THE mayor of Port Stephens, Cr Bruce MacKenzie, has called on residents to support the proposed merger with Dungog Shire Council, after the state government left the door open to a Newcastle merger.
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The state government announced on Tuesday it would await the outcome of the public inquiry into the Port Stephens-Dungog option before it makes a decision. The minister for Local Government Paul Toole also revealed that independent merger delegate Ian Reynolds endorsed the Port Stephens-Newcastle option despite overwhelming opposition.
Mr Reynold’s report noted 803 submissions were received, with 747 against and only 21 in favour. Thirty-five indicated no opinion.
Cr MacKenzie said the prospect of a merger with Newcastle remains very real since Mr Toole had refused to dump this option like he had other preliminary options.
"The choice for the people of Port Stephens is now clear – it's either Dungog, or Newcastle," he said.
"I am incredibly disappointed with today's events. The government had a golden opportunity to listen to the will of the people and to take an extraordinarily unpopular proposal off the table, once and for all. They bottled it.”
Cr MacKenzie said the fact other options were canned elsewhere but not here came down to politics.
"I remind the government once again, the Newcastle-Port Stephens proposal was rejected by 93 per cent of Port Stephens residents,” he said.
“Eighteen-thousand people – from a local government area of less than 70,000 – signed petitions against it.
"So how, as we learned today for the first time, Delegate Ian Reynolds could have supported the Newcastle merger is flabbergasting.”
Port Stephens Council approved a $20,000 fighting fund in support of the Dungog option on Tuesday night.
"I call upon the people of Port Stephens to not leave their future up to chance with this new Delegate,” he said.
“Write submissions, speak at public inquiries. Make your voice heard – it's the only way."
The Liberal candidate for Paterson, Karen Howard, immediately called on the Premier Mike Baird to walk away from the Newcastle proposal. Cr MacKenzie welcomed the move but doubted her election chances given the political climate.
"Unfortunately, Karen Howard's job in Paterson has been made impossible," he said.
"Taking Newcastle off the table would have been the ultimate gift from the state Liberals to their federal counterparts. It would have resonated with a disenfranchised supporter base in a seat that is looking increasingly difficult to retain.”
Labor candidate Meryl Swanson could be a shoe-in.
"It looks as if that gift has instead gone to the Labor candidate,” Cr MacKenzie said.
“People in Port Stephens are deserting the Liberal party in droves over this and will continue to do so.
"My only piece of advice to the Liberal party is this: It is not too late.”
Public inquiries into the Port Stephens-Dungog proposal have been scheduled for Wednesday 8 June 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).
The period for submissions has commenced at will conclude at 5pm on Sunday, 26 June. Written submissions can be made at https://olg.councilboundaryreview.nsw.gov.au/proposals/port-stephen-and-dungog-shire-councils/.