A MERGER of Albury and Wodonga councils 11 years ago would have saved ratepayers millions of dollars a year — possibly as much as $80 million from 2002 to the present day.

Documents kept secret for the past 11 years show how former federal politician Ian Sinclair made a compelling case for a single cross-border city council, slamming local prejudices and the “one-upmanship” attitudes of the two councils.

Mr Sinclair also cited “appalling waste and duplication”.

He blamed the two councils for having a poor relationship that had impeded progress across the two cities, despite business and most residents regarding Albury-Wodonga as one community.

In a separate report — also kept secret until now — top state officials mapped out precisely how it could be done.

Both reports have at last come to light after Border historian Dr Bruce Pennay made a successful Freedom of Information request to the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet in the course of researching the history of the Albury-Wodonga growth centre.

Related:

- EDITORIAL: Locals must get behind a merger push

- PICTURES: Community protests, councils never got on together

- Road map to join two cities was ready

Despite the two reports strongly advocating a cross-border “one city” in 2002 — a joint initiative of the Victorian and NSW governments — then Victorian premier Steve Bracks chose to defer the idea.

Mr Bracks said Wodonga people should have a say in it but a taskforce he suggested never eventuated.

As a result, NSW premier Bob Carr could take no action alone — and the matter died.

A similar “one city” initiative by Victorian premier Jeff Kennett in 1996 had also petered out.

Mr Sinclair’s 22-page report was never released.

It was always suspected the respected former defence minister and parliamentary Speaker had recommended amalgamation of the councils using a Victorian template, with commissioners being appointed for a short, temporary period.

Mr Sinclair was adamant there should not be a binding referendum on the idea but advised the states should “get on with it”.

“There are no psychological or legal barriers to normal commercial, social or recreational contact and local businesses would consider it absurd not to treat Albury-Wodonga as one market,” Mr Sinclair said.

He noted “prejudiced” opposition from some people on both sides of the border, but concluded from his consultations that most people didn’t care or did not oppose a merger, though business was in favour.

At the time, Albury was divided on whether the Hume Highway should be diverted to an internal or external bypass.

Mr Sinclair urged an urgent decision to be made on the route, though the federal government had announced in mid-2001 it would be external — a decision reversed by prime minister John Howard in December 2002.

This is despite requests at the time to have it published.