The first inquiry into the Proposed merger of Palerang (part) and Goulburn Mulwaree Councils was held at Braidwood Servicemen's Club on Tuesday, 9 February 2016, from 9am till noon, and a key view of many speakers was expressed succinctly by Majors Creek resident Bill Waterhouse - “representation and services will be spread too thinly.”
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Mr Waterhouse continued that we “want change for the better, not just change for change’s sake.”
The NSW delegate on the proposed merger Mr John Raynor listened to around 25 speakers. Not any (at the time of going to print) were in complete agreement with the proposed merger and the souther proposed border was ridiculed by many. Some speakers saw benefits in the Braidwood area going to Queanbeyan, Some Goulburn and some Araluen.
One speaker suggested the best outcome would be the amalgamation of Eurobodalla, Palerang, Queanbeyan and Goulburn to gain some regional power.
The Mayor Pete Harrison gave a detailed address against the proposed amalgamation citing the lack of any financial rigour and the tiny benefit if any to be gained. On one reading he said the benefit could be down to just the costs of sealing an extra 25m of road,
Cr Richard Graham said “On an annualised and percapita basis, the asserted $7M in savings over 20 years will amount to just $21,000 per year for the Palerang portion. That is not enough compensation for even 1 staff person, much less the litany of so-called ‘reinvestment possibilities’ set out on Page 8 of the Proposal – such as improved infrastructure, enhanced service delivery, and reduced rates pressure. “
He said “As paltry as the so-called savings are, no one from either of the Councils has been able to replicate them using their actual data. In fact, the evidence is pointing to post-boundary adjustment costs rising. Last week the Goulburn's General Manager publically stated, the proposed new council would be over $400K worse off per year. I project more.”
Cr Graham continued that, “What is before you is a proposal to dissect and bind the two largest enterprises in the Palerang and Goulburn Mulwaree LGAs. They have a combined value of half-billion dollars. $500M of public assets are in play with this Proposal, which despite the rhetoric, appears to be based on nothing more than the whims of the Minister and Premiere, given there is no sound financial substantiation provided. I will go as far as saying that their handling of this matter to date, has been an abuse of power. Substantiation is Transparency, not a State secret.”
A further meeting on the merger was held in Goulburn from 1- 6pm. 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.
