Cabonne mayor welcomes “no merger” vow

Mr Barilaro said Local Government amalgamations had caused uncertainty and anger in regional NSW.

“That all stops today,” he said.

A cautious Cr Gosper said the NSW Government, in particular the incoming Premier and Cabinet, would have to decide whether to reverse its decision to merge Cabonne with Orange City and Blayney Councils.

“That may happen after next week’s party meeting to elect a new Premier following yesterday’s resignation of Mike Baird,” Cr Gosper said.

“I don’t want to pre-empt that decision, but Mr Barilaro’s strong stance today has given us great hope Cabonne will now continue as a stand-alone council into the future.”

Cr Gosper said if this is the case it vindicated the Council’s stand against the forced amalgamation and the subsequent legal action the Council took.

“We have always stood up for the majority of Cabonne residents who have made it very clear over the past four years they are strongly opposed to any amalgamation,” he said.

“Our communities indicated they are worried about the lack of rural or small town representation an amalgamation with a city council may deliver.

“Cabonne residents let the Government know that in last November’s Orange by-election. I have no doubt the opposition to the merger was the major reason the Nationals lost one of their safest seats – a defeat that led to the resignation of then the Nationals leader Troy Grant.”

Cr Gosper paid tribute to Mr Barilaro as a man of his word.

“When Mr Barilaro replaced Troy Grant he met with Council and Cabonne community representatives. He promised to listen to our concerns and have ‘a good, hard look’ at council mergers,” the Mayor said.