A SPAT between Upper Lachlan and Goulburn Mulwaree councils has been cast aside in the run up to local government reforms.
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Last month, the former reacted angrily to a statement in Goulburn Mulwaree’s quarterly newsletter that they were not “Fit for the Future.”
“Thus (the Independent Review Panel) has recommended that it should amalgamate with Goulburn Mulwaree prior to 2020,” the newsletter stated.
Mayor Geoff Kettle has since apologised, describing the information as an error.
“It’s been smoothed over,” Upper Lachlan Shire Mayor John Shaw (pictured) said on Monday.
“I sat next to the mayor (Geoff Kettle) at a recent function and everything is fine. I’ll deal with anyone so long as they are upfront and honest.”
Cr Shaw admitted the council was “hurt” by the comments. At an April meeting, Cr Brian McCormack put it more bluntly. He urged the council to write to its southern counterpart, expressing its “disgust” at what was an “incorrect” interpretation of the Independent Local Government Review Panel’s report.
It came despite Goulburn Mulwaree’s acknowledgement several months ago that Upper Lachlan was not interested in amalgamation.
With the disagreement seemingly resolved, Upper Lachlan is hitting the hustings.
It is asking the community for support on its preference to stand alone, rather than amalgamate with Goulburn Mulwaree.
Public meetings in Bigga, Crookwell, Gunning and Taralga are lined up this month. (See dates and times below).
The consultation is part of its Fit for the Future submission, due by June 30.
Cr Shaw rejected suggestions he was taking a predetermined stance to the meetings, rather than an open mind.
“We have done a survey, through Piazza Research, which showed that 79 per cent of people wanted us to stand alone,” he said.
“That is also a democratic position formed around the council table. Over 12 months, we have asked people what they thought and they’ve agreed with us.”
But he told the Post he was also interested in what the other 21pc thought.
Cr Shaw says his Council doesn’t have its head in the sand over the reform.
The Review Panel had recommended Upper Lachlan be a council in the Tablelands Joint Organisation.
Amalgamation after 2020 was only an option if it didn’t have sufficient “scope and capacity.”
Despite only having a 7500 population, Cr Shaw said NSW Treasury (TCorp) had found his council was financially sound, had a neutral outlook and a “strong” infrastructure rating.
“If we can prove that we have the scope and capacity and can tick all the boxes (set out by IPART) as a stand alone option, then there’s no reason to force amalgamation,” he said.
The mayor was critical of a $5 million State Government “carrot’ for two councils to merge, saying the Parliamentary Budget Office recently found an amalgamation of Upper Lachlan and Goulburn Mulwaree would cost $9.6m.
“So we’re already $4.6m down and that doesn’t take account of the ongoing costs,” he said.
Asked what would be so bad about a merger, Cr Shaw said people in Upper Lachlan would be disenfranchised with possibly only three representatives in a seven-member council.
“We’re bigger than Goulburn Mulwaree and demographically different with lots of little towns,” he said.
Instead, Upper Lachlan will lodge a submission to the Review Panel in the ‘council improvement category.’
It will focus on collaboration with councils in the Canberra Region Joint Organisation in areas such as purchasing and planning
* Community consultation meetings on Fit for the Future reforms will be held at the Crookwell Council Chambers tonight from 6.30pm, the Gunning Council Chambers on May 12 from 6.30pm and at the Taralga Sports Club on May 19 at the same time. Bigga hosted a meeting yesterday.
