Greens back Cabonne council
THE Greens will support and develop legislation to give Oberon and Cabonne councils the right to vote in a binding plebiscite on demerging, according to Greens candidate for Calare Delanie Sky.
Ms Sky said the Greens strongly believed local government was an essential part of democracy because it is closest to the community.
So, she said, local government was in the best position to identify and respond to the needs of the community.
Ms Sky said councils and their residents shouldn't have to take the State Government to court to protect their local democracy from "ugly" plans for mega-councils.
"The Greens have been listening to the needs of regional councils, and we are promising to deliver fairer funding and respect the rights of local communities to control their own futures," she said.
"This means saying no to forced amalgamations and supporting legislation that gives residents, not politicians, the final say on any proposed amalgamations.
"Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon and local government spokesperson David Shoebridge MLC are providing leadership to ensure local government is delivered constitutional recognition and to give residents the power they need to stand up to Mike Baird's attempts to force council amalgamations," Ms Sky said.
Ms Sky said in rural and regional areas, keeping councils and council jobs can mean the difference between maintaining or losing libraries, waste management, road safety and other essential services.
"Oberon has a proud history of being a strong and independent regional council, and its community knows that if the forced amalgamation proceeds any future decisions about Oberon will be made by a council that is overwhelming comprised of councillors elected from the Bathurst area," Ms Sky said.
"Oberon Council was found by IPART to be financially strong and sustainable as a stand-alone regional council, there is not a shred of evidence to support its amalgamation with Bathurst.
"The Greens stand alongside local residents in Oberon and Cabonne against Local Government Minister Paul Toole MPs chaotic push to force amalgamations and to take the democracy out of the most grassroots level of government.
"The Oberon community knows that if this forced amalgamation goes through, its council will be absorbed by Bathurst and decisions will be made by councillors they have no links to. Over one thousand signatures from residents to save Oberon Council have been tabled in Parliament," she said.
NSW MLC David Shoebridge and Ms Sky visited Bathurst and Oberon councils yesterday (Thursday) to talk about forced amalgamation and launch the Greens plan to strengthen local government in the regions.
Ms Sky said the Greens also believe that regional councils need a fairer share of the $700 million Commonwealth financial assistance grants to deal with their extensive road network.