The FFF process requires councils across NSW to develop a proposal to meet the benchmarks set by the NSW Government. Council currently meets only one of the seven FFF benchmarks and requires considerable changes to the way it operates, the rates it charges, and its revenue sources, to even begin to work toward meeting the other six.

There are three alternatives under consideration - voluntary amalgamation, council improvement or rural council and a decision will be made at the next meeting of Guyra Shire Council on Monday, April 27. 

“The task involves assessing our current position, determining what our future looks like, and setting strategies to get there,” General Manager Peter Stewart said. “No matter what option Council selects on Monday, there will be big changes in our community,”. 

A review conducted by the Independent Local Government Review Panel in 2013 recommended that Guyra Shire Council amalgamate with Armidale Dumaresq Council and the recently re-elected NSW Government have not ruled out forced amalgamations.

“However, we have an opportunity to put forward a proposal to stand alone either through the Council improvement process, meeting the benchmarks by 2020; or under the rural council proposal, where we can choose solutions appropriate to our unique community to show how we will improve performance within our current structure,” Mr Stewart said

A reference group meeting which  was held on Monday April 20 left little doubt that it is important to our community to retain autonomy and local representation. They examined the current situation and considered the three available options. 

At the end of the night a poll saw one vote for amalgamation, 14 votes for council improvement and 14 votes for rural council. Councillors were also split between the two stand-alone proposals.

Council will now weigh up the two stand-alone options, and develop a robust proposal to be Fit For the Future. The decision will be made at a public Council meeting, commencing at 8:30am next Monday. The community are able to attend this meeting and observe the debate on the options.

“Once we receive the direction from the Council as to which template we complete, we will be calling on the community to get behind their Council and help develop solutions that will ensure we can prove that we are Fit For the Future,” Mr Stewart concluded.

Following the decision, Council staff and Councillors will begin working with the community to develop the proposal which will then go on public exhibition in May. You can also get involved by completing a survey, and participating in one of the public meetings scheduled over the coming months. 

To complete the survey click the following link http://www.myguyra.com/#!survey/c1lis