NEW LAW OUTLINES PATHWAY TOWARDS DEMERGERS

The Independent Member for Wagga Wagga, Dr Joe McGirr, has thanked local communities who have helped drive legislation that opens an avenue for amalgamated councils to demerge. 

After years of advocacy, the demerger laws were passed by parliament this week. 

Dr McGirr said the government had acted on the concerns of communities who had never given up hope that their councils would demerge. 

“I’m proud to have worked with passionate advocates for demergers and to have advocated strongly with the government, and at last that work has begun to pay off,” he said. 

“Snowy Valleys Council now has a real opportunity to revert to the former Tumut and Tumbarumba councils, if both communities still wish to go down that path.”  

Dr McGirr said he was pleased that the government had responded to his ongoing efforts to ensure the state would help Snowy Valleys meet the costs of de-amalgamation. 

“I have said all along that the mergers were a mess created by government and that government would have to clean it up by providing a mechanism to create sustainable, effective demerged councils for those communities that wish to demerge,” he said. 

“I thank the Minister for Local Government, Ron Hoenig, who has listened to the concerns raised by me and others and has delivered a Bill that begins to right a wrong of the past and creates a path for change in line with community wishes.” 

I also acknowledge the work of Wendy Tuckerman and the opposition for proposing the amendment to the legislation to include funding for councils, an amendment which the government accepted.”  

Announcing the passage of the legislation yesterday, Mr Hoenig said the government had put an end to a disappointing chapter in local government history.   

“Councils and communities across the state have suffered for too long without a clear mechanism to undo the amalgamations that were forced upon them,” he said. 
 

“This Bill rightly puts those decisions that directly affect communities back into their hands.  

“It provides a legal pathway to achieve de-amalgamation whilst mandating robust engagement with the community throughout the entire process.  

“This is to ensure communities understand the consequences and can make an informed decision about their future.  

“Whether that is to proceed down the path of de-amalgamation, or to get on with the job of providing for their community, this Bill delivers much-needed certainty.”