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LOCAL GOVERNMENT

AMALGAMATION: 12 MAY 2016

Gee expresses disappointment and anger over merger

Member for Orange Andrew Gee said he was extremely disappointed in the decision by the NSW Government to merge Cabonne and Orange Councils, subject to the decision of the Land & Environment Court.

Mr Gee has been a vocal advocate against the proposed forced merger.

Mr Gee said today’s announcement was all the more disappointing because it means that the only thing now standing in the way of a forced amalgamation is legal action.

“I today telephoned Cabonne’s barrister, Peter King, and wished him well with the case. I hope he smacks the Government’s case over the fence on the 24th of this month,” Mr Gee said.

“It’s hard to believe that the Delegate could make such a finding in the face of such overwhelming opposition by the community, and the comprehensive nature of the submissions.

“There is overwhelming opposition to a forced amalgamation in Cabonne. Neither the Delegate nor the Government has listened to those voices.”

Mr Gee said he was told about the decision when all MPs were summonsed to a joint party meeting of Liberals and Nationals MPs this morning.

“I’m also extremely disappointed that this issue was not discussed in the Nationals’ party room before a decision was made. It most certainly should have been. Instead, we were presented with a fait accompli,” Mr Gee said.

“We seem to have gone through a random process of picking winners and losers and today has seen another round of that process whereby some councils who have been found ‘unfit’ have been spared, while others have been thrown under a bus, which makes the whole thing even more galling.

“Our smaller country communities deserve better than that.”

Based on media release issued by Andrew Gee’s office.

Andrew Gee ... "There is overwhelming opposition to a forced amalgamation in Cabonne."