Illawarra politicians from all sides have come out swinging against the NSW government’s proposed council mergers, with some vowing to “fight to the death” to stop them going ahead.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
At an extraordinary meeting held on Tuesday, Shellharbour councillors voted to spend $20,000 on an information campaign about the effects of a merger with Wollongong council.
Mayor Marianne Saliba proposed the fighting fund, saying the council needed to give the community as much information as possible about how an amalgamation would effect them.
While all councillors expressed concern with the government proposal, Liberal Kellie Marsh spoke most vehemently against it, even offering up an apology on behalf of her party.
“As the only card carrying Liberal on this council I’d like to apologise for the position we’re in at the moment,” she said.
“It’s something I certainly don’t support from a personal or professional level and I will stand with my fellow councillors and colleagues and I will fight this to the death, the absolute death.
“Even though we all have arguments and debates in this council, and we’ve had some beauties, that is democracy in Shellharbour at work in our own backyard. I don’t want to lose that.”
Likewise, federal Liberal MP Ann Sudmalis, whose Gilmore electorate covers the council areas of Shellharbour, Kiama and Shoalhaven, has come out against the plans, saying all three were financially sustainable.
“If we take all these perceptions and facts into account, as well as the sentiment of the local residents, why is amalgamation a viable solution for our regional councils?” Ms Sudmalis said.
“Clearly there is more information required on this matter, so the rationale for amalgamation can be fully explored.
“As it stands at this time, amalgamating our local Gilmore councils seems to be both unpopular and unnecessary.”
In Wollongong, three councillors – independents Greg Petty and Vicki Curran, along with Liberal John Dorahy – have called on Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery to hold an extraordinary meeting about the merger proposal early in the new year.
Asking for a meeting to be held on January 11, they have asked that the “council resolve to prepare responses to the recent merger proposal announced by the NSW government”.
