Six Eurobodalla Councillors have once again taken it upon themselves to dictate to the ratepayers what they think is best for us and have refused point blank to mention the word ‘amalgamation’.

To our south, Bega and nearby councils are well on their way to forming a bigger council, while taking advantage of a $15 million infrastructure grant. To our north, even larger councils loom. To our west, five to six councils will in all probability be amalgamated. Eurobodalla is at great risk of becoming a “droplet” council surrounded by a sea of “super” councils. Who then will be in the best position to lobby the NSW government and make their voice heard? Who is most likely to prosper?

When a government minister suggests we look to the west, ERA considers there is great merit in careful consideration of a merger between Queanbeyan, Palerang and Eurobodalla.

The Palerang mayor demonstrated the self-serving nonsense that he and the six councillors of ESC are pedalling as rational debate about amalgamation. On radio, he profoundly declared that he knew all about amalgamations, having been witness to the amalgamation of Tallaganda and Palerang, which he declared a “disaster”. Unfortunately for him that “disaster” produced the Palerang of today which, in the same breath, he declared is super fit and ready to face the future as a proud stand-alone council.

If, as Mr Brown, the Mayors and our six councillors believe, there is an “increased price to the residents”, ERA says prove it. Where is the detailed business case for and against amalgamation? Where is the case for knocking back our share of $15M worth of infrastructure, noting that ESC needed and will need further special rate rises? When will residents be allowed to participate in what happens to them?