ALBURY mayor Kevin Mack can't be certain his council will get its wish and remain standalone as the latest attempt at local government reform in NSW reaches a critical stage.
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The NSW Local Government Minister Paul Toole is under pressure again to rule out forced amalgamations under the Fit for the Future program which has been underway for more than a year.
Mr Toole visited Wagga on Monday as part of the NSW Parliament’s upper house inquiry into local government reform.
One of the original recommendations was for Albury and Greater Hume to merge, but is being strongly resisted by both organisations.
Local councils are expecting an announcement in October and Cr Mack said Albury had to be prepared for all scenarios including mergers.
"Our submission is to be standalone, but I can't see that being allowed to happen," he said.
"Part of the recommendation included parts of Greater Hume and we wouldn't be surprised if it is all of Greater Hume.
"Greater Hume has a greater community of interest south not north.
"But we've got no control over it."
In a media report at the weekend, the NSW government was poised to sack all councils and administrators placed in charge until mid-next year.
Councillors and mayors would be re-elected to "super councils” at council elections due to be held next year.
"They've got the power to do it, but it would undo a lot of the work they have been doing," Cr Mack said.
"Consultation is consultation and the community would get its back up.
"It is more an issue for metropolitan councils because they were always going to be the ones to cause them the most grief."
Local Government NSW president Keith Rhoades said the minister had to come clean on forced mergers.
"This is a real opportunity for the minister to finally come completely clean,” he said.
“He needs to reassure communities that the Baird government will not move to crush grassroots democracy."
