Local government elections – including for the Cootamundra Gundagai local government area – will be held this Saturday. Photo: Supplied.
Undoubtedly, there will be dragging feet and a bit of foam at the mouths of those who reside in Cootamundra Gundagai local government area – not even clear about its future- as they head to the polls on 14 September.
Just two weeks ago, the wheels started turning toward a third crack at demerging the regional council – formed as the result of the forced amalgamation of the former shires of Cootamundra and Gundagai in 2016 – at a short meeting in Sydney on 30 August.
The meeting acted as a formal opening to a public inquiry into a demerger proposal submitted by Cootamundra Gundagai Regional Council (CGRC), with the report’s author, Peter Teggart, talking four ministerially appointed commissioners through the implementation plan.
With written submissions from the public on the proposal due 30 September, additional public hearings have been flagged by NSW Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig before the fate of the council is decided, based on a final report from the commissioners.
This comes hot on the heels of the shock July resignation of former mayor Charlie Sheahan, who protested Mr Hoenig’s decision not to defer the local government election locally, which Cr Sheahan said added a $200,000 cost burden to ratepayers.
Bitterness has long prevailed across the lines that formerly divided the two local councils, a fact acknowledged by former NSW local government minister Wendy Tuckerman in August 2022, who cited those escalating tensions and financial burdens as reason enough to demerge.
NSW local government minister Shelley Hancock had knocked back a first demerger bid in July 2021, but Tuckerman’s decision 12 months later meant that, in all likelihood, the September 2024 local government elections would mark the start of a new life for the de-amalgamated shires.
Seven months later, a change in government took CGRC down a different path as the new minister, Ron Hoenig, announced a third inquiry, which is now underway.
Despite its ambiguous future, 11 people have nominated themselves as candidates for the nine positions on Cootamundra Gundagai Regional Council, including the council’s newly anointed incumbent mayor Gil Kelly (Cootamundra) and his deputy Penny Nicholson (Gundagai) and current councillors including former mayor Ab McAlister (Gundagai), Logan Collins (Cootamundra) and David Graham (Adjungbilly).
Joining them on the ballot paper are Rosalind Wight (Cootamundra), Ethan Ryan (Cootamundra), Stephen Maynard (Gundagai), Les Cooper (Cootamundra), Danyal Syed (Cootamundra) and Allan Young (Cootamundra).
The 3982 square kilometres of CGRC area houses a population of 11,424 people in the major towns of Cootamundra and Gundagai and locales of Adjungbilly, Burra Creek, Coolac, Darbalara, Gobarralong, Mundarlo, Muttama, Nangus, Reno, South Gundagai, Tumblong, Mount Adrah, Wallendbeen, Stockinbingal and areas south of Milvale.
About Regional canvassed the priorities of each contactable contact. These are listed below in ballot paper order.
The state’s youngest councillor in history, Logan Collins, is seeking a second term in office, reinforcing his commitment to delivering a prosperous future for the council while also focusing on safer road infrastructure and youth issues.
Seeking her third term as councillor, former business owner Penny Nicholson says securing land for housing and development and supporting the villages and local businesses in the LGA are her focus, as is achieving the Dog on the Tuckerbox development.
Former Cootamundra Shire councillor Rosalind Wight says she’s fully supportive of a demerged council and is campaigning for a locally based general manager. She’s also agitating for a more streamlined development application process and remediation of Muttama Creek.
NSW Government senior manager Ethan Ryan’s stated vision for the future is to create a vibrant, inclusive, and prosperous community while promoting economic growth, social well-being, and environmental sustainability.
Retired NSW traffic policeman Les Cooper is prioritising the demerger to avoid ongoing debilitating costs for duplication of offices, depots and assets while also pushing for urgent upgrades to the hospital while fighting service closures. He is also concerned with the deplorable state of Muttama Creek.
Among medical practice manager Daniel Syed’s many stated priorities is finalisation of the demerger of the council, supporting and attracting local business services and tourism to increase employment opportunities and retaining and growing health and medical services in the shire.
Retired CEO Allan Young says he believes in strong governance to manage the council and set its strategic direction while ensuring councillors fully represent their communities and not just individual interests.
Long-time councillor David Graham, a grazier and accountant, remains committed to demerging to retain independence and control and says he will work proactively to grow the community and infrastructure.
Area manager Gil Kelly is seeking a third term in the council on a platform of advocacy on community concerns around the Cootamundra Hospital health plan, remediation of Muttama Creek and expediting development application approval times.
No specific information on the priorities of two council candidates – Ab McAlister or Stephen Maynard – could be found at the time of publishing.
Some of the candidates provide information about their credentials to run as councillors and what their priorities will be on the NSW Electoral Commission website.
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