![MERGER: Urana is likely to become part of the Corowa Shire. MERGER: Urana is likely to become part of the Corowa Shire.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/u2TKvX7hYXGMrKgrD4ZiFN/e7134d36-8d2b-4c89-a115-f091b340124b.jpg/r0_44_4896_2797_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
URANA Shire has given up any hope that it can remain a standalone council, with councillors conceding it must merge.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Both Urana and Corowa councils had hoped to remain independent following a local government review.
But Urana councillors conceded at a meeting on Tuesday that there was no option but to merge with Corowa.
Urana mayor Pat Bourke said while it was sad to support the merger, both shires were looking to the future.
“We’ve been given the clear direction from the minister which we’ve passed on to the community,” he said.
“We’ve kept them involved right through the process.
“We’re hoping to get some more scale and capability by having a larger area.”
Urana and Corowa both face declining populations.
An Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal report found the councils were not fit for the future.
Cr Bourke said meetings between the two councils last week had been positive.
Corowa mayor Paul Miegel said the shires were in limbo until the state government made a ruling on the mergers around Christmas.
“I have a great deal of admiration for the councillors of both shires, who have placed the interests of the communities above their own careers,” he said.
“We virtually signed away our jobs agreeing to this merger.
"It goes to show how selfless the councillors have been in acting in the interests of the community.
"We really look forward to working with a co-operating with the shire.”
Cr Bourke said he believed the joined shire would operate after elections next September, but the final structure was yet to be revealed.
Cr Miegel said he believed the joint councils would keep buildings in both towns.