More than 200 people packed the Bombala RSL auditorium for last Tuesday’s Public Meeting to protest the council merger.
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The meeting was convened by president of the Delegate Progress Association, Penelope Judge and was opened by former Bombala Councillor Sue Haslingden with both women saying they didn’t want Bombala to lose its voice.
“The main concern for the audience was over the future of Bombala’s council funds that have been put into the general account of the merged council,” Mrs Judge said.
“Concern was also expressed over the lack of representation on the Administrator’s advisory committee which will be picked by him and will not have any people who were known to oppose mergers.
“The people present were not placated by Administrator Dean Lynch’s lukewarm assurances that everything would be business as usual and no services would be cut or jobs lost,” she said.
Former Bombala mayor Bob Stewart expressed his profound disappointment in the way that the council had been so arbitrarily dismissed.
Mr Stewart was followed by Administrator Dean Lynch who face many questions some of which “were very inadequately countered” according to Mrs Judge.
Mrs Judge then used the symbolism of the Men From Snowy River to drive home a strong call to the Bombala residents to keep fighting the merger and to keep Mr Lynch accountable.
Mike Kelly the ALP candidate for Eden Monaro spoke about the ALPs stance of opposing forced amalgamations and after questions from the floor he was asked to sign the Pledge for Democracy which asked candidates from all parties to commit to opposing forced amalgamations.
“He willingly did this where the Member for Eden Monaro, Peter Hendy declined,” Mrs Judge said.
After numerous other addresses from the community, names were collected to form an action group to scrutinise the actions of the new council.