Wingecarribee Shire LGA to remain unchanged
Council has today welcomed the State Government’s announcement that the Wingecarribee Local Government Area will continue as a stand-alone Council.
“This is great news for Council and the residents of the Shire,” said Wingecarribee Shire Mayor, Larry Whipper.
“It means our Shire will remain independent and avoid a merger with a neighbouring Council.
“But more importantly, it means we will retain our unique Southern Highlands character and identity,” he said. “This means we can focus our funding and efforts on our own Shire’s citizens.”
Announcing the State Government’s Fit for the Future report on the NSW Local Government, IPART Chairman Dr Peter Boxall confirmed that the Wingecarribee Shire Local Government Area is Fit and will remain unchanged.
As part of the NSW State Government’s Fit for the Future local government reform program, all councils across the state were required to submit a proposal demonstrating their plans to achieve a series of ‘fitness’ criteria relating to scale, capacity and financial health.
Wingecarribee Shire Council General Manager Ann Prendergast echoed the Mayor’s sentiments.
“Today’s announcement demonstrates that the State Government has confidence in our Council and our region to remain unchanged,” she said.
“It shows that they support the ongoing viability of our Shire in moving forward in the years ahead.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all the staff from Council who worked tirelessly on our proposal that ultimately ensured Wingecarribee Shire Council was fit for the future.”
Only four Merger Proposals were received by IPART of the 139 proposals from 144 councils.
Of these 139 proposals only 52 were assessed as being fit for the future.