The Minister for Local Government, Shelley Hancock, has opened the possibility of an independent review of the merger of Cootamundra and Gundagai shire councils forced on the region by the Baird government in 2016.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Ms Hancock issued a statement on Wednesday saying she had "listened carefully to the views of the community, the councils and local members". She would now consider submissions which could lead to her referring demerger proposals to the Local Government Boundaries Commission, an independent statutory authority, an independent statutory authority, for "examination and report".
Mrs Hancock said she had received a petition signed by around 12 per cent of enrolled voters in the region.
"By law I am then required to consider all submissions before referring the proposals to the Commision, for examination and report."
Ms Hancock said a proposal to demerge the Snowy Valleys Council could also be referred to the Commission.
Opposition to the mergers has been particularly strong in Gundagai and Tumut.
In Gundagai a "Gundagai Council in Exile" (CGIE) was formed and was the driving force behind the petition.
MP for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke, welcomed the announcement as a "giant step forward" for the Gundagai community, saying she knew it would come as a great relief to CGIE members.
Ms Cooke met with premier Gladys Berejiklian, deputy premier John Barilaro and Ms Hancock on Tuesday to discuss the proposal.
"While I wasn't the local member at the time of the amalgamation, since my election I have not let go of this important issue. My concern has always been that the voice of the community be heard and listened to."
Mayor Abb McAlister, an opponent of amalgamation in 2016, also welcomed the review. He said the process had been supported by the council through motions it had put twice to conferences of Local Government NSW, unanimously backed by all other NSW councils.
