The Independent Local Government Review Panel has submitted it’s final report to NSW Premier, Hon Mike Baird and the Minister for Local Government, Hon Paul Toole MP. This comes about after an investigative process set in motion by the then newly-elected Premier Barry O’ Farrell in 2011. The latest document is a broad-ranging treatise on what are the major economic problems and priorities facing urban and rural councils alike as they try to straddle the hurdles of a constricting economy, government cuts and smaller government grants to the 152 local councils in NSW.
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However, since the first committee review was released in 2012 - the major thrust of all that and all the following documents over the last three years has been to try and encourage smaller councils to amalgamate or “merge” as the latest example of “new-speak” gathers wider recognition.
In the latest version of the Local Government Review Panel the state government have responded to concerns of local government by dangling up to $1 billion for local government in NSW who agree to amalgamate or become “Rural Councils”
But what does this mean for the Weddin Shire in particular and how will the money be distributed. It may be that we are not “Future Fit” - another piece of classical new-speak from the bureaucrats. If that is the case then what happens to us if the Weddin Shire chances its arm to go it alone despite the fact that the latest threat is that “doing nothing is not an option”.
What Structural change did the panel recommend for the Weddin Shire? It appears that the panel has given two recommendations for the Weddin Shire and that is to either establish a Rural Council or alternatively, potentially merge with Forbes or Cowra shires.
A Rural Council consists of only 5 Councillors that meet 6 times per year, unlike our current Council that have a total of 9 Councillors that meet 12 times per year. Rural Councils have a population of below 10,000 residents, there are 40 Councils that qualify for this in NSW.
Keeping in mind these are only recommendations by the Panel and not the outcome of the entire State Government Campaign. The Weddin Shire Council (along with every other Council in NSW) must now submit a Fit For The Future proposal. They will be asked to look at their current situation and consider the future needs of their communities and the recommendations of the Independent Panel. The NSW Government will assist with this process by providing guidelines and templates.
At the September Council meeting our Councillors did not favour the Panel’s recommendations and resolved to write to Minister for Local Government Paul Toole and invite him to Grenfell to address Council and discuss the reform proposals further.
It would appear though that the options for negotiating are becoming less and less as the State government steps up it efforts to force locals councils to “merge” despite the will of the electors. No doubt, the full intention of the Review Panel will be revealed after the upcoming state elections in 2015.
