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A MERGER between the Albury and other local government areas was highly unlikely, the mayor Kevin Mack said yesterday.
He said the council was working with Urana, Greater Hume and Corowa shires on a Joint Organisations model.
The joint organisations idea proposes councils work as hubs to create a regional vision with shared services and staff.
Cr Mack said while that could be positive, a merger would have few benefits.
“Being a regional council, we understand the concerns the community might have when you start talking mergers,” he said.
“But we don’t want to merge, that’s the bottom line.”
The NSW government last week offered $1 billion and reduced cheaper loans for councils prepared to merge.
“We have the opportunity to spread our regional footprint but we don’t anticipate that footprint will include other shires,” Cr Mack said.
“Our council will not support that at this point.
“But if the government says we will, do we have a choice?”
A report earlier this year raised the idea of mergers for Albury and Greater Hume, and Corowa and Urana.
Local Government NSW Association president Keith Rhoades said about 30 per cent of councils had discussed a merger with neighbouring councils.
He said the association had “some issues” with the government’s package but he believed it would result in mergers.
“We want to make sure as we move forward that we are sustainable financially, we are viable, and we continue to deliver our services,” Mr Rhoades said.
“About 30 per cent of councils have had discussions over the past 12 months — some are keen, some are quite keen and some have shown interest.
“They’ll now look at how that money divides up.”