A public inquiry was held yesterday at Blayney Bowling Club where nearly 25  passionate residents spoke out about their disappointment of the possible amalgamation of the three councils.

Orange’s poor road quality and maintenance of Blayney’s recreational sporting facilities were just two of many topics raised by several concerned residents.

Hobbys Yards resident Jenny Parker expressed her fear over the smaller villages in the shire losing their voice in a much larger regional council.

“This town will diminish,” she said. 

“The villages will be ignored because we are on the other side of Blayney. We won’t exist.

“In this area it will make a difference. If we do have to amalgamate, there is no way I would go to Orange, I would rather go to Bathurst.” 

Blayney  mayor Scott Ferguson revealed his disappointment over being deemed ‘not fit’ by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) due to not meeting the population criteria. 

“We are a very strong council,” he said.  

“In my 17 years, I have never seen Blayney Shire Council in a better position. It is ironic we are here now considering changing our future.” 

Cr Ferguson also threw his support behind the staff at Blayney Shire Council believing if a merger were to go ahead, it was absolutely critical the staff had input. 

“We have a tremendous amount of skills in our staff, who are also residents and have a very close connection with our shire,” he said.

“Diversity and size (of the Blayney shire) means residents have direct connections to councillors.” 

“We must deliver a council that people are local to.”

A number of residents gathered after the meeting and pledged to form a group  that was opposed to the possible amalgamtion, similar to the group formed in Molong.

ellen.dunger@fairfaxmedia.com.au