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The right time

Dumaresq Mayor, Peter Monley firmly believes now is the right time for a merger.

"More and more, Councils are being squeezed for funding by the other spheres of government," he said. "Historically, socially and economically, the time for Local Government reform is right. We had achieved much in Dumaresq but were limited simply because we were not big enough."

Councillor Monley said when Dumaresq was created in 1906 its community of interest was completely different to what it is today. "Today the area is based on Armidale as a major regional service centre," he said. "There is no point 'hanging on' if, as a Council, you are not progressing your community and doing the best you can. We must move forward and look for better ways."

He said that although not everyone has fully embraced the merger, the area has a history of being very good at handling change and taking on new challenges. Councillor Monley said it is vital that mergers are done correctly. "Fiddling around the edges will not give you the right answer," he said. "We would be back again revisiting the issue in 10 to 15 years time."

He added that the notion of 'super doughnut' Councils, that is the merging of Councils surrounding an urban centre, will not work and believes any analysis must include a regional centre. "This merger will provide new and better ways to do things plus the opportunity to review what Local Government is doing and how to get the best out of it," Councillor Monley said.

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