WAKOOL Shire ratepayers say they are being “kept in the dark” and “bullied” about the recent proposed amalgamation with the neighbouring Murray Shire.
The proposed merger – part of the New South Wales Government’s Fit for the Future initiative – comes despite Wakool being declared financially fit to stand alone as a rural municipality by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal in October.
The proposed municipality – which would span the length of the Murray River from Mathoura to Tooleybuc – will cater for 11,400 residents and generate a $20 million total financial benefit during its first 20 years.
Three local ratepayers have written to Member for Murray, Adrian Piccoli “in the hope of improving the flow of information to ratepayers about the proposed merger”.
“The announcement that Wakool and Murray shires are to be merged has been done in a manner that has left the ratepayers totally in the dark,” Wakool River Association chairman, John Lolicato said.
In the letter, signed by Mr Lolicato, Barham Landcare and Eagle Creek Pumpers chairman, Alan Mathers and Wakool Landholders Association chairman, David May, concerns were expressed regarding the Murray Shire’s failed Fit for the Future status, as opposed to Wakool Shire’s fit status.
“The New South Wales Government has not put the case to ratepayers of Wakool Shire for the proposed forced merger with Murray Shire versus say Conargo Shire or other nearby shires,” they wrote.
A lack of consultation about the process and likely impacts and fears of Wakool Shire ratepayers being short changed were also expressed.
“The timing of the forced mergers announcement and the proposed timing of Wakool and Murray shires being forced into administration without any public consultation is nothing short of bullying the ratepayers into accepting that the NSW Government knows what is best,” they wrote.
“The underlying thing is that there is a growing ground swell of ratepayers within the Wakool Shire that are frustrated by the lack of any explanation regarding the pros and cons of the forced merger.”
The three authors of the letter are encouraging the community to form an independent ratepayers group “to ensure that the ratepayers get the best deal, be it a merger with another shire or to stand alone”.
“Ratepayers are demanding a public meeting on this and other issues as soon as possible,” the trio state in their letter to Mr Piccoli.
“The voting ratepayers are in the dark; they need to be consulted and treated with respect.”
Mr Lolicato said he is mostly concerned about the vast demographic differences between the shires.
“Wakool is based on rural farming whereas Murray is more an urban shire with its roots firmly in Moama,” he said.
“On top of all this, local government has lost millions of dollars in Federal Government funding, so no wonder councils are breaking down financially.
“All this has been rammed down taxpayers throats just before Christmas…everyone needs to take a deep breath and inform us about the pros and cons so we can make a decision for future generations.”
The Office of Local Government said council was likely to go into administration in May so the government could prepare it for the merger, despite it still needing to receive approval from the Boundaries Commission.
