Mid-Western Regional Council will apply to rejoin the Central NSW Region Organisation of Councils (Centroc) from January 1, 2015.
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The move will allow council to transition to the new regional joint organisations of councils established by the State Government as part of its “Fit for the Future” local government reforms.
The Mid-Western Regional Council has been included in the new Central West Joint Organisation, which also includes Bathurst, Lithgow, Oberon, Orange, Cowra, Parkes, and Lachlan.
Cr Percy Thompson called on council to lobby to remain in the Hunter Regional Organisation of Councils, which includes Muswellbrook, Scone, Singleton, Cessnock, Dungog, Murrurundi, Gloucester, Great Lakes, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Merriwa, Port Stephens and Newcastle City.
Council joined Hunter ROC in 2010, despite opposition at the time from Cr Thompson who argued that council should be part of the Orana group.
However, at Wednesday’s meeting Cr Thompson argued that it would cost council $20,000 a year to join Centroc but nothing to remain in the Hunter group.
He urged council to hold further talks with Minister for Local Government Paul Toole and tell him council was “not happy” to go to Centroc.
Mayor Des Kennedy said he had had an informal discussion with Mr Toole.
“I can assure Cr Thompson there will be change in boundaries,” he said.
Cr Lucy White said the joint regional organisation boundaries had already been defined by the State Government.
She said if the Mid-Western Region did not comply, it will not be ‘Fit for the Future’ as required by the State Government and could miss out on funding offered under the reform package.
“If we do not do it, we will not be ready and we will miss out and ratepayers will miss out,” she said.
Cr White also pointed out that council had stated its wish to remain in the Hunter group in its response to the report of the independent review of local government last year.
General manager Brad Cam told council that it could continue its relationship with the Hunter Councils as well as being a member of Centroc.