Cootamundra Shire has tabled two options as part of its merger proposal response to the NSW State Government. Cootamundra’s decision to include those options will no doubt affect the current relationship with Harden Shire. It includes Jugiong to be included as part of a merged Cootamundra / Gundagai Shire, if the Hilltops proposal proceeds. Option 1 will see almost half of Harden Shire fall in to the hands of a Cootamundra/ Gundagai merger. Option 2 would see land south of the Hume Highway going to a Cootamundra / Gundagai merger. Option 2 delivers the community of Jugiong a close proximity to the Cootamundra Shire Offices which are closer than Young’s Option. 1 is essentially an attempt by Cootamundra Shire to take land from Harden Shire and is akin to a Hilltops merger attempting to include half of Cootamundra Shire in their future plans. If the plan goes ahead and is agreed to by the Boundaries Commission Harden will lose rich farm land including Garangula, the proposed piggery, and possible mining resources and tourism.
Jugiong has been aptly described as the ‘Jewel in the Crown’, and concerns over Jugiong’s proximity to Young have prompted calls for Jugiong to be included in a merger between Cootamundra and Gundagai. Cootamundra Shire Council have provided two options to include Jugiong with their submission to the Boundary Commission should the Cootamundra-Gundagai merger proceed, one of which could result in the southern half of the Harden Shire being annexed. Cootamundra Shire Council held its February Business Meeting on Monday, February 15th, and voted to adopt their submission to the Council Boundaries Commission.
In the submission’s introduction, Cootamundra Shire Council said, “Councillors were both surprised and disappointed that the majority opinion of the residents of Cootamundra and Harden, and the work undertaken by Council, was completely disregarded by the announcement of a Cootamundra-Gundagai merger proposal.” The submission also does an excellent job in shooting down the Cootamundra-Gundagai proposal in its submission addressing Section 263(3) of the Local Government Act. However, it does include two options for the inclusion of Jugiong should that merger proceed.
The inclusion of Jugiong village was borne out of a meeting on January 21, 2015, organised by Jugiong community members and attended by Harden Shire and Cootamundra Shire Council Mayors and Deputy Mayors. Those in the meeting expressed the view that Jugiong would be disadvantaged in a merger with Harden, Boorowa and Young, with over 68 kilometres distance between Jugiong and Young. At a meeting of nearly 60 Jugiong residents at the Memorial Hall, residents were briefed on the proposal for Jugiong to go to Cootamundra-Gundagai merger if the Harden, Boorowa and Young merger goes ahead. A question and answer session was conducted with Councillor Neil Reid, Ian Coggan and Paul Leseberg fielding the questions.
“Cootamundra-Harden is the best option for Jugiong,” said Paul Leseberg. “I’m concerned that Harden and Jugiong will fund Young’s expensive wishlist.” Residents were encouraged, if they support Jugiong going to Cootamundra-Gundagai, to sign and send in pre-prepared submissions. The costs of postage have been donated. At Cootamundra’s Business Meeting on Monday, two options for the inclusion of Jugiong were tabled. Option 2 includes land south of the Hume Highway and the Jugiong Road to incorporate the village of Jugiong itself. Option 1 takes in a creek boundaries. Option 1 includes all land south of the Cunningham and Jugiong Creeks, amounting to just under half of the Harden Shire Council being annexed to a possible Cootamundra-Gundagai merged shire. For land owners in the proposed annexation it could result in an increase in rates.
This land would take in the prestigious ‘Garangula’ property, numerous broad acre cropping and grazing operations, studs such as the award-winning Beggan Hill Hereford Stud, and the proposed Blantyre Farms piggery, should it go ahead. There are numerous mining exploration titles held throughout that area, with significant amounts of gold having been previously mined at the Cullinga Mines. In regard to Option 1, Cootamundra stated in its submission, “The first of these options would be more beneficial to a new Cootamundra-Gundagai Council.” This is justified from a Cootamundra-Gundagai point of view, as Cootamundra Shire has calculated that a special rates variation of 31% in 2020/21 would need to be sought to bring the operating deficit of the Cootamundra-Gundagai merged shire to nil. An influx of additional rural and residential rate payers would bring significant additional income for the proposed council.
If Option 1 is adopted by the Boundaries Commission, it would reduce the rural rates base for a merged Harden, Boorowa, Young Shire. This will throw the finsings of the LKS Quaero report and the KPMG Report out the window and could necessitate a recalculation of the financial sustainability of such an amalgamated Council. Harden Shire Council Mayor, John Horton, said that the focus is still on getting a Harden, Cootamundra and possibly Gundagai Shire over the line. “Cootamundra Shire Council are entitled to their view,” he said. “The priority is getting the Cootamundra-Harden proposal approved. That’s all I’m interested in.”
