BARHAM and district residents have vowed to fight the proposed merger between the neighbouring border Shires of Wakool and Murray.
More than 80 residents attended Wednesday’s community session, which provided information about the amalgamation proposal and gave residents the chance to have their say on the matter.
The meeting was one of five sessions across the shire occurring prior to Tuesday’s community hearing into the New South Wales Government-supported amalgamation, which would create a municipality spanning the Murray River from Tooleybuc in the west to Mathoura in the east, a distance of more than 240 kilometres.
Residents from other parts of the municipality have strongly expressed similar opposition.
The merger proposal follows more than two years of assessment determining if all municipalities were capable of operating sustainably in future years.
Wakool Shire Council was deemed to meet the criteria, however Murray Shire Council did not and had been earmarked for a potential merger with the neighbouring municipalities of Conargo and Deniliquin.
However, the government announced in December plans to reduce the number of municipalities across the start by close to half, using data developed during the Fit for the Future process to support it plans.
Wakool Shire Council’s acting general manager, Lea Rosser outlined at the meeting that data used to support the merger was inaccurate.
Documents supporting the plan stated both councils had an infrastructure backlog of $53 million, but the shire’s own records show its backlog of improving roads, ovals and buildings to current standards is $157,000, with Murray Shire Council’s backlog confirmed as $135,000.
A reference to the shire having a $400,000 deficit in 2013/14 was a result of the payment of the Federal Government’s Assistance Grant being delayed, which was carried over into the next financial year’s records.
Accounting firm KPMG also contacted council this week stating that a $15 million spend on creating a new municipality would generate $3.5 million in savings, not the $5 million listed in the New South Wales Government-created report.
“It has become very clear the reasons for the merger do not make sense,” Ms Rosser said.
“If the argument the government has put to us made sense, good; but these facts for not back up their arguments.
“The government is better off giving us $3.5 million and leaving us alone.”
Concerns were also raised regarding the proposed community representation on the new council.
It is anticipated only two positions from the former Wakool Shire Council-controlled area will be available on the proposed six-member council.
“The proposed merger would make the new council the third largest in the State, but no other council is as long or as skinny,” Ms Rosser said.
“The relationships between Wakool and Murray shires do not match up. Murray Shire has a strong relationship with Echuca in Victoria, whereas Wakool leans more towards Swan Hill, Bendigo and other parts of Victoria.”
Wakool mayor, Cr Neil Gorey and fellow councillor, Lois Lockhart attended the meeting to hear residents’ views on the merger proposal.
“We’re the underdog. Let’s fight this and let’s win,” Cr Lockhart said.
“If we can’t win, let’s get the best we can for the community.”
