FOURTEEN people addressed Orange's public hearing into the proposed amalgamation of Orange, Blayney and Cabonne councils, but less than half were Orange ratepayers.
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General manager Garry Styles told the hearing at Orange Ex-Services' Club there were concerns about representation and a possible move to a wards system because Orange would provide 70 per cent of the residential rates and 65 per cent of the business rates to a merged entity.
"The challenge will be equity in representation given the importance of the contribution," he said
Orange mayor John Davis, councillors Reg Kidd, Russell Turner and Scott Munro and member for Orange Andrew Gee also addressed the hearing, but most other speakers were primarily from Cabonne and Blayney.
Blayney resident Bruce Reynolds said he had to contact three different councils to have Spring Terrace Road repaired.
Meanwhile former Cabonne councillor Bob Sullivan said the eastern part of Cabonne should be part of Orange, while parts of Wellington should become part of Cabonne.
"Ratepayers in Orange these days, most couldn't care less I don't think," he said.
Today's hearing at Molong is set to be a stark contrast, with 96 registered speakers packed into three hours at Molong RSL.
It will start with a protest rally from 8am before the hearing starts at 9am.
Spokesman from The Rural Cause, David MacSmith, said Cabonne had larger cash reserves per capita than Orange with less debt and a merger was not in its interests.
"Cabonne residents have no choice but to change strategy, go to the streets and fight to protect local representation, their communities and their rural democracy," he said.
danielle.cetinski@fairfaxmedia.com.au
