Harden can go down the same path as neighbouring councils if they gain enough signatures. Pictured is the former Harden Shire logo.
A media release from the Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock, dated Tuesday November 26 is below.
“Today I have determined that proposals to demerge Snowy Valleys Council and Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council should proceed to the next stage in the formal assessment process.
I have listened carefully to the views of the community, the councils and local members in making this decision. The elector proposals have been initially assessed by the Office of Local Government against criteria under the Local Government Act and found to be valid. This included confirming with the NSW Electoral Commission that signatories to the proposals were enrolled electors. As required under the Act, I will now give public notice of the proposals to allow the councils and electors to make submissions. By law I am then required to consider all submissions before formally referring the proposals to the Local Government Boundaries Commission, an independent statutory authority, for examination and report. I have also asked the Office of Local Government to continue to work closely with Snowy Valleys and Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional councils and monitor their performance.”
Harden, Boorowa and Young residents, now Hilltops Council, need to supply to the state government a petition with 10% of the electors across the new Council area for the wheels to start in motion for a possible demerger.
