Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison has welcomed the NSW Nationals leader’s stand against council mergers in Maitland and Dungog.
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Deputy Premier John Barilaro, who took over the Nationals leadership in November, said on Friday that his party would oppose forced council mergers in regional NSW – including the proposed amalgamation between Maitland City Council and Dungog Shire Council.
Mr Barilaro’s comments came within days of Premier Mike Baird’s announcement that he would retire from politics.
Dungog Shire Council is at the centre of two merger proposals under consideration.
One proposal would amalgamate the shire with Maitland City, while the other would involve a merger with Port Stephens Council.
Ms Aitchison, a Labor MP who has opposed council mergers in the Hunter since they were first touted, welcomed the backflip from the Nationals. But she said the change of heart didn’t stop the uncertainty and anger in regional NSW.
“Local residents are sick of the ongoing talk of the council amalgamations, it’s time that the Nationals started listening to their communities across the state,” she said.
“I hope the Deputy Premier doesn’t do another backflip on this one.”
Local Government NSW president Cr Keith Rhoades also welcomed Mr Barilaro’s stance.
“These communities are absolutely irate about forced amalgamations, and the proof was obvious at the Orange by-election,” he said.
“On behalf of the local government sector I say that now is the time to abandon forced mergers right across NSW and to restore local democracy.
“Stop the forced mergers and send those councils who were denied elections last year to the polls in September – let the people decide how they want to proceed.”
Cr Rhoades said LGNSW, the peak body that represents councils across the state, would continue to support voluntary mergers but would not support forced joint ventures.
“We warned all along that there would be a price to pay if the government ignored the wishes of the community,” he said. “If the Coalition government is genuinely committed to a new day and a re-set, then actually listening to what the people want is a pretty good start.”