The October 7 workshop aims to establish a direction for talks with surrounding councils. It follows the government’s ‘Fit for the Future’ reforms, challenging the state’s councils to become more efficient.

Following the workshop, meetings with councils surrounding Goulburn Mulwaree will take place.

Mayor Geoff Kettle said joint organisations (JOs) of councils were still on the agenda, as were amalgamations.

The Independent Local Government Review Panel earlier this year suggested two joint organisations around the ACT. But Goulburn Mulwaree and others have argued it should only be one.

Member councils of the South East Regional Organisation of Councils offered to be a trial for the JOs before the latest reforms were announced.

Cr Kettle said this offer was still on the table. The government has offered $5.3 million to get JOs up and running as part of the package.

“We wanted a single joint organisation because you need the support of the ACT and its 400,000 population,” Cr Kettle said.

“We rely much more on the ACT than on Sydney in terms of health, education, retail and infrastructure.”

The general managers of SEROC Councils will further discuss local government reforms in a meeting today.

(Friday) Upper Lachlan Mayor John Shaw, who is also chairman of SEROC, is resisting amalgamation but promoting the merit of the JOs.

“The Council intends to participate in one of the four proposed pilot JOs, or groups of councils from regional NSW to work together to assist codesign and pilot a robust yet flexible model,” he said in a recent statement.

“The pilots are scheduled to begin operation in early 2015, and will be evaluated over a 12-18 month period.

The final JOs will be rolled out across regional NSW in September, 2016.”

It’s understood Cr Shaw met with Local Government Minister Paul Toole about this model last Monday.

Asked his preference, Cr Kettle said: “I’m in favour of amalgamation. But this is not about self preservation but what’s best for the community.”

He was quick to point out that “whole for whole” amalgamations may not be the best fit. Carving off parts of other councils may be a better solution, provided they had natural boundaries.

Goulburn Mulwaree could also stand alone.

The reforms were a talking point at a Towrang Outreach meeting on Tuesday night. Cr Kettle said residents felt the 2004 amalgamations “didn’t work.”

“I think we all know that,” he said.

“The current boundaries, under which Upper Lachlan Shire Council is working on the eastern side of the Wollondilly River, rather than us, are just ridiculous.”

Submissions on the Fit for Future reforms are due by June 30, 2015. General manager Warwick Bennett has said the community would be consulted as part of the process.