Before the dust had settled on the NSW Election in March, returned Bega MP Andrew Constance was warning the shire council to consider boundary adjustments and the possible economies of scale such a move could produce.

To some, it appeared an unusual step for a region’s MP to poke his finger so publicly in the pie of local government. Others believed Mr Constance cared enough about the shire to stick his neck out. His comments were strong enough for the Bay Post to put them on the front page with the headline “In the cross hairs”.

Regardless of your opinion of his stance, it was entirely appropriate then for Mr Constance to have his say.

Since then, the NSW Government’s own umpire –  the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal, has spoken, finding the Eurobodalla both fit for the future and able to stand alone.

Mr Constance remains perfectly entitled to comment, but after the umpire’s decision, his stance becomes a more curious one.

Both the ERA and the Eurobodalla Concerned Citizens (ECC) group – the former now vastly outnumbered on council and the latter positioning itself in the wings – have spoken in support of boundary adjustments.

One wonders what discussions have been happening behind the scenes and what political mileage is to be gained?

It is beginning to appear that relations have so broken down between the Bega MP and the majority of elected councillors, that political discussion is now occurring via press release. This is a sad state of affairs. 

It is more than seven months since the NSW election. Eurobodalla mayor Lindsay Brown insists the council has held formal discussions with all four neighbouring councils – with no enthusiasm shown for adjustments.

Perhaps all four are stubbornly clinging to the past and need encouragement or a kick – but seven months is a long time for a leader of Mr Constance’s stature to broker constructive talks.

In their absence, all the public castigation in the world begins to sound like a dead horse being flogged.