* 2014, September: NSW government announces Fit For The Future.
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* 2015, April: Every council asked to submit proposal about how they plan to become fit for the future.
* 2015, June: Councils submit plan to get fit.
* 2015, October: IPART finds 35 councils unfit, including Walcha, Uralla, Gwydir, Liverpool Plains, Armidale and Tenterfield.
* Councils given 30 days to provide government with merger preferences.
* 2015, December: State government announces plans to create 35 new merger councils. Tamworth/Walcha and Armidale/Guyra amalgamations proposed.
* 2016, January: Community consultation begins, with public inquiries around the state.
* 2016, February: More than 600 people turn up to Walcha public inquiry, with the vast majority against the merger. Guyra’s hearing is also strongly represented, with residents against forced amalgamation.
* 2016, March: Armidale council proposes four-way merge with Guyra, Walcha and Uralla.
* 2016, April: Walcha council takes legal action against state government’s forced amalgamations.
* 2016, May: State government announces final plan, with Armidale/Guyra merge to go ahead, Walcha left to stand alone.
