“Ask Not What Your Shire Can Do For You But What You Can Do For Your Shire” said Harden Shire Mayor, John Horton to the large crowd at the Australia Day Celebrations at Newson Park on Tuesday. Mayor Horton made note of the play on words first spoken by John F Kennedy in the same month of January some 55 years ago. He went on to stress the need for people to attend the meeting at the Mechanics Institute at 6pm on Tuesday February 2 before attending the State Government’s meeting at the Harden Country Club on Friday February 5 at 9am. The latter meeting requires those wishing to attend and speak to register. Details are at the bottom of the article.
Last month’s announcement of the New South Wales Government’s amalgamation proposals didn’t just blindside the Harden Shire, it has also caused considerable tumult in other shire councils to our south. Tumut Shire Council General Manager, Bob Stewart, has drafted a report for consideration by the State Government imploring it to consider a
three-way merger of Tumbarumba, Tumut and Gundagai. So far, Gundagai has expressed no will to amalgamate with another Council, despite the State Government proposing its forced merger with Cootamundra, Harden’s preferred merger partner. A public meeting was held on Tuesday, January 19, in Tumbarumba, attended by over 400 local residents. The overwhelming sentiment was to stand up and fight against a forced merger with Tumut Shire Council. “I for one am not willing to sell our shire’s soul for 30 pieces of silver,” said Tumbarumba Mayor, Ian Chaffey. “The only reason we’re confronted with this issue at this time is because seven members of the Tumut Shire Council put in a merger proposal to merge with Tumbarumba against our will.” Tumbarumba’s current position is similar to the Harden Shire’s. Like Harden, Tumbarumba’s proposal to stand alone as a Rural Council was declared ‘Fit for the Future’ by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART). Similarly, both Shires were included in another Shire’s merger proposal without their approval (Harden was included in Young and Boorowa’s proposals without its consent), with those proposals now being supported by the NSW Government.
Tumbarumba has had other public meetings in Khancoban on January 20, Tooma on January 21, and has two more meetings scheduled in Jingellic on January 28 and Rosewood on January 29. Gundagai will hold a Public Information Session at the Gundagai District Services Club on January 28, prior to its Public Inquiry on February 4, and is also offering services to assist residents in registering their attendance for the inquiry. A community meeting will be held on Tuesday evening, February 2, at 6:00pm at the Mechanic’s Institute Hall, and Sharon Hawkins at the Harden Library is currently providing assistance in registering for the February 5 Public Inquiry in Harden.
An extraordinary council meeting was held on January 20 in Harden, with Council deciding to that any opposition to the Harden, Boorowa and Young merger should be made within the terms of reference outlined within section 263 (3) of the Local Government Act of 1993. “It’s extremely important that we stick to the Local Government Act,” said Assistant General Manager, Trevor Drowley. “Our best chance is a massive show of community support.” “We can oppose this if the right language is used,” said Harden Shire Council Deputy Mayor, Neil Reid. “The only option is to have the proposal [Harden, Boorowa, Young] rejected,” said Councillor Cathy Sanderson. “We need to tear this proposal to pieces.” Even further south, Lockhart, Corowa and Urana shires are all in opposition to a forced merger of the three shires. At a public meeting in Corowa on January 20, Corowa Mayor Paul Miegel raised the possibility that all three shires could be dissolved and replaced by an administrator before July 1, 2016. This would occur prior to elections for the new council entity in March 2017. Corowa and Urana had previously proposed a merger, with Lockhart standing alone. This fear that Councils who put up significant opposition to the State Government’s amalgamation plans will be dismissed and replaced with administrators may have the effect of castrating the official response of many Councils to the State Government’s proposals.
Mayor John Horton is pleading with residents of Harden Shire to attend a meeting set down for Tuesday February 2 at the Mechanic’s Institute at 6pm. Horton made it clear to those attending the Australia Day Ceremony the gravity of the current situation. “We are fighting for the future of Harden Shire,” he said. “Ask not what Harden Shire can do for you but what you can do for Harden Shire.” The meeting on Tuesday February 2 will be held 3 days before the State Government’s meeting at the Harden Country Club from 9am -midday on February 5. The Country Club meeting on February 5 requires those wishing to attend and speak to register online at https://www.councilboundaryreview.nsw.gov.au/proposals/boorowa-harden-shire-and-young-shire-councils/ or by telephone on 1300 813 020. Written submissions can be made via the same website, or sent by mail to GPO Box 5341, Sydney NSW 2001. Registrations to speak and attend close January 29, and written submissions will be accepted until February 28. Again, Sharon Hawkins is assisting residents with registrations at the Harden Library.
