NSW: Ten councils become seven in state's south

AAP General News (Australia)
02-11-2004
NSW: Ten councils become seven in state's south

By Lisa Davies

SYDNEY, Feb 11 AAP - Ten southern NSW councils were cut to seven today as the state
government announced the latest round of council amalgamations.

NSW Local Government Minister Tony Kelly said the seven new local government areas
were Cooma-Monaro, Eastern Capital City Regional, Greater Argyle, Greater Queanbeyan City,
Tumut, Upper Lachlan and Yass Valley.

The changes merge Yarralumla and Tallaganda councils into the Eastern Capital City
Regional Council, with the western part of Yarralumla being joined to Tumut Council.

The former mayors have been appointed as administrators to the new councils until elections
are held on May 1.

Mr Kelly said the creation of the new councils would result in financial benefits for
the areas, including one-off initial savings of $2.13 million and an extra $1 million
each year thereafter.

Local jobs also would stay in their communities, he added.

The announcement of the new council areas follows a regional review conducted by Emeritus
Professor Maurice Daly and an examination by the Boundaries Commission.

"What I've tried to do here is a blend of the request of the councils but keeping in
mind the catchment areas proposed by Maurice Daly," Mr Kelly said.

"I believe generally speaking people will be pretty happy with the outcome ... those
(mayors) that I've spoken to are very pleased."

He said money would be saved by eliminating the duplication of services and systems,
legal charges, more sharing of resources and computer system.

Jobs would not be a casualty of the merger because most council employees in these
area were voluntary workers already.

"The majority of jobs in local government are taken by those out there working already
... the only jobs to a large degree that are in danger are some of the general managers,"

he said.

Most employees would become involved in the larger councils anyway, he said.

Mr Kelly there would be more council amalgamations as the Boundaries Commission systematically
examined the rest of the state.

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KEYWORD: COUNCIL

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