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NSW shires form alliance to avoid merger
23 Feb 2004
The NSW Local Government Minister, Tony Kelly, has given the go-ahead for Armidale-Dumaresq, Uralla, Walcha and Guyra councils to run a two-year trial of sharing administration while maintaining autonomy. Mr Kelly made the decision at a meeting with the four mayors last week, at which the councils presented a preliminary list of areas in which they could share costs and resources.
Such alliances may be the best way for country councils to avoid forced amalgamations and is being promoted by the NSW Shires Association. But a spokeswoman for Mr Kelly said the Boundaries Commission hearing into proposed boundary changes for those councils would still go ahead. The commission is looking at a New England regional council to be created by merging Armidale-Dumaresq with Walcha and parts of Uralla and Guyra Shires.
Association president Phyllis Miller said Mr Kelly had told her he would support councils submitting proposals to share administration but retain autonomy. She urged councils to talk to their neighbouring shires to come up with such proposals.
The Land, 19/2/04.
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