Greater Taree City Council mayor Paul Hogan issued a media statement on Friday saying he was disappointed at Great Lakes Council’s request.

But Mr Handford said the planned reforms to Local Government mean it is in council’s best interests to be considered a Hunter council.  He added that the Great Lakes has traditionally been included in the Hunter for regional planning purposes.

State plans, including the Hunter Regional Environmental Plan and the Hunter Coast Urban Settlement Strategies from the 1980s and 1990s have always included the Great Lakes. 

It was only in 2008 with the adoption of the Mid North Coast Regional Strategy that Great Lakes moved from the Hunter. But even then, Great Lakes still reported to the Newcastle office, unlike other councils in the strategy who reported to the Grafton office.

“Great Lakes Council has always and will continue to work closely with all regional councils to provide the best benefits for our ratepayers,” Mr Handford said. 

“With the State Government moving to strengthen the regional boundaries, council requested that it be formally moved back to the Hunter.  

“This was because Great Lakes engages with state agencies that are almost exclusively based in the Hunter.”

Mr Handford said the Great Lakes is uniquely placed with ties to both the Mid North Coast and the Hunter region. 

“We have many strong and active links with the Mid North Coast Councils group, such as in tourism and waste management, which we will be maintaining into the future,” he said. 

But Greater Taree City mayor Paul Hogan is not convinced.  He said the decision to have stronger ties with the Hunter over the Manning is disappointing because the Great Lakes has a long history as a part of the Mid North Coast.

He said Great Lakes residents use Taree as their main service centre and it makes sense to keep council links. 

“I strongly believe that the residents of Forster and Tuncurry consider themselves part of the Mid North Coast,” Cr Hogan said.

“There is a long history of Forster people utilising services in Taree including hospital, medical, entertainment, railway, schools and other education facilities and our regional airport. For day to day living, our communities interact regularly.”

The decision to change the strategic planning boundaries means that the people of Forster and Tuncurry will not have an opportunity to have input into the future of the Mid North Coast, Cr Hogan said.  

He argues that Great Lakes residents identify more with the Mid North Coast than Newcastle.

“I can’t believe that this is what the residents of Forster and Tuncurry want,” he said.

“I understand Great Lakes is a large area and there is a world of difference between Stroud and Tea Gardens and Forster but the Forster Tuncurry population is the heart of Great Lakes and this decision does them no service.

“If this is really the view of the Great Lakes Council perhaps we need to consider some boundary adjustments so the people who know they are part of the Mid North Coast can have a say in the future of their region.”