Cabonne Council has voted unanimously to seek to stand-alone in the future.
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The Council yesterday, Tuesday, May 26 resolved to submit a Council Improvement proposal with the NSW Government as part of the Government’s Fit for the Future reforms.
In doing so, Cabonne rejected its other option of submitting a proposal to merge with Orange City Council, as recommended by the Independent Local Government Review Panel.
Cabonne’s decision follows the results of a business case study of a possible Cabonne-Orange merger and feedback from several public meetings to discuss the Fit for the Future package.
Almost 340 people strongly backed the stand-alone proposal at information sessions at Molong and Canowindra while about 400 packed a community-organised anti-amalgamation meeting a week later to show their support for the council.
Modelling by independent consultants Morrison Low indicated a merger with Orange would provide a financial benefit of about $5.4 million over 10 years, however this amount includes a $5 million payment the NSW Government is offering as an incentive for two councils to merge.
