How good is that !!!!!
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The new leader for the Nationals and the Deputy Premier John Barrilaro has managed to get the state government to reverse its decision on Council Amalgamations in Regional NSW.
Amalgamation of councils away from small communities crushes small towns.
I have the privilege of living in Barraba NSW (Amalgamated in 2004) and work in Bingara a small shire which includes Warialda in the North and let me tell you the differences in these two communities could not be more vast.
We do feel for the larger metropolitan councils which will continue down the path towards joining forces, and we understand that you have small communities within communities just like us that will be affected.
However
You lose a job in the bush and most likely you have to get up and move home, school and move friends, statistics tell us that job opportunities are just that little bit better in the city.
We’ve never asked to be treated the same as our city cousins we just want to be able to look after ourselves, but with large road & bridge infrastructures to maintain we probably require a slightly different funding model per capita.
The financial benefits of amalgamation in the bush are far out weighted by the cost of the social and economic upheaval it causes.
I get to see it every day in the communities I live and work in.
John Bishton
Barraba