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MORE than 150 residents turned out to have their say as Walcha Council looked to finalise its Fit for the Future response.
The council resolved to continue as a standalone entity as its first preference.
Walcha mayor Janelle Archdale said it was made quite clear to her in a recent meeting with Local Government Minister Paul Toole the shire should have back-up plans.
From Monday’s meeting, the council also resolved to pursue a merger with Uralla if its bid to stand alone failed.
Walcha also entered a third preference of a merger with Tamworth, should a Uralla and Walcha amalgamation not meet scale benchmarks.
A merger with Armidale Dumaresq Council was also floated at the meeting and Cr Archdale said not one attendee raised their hand in favour of the motion.
Cr Archdale said the council decided against registering a fourth preference, indicating no desire at all to merge with Armidale.
The shire already has a community of interest with Uralla and Tamworth and a number of shared resources, according to Cr Archdale.
She listed health, police, the Central Northern Regional Library, IT, legal and general waste as resources shared with Tamworth, while recycling and planning were services shared with Uralla.
“There are strong, established working relationships in place,” she said.
“We are comfortable with Tamworth and Uralla and both are viable options.”
Cr Archdale said Uralla edged out Tamworth as a first preference because of a “greater chance of representation” and the smaller council “operated in a similar manner” to Walcha.
By putting merger preferences in its submission, Cr Archdale said the council would not sacrifice the potential $10 million up for grabs in voluntary amalgamations.
“It’s not so much about the money – we want to be sitting at the table to negotiate certain benefits that are important to the town,” she said.
The outdoor art gallery was one particular facility that was noted as a part of the “fibre of the community” by the mayor.