IT’S official.
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With an announcement from new Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Tuesday, Oberon’s long battle to avoid a forced council amalgamation with Bathurst was over.
Ms Berejiklian, deputy premier John Barilaro and Local Government Minister Gabrielle Upton held a media conference to announce the NSW Government had decided it would not proceed with those regional council mergers that remained before the courts.
While Oberon Council’s challenge to its forced merger with Bathurst in the Land and Environment Court was rejected, council was in the process of appealing that decision in the Supreme Court.
“Whilst there have been a number of significant improvements in merged regional councils, we accept that a one size fits all model does not always apply outside Sydney,” Ms Berejiklian said.
Mr Barilaro said a “line” was being drawn under the regional council mergers.
Oberon mayor Kathy Sajowitz said her council would continue to support those metropolitan councils continuing with legal challenges against their forced amalgamations.
“Whilst this is welcome news in the regions, we continue to support those metropolitan councils that have fought strongly to maintain their independence, as we have,” she said.
"It is an absolute credit to the Oberon community, elected representatives and council staff who have been steadfast in the fight to oppose the undemocratic and purely political process of forced amalgamation.
“They have all carried through with the commitment to have our voices heard.
"The intervention of John Barilaro after the watershed Orange by-election has been very welcome and shows recognition that one size does not fit all.”
Cr Sajowitz said Oberon Council looked forward to delivering services “to the Oberon community in a timely and efficient way, as it has done now for 110 years”.