Blayney, Cabonne and Orange councils are set to share resources, develop new programs and lobby governments under a new strategic alliance.
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Based on the now defunct Wellington, Blayney and Cabonne strategic alliance the new alliance has been endorsed by both Orange and Blayney councils, with Cabonne due to vote on it during its monthly meeting on Tuesday, July 28.
The plan though isn't without its critics with Orange councillor Kevin Duffy expressing concern such alliances don't achieve a lot.
"These alliances become very bureaucratic and a bit time wasting and those type of things, that's my only concern about that," he said.
"Being the larger council it usually finishes up costing someone some money. We need to be fully aware of that and keep an eye on it."
Blayney Cr David Somervaille said that to avoid the new alliance ending up like the WBC or Central NSW Councils (Centroc) they should consider forming it as an entity similar to Orange360.
"The problem with both the WBC and Centroc was that they couldn't get grants for their projects," he said.
"As an entity the new alliance would be able to apply for project grants, obtain joint procurement and tendering and would allow for tighter scheduling of works."
Cr Somervaille said that the proposed $22 million bike paths plan is an example of a project that the new alliance could have applied for grants for.
"If we had this entity in place last year it could have been the body that applies for those grants as it's about developing a network of bike paths across the three council areas," he said.
Blayney mayor Scott Ferguson said that council's experience as part of the WBC strategic alliance would place council in good stead when it came to negotiating with Cabonne and Orange and that it was in no way a precursor to a merger.
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"These strategic alliances are really good business and the state government are very happy to see this forming," he said.
"The idea that this is a precursor to a merger couldn't be further from the truth. When we act as a region we can put in place real savings for our residents while still retaining complete autonomy as a local council."
If ratified by Cabonne council at next week's meeting the final alliance document will be presented to all councils in December.
HAVE YOUR SAY:
Mark Logan
Started working in newspapers in the 1990's in the darkroom of the Pastoral Times in Deniliquin before moving to Millthorpe in 2003. Soon after arriving I started as a photographer at the CWD. Now a journalist at the Blayney Chronicle.
Started working in newspapers in the 1990's in the darkroom of the Pastoral Times in Deniliquin before moving to Millthorpe in 2003. Soon after arriving I started as a photographer at the CWD. Now a journalist at the Blayney Chronicle.
