Port Stephens Council has announced it’ll write to the state government, supporting a voluntary merger with Dungog.
Mayor Bruce MacKenzie says it was the morally correct decision, and one which will benefit both areas.
“A merge of our two councils will future-proof Port Stephens, by increasing us in scale and capacity; it is a popular decision with residents, and brings together like-minded communities,” he said.
According to council, more than 95 per cent of Port Stephens residents supported a merger with Dungog over Newcastle, and more than 21 per cent of Dungog residents signed a petition in favour of the move.
Earlier this month, the Berejiklian Government scrapped forced amalgamations in regional areas, meaning a controversial proposal to merge Port Stephens and Newcastle was abandoned.
