A CAMPAIGNER for the return of Tumbarumba Shire believes NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has to take notice of her cause after it was heard at the Local Government NSW Conference on Monday.
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Save Tumbarumba Shire president Lucy Henderson was thrilled a motion was passed at the forum pushing for the Local Government Act to stop forced amalgamations without a plebiscite.
It also called for Local Government NSW to show “solidarity with the people of Tumbarumba and Gundagai as they seek to demerge from their forceably amalgamated councils”.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to pieces that we’ve got overwhelming support, it’s phenomenal,” Ms Henderson said.
“Gladys must listen to us now.”
However, NSW Local Government Minister Gabrielle Upton was not willing to listen to questions from Save Tumbarumba secretary Doug Gee when she emerged from the Albury Entertainment Centre after giving a speech to the conference.
“Sorry I have to go,” Ms Upton said as Mr Gee asked if he could pose “just a couple of questions” after she acknowledged the group’s advocacy.
The minister then walked away to jeers.
Mr Gee said he wanted to ask the minister whether she had received the group’s proposal to secede from Snowy Valleys Council which was formed by the merger of Tumbarumba and Tumut councils.
In addressing conference delegates, Ms Upton said she would be “very happy” to meet Tumbarumba activitists and noted there were provisions to demerge in the relevant government act.
About 80 protesters travelled from Tumbarumba as well as 20 from Gundagai.
Those from the latter town were calling for Gundagai to break away from its merged entity with Cootamundra.
Forbes councillor Phyllis Miller said during debate over the motion that while she supported Tumbarumba she questioned whether justice was being done to other places hurt by mergers with such a move.