BY JESSICA ROUSE
Port Stephens residents voiced their anger and frustration at the first meeting of the inquiry into the proposed merger between Port Stephens Council and Dungog Shire Council yesterday.
Fifty residents attended the meeting in Nelson Bay, expressing their anger at the Baird government’s forced amalgamations alongside Port Stephens MP Kate Washington.
Washington says residents feel the NSW government have failed their community.
“The community’s voice has been completely ignored, they all voiced opposition to it, we’ve been refused a plebiscite, no one is taking any notice of what our community’s wishes are. For a government, they are meant to work with communities, support communities, instead we are seeing a government imposing decisions on our community”.
On 12th May Premier Mike Baird and Local Government Minister Toole announced that 46 councils would be merged into 19 new councils.
The proposed mergers set to impact Newcastle, Port Stephens, Dungog and Maitland Councils, have been put on hold due to the ongoing inquiry into the proposed merger between Port Stephens Council and Dungog Shire Council.
Port Stephens residents voiced their anger and frustration at the first meeting of the inquiry into the proposed merger between Port Stephens Council and Dungog Shire Council yesterday.
Fifty residents attended the meeting in Nelson Bay, expressing their anger at the Baird government’s forced amalgamations alongside Port Stephens MP Kate Washington.
Washington says residents feel the NSW government have failed their community.
“The community’s voice has been completely ignored, they all voiced opposition to it, we’ve been refused a plebiscite, no one is taking any notice of what our community’s wishes are. For a government, they are meant to work with communities, support communities, instead we are seeing a government imposing decisions on our community”.
On 12th May Premier Mike Baird and Local Government Minister Toole announced that 46 councils would be merged into 19 new councils.
The proposed mergers set to impact Newcastle, Port Stephens, Dungog and Maitland Councils, have been put on hold due to the ongoing inquiry into the proposed merger between Port Stephens Council and Dungog Shire Council.
The merger has received overwhelming community opposition with 803 submissions lodged prior to the latest Delegate report, 747 of which opposed the merger. Despite this, the Delegate’s report recommends proceeding with the merger.
Washington said, “We want to stand alone, we’ve earned the right to stand alone and we operate successfully in that manner. The government has failed to prove that there are any efficiencies moving or merging in any direction, but we’re being entirely ignored”.
Washington said, “We want to stand alone, we’ve earned the right to stand alone and we operate successfully in that manner. The government has failed to prove that there are any efficiencies moving or merging in any direction, but we’re being entirely ignored”.
