The looming threat of a merger clouded debate at Wollongong City Council’s meeting this week, with some councillors fearing it may be their last.
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Discussions over the latest budget were tinged with sadness, with councillor Ann Martin saying the NSW government’s proposal to amalgamate Wollongong and Shellharbour councils had been “a dampener”.
“Whatever happens to this council, can I say that I think this council has done an amazing job working with our staff to do the work we have done,” she said during a debate on the 2016/17 budget.
“Let’s hope we’re here when our submissions come back from exhibition, so we can formally adopt what is our most significant budget.”
Likewise, councillor David Brown lamented the council’s predicament.
“We’re not just fit for the future, we’re fighting fit for the future,” he said.
“It’s regrettable that we’ve got the Sword of Damocles above us with such good numbers, but that’s the world we live in at the moment.”
General manager David Farmer also remarked on how the possible merger could affect the council’s operations, indicating his position may be changed by the time the council’s budget came into effect.
“From the time the budget is actually implemented, the merger proposal decision will be made,” he told councillors.
Last week, the NSW government asked general managers across the state to express their interest in “interim” roles in new merged entities, even though the managers are employed by individual councils not the government.
A spokeswoman for NSW Local Government Minister Paul Toole this week said no decision had been made on any merger proposal, but that is was “appropriate for the government to seek a pool of qualified people to ensure a seamless transition to new councils that proceed”.
“The government is aiming to make a decision on proposals currently under consideration by midyear,” she said.
While the date of any merger decision remains unclear, Liberal councillor Bede Crasnich was the most vocal about his fears that Monday’s meeting could be the council’s last.
He said these were based on a NSW government deadline given to councillors, who were asked to submit an expression of interest by April 15, explaining why they would be suitable to be part of an interim council.