Friday, 30 June 2023
Off the back of a meeting with NSW Minister for Local Government, Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke has delivered an impassioned statement to the State Parliament this week, calling on the NSW Government to deliver a fully funded de-amalgamation of the Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council.
“On 24 August 2022, the former Minister for Local Government announced that Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council would be demerged,” Ms Cooke said.
“Already a very significant local and regional issue upon my election in 2017, I have remained in lockstep with the communities, Gundagai Council in Exile and CGRC since that date.”
“Understandably, the demerge process was always going to require patience and perseverance by both council and the broader community. However, since the NSW State election on 25 March 2023, there is little evidence of actual progress on the demerge. In fact, it feels as though it has stalled entirely.”
“I am calling on the NSW Government to do the right thing. Honour your own pre-election promise to the people of the Cootamundra and Gundagai communities to support their decision to demerge.”
“Honour and abide by the amendments to the Local Government Act which you proposed from opposition, and voted for, and ensure your government foots the bill for this demerge.”
With local government elections to be held in September 2024, the clock is ticking, and we must have certainty and a pathway now.