Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council De-amalgamation
21 August 2025 – Councillors Meet with Minister for Local Government on CGRC Demerger
Councillors of Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council (CGRC) recently met with the NSW Minister for Local Government, the Hon. Ron Hoenig, alongside local Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke MP and the Deputy Secretary of the Office of Local Government, Mr Brett Whitworth.
The meeting provided an important opportunity for councillors to hear directly from the Minister about the expectations of the proposed demerger of CGRC. The Minister made it clear that the demerger process is now firmly in the hands of councillors and that the outcome must be shaped by their leadership on behalf of the local community.
The Minister also acknowledged that the demerger of CGRC is a trailblazing exercise, setting the path for other councils across NSW that may seek to go through a similar process in the future.
To read more:CGRC Media Release -COUNCILLORS MEET WITH MINISTER FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT ON CGRC DEMERGER
17 July 2025 –/strong>Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council gets Minister’s support to prepare for a demerger.
The Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig MP has announced today that the demerger of Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council, (CGRC), will go ahead.
Minister Hoenig made the announcement at Gundagai and has said the path is now clear for Council to commence the detailed transition work to initiate the dissolution of the Cootamundra-Gundagai and establish two new councils.
To read the Ministers media release – click on this link: Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council gets Minister’s support to prepare for a demerger – Office of Local Government NSW
12 February 2025 –CGRC Media Release – PUBLIC ENQUIRIES SCHEDULED BY BOUNDARIES COMMISSION
The Boundaries Commission will hold hearings in Gundagai on Tuesday 18 February, commencing at 2pm at the Gundagai District Services Club and in Cootamundra on Wednesday 19 February from 9.30am at the Cootamundra Ex-Servicemen’s & Citizens Memorial Club.
20 August 2024 –CGRC Media Release – DEMERGER NEWS PUBLIC INQUIRY ANNOUNCED
CGRC has recieved information from the Office of Local Government Boundaries Commission:
Public Hearing – CGRC public inquiry notice – 19 August 2024
Public Hearing for the Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council Public Inquiry in relation to the Terms of Reference will commence on 30 August 2024.
The hearing on 30 August 2024 will be held at the Sydney Masonic Centre, 66 Goulburn Street Sydney. The hearing will be available to watch via webcast;
Written Submissions
The Notice of Public Inquiry invites persons to make written submissions to be lodged with the Office of the Commissioner by 30 September 2024. Persons making a written submission should address the terms of reference and also indicate at the same time whether they wish to appear in person to make oral submissions, and the matters relating to the terms of reference that they would seek to address. It is noted that the Commission is not obliged to automatically give a right of appearance to all those wishing to appear before the Commissioners at the public hearing.
Written submissions should be forwarded by post to the Office of the Commissioner, Cootamundra Gundagai Regional Council Public Inquiry Locked Bag 3015, NOWRA NSW 2541. Alternatively, submissions may be emailed to cootamundra.gundagai@olg.nsw.gov.au by 30 September 2024.
For more information click on the links below:
Cootamundra Gundagai Regional Council Public Inquiry – Information Paper – 19.08.24
CGRC – Public Hearings – Practice Direction – 19.08.24
19 June 2024
The Mayor received correspondence from the Minister for Local Government on Tuesday 18 June 2024 advising that the Minister has now formally referred the CGRC demerger proposal to the Local Government Boundaries Commission (LGBC) for examination and report.
The Minister also advised that he has appointed the members of the LGBC to undertake a public inquiry under section 438U of the Act into Council in accordance with the following Terms of Reference:
To inquire and report to the Minister for Local Government with respect to the Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council (Council) proposed Implementation Plan
(comprising a Detailed Transition Plan, Task Schedule and Financial Sustainability Plan) as lodged by Council as a formal proposal on 21 March 2024 to create two new Councils from the existing Council including advising whether:
1. if the governing bodies of the new Councils were to implement the proposed Implementation Plan, would this create the potential for:
• a sustainable financial path for the ongoing operation of the two councils
• strong and effective leadership in a manner consistent with the guiding principles set out in sections 8A, 8B and 8C of the Act
• effective management of responsibilities relating to long term financial planning, public land management and provision of services
2. the area of Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council should de dissolved pursuant to s212 of the Act to enable a proposal to create two new councils to be implemented
3. any other matter that warrants mention, particularly those that may impact on the effective administration of the future Councils’ functions and responsibilities or the community’s confidence in the Council being able to do so.
The Commissioners may make recommendations as the Commissioners see fit having regard to the outcomes of the Inquiry, including whether all civic offices at Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council should be declared vacant.
To read the Ministers letter please click on the link below:
A899878 – Cr Sheahan – Correspondence from the Minister for Local Government – 20240617
1 May 2024
Our community has consistently told Council that they wish to de-amalgamate and move back to two separate Councils for Gundagai and Cootamundra. Now the NSW Government has now provided a pathway for this to happen.
To achieve the wishes of the community, interventions are required to ensure that revenue is sufficient to renew assets and maintain the services our communities expect, and financial viability and sustainability is guaranteed into the future.
A key part of this process is for Council to demonstrate a detailed implementation plan (the Plan) to guide the establishment of two new sustainable local government areas. The Plan needs to be assessed by a public inquiry led by the Boundaries Commission to determine if independent Cootamundra and Gundagai councils are capable of operating in a financially sustainable way.
This Plan is available for review and a summary is available on our website. We strongly encourage you to review this Plan to understand how a de-amalgamation will affect you as community members and rate payers.
Council invites you to make the Minister for Local Government, Ron Hoenig MP aware of your support for de-amalgamation via the online form on the website or by email. It only needs to be a brief message and won’t take long.
Submissions are due by 10 May 2024. Council encourages community members to have their say soon. Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council De-amalgamation – Online Submission Form – Office of Local Government NSW
Links:
CGRC Financial Sustainability Plan
19 April 2024
In accordance with section 215(1) of the Local Government Act 1993 (the Act), Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council has submitted a proposal to the Minister for Local Government to constitute two new local government areas, under section 204 of the Act, from the splitting of the Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council local government area.
The proposal has now been placed on public exhibition for 28 days and the Minister for Local Government is encouraging feedback from the community.
The Minister has stated he will consider any submissions prior to deciding whether to refer the proposal to the NSW Local Government Boundaries Commission to review and appoint commissioners to undertake a public enquiry into the proposal.
Should the Boundaries Commission determine that the review results in two financially sustainable Councils, the Minister has indicated he would be prepared to recommend to the Governor a return to the former Cootamundra and Gundagai local government areas.
Mayor Charlie Sheahan and Councillors are unanimous in their message to all community members.
‘It is vitally important community members submit feedback to the Minister for Local Government to ensure our proposal is referred to the Boundaries Commission.’ Mayor Charlie Sheahan stated.
‘A Boundaries Commission Enquiry ensures full community consultation with public hearings allowing the community to voice their views on the demerger.’
Information concerning the Proposal can be obtained from the website of the Office of Local Government at:
Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council De-amalgamation – Office of Local Government NSW ( https://www.olg.nsw.gov.au/programs-and-initiatives/cootamundra-gundagai-regional-council-de-amalgamation/)
or Councils website https://www.cgrc.nsw.gov.au/2024/04/10/latest-demerger-news from Wednesday, 10 April 2024 until close of business Friday, 10 May 2024.
Copies of the Plans are also available during business hours from:
• the offices of Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council located at:
• 81 Wallendoon Street, Cootamundra, and
• 255 Sheridan Street, Gundagai;
• the Cootamundra Library located at 61-72 Wallendoon Street, Cootamundra; and
• the Gundagai Library located at 245 Sheridan Street, Gundagai.
Submissions or comments concerning the Proposal may be submitted to the Minister:
• by mail C/- Office of Local Government, Locked Bag 3015, Nowra, NSW 2541; or
• by email to cgrcproposal@olg.nsw.gov.au; or
• online via the Office of Local Government website:
Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council De-amalgamation – Online Submission Form – Office of Local Government NSW( https://www.olg.nsw.gov.au/programs-and-initiatives/cootamundra-gundagai-regional-council-de-amalgamation-online-submission-form/)
Any submissions or comments must be lodged by close of business Friday, 10 May 2024.
16 April 2024
Media Release – CGRC de-amalgamation
10 April 2024
March 2024
MINISTER TO GET DEMERGER PATHWAY PLANS
Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council held an extraordinary meeting on Tuesday evening to adopt the Detailed Transition Plan (DTP) and Financial Sustainability Plan (FSP) in accordance with the directive from the Minister for Local Government the Hon Ron Hoenig MP.
Minister Hoenig instructed Council that it must follow a pathway to affect a demerger of Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council, and the formation of Cootamundra and Gundagai Councils.
The Minister requested Council to develop a detailed implementation plan, DTP and FSP, showing how the actual separation process of CGRC will take place and result in the two new Councils long term financial viability and sustainability.
In resolving to adopt the DTP and FSP, these plans will now be lodged with the Minister to seek referral to the Local Government Boundaries Commission to formalise a review and determination in accordance with s204 and s212 of the Local Government Act 1993.
The plans can be viewed by following the links below:
CGRC Financial Sustainability Plan
Council has also resolved to develop and deliver a communications plan designed to inform the community of the details within the plans, the financial and social impacts associated with the demerger and to assist the community in understanding the long-term sustainability goals of both new councils following demerger.
The demerger process for CGRC has been long and protracted for our residents and your Council. The support from the community to continue the process, in our endeavours to return our communities to their identities and localism, deserves applause. There has never been any doubt that to follow this process and see it through would require community buy in and collaboration.
Councillors have acted in accordance with the wishes of the community. 82% of people polled by telephone poll conducted by the research company Micromex Research and Consulting and commissioned by the NSW Local Government Boundaries Commission in 2020/21 agreed or strongly agreed with the Proposal for a demerge. Written submissions to the LGBC also supported the demerger process. (CGRC-Report-Final-Report-27.07.22.pdf (nsw.gov.au) pg 44)
To achieve the wishes of the community, interventions are required to ensure that revenue is sufficient to renew assets and maintain the services our communities expect, and financial viability and sustainability is guaranteed into the future. The DTP and FSP are the pathways CGRC and the two new Councils will follow to achieve the financial sustainability whilst maintaining the level of services the community expect.
The profiles of the proposed new councils (former Shires of Cootamundra and Gundagai) are somewhat different, resulting in the need for different interventions, for example:
Both Councils support roughly the same asset base with similar overheads. Gundagai has roughly half the rate revenue to that of Cootamundra.
- Substantial infrastructure upgrades such as the Sewage Treatment Plant and Sheridan Street upgrade in Gundagai contributes to increases in operating and maintenance costs.
The distribution of assets and liabilities on demerger, coupled with the reduced revenue base of Gundagai was always going to have an impact. This was noted in Dr Joseph Drews report, the Deloitte review for the Boundaries Commission and again in the DTP and FSP developed in the current process.
As a Council, your elected representatives have listened to the community’s views over many years, and now seek a final determination from the Local Government Boundaries Commission and the Minister for Local Government.
All residents and rate payers are urged to read the reports. They will be available at the CGRC Administration offices in Cootamundra and Gundagai and on the CGRC website at Demerger News | Cootamundra Gundagai Regional Council (nsw.gov.au)
https://businesspapers.cgrc.nsw.gov.au/Open/2024/03/CO_20240319_AGN_2401_AT_EXTRA.PDF
February 2024
CGRC Media Release – WRAP UP OF ROUND TABLE 1
August 2022
On Wednesday 24th August 2022 the Minister for Local Government Wendy Tuckerman made the decision to demerge the Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council.
Information on this page has been supplied by the Office of Local Government in date order as it is received. Home – Office of Local Government NSW
Historical Information
Edition 117 CGRC Newsletter May 2024 Demerger/De-Amalgamation News
Edition 116 CGRC Newsletter April 2024 Demerger News
Edition 115 CGRC Newsletter March 2024 Mayoral Comment
Edition 114 CGRC Newsletter February 2024 – Mayoral Comment – Round Table conference.
Edition 113 CGRC Newsletter January 2024 – Mayoral Comment
Edition 110 CGRC Newsletter November 2023 – Mayoral Comment – Council resolution to pursue demerger.
Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council Demerger – Office of Local Government NSWW 3 October 2023
Edition 106 CGRC Newsletter July 2023, Office Local Government Update
Edition 105 CGRC Newsletter 29 May 2023, Office Local Government Update
Edition 104 CGRC Newsletter 1 May 2023, Statement OLG
Edition 102 CGRC Newsletter 6 March 2023 Statement OLG
OLG media release – CGRC demerger roadmap 2 February 2023 C-G Demerger Roadmap 2 February 2023
Edition 99 CGRC Newsletter 12 Dec 2022 Statement OLG
Edition 98 CGRC Newsletter 5 Dec 2022 Statement Ally Dench Executive Director OLG