PUBLIC submissions have overwhelmingly rejected an amalgamation between Orange, Blayney and Cabonne councils following hearings at Orange Ex-Services’ Club and Molong RSL Club.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Cabonne hearing hosted an estimated 280 people with 62 speakers.
There had initially been 111 registered speakers, but only about 80 of them attended on the day and time ran out, although delegate Richard Pearson apologised and met with residents one-on-one at the conclusion.
Following a formal protest outside the RSL earlier in the morning, most speakers questioned why Cabonne had been slated for a merger despite meeting the financial criteria and voiced their concerns about losing representation.
General practitioner Robin Williams said he would not have come to Molong if it were not for Cabonne Council starting HealthOne.
“Consequently, we wouldn’t have GP services and other medical services in our small communities,” he said.
Cumnock’s Rhonda Watt said there were 28 committees who all relied on close relationships with the council to facilitate pools, halls, aged care, sporting areas and libraries.
“Volunteers are incredibly precious people and by them losing their close contact with their representation at a local level, it will make it difficult for them to survive,” she said.
Meanwhile, Molong Pharmacy owner Sue Wild questioned the impact on businesses in Cabonne should a merger occur.
“There might not be job losses, but there will be transfers, and that’s job losses for a small village,” she said.
Residents from Eugowra supported amalgamations if it meant they could join Forbes.
“We can’t move to Orange, we’ll be similar to Yeoval and Canowindra, they’ll get nothing,” Eugowra Progress Association vice-chair Ray Agustin said.
At the Orange Ex-Service’s Club hearing on Thursday night, Orange mayor John Davis spoke with enthusiasm about the proposal.
“We all know the state government wants to deal with regional areas to get bang for their buck,” he said.
Meanwhile councillor Russell Turner said Orange would be in a difficult position had it not merged with Canobolas Shire, which is now home to the cemetery and the Homemaker Centre.
“We’ve been going through amalgamations for a long time for various reasons and it’s time we had another round,” he said.
Other speakers in favour of the proposal were Cabonne’s Chris Blunt, Chris Lennon and Guy Gaeta, who lived on Orange’s fringes and shared concerns about Cabonne’s high rural rates.
Mr Pearson will assess oral and written submissions after the February 28 closing date and make a recommendation to the NSW Boundaries Commission.
danielle.cetinski@fairfaxmedia.com.au