UPDATED 1:55pm: DEPUTY Premier and NSW Nationals leader John Barilaro has vowed to bring an end to local government mergers in the bush.
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But it is unclear what options are available for the 20 council mergers already forced on a range of communities across the state.
The Land has been told Mr Barilaro’s pledge relates only to the regional mergers yet to be signed off due to legal disputes or alternate proposals.
Pending council mergers are Armidale Dumaresq, Guyra Shire, Uralla Shire and Walcha councils, Bathurst Regional and Oberon councils, Dungog Shire and Maitland City council, and Blayney Shire, Cabonne and Orange City councils.
NSW Nationals received a dramatic wake-up call at the Orange byelection in November last year, when the party lost the safe seat for the first time in 70 years.
Former Nats leader Troy Grant resigned in the wake of the shock loss, which was precipitated by the government’s now abandoned ban on Greyhound racing and anger over the Blayney, Cabonne and Orange merger.
“The NSW Nationals and regional NSW won’t be taken for granted in any future negotiations,” Mr Barilaro said.
He will “draw a line in the sand” over council amalgamations and warned his Liberal colleagues ahead of a looming Cabinet reshuffle that the Coalition agreement resets with the new Premier “as a blank sheet of paper”.
“Everything is on the table – there are portfolios which I will be seeking as leader of the NSW Nationals and no doubt there are portfolios which the incoming Premier will be seeking.”
Fixing the merger mess would be one of Mr Barilaro first orders of business in NSW Government discussions.
“The policy of local government amalgamations has impacted 20 councils, 12 of which are in regional NSW causing uncertainty and anger, and others are locked in costly legal action – that all stops today,” Mr Barilaro said.
“There has been, quite rightly, criticism that lip service only has been paid to regional areas over the past few years – the Auditor-General report made that clear,” he added.
Local Government Minister Paul Toole said any future policy changes on local government reform would be a matter for Cabinet.
Anti-merger group celebrates
DESPITE the unclear road ahead, anti-merger groups are signing Mr Barilaro’s praises.
“Vowing to bring an end to local government mergers in the bush would have to be the best news we have had in a long time,” said Cabonne Amalgamation No Thank You spokeswoman Marj Bollinger.
“Cabonne, being one of the twelve regional councils under threat of amalgamation has certainly caused uncertainty and anger as evidenced at the November 12 byelection and has been the topic of conversation between ANTY and Mr Barilaro on a regular basis since he became Deputy Premier.”
“Mr Barilaro has given the community the first glimpse of an opportunity of a bright future for regional NSW Councils to maintain their autonomy which is the important heart of their communities of interest.”