NEWCASTLE COUNCIL PREFERS MERGER WITH PORT STEPHENS

Newcastle Council has rejected the state government’s proposal to merge with Lake Macquarie Council, and instead has voted to stand alone at its meeting last night.

Newcastle also left the option open for it to merge with northern neighbours, Port Stephens.

In a statement today a spokesperson says, “that if a merger was inevitable their preference would be a merger with Port Stephens City Council.”

But Port Stephens Mayor, Bruce MacKenzie, has vowed to fight the proposal.

“You’ve only got to look at how they’ve put their rates up, you’ve only got to look at the railway line, you’ve only got to look at the basket case of how they dealt with the trees many years ago. Newcastle Council can make its own arrangements. They can go with Lake Macquarie, but I can tell you they’re not coming to Port Stephens,” he said.

In the motion, Newcastle Council also explored the implications of merging with other regional councils, including Lake Macquarie and Maitland.

A merger between Newcastle and Lake Macquarie is preferred under the Fit for the Future criteria after both councils were deemed ‘unfit’, however Lake Macquarie this week finalised its proposal for a preferred merger with parts of Wyong Shire.

Under the Local Government Act, the state government can force councils to merge regardless of their preference.

The IPART submission process for the Fit for The Future reforms closes today, with a decision due by the end of the year.