Former Guyra Shire Councillors have hit out at the State Government following the merger announcement which has left them questioning the process they were forced to follow.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Former Deputy Mayor Simon Murray says he is angry that all the work that the council and the community had put in was ignored.
“I am disappointed that we are being forced to merge and I am angry that Scot MacDonald undermined our work and did not support the community.”
- Simon Murray
“I am gutted that we worked so hard to prove that we were financially viable and the government took no real notice,” he said
“I am disappointed that we are being forced to merge and I am angry that Scot MacDonald undermined our work and did not support the community.”
Mr Murray indicated that he would be prepared to continue in an advisory role in the interim, adding that he felt it was important that Guyra views were being put to the administrator.
“We need Guyra people to influence the decisions that are being made,” he said. When asked if he would stand for election in the new council he said that he didn’t know, but would consider it when the time comes.
Dean Heagney said the decision handed down last Thursday came as no surprise.
“It was always on the agenda and the whole process was a waste of time and money,” he said. “I am disillusioned in the whole political process – what we have now is a dictatorship, not a democracy.”
“I am not sure about the future, but it is doubtful if I would run for the new council.”
Dot Vickery said that the government had inflicted a lot of unnecessary emotional stress on councillors and the community.
“They went to the election saying there would be no forced amalgamations, and instead have put councillors, ratepayers and staff through a process that has wasted time, money and put undue stress on all concerned,” she said.
“If asked, I would a serve as part of a committee advising the new council, however will definitely not be standing as a councillor at the next election.”
Audrey McArdle believes the majority of Tingha residents would want to be included in the Inverell shire.
“Armidale is just too far away, we’ve got no interest whatsoever with Armidale,” she said. “From Tingha’s point of view the government hasn’t thought this through at all.
“If we go to Inverell before this September I would run for the Inverell council to give Tingha a representative. I’d give it a go, I think.”
