September 2022
Australia’s National Local Government Newspaper
Council to split Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council is set to become the first NSW Local Government Area ever to demerge with three more merged councils reportedly also preparing cases for a similar split. The CGRC was one of 19 NSW councils created in a round of amalgamations in 2016. Earlier this month NSW Minister for Local Government Wendy Tuckerman announced that the proposal put forward by the CGRC to demerge had been successful. The Minister has proposed that the amalgamated council split back into two entities by the next NSW Council Elections in 2024 however it may happen even earlier if CGRC gets its way. An extraordinary council meeting held just a week after the announcement voted to send a letter to the Minister seeking to have the two councils separated by December this year. Mrs Tuckerman said in making her decision she considered the recent reports published by the Local Government Boundaries Commission, which examined the demerger proposal under Section 218CC of the Local Government Act 1993. “This is a complex decision which I’ve made after considering both the report and dissenting report,” Mrs Tuckerman said. Mrs Tuckerman said her decision was based on the merits of the proposal put forward by Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council and the subsequent recommendations and examination by the independent Boundaries Commission. “There are countless examples across the state of amalgamated councils performing strongly by lowering costs and delivering better infrastructure and services for residents,” Mrs Tuckerman said. “It is disappointing that CootamundraGundagai Regional Council has not been able to achieve this outcome. “I’d like to thank Cootamundra-Gundagai councillors and staff for serving their communities. I will make a further announcement on next steps and transitional arrangements in due course. “Finally, I’d also like to acknowledge the Local Council Boundaries Commission for its work” CGRC Mayor Charlie Sheahan, who was in Western Australia when the announcement was made, was notified after business hours on Wednesday evening, by phone call and letter from the Minister. CGRC, Acting General Manager, Mr Glen McAtear moved quickly issuing a statement saying “the past six years had been tough on staff” stressing the need for patience and consideration as the organisation went through the transitional stages to reinstate the former Cootamundra and Gundagai Shire Councils. “The Minister will come up with a model for the demerge, and our organisation as it is today will work with the Minister to ensure a smooth transition,” he said at the time. “It won’t happen overnight, and none of us at this time have any idea how long the transition will take. “However, at this point it’s business as usual. I have every confidence that our staff will act professionally and competently delivering services to our communities, whilst working together to ensure that the demerging of the organisation is successful. “The Mayor has spoken with the Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke and the Minister for Local Government, Wendy Tuckerman, assuring them of our support. We have made it clear that to expect staff to go through an-
Gundagai Council chambers before the amalagamation. The Regional Council has shared its meetings across both locations since the merger.
The Regional Shire formed by an amalgamation in 2016 markets itself as the Gateway to The Riverina.
Cootamundra’s council chambers.
CGRC Mayor Charlie Sheahan is pushing for a three-month timeframe for the demerger rather than the planned two years.
other two years is unreasonable and we want to get this demerger under way as quickly as possible.” The extraordinary meeting a week later, after Mayor Sheehan’s return to the region, voted to send a letter penned by the mayor to Mrs Tuckerman outlining the quicker turnaround. “As this will be the first demerger of this kind in NSW it is important to get it right,” the letter tabled in council read in part. “I do not believe that a long period under administration is desirable or palatable for our communities, so a quick and cost-effective return to elected councils would be a wonderful outcome.
“My proposal for discussion is a threemonth period to work through division of assets, liabilities, plant and equipment and staff. My discussion with senior staff, is this is realistic, and in fact the process has begun.” LGNSW president, Darriea Turley has welcomed the demerger. “We welcome the Minister for Local Government’s decision which aligns with the proposal put forward by Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council and the subsequent recommendations and examination by the independent Boundaries Commission,” Councillor Turley said. “This decision now provides Cootamundra-
Gundagai Regional Council with the opportunity to determine its future for the benefit of the community it represents.” The Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) has reported two other amalgamated councils, Canterbury Bankstown and Snowy Rivers Council, recently voted to prepare business cases for demerger. ALGA said the Inner West Council (created by a merger of the Ashfield, Leichardt, and Marrickville councils) had polled voters about the issue in 2021, with 62 per cent of respondents favouring a demerger – and that council is now preparing its own de-amalgamation business case.