MULWALA residents have been urged to consider joining the Berrigan-Jerilderie merger proposal handed down by the NSW government last Friday.
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The Murray River town is located on the western edge of Corowa Shire.
Corowa is now headed for an amalgamation with Urana and Lockhart shires.
Former Moira Shire mayor John Lawless and Mulwala Progress Association chairman Rob Purtle have jointly floated the Mulwala breakaway option.
“Mulwala residents and ratepayers have to seriously consider their futures in light of what has been announced,” Mr Lawless said of the announcement.
“Their communities of interest lie to the west and not the far north and far east under this proposal.”
Mr Lawless said the areas shared community of interest in a range of areas.
That included tourism, irrigated agriculture and sport, in particular football and netball.
“Mulwala plays in the Murray league along with Finley and Barooga which are both in the Berrigan Shire,” Mr Lawless said.
“Having spent six years on Moira Shire, a Greater Berrigan Shire incorporating Mulwala would provide a mirror image of Moira.
“Moira’s two biggest towns, Yarrawonga and Cobram, already provide medical and education facilities for the people in the southern part of Berrigan Shire.”
The boundary between Berrigan and Corowa shires is located 10 kilometres west of Mulwala.
Mr Purtle said the option certainly had merit and would be explored if there was sufficient community backing.
“We are the jewel in the crown as far as Corowa Shire is concerned,” he said.
“I’ve got nothing against the people of Lockhart or the rest of the Lockhart Shire.
“But it is simply too far away.”
Mr Purtle said Mulwala had “absolutely nothing in common” with Lockhart, The Rock and Yerong Creek.
“And I honestly can’t see how this can work,” he said.
Former deputy prime minister and member for Farrer Tim Fischer has also weighed into the shock Lockhart, Corowa and Urana merger,
Mr Fischer has already dubbed the amalgamation as “Locorana”.
“It is a very curious mix,” he said.
“Two out of the three might have worked.
“But three into one is a big stretch.”
Berrigan Shire, which has major towns of Barooga, Tocumwal, Finely and Berrigan, had resisted a merger throughout Fit for the Future assessment.
But Jerilderie has been added to the shire under the changes.
