauce and sausages, when the bbq works.
Asset management has fared no better. Reports and councillor questions have highlighted vehicles written off prematurely, staff on extended workers’ compensation claims, and a pattern of poor
maintenance leading to higher long-term costs. Elected councillors have repeatedly complained of being kept in the dark on key financial and operational decisions, eroding trust even within Council chambers. High staff turnover has become chronic, draining expertise and inflating recruitment expenses. Mental health impacts on remaining staff have been raised while Council is being
investigated for discrimination by a number of bodies.
IT Nightmares and the Attack on Local Media
One of the earliest and most persistent failures involved information technology. It hasn’t been resolved yet in the ten years since which is when IT is normally updated completely. The rushed integration of three separate council systems proved chaotic. A 2019 report on NSW council tech post-merger described widespread integration disasters, wasted expenditure, and service disruptions — a pattern evident in Hilltops.
This IT turmoil intersected with freedom-of-press concerns. The Former Twin Town Times editor, along with a local radio broadcaster, raised allegations of corrupt conduct, waste, and maladministration regarding the new information system and council advertising practices.
In response, Hilltops Council engaged external investigators (Warren Hart & Associates) in 2017, using ratepayers’ money to probe the critics. Many in the community viewed this as a targeted attack on independent journalism rather than a genuine accountability exercise by Council.
It was a bit like getting a ref from the NRL to determine whether the soccer goal had been scored and they shouldn’t have been invited to the game in the first place.
The pattern of media relations has continued. From inception, Hilltops showed minimal support for
independent local outlets like the Twin Town Times. Outlets that held them accountable. Funding was directed from Young and Boorowa Council just weeks before the merger occured and it stayed that way.
The Hilltops Phoenix and, more recently, the Young Witness — publications perceived as less critical of council operations get the cash.
This selective engagement has deepened community cynicism about transparency. Now that The Local Government Minister has removed the briefings held at Councils many will be left wondering who is talking to who behind closed doors or not and if the Councillors are able to just turn up and deal with what is in front of them or has caucusing gotten worse?
Councillor Matthew Stadtmiller (an elected representative) has continued raising concerns through questions on notice, often receiving responses he and residents deem inadequate. Sometimes he has asked up to 70 questions a month which gets topics in black and white, however answers can leave a lot to be desired. His columns and public statements have chronicled ongoing dysfunction. He himself has alleged discrimination.
Infrastructure: Artist Impressions vs Delivered Reality
Grand promises frequently outpaced delivery. Coddington Park in Murrumburrah ‘Murrimboola’ was promoted with artist’s impressions showing an impressive regional playground: toddler spaces, youth zones, level changes, reformed creek lines, sculptural elements, and entrance gateways with amenities. The 2021 precinct plan visuals painted a vibrant community hub. It just never turned out anything like it was meant to. Like ordering a cat and getting a rabbit.
Quotes were sought and it was proven that if you draw a fantasy on paper you can end up with a financial mess. And that is what happened when Council decided to decline tenders, due to lack of funds and being in touch with reality and managed it themselves. Outcome…… distaster.
Residents note that the finished product has fallen short in scale, timing, and quality. Similar critiques apply across other projects. A basic off-leash dog park in Harden — an amenity many argue could and should have been delivered within the first year or two of amalgamation — is only now under construction in 2026. Young and Boorowa have had dog parks for years while Harden residents were expected to walk dogs off leash out side the 60 k zone amongst the 100 k traffic of Burley Griffin.
This delay occurs while the primary council chambers in Harden have been closed since February 10, 2025, forcing operations into temporary arrangements and symbolising broader administrative strain. The closure and complete lack of urgency highlights where the focus is and that focus is in Young where they can’t get it right either. Main streets closed for extended periods for a stormwater project that all Young residents are paying for that will hopefully prevent flooding in the CBD. But not yet. And at twice the cost, but maybe more to come. Problems abound.
Political Pork: Then and Now
The merger was sweetened with Stronger Country Communities Fund grants under the Coalition government. These targeted funds were distributed to visible projects in amalgamating areas, criticised by opponents as classic pork-barrelling designed to buy local support and mute opposition ahead of the 2016-17 changes. While providing some short-term infrastructure wins, they masked underlying structural problems and failed to deliver promised efficiencies.
Labor governments have faced parallel accusations in recent weeks. Targeted community grants and “slush funds” directed to marginal or discontented regions have drawn claims of vote-buying ahead of state and federal polls.
The tactic remains the same regardless of party: using public money for political damage control rather than addressing root causes. In Hilltops, both eras of funding have left communities questioning whether projects serve genuine need or electoral expediency.
The differentiation lies in timing — Coalition funds helped midwife the merger; recent Labor equivalents attempt to soothe the resulting discontent. But just don’t expect Labor money out here, (it’s further east) Minister Ron Hoenig hasn’t stepped foot in the place to discuss the mess at the Council Chambers. The government appears somewhat blind to our plight while he falls over himself to appease Gundagai. They will probably make a bronze statue of CGRC and Gundagai icon and Mayor Abb McAlister. Don’t expect any more statues here. We don’t have the recent heroes.
Neighbours Who Resisted — and Those Now Escaping
Not every nearby council suffered the same fate. Temora, Junee, Coolamon, Cowra, and Yass Valley largely avoided forced amalgamation. Temora had a pretty good chance as Mayor Firman was on the Boundaries Commission and still is.
Comparative performance data, annual reports, and community feedback suggest these stand-alone entities have generally maintained better financial stability, more responsive services, and lower ongoing rate pressures. While challenges exist everywhere, they avoided the rolling deficits, identity loss, and internal conflicts plaguing Hilltops. Junee fought off the loss of the Commonwealth Bank with Mayor and former Harden man Neil Smith (wish he was our Mayor, but now retired) and GM James Davis standing up and fighting until they won.
What do the Councillors at Hilltops think of the Council’s performance? Should we ask? Should we ask who would at least vote for a poll? They let us vote on a domesic animals policy but not if we want to remain in a forced merger. Some would say forced mergers are unworkable which will see our future and that of our children continue on a gradual decline of more cost, less services, less job availability and more chronyism in decision making which affects their future.
Several Councillors went to the Hilltops polling booth at least this time round with a clear position on forced mergers but what do they think now? The last time this paper ran an online poll it was 400-0 in favour of demerging.
Contrast this with forced-merger neighbours now unravelling.
Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council secured ministerial approval in July 2025 to demerge back into separate Cootamundra and Gundagai entities. Snowy Valleys Council made history in November 2025 when residents voted overwhelmingly (around 87%) in the state’s first demerger referendum to split back into Tumut and Tumbarumba shires.
Implementation is underway, with costs estimated in the millions but community resolve strong. These successes have galvanised Hilltops demerger advocates, proving that “unscrambling the egg” is possible despite bureaucratic hurdles.
Those at the top appear in denial that it won’t happen or can’t happen, but it’s more about not wanting it to happen.
The Demerger Question: Confusion, Costs, and Community Will
Debate over a potential Hilltops demerger remains fractured. Some councillors support exploring a poll or business case; others resist. A frequently cited cost of $750,000 ($500,000 for the business case plus $250,000 for a poll) is labelled prohibitive. Critics counter that this figure is inflated. Modelling from Cootamundra-Gundagai and Snowy Valleys processes could be adapted, significantly reducing expenses. Confusion persists over who truly supports commencing the process versus who merely pays lip service.
Underlying the debate is a deeper loss of identity. Smaller towns and villages feel their priorities are overshadowed by the largest centre (Young). Representation feels unbalanced, with more councillors historically aligned to the former Young area. More potential mathematically at the next election.
First term Councillor Neil Langford was a strong advocate against demerger but it’s unclear what he wants now. Now elected, will Langford a respected member of all three former areas, speak up or will he sit on his hands. A quickle gargle would clear the throat.
Brian Ingram returned to the big chair and has now been in charge in a Mayoral capacity for nearly 7 years. If re-elected in September, Councillors will be showing the community that they want to see him in the chair. Or this may just mean that no one else wants the damned job. Ingram will, if elected become leader for a total of 9 of the 12 years of this Council. Wow!
Is there anyone else and does anyone else want to lead this Council?
Can Councillor Foreman do better?
Understudy to former Mayor Marg Rolls, Foreman ran for the job but some others didn’t support due to lack of promise of a poll for demerging they got from other Councillors. Those promises vanished post race leaving a bad taste for some Councillors. It’s all about the numbers
Mary Dodd appears to be continuing as the steady hand and says what she needs to. She watches intently. She has the temperament to do the job and would make the second teacher in the role, after trying for Deputy earlier in the term.
Matt Stadtmiller hasn’t been to a meeting since separate votes were taken for separate Councillors to attend by audio visual means. It’s his opinion that he was singled out in what he believes amounts to discrimination by Council due to a disability he has. His health is currently in poor condition. He went on to injure his ankle in deep pot holes near a drive way due to poor storm water maintenance by Council and was told Council were not liable.
Councillor Gallo chips away and has gone from an experienced Ranger at another Council to pushing for the Dog Park. The item received plenty of support after the chips had fallen and the roles were taking shape.
Councillor Davis had a brief stint running federally against Michael McCormack with the 20 something year old Young man learning more about government in all forms from the experience.
Councillor Douglas’ move to add stability to the pool network was admirable when it was moved back under the Council’s banner, but with no oversight or proper on site management alongside ageing infrastructure, one must ask, did it reach its goal and can it be improved on? Harden’s baby pool was often out of action due to age and kids at Jugiong are disadvantaged and not allowed to access the pool to train for state swimming and Council gets away with it because they can.
Councillor Mackey lives in Boorowa and alongside Blackwell they both hail from a geographic area which may have just one representative at the next election after Councillors voted to have a memorandum on lowering the numbers of their own cohort which mathematically further disadvantages Boorowa and Harden numerically.
Councillor Flanery continues the family tradition and after commencing in 2008 and is a long-term Councillor. The dynamic duo of Ingram and Flanery continuing in the roles will be voted on in September by Councillors.
A Call for Accountability and Renewal
After ten years, the scorecard is damning: chronic deficits, IT failures, infrastructure shortfalls, staff instability and loss, pending and active investigations into victimisation and discrimination claims, and a council often appearing at war with its communities. Staff morale and retention suffer, while ratepayers bear the costs.
As the anniversary reflections continue, one message echoes: staff are not indentured servants. No one is bound to remain at an organisation that has repeatedly failed to meet expectations. Some have no choice and many do a great job. It may be time for senior figures and long-serving personnel whose tenures overlap this troubled decade to hand in their badges and seek greener pastures. That is their choice, give fresh leadership and new ideas a genuine chance.
The results of the past ten years speak louder than any glossy strategic plan or optimistic annual report. In its current form, this council structure appears incapable of serving the diverse communities of the former shires as they deserve. The forced merger experiment has had its trial period — more than enough time to judge outcomes. IT Has Failed!
Communities deserve responsive, financially stable, locally attuned governance. Whether through deep structural reform or, as growing numbers demand, an orderly return to separate councils via demerger, change is overdue. The South West Slopes and its towns — Young, Harden-Murrumburrah, Boorowa, and surrounding villages — have shown remarkable resilience through droughts, floods, and economic shifts. They deserve better than the legacy of May 12, 2016.
But, have a wonderful and Happy 10 year Birthday at Hilltops Council.
The South West Slopes Times covers an area approximately the size of Fiji in country NSW. We look after a population of more than 50,000 people with our staff servicing 7 major towns and dozens of villages with our story telling footprint.
We offer weekly print editions at $3 a copy and we also offer digital subscriptions across 3 months $30, 6 months $60 and 12 months $120.
We are one of the last truly local independent family run newspaper businesses in the state.
Contact us today to find out how we can promote your business or organisation across our huge network by emailing ads@thetimes.net.au or by calling 0413 763 216.
If you have a news tip, lead or scoop for us please make contact as we love celebrating our communities. You can contribute articles via our South West Slopes Times website.