Published on 08 August 2023
In response to a resolution passed at the July Ordinary Council meeting, initiated by Deputy Mayor James Burns, Council is launching a community consultation to gauge public sentiment on the potential de-amalgamation of the former Merriwa local government area, from the Upper Hunter Shire.
Cr Burns emphasised the importance of community input, stating "The reason I have put this motion forward is because it is not the Councillors’ job to second guess the peoples’ wish, it is to engage with them on the issues and build a strategy around the majority desire."
While expressing his desire for a "thriving Shire connected through commerce and community", Cr Burns recognises that "there are those residents of the Shire that believe they would be better off on their own. That issue needs to be investigated regardless of my sentiments, it is up to the people to tell us now."
He added, "We will provide them with the fiscal facts, the evidence that they are better off in the tent than out of it and we will wait to see what the community says."
Greg McDonald, General Manager of Upper Hunter Shire Council, stated "Council's role here is to facilitate this process, not to steer the outcome. If our community members express support for de-amalgamation, we will forward the findings to the Minister for Local Government and the Member for Upper Hunter. If the community is not in favour, we will report the findings to Council without further action."
Financial implications of the potential de-amalgamation are now available on Council's website. Council encourages all community members to participate in the consultation process by sharing their views via an online form. For more information, please visit our website at upperhunter.nsw.gov.au/deamalgamation