THE current Wakool and Murray shire councils will amalgamate to create one of the largest council areas in southern New South Wales.
The two border shires will become a single entity extending around 250 kilometres from west to east.
NSW Premier, Mike Baird confirmed yesterday afternoon the two municipalities will merge to form the Murray River Council – spanning the area between Tooleybuc and Mathoura.
The new municipality is one of 19 confirmed mergers to occur across the State, with a further nine amalgamations planned, depending on legal challenges from affected councils.
Wakool Shire Council has been a vocal opponent of the merger, first announced in December, spending the past months lobbying the government and independent delegates employed to investigate the amalgamation proposals regarding the lack of community links between the municipality and the Murray Shire, based around Moama.
Wakool’s six councillors have been removed from their roles to make way for the new municipality, with an administrator and interim general manager appointed to oversee the new council ahead of elections on September 9, 2017.
Minister for Local Government, Paul Toole said yesterday afternoon it will be “business as usual” for residents in new council areas, with services operating as normal.
The council will receive up to $10 million to meet the costs of merging and up to an additional $15 million to kick start new investment in community infrastructure through the Stronger Communities Fund.
The government will conduct a review in four years to ensure all new municipalities are viable.
