A local idiot laying down in the storm water drain which has remained blocked for more than 18 months.
It has gone from disappointment to anger, frustration to the comical to maladministration.
Councillors allowed voters to vote on the possibility to vote for less Councillors in the smaller areas and residents exercised their right, lowering their own representation. Will Council give voters a vote on if they want to stay merged or if they want an Administrator ? The outlook is bleak either way.
Time for an Administrator? Hilltops Council’s Deepening Crisis Prompts Calls for Decisive State Intervention
As the historic Boorowa Showground grandstand stands silent and closed to the public since May 2024, frustration across the Hilltops region is reaching boiling point. The once-proud community asset, a symbol of local heritage and agricultural tradition, remains in limbo amid safety concerns and apparent council inaction. This is not an isolated failure. Rugby Road has also been left to die a slow death, all while Council wants to hear what residents have to say or think about more wind turbines in the area which sees more money leave the Council area.
It reflects what many residents describe as systemic paralysis at Hilltops Council — the forcibly merged entity born in 2016 from the controversial amalgamation of Boorowa, Harden, and Young shires.
With the next local government election still more than two years away, should the NSW Government appoint an Administrator to take control and “right the ship.” The debate is raw, passionate, and increasingly urgent. Could one decisive leader achieve what a divided elected council has so far failed to deliver?
The Legacy of a Forced Merger
The creation of Hilltops Council on 12 May 2016 was part of the former Baird Government’s controversial local government reform agenda. Despite significant local opposition — particularly in smaller centres like Boorowa and Harden — the three shires were combined into a single entity headquartered primarily in Young. Promises of efficiency, cost savings, and improved services have largely failed to materialise.
Instead, the council has lurched from one financial crisis to another. In 2021, it publicly flagged fears of bankruptcy, proposing job cuts, asset sales, and significant rate hikes to return to surplus. Deficits have persisted, with forecasts at times projecting multi-million-dollar shortfalls stretching into the late 2020s. Recent instability, including the resignation of long-serving General Manager Anthony O’Reilly, has only heightened perceptions of dysfunction.
Ten years on, many residents feel the merged council has not met expectations. Service delivery inconsistencies across the sprawling local government area, ageing infrastructure, and a perceived neglect of smaller communities continue to fuel discontent. Calls for demerger — remain vocal in some quarters.
Against this backdrop, the question of an Administrator has gained traction. Proponents argue that the current structure is incapable of the tough decisions required for long-term sustainability. A single, professionally qualified Administrator, accountable to the Minister for Local Government, could cut through political gridlock and implement reforms without fear of electoral backlash.
The Case for Strong, Independent Leadership
One of the strongest arguments for an Administrator is the ability to provide clear, unified direction. Elected councils, by nature, involve compromise, lobbying, and sometimes short-term populism. In a merged entity like Hilltops, balancing the competing needs of Young’s larger population base with the distinct requirements of Boorowa and Harden has proven challenging.
A dedicated Administrator could focus exclusively on steering the organisation: modernising financial systems, prioritising infrastructure backlogs, and enforcing fiscal discipline. “Could they really be any worse than the current regime?” ask frustrated residents. The track record suggests room for improvement.
Take the Boorowa grandstand. Closed due to structural safety issues, it has become emblematic of council’s apparent reluctance to invest in heritage assets in outlying areas. Community meetings have called for urgent refurbishment, yet progress appears glacial. Critics argue this reflects a broader pattern of under-investment in smaller towns, leaving ratepayers in Boorowa and surrounds feeling like second-class citizens in their own region.
Financial management is another flashpoint. Following the merger, councillors have repeatedly shown reluctance to tackle rates head-on. Proposals for substantial increases — in some scenarios approaching or exceeding 100% over a four-year period in certain categories — sparked fierce community backlash and were largely shelved or moderated. While understandable given cost-of-living pressures, this hesitation has left the council in a precarious position. The merged entity continues to struggle with deficits, infrastructure maintenance, and service standards despite the “heavy lifting” often being done by neighbouring councils on shared regional plans, strategies, and cost assessments.
Neighbouring entities have frequently taken the lead in collaborative projects, leaving Hilltops appearing reactive. Residents ask legitimate questions: When will a necessary, sustainable rate rise actually occur? Why should the community not have a direct say — perhaps through a formal poll or comprehensive vote — on their financial future? An Administrator could accelerate evidence-based decisions on rates, fees, and charges while ensuring greater transparency and accountability to ratepayers. Something that hasn’t happened yet.
Appointing one until the next election cycle (expected in September 2028) could provide the stability needed for genuine recovery without a perpetual state of crisis management.
Addressing the Democracy Deficit
Of course, installing an Administrator is not without significant drawbacks. The most obvious is the suspension of local democracy. Elected councillors, chosen by the community, would be sidelined, with decision-making centralised in one unelected official. This raises legitimate concerns about reduced local representation, diminished community input, and a potential disconnect from the unique needs of Hilltops’ diverse towns and rural areas.
Critics argue that democracy, however imperfect, is a fundamental principle. Appointing an Administrator could set a dangerous precedent, allowing state governments to intervene whenever a council becomes politically inconvenient. There is also no guarantee of success; an Administrator might impose top-down solutions that ignore local nuances or fail to build the community consensus needed for lasting change.
Furthermore, the root causes of Hilltops’ challenges — including the structural difficulties of the original forced merger — may not be fully resolved by temporary administration. Long-term fixes might require deeper reforms, such as genuine support for demerger options or revised funding models from the state.
Can an Administrator Right the Ship?
Despite these concerns, evidence from other intervened councils suggests Administrators can deliver rapid improvements. By removing electoral pressures, they can make unpopular but necessary decisions: rationalising budgets, addressing long-neglected assets, improving procurement, and enforcing performance standards.
In Hilltops’ case, priorities could include:
• A comprehensive asset management review, with urgent action on sites like the Boorowa grandstand.
• Realistic, phased rate adjustments accompanied by genuine community consultation and a potential ratepayer vote on major changes.
• Better integration of regional strategies, reducing reliance on neighbouring councils for core planning.
• Stabilising leadership and staff morale following recent departures.
• Tackling outstanding rates and improving financial reporting systems that have historically been strained by the merger.
Many believe two years under professional administration could reset the council’s trajectory, delivering efficiencies and confidence before handing back to elected representatives. Others counter that the community should be trusted to elect better leadership in 2028 rather than having solutions imposed from Sydney.
A Community at the Crossroads
The Hilltops region is rich in agricultural potential, heritage, and community spirit. Towns like Young, with its cherry industry, Boorowa’s Irish heritage and showground traditions, and Harden-Murrumburrah’s rural charm deserve a council that matches their aspirations. Yet persistent financial pressures, infrastructure gaps, and governance questions continue to hold the region back.
The grandstand debate, rate rise uncertainty, and broader merger discontent have crystallised a wider conversation. Ratepayers have already shouldered the costs of amalgamation through disrupted services and ongoing uncertainty. They deserve better.
Should the NSW Government step in with an Administrator to make the tough decisions the current regime has avoided? Or can councillors demonstrate the leadership needed to restore trust and fiscal health?
As one local put it: “We didn’t ask for this merger, but we’re living with the consequences every day. If the council can’t fix it, maybe someone else needs to — at least for a while.”
The state government, local MPs, and councillors must listen. Hilltops residents have a right to effective local government that plans for the future rather than muddling through. Whether through stronger elected leadership, targeted support, or temporary administration, decisive action is needed before problems deepen further.
The coming months will be telling. Community forums, submissions to IPART on any future rate variations, and public pressure could shape the outcome. One thing is clear: the status quo is no longer acceptable for a region with so much potential.
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