Around 40 people attended the public inquiry into the proposed merger of Young, Harden and Boorowa Shire Councils.
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The meeting - held yesterday at the Young Services Club - saw 13 speakers addressing delegate Amanda Chadwick who presided over the inquiry.
Each speaker was allotted five minutes each and Young Shire Council 15 minutes.
Mayor Brian Ingram spoke first, chronicling his journey from the perspective of first feeling reserved about amalgamation to being an advocate for it based on community feedback.
“I looked at the big picture and started taking their views on board and said ‘they're right we have to think further out to survive’,” Cr Ingram said.
Other speakers included interim general manager David Aber, tourism manager David Newberry, Murringo resident Frank Baker, former NSW Farmers Association president and Wallenbeen farmer John Crawford, Peter Creyke of the Hilltops Vineyard Association, former councillor Dr Michael Mullany, resident Michael O'Leary, former local businessman Stan Russell, Terry Mulligan, representing the farmers markets, and Cr Tony Wallace.
The meeting heard a diverse range of views relating to the merger which, in some parts, pitted the councils against each other, took pot shots at Young Shire Council and fired off at the state government for a lack of transparency and communication. All this was balanced by a strong delegation spruiking the benefits the merger would provide to the Hilltops region.
The meeting concluded around 4pm but with one remaining speaker Tom Eastlake still enroute to Young Ms Chadwick said she would remain at the venue until the allotted three hours was up at 6pm. Mr Eastlake arrived at 5pm.
With the Harden meeting taking place this morning, Young faces strong opposition from a community who this week rallied against the proposed merger.
Despite this Mayor Ingram was confident the final decision by the minister was the right one.
Cr Ingram said he had planned to attend the public meeting in Harden on Tuesday night, but felt his presence might cause some consternation.
The Harden public rejected a merger with Young and Boorowa, instead endorsing a merger with Cootamundra Shire.
Cr Ingram was unfazed.
“The only proposal we’re looking to discuss is the one handed down by the minister last year,” he said.
“I haven’t had time to look at any other proposal, especially when we’re told by the minister this is the right way to go,” he said.
