A MERGER with Berrigan Shire could see Jerilderie Shire lose 25 out of its 43 staff, a hearing was told on Wednesday.
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Jerilderie Shire general manager Craig Moffitt raised the figure in underlining the impact a merger of the southern half of his shire with Berrigan.
He also reacted to claims about Jerilderie's attitude.
“We never said we couldn't stand alone, what we said was we weren't going to be allowed to stand alone,” Mr Moffitt said.
Jerilderie mayor Ruth McRae told independent delegate Tim Stubbs that the council was the largest employer in the shire and job losses could have devastating flow-on effects to the financial, educational and health sectors.
“What this is doing is pitting small community against small community which is really ugly,” Cr McRae said.
Her comments came at a Berrigan hearing which attracted 80 people.
A session in the afternoon at Jerilderie drew 200.