It will be a spectre to some, a vision from heaven to others.

The devil will not just be in the detail.

If Mr Constance is doing more than putting the wind up a council he has found increasingly to be a frustration - and a far reaching restructure is genuinely on the cards - then it must work for all ratepayers.

Local government is the tier of adminstration most close to our daily lives.

It must work for all ratepayers, regardless of their political persuasion.

The Coalition did not seek a mandate in the recent NSW Election campaign for a radical restructure of local government - and therefore it has not received one.

Mr Constance’s views were well known, but he did not campaign explicity in the seat of Bega on either boundary changes or amalgamation.

Reform may well be necessary, however, the current shire council, for all its flaws, was democratically elected.

Those councillors, soon, will face the judgement of ratepayers.

By all means have the discussion now, but perhaps any far-reaching restructure should be delayed until after the ratepayers have again had the chance to pass judgement on four years of performance.

The truth, in a democracy, is in the ballot box.

On that note, it was refreshing to be part of covering an election campaign that saw feisty words from several quarters - but no-one got downright nasty.

Yes, candidates on social media vented some spleen - but as mud-slinging goes, it was almost squeaky.

Viva la difference!