The report provided by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal of New South Wales (IPART) and the Yass Valley Council, showed the adjoining council analysis for the Yass Valley. 

Upper Lachlan, Yass Valley and Goulburn Mulwaree Councils were the only three not to have been recommended by the Independent Local Government Review Panel (ILGRP) to merge with other councils. 

The Upper Lachlan Council submitted an Improvement Action Plan that included; participating in joint organisations, to utilise a borrowing capacity and undertaking an asset management review. Although no merger was recommended, it was noted that a future merger with Goulburn was a possibility.

The Goulburn Council will be looking into funding from a Special Rate Variation SRV. Their Improvement Action Plan includes, rationalising assets and undertaking an asset management review. 

The submission by the Boorowa council revealed that the ILGRP recommended a merger with the Harden and Young councils. According to the report, Young Council currently provides services, staff and plant sharing arrangements with Boorowa and Harden, the submission requested a merger with Young.

The Harden Council did not agree to the merger with Boorowa, however provided in their own submission the recommendation of merging with Cootamundra. 

The report from Boorowa indicated that the anticipation of a merger with Young would not only create greater political influence, increase the ability to manage the risk of an ageing population and create a greater ability to plan for and attract growth, but also provide a more regional focus on economical development and investment in the Hilltop regions.  

Gundagai Council has made recommendations to stand alone despite the ILGRP’s report to merge with Tumut. The Submission stated that the Gundagai Council is not convinced of the benefits to merge. 

The proposal in the Gundagai Improvement Action Plan states that: they participate in joint organisations, service reviews, resource sharing; undertake a review of fees and charges, land sales/lease reviews and lobby for State commercial enterprises to pay rates. 

Tumut also refuted the merger, suggesting that they would be FFTF by an increase from 10 to 15 per cent in rates, to be applied by 2020. Their Improvement Action Plan includes a, service level and asset plans review, undertake property portfolio management, annual and long service leave management, reduction in depreciation and a capping in wages and salary growth.  

The ILGRP made recommendations for Queanbeyan to merge with Palerang, although both councils have made submissions to stand alone. Queanbeyan Council have proposed to stand as a Regional Service Provider, their Improvement Action Plan includes the review of services and processes. 

The Palerang Council have stated that Queanbeyan’s proposal as a Regional Service Provider does not present as a viable option and have focussed their Improvement Action Plan on an SRV, which will include a seven per cent increase over the period of five years from 2017. Other plans include the review of their services and processes, as well as asset management. 

Mayor Rowena Abbey explained that the southern regions have recently formed a joint organisation that work collectively as part of the wider Canberra region. She described it as a positive way of improving the way councils work together. 

“All 0f the surrounding councils have hopes and expectations from the joint organisation that will ideally provide additional savings and improved services to our communities in the future,” she said. 

“We have great working relationships with our neighbouring councils and any merger between other councils won’t change the way we work together, whoever our neighbours are. 

Cr Abbey said that the southern region councils have been talking openly about potential mergers and discussions have been centred around the FFTF submissions.  

“I think IPART will have a really close look at the assumptions the councils have made, to determine how robust the plans really are.,” she said. 

“Personally I think the Yass Council has  done a great job, it has been a robust process to get to where we have to go in the time frame given.”