It is becoming more evident, that the merger of Great Lakes, Greater Taree and Gloucester councils was and still is one of the most unpopular mergers in the whole State. Particularly for the people of the Great Lakes, who’s council had been found “Fit for the Future” and was expected to “Stand Alone”, the residents were relaxed knowing that we would be left out of any merger proposal.
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It was not until Gloucester Council suggested a merger of Great Lakes, Greater Taree and Gloucester that the Coalition decided that this should be the proposed option in the Council Boundary Review.
Public Information meetings were held by the effected councils and, Dr Ian Tiley was present at additional Council Boundary Review meetings where verbal and written submissions were invited. It was obvious most of the verbal submissions were against any merger that included Great Lakes Council.
It was also obvious from letters to the local press and general feelings amongst the residents of Great Lakes, that the majority were firmly against any merger that included Great Lakes Council and that would have surely been evident in the many written submissions to Dr Tiley.
This was noted in Dr Tiley’s report, however, ignored by the Government, as the proposed merger was subsequently forced. I would suggest that the Coalition, urgently examine all submissions that were made by the residents of Great Lakes at the time of the review and I’m sure that it will be very evident that this merger was firmly against the wishes of Great Lakes residents.
There is so much ill feeling that if the MidCoast Council merger is not reversed in 2017 there is bound to be a huge swing against the Nationals in 2019. The Myall Lakes electorate has a lot of very unhappy voters with long memories and it is highly likely that the Great Lakes, Greater Taree and Gloucester people will unite and protest by unseating any Coalition candidate at the next State election.
Any plebiscite in the MidCoast Council area would be just stalling for time, the communities have already voiced their opinions when mergers were first put on the table, they didn't want it, but Government didn't listen. Give us back our councils because in the end when it comes to election time the people will be listened to and the Government may not get what they want
MidCoast Council should be de-merged without further delay, well before any Local Government or State Government election, as any later, will be too late to win back support for the Nationals/Liberals.
Michael Trickett,
Forster.