Bega Valley Shire Mayor Michael Britten has said he is disappointed with the result of the merger discussions between Bega Valley and Bombala.
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The proposed merger between the two shires failed to gain enough support at a Bombala council meeting where councillors voted against the deal, four votes to three, on Tuesday evening.
It followed Bega Valley’s extraordinary meeting on Monday at which councillors voted, five votes to three, in favour of the merger, but with conditions.
Bombala will now put forward plans to the state government to merge with its preferred partners, Snowy River and Cooma-Monaro Shires.
Bega Valley was expected to propose it remain a standalone council.
I’m disappointed but realistic enough to know that it was not necessarily going to happen.
- Mayor Michael Britten
“I’m disappointed, but realistic enough to know that it was not necessarily going to happen,” Cr Britten said.
“It probably still could, but that’s up to the state government.”
However, Cr Britten said that whatever happened the move had to be “financially sustainable for ratepayers”.
“Andrew Constance believed the strategy was correct and when we had our ministerial meeting, they gave us three hours of their time,” Cr Britten said.
A number of sweeteners had been offered by the state government not least of which was the $22million for Mount Darragh Rd, $5million for infrastructure and $5million for the administration of the merger.
All three items were specific to the merger between Bega Valley and Bombala.
While Bombala’s mayor, Bob Stewart, had been openly touting his desire to see a merger with Bega Valley, following the ministerial meeting and the workshop with BVSC, he started to change his mind.
“There’s $5million being given to the new council for infrastructure. I wanted $3million but Bega would only agree to $1million,” Cr Stewart said.
“My gut feeling is we have to make the Monaro option work.”
Submissions had to be with the state government by Wednesday.
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