Expectations were that this last-ditch effort by a small group of councillors to convince council to take a stance would be voted down by the majority Team Gash. 

However, as the meeting got under way and a mayoral minute was distributed to councillors and the media contingent, it became clear there had been a seismic shift in the wait-and-see approach that up to now had characterised council’s response to the merger proposal.

Ever since the council and the community were ambushed by the pre-Christmas merger proposal, Shoalhaven Mayor Joanna Gash had repeatedly said it was premature and irresponsible to take a stand until further information was forthcoming from the NSW government. 

A group of councillors insisted a stance be taken before the public inquiry meeting with the government-appointed delegate next week.  

The mayoral minute handed to councillors made it clear the government had failed to make a convincing case for a merger. In fact, its proposal actually placed in jeopardy Shoalhaven City’s capacity to grow and retain its Fit For The Future status. Also, in the words of the mayor, the proposal “does not address complex planning, rating, administrative and infrastructure issues arising from the different sewer and water supply arrangements in the two local government areas”. She deemed the proposal “unworkable” and could not be supported in its current form. In other words, the deal is a dud.

Council has until February 28 to frame an official response to the proposal. It will try to gain the support of the two local MPs, Shelley Hancock and Gareth Ward, to  keep channels of communication open between it and the government. And it will to engage the community and gauge its reactions to the proposal. Even if the local MPs, the council and the community are united in saying the merger is a bad idea, the decision still rests with the Local Government Minister Paul Toole.

If the outcry jeopardises votes – and the noise out of Kiama suggests it might – Mr Toole should take note. If the Shoalhaven community adds its voice thw message will reverberate through Macquarie Street.