Council will close its offices to allow staff to attend the public inquiry into the proposed merger of Guyra with Armidale Dumaresq council.

The move to close Guyra for the morning was endorsed at a meeting of the Guyra & District Chamber of Commerce on Monday night. 

The Chamber Executive called the meeting as they felt that it was important that the community knew the process during the consultation process, and more importantly, to register to have a say.

There were over 40 people in attendance at the meeting, including Adam Marshall MP, Scot MacDonald MLC and Guyra Shire Council General Manager Peter Stewart.

There was overwhelming support to call for business owners and operators in Guyra and Districts to register to attend the inquiry and to also give the opportunity to any employees to register to attend and have their say.

With the inquiry scheduled for 9am on the Thursday February 11, the Chamber is encouraging businesses to close their doors for the morning to ensure everyone has the opportunity to attend. For the voice of Guyra Businesses to be heard every business in Guyra should try to register to attend. 

A large Guyra contingent was also present at a ratepayers meeting held at Armidale Bowling Club on Monday.  Organised by the Armidale Dumaresq Ratepayers Association’s (ADRA) more than 90 per cent of those present voted against the amalgamation move.

The meeting was called to assess the attitude of the community in lieu of a public consultation by Armidale Dumaresq Council, who failed to hold a public consultation, and that was noted on the IPART report.

The meeting was told that assumptions were made about financial savings that did not take into account currently shared services between the councils, and that the true saving would probably be in the order of $10 per year per resident.

Registration to SPEAK at the inquiry will close this Friday, February 5.

Registration to ATTEND the inquiry closes at 9am the day before the public inquiry (February 10)

Members of the public unable to attend can make a written submission which will be accepted until 5 pm, Sunday February 28.

Written submissions can be sent by post to Council Boundary Review, GPO Box 5341 Sydney NSW 2001 or submitted online at https://www.councilboundaryreview.nsw.gov.au/