Placards with the messages ‘Our Community, Our Voice, Our Choice’ and ‘No Forced Amalgamation’, made the community’s feelings clear. 

Inside, person after person stood up to speak in favour of a merger between Harden and Cootamundra Shires, as originally declared ‘Fit for the Future’ by the State Government. 

It echoes Harden mayor John Horton’s promise made to The Young Witness in December following the NSW Government’s official announcement of the amalgamation between Young, Harden and Boorowa shire councils, to continue to fight the merger proposal.

There was a clear sentiment the Harden community felt let down by the process which led to such a strong turnout. 

“Harden, to date, has not received any reason for the rejection of our Harden and Cootamundra proposal, and equally no reason to proceed with Harden, Boorowa and Young,” Harden Shire general manager Trevor Drowley said. 

He confirmed for the benefit of the delegate, Harden Shire will submit an alternative proposal to that of the government’s, supporting an amalgamation between Harden and Cootamundra. 

Among those who attended were Young’s mayor Brian Ingram and Councillor Brian Mullany.

Cr Ingram said there was a resounding message democracy had been lost and the politicians were not listening to the people.

He said he understood why the Harden residents were aggrieved.

“The minister said they were fit for the future,” he said.

“But I said this yesterday (Thursday) [at the Young meeting] and I still say, we have to work with what we've got.”

Fear of being eclipsed up by the larger Young Shire is another concern raised at Harden.

“I was also at the Boorowa meeting [on Thursday] and today (Friday) it came up again at Harden is this fear of being swallowed up and that is definitely not the case,” Cr Ingram said.

“We'll just have to wait and see what the minister says.”

After the community entered a vote of ‘No Confidence’ against Member for Cootamundra Katrina Hodgkinson at last Tuesday’s community meeting at the Mechanic’s Institute, Ms Hodgkinson stood up at Friday’s meeting to declare her support loud and clear for a merger between Harden and Cootamundra. 

“The proposal before you has left three of my Local Government areas miserable,” Ms Hodgkinson said, addressing the delegate. 

“There were two very sensible proposals put forward,” she continued, referring to the voluntary mergers put forward of Boorowa and Young and Cootamundra and Harden. 

Harden resident Amy Mergard reiterated the community is not adverse to amalgamation, however asked for consideration to be given to the original Harden and Cootamundra proposal. 

“We gave the government everything they wanted, we followed the rules, then the goal posts were changed,” Ms Mergard said. 

Another resident Brendan Mackay did the maths to work out the proposed $30 million saving over 20 years equated to just 75 cents per resident of a combined Harden, Boorowa and Young Shire per week.

Peter O’Connor commented that he felt services would go backwards under an amalgamation with Young.

Wombat’s Kerry Eastlake bucked the trend to put to the audience a vote in favour of the ‘Hilltops merger’.

She said combining the tourism budgets of Young, Boorowa and Harden would result in the funds to run targeted actions to get international and Sydney-based tourists to the region. 

A number of residents from Jugiong also spoke on behalf of their village, agreeing with a Cootamundra Shire proposal to carve the southern end of Harden -including Jugiong - out to go with Cootamundra and Gundagai should the minister not allow all of Harden Shire to move in that direction. 

Following community submissions, Ms Chadwick confirmed she would include the voice of the community in her report. 

“I have heard a very common view here today; I will do my best to articulate that I’ve heard that view in my report,” Ms Chadwick said. 

Anyone who could not attend the meetings and wishes to have a voice on the merger can do so in writing until 5pm, Sunday, February 28.

Submissions can be made at www.councilboundaryreview.nsw.gov.au or to: Council Boundary Review, GPO Box 5341, Sydney NSW 2001.

Following the receipt of submissions, Ms Chadwick will present her report to the minister by March 31. 

She anticipates it will be published online soon after. 

An answer from the minister regarding amalgamations is to be handed down mid-year. 

- With the Harden Express