Tuesday, 6 February 2024
The circumstances surrounding the de-amalgamation of the Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council (CGRC) are certainly unique, and I’m pleased the Local Government Minister has recognised this in his bill introduced in parliament today (Local Government (De-amalgamations) Amendment Bill).
This is not a one-size-fits-all issue, and the Minister has clearly taken into account the years of work that has already been undertaken by the Cootamundra and Gundagai communities, by making separate provisions for the CGRC as they continue through the de-amalgamation process.
I will be going through the bill with a fine-tooth comb to better understand its implications for the CGRC.
I have requested an urgent briefing with the Local Government Minister to clarify what this bill means for the Cootamundra and Gundagai communities.
My biggest concern continues to be around the cost of the de-merge, along with achieving a timely resolution for the sake of those impacted by the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the de-merger process.
