Merger Talks Between Dungog And Port Stephens Councils On Again

BY IAN CROUCH

A merger between Dungog and Port Stephens Councils could be back on the cards.

Councillors on the new Dungog Council have voted unanimously to approach Port Stephens with a view to a voluntary amalgamation.

A poll taken during the recent council elections showed just over 55 percent of Dungog residents were in favour of the move.

However, the new mayor of Port Stephens, Ryan Palmer stood for election on a firm no-merger position, but it's understood he's open to looking at ways the two councils can work together without a formal merger.

Port Stephens Mayor Ryan Palmer

Dungog Mayor Tracy Norman Picture: dungogchronicle.com.au

Dungog Councillors Walk Away

BY TYLER FARDELL

Dungog Council has been thrown into disarray after Five of the Nine councillors walked away from the job on Thursday.

The shock resignations could spell the end of the council, which has long struggled with financial obligations, with the Herald reporting the council has an infrastructure backlog of $40 million dollars.

The outgoing members include Mayor Harold Johnston, General Manager Craig Deasey, and councillors Glen Wall, Stephen Farrow and Neville Bale.

With more than half of the councillors now stepping away, the council is unable to reach a decision on any of its business items.

This latest development comes after the long ordeal over the possible merger between Dungog and Port Stephens Council finally came to a bitter conclusion last month, when the councillors voted against the merger.

The merger may have saved Dungog from this implosion, and would have provided them with much needed financial assistance.

Upper Hunter MP Michael Johnson says this could very well be the end of Dungog Council.

"It's an impractical situation where less than half of the elected council is now in place."

"Council has effectively imploded."

However, Mr Johnson went on to say the situation could be saved if the government stepped in and extended a lifeline to the Council.

"The government needs to step in and appoint an administrator as soon as possible."

Michael Johnson MP

Upper Hunter MP calling to sack Dungog Council

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Despite $15 million confirmed to be on the table, Dungog Council knocked back a rescission motion to voluntarily merge with Port Stephens overnight.

In front of a packed gallery, Dungog councillors voted 4-3 to stand alone instead of choosing to voluntarily merge with Port Stephens Council and essentially waved goodbye to significant money from the NSW Government.

Councillor Tracy Norman was the surprising vote last night who two weeks ago supported the push for a merger, but last night said she didn't support the rescission motion that sought to overturn the council vote from a fortnight ago.

"What stone motherless broke council knocks back $15 million dollars for the benefit of their ratepayers? I don't get it. There's been more than enough community consultation. This whole process has been going on since October 2011," said Upper Hunter MP Michael Johnsen.

After the council knocked back the motion, Michael Johnsen is gobsmacked and is now calling on his own government to step in and sack Dungog Council and appoint an administrator.

"Council has recognised publicly and privately for many many years it is unviable short, medium and long term yet it is incapable of doing anything about it. So if that was a business you would expect an administrator to be put in place," said Michael Johnsen.

The Upper Hunter MP can't believe an essentially broke council voted against the opportunity for funds which would fix an immense backlog of work including capital works and Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald is of the same mind but urges council not to be too hot headed.

"I would strongly urge council to listen to their community, look at what's on the table from the NSW Government, think about their capital works, put aside the politics and think about what's best," said Scot MacDonald.

Michael Johnsen says not only is money an issue, staff are fed up and ratepayers are stuck with an incapable council.

"They are losing very good staff, the morale amongst the staff is just dreadful at the moment. The community have had enough, they just want the council to get on and make a decision and go with it and council just can't seem to do that for whatever reason so if they're not capable of doing it then perhaps we should step in and assist the community regardless of the council."