LABOR MP Kate Washington has called the NSW Government’s handling of the proposed Port Stephens-Newcastle merger a “dog’s breakfast” and a “political farce”

Ms Washington, the Port’s state MP, has called on the NSW Government to rule out the proposed Newcastle-Port Stephens council merger altogether after it was announced on Thursday that a decision was still pending.

“[NSW Premier] Mike Baird has failed to listen to this community and rule out a Port Stephens-Newcastle amalgamation,” Ms Washington said.

“This process has been a complete dog’s breakfast, now it's become a political farce.

“This whole process reeks of politics at play, where we won't see any decision until after the Federal election. The Premier is making decisions based on politics instead of people. 

“The Port Stephens-Newcastle merger should have been entirely ruled out. Instead, the Baird government has delayed making any decision at all, leaving everyone completely at a loss as to what's going on.”

Earlier today Mr Baird, flanked by Minister for Local Government Paul Toole, announced no decision had been made on the Port Stephens-Newcastle council merge, nor the proposed Dungog-Maitland merge.

EARLIER:

THE NSW Government has not taken a Port Stephens-Newcastle amalgamation off the table, with the proposed merger one of 12 still being considered.

NSW Premier Mike Baird announced on Thursday afternoon that it will form 19 new councils across the state through amalgamations.

Newcastle, Port Stephens, Maitland and Dungog, however, are yet to discover their fate.

It was confirmed on Thursday that the Dungog and Gloucester councils will not merge.

Instead, Gloucester, Greater Taree and Great Lakes councils will merge into a Mid-Coast Council. 

Like Newcastle and Port Stephens, a Dungog and Maitland merge proposal is still pending.

Port Stephens Mayor Bruce MacKenzie, a vocal opponent of a Port Stephens-Newcastle merge, said he was “disappointed” the amalgamation was still being considered.

“I feel as though we’ve been railroaded by the state government and let down,” Cr MacKenzie said.

“They’re saying politics has nothing to do with this, but it has everything to do with it.

“You had Barnaby Joyce interfering with the Tamworth-Walcha merge, now that’s not going ahead, so no one can say that’s it not political.

“I’m disappointed that they still want to go ahead with this; they must be delusional because 95 per cent of people in Port Stephens don’t want it.”

Local Government Minister Paul Toole said on Thursday that the government would await the outcome of the public inquiry into the Port Stephens-Dungog proposal before making a final decision into the Newcastle-Port Stephens merger, and also its own proposal to merge Dungog and Maitland.

The Minister also confirmed the Delegates appointed to assess the Newcastle-Port Stephens and Dungog-Maitland proposals had supported them, despite the protests of Port Stephens residents.

Delegate Ian Reynolds' report into the Port Stephens-Newcastle proposal noted 803 submissions were received, with 747 against and only 21 in favour.

Thirty-five indicated no opinion.

Cr MacKenzie said Thursday’s decision has turned the mergers into a federal election issue.

“The local Liberal candidate, Karen Howard, will have absolutely no chance if they go ahead with this,” he said.

“No one will vote for her. No one will even help her hand out flyers if they go ahead with the Newcastle merge. They’re handing the seat [Paterson] to Labor.”

Public inquiries into the Port Stephens-Dungog proposal have been scheduled for Wednesday, June 8 at Wests Diggers RSL Club in Nelson Bay (12 noon – 4pm) and Raymond Terrace Bowling Club (7pm – 10pm), and Thursday 9 June at the Dungog Memorial RSL Club (7pm – 10pm).

Submissions on the merger will be accepted until 5pm on Sunday, June 26.

Written submissions can be MADE HERE.

Local Government Minister Paul Toole has announced that he will proceed with the formation of the following councils:

Armidale Regional Council (Armidale, Dumaresq and Guyra)

Canterbury-Bankstown Council (Bankstown and Canterbury)

Central Coast Council (Gosford and Wyong)

City of Parramatta Council (Parramatta and part of Hills, Auburn, Holroyd and Hornsby)

Cumberland Council (Auburn and Holroyd)

Edward River Council (Conargo and Deniliquin)

Federation Council (Corowa and Urana)

Georges River Council (Hurstville and Kogarah)

Gundagai Council (Cootamundra and Gundagai)

Snowy Monaro Regional Council (Bombala, Cooma Monaro and Snowy River)

Hilltops Council (Boorowa, Harden and Young)

Inner West Council (Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville)

Mid-Coast Council (Gloucester, Great Lakes and Greater Taree)

Murray River Council (Murray and Wakool)

Murrumbidgee Council (Jerilderie and Murrumbidgee)

Northern Beaches Council (Manly, Pittwater and Warringah)

Queanbeyan-Palerange Regional Council (Queanbeyan and Palerang)

Snowy Valleys Council (Tumut and Tumbarumba)

Western Plains Regional Council (Dubbo and Wellington)

Subject to the decisions of the courts, Minister Toole has announced his in-principle support for the following mergers:

Botany and Rockdale

Randwick, Waverley and Woollahra

Bathurst and Oberon

Ku-ring-gai and Hornsby

Mosman, North Sydney and Willoughby

Blayney, Cabonne and Orange

Hunters Hill, Lane Cove and Ryde

Burwood, Canada Bay and Strathfield

Shellharbour and Wollongong

Merger proposals pending

Newcastle and Port Stephens

Dungog and Maitland

Armidale-Dumaresq, Guyra, Walcha and Uralla

THURSDAY:

Port-Dungog merger inquiry

THE NSW Government is expected to make an announcement on its proposed council mergers today, including the contentious Port Stephens and Newcastle amalgamation.

It is expected the proposed Port Stephens-Newcastle merger will be considered for longer while the Port’s case to instead merge with Dungog is investigated.

Port Stephens Mayor Bruce Mackenzie said he was aware an announcement about the council mergers would be made today and “prayed to god” the Port would be mentioned.

“I was hoping the announcement would be that a Newcastle-Port Stephens merger is off the table,” Cr MacKenzie said.

“But if they're announcing it's going to be considered longer, then that gives me something to hang my hat on. 

“At least its not an announcement that it [merger] is going ahead while the Port Stephens -Dungog merger is still being completely investigated.

“I don't think any good can come of a Newcastle-Port Stephens merger; we're just not compatible with each other. And, I don't want to see Port Stephens' assets go to Newcastle to be wasted.

“We would rather a Port Stephens-Dungog merger.”

More to come.