DISAPPOINTED anti-amalgamation lobbyists in Cabonne have vowed Friday’s court ruling is not the end of the line in their fight to maintain the shire’s independence.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The NSW Land and Environment Court ruling struck down Cabonne Council’s challenge against forced mergers, effectively paving the way for a union with Orange City Council and Blayney Shire Council.
Adding financial insult to their political injury, the court also ordered the council to pay the victorious state government’s legal costs.
The former Dubbo City and Wellington councils chose not to take their forced amalgamation to court, due to the high amount it would cost the ratepayers.
Initially, Cabonne Council approved $20,000 to be spent on a legal campaign to fight the amalgamation, that figure was the increased by $30,000.
While describing the outcome as “disappointing”, Cabonne’s Amalgamation No Thank You (ANTY) group chairman Jock Haynes refused to concede his organisation’s cause was lost.
“We will just have to see what council will do,” Mr Haynes said of whether Cabonne Council will appeal the ruling.
“People are going to be very angry.”
Should the legal channels prove fruitless Mr Haynes believed the Orange byelection would present an opportunity for angry residents to send a message to NSW Premier Mike Baird’s government.
Mr Haynes said ANTY would encourage people to think carefully about their vote on Saturday, November 12.
“This decision will not help [Nationals candidate] Scott Barrett,” he said.
Mr Haynes reserved his harshest criticisms for Minister for Local Government Paul Toole.
“Don’t trust anything that Paul Toole gives you in writing,” he fired.
“Paul Toole said this would be the decade of decentralisation. His first act in a ministerial position is to centralise all the smaller towns and communities.”
Justice Brian Preston’s judgement also struck down Oberon Council’s challenge against its enforced merger with Bathurst Regional Council.