THE Great Lakes, Taree and Gloucester councils have been merged into the one Mid-Coast Council.
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The Baird government has created 19 new councils across Sydney and NSW (one of which is the Mid-Coast Council).
Related: Ex-mayor thanks community for support...click here
Great Lakes Council deemed 'fit' by IPART...click here
Local Government (Council Amalgamations) Proclamation 2016 under the Local Government Act 1993 states that John Turner has been appointed as the administrator of the new Mid-Coast Council. Mr Turner is the retired State member for Myall Lakes.
The interim general manager of the new council is Glenn Handford (as of Thursday morning he was the Great Lakes Council GM).
The deputy general managers of the new council are Ron Posselt (Taree) and Danny Green (Gloucester).
The number of councillors to be elected to the new council at its first election is 11. The new council is not to be divided into wards for the first election.
The code of meeting practice of the former Gloucester Shire Council is to be the code of meeting practice of the new council until it is amended or replaced in accordance with the Act.
The government has said it would merge another nine, pending the outcome of litigation over council mergers.
EARLIER TODAY: There are reports an announcement on proposed local council amalgamations could be made later today (Thursday May 12).
Background...Great Lakes and Gloucester against amalgamation...story here
Exchanging words on council merger options...story here
Mayor blasts amalgamation plan...click here
Speaking on radio this morning Local Government NSW (LGNSW) President Cr Keith Rhoades said he had heard unofficial reports that an announcement on some of the proposed amalgamations could be made as soon as 11am today.
He believes the NSW Baird government has been pressured to make the announcements now or delay them until after the federal election in July.
A Gloucester-Great Lakes-Greater Taree merger in the safe seat of Lyne looks set to go ahead.
Great Lakes Council is awaiting news of an announcement and has only heard media rumours at this stage.