Mayor welcomes direction on mergers

Orange Mayor John Davis has welcomed today’s announcement by the Premier and Local Government Minister unveiling more details about its local government reform agenda.

The announcement revealed the government’s proposal for Orange City Council to merge with Cabonne and Blayney Councils.

“After a number of years of different options being very actively considered, it’s good to have some more certainty about the likely way forward,” Cr John Davis said.

“It’s also good to see that the government is taking a consultative approach to making these changes. The decision that the proposed changes will be investigated by the Boundaries Commission will give local communities the opportunity to have their say.”

“On a personal note I was pleased to take a phone call from the Minister, Paul Toole, earlier this morning. It’s good that the government is being upfront about its plans.”

“Orange City Council will be looking very closely at the details as they become available and the submission that will be made to the Boundaries Commission will reflect what we find.”

“The disparity between the transition funding that’s available to city councils compared to country councils is one very serious concern,” Cr John Davis said. “It makes no sense that each city council is being offered $10 million while regional council, which cover a much larger area are only being offered $5 million.”

Under the government plans announced today :

• The number of country councils will be reduced from 109 to 87
• 42 country councils will be merged to create 20 new regional councils
• It’s expected the Boundaries Commission may begin to investigate the proposed new council organisations in January 2016.
• There are indications the Commission may make recommendations to the Minister in May 2016
• Depending on the timing f the changes, the government had indicated the next local council elections (due in September 2016) may be postponed until the mergers are complete.

The proposed new region is about 150 kms at its longest point. As well as the major centres of Orange, Molong, Blayney and Canowindra, the proposed new region includes the area from :

• Eugowra in the west to
• the villages of Lyndhurst, Carcoar and Neville in the south
• the villages of Yeoval and the locality of Obley in the north, and
• stretching about half-way between Orange and Bathurst.

More info about the NSW Govenment's proposals at :

https://www.councilboundaryreview.nsw.gov.au/summary-sheets/blayney-shire-cabonne-and-orange-city-councils/