Guyra Shire will work with Inverell Shire, Glen Innes Severn, Armidale Dumaresq and Uralla Shire Councils and the New England Weeds County Council, to establish Northern Tablelands Joint Organisation of Councils (NTJOC), to work collaboratively across current local government boundaries in the delivery of services and infrastructure.

The announcement comes hot on the heels of the news that Gwydir Shire and Walcha Councils had been part of the successful Namoi Councils bid to become one of five pilot joint organisation projects across the State. Namoi Councils also incorporates Tamworth Regional, Liverpool Plains, Gunnedah Shire and Narrabri Shire Councils.

With previous involvement in joint organisations as Mayor of Gunnedah Shire and Chairman of the Namoi Councils group, Member of Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall has welcomed the move. 

He has been a strong advocate for the establishment of the regional joint organisation in the Northern Tablelands and has been working with the region’s local councils to achieve this outcome.

“I’m delighted to see the councils all agree take this positive and proactive step as a first response to the NSW Government’s Fit for the Future package,” he said.

“I congratulate all the Mayors, Councillors and General Managers on showing genuine community leadership in making this decision.

“Once established, councils and their communities will share in the benefits of collaboration and the saving of joint tendering and procurement, especially in the big cost areas such as water, sewerage and road construction and maintenance,” he said.

The group was one of 11 applicants to be a pilot project and despite not being selected, the councils have made the decision to proceed with the collaboration and change the way local government worked in this region.

“Establishing these new regional structures will make it easier to manage important projects, to better deliver the jobs, roads, bridges, sports grounds, libraries and other facilities and services that regional and rural communities need,” he said.

The NSW Government was providing funding of $5.3 million, part of the Fit for the Future Fund, to support the creation of Joint Organisations across the State.

“It’s important to remember that one size does not fit all for our regional communities so for our councils now to be able to develop their own agenda is vital to the success of these collaborations,” he said.

 Inverell Shire Council will take on a lead administrative role in the new joint organisation.