There is no way it can now be pulled apart and sent back to the three previous councils as it would cost even more to make that process happen.

The State government has committed to reviews of amalgamated councils in 2020 so it’s now time that we work on uniting the community and not trying to divide and conquer.

The comments come on the back of five ex councillors in the space of a week speaking out on commencing the process of de-amalgamation. 

What scares me is many of these will be seeking a position on the new council in September.

If they are elected they may take these opinions and ideology into the new council and ultimately cause fractures.

We need people in council who think regionally and recognise the benefit of an amalgamated council and not living on perceived past glories.

Taree Business Chamber recently met with Deputy Premier John Barilaro as a sign of support for Gloucester Business Chamber and Advance Gloucester groups in their own lobbying for upgrades to roads and access to job programmes.

Whilst not vocal at the meeting as it was driven by the Gloucester groups, it was a sign that the MidCoast Business community can and are working together as a united group.

The business community have committed to supporting the creation of a MidCoast Business Chamber to work with council and other stakeholders on economically beneficial projects for our region,” continues Jeremy.

Jobs in Gloucester have a direct effect on Taree and Forster.

We are now all in the same pool so if one area is seeing job growth it boosts the overall strength of the community and thus the MidCoast area.

I was very impressed with the work of Advance & Gloucester chambers who came prepared with support from c ouncil and presented to Minister Barilaro with a united view of MidCoast.

MidCoast Council is only nine-months-old and will take a few years to bed down and become fully functioning.

We need to allow this process to happen and give it support.

To say after such a short period that it isn’t working is unfair.

From meeting with my Gloucester colleagues, they are already seeing the breaking down of borders as a positive as many projects cross over old boundaries and thus were reliant on multiple council approvals.

This is now gone.

Ex-councillors who are coming out to destabilise the new council are doing more harm than good and I urge them to start showing support for our new community.

Ongoing negativity is not helping and we need to accept what has happened and now work on creating positive outcomes for MidCoast Local Government Area.

If any of these ex-councillors still harbour the bitterness shown last year then they should reconsider running for council.

We only get one shot at getting this right.

Getting the wrong people could have long term ramifications.

Likewise, the community needs to really consider who leads us through this change and vote accordingly in September.

Jeremy Thornton,

Taree Business Chamber president.