At a press conference held at 12.30 today at NSW Parliament House, the announcement was made by NSW Premier Mike Baird,Deputy Premier Troy Grant and Minister for Local Government Paul Toole.

NSW Premier Mike Baird and Minister for Local Government Paul Toole said 19 new councils announced in NSW today will work harder for residents and deliver better services and community facilities.

“The most comprehensive local government reform in more than 100 years will result in 19 new councils beginning operations from today,” Mr Baird said.

In the local region, Palerang Council will be wholly merged with Queanbeyan, while Goulburn Mulwaree will stand alone.

It's not yet known what has been decided on Queanbeyan's request for a $30million grant to facilitate the merger. 

Palerang Mayor Pete Harrison has called the merger "a disaster."

In principle, the Minister for Local Government supports creating a further nine councils, subject to decisions of the courts.

“Our plan to create stronger new councils in Sydney and regional NSW will be supported by NSW Government investment of about $500 million,” Mr Baird said.

“We are ensuring our communities have stronger and more efficient councils, which will free up money for important projects such as local roads, parks, playgrounds and footpaths.”

The rate protection policy commitment means residents of new councils will pay no more for their rates than they would have under their old council for four years.

Reducing waste and red tape through local government mergers could free up close to $2 billion over the next 20 years, allowing councils to fund better services and new infrastructure for communities or lower rates.

The NSW Government will conduct a review in four years to ensure the community is continuing to benefit from stronger councils.

Mr Toole said it will be business as usual for residents in new council areas, with services operating as normal.

Each new council will receive up to $10 million to meet the costs of merging and up to an additional $15 million to kick start new investment in community infrastructure through the Stronger Communities Fund.

“New councils and their communities will decide how to spend their community funds. Projects could include pools, libraries, sporting fields, car park expansions or grants to junior sporting groups,” Mr Toole said.

Mr Toole thanked delegates who examined the proposals and the Boundaries Commission for its important work.

Many people have taken the opportunity to have their say during the consultation process, by speaking at inquiries or making written submissions.

“The NSW Government has listened to community concerns and created new wards that reflect the identity of existing communities,” Mr Toole said.

Mr Toole said that residents should also feel confident that planning protections would remain in place with existing Local Environmental Plans remaining in force under the new councils.

An Administrator and an interim General Manager have been appointed to new councils ahead of council elections on 9 September 2017.

COUNCILLOR COMMITTEES FOR NEW STRONGER COUNCILS

Mayors and councillors of councils that have been merged to create new, stronger councils will have the opportunity to serve the community on newly established local committees, NSW Premier Mike Baird and Minister for Local Government Paul Toole said today.

“The knowledge, skills and experience of existing mayors and councillors will be an enormous asset to the new councils that will begin operation today,” Mr Baird said.

“Councillors who have shown a commitment to making the new council a success will have the opportunity to get involved.

“The NSW Government is committed to the successful implementation of new councils and central to this is local knowledge and representation.

“Mayors and councillors selected by administrators to be on these committees will continue to be paid at the same level, in recognition of their efforts and dedication to shaping the future of the those new councils.”

Mr Toole said the successful Expression of Interest process run by the Government had given administrators a running start in setting up these groups. Administrators will be in contact with mayors and councillors in the coming weeks.

“The Implementation Advisory Group will play a key role in making the new council a success by bringing together expertise from the former councils to advise the administrator on how best to bring the council systems and staff together,” Mr Toole said.

At least two representatives from each former council areas will be appointed to the IAG. Each former council area will also have a Local Representation Committee made up of former councillors and other local representatives where appropriate.

“The Local Representation Committees will be established by the independent administrator in each new council and provide an opportunity for councillors to serve the interests of their communities until the election next year,” Mr Toole said.

“These interim governance arrangements have been put in place to ensure effective implementation and continued local representation until local government elections are held in September 2017.”

REFORMS TO STRENGTHEN COUNCIL INTEGRITY

Dishonest councillors who use their position for personal benefit will be forced to hand over their ill-gotten gains under tough new laws to be introduced into NSW Parliament.

The sweeping reforms to NSW’s local government integrity regime will help restore confidence in the state’s councils, NSW Premier Mike Baird and Minister for Local Government Paul Toole announced today.

These new measures will ensure councils will no longer be able to decide on planning decisions that councillors have a stake in.

The NSW Government will also place a $2,500 cap on political donations for council elections.

Decisions made on planning applications lodged with a council in which a councillor or general manager, their spouse or relative has a financial interest must be made independently of the council. However, this requirement will not apply to routine development applications relating to their principal places of residence.

The legislation will also close a loophole that allows council officials to vote on planning matters in which they or a relative have a pecuniary interest, where the permissible use of land is not being altered.

“We want the community to have confidence in councils again,” Mr Baird said.

“Unfortunately this confidence has been shaken recently by councillors who have put self-interest ahead of community interest.”

Under the legislation, councillors may be forced to hand over any financial benefit they have received if they voted in a matter in which they had a pecuniary interest.

A person who, in the past seven years, has been convicted of a crime that carries a potential jail term of five years or more will be banned from standing for council.

Similarly, those convicted within the past two years of an offence under the Election Funding Expenditure and Disclosures Act 1981 will be prohibited from nominating as a council election candidate.

Candidates and elected councillors will be required to disclose if they benefit from income derived from property development.

“These tough and practical reforms will safeguard the community interest and help banish self-interest from the council chamber,” Mr Toole said.

“Councillors who attempt to use their position for personal gain will quickly find they’re wasting their efforts.

“Through greater transparency and powers to seize profits, the NSW Government is sending a clear message that councils don’t exist to enable dodgy get-rich-quick schemes.” 

The following mergers to go ahead:

Armidale Regional Council (Armidale, Dumaresq and Guyra)

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Canterbury-Bankstown Council (Bankstown and Canterbury)

Central Coast Council (Gosford and Wyong)

City of Parramatta Council (Parramatta and part of Hills, Auburn, Holroyd and Hornsby)

Cumberland Council (Auburn and Holroyd)

Edward River Council (Conargo and Deniliquin)

Federation Council (Cowra and Urana)

Georges River Council (Hurstville and Kogarah)

Gundagai Council (Cootamundra and Gundagai)

Snowy Monaro Regional Council (Bombala, Cooma Monaro and Snowy River)

Hilltops Council (Boorowa, Harden and Young)

Inner West Council (Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville)

Mid-Coast Council (Gloucester, Great Lakes and Greater Taree)

Murray River Council (Murray and Wakool)

Murrumbidgee Council (Jerilderie and Murrumbidgee)

Northern Beaches Council (Manly, Pittwater and Warringah)

Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council (Queanbeyan and Palerang)

Snowy Valleys Council (Tumut and Tumbarumba)

Western Plains Regional Council (Dubbo and Wellington)