Snowy Valleys residents are no strangers to town meetings, and this next tranche, in coming weeks, are geared to inform the community about plans to de-merge the local regional council. Photo: Save Tumbarumba Shire.
Snowy Valleys residents are being invited to engage directly with local leaders at four upcoming town meetings geared to discuss a split of the existing regional council into two entities.
The “town hall” meetings, set down over the next fortnight, mark the next chapter in a long-lingering community campaign to see the former smaller shires of Tumut and Tumbarumba restored after being forcibly merged by the NSW government in 2016.
The first public led tilt at a demerger was in 2019 and resulted in the then-local government minister Shelley Hancock knocking them back two years later due to a lack of consensus, instead ordering an independent statutory review examining the membership composition, functions and processes of the NSW Local Government Boundaries Commission (LGBC).
The second push to de-merge was initiated by Snowy Valleys Council in June 2022, followed by public hearings in Tumut and Tumbarumba in May 2024, with public submissions closing in June 2024.
In December, a newly-elected Snowy Valleys Council formally endorsed a de-merger implementation plan – detailing the steps needed to separate Snowy Valleys Council into Tumut and Tumbarumba councils, and a financial sustainability plan – which ensures both new councils will be financially sustainable.
These have been forwarded to the LGBC for review; its findings and recommendation will then be passed onto NSW Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig.
Snowy Valleys’ new mayor Julia Ham has met with the minister, who she said assured her of his faith in the LGBC and his support for its recommendations which he expected to be presented around April.
But, Ms Ham warned, the de-merger process would not end with a ministerial decision.
“Should the Boundaries Commission support the de-amalgamation, a constitutional referendum would need to occur where 51 per cent of all voters in the Snowy Valleys will need to vote yes in support,” she said.
Ms Ham said the referendum could cost up to $130,000.
“The minister advised he would consider a loan to council to cover this cost,” she said.
This would be over and above a potential $5 million grant to council, as per legislation, in support of the de-amalgamation process if it was approved to go ahead, Ms Ham added.
Demerger advocacy group, Save Tumbarumba Shire, says the De-amalgamation Implementation Plan and Financial Sustainability Plan are on public exhibition, with the community encouraged to review the documents and provide feedback by 5 pm on 31 January.
It says the upcoming town hall meetings are an opportunity for all residents of the local government area to learn more about the demerger plans, ask questions and give additional feedback.
“Council’s interim general manager and local councillors will be on hand to explain the de-amalgamation process and the proposed financial strategies for the future of the new councils,” it stated.
In addition to the town hall meetings, one-on-one sessions will be available for residents to discuss the plans with the general manager in more detail.
Locals are urged to participate in the upcoming meetings on the following dates:
- Tuesday 14 January– 6 – 7:30 pm – Tumut Montreal Community Theatre
- Wednesday 15 January – 6 to 7:30 pm – Tumbarumba RSL Memorial Hall
- Thursday 16 January – 6 – 7:30 pm – Khancoban Hall
- Tuesday 21 January – 6 – 7:30 pm – Talbingo Country Club.
Save Tumbarumba Shire says the community’s participation in the referendum will be critical, as failing to vote will be counted as voting against the demerger.
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