Maitland has been left sitting in the wings while a state government delegate investigates a council merger between Dungog and Port Stephens. The investigation comes after Port Stephens council said it wanted to merge with Dungog instead of proceeding with a proposal to merge with Newcastle council.
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Mayor of Maitland, Cr Peter Blackmore, said the city would have to wait until the investigation had finished and the state government had made up its mind before it knew its fate.
Under the latest scenario Maitland would either stand alone or merge with Dungog. Cr Blackmore said he was torn over whether a Maitland-Dungog merger or a Dungog-Port Stephens partnership would be best.
If forced to merge with a nearby council, Cr Blackmore would prefer to merge with Dungog. He acknowledged Maitland ratepayers were concerned about the financial aspects of a merger.
Local Government Minister Paul Toole said he was awaiting a report into Port Stephens Council’s plans to merge with Dungog before making a decision.
The proposal to merge Maitland and Dungog was referred for examination in March, two months after proposals were submitted for Dungog and Gloucester’s union and unification of Port Stephens and Newcastle.
“The delegate was supportive of both the Newcastle and Port Stephens merger, and the Maitland and Dungog merger,” Mr Toole said. “However, it is clear from the report that the community of Port Stephens is concerned about the potential impact of the merger.
“Given this, it is appropriate to wait for work on the Port Stephens Council alternative proposal to merge with Dungog Shire to be completed, and for the community to have a say on this option, before a final decision is made.
“I recognise that this prolongs the uncertainty for these communities, in particular from Dungog, the subject of three merger proposals, but the Government is committed to getting it right,” Mr Toole said.
