BATHURST mayor Gary Rush will meet with his Oberon counterpart next week to offer an assurance about any possible merger between the two councils.
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It comes after Bathurst was named as one of just three councils in the Central West that is in a healthy economic position.
The NSW Government yesterday released the findings of the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) report into local councils’ sustainability – what is called Fit for the Future.
Bathurst, Dubbo and Cowra made the grade, but Orange, Oberon, Blayney, Lithgow, Cabonne and Mid-Western (Mudgee) did not.
The NSW Government has increased its financial incentives for councils to merge.
Cr Rush said he will meet Oberon mayor Kathy Sajowitz next Wednesday to discuss the Fit for the Future findings.
“I am going to say to the mayor that we are Fit for the Future and that if they [Oberon] take advantage of the government incentives being offered, Bathurst would give them every co-operation to make it [a merger] as easy as possible a path to go down,” he said.
“I will also be giving assurances to the community of Oberon, the town in which I grew up, that they will not be disadvantaged in any way throughout the process if that was to occur.”
The release of the findings paves the way for Local Government Minister Paul Toole to push ahead with his reform agenda for local government in NSW.
Mr Toole is working through IPART’s recommendations for possible mergers of councils with Premier Mike Baird and has promised to release those findings by month’s end.
Cr Rush spoke to the Western Advocate just moments after watching a live webcast from Mr Toole and Mr Baird.
“We have all been given until November 18 to respond to the government whether neighbouring councils such as Bathurst, Oberon and Blayney would be prepared to go down the path for a voluntary merger,” he said.
“The government also told us the incentives for mergers had been increased and that $10 million would go to help two councils amalgamate and it would be $15 million if three councils are involved.
“At the same time there are cheap loans being offered to councils who are Fit for the Future, but councils that are classed as not Fit for the Future won’t have access to this money.”
Cr Rush said Bathurst had been found to be in a good position.
“It’s now up to local communities such as Oberon and Blayney to determine their position,” he said.
“The premier asked everyone to go back and have a rethink about their willingness for mergers or they might find they won’t have a choice as the minister has stated he wants this all resolved by the end of the year.
“Both Mr Toole and the premier are urging the councils to put their communities first.”
Mr Baird was blunt when speaking yesterday about the need for change.
“We have engaged, we have implored, and we have given significant incentives. Now we’re at the end of the road,” he said.
“This is a realistic last chance for councils to respond as they should.”