Letters to the editor

Let me first put on record my appreciation to Ms Dye for serving on the LAC over the past 12 months, and my disappointment in her decision to stand down from the LAC, three weeks before it is scheduled to be dissolved. While Ms Dye always articulated her views with conviction, the reality is that her views were not always shared by her peers on the LAC and in any committee system – as with any elected council – the view of the majority must be reflected in the chair’s decision-making.

Firstly, in response to Ms Dye’s comments on council’s new organisational structure; I reiterate that all merged local governments are required to develop and implement a new organisational structure, and ERC is no different. We are required to have our structure delivered and populated by the September elections, and we are well on track to achieving that objective.

Our new structure was developed following extensive consultation with affected stakeholders – not only the LAC, which Ms Dye served on, but importantly, our workforce. All staff members were given several opportunities to have their say on how we could shape a more efficient and effective organisation and one that is better positioned to respond to the priorities of our customers and our community.

Secondly, the recruitment of a new general manager was necessary to progress the merger and support our staff. With those considerations in mind, it was resolved that a new general manager was needed sooner rather than later. The alternative of having council function for seven months without a permanent general manager in place was not conducive to providing good governance. The appointment of a permanent general manager has been welcomed by both our community and our staff. I can genuinely say that the morale within council’s organisation has improved markedly over the past weeks and months, and I am proud of our staffs’ efforts and their commitment to the continued success of our local government and our community.

Thirdly, the NSW government established the stronger communities fund so that newly merged councils can kick-start projects which deliver better services and facilities in our communities. Under the guidelines set by the NSW government, all projects funded under the major projects program had to go through a thorough community consultation process, and I am proud to say that ERC has conducted an incredibly exhaustive consultation process to determine how best these funds should be spent.

Finally, let me address Ms Dye’s comments regarding the NSW government’s approach to the local government reform process and her suggestion that the creation of ERC should be reversed. Put simply, we’re just weeks away from our first elections: It’s not going to happen.

Following the fit for the future process, the NSW government determined to merge the former Conargo and Deniliquin councils to form ERC, and as recently as late February, Premier Berejiklian confirmed the mergers of rural and regional councils that had already commenced – including Edward River – would proceed.

I have consistently said since my appointment as administrator that this merger would bring both challenges and opportunities. My own view is that my role as administrator – and the roles of our former councillors, the LAC members – is to overcome those challenges and make the most of the opportunities.

The conversation we should be having now is not whether we can go back to the past and to what is familiar, but instead about how we can build a stronger community, grow our economy to create a more prosperous Edward River region, and deliver the right leadership to get us to where we want to go and achieve what we set out do.

I encourage all Edward River residents to ensure their voter registration details are up to date with the NSW Electoral Commission, and urge all those passionate about our community to consider standing as a candidate at the forthcoming election.

ASHLEY HALL,

Edward River Council administrator.

IT IS important to put into context the Deputy Premier and Nationals’ leader John Barilaro’s announcement of a $100 million regional cultural fund for community halls, libraries, museums and art galleries.

It is the same government that is providing $600 million to Sydney arts organisations, the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Theatre Company and the Art Gallery of NSW. Rural and regional areas are getting a sixth of what Sydney gets.

NSW Labor calls on the NSW Nationals to revise the regional cultural fund to include programs and staff – and not just bricks and mortar. The fund has a “dog-eat-dog” competitive nature – where the Nationals have pitted regional communities against each other in a fight for funds in a rural and regional version of the Hunger Games. While I welcome any funds for rural and regional communities, I am unable – in good conscience – to welcome this announcement. It is another cruel Nationals trick.

In recent months, I have visited a range of art galleries across NSW and spoken to curators, directors, staff and volunteers, including Broken Hill, Tamworth, Inverell, Orange, Bathurst, Cessnock, Grafton, Bega, Newcastle and the Margaret Olley Gallery in the Tweed. They have world class spaces, but they need on-going funds for staff and to support their programs, as well as cataloguing and digitalising their collections.

WALT SECORD,

Deputy opposition leader in the NSW Legislative Council.