The review will look at the way local services are currently provided by Armidale-Dumaresq, Guyra, Uralla and Walcha Councils and ways in which these services can be improved.

Mrs Kibble’s review follows last year’s breakdown of the New England Strategic Alliance (NESAC) and will consider whether current service arrangements are appropriate to meet the needs of the local community.

Residents and ratepayers will have the opportunity to participate in the review via public forums as well as an open submission process.

“Extensive discussions with community groups, councils, individuals and government agencies will be undertaken as part of the review process,” Ms Perry said.

“Community input is important. We all have an interest in maximising the efficient delivery of local government services in this vital rural area and in minimizing costs to residents and ratepayers.”

Mrs Kibble has broad experience in the public sector, particularly in infrastructure development and urban planning.

She has previously held the role of Director General of the Department of Housing and was CEO of the former Department of Urban Affairs and Planning.

More recently she has been an administrator of Wollongong Council.

Guyra Shire Mayor Hans Hietbrink has welcomed the notification of the review. “We look forward to the outcomes from the review, he said. “We have proposed robust reform that will deliver efficiencies and effective decision making and are confident that the facilitator, Mrs Gabrielle Kibble, will recognise the advantages of a single executive structure.”

Member for Northern Tablelands Richard Torbay said he was not surprised the government had called for a review.

The collapse of NESAC had been costly to rate-payers through the wind-back of the shared services model, he said.

“The model has not delivered the outcomes that were promised when the Alliance was established and constant infighting between the Councils has hindered the progress of the Alliance,” he said