Almost four months after the NSW Government revealed its intention to forcibly merge Wollongong and Shellharbour councils, both are still standing.
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And, while other councillors around the state have relinquished their roles in preparation for next month’s council elections, the Illawarra’s long-standing representatives are stuck in a holding pattern.
The 20 councillors across both councils were always going to serve a longer term than most. They were elected a year early (in September 2011) when the NSW Government chose to restore local democracy after 2008’s infamous council sackings.
However, they have now been on the job for five years – a full year longer than the normal local government term.
In early May, it was announced councillors would likely be sacked before the end of their official terms to allow the merger to go ahead.
But Shellharbour council’s eleventh hour action, challenging the legality of the government’s proposal, means there’s still no end date in sight.
Land and Environment Court (LEC) judge, Justice Tim Moore heard the council’s arguments against the merger proposal in June but has reserved judgement pending the outcome of another council’s appeal.
Woollahra council is currently challenging an LEC decision against their case – which covered similar legal grounds to Shellharbour’s action – in the NSW Court of Appeal.
The Sydney council’s appeal was heard last week, with judges expected to take between one to two months to hand down a decision.
Amid this uncertainty, Wollongong councillors will take a business as usual approach at next week’s meeting, preparing themselves for the year ahead by electing a new Deputy Mayor and setting a 2017 meeting schedule they may never get to keep.
Liberal councillor John Dorahy has filled the deputy role for the past year after being elected for his second 12 month stint last September.
Councillors may vote by preferential voting, ordinary ballot or open voting, and have usually elected to vote openly by a show of hands.
Councillors will also vote to elect representatives to internal and external committees, including the audit and corporate governance committees, major events advisory group and performance review committee.