LOCALS in Walcha and Guyra have blasted reports the Berejiklian-Barilaro government is considering plebiscites in communities tied up in the council amalgamation saga.
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Former Walcha mayor Janelle Archdale said the merger message from the community “was, is and has been quite clear”.
“The process would be futile,” Ms Archdale said.
“The message from the community is still loud and clear. It’s a lot of money to spend to find out exactly what they have already been told.”
Ms Archdale believed the new-look government would take a logical and commonsense approach to reconsidering mergers.
“I don’t think they will take a broad brush to it,” she said.
“That would make the whole five-year review seem farcical.”
Meanwhile, Guyra’s rejuvenated anti-amalgamation push also shot down the plebiscite proposal.
“We don’t need a plebiscite,” Guyra ANTY-amalgamation spokesperson Robert Gordon said.
“We’ve already done our own plebiscite with the petition we’ve been circulating for the last 10 days.”
Mr Gordon said the petition had already garnered about 700 signatures within Guyra.
The local man predicted if there was vote held in Guyra, the results would be “overwhelmingly in favour of de-merging”.
“We don’t need the added trouble and expense of plebiscite,” Mr Gordon said.
Local Government NSW (LGNSW) welcomed reports about the NSW Government ceasing forced mergers and said a vote on reversing amalgamations would restore local democracy.
LGNSW president Keith Rhoades said it would be very welcome news for the local government sector and local communities.
“I have said all along that I was confident the Berejiklian-Bailaro government and the new Local Government Minister would listen to the people, and these reports appear to confirm that confidence,” he said.
Cr Rhoades said the next important thing was the timing of the plebiscites for already merged councils.
“I would urge the government to undertake these plebiscites this coming September when the residents and ratepayers of amalgamated councils go to the polls in local government elections and indeed to send all councils who missed out on elections last year to the polls at the same time,” Cr Rhoades said.