COROWA has become the first council to embrace the possibility of a merger since the release of proposals by a NSW independent panel last month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Its preference would be joining Albury or Greater Hume councils rather than the panel’s proposed merger of Corowa, Urana, Berrigan and Jerilderie councils.
Corowa mayor Fred Longmire said yesterday the shire’s “community of interest is more aligned to the east than the north west”.
“The merger of Corowa with Berrigan, Jerilderie and Urana shires will not make Corowa shire and its ratepayers any more sustainable into the future than it is today,” he said.
Corowa’s official position was formulated at a councillor get-together this week.
Greater Hume has rejected the panel’s proposals to merge its shire with Albury, while Albury Council has so far refused to publicly declare its hand.
“If push comes to shove we would like it put on the table how it could be sustainable,” Cr Longmire said of a merger.
“We think we’ve put the ball back in their court by the stance we’ve made.
“Our community of interest has to be taken into account big time.”
Greater Hume, Berrigan, Urana and Jerilderie councils were all listed as “at risk” by the panel.
Cr Longmire said his council wanted more information about funding merged councils.
“Nobody has told us how we are going to be any better off by doing it,” he said.
“They talk about incentives, but what are the incentives?
“At this point, we are not saying no, no, no — we are leaving the door open to more talks and not just going to put our head in the sand.”
In 2004, Corowa shire absorbed Howlong from the dissolved Hume shire council.
Delegates from Albury, Berrigan, Jerilderie, Urana, Corowa and Greater Hume meet in Albury on May 30 before a public consultation forum in Corowa that evening.
