MEDIA RELEASE
The hard work by both Cootamundra and Harden Shire Councils in preparing a merger proposal supported by the ratepayers of both Shires appears to have been for nothing. In an announcement made today the Premier, Mike Baird and Minister for Local Government, Mr Paul O’Toole announced that based on the review of the merger proposals by the Independent Pricing and Review Tribunal (IPART) a merger of Young, Boorowa and Harden Councils is the way forward.
The announcement has stunned Harden Shire Mayor, John Horton, who stated that “the proposal put forward by this Council took into account the strong public support for the merger by both the Harden and Cootamundra communities. Over ninety per cent of the submissions received were in support of the merger proposal providing Council with a clear mandate to support the merger. How can such overwhelming community support be disregarded? Together the Councils of Cootamundra and Harden demonstrated that we are sustainable and met all the criteria to be deemed to be ‘fit for future’. The Harden-Cootamundra merger proposal had the unanimous support of all Councillors, met all the Government’s own criteria as well as the overwhelming support of both communities, but all of this has counted for nothing.”
A report commissioned by Harden, Young and Boorowa Councils to consider all options available to the three Councils to meet the Government’s ‘fit for future’ criteria came back with only one option. That option was to merge the three Councils together with cost savings to come from this merger. However, how this was to occur and sound financial data supporting this conclusion was lacking in the report.
The Premier has indicated that a public enquiry will be held into the merger proposal and the community will be given the opportunity to make comments on the proposal before it is referred to the Boundaries Commission. Mayor Horton however said “it is abundantly clear that the process of a public enquiry is lip service only and makes a mockery of democracy. When the Premier and Minister haven’t taken any notice of the robust and community supported merger of Harden and Cootamundra Councils there is little doubt that any feedback as a result of a public enquiry will hold any weight.”
The Mayor advised “that this is not over. Harden Shire will continue to fight the Government’s merger proposal. This proposal is just that a proposal and the boundaries have not yet been approved by the Boundaries Commission.”
Harden Shire Council
PO Box 110
Harden NSW 2587
For Further Media Information Contact:
John Horton, Mayor
Phone: 02 6386 0100
Email: council@harden.nsw.gov.au
