On July 17 2025 it was confirmed approval has been given for the Cootamundra and Gundagai Councils to de-amalgamate. The path is now clear for the Council to commence the detailed transition work needed to initiate the dissolution of Cootamundra-Gundagai and establish two new councils.
The Council will establish a transition management office to prepare the specifics of the demerger, including allocation of assets, liabilities, funding, shared service arrangements, staffing and governance arrangements.
Completing the detailed planning and transition work is essential to ensure each Council has the best start following proclamation.
This work will also inform the drafting of legal instruments by the NSW Government required to establish the two new councils.
The Office of Local Government will continue to support Cootamundra-Gundagai including monitoring the implementation of Council’s demerger proposal, and work with the Council to identify funding sources to support the transition to two new council areas.
This has provided confidence to Protect Pittwater in our efforts to have Pittwater Council reinstated, representing all residents north of Narrabeen Lagoon to Barrenjoey and west to Ingleside.
Local Government Minister, The Hon. Ron Hoenig said:
“The work by the Boundaries Commission confirms what the Council had been saying since 2016 and what I had been saying since 2012 – the former government’s ‘Fit for the Future’ policy was only a ruse to effect widespread amalgamations.
“Within several years of the merger I spoke with Mayor Abb McAlister and remember being impressed with the work the Council had done calculating the cost of the merger on the new Council. The community’s opposition was not just philosophical – it was financial and practical.
“It was for that reason in October 2023 that I decided I would do whatever I could within my power under the Act, to enable this demerger.
“Now, the detailed transition work needs to be led by the Council, and the councillors elected in 2024 who have the mandate to do it. They are best positioned to drive this process forward and should be the ones to shape the future of their respective communities.
“Demerging a council is significantly more complex than amalgamating one. The Council’s own implementation plan highlighted there is still a lot of work that needs to be done to get to a point where two new councils can be proclaimed.
“I am confident Mayor McAlister and the elected councillors can do what is required of them to reach this outcome so we can finally close this disappointing chapter in local government history.
“Let Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council serve as a cautionary tale for future governments and academics who believe that merged councils provide better economies of scale and better services.
“May it stand as the folly that it was, so we can finally discard forced amalgamations for amalgamations sake into the waste bin of history.”
During Thursday's announcement, Local Government Minister Ron Hoenig said there was now a legislative pathway for other merged councils to consider splitting.
"We will not forcibly merge or demerge councils," he said.
"These are decisions for communities, they are not decisions for governments.
"[Governments] need to get their nose out of local government and their nose out of local communities that are more than capable of managing their own affairs.''
''Protect Pittwater agree with the Minister. The forced amalgamation of Pittwater with Warringah and Manly Councils resulted in an area and population too large for a local council to administer on an efficient basis. He might have added on a sensitive basis as well.'' Terry Harrison of Protect Pittwater said
"It was a great day for local democracy," Demerge NSW Alliance coordinator and Save Bombala president Grantley Ingram said.
"The minister has listened to the community of Gundagai and Cootamundra and he's acted on their wishes."
Mr. Ingram said people had wanted out in his town of Bombala, which was forced to merge into the Snowy Monaro Regional Council.
"It's just not working," he said.
"I struggle to find a supporter of our merged council remaining as it is."
On 19 March 2025 Protect Pittwater committee members Simon Dunn and Peter Gray met with the Hon. Ron Hoenig MP (Minister for Local Government) to present the case for reinstating Pittwater Council. Supported by local State representative Jacqui Scruby, Simon and Peter presented Protect Pittwater’s proposal, including a local petition signed by close to 5,000 local residents and Frank Peylaire’s business case.
Protect Pittwater state afterwards it was an agreeable meeting whereby Minister Hoenig acknowledged that the 2016 amalgamations were largely a failure, and that large councils over time become inefficient.
''His position is that if Protect Pittwater’s proposal meets the requirements of State LGA Legislation s215 then he will refer it to the NSW Boundaries Commission.
His staff referred us to two current detailed LGA reinstatement implementation submissions to the Boundaries Commission, and suggested that something similar would be required for a s215 proposal.
We await the Minister’s office assessment of our formal proposal and, given it meets technical standards, expect that he will request a Pittwater implementation plan.''
''The Minister indicated he was not in favour of NSW grant funds being made available for council transitions. He further commented that the Boundaries Commission would expect the required reports and implementation plans to be drafted and funded by the community backing the new council.
Overall, however, a very positive meeting which progressed our mission. Protect Pittwater thank Jacqui Scruby MLA for her continuing support.''
Protect Pittwater is a not-for-profit incorporated association formed by residents of the former Pittwater Council LGA who are committed to restoring true local government by re-establishing Pittwater Council and with it the strong environmental protections which made the preservation of Pittwater's natural environment a top priority.
Our fervent desire is to reverse the misguided amalgamation of the previously admired Pittwater Council into the suburban expanses that are the Warringah and Manly wards of what we consider the non-representative Northern Beaches Council.
Find out more at: protectpittwater.org
Examples of what Pittwater residents have been campaigning for since May 2016 and more in:
- Outraged Pittwater Community fights to stop rising costs of failed merger; Renews Call to reinstate Pittwater Council - Feb. 2025 SRV Rate rise
- Rates Variations Options 1 to 4 Prompt ‘Option 5’: Reinstate Pittwater Council - Dec. 2024
- Proposal to Reinstate Pittwater Council on its former boundaries: revised s215 document - August 2024
- Protect Pittwater Associations' New President Simon Dunn, son of first elected Pittwater Mayor, to lead charge to restore Pittwater Council - June 2023
