AS Orange and Cabonne councils engage a consultant to prepare a business case for amalgamation, efforts have begun to unite Cabonne’s community organisations against a merger.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Leading the charge is the Molong Advancement Group and vice-chairwoman Marj Bollinger who said Cabonne should be left alone.
“Rural residents are very concerned if we were to amalgamate with Orange, we would lose an amount of the services we have from Cabonne and if they say they’ll keep the services and maintain the office in Molong, I can’t see any savings whatsoever,” she said.
“People in Sydney don’t realise the distances we have to travel when it’s lines on a map.”
She said a larger council area would mean longer distances for both council workers and residents seeking assistance or representation.
MAG is in the process of contacting all progress associations to form a Cabonne anti-amalgamation lobby group.
The group is scheduled to meet in Molong on May 21.
Mrs Bollinger questioned how independent the business case would be.
“It is hard to perceive how a joint Orange/Molong submission prepared by the consultancy firm appointed by the NSW Government as part of the Technical Advisory Panel to the reform process could possibly arrive at any other recommendation other than for the two councils to merge,” she said.
“What we want to see proven are what benefits the people will receive following amalgamation.”
The turnaround time for the business case will be short - Cabonne councillors will be briefed next week on the preliminary results to enable public meetings at Molong Community Hall on May 13 and Canowindra High School on May 14.
Councils must prepare their Fit for the Future submissions to merge or stand alone by June 30.
