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The Baird government has created 19 new councils across Sydney and NSW.And the government has said it would merge another nine, pending the outcome of litigation over council mergers.
"The most comprehensive local government reform in more than 100 years will result in 19 new councils beginning operations from today," Premier Mike Baird said.
Administrators and interim general managers have been appointed to each of the new councils, which will hold their elections until September next year - 12 months later than those not being merged.
Local Government Minister Paul Toole said it would be business as usual for residents in new council areas, with services operating as normal.
Each new council will receive up to $10 million to meet the costs of merging, plus up to $15 million for investment in new community infrastructure.
"New councils and their communities will decide how to spend their community funds," Mr Toole said.
"Projects could include pools, libraries, sporting fields, car park expansions or grants to junior sporting groups."
A review of the merged councils would be conducted in four years.
The minister will proceed with the formation of the following councils:
Armidale Regional Council (Armidale, Dumaresq and Guyra)
Canterbury-Bankstown Council (Bankstown and Canterbury)
Central Coast Council (Gosford and Wyong)
City of Parramatta Council (Parramatta and part of Hills, Auburn, Holroyd and Hornsby)
Cumberland Council (Auburn and Holroyd)
Edward River Council (Conargo and Deniliquin)
Federation Council (Cowra and Urana)
Georges River Council (Hurstville and Kogarah)
Gundagai Council (Cootamundra and Gundagai)
Snowy Monaro Regional Council (Bombala, Cooma Monaro and Snowy River)
Hilltops Council (Boorowa, Harden and Young)
Inner West Council (Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville)
Mid-Coast Council (Gloucester, Great Lakes and Greater Taree)
Murray River Council (Murray and Wakool)
Murrumbidgee Council (Jerilderie and Murrumbidgee)
Northern Beaches Council (Manly, Pittwater and Warringah)
Queanbeyan-Palerange Regional Council (Queanbeyan and Palerang)
Snowy Valleys Council (Tumut and Tumbarumba)
Western Plains Regional Council (Dubbo and Wellington)
Subject to the decisions of the courts, the minister has announced his in-principle support for the following mergers:
Botany and Rockdale
Randwick, Waverley and Woollahra
Bathurst and Oberon
Ku-ring-gai and Hornsby
Mosman, North Sydney and Willoughby
Blayney, Cabonne and Orange
Hunters Hill, Lane Cove and Ryde
Burwood, Canada Bay and Strathfield
Shellharbour and Wollongong
Merger proposals pending
Newcastle and Port Stephens
Dungog and Maitland
Armidale-Dumaresq, Guyra, Walcha and Uralla
