The proposal to amalgamate Cootamundra, Gundagai and Harden Shire Councils is now open for submissions, which will close at 5:00pm on April 15. However, it has already prompted considerable anger from Gundagai. “This is absolutely contemptuous treatment of a neighbour without their consent or consultation. Shame on you both,” wrote the Save Gundagai Shire Facebook page, in regard to the proposal submitted by the Harden Shire. Another Gundagai resident, Rodger Norden, went even further. “What a pack of bastards Harden Shire Council is trying to save their own skin at Gundagai’s expense,” he wrote.
Gundagai is effectively being included in an unwanted proposal akin to Harden and the Hilltops proposal. The proposal by Harden Shire Council is one of three received by Minister for Local Government, Paul Toole. Gloucester Shire Council proposed the amalgamation of Gloucester, Great Lakes and Greater Taree, whilst Armidale Dumaresq has proposed the merger of Armidale Dumaresq, Guyra, Uralla and Walcha Shire Councils. As a result of these proposals, Minister Toole has proposed the amalgamation of Dungog and Maitland, as well as Boorowa and Young. The latter proposal was deemed ‘fit’ in October 2015 in the initial submission of amalgamation proposals. The Delegate for the Cootamundra, Gundagai and Harden proposal is John Turner, who was also the Delegate for the Cootamundra-Gundagai proposal. Amanda Chadwick will examine the Boorowa-Young proposal, and is also reporting on the Harden, Boorowa and Young amalgamation.
In Harden Shire Council’s proposal, it requests that the NSW Government “honour the ‘Fit for the Future’ funding package for three Councils or more and provide $20 million in funding assistance to the proposed Cootamundra, Gundagai and Harden merger.” The submission argues that the inclusion of Harden Shire Council would reduce the ‘fiscal imbalance’ in the Cootamundra- Gundagai merger, which would need to a 31% Special Rate Variation (SRV) in 2020/2021 to bring its operating deficit to nil. Including the Harden Shire would bring in $11.6 million in extra revenue. Harden Shire Council also stated that it was opposed to any boundary adjustments, specifically the secession of Jugiong, “no matter what the merger outcome to Harden”. Members of the Jugiong community have previously voiced concerns that the increased distance from the village to Young, the likely administrative centre of a Harden, Boorowa, and Young Shire Council, would be detrimental to the quality of service provision.
Submissions can be made by post to: Council Boundary Review, GPO Box 5341, Sydney NSW, 2001 Or online at: www.councilboundaryreview.nsw.gov.au Submissions will be accepted until 5:00pm on April 15. Dates and times for public meetings are to be advised.
