Cr Richard Graham has written to community groups saying “No evidence has been provided by the State that would substantiate the benefit to Palerang residents of doing this, even though they have published grand assertions of significant economic benefit from mergers.

 In order to contribute a bit of evidence-based comparison into a one-sided process that is otherwise driven by hyperbole, emotion and fear, I’ve prepared a spreadsheet from available data to compare Rates between Palerang and Queanbeyan or Goulburn. “

Cr Graham continues that “The State has claimed that there will be no change in anyone’s rates for a number of years. One might take that on face value.  One might also think on how reasonable such a claim is, in light of other State claims of improved services and reduction of infrastructure maintenance backlogs (roads, bridges, pools, buildings, and so on). 

 How can one reconcile an increase in services and maintenance works, while at the same time saying there will be no increase of rates for 4 to 5 years to do that?  I for one cannot reconcile that disconnect without introducing the possibility that one or both claims will not be kept.” 

Goulburn Mulwaree Mayor Geoff Kettle claims that they would be $400k worse off if they took on half of Palerang. 

And then there is the cost of the proposals so far. According to the NSW Opposition, the Baird Government has splurged almost $6 million of taxpayer’s money on external consultants in the last 6 months to further its program of forced council amalgamations, . 

The Shadow Minister of Local Government Peter Primrose MLC says that the latest revelation – gleaned from a Freedom of Information request – shows that up until January 1 2016 the Baird Government has spent $2.2 million on an advertising campaign pushing council amalgamations.

The Government spent $1,863,427.67 to buy print and TV spots for the Stronger Councils, Stronger Communities Campaign. It paid $364,304.46 to Saatchi & Saatchi to come up with the ad’s central premise - that the state's councils are mechanical cogs that are holding back NSW.

It brings to $5,962,177.67 the amount of taxpayers’ money that the Baird Government has spent on its local government ‘reforms’.

Based on information from GIPA requests and publicly available tender documents, the NSW Opposition has compiled a list, which includes: 

∙   KPMG “Local Government Reforms: Options and Analysis” in November/December 2015 approximately $400,000 

∙   Elton Consulting Facilitate Workshop for Joint Organisation Pilot December 2015 to March 2016, $212,751 

∙   IPART - Final Report - Assessment of Council Fit for the Future proposals  released October 2015 – approximately $1,610,000 

∙   Qualitative Research for the Local Government Reform Taskforce in July/August 2015 approximately $200,000 

∙   KPMG Local Government Reform Scenario Modelling July/August 2015 $499,895

∙   IPART “Review of Regulatory Burdens on Local Government” June 2015, costing taxpayers $811,800

 ”This money has been spent to con the public that the Liberal’s gerrymandering is in their best interest” Minister Primrose says. “A multi-million dollar ad campaign will not distract anyone from the fact that the Baird Government has yet to release any information which proves their claimed financial savings.”

       At the community meeting held in the National Theatre last Wednesday evening, 53 people attended including former Mayors, Councillors and the General Manager of Goulburn Mulwaree Warwick Bennett. There was a lively debate about where the new divides should be, as well as a call to protest and not accept the limitation of the options provided or the premise that Palerang should stay as a whole independent unit. 

A Motion was passed that the whole of the former Tallaganda Shire area should go to Goulburn.

On Sunday a Meeting at Araluen was well attended and as the current proposal seeks to split the area between two councils. 

The meeting was organised by the Araluen Progress Association, and was attended by the State MP John Barilaro, Palerang Mayor Pete Harrison, Goulburn Mayor Geoff Kettle, Eurobodalla General Manager Catherine Dale, and some Councillors. 

Mr Barilaro gave his personal guarantee that the currently proposed boundary, splitting communities, would not go ahead.

Eurobodalla Shire Council’s General Manager Dr Catherine Dale was invited to attend the meeting by a group of residents who had recently approached Council to investigate the possibility of a boundary realignment involving Araluen to join Eurobodalla. Dr Dale  attended the meeting as an observer,  and said at the meeting that Eurobodalla Council had not formed any view on the proposal and that she was at the meeting to listen to feedback and to answer any questions.

Ian Peter from Araluen, who has been pushing for the area to go to Eurobodalla, says that he has four ESC councillors on side, but also acknowledges that not all Araluenites are in support.

INQUIRIES

You must register to attend the public inquiries, even if you do not wish to speak. 

The first inquiry into the Proposed merger of Palerang (part) and Goulburn Mulwaree Councils will be held at Braidwood Servicemen's Club on Tuesday, 9 February 2016, from 9.00 am - 12 noon, and then Goulburn Golf Club on Tuesday, 9 February 2016, from 1.00 - 6.00 pm.

The second Inquiry into the proposed merger of Palerang (part) and Queanbeyan City Councils will be held at Braidwood Servicemen's Club on Thursday, 11 February 2016, from 1.00 pm - 4.00 pm, and then at Comfort Inn Airport International (Queanbeyan) on Thursday, 11 February 2016, from 7.00 - 10.00 pm.

All attendees must sign in on arrival. Registered speakers must also sign in and will be given a speaker number. A representative of each council which is subject to the merger proposal is invited to speak first. 

Unregistered attendees who wish to speak will, to the greatest extent possible, be provided the opportunity to speak once all registered speakers have spoken, as time permits. 

Speakers will be given a time limit and must keep to this limit. A time warning will be given by the facilitator one minute prior to the end of the time limit. 

Speakers are encouraged to avoid repetition and if there is repetition they may be asked if they have any new information to add.